Week of Healthy Meal Prep: October 8-12
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Monday: Chickpea Pasta With Green Peas and Almond Gremolata
Chickpea pasta can be a nice change from whole wheat—it has a mild flavor and higher fiber content. The gremolata topping (a chopped herb condiment made with lemon zest and parsley) truly makes the dish. It’s crunchy, herby, fragrant, and citrusy.
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Tuesday: Summery Lentil Soup
This veggie-packed soup serves double duty: Eat 3 cups for dinner tonight, and save the remaining 2 cups for breakfast the next day. If you’d like a little heat, you can add a pinch of crushed red pepper.
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Wednesday: Edamame, Okra, and Green Pea Korma
Slowly softening the onion and garlic is key to a silky, creamy blended sauce loaded with 13g of fiber. If you have Madras curry powder, use it for slightly more heat and richer flavor; standard curry powder will also be great.
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Thursday: Shrimp Fried Cauliflower Rice
This five-ingredient main is a great way to get more seafood into your weeknight rotation. Seek our shrimp that's free of sodium tripolyphosphate (STP), a common preservative that significantly boosts the sodium in your shrimp. Can't find riced cauliflower? Make your own by pulsing cauliflower florets in a food processor until crumbled. Easy!
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Friday: Beef Tenderloin With Balsamic Asparagus
Beef tenderloin steaks are often considered a special-occasion cut, but when they go on sale (or you're ready for a splurge), this classic preparation is foolproof. Use a timer rather than turning, prodding, or overcooking the steaks, and set the timer again while they rest so you don't slice too soon. You could also use two (8-ounce) strip steaks, or 1 (1-pound) flank steak. Balsamic glaze has been reduced until syrupy. Look for it in the vinegar aisle to save time, or simmer 1 cup balsamic vinegar in a saucepan until reduced by half, about 20 minutes.
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Treat Yourself: Chocolate Almond Cherry Crisps
These no-bake treats taste like bite-sized candy bars and are terrific with a cup of coffee. Prepare them up to two days in advance, and store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.