9 Scrumptious Recipes Using Only Whole Foods

Trying to eat right without spending a fortune or dedicating hours to cooking can seem like an impossible task. Experts tell us what we should and shouldn’t be eating—you’ve surely heard of the whole foods craze.

Word on the street is that the healthiest way to eat is by filling your diet with whole foods. But what are whole foods?

Simply put, whole foods are foods that are not processed or processed very minimally. This includes produce and unprocessed meats. In other words, if it comes in a can or other package, odds are it’s not a whole food.

Why are whole foods so good for you?

When you eat whole foods, you’re getting your food in (or close to) its natural state. With that, you get all of the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that come with the food—the things your body needs. With processed food, you get whatever is left after all of the refinements and processing. There may be substance with processed food, but there is certainly less nutritional value. In some cases, the nutritional value of processed foods is really negligible.

So, to ensure you’re truly nourishing your body, whole foods is the way to go.

But don’t be intimated! You don’t need to be Aristos Papandroulakis to make delicious, wholesome meals. Cooking with whole foods can be quick and easy.

Check out these 9 delicious whole food recipes for some inspiration!

Coconut Peachy Green Smoothie

Everyone loves smoothies! They are quick and easy to make and delicious to drink! They are also filling, and when done right, they are full of nutrients.

Try this whole foods smoothie for breakfast, a snack, or a lunch meal replacement.

Ingredients

12 oz Coconut Water (or Coconut Milk for a richer smoothie)

2 cups Spinach

¼ cup Chia Seeds

2 Cups Peaches (fresh or frozen)

1 diced Avocado

½ cup Ice

Spinach

Directions

• Put ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth
• Serve in glasses

Spicy Cucumber Soup

Spicy cucumber soup is the perfect dish for summer or winter time, as you can serve it cold or hot. Impress your guests with this super easy, homemade soup. Or, better yet, just save it all for yourself!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

½ chopped onion

2 teaspoons minced garlic

2 peeled, seeded, and chopped cucumbers

1 cup vegetable broth (buy organic or make your own)

½ cup coconut milk

1 teaspoon parsley

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon sesame oil

Salt to taste

Directions

• Heat olive oil over medium heat
• Cook onions and garlic in olive oil until onions are translucent
• Add cucumber, vegetable broth, and coconut milk
• Stir in parsley, cayenne pepper, and sesame oil
• Reduce to medium-low head, cover and simmer for 10 minutes
• Transfer hot soup to a blender and puree until creamy
• Salt to taste
• Serve hot, or chill and serve cold

Whole Food Chicken Salad

Chicken salad has to be one of the most versatile lunch dishes out there! You can eat it as a sandwich, side item, or the main dish. Having a solid, healthy recipe for chicken salad is essential. Give this one a try!

Ingredients

1 roasted chicken, pulled (you can get store bought roasted chicken or roast one yourself)

½ chopped onion

5 chopped green onions

2 chopped stalks celery

1/3 cup plain greek yogurt

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

• Combine all ingredients into a large bowl and mix together
• Refrigerate until ready to eat

Quinoa Porridge

Quinoa is a grain-like seed, full of nutritional benefits. It’s protein-rich, full of fibre, and contains iron and magnesium. If quinoa is not already a part of your whole food diet, you should definitely add it! It’s super versatile and makes for a great protein base to curries, stir frys and salads. Use it to replace white rice.

Ingredients

½ cup quinoa

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ cup water

1 ½ cups coconut milk

2 tablespoons maple syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla beans

1 chopped banana (optional)

1 cup blueberries (optional)

1 cup chopped strawberries (optional)

Directions

• Head water and coconut milk in a saucepan over medium heat
• Add quinoa and bring to a boil
• Reduce to low heat
• Add cinnamon and vanilla beans
• Cook on low heat until quinoa is tender (about 25 minutes)
• Drizzle maple syrup and serve with berries and banana

Santorini Roasted Fish

Santorini is one of the most beautiful places on earth. It also has some of the most delicious and healthy food.

When you can’t fly over to Santorini for a quick lunch and some sun, channel that Mediterranean goodness at home with this easy, one-dish recipe.

Ingredients

5 small, wedged potatoes

½ sliced onion

2 chopped garlic cloves

½ tablespoon chopped oregano

2 tablespoons olive oil

½ wedged lemon

2 large, wedged tomatoes

2 fresh, skinless white fish fillets

½ cup chopped parsley

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

• Preheat oven to 200C
• Coat potatoes, onion, garlic and oregano in olive oil
• Add to a shallow baking dish and roast for 15 minutes
• Turn potatoes and roast for 15 more minutes
• Add lemon and potato wedges
• Roast for 10 minutes
• Add fish fillets
• Season with salt and pepper
• Roast for 10 minutes or until done
• Cover with parsley and serve

One-dish Chicken Bake

Making delicious, whole food dinners at home doesn’t have to mean giving yourself lots to clean up. Try this classic one dish chicken bake recipe and skip the mess!

Ingredients

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts

2 cups chicken broth (buy organic or make your own)

3 cups chopped broccoli

2 large chopped sweet potatoes

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

• Preheat oven to 200C
• Add all ingredients to a casserole dish
• Cover and bake for 30 minutes
• Season to taste

Gazpacho

Do you ever get a taste for something fresh, crisp, filling but light, and delicious? If so, you need this recipe for gazpacho. This is the perfect summer time dish and is suitable for vegans, but can also be jazzed up by adding some grilled shrimp.

Ingredients

4 large, diced tomatoes

1 diced cucumber

1 diced red bell pepper

1 small diced onion

1 large diced jalapeno pepper

2 minced garlic cloves

¼ cup minced oregano

¼ cup olive oil

1 lime, juiced

2 tablespoons chopped basil

12 oz tomato juice

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

• Blend all ingredients except the tomato juice in a food processor, making sure not to puree
• Move ingredients to a large bowl and mix in tomato juice
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours
• Serve cold and with grilled shrimp if desired

Summer Fruit Salad

Fruit salad is a delicious and easy dessert. Unfortunately, many fruit salads are filled with processed ingredients and sugar additives.

Try this fruit salad recipe for a whole food-only option.

Ingredients

2 cups chopped strawberries

2 cups blueberries

2 cups raspberries

2 cups blackberries

1 cup chopped apple

½ cup halved, seedless grapes

½ lime, juiced

½ cup unfiltered honey

Directions

• Mix all ingredients in a large bowl
• Chill and serve

Portobello Brunch

Everyone loves a good brunch. However, those artistic meals can be a little rough on the pocket. So, the next time you want to meet your friends out for a brunch gathering, invite them over instead and wow them with this simple, whole foods, brunch meal.

Ingredients

4 portobello mushrooms

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

4 eggs

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

• Preheat oven to 150C
• Mix the olive oil and garlic
• Gently spoon out the gills from under the mushrooms
• Brush the olive oil on the inside and outside of the mushrooms
• Place mushroom cap-side up on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes
• Meanwhile, cook 2 eggs scrambled and two eggs over medium
• Fill 2 mushrooms with scrambled eggs (cap side down)
• Cover 2 mushrooms with over medium eggs (cap side up)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Serve hot