Not a lot of people believe me when I say creating a healthy meal in 10 minutes or less is possible. So I decided to put together these three recipes to show just how easy it can be.

In the same amount of time it would take you to sit through a drive-thru line, you can whip up these nutrient-dense, flavor-packed meals.

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Aleksandar Nakic/Getty Images

Servings: 1-2

Ingredients

  • 2 medium sweet potatoes

For the pea and avocado smash:

  • 1 cup green peas
  • 1 avocado
  • 1-2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
  • ~ 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • sea salt, black pepper, and chili flakes to taste

For the spiced chickpeas:

  • 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • ~ 1 tbsp. avocado oil (or oil of choice)
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
  • ~ 1 tsp. smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp. cumin
  • 1/4 tsp. cayenne
  • a pinch of chili flakes and salt to taste

For the maple tahini dressing:

  • 4 tbsp. tahini
  • 1 1/2 tbsp. maple syrup
  • 1 1/2 tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 2 tsp. apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp. olive oil
  • sea salt and black pepper

Directions

  1. Poke
    holes in your sweet potatoes and cook in the microwave for around 4-7 minutes,
    until tender.
  2. For the chickpeas: In a small pot over
    medium heat, add your avocado oil, garlic, onion, and spices and cook for
    around 1-3 minutes. Next, add your chickpeas and cook for 5-10 minutes until
    you’re ready to serve.
  3. For the pea and avocado smash: In a
    blender or food processor, add all your ingredients and blend/pulse until you’ve
    reached your desired consistency.
  4. For the dressing: In a medium bowl,
    whisk together all the ingredients until thoroughly combined.
  5. Cut
    open your cooked sweet potatoes, stuff with the pea and avocado smash and
    chickpeas, and then drizzle with the maple tahini dressing. Serve with any
    other vegetables if desired.

Servings: 2

Ingredients

  • 8 oz. box of pasta (I used Eat Banza chickpea
    pasta which cooks in 8-10 minutes)
  • 2 cups fresh basil
  • 1/4 cup raw cashews
  • 2-3 garlic cloves
  • 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp. nutritional yeast
  • 1/4 cup + 3 tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1/3 tbsp. sea salt
  • 1/2 tbsp. black pepper

Directions

  1. Add
    your box of pasta to salted boiling water and cook until al dente.
  2. Using
    a blender or food processor, add in garlic, 3 tbsp. olive oil, cashews, and black
    pepper. Blend until smooth.
  3. Add
    the nutritional yeast and salt to the blender. Pulse until combined.
  4. Add
    the basil and the rest of the olive oil and blend again until everything is
    incorporated.
  5. Pulse
    in the lemon juice.
  6. Drain
    and rinse your cooked pasta, add back to the pot, and mix with your cashew
    pesto until everything is coated. You might have extra pesto (but that’s not a
    bad thing).

Servings: about 4

Ingredients

  • 15 oz. can cooked lentils, drained and rinsed
  • 3
    garlic cloves
  • 1/2
    onion, chopped
  • 1
    large red bell pepper, seeds and stem removed
  • 2
    tbsp. tomato paste
  • 1-2
    tbsp. maple syrup
  • 1/2
    tsp. sea salt and more to taste, if desired
  • 1
    tbsp. smoked paprika
  • 1
    tsp. ground cumin
  • 1
    tsp. ginger, finely grated
  • 1/2
    tsp. ground turmeric
  • 1/4
    tsp. cayenne pepper
  • 2
    tbsp. lemon juice
  • 3/4
    cup fresh cilantro

Directions

  1. In
    a blender or food processor, add in garlic, onion, bell pepper, tomato paste,
    maple syrup, sea salt, spices, ginger, and lemon juice. Blend thoroughly, then
    taste to see if you need to add anything.
  2. To
    a large pan or pot over medium-low heat, add your drained lentils, fresh
    cilantro, and sauce. Stir until well-combined and heated all the way through.
  3. Serve
    with rice, noodles, or vegetables.

If you try them out, let me know what you think on Instagram. I love seeing your creations and I hope I can start to make eating healthier a little less intimidating and stressful.

J.J. Beasley is the man behind the Instagram and Facebook accounts @BeazysBites. He recently graduated with an undergrad degree in Business Management and International Business. He’s in the process of getting a master’s degree in nutrition and becoming a registered dietitian (while working part-time at a hospital as a nutrition assistant). He wishes to help others pursue a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle, and cannot wait to make his passion into a lifelong career.