If you’ve been on the internet recently you may have seen the popular trend of “dense bean salads.” In an online space where there are lots of questionable trends circulating, this is one that I can wholeheartedly get behind! The idea behind a “dense bean salad” is that it’s a recipe packed with ingredients that get better day by day as the ingredients marinate longer. This dense bean salad I’m sharing today is no exception. It’s flavorful, high in protein (with plant-based options available to boost protein without animal products!), high in fiber, and incredibly customizable.

Using pre-made ingredients and components can really streamline your kitchen process and help you experiment with new foods and flavors without having to resort to complicated or time consuming recipes. Introducing a favorite of mine: this ridiculously easy, high protein, veggie-packed chicken salad.

This power bowl is loaded with protein, high-fiber vegetables, and a nutritious golden tahini sauce. Whether you're vegan, vegetarian, or plant-based (or even if you’re not!) this simple meal is great for tracking your macros (or not!) and can help support any body composition, fitness, or overall nutrition. 

Many of our clients are busy individuals working full-time jobs, managing their time with kids and family and traveling, so time is of the essence. That’s why we continue to create easy, no-hassle recipes from easy pantry staples and frozen foods so that you can work towards your nutrition goals while still spending your time doing the things you love. This week’s recipe is no different and a really great one for easy meal prep with hearty servings.

Burgers are a love language in our household, so it only seemed fitting for me to share a burger recipe as a favorite of mine! These healthy southwest turkey burgers are in our monthly recipe rotation for meal prep because they’re that good. They’re great for weekly meal prep and also work wonderfully for a yummy weekend meal when hosting friends or for holiday weekends like Memorial Day coming up.

My favorite part about fall weather is all the soup! Soup dinners are easy for a lazy chef like me and are my favorite way to prep food that will last throughout the week. This chunky sweet potato turkey chili is my favorite, because each serving is a generous size and packs in tons of lean protein and vegetables.

Any holiday is a good excuse for us to loosen up on tracking and say I’ll get back to it tomorrow. BUT, with a little bit of planning and pre-tracking, you can have a full day of eating AND a yummy home-cooked meal with your Valentine without compromising your nutrition goals.

If you’re staying in this Valentine’s and cooking for you and your honey, try this easy, 3-course macro-friendly meal for two!