On chilly days, we seek extra warmth. Naturally, we turn toward the kitchen. If you’re looking for a little inspiration in the form of hearty breakfasts, new twists on your favorite comfort foods or ways to get more vegetables in your day, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together a comforting, nutrient-packed meal plan with cold-weather recipes for easy winter meals.
Breakfast
Start your day strong with a great breakfast to get you set for the day. Try these options for make-ahead breakfasts that are exciting enough to get you out of bed (but will also let you press “snooze” just one more time).
Breakfast Tacos with Sweet Potato and Bell Pepper Hash
The breakfast taco possibilities are endless when you’re adding roasted veggies — plus, they always make for a colorful and filling meal. This sweet potato and roasted pepper hash can be easily doubled to ensure leftovers for future easy mornings.
Vegan Almond French Toast
This egg- and dairy-free version of a morning favorite uses firm tofu and almondmilk to achieve the much-loved custardy texture in French toast. The pieces bake up with golden brown and crispy edges, just perfect for catching maple syrup, a pile of berries or a dollop of plant-based yogurt.
Overnight Cherry Oats
Great with either fresh or frozen cherries, these make-ahead overnight oats are a win for busy mornings. Frozen blueberries and raspberries are great swaps for the cherries, and walnuts can be replaced with almonds, pecans or any combination of crunchy nuts you like.
Lunch
Let a good lunch help center you so you can recharge for the rest of the day. With vegan fajitas, soups and salads prepped beforehand, it’s easy to pull together a few quick meals that are full of flavor and require minimal effort.
Vegan Fajitas with Guacamole and Cashew Sour “Cream”
These vegan fajitas require no heat at all and are topped with creamy guacamole. Most of this recipe’s components are great for making ahead — except you, guacamole — and go great in the crunchy cabbage shell or over a bed of peppery arugula.
Not-Tuna Salad
The flavor and texture of tuna salad is brightened and livened up in this vegan version. Crisp celery, dill and lemon juice bring familiarity — and the crunch of the pecans and apples with chopped garbanzo beans just might make the other version a thing of the past.
Hearty Minestrone Soup
Preparing a large pot of this colorful soup ahead of time makes for easy, energizing lunches. Extra greens or leftover vegetables are great to add here, too.
Dinner
Round out the day with a nourishing, feel-good dinner. Settling in for the evening with a pot or pan of something hot and delicious on the stove is a cozy winter dinner idea epitomized.
Tamari and Honey-Glazed Scallops
A sweet, savory, spicy glaze is a quick extra step that makes sea scallops even more special. Serve over farro or brown rice with baby broccoli for a meal that comes together quickly.
Mushroom Stroganoff
Umami-packed mushrooms star in this spin on the classic beef stroganoff. Made creamy with a savory cashew, paprika and Dijon mustard sauce. Serving over 365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Wild Mushroom & Herb Rice Pilaf helps keep you warm and energized when it’s just too cold outside.
Crispy Turkey Patties with Artichoke Chimichurri
These patties bring some bright flavor to a wintry dinner. Adding grated zucchini helps keep these turkey patties juicy, while a quinoa coating on the outside adds a crispy, nutty texture.
Greens for the Side
Sometimes your dinner is just begging for a big bowl of leafy greens to star in a supporting role. These greens are easy to make ahead so you know you’re always one scoop away from rounding out any plate.
Oven-Roasted Kale
A surprisingly easy way to prepare kale, it’s quick to make and everyone loves how crispy it gets. If it’s not devoured straight out of the oven, a large batch of this can be kept in the fridge to add to soups, grain bowls or stir-fries during the week.
Smoky Collard Greens
This meatless version of collard greens gets its smoky bite from paprika. After a long braise, these meltingly tender greens are a great addition to any meal.
Simple Kale Salad
Your kale salad benefits from a massage, too. The light friction helps break down some of the tough and fibrous characteristics of kale, making it easier to chew and results in a more tender salad.
Snacks and Desserts
The impromptu snacks between meals are almost as important as the planned meals. Prep ahead to avoid any hangry last-minute snack runs and with the side perk of feeling good about DIYing your snacks and desserts.
Lemon-Ricotta Kale Dip
At the beginning of the week, slice up carrots, cucumbers and bell pepper strips so they’re ready when you’re feeling snacky. Full of nutrient-packed kale and bright lemon flavor, this creamy dip will
“Everything Bagel” Nut and Seed Mix
If you’re more of a salty than sweet snacker, have a batch of these satisfyingly crispy nuts on hand. You’ll love the classic flavors of an everything bagel wrapped around each bite.
PB&J Bites
For the snackers with a sweet tooth, these PB&J bites are easy to customize with different nut butters, dried fruits and spices. Keep an extra batch in the freezer for future snacking sessions.
Vegan Chocolate Banana Pudding
You’d never guess that this dark chocolate pudding uses tofu as its secret ingredient to replace dairy. It’s rich, decadent and just sweet enough, thanks to the natural sweetness of dates and bananas.
The information provided on this website is not intended as medical or healthcare information or advice. Please consult your healthcare professional(s) regarding all matters related to your diet and health, including any possible impact when starting any diet or continuing with a restricted diet on a long-term.
