Amazing Plant-Strong Appetizer Recipes (and some dinner ones, too)

Last night I gave a lecture at Baby Vie called, "What to Eat to Burn Fat and Lose Weight Without Exercise." It went really well, and I truly enjoyed talking with everyone that came. And now I present you with...lecture night appetizer recipes!! These are all high nutrient, and low calorie density (except the vegan spanakopita which has a bit too much vegan margarine for daily use, but is so tasty!) These recipes are all pretty easy and foolproof...and don't require much prep time. Best of all? Tasty!

In case you want more recipes, check out this and this post I did a while ago to get you started with some quick, easy, delicious meal ideas.

And now, here are the appetizer recipes from the lecture:

Quinoa, kale, walnut, cranberry salad

A fabulous potluck dish and great Thanksgiving dish. High in protein and fiber, quinoa is a nutrient powerhouse! And kale ranks among the healthiest green vegetables out there. This is a superfood dish!

2 cups quinoa
2 cups kale, chopped
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1/2 cup cranberries, dried
2 scallions, chopped
2 lemons, juiced,
salt and pepper to taste

Directions: Cook quinoa as directed, cool. Add the rest of the ingredients to a bowl and mix with the cooled quinoa. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve cold or at room temperature.

Lentil Bruschetta Dip (Recipe from Trader Joe's)

It doesn't get more easy or more healthy than this dish! This is also great on sandwiches or wraps. It is a 3 minute recipe so its great to have the 3 ingredients on hand for last minute holiday get-togethers. Everyone loves this!

1 package steamed lentils (in the refrigerated produce section)
1 carton bruschetta
2 cups spinach, chopped

Directions: Mix all ingredients together and serve with whole wheat pita chips to dip.

Spanakopita, Vegan Style

This is a more decadent recipes but great for people wanting to experiment with more plant-based foods. It has a lot of protein from the tofu and spinach so it is still very healthy. This is also pretty easy and kids love it, too!