Here are some recipes that I found the most cost efficient and quick to make. I'm listing the recipes in order from longest prep time - least prep time.
BREAKFAST:
avocado on toast w/ egg
This is one of my favourite breakfasts to eat, it's filling and really delicious! This is more of a savory avo on toast, though the sound of drizzling honey on avocado also sounds delicious..might have to give that a try soon.
Ingredients:
1/2 avocado
toast
salt
pepper
egg
Additionals:
feta cheese
cherry tomatoes
One avocado usually lasts me two breakfast meals.
How to:
1. Slice avocado in half (saran wrap and fridge the other half I usually have to eat the other one by the next morning otherwise it'll brown and go bad), scoop out the avocado into a bowl and mash it. I like to spread it on my toast like butter but it's really personal preference. You can also cut it into slices and lay it nicely on your bread. (a more Instagram worthy option)
2. Toast bread, and spread the avocado on slice of toast. Sprinkle a pinch of salt over the avocado to give it some flavor.
3. Cook the egg (whatever style you want); sunny side up or scrambled. I personally like my egg sunny side up or over easy, I find that the runny egg works really well with the avocado.
4. Add some pepper onto the egg, and voila!
omelette
please don't judge this picture, not my finest work :P
Ingredients:
spinach
mushrooms
2 eggs
onions
salt and pepper
sprinkle of cheese
How to:
1. Wash and slice mushrooms into pieces, sauté them in a pan with onions until they start to brown and soften, place in bowl and put aside.
2. Beat 2 eggs in a bowl with some salt and pepper. Add oil to the pan, when the oil heats up, pour beaten eggs into the pan. Let it sit for a bit so that the bottom layer solidifies a little.
3. Add in spinach, mushrooms, onions and cheese.
4. Fold omelette in half, then into a quarter, flip to cook both sides. I like to eat it with some pepper and ketchup.
I usually fail and it becomes a big scrambled mess, but on good days, my omelette actually looks like an omelette :) so don't worry if it doesn't turn out right the first...or second time.
overnight oats&chia seed pudding (got this idea from my friend:))
I would recommend making this overnight (as the name suggests) so that the oats and chia seeds have time to expand and soften.
Ingredients:
chia seeds
vanilla/plain yogurt
unsweetened almond milk
honey
rolled oats
blueberries
granola
How to:
1. Mix rolled oats, yogurt, unsweetened almond milk, honey and chia seeds into a bowl or jar and mix well. Leave it in the fridge overnight, or at least for a couple hours.
2. Add granola, blueberries (or whatever fruit you want) and a drizzle of honey on top.
3. Enjoy!
yogurt with granola and fruits
Grab your favourite greek vanilla yogurt, sprinkle on some granola (Vector granola as recommended by a friend is my personal fav) and add some fruits (berries are my go-to) and you have yourself a delicious brekky!
cereal
Pretty straight forward, the only thing I've been doing differently since coming to Toronto is using almond milk instead of cow's milk because they come in bags here and it confuses me.
Unsweetened almond milk took me awhile to get used to, just because it was super bland but if you have it with a sweeter cereal like honey nut cheerios, it makes up for the lack of sweetness.
LUNCH:
I only eat salads for lunch because they're quick and easy to prep, and also easy on the wallet!
I add chicken breast to every recipe as my main protein. I usually marinate my chicken with the following:
soy sauce
salt
pepper
honey
garlic
Here are some of my favourite recipes that I've tried and loved:
Roasted Veggies:
https://damndelicious.net/2014/10/04/roasted-vegetables/
I subbed a lot of different veggies in, whatever works with your taste buds :)
Apple and Kale salad:
https://www.cookingclassy.com/autumn-kale-apple-quinoa-salad/
Yam, quinoa, black bean salad: (my favourite out of all of them)
https://www.wellplated.com/sweet-potato-quinoa-black-bean-salad/
Pasta salad:
https://www.spendwithpennies.com/easy-greek-pasta-salad/
Tofu salad:
http://www.ilovevegan.com/tomato-basil-salad-with-seasoned-tofu/