Post-Weight Loss Nutrition Advice & Healthy Recipes

Tips for Healthy Eating During a Pandemic

By Leslie R. Mattimore, MS, RD, LDN

Healthy Vegetables in a Grocery BagWe have experienced some very hard days so far in 2020. Many of us have grown accustomed to our "new normal," but a lot of us are still adjusting. If you feel like you went off track during quarantine, you are not alone. Having a fridge and pantry stocked with healthy foods and drinks is a key strategy to support your weight management goals. Consider having some of these on hand:

Recipes

Grilled Halloumi & Vegetables

Ingredients
  • Mix of vegetables: bell peppers, onions, zucchini, summer squash, asparagus, eggplant, sliced evenly into strips
  • 8oz block of halloumi cheese, sliced
  • Olive oil, salt, pepper
Directions

Prepare a hot grill. Season all vegetables with salt and pepper. Brush vegetables and halloumi with olive oil. Grill vegetables until tender and nicely charred, turning occasionally. If you'd like, use an outdoor grill pan to keep them from slipping through the grate. Scallions will be ready after 3 to 4 minutes. Peppers, zucchini and eggplant take about 10 minutes. Arrange on a platter. Next, grill halloumi, turning occasionally, for 2 to 6 minutes, until grill marks appear.

Note: this can also be done in the oven: bake at 400* for approximately 30 minutes. Turn vegetables and cheese halfway through. Adapted from NYTimes.

No-Bake Energy Balls

Ingredients
  • 1/3 cup ground flax meal
  • ¼ c almond butter or peanut butter (for nut-free option, use sunflower seed butter)
  • 2 heaping Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 Tbsp agave, maple syrup or honey
  • 2 scoops chocolate protein powder
  • 1–2 tbsp coconut oil, naturally refined
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut, plus more to coat the balls
  • 2–3 tbsp dark chocolate morsels or cocoa nibs
Directions

Combine oats, peanut butter, ground flax seed, chocolate chips, honey, chia seeds, and vanilla extract together in a bowl. Cover and chill dough in the refrigerator 30 minutes. Remove dough from refrigerator; roll into balls, about 1 inch in diameter. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week or in the freezer for up to one month.

Note: Ingredients can be mixed together in a food processor.