I’m Sick! What’s for Dinner!?!

For the past week I’ve been blowing my nose, coughing and generally feeling pretty crappy. Making a healthy dinner has been the last thing on my mind even thought I know it’s what my body REALLY needs. I’ve been eating crackers, canned soup and anything easy I can find in the house. I can’t take it anymore! This week I’m throwing out some easy dinner ideas for when you are too sick to spend tons of time in the kitchen but still want something relatively healthy. Quickies. Easy. Simple… I promise between sniffles you can whip these dinners up in no time.

• Mahi Mahi with Brown Rice and Steamed Vegetables: Mahi mahi is a good steak-like fish that cooks up really fast. Brown rice is super easy and filling. Win! Pat mahi dry, coat with a seasoned mixture (recently I’ve been digging a taco seasoning mix I have) and simply sauté in a pan with a splash of olive oil. For the veggies, chop up a few of your favorites and steam using your preferred method. You can top with cracked pepper, sea salt and any other of your favorite seasoning mixes.

• Fresh Pesto with Rice Pasta and Rotisserie Chicken: I’m all for making a homemade pesto and my recipe is really quite easy. However, if you are feeling truly miserable, substituting a canned pesto is just fine. Cook up some rice pasta according to package directions. In the meantime, shred up a rotisserie chicken for extra protein. I typically add some salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, fresh chopped garlic and fresh chopped basil to a bowl then dump my cooked pasta on top. Make sure you save a cup or so of your pasta water to incorporate everything! Add your rotisserie chicken, pesto and enough pasta water to combine all the flavors. Grated cheese on top makes everything taste better when you aren’t feeling that great!

• Sweet Potato with Sauteed Veggies: Sweet potatoes are packed full of Vitamin A which is good for the immune system. This recipe couldn’t be easier and takes hardly any time. Simply chop up a selection of veggies (my favorite mix is leeks, shredded carrots, Trader Joe’s sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach or kale and some fresh lemon zest). I cook the sweet potato in the microwave and saute the veggies in olive oil with some salt and pepper. Once potato is done I split it down the middle, top with the sauteed vegetables, grated cheese and throw back in the microwave for 30 seconds!

• Fried Egg Sandwich: Eggs are full of protein and filling. They are also good for dinner or breakfast. Typically I toast two slices of Sprouted Ezekiel bread. While toasting I crack two eggs in a pan with a tiny bit of olive oil. I top each with some salt and pepper and a grating of Pecorino cheese. Once the toast is done I slather with butter and some apricot jelly. I then slide each egg on top of the toast, slice up some apples and dig in. There is something so satisfying about a perfectly fried egg. Especially while sick.

• Butter Pasta with Peas: This is so simple it’s crazy ;) Cook rice or regular pasta according to package directions in heavily salted water. In the last few minutes add frozen peas. Once pasta is done, drain and return to pan. Add a few tablespoons of butter, a bunch of pepper and a generous grating of Pecorino or Parmesan. Stir and enjoy!

• Smoothie: Cold things always taste good when your throat hurts or you have a fever. If the thought of dinner is really too much but you want some nutrition, a cold smoothie is a great option. Simply throw in your desired ingredients, some protein powder to fill you up and blend away. This recipe requires little effort on a bad day.

I hope these recipes have given you a few easy ideas for dinner when you aren’t feeling that hot. I’ll be making my pesto pasta tonight to tide me over til I’m ready to take over the kitchen again full force! Til then….send me your feel good wishes!