Half Your Plate

Hummus is most often made with dried legumes like chickpeas but it’s just as delicious whipped up with fresh, green peas. Especially when it’s brightened with lots of spicy flavour balanced with cool mint. And what better dipper for dipping such dip than a crispy pita chip? What a great way to fill Half Your Plate with fruits and vegetables!

Parsnips are a root vegetable, the way a plant stores sunshine as sugar. They keep well which makes them a traditional winter vegetable. Their sweet earthy flavour and firm texture means they’re great for slow cooking, especially when they absorb the flavours of a delicious glaze along the way. Parsnips are a great way to fill Half Your Plate with root vegetable goodness.

Running out of time to cook vegetables? You can make this delicious dish in the time it takes you to boil water and cook pasta. You just need a few delicious timesavers. Tricks like a simple pesto built on the snappy flavour of arugula or the convenience of a store-bought rotisserie chicken. And it doesn’t take long to melt bell peppers. Save time and fill Half Your Plate with vegetables!

You can fill more than Half Your Plate and create your own salad with this recipe. Chefs know that the art and craft of filling a salad bowl is one of the greatest expressions of the culinary arts. Home cooks love how easy it is to cram the salad bowl with healthy flavours. Everyone enjoys emptying the bowl. You’ll love knowing you have plenty of delicious dressing leftover for the next salad and nothing beats impressing yourself in your own kitchen! This one was custom created by Honorable Lawrence MacAulay with Chef Michael Smith’s coaching!

Potatoes are not just tasty, nutritious, inexpensive and easy to find, they’re also wildly versatile, especially with eggs in the mix. Cultures and cuisines all over the world have found innovative ways to cook with this dynamic duo. Here they play a starring role in a classic frittata with a tasty Tex-Mex twist. The salsa side salad is bright and spicy, a refreshing condiment of sorts. This recipe will easily fill Half Your Plate – but not for long. It’ll be empty in no time!

These deliciously addictive granola bars come with a fruity punch of powerful raspberries. They’re just the sort of treat to pack into your kids lunch. They’ll love the flavour and you’ll love knowing that made them yourself! Best of all? You wont believe how easy these are to make! #HalfYourPlate

This snappy summer salad is packed with big, bright garden flavours that are perfect for picnics and potlucks. Raw summer salads are crunchy, delicious and a super simple way to dress up your table any time of the year. They’re always a great way to fill Half Your Plate with fruits and vegetables!

Zucchini is the perfect summer vegetable for filling Half Your Plate. Not only is it seasonally fresh, packed with flavour and nutritionally dense but it’s simple to grill. Its firm texture easily handles the heat while absorbing lots of delicious charred flavours. This side dish is equally delicious hot off the grill or chilled for later making it ideal for grilling season.

Cherries pack a powerful nutritional punch that always delivers big bold flavour. Mulling them with warm spices and red wine adds lots of aromatic personality too. Mulled cherries are excellent over ice cream, in shortcake or anchoring a simple parfait. Adding the protein power of true yogurt and crunchy granola to any fruit really kick-starts your day. Especially with a flourish of real creamsicle flavour: pure orange and vanilla working their old-school magic in guilt-free yogurt! #HalfYourPlate

This classic pasta dish is an easy way to show off the flavours of spring and fill Half Your Plate with lots of delicious asparagus. The super-simple sauce and streamlined method lets you cook the veggies and pasta at the same time. You’ll love the tangy bright flavours and watching bowls empty all around you!

There’s nothing quite like a steaming hot soup bowl brimming with intense vegetable goodness. But not a fan of pale promises? Vegetable soup that’s more filler than flavour? No worries. You can fill more than Half Your Plate with true broccoli flavour by following this super simple recipe.

As with any simple soup recipe a few easy options are included too:
>Bacon and cheddar for even deeper flavour that’s guaranteed to satisfy any picky veggie-averse eaters.
>Your choice of liquid so you can control how rich the results are.
>How to make a pure vegetarian version.

Are you looking for a signature party trick? Having a dinner party? Trying to impress your kids? Leaping flames! Dangerous heat! Cooking on the edge! This is how to fill Half Your Plate with delicious bananas and a showstopper dessert that no one will ever forget!