Take a break from meat-focused protein and venture into the vegetable world for a family-friendly feast. You may think that meats are the only ideal way to get protein and, admittedly, protein-heavy meals that are plant-based can be a bit of a brain-teaser. A little trick I use to amp up the protein in vegetarian meals is to layer my protein sources. I combine a multitude of proteins from whole grains, to greens, to Greek yogurt. This creates a varied assortment of nutrients and supplies essential amino acids so you can fuel your body with complete proteins. It’s a skillful dance of ingredients that will make your body sing and provide plenty of energy to power through your day.

Risotto is typically a time-consuming and somewhat challenging dish to make so I’ve simplified it for weeknight-friendly meals by using quinoa instead. Fiber-filled quinoa and broccoli are key components in this particular dish that keep your digestive system running well. Vibrant greens, like spinach, are a vegetable source of additional protein that makes your meal colorful while supplying a number of nutrients. This vegetarian dish is a creamy combination with characteristics of both fried rice and risotto making it a family palate pleaser that’s still simple (and fast) enough for the weeknight hustle.