This story has been updated since it was originally posted on 09/23/2021
Summer is the time to be on the go—which is why throwing some ingredients into one convenient pot and letting it all cook while you’re out is such a great way to prepare dinner. It’s nice to have a lineup of recipes prepared to make cooking a breeze, all while nourishing your body with the important nutrients essential for healthy living. The slow cooker can be a great tool to add to your kitchen appliance collection to create filling and delicious meals with minimal effort and it can make for an easy way to eat more vegetables and fiber with only prep work at the front end.
Whether you follow a plant based diet or are in search of new ways to cook meat to diversify your diet, we gathered five of the most fibrous, gut-healthy recipes to throw into your slow cooker this summer to improve your overall wellbeing and keep your digestive system happy.
Golden Lentil Soup
Turmeric is one of the most powerful anti-inflammatory ingredients you could include in your wellness routine and this soup will help to fill you up and keep you satiated while resetting your digestion this fall. Loaded with fibrous lentils and veggies for a punch of plant-based protein, this meal is the perfect staple comfort meal for those nights when you’re looking for something fresh and healthy to nourish you. An added bonus? It stores well for leftovers throughout the week to cut down on excess cooking.
Ingredients: Onion, carrots, garlic, red lentils, vegetable broth, water, tomato paste, kosher salt, ground black pepper, turmeric, cumin, grated ginger, kale, canned coconut milk, fresh lime, cilantro
Beef & Broccoli
For a rich and filling meal complete with vitamins, minerals, and ample protein, this beef and broccoli dish fits the bill. Serve it over a portion of brown rice for some added healthy carbs and you have a meal perfect for allowing you to reach your weight loss goals or simply maintaining your well being without skimping on flavor. Next Friday, skip the takeout and make this dish instead.
Ingredients: Flank steak, beef broth, low-sodium soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, chili-garlic paste, minced garlic, cornstarch, broccoli florets, brown rice, chopped green onions
Chickpea Pumpkin Curry
Pumpkin isn't just for fall! For a tasty fiber boost, you’ll want to make this pumpkin curry for months to come. It offers a combination of healthy and filling ingredients to nourish your body and soul. The chickpeas in this recipe provide ample plant-based protein and lentils are another filling protein source that will keep you full and minimize overeating long after you’ve finished this meal. Add in any extra veggies you might like and you’ll have a nutrient dense dish you can turn to all year long.
Ingredients: Vegetable oil, onion, garlic, vegetable broth, coconut milk, red curry paste, tamari, coconut sugar, pumpkin, sweet potato, chickpeas, lentils, spinach, peanuts, cilantro, rice
Slow Cooker Minestrone
Who doesn't love an easy-to-make soup?! A hearty serving of minestrone is one of the best—and tastiest—ways to pack some fiber-filled veggies into your daily diet. Luckily, this slow cooker recipe makes it easier than ever to cook up this delicious Italian soup. From kidney beans to carrots to spinach, zucchini, and more, the ingredients will have your body (and your digestive system) feeling happier and healthier than ever. Yum!
Ingredients: vegetable broth, water, can of diced tomatoes, white kidney beans, carrots, celery, onion, Italian seasoning, bay leaves, salt, pepper, pasta, zucchini, spinach, parmesan cheese, basil
