3 Cozy Meals for Austin Cedar Season
If you live in Austin, you know the week. The cedar trees let go, the cars get a yellow-green film, and half the people you know say they feel wiped out. When I feel run down, the last thing I want is a complicated recipe. I want something warm, simple and full of real food, so I can eat well without standing at the stove for an hour.
I first shared these three recipes on our old blog back in 2017, and people kept asking for them. So here they are again, updated, with a little more of the “why” behind each one.
One note before we start: these are comfort meals, not medicine. If cedar season hits you hard, your doctor or allergist is the right person to talk to. What I can help with is the food side: eating in a way that helps you feel more like yourself while the trees do their thing.
Why simple, whole-food meals help on low-energy days
When you’re tired, it’s easy to grab whatever is in the pantry. That’s normal, and there’s no shame in it. In our experience, though, people feel better on rough days when their plate still has color on it: vegetables, fruit, some protein and a healthy fat.
I like to think of a low-energy day like a phone on 10% battery. You don’t need a big project. You need a steady, easy charge. Meals with fiber, protein and fat give you steadier energy than a sleeve of crackers, and they’re kinder to your blood sugar.
Recipe 1: Pumpkin quinoa porridge
This one feels like a hug in a bowl, and it makes a great morning meal.
Ingredients - 1 cup dry quinoa, rinsed and drained - 1 and 1/2 cups almond milk, divided (use coconut milk if you avoid nuts) - 1/2 cup pumpkin puree - 1 teaspoon cinnamon - 1/2 teaspoon ginger - 1/8 teaspoon cloves - 1/8 teaspoon sea salt - 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds - 1 to 2 tablespoons maple syrup or raw honey - 1/4 cup chopped walnuts - Optional: a spoonful of coconut flakes
How to make it 1. In a pot, add 1 cup of water and 1 cup of almond milk and bring it to a boil. 2. Add the quinoa, pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt. Turn it down to a simmer and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, until the liquid is mostly gone. 3. Take it off the heat and stir in the flax. 4. Spoon it into bowls, add a splash of the remaining almond milk, and top with walnuts, a little maple syrup and coconut if you like.
My honest take: I go lighter on the sweetener than the old version. The pumpkin and cinnamon already taste sweet, and you’ll find you don’t miss it.
Recipe 2: Spinach and strawberry salad
This is the one you can make in five minutes, even on a couch day.
Salad - 1 package (10 to 12 oz) baby spinach, washed and dried - 1/4 cup sliced almonds - 1 pint strawberries, quartered - 1/2 medium cucumber, finely diced
Dressing - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice - 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar - 1 tablespoon olive oil - 1 teaspoon poppy seeds (skip them if seeds bother you) - A small drizzle of honey, to taste
Toss the spinach, almonds, strawberries and cucumber in a big bowl. Shake the dressing in a jar and pour it on right before you eat. Want it to hold you longer? Add a scoop of grilled chicken or a handful of chickpeas for protein.
Recipe 3: Spinach white chili
This was a client favorite years ago, and it’s still one of mine. You brown the meat, dump everything in the slow cooker and walk away.
Ingredients - 2 lbs ground turkey - 1 large onion, chopped - 2 cloves garlic, diced - 1 green pepper and 1 red pepper, chopped - 1/2 box sliced mushrooms - 2 teaspoons each: oregano, chili powder, cumin and Italian seasoning - Salt and pepper to taste - 2 to 3 cans white beans, rinsed - 4 cups chicken stock or bone broth - 1 can diced tomatoes (Ro-tel if you like a little kick) - 2 big handfuls of spinach
How to make it 1. Brown the turkey. When it’s about halfway cooked, add the onion, garlic, peppers, mushrooms and seasonings. 2. Put the beans, stock and tomatoes in the slow cooker, then add the turkey mixture. 3. Cook on high for about 3 hours. 4. Stir in the spinach at the end and let it wilt.
It makes plenty, so you’ll have lunch for the next couple of days. That’s the real gift on a tired week.
Game plan for a low-energy week
- Pick one of these three and make it today.
- Order the groceries for delivery if you don’t feel like going out. Getting the food in the house is more important than doing it the hard way.
- Drink water, rest when you can, and remember that eating well is something you do because you love your body, not because you’re punishing it.
Want more ideas like these? Browse our recipes, or read Body Inflammation 101 for the bigger picture on why we start with whole foods.
Try it with a little support
If you want a simple plan to follow for a week, with meals like these mapped out for you, take a look at our $27 7-Day Reset. It’s a gentle way to see how your body feels when you eat like a human again.
Which of these three are you making first? Tell me in the comments.
