Plus Up the Nutrition in Your Favorite Fall Meals

This blog is sponsored by the General Mills Bell Institute of Health & Nutrition.

It’s my favorite time of year! I love it when the weather gets chillier, and I can pull out my favorite recipes for warm and cozy meals. I think we can all agree that there are some classic, comfort foods that just hit the spot during the fall season. Now, think of all your favorite comfort foods and imagine them with all the same delicious flavors plus an added boost of nutrition. As a Registered Dietitian, that about sums up my motto on nutrition— I believe that all our favorite foods can fit into a balanced diet, and it doesn’t always take much extra time or money to plus up the nutrition in our favorite dishes!

When I think of popular comfort dishes during fall in the Midwest, I think of casseroles/hotdishes. A classic casserole recipe that was made in my home growing up and that is still made by my family today is chicken pot pie. It’s the perfect example of a dish that we can plus up the nutrition on with a few simple steps! First, we start with the staples: Progresso™ Light Chicken & Dumpling Soup and Pillsbury™ Grands!™ Flaky Biscuits.

Next, we add some extra boosts of nutrition! How? Read on!

Step 1: ADD VEGGIES!
I know this seems obvious, but there are so many dishes that we can add some extra nutrition to just by adding a few more veggies! Chicken pot pie is the perfect example. Add a bag of frozen vegetables for a simple and cost-friendly way to boost the nutrition! Not only are the veggies adding vitamins and minerals, but they also have fiber to keep you feeling full! The same goes for so many other dishes as well! Making a batch of soup? Add in leftover veggies from your fridge that you’ve been meaning to use up. Throwing a weeknight lasagna in the oven? Add some mushrooms, peppers, onion, broccoli or any of your other favorite veggies into the layers! How about a pizza? Don’t skip on the veggie toppings!

Step 2: ADD LEAN PROTEIN
Choosing a lean protein is a great way to add heartiness and extra nutrition to any dish. Protein helps us feel full for a longer period of time after eating, so adding lean protein is a great way to keep you feeling full and satisfied after your meal! Chicken breast is a great lean protein option, making it a great choice when making a chicken pot pie!

That’s all there is to it. I love thinking about what we can add to a meal or dish to make it more nutritious and filling. And above is the perfect example of how simple it can be to add some extra nutrient density to classic meals!

If I made you hungry for Chicken Pot Pie, you can check out our Dietitian’s Choice recipe! Click the button below, then scroll down to Dietitian's Choice recipes to find the full recipe and shop the ingredients!

Wishing you all a warm and cozy fall filled with nutritious and tasty dishes!

Macey Brickweg RDN, LD