one green planet
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While most of us are sheltering-in-place at home — limiting our trips for essentials — others are adhering to strict quarantine guidelines.

Quarantine refers to folks who have tested positive for or have been exposed to COVID-19 and this state entails drastic measures to ensure they don’t expose others to the virus. Those that have been exposed, but aren’t showing symptoms don’t even step outside of their homes for at least 14 days. Others that are experiencing symptoms — from mild to moderate to severe — oftentimes are relegated to their bed for far longer than 14 days.

For the thousands that have fallen into this second quarantine category, getting essential nutrients into your body to help the immune system fight off the virus is crucial.

Yet, what if you live alone? Making even a single nutritious meal may be simply impossible.

While prepping in advance by stocking your fridge, freezer, and pantry with quarantine-friendly cuisine is a great way to ready yourself for COVID-19, you can also have a list of super simple, non-labor intensive recipes on hand for those moments when you have the energy to make it to the kitchen.

Here are 15 recipes to get that list started!

We also highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App  — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help you get healthy! And, don’t forget to check out our Whole Foods Archives!

1. 15-Minute Zucchini, Pea, and Watercress Minestrone

15-Minute Zucchini, Pea, and Watercress Minestrone/One Green Planet

When you’re sick one of the best foods to have on hand is soup! It’s not only a great way to get those vital liquids into your body, but soup can also be incredibly nutrient-dense. This 15-Minute Zucchini, Pea, and Watercress Minestrone recipe by 15 Minute Vegan may seem a bit intimidating by the list of ingredients, yet it only has three simple steps. Plus, as long as you stick to the basics of vegetable stock, veggies, and beans, you can go as simple or as lux as you want!

2. Basic Brown Rice

Basic Brown Rice/One Green Planet

Next to soup, one of the best foods for a body that has no appetite is rice! The blander the better when it comes to an upset stomach. With that said, you don’t want to sacrifice nutrients, so opt for brown rice over white rice, which is far more nutrient-rich. This Basic Brown Rice recipe by Sonnet Lauberth is the perfect no-fuss, super simple, zero-flavoring recipe to get something in your stomach without upsetting it further. This is also a great recipe if you’re a rice cooking newbie!

3. Creamy Rosemary Mashed Potatoes

Creamy Rosemary Mashed Potatoes/One Green Planet

This Creamy Rosemary Mashed Potatoes recipe by Rene Barker is a great meal for a sore throat and an upset stomach. Very subtle, yet infused with a bit of savory rosemary, this recipe will provide those body boosting complex carbs in a palatable concoction.

4. Mexican Rice Soup

Mexican Rice Soup/One Green Planet

This Mexican Rice Soup recipe by Wholesome LLC is the perfect mixture of super simple, — only three steps — nutrient-dense, — filled with veggies, rice, and garlic — and is incredibly tasty and filling!

5. Mac ‘n’ Cheese

Mac ‘n’ Cheese/One Green Planet

Next to soup, beans, and rice, pasta is yet another great food for when you’re sick! Prep it bland or do it up right for comfort such as this classic Mac ‘n’ Cheese recipe by Stephanie Davies. The ingredients list isn’t too overwhelming and there are only five steps (one of which is to simply enjoy it!). 

6. Comforting ‘Chicken’ Noodle Soup

Comforting ‘Chicken’ Noodle Soup/One Green Planet

If you’re searching for a mild, stomach-easing meal that’s also super simple to make, give this Comforting ‘Chicken’ Noodle Soup recipe by Dawn Hutchins a try! In only three easy steps you’ll have a highly nutritious, yet stomach-friendly meal. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to curate this recipe. Opt-out of some of the flavorings for a gentler experience. Bulk it up with liquid by adding a bit more veggie stock. Do it up the way you want!

7. Baked Pasta with Broccoli

Baked Pasta with Broccoli/One Green Planet

When you’re feeling sick, the last thing we generally want to eat is broccoli, yet this cruciferous veggie has amazing healing superpowers! This Baked Pasta with Broccoli recipe by Lenia Patsi takes a bit of preparation beforehand — you’ll need to soak cashews overnight or for a couple of hours in warm water — yet besides the cashew cream this is a really easy way to infuse your body with superfood broccoli.

8. Mixed Seed Crackers

Mixed Seed Crackers/One Green Planet

This Mixed Seed Crackers recipe by Taryn Fitz-Gerald not only provides a great source of healthy fats and dietary fiber but crackers are easy on an upset stomach. If you don’t have crackers on hand or want to avoid hydrogenated oils, give this home-made cracker recipe a go!

9. Arroz Con Dulce (Rice Pudding)

Arroz Con Dulce/One Green Planet

For those on the tail end of mending or those that have a bit more energy during their ailment, this Arroz Con Dulce recipe by Desiree Rodriguez is a great one to give a try! Rice pudding has an excellent smooth texture that will soothe any sore throat, plus it’s a great avenue to get coconut-based healthy fat and immune system-boosting ginger tea.

10. Hydrating Super Green Smoothie

Hydrating Super Green Smoothie/One Green Planet

When you can’t palate anything solid, smoothies are a great way to infuse your body with nutrients, liquid, and energy. This Hydrating Super Green Smoothie recipe by Caroline Doucet will infuse your body with dietary fiber for your gut, healthy sugars for your blood sugar, kale for vitamins and nutrients, ginger for your immune system, and a whole dose of water to keep you hydrated!

11. Berry and Chia Pudding Smoothie

Berry Chia Pudding Smoothie/One Green Planet

Another great smoothie recipe! This Berry Chia Pudding Smoothie recipe by Vicky Coates offers a sweeter, richer, more filling smoothie option. Rich in calcium and protein from chia seeds, this smoothie will also infuse your body with powerful berry-based antioxidants.

12. Black Eyed Pea Soup

Black Eyed Pea Soup/One Green Planet

Black-eyed peas are an oftentimes forgotten part of the legume family! This Black Eyed Pea Soup recipe by Lenia Patsi has only three steps and is loaded with protein-rich black-eyed peas, immune system-friendly garlic, and vitamin C-filled tomatoes!

13. Tomato Pasta

Tomato Pasta/One Green Planet

This super simple, long-lasting Tomato Pasta recipe by Alexandra/Eian Kelly is easy — only five active steps! — and is also rich in healing agents such as vitamin C-rich tomato, anti-bacterial and viral oregano and garlic, and potent onion!

14. Matcha Rice Crispy Treats

Matcha Rice Cripsy Treats/One Green Planet

This Matcha Rice Cripsy Treats recipe by Hayley Canning is perfect for the tail end of your ailment when your sore throat is healed, your stomach is less queasy, yet you’re completely zapped of energy. Matcha is the potent powdered form of green tea, which is one of the healthiest plant-based foods for a healing body! With only four ingredients and six super-simple steps (one of which is to actually eat them!), this recipe will give your quarantine meal regimen a bit of color and vibrancy.

15. Sweet Potato Soup

Sweet Potato Soup/One Green Planet

Sweet potatoes are one of the healthiest complex carbs available! They’re rich in antioxidants — the compounds that give this plant-based food that orange coloring — as well as offering a helping of dietary fiber, protein, folate, and magnesium. This Sweet Potato Soup recipe by Kristina Humphreys is yet another three-step recipe that will give you the nutrients your body requires to fight COVID-19!  

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home!

Black Bean Veggie Soup for Snow Days/One Green Planet

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health and more! Dairy consumption also has been linked many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer and has many side effects.

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some great resources to get you started:

For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter! Lastly, being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!