Harvest Skillet Lentils {GF, Vegan, Low Cal}

Chewy skillet popped lentils meet apples, bell peppers & butternut squash in this gluten free, low calorie dish. These Harvest Skillet Lentils make a simple & healthy meal for any day of the week!

Things were busy around here this weekend. Mom left me this weekend for good. It was a good thing I was busy otherwise things would have been really sad. 🙁  I know I said she left last weekend, but she ended up at the very last millisecond changing her flight and staying. I've lost count, but I think she changed her flight 3 or 4 times these last weeks.

I was feeling very sick the day before she was supposed to leave and she didn't feel comfortable leaving me alone. So I went to bed and the next morning she was still there. Surprise! It was nice having her here for my birthday. It's been a long time since we've been in the same state for both our birthdays and in the same year.

Speaking of birthday, there's something I wanted to share with you today. Last week when I went to the gym on my birthday, one of the ladies who I see there regularly knew it was my birthday and asked me "why are you working out? it's your birthday!" Her question caught me off guard. I never thought of my birthday as being an excuse not to workout.

In fact, after what I've been through these last months, I feel quite the opposite. I explained to her that being active is a gift. If there were any day of the year I would show up for a workout, it would be my birthday because it reminds me how far I've come and how thankful I am for the health that I do have.

Your health can be gone in a split second and in that split second, your entire life will change. The next time you want to skip a workout, I want you to remember a workout isn't a punishment. It is a blessing. Be thankful for every moment you are given to live life without constraints and never take that for granted.

Now that I've gotten all corny on you, let's talk about this delicious meatless recipe. You guys know I've been obsessed with Skillet Popped Lentils. Actually, I think you may be more intrigued by them based on all your comments after I posted the recipe.

Let me see if I can explain. You know how you put kernels in a skillet and they pop to make popcorn? Skillet popped lentils are the same concept. The difference is the lentils don't pop into big white puffs. They plump into a crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside little nut.

So I took those little nuts to whole other level by adding butternut squash, apples, bell peppers,  cinnamon, nutmeg and a splash of apple cider vinegar. What you get is a warm and hearty meal that resembles fall. Now go exercise some good health!

About Megan

Megan is a certified nutrition practitioner, author, freelance food photographer and fitness instructor living in Phoenix, Arizona. On her blog, Skinny Fitalicious she shares EASY, gluten free recipes for weight loss. Follow Megan on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates.