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Harvest Skillet Lentils {GF, Vegan, Low Cal}

November 9, 2015

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!

Harvest Skillet Lentils

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.

Harvest Skillet Lentils

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.

Harvest Skillet Lentils

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!

Harvest Skillet Lentils

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Harvest Skillet Lentils

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

Author Skinny Fitalicious
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 254 kcal
Harvest Skillet Lentils
Print

Ingredients

  • 1 cup skillet popped lentils
  • 3 cups butternut squash cubed
  • 1 apple cored, peeled & diced
  • 1 yellow bell pepper diced
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1/8 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tbsp orange zest
  • 1/8 cup parsley chopped
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  1. Cook lentils according to Skillet Popped Lentils instructions.

  2. Heat a skillet to medium high heat and add extra virgin olive oil. Add butternut squash and cook 10 minutes stirring frequently.

  3. Once squash has browned a bit, add diced apples and peppers with spices and orange zest. Cook until veggies are tender about 7-8 minutes.

  4. Once veggies are tender, add apple cider vinegar and lentils to the skillet. Toss to combine and cook 2-3 minutes more.

  5. Add chopped parsley and serve immediately.

Recipe Notes

  • My Amazon shop has more products similar to those used for this recipe and that I recommend to my nutrition clients.
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Keyword apple, bell pepper, butternut squash, dinner, gluten free, harvest, lentils, low calorie, skillet, vegan
Nutrition facts per serving (1serving)
Calories 254 kcal
Fat 5.9 g
Saturated Fat 0.9 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 7.3 mg
Potassium 0 mg
Carbohydrates 41.7 g
Fiber 10.3 g
Sugar 5.7 g
Protein 11.9 g
Vitamin A 0 %
Vitamin C 0 %
Calcium 0 %
Iron 0 %

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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!

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.

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  1. Michele @ Paleo Running Momma says

    November 9, 2015 at 3:20 am

    Definitely a blessing! While I might try to avoid a 20 miler, an easy run and yoga would be perfect 🙂

    Reply
    • Megan says

      November 9, 2015 at 3:38 pm

      Agreed! No 20 miler on your birthday. You want to be able to walk comfortably the rest of the day.

      Reply
  2. Morgan @ Morgan Manages Mommyhood says

    November 9, 2015 at 5:30 am

    Your mom is the sweetest! So nice that she got to be there with you for your birthday!

    Reply
    • Megan says

      November 9, 2015 at 3:38 pm

      I know, I don’t know what I’d do without her!

      Reply
  3. Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner says

    November 9, 2015 at 6:01 am

    I haven’t tried popped lentils yet but they look fabulous. Love this combo thanks for linking up with us today for Meatless Monday

    Reply
    • Megan says

      November 9, 2015 at 3:38 pm

      You really need to try them Deborah!

      Reply
  4. Tina muir says

    November 9, 2015 at 6:15 am

    Lots f lentils going on today! They just scream cold weather! This sounds great! Butternut squash and apple together, oh so good!

    Reply
    • Megan says

      November 9, 2015 at 3:39 pm

      Lentils are quite popular today, but it’s nice change from pumpkin.

      Reply
  5. Jill @ Champagne for Everyday says

    November 9, 2015 at 7:40 am

    This recipe looks lovely – while I can’t do legumes without Beano, my mom is a lentil fantatic so I just sent it over to her! Also – I agree with you re: birthday workout comment. Every year since I was 18, I’ve made my birthday about self-care, and that always includes an enjoyable workout. My fce: 45 mins on the elliptical with Shape magazine & spotify. Happy Belated!!!

    Reply
    • Megan says

      November 9, 2015 at 3:40 pm

      I feel you on the Beano. I used to be that way with legumes, but over time my body has adjusted to them. It was actually other foods that were causing the discomfort.

      Reply
  6. Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

    November 9, 2015 at 8:20 am

    O I love the sweet pops of flavor you added!

    Reply
    • Megan says

      November 9, 2015 at 3:41 pm

      I like to keep things fun, yet simple!

      Reply
  7. Christen says

    November 9, 2015 at 10:54 am

    Wow, this looks so delicious!

    Reply
    • Megan says

      November 9, 2015 at 3:42 pm

      Thanks Christen!

      Reply
  8. Tiffany @ The Chi-Athlete says

    November 9, 2015 at 11:50 am

    I LOVE lentils! What a great recipe! Thanks for the recipe.:)

    Reply
    • Megan says

      November 9, 2015 at 3:42 pm

      Sure! Hope you give it a try sometime.

      Reply
  9. Sam @ PancakeWarriors says

    November 9, 2015 at 12:15 pm

    I’m all about these bright colors and flavors. Lentils and butternut squash – Nom Nom Nom. Hope you are enjoying your first days at home. And your thoughts on exercise are so honest and true. I really love workouts in my birthday. My workouts center me and it’s my happy place. Thanks for the reminder though!

    Reply
    • Megan says

      November 9, 2015 at 3:43 pm

      I’m able to think best after a good workout. 🙂

      Reply
  10. Sheena @ Paws and Pavement says

    November 9, 2015 at 4:16 pm

    I totally agree that your birthday doesn’t mean an excuse not to workout. If anything it’s more of a reason to workout to stay healthy as we get older. Happy birthday too!

    Reply
    • Megan says

      November 9, 2015 at 4:59 pm

      Glad you agree. Thanks Sheena!

      Reply
  11. Heather Mason @NuttyNutrition says

    November 10, 2015 at 6:36 pm

    hahah, that’s such a weird comment to get about not working out on your birthday! Happy birthday by the way!
    These lentils look awesome. Also, I want that bowl/plate. Where did you get it from?

    Reply
    • Megan says

      November 10, 2015 at 7:21 pm

      Thanks! The plate is from CB2.

      Reply
  12. meredith @ Cookie ChRUNicles says

    November 12, 2015 at 3:39 am

    For some reason, all of this week’s posts just showed up in my bloglovin feed. So weird! Looking forward to trying is recipe!

    Reply
    • Megan says

      November 12, 2015 at 2:51 pm

      Yeah, sorry about that. An old domain expired last week and it messed up my feed. Bloglovin says it is corrected now. Hope you love the recipe!

      Reply

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Megan is a nutrition practitioner, author of the Low Calorie Cookbook and podcast host of the Dish On Ditching Diets. Megan helps women over 35 lose weight after losing 80 pounds herself. Here you get low calorie recipes for weight loss that balance hormones. Learn more about my weight loss programs HERE!

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