Rice is a timeless ingredient that is beloved all around the world. The starchy, inexpensive grain is fantastic energy food when you are hitting your ballet fitness workouts hard and far from dull, it is the perfect base for a variety of dishes to help you sustain your diet. Brown and white rice also hold varying nutritional benefits, like maintaining a healthy weight, protection against chronic diseases as well as supporting energy. You can check out more of the benefits here.

Rice is simple and quick to prepare but if you want to get it just right every time, this article shares some of the more innovative rice cookers on the market. The Aroma 6-Cup Pot Style Rice Steamer includes a steamer, so you can steam other ingredients like meat, fish, and veggies and cook rice all in one go. The Dash Mini Rice Cooker, on the other hand, is a tiny device that can easily be stored in your space and can be used for food like oatmeal, stew, and quinoa. Tools like this allow you to optimise the time spent when cooking.

Here are some of the healthiest and tastiest recipes you can experiment with!

Kimchi fried rice

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A Korean signature dish known for its ease and convenience, kimchi fried rice is the perfect dish for people on the go. The dish itself is healthy enough, deriving most of its protein from meat and eggs, and gut-healthy probiotics from kimchi which you can read about here. And while it can be made perfectly with any leftover rice, you can make it even healthier by opting for jasmine or brown rice.

Any size of serving can easily be made with this dish within 10 to 20 minutes. But what makes it particularly convenient is that none of the ingredients needs to be prepped beforehand. Just fry your kimchi and meat in oil until they’re cooked, add rice, and mix in seasonings like oyster sauce, sesame oil, and gochujang. You can also pack in more nutrients by adding more veggies like carrots, scallions, or mushrooms. The result is a rich and flavorful dish that you can make multiple days in the week.

Help-yourself tuna salad

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This convenient tuna recipe is perfect for people in a rush. All you need is canned tuna, rice, and chopped vegetables and seasoning. This is perfect to prepare in the mornings before you head out if you have cooked rice set aside, or if you have a handy rice cooker that can quickly cook your rice while you get ready in the meantime.

Once your rice is ready, dump in your tuna and vegetables, and stir in your peas, peppers, tomatoes, spring onions, parsley, and olives. Mix in your mayonnaise, lemon juice, and olive oil, and you’re good to go! For something so tasty, this is surprisingly easy.

Greek chicken rice bowl

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If you prefer getting that extra 30 minutes of sleep, then making this Greek chicken rice bowl for storing is an ideal way to do that. Our article here explains that sticking with your diet and fitness plans can be made extra easy by planning your meals ahead and then stashing them in the fridge.

Simply grill some chicken with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and add some lemon juice once it’s cooked. Throw in some tomatoes and cucumbers with the leftover oil, and add lemon juice, oil, and pepper. You can store your cooked vegetables and chicken in the fridge with pre-cooked rice, or cook fresh rice when you’re ready to reheat your meal. As a finishing touch, add some Greek yogurt and some feta cheese and you’re done!

Nothing beats rice when it comes to convenience and health. With these ingredients, you can explore the full scope of its versatility, even when on the go!

Article written by Octavia Baker