Many of us look forward to swapping our iced lattes for steaming mochas as we welcome the first snowfall of the season, but the novelty quickly wears off when the sky takes on a permanent shade of gray and it starts getting dark long before happy hour.
For those times when merely looking out the window is downright depressing, whip up one of these colorful dishes and remind yourself that spring is just around the corner.
1. Mason Jar Salads
Photo by Bernard Wen
These portable layered salads will make all of your co-workers super jealous.
#SpoonTip: Putting the dressing at the bottom of the jar ensures that your salad won’t get soggy.
2. Lucky Charm Cookie Sandwiches
Photo by Kirby Barth
The favorite sugary cereal of our youth (and, TBH, our college days as well) makes a serious comeback in these marshmallow-studded cookie sandwiches.
3. Butternut Squash with Garlic and Thyme
Photo by Julia Maguire
Don’t let the Nickelodeon-esque orange hue throw you off — this slightly sweet and creamy butternut squash dish is a healthy (and way more colorful) sub for potatoes.
4. Quinoa Salad with Roasted Beets and Pear
Photo by James Ransom
This quinoa salad is a great green salad-alternative, and beautiful to boot. The beets are roasted, then combined with cooked quinoa and accented with walnuts, ripe pears, and creamy feta.
5. Rainbow Cake
GIF by Domenica Garcia
All it takes is some cake mix, food coloring, and frosting to create this rainbow cake that’s guaranteed to rack up the Insta likes.
6. Wild Rice and Veggie Stuffed Pepper
Photo by Megan Prendergast
If you haven’t figured it out yet, fruits and veggies are the way to go if you’re looking to brighten up your diet, and this stuffed pepper recipe is no exception. Plus, it comes in its own edible serving dish, which is dope AF.
7. Healthy Banana Split
Photo by Clarisse Callahan
This fun and healthy breakfast is a cinch to put together when you’re running late for your 8 am class. It’s also completely customizable — use whatever fruit is in season, swap the peanut butter for another nut butter, or try out different flavors of yogurt to liven up your breakfast routine.
8. Ruby Red Grapefruit and Shrimp Salad
Photo by Christin Urso
Contrary to popular belief, salads don’t have to be a boring mix of limp greens and veggies long past their prime. This gorgeous salad gets its color and crunch from shrimp, grapefruit, and almonds. Nothing boring about that.
9. Scrambled Eggs with Pesto
Photo by Christin Urso
These eggs are straight-up out of a Dr. Seuss book, but that doesn’t mean they don’t taste awesome. Try making your own pesto, or save time by using a store-bought version. Serve with a side of ham for the full Seuss experience.
10. Carbonara with Peas and Bacon
Photo by Daniel Schuleman
While the pasta itself isn’t exactly colorful, the bacon and peas rescue this easy weeknight-worthy dish and keep it from entering beige territory.
11. Roasted Rainbow Carrots
Photo by Elizabeth Tadie
Any dish with the word “rainbow” in it is bound to brighten up your day. Next time you’re at the farmer’s market, try picking up a few different colored carrots and showcase their hues with this simple recipe.
12. Double-Glazed Funfetti Donuts
Photo by Annie Madole
If you’re gonna eat a donut, you might as well go all out and eat the most epic donut ever. This recipe uses Funfetti (aka the greatest cake flavor of our generation) cake mix to create homemade donuts in just 35 minutes. Of course, icing and rainbow sprinkles are non-negotiable.
13. Beet Hummus
Photo by Keni Lin
Everyone’s favorite party dip gets a healthy upgrade with vitamin-packed beets that dye the final product a beautiful bright pink color. Here’s the recipe.
14. Vegan Carrot Soup
Photo by Viola Spahiu
This creamy, comforting soup is the perfect way to warm up on a cold winter day. Make a big batch on Sunday and feel the love all week long.
15. Fruity Pebbles Ice Cream Sandwiches
Photo by Phoebe Melnick
It may be freezing outside, but that doesn’t mean you have to swear off ice cream until June. Try these ice cream sandwiches and prepare for the sugar rush.
16. Green Smoothie
Photo by Kathryn Stouffer
You’ve seen them all over Instagram, and now it’s time to try ’em for yourself. You can follow this recipe, or just add a handful of spinach, kale, or other leafy greens to your favorite smoothie.
17. Booze-Infused Fruit Salad
Photo by Kristine Mahan
The real MVP of colorful foods is, of course, the classic fruit salad. However, this refreshing version gets a makeover with the addition of vodka. Because college.