Healthy Recipes for the Women’s World Cup

The Women’s World Cup kicks off in Auckland on 20th July, with the world’s best women’s soccer players set to take to the field in some of Australia and New Zealand’s biggest sporting venues. 

Whether you’re a dedicated athlete or simply a fan cheering from the sidelines, proper nutrition plays a crucial role in helping you lead a healthy, balanced lifestyle. 

With this in mind, we’ve gathered five delicious and nutritious recipes that are perfect for fuelling your body during the Women’s World Cup. 

Each recipe is enriched with pure Canadian maple syrup, which doubles up as a natural source of energy and a wonderful flavour enhancer for your cooking.

Maple-turmeric orzo and chicken salad

First to the field is this stunning orzo and chicken salad. Perfect for a post-match recovery meal, the combination of protein-rich chicken, anti-inflammatory turmeric and fibre-packed orzo pasta provides the necessary nutrients to replenish your body after intense physical activity. 

The orzo and chicken are elevated by the vinaigrette, which is made by whisking together olive oil, lemon juice, turmeric powder and pure maple syrup in a bowl. This is then poured generously over the salad and tossed through, completely a dish that’s rich in colour, flavour and nutritional benefits.

Maple and chilli chicken noodle soup

A hearty soup is a great way to replenish your energy levels after exercise, and few taste as good as our maple and chilli chicken noodle soup! This chicken noodle soup recipe is made by boiling a whole chicken with vegetables and maple syrup to form a balanced and naturally flavoursome stock. 

Once the stock has boiled for an hour and a half, the leanest cuts of chicken are shredded from the bones. These are then returned to the stock alongside mushrooms, pak choi, noodles and chilli, with lime, peanuts and coriander used to garnish the dish.

Mediterranean seared barramundi with maple dressing

Looking for another dish that’s rich in nutrients? This Mediterranean-style seared barramundi serves as an excellent source of lean protein and is packed with omega-3 fatty acids. Not only that, but the dish gets an additional fix of nutrition from the capsicum and spinach. 

This barramundi fillet recipe is made by first preparing the garlic, lemon and maple syrup dressing. The barramundi is then seared skin-side down, before adding the spinach to the pan, flipping the fillets and then serving with the homemade dressing.

Asian broccoli salad with maple nut butter

Perfect for a pre-game meal, this Asian broccoli salad is brimming with energy to help you reach peak performance. Broccoli is well known for its health benefits, and in this recipe it gets an extra burst of energy from the maple nut butter. 

This delicious butter is made by simply toasting the peanuts on a low heat until golden brown, and then blitzing them together with olive oil, maple syrup, soy sauce and water in a food processor. Once the broccoli and edamame beans have been steamed, the salad is ready to assemble.

Maple salmon poke bowls

Rounding out the lineup is this vibrant and nutritious salmon poke bowl recipe, featuring chunks of salmon coated in a spicy maple sauce. Besides the protein and omega-3 fatty acids from the salmon, the dish is enriched by an array of fresh fruit and vegetables. 

The salmon gets a sweet and subtly spicy kick from the homemade sauce, which is also drizzled lightly over the rest of the ingredients once the poke bowls have been served. If you want to go even healthier with this recipe, you can easily substitute the jasmine rice for brown rice or more veggies.

Get set for the Women’s World Cup!

With the Women’s World Cup on the horizon, there’s no better time to start eating healthier, and with these recipes, you can reap the rewards of a nutritious meal while still indulging in the natural sweetness of pure maple syrup! 

Want to find more healthy and delicious recipes to incorporate into your cooking? Make sure to check out the rest of our maple syrup recipes.