Whether the New Year has inspired you to focus on healthy eating or you're just looking for a little refresh to your diet, we have shared many healthy recipes for snacks and meals over the years. We're making them easy for you to find all in one place in this recipe round-up!
There are many ways to help eat a little healthier at home! If you're feeling the itch to start making recipes that are a little higher in nutrients in vitamins, and a little lower in fat and sugar, we've rounded up our healthiest Shelf Cooking recipes for every meal of the day. But let's start off with a few basic tips for cooking and eating healthier in general!
First, check out this amazing post with tips on making healthy eating affordable! Read Eating Healthy on a Budget: 5 Easy, Smart Tips here!
Next, we put together over 25 ways that you can modify your existing recipes (the Shelf Cooking way!) to help easily reduce sodium, fat and sugar without sacrificing amazing taste! You can check out those Yummy Swaps here!
A few more tips before we get to the 35+ recipes:
- Plan Your Meals Ahead: Take a few minutes each week to plan your meals. Knowing what you'll eat in advance helps you make healthier choices and reduces the temptation to opt for fast food or unhealthy snacks on the go.
- Batch Cooking for Convenience: Consider batch cooking on weekends. Prepare larger portions of healthy meals and store them in individual containers. This not only saves time during the week but also ensures you have nutritious options readily available.
- Incorporate More Fruits and Vegetables: Make it a goal to include more fruits and vegetables in your daily meals. Keep a bowl of fresh fruit on your kitchen counter for easy access, and add extra veggies to your sandwiches, salads, and stir-fries.
- Choose Whole Grains: Opt for whole grains such as brown rice, quinoa, and whole wheat bread instead of refined grains. Whole grains provide more nutrients and fiber, keeping you fuller for longer.
Alright, we got the basics covered. Let's pick out some YUMMY recipes to try this new year!
HEALTHIER BREAKFAST RECIPES
- Jordan's SUPER Bagel! Smoked Salmon Bagel Recipe: Jordan's healthy breakfast option that will fill you with protein, fiber, and some microgreens to stay full all morning long!
- The Easiest Egg Muffin Cups You'll Ever Make! A great batch-cooking breakfast on-the-go full of protein and easily customizable to sneak in some extra veggies.
- Frozen Smoothie Packs: Smoothies are a fun and easy way to squeeze in lots of vitamins, nutrients, and fiber into a tasty meal. Here's several combinations for you to get inspired with!
- Easy Homemade Granola Recipe + Tons of Add-Ins: A family-favorite that's great for topping yogurts or parfaits and full of whole grains!
- Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash: A one-pan savory breakfast recipe that's bound to become your new Sunday favorite.
- How to Make Overnight Oats + 10 Flavor Combos! If you haven't tried this to-go breakfast recipe, you've got to add it to your menu this week!
HEALTHIER SNACK/DESSERT RECIPES
- “Go-Go Balls”: Easy (and Healthy!) A No-Bake Protein Ball Recipe Your Kids Will Love! We use these as desserts in our house, and the fiber and protein keep everyone's tummy's satisfied til morning.
- Addicting Homemade Pickles: A crunchy crispy snack to munch on that's low in calories, fat, and sugar!
- Homemade Peanut Butter Recipe | Ready in 5 Minutes! Ditch the processed ingredients and extra added oils and sugars, and make your own peanut butter that gets straight to the good stuff!
- A Homemade Applesauce Recipe That's Cheap and Easy: If you've got apples coming out your eyeballs, you might want to make a batch of applesauce for a healthy snack that still packs the health benefits of eating this fruit daily!
- How to Make Hard-Boiled Eggs | Four Different Ways! Hard-boiled eggs are a high-protein snack to help keep you feeling satisfied between mealtimes.
- Fruit Salsa: You'll Love this Easy Delicious Recipe that would make a great healthy swap for fattening cheese dips
- Easy Fruit Salad with Cool Whip: A healthy dessert option to cure that sweet tooth and get a dose of fruits and vitamins at the same time!
HEALTHIER DINNER RECIPES
- Parmesan Tilapia Recipe: Quick, Easy, & Yummy!
- Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry: This Easy Dinner Comes Together in Minutes!
- Mason Jar Salad Recipes to Make Healthy Eating Easy: If you struggle to eat salads, try this method! They are versatile and FUN!
- This Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe is Finger-Licking Good! A healthier alternative to buffalo wings or breaded tenders with just as much flavor!
- Zucchini Boats Recipes: 7 Easy & Yummy Variations of this dinner idea that you're family will devour.
- Easy 10-Minute Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon Bowl Recipe: one of my all-time favorite recipes from 2023! This is the meal tastes like take-out without any of the guilt!
- Build Your Own Summer Salad: A complete list of dozens of ways you can build the best salad for YOU!
- Easy Sheet Pan Dinners That Make Clean Up a Breeze: Sheet pan dinners are quick, convenient, and make very little mess to clean up afterwards! Most are filled with veggies and proteins of your choice – perfect for a new healthy lifestyle.
- Fish Tacos in Under 30 Minutes: Baja Style! We love this fish tacos, which are surprisingly healthy since they omit the breading!
- Make Bibimbap at Home: A yummy Korean-inspired dinner recipe that uses whatever veggies are on hand in your home!
- Steak Rice Bowl Recipe: Better than Chipotle!
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic & Bacon: This will become your new favorite side dish! Make for a tasty low-carb dinner with some balsamic-glazed chicken or whatever protein you prefer.
- Easy Salsa Crockpot Chicken: This set-it-and-forget-it dinner recipes only involves 3 ingredients!
MORE EASY & INEXPENSIVE MEAL IDEAS:
Oftentimes “healthy” ingredients cost significantly more than less healthy ingredients at the grocery store. But you don't need to buy special items with fancy labels to be healthy! There are plenty of meal ideas using ingredients you'd normally buy without the extra cost. Just be sure to keep your portion sized in check!
- Vegetable Stir-Fry: Mix colorful vegetables with tofu or chicken and stir-fry in olive oil.
- Quinoa Salad: Quinoa with diced cucumbers, tomatoes, and feta cheese.
- Baked Sweet Potato: Top with black beans, salsa, and a dollop of Greek yogurt.
- Grilled Chicken Wrap: Whole grain wrap with grilled chicken, lettuce, and tomato.
- Vegetarian Chili: Combine beans, tomatoes, vegetables, and spices for a hearty chili.
- Tuna Salad Lettuce Wraps: Mix canned tuna with chopped celery, onions, and a bit of mayo, then wrap in lettuce leaves.
- Pasta with Marinara and Vegetables: Whole wheat pasta with tomato sauce and sautéed vegetables.
- Egg Fried Rice: Brown rice stir-fried with mixed vegetables and scrambled eggs.
- Cottage Cheese with Pineapple: Cottage cheese with fresh pineapple chunks.
- Vegetable Omelette: Whisk eggs and cook with diced vegetables for a quick omelette.
Do you have any New Year's resolutions this year? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to share your favorite healthy meal or snack idea!
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