10 Healthy Dinner Ideas You Should Try at Home
If you ask almost anyone, they’ll tell you that they want to eat healthily. Seventy-five percent of Americans even believe they do eat a healthy diet.
But, is this actually true? The research suggests otherwise.
For example, one survey found that a whopping 90 percent of Americans don’t eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables each day.
If you’re interested in improving your diet and making sure you and your loved ones are getting all of the nutrients you need, keep reading.
Listed below are ten healthy dinner ideas that you and your family will love!
Where to Find New Recipes
These days, it’s easier than ever to find healthy, simple recipes.
Check out recipes blogs like The Kitchen Magpie for inspiration, or peruse Pinterest for healthy renditions of your old favorites. It’s easy to filter these sites so you only find recipes that meet your dietary needs and other preferences.
Prefer classic cookbooks? Head to your local bookstore and peruse a couple to see if they have recipes that you would like to recreate at home.
You can also use the meal ideas listed below to help you get started.
Top Ten Healthy Dinner Ideas
Now, let’s get into the food. Listed below are ten dinner ideas that are simple to put together but will taste like you’ve been in the kitchen all day.
1. Steak or Chicken with Zucchini Noodles
If you’re looking for an easy way to lighten up your favorite dishes, consider swapping out regular pasta for zucchini noodles. Zucchini noodles are still filling, but they won’t leave you feeling sluggish or bloated the way traditional pasta can.
Zucchini noodles are also incredibly versatile. Toss them with some soy sauce or peanut sauce and add some steak to make a quick stir-fry, or serve them with chicken and marinara sauce for a twist on classic spaghetti.
2. Shrimp or Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Another easy swap to try is switching out tortillas for lettuce wraps.
Instead of chowing down on tacos made with carb-heavy tortillas, wrap your chicken or grilled shrimp in an iceberg or romaine lettuce leaf. You’ll still get all the flavor without a bunch of unwanted calories.
3. BBQ Chicken Foil Packets
This is a simple, hands-off way to cook chicken on the grill or in the oven.
Douse some chicken in your favorite low-sugar barbecue sauce, then add your favorite vegetables — bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, and squash are all good options. You can also add pineapple if you want something sweet thrown into the mix.
Once everything is mixed together, wrap each serving in tin foil and toss it in the oven or on the grill for 20-25 minutes.
4. Simple Baked Salmon
It wouldn’t be a list of healthy dinner ideas without a simple salmon recipe. One of the easiest ways to cook salmon is to wrap it in foil and cook it in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 25 minutes. Add some fresh lemon and garlic for a simple, fresh flavor.
5. Crockpot Chicken
It doesn’t get any easier than a crockpot meal.
For this recipe, place 1-1 1/2 pounds of chicken pieces (breasts and thighs work best) in the crockpot and add water or chicken broth until all the pieces are covered. Top with your favorite seasoning blend and cook on high for 5-6 hours or low for about 8 hours.
Pair with some steamed or roasted veggies and you’re good to go!
6. Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice
Lettuce wraps are a great alternative for tortillas, and cauliflower is a great substitute for regular white rice.
To make this simple, Asian-inspired dish, add a few cups of cauliflower rice (you can make your own or buy it pre-riced at the grocery store) to a pan with some coconut oil or butter. Mix in some soy sauce, vegetables of choice, diced chicken, and eggs and you’ll have a delicious meal in minutes.
You can swap out the chicken for ham or another meat, or use tofu for a vegetarian dish.
7. Chickpea Soup
What’s better than coming home to a hot bowl of soup on a cold day. Be sure to have this easy vegetarian recipe on hand for when fall and winter roll around.
Combine two cans of chickpeas with olive oil, canned tomatoes, vegetable broth, and your favorite seasonings (garlic, parsley, cayenne, and paprika all taste great in this dish) and let simmer on the stove for 30-40 minutes.
8. Omelets
Who says you can’t have breakfast for dinner? Eggs are a great protein source and omelets are a great vehicle for veggies and your other favorite mix-ins.
Set up a bunch of different veggies and let your kids personalize their omelet any way they’d like. You can always mix in some leftover meat, too, if you’d like.
Just take care not to overcook your eggs and your family will love having this simple dinner on repeat.
9. Chickpea Burgers
Another great vegetarian option, this dish is perfect for those who want to enjoy a meat-free burger on a warm summer night.
To make these burgers, add a can of rinsed and drained chickpeas to a food processor along with grated carrot, diced onion, breadcrumbs, and your favorite seasoning (garlic, cumin, and coriander all taste great). Mix the ingredients together, then form into patties and cook in a frying pan with butter or olive oil.
10. Spaghetti Squash Casserole
An easy way to add more vegetables to your family’s diet is to make your favorite casseroles with spaghetti squash instead of regular noodles.
For this casserole, simply saute diced carrots, diced onions, crushed tomatoes, basil, oregano, and garlic. Then, combine with some spaghetti squash in a casserole dish and top with your favorite cheese. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
You can add chicken, ground beef, or sausage to increase the protein content of this dish.
Want to Learn More?
You’ve got a bunch of healthy dinner ideas to get you started, but, now, you might be interested in tackling other aspects of your diet and lifestyle.
Do you want to learn more about cleaning up your diet or boosting your health? If so, check out our health and fitness blog posts today for the latest tips and tricks.
