Healthy food recipes make it simple to follow a diet rich in vegetables, whole grains and lean protein while simultaneously cutting back on saturated fat, added sugars and salt for weight loss.
Opting for low-fat cooking methods such as boiling and steaming will help lower fat intake while frying can produce chemicals linked to cancer risk.
Chicken Shawarma Bowls
Shawarma is an immensely popular Middle Eastern street food, where tender meat like lamb or chicken seasoned with spices, lemon juice and olive oil is grilled on a rotating spit before being combined with all sorts of sauces, vegetables and pickles. Shawarma bowls typically include grilled chicken with tomatoes, cucumber salad, shredded romaine leaves, Lebanese hummus and drizzled garlic sauce – you can even prepare all these components ahead of time using meal prep containers until ready to assemble them for weeknight dinners!
This simple yet delicious chicken shawarma recipe is a quick and delicious one pan meal that comes together quickly! Perfect for entertaining family dinners and lunches alike. Try serving alongside some fiber-rich grains such as couscous or brown rice for even more fiber and nutrients in this satisfying vegan dish! Creamy hummus and pickled red onions add the perfect finishing touches!
Butternut Squash Soup
Roasting butternut squash is the key to this flavorful and comforting soup. Caramelization amplifies its natural sweetness and flavors, calling on only additional simple ingredients such as onions, garlic, ginger root and salt/pepper as additional necessities for an authentic autumn/winter dish.
Place cubed roasted butternut squash, apple, chicken broth and spices into a blender and puree until silky smooth. Transfer into a pot over medium heat and bring back to a boil before taste-testing for seasoning with salt and pepper as necessary.
This recipe pairs nicely with any hearty bread for dipping, or can simply be served with croutons, black pepper and heavy cream drizzled on top. Additionally, this soup would pair nicely with our Kale Crunch Salad or Brussels Sprout Cranberry Salad; alternatively you could garnish your soup with some roasted pumpkin seeds, fried sage leaves or crumbled oven bacon to complete your bowl!
Yellow Chicken Curry
Yellow curry features succulent chicken pieces and tasty bites of potato and carrot enrobed in an irresistibly rich coconut milk sauce, creating all the flavors found in take-out Thai food without all of the excess calories and fat content. Easy to make at home and even tastes better the following day!
Turmeric gives this dish its vibrant yellow hue. You can purchase pre-made curry powder or buy fresh turmeric root and grate it yourself; both options have anti-inflammatory properties while adding incredible flavor!
Although this recipe calls for chicken, vegan-friendly versions can easily substitute cooked chickpeas or tofu instead if that’s what suits you better. Just ensure to use yellow curry paste without fish sauce in it as well as searching out vegan-friendly products in your local grocery store.
Serve this tasty yellow curry over rice, zoodles or spaghetti squash to enjoy the added benefits! Plus it reheats wonderfully when stored in an airtight container before warming gently on the stove before eating!
Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry
This chicken stir fry recipe offers protein from lean chicken breast and broccoli for maximum nutrition and flavor! Broccoli boasts significant vitamin K and C content as well as potassium, folate and dietary fiber content.
Add broccoli florets to a saucepan of hot oil, toss, and cook over high heat until tender – this will save time when making other ingredients!
Mix together in a large bowl the soy sauce, sugar, cornstarch and water until well mixed; this will form the brown sauce base.
Add garlic and ginger, stirring to mix them well before adding sauce and simmering it until thickened.
Now add in the chicken and vegetables, toss to coat in sauce and serve over rice (or for those on low carb diets try cauliflower rice!). This chicken and broccoli stir fry makes an easy weeknight dinner or can even be frozen and meal prepped! Just be sure that all chicken pieces are cut similarly so they cook at equal speeds when reheated!
