Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
After any celebration, you may be ready for something a little lighter after enjoying all of your favorite holiday dishes. These healthy meals are perfect for getting back into your routine, with options for breakfast, lunch and dinner that are all under 500 calories per serving. Packed with fiber-rich vegetables and lean proteins, these recipes are satisfying and nutritious. Try our Chicken Hummus Bowls or Linguine with Creamy Mushroom Sauce for flavorful meals you’ll look forward to after the holiday.
Never Lose a Recipe Again!
Keep all of your recipes at your fingertips. With the MyRecipes app you can easily save and organize your favorites from anywhere, including Instagram and TikTok, in one convenient place. Get the free app.
01 of 30
Cabbage-Lentil Soup
This Cabbage-Lentil Soup Is Packed with Fiber
This hearty cabbage-lentil soup is packed with tender vegetables and lentils in a savory, smoky broth. A splash of white-wine vinegar brightens the flavors, while fresh parsley adds a fresh finish. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s an easy option for a satisfying lunch or dinner.
02 of 30
Chicken Hummus Bowls
View Recipe
The spiced chicken atop these bowls is ready fast with the help of the broiler. Serve with warm whole-wheat pita for scooping up extra hummus at the bottom of the bowl.
03 of 30
Linguine with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
View
The creamy mushroom linguine is ready in 40 minutes, so it’s quick enough for an easy weeknight recipe but feels fancy enough for entertaining.
04 of 30
Spinach-Mushroom Frittata with Avocado Salad
View Recipe
Frittatas are like omelets, only easier—and they taste great hot, warm or cold. This vegetable-packed version is spiked with flavor and paired with a cool salad of lemony cucumbers and tomatoes with creamy avocado. This easy recipe is perfect for brunch, lunch or dinner!
05 of 30
Baked Halibut with Brussels Sprouts & Quinoa
View Recipe
Fish plus two sides? It seems fancy, but this healthy dinner comes together in just 30 minutes.
06 of 30
Scallion-Ginger Beef & Broccoli
Whip up a chef-quality stir-fry recipe at home. This beef and broccoli stir-fry packs in the vegetables and takes just 30 minutes to prep. Ginger, which adds a lively kick to this stir-fry, has long been touted for its power to settle stomachs. But that’s not its only superpower: preliminary research suggests it may improve blood sugar and inflammation too.
View Recipe
07 of 30
Sheet-Pan Ratatouille
View Recipe
Ratatouille is a type of veggie-forward, Provençal-style stew. Our sheet-pan ratatouille features tangy goat cheese and sweet balsamic glaze that complement the tender charred vegetables. Bake the tomatoes on a separate pan so that the steam from the tomatoes won’t steam the other vegetables.
08 of 30
Weight-Loss Cabbage Soup
View Recipe
Loaded with cabbage, carrots, bell pepper, tomato and plenty of seasoning, this healthy vegetable soup packs in lots of flavor and is ultra-satisfying the way comfort food should be. This easy recipe makes a big batch for lunches or veggie-packed snacks all week. If you want to bump up the satisfaction factor even more, feel free to add other vegetables like green beans or squash.
09 of 30
Roasted Salmon with Smoky Chickpeas & Greens
View Recipe
In this healthy salmon dinner, you’ll get a dose of greens and green dressing! Chowing down on six or more servings of dark leafy greens a week can help keep your brain in top shape. This dish features the Test Kitchen’s current go-to method for doctoring a can of chickpeas: spice them up and roast until crispy.
10 of 30
Avocado & Kale Omelet
View Recipe
Move over, avocado toast. Top a high-protein omelet with avocado and fiber-rich kale and you’ll keep hunger at bay for longer whether you have it for breakfast or you’re serving it as a healthy dinner.
11 of 30
White Bean & Veggie Salad
View Recipe
This recipe can be a meatless main-dish salad or a satisfying side dish. It combines creamy, satisfying white beans and avocado. Try mixing it up with different seasonal vegetables.
12 of 30
Quinoa Chickpea Salad with Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Dressing
View Recipe
This hearty vegan salad is loaded with plant-based power ingredients: chickpeas, quinoa and hummus. We love the crunch of the sunflower seeds and the unexpected flavor of roasted peppers for this meal that can be on the table in 20 minutes.
13 of 30
Spaghetti Squash with Roasted Tomatoes, Beans & Almond Pesto
View Recipe
Looking at a tangle of spaghetti squash tricks your brain into thinking you’re about to eat a serving of eggy noodles, when in fact, you get a nice calorie and carb savings in this healthy recipe. Giving tomatoes a stint in a hot oven makes them candy-sweet.
14 of 30
Healthy Detox Salad
View Recipe
Skip the cleanse and make this part of your healthy meal plan. Packed with veggies, avocado and seeds, this healthy salad recipe is bursting with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Everything can be prepared ahead of time except the avocado. If you love beets, shred one raw and add it to the salad for extra color, crunch and flavor.
15 of 30
Veggie & Hummus Sandwich
View Recipe
This mile-high vegetable and hummus sandwich makes the perfect heart-healthy vegetarian lunch to go. Mix it up with different flavors of hummus and different types of vegetables depending on your mood.
16 of 30
Roasted Pistachio-Crusted Salmon with Broccoli
View Recipe
This easy one-pan roasted salmon with broccoli is quick enough for busy weeknight dinners but elegant enough for company. The lemony pistachio crust would also be lovely on other types of fish or chicken breasts.
17 of 30
Spaghetti Squash & Chicken with Avocado Pesto
View Recipe
Give pesto pasta a healthy makeover with this easy recipe that combines low-carb spaghetti squash with high-protein chicken breast. Top this powerhouse combo with homemade basil pesto that gets a creamy upgrade from ripe avocados to complete a mouthwatering chicken dinner.
18 of 30
Arugula Salad with Roasted Pork Tenderloin, Pears & Blue Cheese
View Recipe
Toasted walnuts and roasted pork tenderloin make this elegant salad worthy of company, yet it’s easy enough to prepare on a weeknight!
19 of 30
Zucchini Noodles with Avocado Pesto & Shrimp
View Recipe
Cut some carbs and use spiralized zucchini in place of noodles in this zesty pesto pasta dish recipe. Top with Cajun-seasoned shrimp to complete this quick and easy dinner.
20 of 30
Spaghetti Squash with Tomato Basil Sauce
View Recipe
Swapping spaghetti squash for pasta is a great way to cut back on carbs and calories in this saucy vegan dinner. Here, we have tossed the squash with a simple fresh tomato sauce. Jazz up the sauce with crushed red pepper flakes, Kalamata olives and/or capers, if you like.
21 of 30
Slow-Cooker Vegetable & Chicken Meatball Soup
View Recipe
Don’t skip cooking the onions for the meatballs. This step softens the onions so they more easily add their sweet flavor to the meatball mixture. Best part? This slow-cooker meatball soup only requires 25 minutes of hands-on time.
22 of 30
Garlic Roasted Salmon & Brussels Sprouts
View Recipe
Roasting salmon on top of Brussels sprouts and garlic, flavored with wine and fresh oregano, is simple enough for a weeknight meal yet sophisticated enough to serve to company. Serve with whole-wheat couscous.
23 of 30
Roasted Root Veggies & Greens over Spiced Lentils
View Recipe
This earthy bowl of lentils bursting with Middle Eastern flavors is topped with leftover roasted root veggies from a large batch for an easy weeknight dinner. Keep it vegan or add a drizzle of plain yogurt for extra richness.
24 of 30
Kale & Roasted Sweet Potato Hash
View Recipe
This one-pan hash makes an easy fall dinner or a simple dish for a healthy brunch. You can even poach the eggs ahead of time—slip them into steaming-hot water to rewarm them just before serving.
25 of 30
Brussels Sprouts Salad with Crunchy Chickpeas
View Recipe
This healthy high-fiber salad comes together in just 10 minutes. Serve it right away or pack it in individual servings for four super-satisfying high-fiber lunches for the week ahead. To cut down on prep time, we’re using preshredded Brussels sprouts from the produce department and store-bought roasted chickpeas. Look for roasted chickpea snacks with the healthy snacks or nuts at your grocery store.
26 of 30
Rainbow Grain Bowl with Cashew Tahini Sauce
View Recipe
This vibrant bowl is packed with nutrients to keep you full for hours. Look for precooked lentils in the refrigerated section of the produce department.
27 of 30
Slow-Cooker Italian Vegetable & Farro Soup
View Recipe
The farro—an ancient whole grain rich in iron and fiber—and butternut squash make this slow-cooker soup hearty and filling. If you’re looking for an easy way to work whole grains into your diet, this is it.
28 of 30
Date & Pine Nut Overnight Oatmeal
View Recipe
Chopped dates, honey and cinnamon provide natural sweetness to these overnight oats, and pine nuts balance each bite.
29 of 30
Chickpea, Artichoke & Avocado Salad with Apple-Cider Dressing
View Recipe
This salad is a helpful tool for weight loss because it provides a good balance of fiber, protein and healthy fats from loads of veggies and beans, all tossed in a tangy apple-cider vinaigrette. To meal-prep these for lunch throughout the week, pack the dressing and the salad separately and make sure your veggies are thoroughly dried before packing them together.
30 of 30
Baked Spinach & Feta Spaghetti Squash Nests
These Baked Spinach & Feta Spaghetti Squash Nests Are Cheesy, Veggie-Packed Perfection
Credit: Photographer: Victor Protasio.
These baked spaghetti squash nests are filled with a savory combination of white beans, spinach and feta for a satisfying vegetarian dinner. Roasting the squash in rings creates individual portions, while crushed red pepper adds a touch of heat and fresh basil lends a bright finish.
Read the original article on EatingWell