It’s the new year, and many people want to start it off right! One of the best ways to do that is to make sure you’re taking care of yourself. So we put together this list of easy and healthy recipes for you to give you a place to start.
Something to remember: losing weight is a worthy goal, but you don’t want to do it by severely limiting your calorie intake. If you do, your body will go into survival mode and resist dropping those pounds. The best way to lose weight is to do it gradually, by eating whole foods that provide the nutrition you need. You can even work in an occasional treat and still get in shape.
Alright, let’s get to some recipes!
Breakfast
Eating a healthy breakfast should be part of a morning ritual of taking good care of yourself. Here are some quick and easy recipes to get you going each day.
Bacon and Cheese Muffin
Yes, we said muffin! This is an easy and quick way to make your eggs in the morning. Just whip up eggs with some water or milk, cheese and crumbled bacon. Add diced onion and pepper, and season to taste. It’s about one egg per muffin cup, all the rest of the ingredients you can measure with your heart. Pour into a greased muffin tin (or use liners) mo more than 3/4 full and cook at 350 degrees. In 12-14 minutes, you’ll have a warm, handheld breakfast that’s easy to take with you on the go.
You can make these on a Sunday night and store them in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container. A quick zap and they’re ready to enjoy.
Egg-and-Cheese Baked Potato
This is a great idea for using up leftover baked potatoes. Beat one large egg and cook it in a non-stick pan with a teaspoon of butter. Add salt and pepper, then spoon into a small split baked potato you warmed up. Add a tablespoon of shredded cheddar and a few scallions to the top.
Peanut Butter and Fruit English Muffin
Easiest breakfast ever… spread each side of a warm English muffin with a half-teaspoon of peanut butter and layer sliced bananas on top of them. Serve with a large slice of melon or a serving of berries on the side.
Yogurt and Granola
Another super easy breakfast! Greek yogurt and some homemade granola make for a filling and protein-packed start to your day. Add some berries for freshness.
Lunch
This meal can derail your healthy eating plan because it’s so easy to grab fast food when you’re busy working. Here are a couple of easy recipes for a healthy and delicious lunch.
Tomato Sandwich with Herbed Cheese Spread
Tomato sandwiches are delicious, but you want to have something savoury that will fill you up as well. The perfect solution is to add a homemade herbed cheese spread. Add two tablespoons of it to wheat toast and layer with freshly sliced tomatoes. If you’re packing lunches these days, keep the ingredients in separate containers and assemble it when you’re ready to eat. For a little treat, have a small banana and a square or two of dark chocolate.
Crustless Lunch Quiche
This is a variation on the egg muffin, and you can make it in a variety of ways. This time, you’ll use two eggs and an oven-safe dish. Mix the eggs with a teaspoon of water and a tablespoon each of shredded cheese and either ham or bacon. Add low-calorie diced veggies like artichokes, spinach and squash, and season to taste. You could also add some diced ham or cooked bacon pieces. Cook for 12-15 minutes at 350 degrees or for three minutes in the microwave. Enjoy with a salad on the side.
Dinner
The pressure cooker or crockpot is your friend when it comes to easily prepared healthy recipes for dinner.
Slow-Cooked Pork Tacos with Cilantro Lime Yogurt
Place a small pork roast and a cup of water in the crockpot in the morning and set it at a low temperature. Season to taste. Now, you can prep the other toppings the night before or cut them up at dinner time. Here’s what you’ll need: a cup each of shredded cabbage, diced tomatoes, chopped cilantro, and some shredded cheese. When it’s time to get dinner together, shred the pork with a couple of forks; it should just fall apart!
The last item required for toppings will be your cilantro lime sauce. On low speed in a blender, mix a cup of low-fat plain Greek yogurt with a quarter-cup of diced cilantro and the juice of one lime. Use whatever tortillas you like and enjoy! This is a healthy, whole-food choice that will add protein to your diet and satisfy your appetite.
Chicken Noodle (or Rice) Soup
Combine one pound of chicken breast, with about two cups of celery, carrots, onion and some minced garlic in your slow cooker. Add thyme, rosemary and some salt. Cover with about 8 cups of chicken broth or stock and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.
In the last 15 minutes of cooking time, shred the chicken breast and add some egg noodles or rice. Finish cooking and enjoy! You can also dice the chicken if you prefer bite-sized chunks instead of shredded.
As you can see, you don’t have to give up your favourite foods to eat sensibly. It takes a little time and planning to make the right choices, but you can definitely lose weight and eat well at the same time.
And if you’re looking for something to try on your cheat days, take a look at these 5 Fabulous Bruch Recipes – the blueberry-pecan bread pudding is sooooo yummy!
