Eating healthy can be tough; during the week, you just want something easy to eat, but you know you should take good care of yourself. The problem is, you've already had chicken and veggies four times in the last couple of days, and you're beyond tired of your go-to salmon and rice bowls.
Don't worry! There are so many balanced, wholesome dinners you can whip up without putting too much effort into it. These recipes don't have any specific diets in mind, so feel free to adapt as necessary to fit your protein-carb-fat preferences.
1. Soba Noodle Salad with Caramelized Chicken and Chili Oil
Want something fresh? This crunchy, tart, sweet and salty "salad" is delightful hot or cold (and topped with avocado, if you're in the mood), so make sure to save some leftovers for lunch.
2. Easy Burrito Bowls
With black beans and avocado, this dish is pretty filling as is, but if you want to add more fixings, you can dump some tequila lime chicken (recipe here) or tofu (recipe here), cubed roasted sweet potatoes, sauteed bell peppers, onions, cheese or anything else that goes well in a burrito. If you want to make things even healthier, you can use your favorite whole grain like brown rice or quinoa, and you can swap out the sour cream for plain yogurt.
3. Slow Cooker Eggplant Parm
You'll be surprised at how amazing eggplant parm is, even without the frying. Bonus: This recipe only takes 10 minutes to prep!
4. Whole Wheat Tortilla Pizzas with Arugula + Prosciutto
You totally don't need to sacrifice your cravings if you are looking to eat healthy but are also in the mood for pizza. Grab your favorite whole wheat tortilla and get moving. We love keeping it simple with salty, savory prosciutto and bright, pepper arugula, but you're more than welcome to top with whatever you want.
5. Indian Turkey Meatballs Over Rice
Easy, flavorful and delicious! Want to up the nutrition of this meal? Toss a handful of fresh spinach into the meatball + sauce mixture a few minutes before you are done simmering.
6. Pistachio Pesto Chicken with Whole Wheat Spaghetti
Sear the chicken properly, so that it gets a little crispy on the outside -- or even just grab scraps from a rotisserie chicken and smother it with pesto. We adore this pistachio version, though this dish would also be delicious with any variety, even jarred pesto.
7. Rainbow Spring Rolls with Ginger Peanut Sauce
These bright, light, crunchy spring rolls are the perfect light lunch or dinner. We are hooked on the fresh mango chunks in here -- just keep in mind that the fruit's acidity might eat through the rice paper if you leave it long enough, so leave it on the side if you're bringing these rolls for lunch.