Fit + Fab: Healthy Dinner Suggestions

When it comes to eating a healthy dinner, I try to have a plan in mind each week. It helps me to stick to a healthy calorie count and insures I am getting the nutrients I need to live a healthy lifestyle! Here are the steps I follow:

1. Determine what my week looks like. Under normal circumstances, I travel a lot and have plenty of lunch-time meetings, so on the days I know I may be eating not-so-great due to travel or prior commitments, I really try to cook a healthy dinner. Since times have changed and we are all eating at home much more often, I like to focus on healthy dinners as the mainstay all week long. This usually involves a lot of fresh veggies, some olive oil and a lean protein. All good for you ingredients, fueling your body in the way it needs!
2. Look up a new recipe to try out each week. I love to cook, it is a fun, creative outlet for me, so I try to find a new, easy and healthy dinner recipe every week or so, to try out. Now more than ever I am finding myself not only trying new recipes, but revisiting some that I may not have made recently, or tweaking ones my family loves with ingredients I have on hand. But when I try a new recipe, I make sure to list out all the ingredients and make sure I have them or can get them... then that meal is the highlight meal of the week! (You can use my Meal Planner in my 10-Week Plan for recipe ideas - all are healthy and delicious!!)
3. Make a recipe on Monday that I can easily use in different ways the next few nights. For instance, if I cook up some ground chicken or turkey for a pasta sauce for a Monday dinner, I'll then use some of the reserve meat for a hearty grain bowl on Tuesday, and a stir fry on Wednesday. This way I am not boring the family with the same leftovers, while also not wasting food an minimizing grocery trips... a win-win!

That said, I do keep a handful of pantry staples around, so I can make those go-to meals that my family loves. Here is my list of Healthy Dinner Suggestions and some recipes I use them in, courtesy of my Stop The Clock Nutrition Plan:

• Extra virgin olive oil. Heart healthy, I use this on most everything that calls for oil!
• Lemons. Lemons add so much flavor and life to dishes - especially leftovers! I use lemons as a garnish and flavor enhancer in my Rosemary Chicken with Roasted Root Vegetables recipe.
• Avocados. A healthy fat, sometimes I just add a scoop to whatever dinner I am making! And if you are looking for a wonderful guacamole recipe, start your free trial of my Plan - it's part of my member's-only recipes!
• Kale or spinach. Dark leafy greens for dinner salads or sides - I almost always add to pasta dishes. This Italian Stuffed Peppers with Sautéed Spinach is a wonderful vegetarian meal my family loves.. and includes spinach!
• Garlic. I love this natural anti-inflammatory and use it all the time! My Heavenly Turkey-Kale Meatballs call for fresh garlic - give them a try!
• Sweet potatoes. A perfect sweet treat or substitute for white potatoes. My 10-Week Plan has a delicious Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes with Grass Fed Beef recipe - start your free trial to access it today!
• Carrots, onions and celery. Kitchen staples we should all have on hand to add classic flavor to almost any dish. I use all of these in soups, stews, stir fry and more.
• Quinoa. I love this protein-rich food, and use it in salads, casseroles and more. My Plan has a delicious Mediterranean Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas recipe that is a filling dinner option.
• Organic, omega-3 enriched eggs. A quick, inexpensive way to get protein and omega-3s. I love whipping up breakfast for dinner - a good omelette with lots of veggies and a sprinkle of cheese, or fried egg sandwiches (use whole grain bread, add some avocado and arugula plus a squeeze of lemon - delicious)!
• Pre-roasted chicken from the grocery store. Good to have on hand for healthy meals, fast. I use the chicken breast in my Chicken No-Fried Rice recipe (you can also substitute tofu!).
• Basil (a source of antioxidants and antibacterial properties) can be added to red sauces and sprinkled on top of soup for a fresh flavor. Try my Chicken Piccata Recipe!

I hope these ideas and recipes encourage to cook more healthy, budget friendly meals at home!