Now, the best healthy dinner recipes are the ones that are quick and easy to make no matter what! Whether you are in college, or in post grad life, you may be always looking for the healthy dinner recipes on a budget. Here are my best meal prep tips, tricks and ideas!

This post is all about healthy dinner recipes.

 

 

Best Healthy Dinner Recipes

 

First of all, here is an example of a 1500 calories meal plan I used when I needed my healthy dinner recipes. You do not need to use this!. Now this lists most of my meals that I would try to prep for throughout the week and day. This meal plan really makes a lot of examples for what you can use for all of your meals.

First off, the best type of healthy dinner recipes and meals are the ones that can be done in minutes. Here are the four parts of dinner you should get to think about everyday:

1. Protein

Like I said, the exact measurements are below. However, protein for dinner I like to focus on 4-5 ounces of protein especially when I am trying to be healthier. This can be salmon, chicken, beef, pork etc. I like to use salmon and season with lemon pepper, salt, garlic powder, cajun powder, and fresh lemon juice and throw it in the air fryer. Usually it should be cooked in about 12 minutes at 400 degrees. Definitely, switch up your source of protein every night and you will never have a boring healthy dinner recipe!!

Example: when meal prepping,  focus on precooking meat, rice and vegetables. Now, this is a great way to lessen the time and effort it takes you when you are preparing your healthy lunches and dinner.

2. Carbs

Second, for dinner, I like to use about 1/2 cup of jasmine rice and this is just what works for me. Focus on what works for you and your goals for nutrition. Other carbs: 1/2 cup of potatoes, 1/2 cup of cooked pasta, 1/2 cup of brown rice, etc!

Like I said, be flexible in your meal prep and what works for you!

3. Fat

Third, fats are where you can get very creative in my opinion. This can be salad dressing, mayo, avocado, cheese, etc! I like to change this option up almost every meal. Just because I get tired of eating the same thing. Incorporating fats is very important when you are thinking about healthy dinner recipes and even healthy lunch recipes.

4. Greens

Finally, meal prepping vegetables is the easiest thing in my opinion. I like to saute them in olive oil spray OR throw them in the air fryer. Generally, my rule is usually about 1 cup of vegetables, but seriously do what works best for you!!

Now, here are some examples of vegetables:

• Broccoli
• Onions
• Cauliflower
• Spinach
• Kale
• Beets
• Red Pepper
• Poblano Peppers

Seasoning: Salt, Pepper, Paprika, Onion/Garlic Powder, Red Crushed Pepper, Cayenne for a kick if you want!

Final Tips: I do agree that when you are thinking about healthy meal plans and healthy dinner recipes, you should definitely be planning in advance to make sure that you are doing what works for you and your home/family. Whether it be for yourself, or a significant other, and/or kids, etc! Just make sure you are planning on what you want to be eating and doing for that week especially.

 

FINALLY: HEALTHY DINNER RECIPES –

1. CHICKEN + RICE + PEPPERS + BLACK BEANS WITH SALSA BOWLS
2. SALMON + RICE + AVOCADO + EGG
3. TACO SALAD BOWLS – LETTUCE, TOMATOES, CHEESE, SALSA, BEEF!!
4. PROTEIN PASTA WITH PARMESAN CRUSTED CHICKEN
5. CHICKEN, PEPPERS, CHEESE QUESADILLA

 

Finally, good luck and happy first post of 2022 🙂

{RELATED POST: The Pantry Staples List Everyone Needs in Their First Home}

 

 

 

Meal Plan:

Example Day 1: 

Breakfast: 

• One cup yogurt, One small banana or 1 cup berries
• One oz turkey sausage, 2 slices of 45 calorie bread, 1 apple, 2 tbsp cream cheese
• A packet of oatmeal with 1 cup of fruit

Lunch: 

• 3 ounces of fish/chicken/beef, 
• 1 cup of white rice 
• 1 cup of vegetables (spinach, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, onions, beets)
•  ¼ slice of avocado 

Dinner:

• 4 ounces of chicken/fish/pork 
• ½ cup of potatoes 
• 1 cup of vegetables or 1 cup of mixed greens salad
• 2 tbls of hummus or mayo

2 snacks of the day: 

• 1 cup of fruit, 
• 1 fiber one bar,
•  3 cups of air popped popcorn, 
• 2 tbsp of guac and 1 cup of raw veggies (peppers, cucumbers)
• One ounce of 70% dark chocolate 
• ½ PBJ sandwich

Example Day 2:

Breakfast: 

• One cup yogurt, 1 small banana or 1 cup berries
• One oz turkey sausage, 2 slices of 45 calorie bread, 1 apple, 2 tbsp cream cheese
• One packet of oatmeal with 1 cup of fruit

Lunch: 

• 2 ounces of fish/chicken/beef
• One ounce of cheese
• 1 low carb tortilla 
• One cup of vegetables (spinach, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, onions, beets)
• 1 cup berries/grapes/melon
•  ¼ slice of avocado or mayo 

Dinner:

• 3 ounces of chicken/fish/pork 
• 1 oz cheese
• ½ cup of cooked pasta 
• 1 cup of vegetables or 1 cup of mixed greens salad
• ½ tomato sauce

2 snacks of the day: 

• One cup of fruit
• One fiber one bar
•  3 cups of air popped popcorn
• 2 tbsp of guac and 1 cup of raw veggies (peppers, cucumbers)
• One ounce of 70% dark chocolate 
• ½ PBJ sandwich

Example Day 3:

Breakfast: 

• 1 cup yogurt, one small banana or 1 cup berries
• One oz turkey sausage, 2 slices of 45 calorie bread, 1 apple, two tbsp cream cheese
• One packet of oatmeal with 1 cup of fruit

Lunch: 

• 3 oz chicken/fish/beef/pork
• A cup of potatoes
• 1 cup of vegetables (spinach, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, onions, beets)
• One cup berries/grapes/melon
•  ¼ slice of avocado or mayo 

Dinner:

• 3 ounces of chicken/fish/pork/beef
• 1 oz cheese
• ½ cup of rice
• 1 cup of vegetables or 1 cup of mixed greens salad
• ¼ avocado

2 snacks of the day: 

• 1 cup of fruit
• 1 fiber one bar
•  3 cups of air popped popcorn
• 2 tbsp of guac and 1 cup of raw veggies (peppers, cucumbers)
• One ounce of 70% dark chocolate 
• ½ PBJ sandwich