Loosing weight and getting fit is a dream for everyone. To be healthy, active and happy with your physical appearance is something we all want to achieve, but the truth of the matter is that it takes hard work and discipline. We can not expect instant results from our efforts at staying fit. So how do you lose weight without starving yourself? Our advice: eat healthier! Have a look at this list of 5 best healthy recipes for weight loss and get started today on a path to a fitter and better version of you.
1) Steamed Tilapia with Gingery Bok Choy
Tilapia is an great choice for those looking to eat healthy – its mild and lean with a very subtle flavor. This recipe for steamed tilapia is simple and quick – less than ten minutes and you will have a fresh and tasty meal!
Ingredients:
(Serves 2)
– 1 teaspoon of olive oil
– 1/2 teaspoon of salt
– A few grinds of black pepper
– 4 large stalks bok choy, cut into 1-inch pieces (save the tops somewhere else for another dish)
– 3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed through a garlic press
– ½ cup water
– 8 ounces tilapia fillets
Preparation:
Using your hands, mix together the salt and pepper in a small bowl.
Toss the bok choy in the mixture and shake off any excess.
Add oil to a non-stick skillet set over medium-high heat, swirling to coat the bottom of the pan.
Once it starts to shimmer, add bok choy – stems first & flat side down – and cook for a minute or two until they begin to brown along the edge. 3) Add garlic and water then cover with lid.
Reduce heat to low and let simmer until bok choy is crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.
Transfer bok choy with all its juices to a plate or shallow bowl, leaving as much liquid behind in the pan as possible.
Pat dry tilapia fillets with paper towels then place them on top of the bok choy.
Cover with lid and steam for about 4 minutes until the fish is flaky and cooked through.
Serve!
2) Grilled Shrimp Guacamole Salad
Shrimp are low in calories, but full of protein which helps you stay full all day long. They are high in vitamin D, selenium, iodine, calcium, iron, zinc and magnesium which also makes them great for people who are trying to lose weight since this type of minerals help burn fat faster.
The combination of avocado, tomato and garlic provides a perfect blend of flavors that will have you hooked on this healthy dish idea.
Serves: 2
Ingredients
– 3 oz grilled shrimp (we recommend precooking your shrimp since you can’t do it while the shrimp are on the grill)
– 1 tablespoon of lime juice
– ½ avocado, pitted and skin removed
– 1 medium tomato, chopped
– ¼ tsp garlic powder
– Salt to taste
Preparation:
Combine all ingredients into a large bowl and mash with a fork until desired consistency is achieved.
Serve with your favorite low-carb tortilla chips or vegetables!
3) Chicken Avocado Salad
This chicken salad recipe is one of our favorite healthy dinner ideas ! It’s made with fresh chunks of chicken breast, ripe avocado cubes and crumbled cheese sprinkled throughout so every bite is full of flavor. Plus, super simple to make – just toss everything together in a bowl and you’re good to go!
Ingredients:
(Serves 3)
1 pound of chicken breast (3 breasts), skin removed and cut into small cubes
1 tablespoon of minced cilantro
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
Salt & pepper to taste
1 avocado, cubed
½ cup of crumbled queso fresco or goat cheese
Preparation:
Combine the chicken cubes with lemon juice, salt and pepper in a medium bowl and mix until all the cubes are covered.
Set aside for 5 minutes so they can marinate.
Add the chopped avocado, queso blanco and cilantro to the bowl.
Toss well then spoon onto plates and serve as a main dish or side salad .
4) Grilled Zucchini Roll-Ups
Like rice paper rolls, these Grilled Zucchini Roll-Ups are a healthy and light dish that you can easily make for a party or a weeknight dinner . It’s super simple to throw together, but the results will impress your guests even more – they’re delicious!
Ingredients:
(Serves 2)
1 zucchini
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves of garlic, pressed through a garlic press
½ cup feta cheese
¼ cup pine nuts
Salt & pepper to taste
Preparation:
Using a mandoline slicer or vegetable peeler , slice the zucchinis lengthwise into very thin strips so they look like long noodle ribbons.
In a small bowl, mix the press garlic with salt and pepper then add the extra virgin olive oil.
Stir until combined then set aside for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors blend together.
Assemble your zucchini rolls by layering a few of them on a plate or platter .
Spoon half a teaspoon of feta cheese in the center of each zucchini sheet, roll it up and place seam side down onto your serving dish.
Sprinkle with pine nuts and drizzle over the garlic-oil mixture before serving as an appetizer or side salad .
5) Roast Chicken Salad with Avocado Dressing
This Roast Chicken recipe is very simple to make and it’s one of the best healthy dinner ideas because it works great both as a main dish or as a side salad . You can easily pair it with whole wheat bread for a complete meal, but you’ll love it just as much on its own.
High protein foods are an essential part of our diet since they help us stay full longer so we won’t eat more than necessary. The creamy sunflower seed dressing is packed with benefits – some studies have found that sunflower seeds are nutrient dense and low in calories which makes them perfect for people who are on a weight loss diet.
Serves 4
Ingredients
– 1 pound of boneless skinless chicken breasts
– 2 medium avocados
– 2 tablespoons of lime juice (about 1/2 a lime)
– 1 garlic clove, minced
– 3 tablespoon of sunflower seeds (unsalted)
– Salt & pepper to taste
Preparation:
Preheat your oven to 400 F.
Place the chicken breasts on a baking sheet and sprinkle them with salt and pepper.
Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the juices run clear when you pierce them with a fork.
Remove from oven and let cool completely.
– While your meat is cooling, prepare the avocado dressing by mashing the avocados in a medium bowl using a fork or whisk .
Then add the remaining ingredients except for sunflower seeds and mix well.
When you’re ready to serve, add the sunflower seeds and mix everything together.
Serve this healthy dinner idea with crisp lettuce leaves or whole wheat bread .
Serve as a main dish or side salad !
6) Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Avocado
This Grilled Chicken Sandwich is an absolute winner when it comes to healthy dinner ideas : It’s easy to make, very filling and has all the flavors that we love. You can use white meat chicken if you prefer, but don’t skimp on the avocado because that’s what makes it so tasty and creamy. If you’re in a rush and don’t have time to prepare a sandwich from scratch, just grill some chicken breasts then top them with fresh avocado slices for a fast and healthy lunch.
Serves 4
Ingredients:
– 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded to an even thickness of ½ inch
– Salt & pepper to taste
– 1 cup of arugula (rocket)
– 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
– Mayonnaise Arugula leaves
– Tomato sliced
– Red onion rings
– Lettuce leaves (iceberg or romaine)
Preparation:
Heat your grill on high heat then cut each chicken breast into 4 strips width-wise.
Sprinkle with salt and pepper before grilling about 8 minutes on each side. If you don’t have time for that, just grill some boneless skinless chicken breast then top them with fresh avocado for a quick & easy dinner in less than 10 minutes.
REMEMBER: The grill should be hot when you add the chicken, so don’t turn it to low or medium heat or your meat will stick to the grates and won’t cook properly.
Arrange crisp lettuce leaves on a plate then top them with grilled chicken strips .
Add mayonnaise, arugula (rocket), sliced red onion rings , tomato slices , avocado slices and drizzle extra virgin olive oil over everything before serving.
7) Chips and Guacamole
We all love to munch on a salty bag of chips while watching our favorite movie or TV show, but if you’re trying to lose weight it’s best to avoid this habit because the high salt content may have a negative impact on your weight loss diet. This recipe combines two healthy snacks in one so you’ll get a nutritious meal that will fill you up for hours while satisfying your constant cravings for junk food. It takes just 5 minutes to prepare and requires only three simple ingredients . Enjoy!
Serves 4
Ingredients:
– 2 large ripe avocados
– 1 ripe tomato, finely chopped
– 1 tablespoon of lemon juice (lime juice works too)
– pepper to taste
Preparation:
1) Use a fork to mash the avocados in a bowl then add everything else and mix well.
2) Serve with your favorite snack food for an easy & healthy weight loss recipe that will keep you full until dinner or whenever you get hungry.
8) Baked Salmon Fillets
This baked salmon fillet recipe is one of the healthiest recipes you can find because salmon is packed with high amounts of protein , omega-3 fatty acids and other essential nutrients . It’s also loaded with minerals & vitamins, so eating more salmon will have a positive impact on your health.
This recipe takes less than 15 minutes to prepare and requires only four ingredients , so it’s an excellent healthy dinner idea for busy days when you don’t have a lot of spare time for cooking complicated meals or going through dozens of cookbooks looking for inspiration.
INGREDIENTS:
– 4 pieces skinless salmon fillets
– 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
– 1 teaspoon garlic powder (you can add some finely grated garlic too)
– Salt & pepper to taste
Preparation:
1) Preheat oven to 400°F then place the salmon fillets in a baking dish .
2) Use your hands to rub extra virgin olive oil all over them.
3) Sprinkle with garlic powder , salt & pepper (you can also add some herbs if you like).
4) Bake for 10 minutes or until they turn golden brown on top.
5) Serve as is (don’t forget the lemon wedges) and enjoy!
Conclusion
Healthy dinner ideas are hard to come by these days because everyone wants something quick, tasty and filling . It’s very important for people who are trying to lose weight to eat healthy meals consistently throughout the week so they can boost their metabolism , decrease cravings for junk food, lose fat at a steady pace etc. We’ve given you 8 simple recipes that require little time and effort but are loaded with nutrients thanks to the wide variety of ingredients used. Remember, healthy eating is all about meal planning, so try to get creative with your food, eat healthy and stay active.
Gina is a famous blogger who works as an assistant manager at the Petit Four Cakery. By day, she manages the bakery and by night, she has another job running her cooking blog where she shares her own recipes.