Meal planning, grocery shopping, cooking: All the effort that goes into what we eat every day can be fun for some, while for others it can be overwhelming or uninteresting. In the latter case, sometimes all it takes to get inspired (or re-inspired) is having a few new recipes to try in place of the same old dishes.
If your goal this New Year is to eat healthier or at home more often, peruse this roundup of recipes. These dishes were viewed the most on our site in the last calendar year — we hope you’ll enjoy them, too.
Breakfast
1. Protein Pancakes. Start your mornings with a short stack — except avoid the blood-sugar spike by adding protein to the mix. Prep in just five minutes and then add your batter to a skillet or griddle and you’ll be flipping flap jacks.
2. Breakfast Hash. This one-pan hash features a balance of protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates for satiation and stable energy.
3. Gluten-Free Zucchini Bread. It’s easy to eat more vegetables when they’re baked into delicious bread.
4. Breakfast Brownie. Dessert for breakfast? You bet! Begin your day with this sweet “treat” that contains chocolate-flavored protein, healthy fats, and oats.
Shakes
5. Super Greens Protein Shake. It’s common knowledge that the more greens you can get, the better. Try blending celery, spinach, and other green foods into this shake for nourishment and energy.
6. Cookies and Cream Shake. This shake was originally developed to be enjoyed by those going through Life Time’s D.TOX program, but you can make it anytime you’re craving a sweet, creamy drink with your preferred protein powder.
7. Key Lime Pie Protein Shake. Combine the flavors of coconut milk and lime for a fresh-tasting smoothie that’s also sugar-free!
8. Pumpkin Pie Protein Shake. While interest in this flavor peaks in the fall, the health benefits pumpkin delivers certainly aren’t seasonal. Add pumpkin purée to this shake and enjoy the taste (and nutrition boons) year-round.
Entrées
9. Make Your Own Chef Dodge Bowl. This veggie-packed bowl got its start on the LifeCafe menu. Make it at home for a meal loaded with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. The recipe calls for chicken but that can easily be omitted if you’re vegetarian or vegan.
10. Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Strips With Honey Mustard and Broccoli Slaw. Chicken strips aren’t just for kids. Add bacon and a homemade honey mustard dipping sauce and you’ve got a version any grownup can get excited about.
11. Blackened Salmon Caesar Salad. Switch up your traditional Caesar salad by building it on a bed of Brussels sprouts for greens and topping with filets of salmon — an excellent source of omega-3s, which offer mood-supportive benefits.
12. Sweet Potato and Turkey Hash. The addition of ground turkey to this hash — which also includes black beans, onion, sweet potato, garlic, jalapeño, and cilantro — makes it a filling and nutritious main course option.
13. Orange Chicken With Cauliflower Stir-Fry. Make a healthier version of this popular takeout choice by creating your own sauce using real orange juice and zest, coconut aminos, garlic, and ginger.
14. Avocado Apple Chicken Salad. This twist on chicken salad features fresh flavor and crunch from apples and celery. Using pre-cooked chicken allows you to toss it together in no time.
Snacks
15. Birthday Cake Protein Balls. This is the perfect birthday bite — and even if it’s not your birthday, it’s always someone else’s.
16. Pumpkin Muffins. This recipe is quick and easy: Toss all the ingredients (except the optional chocolate chips) into a blender to create the batter, then bake for just 25 minutes.
17. Chewy Snack Bars. Many store-bought bars are loaded with added sugars. These use dates for sweetness and are mixed with nuts and nut butter for a great snack to have on hand for the entire family.
18. Sunflower Seed Energy Bites. These golf-ball-size, whole-food snacks feature an oat base and chocolatey crunch from cacao nibs.
Desserts
19. Avocado Chocolate Mousse With Cacao Nibs. This dairy-free mousse gets its creaminess from avocados and coconut milk. Whip it together in just 15 minutes and then let it chill before enjoying.
20. Chocolate Protein Truffles. Stock your refrigerator with these easy-to-make chocolatey bites that you can quickly grab anytime you need a sweet fix.
21. Buckwheat Chocolate-Chip Banana Bread. Few things beat a warm loaf of bread fresh out of the oven. Made with healthier flours, consider this your new go-to banana bread recipe.
22. Healthier Peanut Butter Cups. Instead of buying candy from the store, create your own treat at home using creamy peanut butter and dark chocolate with a high cocoa percentage.
