Top 21 Weight Loss Dinner Recipes

The key to losing weight is consistently making smart choices with your food–thankfully, after eating unhealthy store-bought mac ‘n’ cheese for years, I finally found this key– tasty weight loss dinner recipes.

I would constantly come home, tired and starving, and turn on the stove right away to make that mac ‘n’ cheese. If it was a good night, I’d throw a frozen pizza in the oven–so not great for my figure. Afterword, I’d find myself feeling incredibly sluggish and bloated.

This not only made falling asleep more difficult, but it also made waking up in the morning uncomfortable.

My body didn’t like the unhealthy dinners and I didn’t like my body. Once I started creating healthier dinner recipes, I started seeing my body transform for the better. Once my body started transforming for the better, so did my mood!

With this list of our top 21 weight loss dinner recipes, you will not just get a good mix of our classic healthy recipes. You will be able to nourish your body correctly and start positively transforming both your mind and that body of yours!

1. Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken

This Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken is a light dinner with delicious, zesty flavor that everyone will love. One serving is only 4 Weight Watchers Smart Points and just 190 calories. Therefore, it allows you plenty of room to work other delicious foods into your day and also allows you to go to bed comfortably–without that disgusting, bloated feeling.

This means that you’ll also wake up feeling much better. You’ll jump out of bed feeling energized and ready to start your day! The post-Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken feeling is ten times better than the post-unhealthy mac ‘n’ cheese feeling. Trust me.

2. German Schnitzel, Slow Cooker Style

This schnitzel is miraculously low in both its calorie and Smart Point counts. The slow bake and careful trimming of fats is the secret to enjoying this usually incredibly unhealthy dish. This recipe uses egg whites, low-fat buttermilk, and whole wheat breadcrumbs as ingredients.

That’s a lot better than the alternative ingredients like generic breadcrumbs and full-fat buttermilk. Who needs the extra fat and unhealthy carbs? Not me, and I’m sure that you don’t either!

3. Slow Cooker Veggie Pot Pie Soup

All the comfortable flavors of a pot pie without that unhealthy, flaky crust. Stuffed full of super vegetables, this soup is sure to hit the skinny spot! It’s full of nutritious ingredients that are also incredibly warming during those chillier months. Some examples of these ingredients are:

• Squash
• Sweet Potato
• Fresh Carrots
• Onion
• Green Beans

So many nutrients and colors! They say to “eat the rainbow” in order to be healthy, but I had no idea that eating the rainbow could taste so good!

4. Crockpot Cauliflower Fried Rice

This dish has no rice at all, drastically cutting down its calorie count and increasing the amount of vegetables eaten per bite! In fact, it’s a vegetable that replaces the rice: cauliflower! The benefits of doing this are endless, but to list a few, replacing rice with cauliflower benefits you by:

• Decreasing the amount of carbs
• Increasing the amount of nutrients
• Aiding in digestion
• Increasing the amount of fiber
• Tasting amazing

Keep these benefits in mind when you whip up this healthy dish for the whole family. Add in some delicious onions and herbs and you’ll have a flavorful, fun dinner that everyone will love!

5. Slow Cooker Chicken and Mushroom Gravy

Brown your chicken, and then throw everything into the crock pot to create a delicious and easy dinner. It’s a heavier dinner, but still very light on calories and good for you.

6. Fresh & Hearty Salad

Salad is a go-to meal for losing weight, but people are often left hungry after eating them and, therefore, unsatisfied with them. This salad is not one of those salads. It’s chunky and filling, and results in a satisfying eating experience. Drizzle on a little of the included dressing to turn this salad from good to great!

7. Grilled Turkey Veggie Burger

Have the full burger experience without all of the unnecessary fat and calories. Get a hearty dose of protein you can feel good about!

8. Chicken and Black Bean Chili

Losing weight doesn’t mean skipping out on meals that will stick to your  ribs and warm you to your core. This chili is packed full of light meats and vegetables that won’t pack on the pounds. It will, instead, warm you up and keep you full–the good, energizing kind of full!

9. Honey-Glazed Salmon with a Hint of Lemon

Fish are a great source of protein and omega-3 healthy fatty acids, which in turn makes them a great food in general. Salmon is especially good for you, and this low-calorie recipe makes the most of salmon’s near perfect state.

10. Asian Salad with Crispy Chicken

A simple salad that’s quick to make, and perfect for trying to keep weight off despite a busy schedule. The dressing lends it plenty of strong flavor.

11. Chicken Turmeric Soup

The perfect dish to help you watch your figure even while recovering from a bothersome illness. Turmeric, garlic, and lemon help fight disease while chicken, quinoa, and vegetables give you the proteins and vitamins you need to get back on your feet. This Chicken Turmeric Soup is the perfect meal for those chillier months!

12. Asian Chicken and Ginger Soup

Ginger has anti-nausea qualities and helps with digestive problems, making this yet another healing, healthy soup. This chicken is cooked with its bone in to increase the chicken flavor throughout the soup.

13. Sage Alfredo Sauce with Spaghetti Squash

Cauliflower subs for cream and spaghetti squash for pasta in this deceptively delicious dinner. The cheeses in the sauce keep that delicious Alfredo taste that you know and love.

14. Slow Cooker Chicken Sweet Potato Chowder

Chowders are thick and delicious, and this one is fairly hands-off thanks to its slow cooker. While chicken provides the protein in this meal, sweet potatoes provide lots of other benefits such as:

• Anti-inflammatory
• Good source of Vitamin C
• Disease fighting
• Supports a healthy immune system

You just can’t go wrong with this delectable dish!

15. Asian Stuffed Bell Peppers

All the delicious fillings from your favorite take-out appetizers is now crammed into the healthy and delicious shell of a bell pepper. These are simple to make and satisfy that take-out craving.

16. Skinny Bell Pepper Pizza Boats

A fantastic and tasty alternative to boring old pizza. These are simple to make, simple to eat, and are made with simple ingredients–which are the best ones!

17. Lime Rice and Beans

This recipe takes a perfect, classic meal and makes it even more perfect! These rice and beans are covered in lime, spices, and hot sauce to pack a hard punch in a very familiar package!

18. Skinny Zucchini Pasta & Baby Spinach

This is another dish where you’ll be eating the rainbow–a very delicious rainbow. Nothing better than substituting empty carbs with nutrient-packed vegetables! Enjoy these zucchini noodles and their accompanying protein-filled spinach.

19. Southwestern Stuffed Potatoes

A wholesome meal filled with protein and fiber, guaranteed to keep you full for hours after you eat. This is a filling and down-home style meal that’s still light on calories.

20. Cheesy Mushroom & Zucchini Pasta

Every once in a while, I just crave a big plate full of pasta. When that happens, this dish is one of my go-to’s! In it, antioxidant-filled zucchini yet again substitutes for regular pasta, making it a meal that lacks those empty carbs that are in normal pasta dishes.

Plus, it can be eaten even by those with dietary restrictions. My gluten-free friends absolutely love zucchini pasta, and I do too! It’s a flavorful meal that everyone can enjoy.

21. One-Dish Baked Chicken and Veggies

Chicken and vegetables are cooked together here, lending each other their flavors and making eating healthy easy for you. The combination yields plenty of fiber and protein to keep you full and feeling happy and healthy!

I can’t get enough of these dishes! They leave me feeling energized, not bloated, and incredibly satisfied. What more could anyone ask for?

 

What fresh recipes have helped you lose weight? Share it with us in the comments.

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Detoxifying Slow Cooker Moroccan Stew | Healthy Detox Recipe

 

When the dead of winter brings endless cold, dark nights, you know it’s finally soup season. And not just any soup, this season calls for thick, hearty, soul-warming stews. Enter: this slow cooker Moroccan stew.

Of course, for most of us, the cold midwinter months also mean we’ve spent the last month or so overindulging in holiday goodies. Post holiday blues, dark nights, and winter cold all call for a hearty soup that will warm you up while getting your clean eating habits back on track.

When you think detox, you probably think smoothies, fasts, and juice cleanses. As it turns out, a hot stew can be just as effective at helping your body find that reset button. Loaded with warm spices and packed with filling veggies, this detoxifying slow cooker Moroccan stew is clean eating that tastes like comfort food.

If you need to get back on track after the holidays or kick start that New Year’s resolution, this detoxing soup is a great place to start. Easy enough to toss together in the slow cooker, it’s a simple clean meal to fit into your busy schedule.

This stew starts with the trifecta of any good detox meal: carrots, onions, and celery. Add to that plenty of garlic, which adds flavor as well as tons of detoxing properties. And of course, we can’t forget the sweet potato. Yep, as if the almighty sweet potato really needed another selling point, it happens to be a great detox ingredient. Packed with antioxidants, complex carbs, fiber, and just about every other good for you thing you can think of, these health food all-stars are an essential part of any detox plan. Not only will they help beef up your stew with flavor and texture, but they’re also key to its detoxing properties.

Once you’ve got your veggies, it’s time to spice things up. Literally. No Moroccan dish (or detox plan) is complete without plenty of delicious, zesty spices. This recipe doesn’t hold back, using cumin, curry powder, cinnamon, and paprika.

Oh, and did I forget to mention turmeric? Turmeric is a superfood spice you may remember from a few health food crazes, but its health benefits are no passing fad. This ingredient is a powerful antioxidant boasting tons of anti-inflammatory properties. Key to any detoxing recipes, turmeric can also provide tons of other health benefits, from improved circulation to pain relief.

Fortunately, for such a powerful meal, this slow cooker Moroccan stew is actually easy to make. I’m sure I don’t need to sing the praises of the slow cooker, but crock pot recipes really are a life saver on busy nights. The slow cooker is the key to healthy, home cooked meals when you don’t have time to cook. Suddenly bombarded with a busy schedule post holidays? This crock pot recipe is an easy way to save yourself hours of meal prep after work.

Meanwhile, because this recipe is hearty, delicious, and filling, you can serve it to the whole family. This slow cooker Moroccan stew may have powerful detox properties, but it’s not just for clean eaters. To complete the meal, top with plain Greek yogurt and serve with these Easy Whole-Grain Pita Chips. Even after your detox, this stew is a delicious meal you and your family can enjoy all winter long.

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Detoxifying Slow Cooker Moroccan Stew | Healthy Detox Recipe

Prep Time: 6 minutes

Cook Time: 6 hours

Yields: 4 servings | Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups | Calories: 190 | Total Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 81mg | Carbohydrates: 32g | Fiber: 7g | Sugar; 5g | Protein: 8g | SmartPoints: 6

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 large sweet potato, peel and cube into 1-inch pieces
• 1/2 cup sliced carrots
• 1/2 cup diced onions
• 1/2 cup diced celery,
• 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 cup lentils, rinsed
• 3 cups vegetable broth, low-sodium
• 1 cup kale, roughly chopped

Directions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot. Once hot, add the sweet potato, carrot, onion, celery, pepper, and garlic. Cook just until onions begin to softer.
2. Add the coriander, cumin, curry, turmeric, cinnamon, and paprika to the vegetables. Stir to coat the vegetables in the spices and cook for 2 minutes or until fragrant.
3. Add the cooked spiced vegetables, the lentils, and vegetable broth in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours.
4. Remove 1 cup stew and place in a blender, or mash well with a fork. Blend or mash until smooth and return to the slow cooker along with the chopped kale.
5. Cook on high for an additional 10 minutes, or until the kale is wilted. Serve and enjoy!

4.4.2.1

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Your Healthy Transformation Diet Plan

Abs are made in the kitchen! And if this new year, your goal is to improve your health or lose weight, following a nutritious meal plan is the most important step. This healthy transformation diet plan has 7 sample day meal plans. You’ll be having breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as one to two snacks per day. Download it below.

Your plan for success:
1. Slowly cut down on sodas and fruit juice. Drink water, which you can flavor with a little citrus, and one cup of coffee (optional) each day.
2. Follow recommended serving sizes.
3. Each day eat 1 to 2 snacks. Examples: plain non-fat Greek yogurt with fresh berries, an apple or orange, cucumber slices with salsa, or baby carrots.
4. After your last meal of the day, eat breakfast 12 hours later. For example, if you eat dinner at 6:00 p.m., eat breakfast at approximately 6::00 a.m the following morning. Remember, no food or snacks after dinner.

Download Your Free Healthy Transformation Diet Plan Calendar.

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Let us know how we’re doing! Tell us what you think about this post, and about the content you enjoy on our site, in the comments section.

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6 Secrets to Get Rid of Stubborn Fat

We know it’s frustrating! Those last five pounds that just won’t come off! Most of us have been there, but luckily there are tips and secrets that will help you get rid of stubborn fat.

If you were steadily losing weight but got stuck on a number, progress barely measurable, then you’ve hit a weight loss plateau. Weight loss plateaus occur when your body has become comfortable in its new routine and it has settled into a weight where it’s content. Chances are, your body is perfectly healthy at this weight.

Nevertheless, if you’re looking to lose a couple of more pounds, you can make small adjustments to make them come off. Small, long-term changes to your lifestyle help you break your plateau by demanding just a little more from your body. They basically shake your body back into weight loss mode.

Below, we’ll discuss six changes you can make to break out of that plateau and get rid of stubborn fat.

1. Scan nutrition facts for artificial ingredients.

Processed foods often contain all sorts of artificial ingredients that don’t help the body shed fat. For example, research suggests that artificial sweeteners can actually make it harder to lose weight!

One reason for this might be that these artificial chemicals confuse the metabolism. Other researchers have suggested that our taste buds become accustomed to the too-sweet taste of these diet foods and we then start reaching for even sweeter foods. Whatever the reason, most nutritionists seem to agree that artificial ingredients are not the most effective weight loss tool.

Swap out diet frozen meals and artificially sweetened drinks for whole, natural foods. Think fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy. These whole foods are often found around the grocery store’s perimeter. Spend as little time down the aisles as possible!

We suggest starting out with our 7-Day Clean Eating Menu and trying our 17 Clean Eating Snacks Under 150 Calories. Check these out for some tasty clean-eating ideas.

2. Drink green tea.

There are many benefits to drinking green tea. Green tea is rich in EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), a substance that might have great health benefits for us. Plus, green tea contains caffeine, which provides a temporary metabolism boost!

If all else fails, green tea can help you lose weight simply by replacing other sugary drinking in your life. Swap out one serving of soda or fruit juice per day for a serving of green tea and you’ll see the pounds start to come off.

You can try this weight loss superfood in Spiced Green Tea Smoothie or Orange Pomegranate Green Tea.

3. Dig into high-protein foods.

Protein is essential for building lean muscle, and muscle burns more calories than fat tissue. The result? Your metabolism increases! This means you’ll be more efficient at burning calories.

Eat lean protein with every meal to make sure those muscles and cells are properly fueled. We recommend consuming between 0.5-1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight. Add 10 Easy High Protein Dinners to your menu.

4. Boost fiber intake.

Fiber, particularly soluble fiber, is a key component in weight loss. So making sure you’re eating plenty of this nutrient can actually help you break out of your weight loss plateau.

Fiber is necessary for proper digestion, which means that eating enough of it can help you readily eliminate excess waste. Fiber is also good for lowering cholesterol, reducing bloating, and avoiding constipation.

As a bonus, fiber acts as a natural appetite suppressant! Fiber is slow to digest, which means you’ll feel fuller for longer. Eating plenty of fiber with every meal helps you stop reaching for that post-meal chocolate.

Banana-Walnut Bran Muffins or Lentil and Pea Risotto are tasty ways to add fiber to your diet.

5. Add weights to your workout.

It’s a myth that weight lifting will make you bulky. Rather, regular weight lifting builds lean muscle tissue, which helps boost that metabolism for better fat burn.

When you’re focused on eliminating stubborn fat, lift weights two to three times each week. What’s more, larger muscles torch more calories than smaller ones, so you can boost fat burn by focusing on larger muscles, like those in the legs or buttocks. Try 15 Easy Dumbbell Workouts Even Workout Haters Will Love.

6. Get your shut-eye.

Sleep plays a surprisingly important role in eliminating stubborn fat because the process regulates critical hunger hormones. One study suggest that sleeping five or fewer hours each night can boost visceral fat, which is the type that accumulates around the organs [1].

Make 5 Small Changes for Better Sleep, or enjoy Tangerine Grilled Tuna for dinner–it’s high in B6, a vitamin that supports melatonin production.

Everyone’s bodies are different. What helps one person lose weight, might not do anything for someone else. However, we hope that these six tips help you break out of that weight loss plateau so that you can finally get rid of that stubborn fat!

 

Check out SkinnyMs. on Pinterest. We share recipes and meal planning resources, including Healthy Salads and Easy Recipes.

Slim that middle! Start our 6-Week Flat Belly Program; this ebook includes ab-building, calorie-burning workouts along with a clean-eating guide to tasty, healthy recipes.   

 

Resource

[1] Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center

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Savory Carrot Bacon | Healthy Bacon Recipe

Sure, carrots are great, but have you tried bacon?

One of few foods you can eat for every meal, I’ve always been a round the clock bacon fan. On the side with eggs, piled onto a sandwich or candied for dessert, bacon makes everything better.

I’m sure not everyone loves bacon as much as I do, but I’ve never found anyone willing to admit it. As far as I’m concerned, bacon is a universal good.

That said, there are still plenty of reasons people (including myself) may want to lay off the greasy gift from the gods. Whether you’re looking for a vegetarian version or just trying to cut some fat and calories, these baked carrot chips are a great alternative to the savory classic.

Now, stay with me for a second here. I know carrots may not sound like an adequate substitute when all you can think about is a thick slab of bacon. But these savory carrot strips really do mimic that rich, salty bacon taste.

A major health upgrade, these baked carrot chips are also much easier to cook than traditional bacon. Between all the smoke and hot grease, pan frying bacon can be a huge hassle. For a while, I even gave up frying bacon altogether and just switched to the microwaved stuff. Not ideal! Fortunately, these easy oven baked carrots get you that quality bacon taste without the smoky kitchen and minor grease burns.

And even if you’re still not totally sold on carrot strips as a bacon substitute, these baked carrot chips still make for a healthy and flavorful snack.

Tahini, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil and dijon combine for a rich and zesty bacon flavor. Meanwhile, a super convenient bottled miracle called liquid smoke finishes this recipe off with that classic, smoky bacon taste without the smoke filled kitchen.

You can whip up a batch of these baked carrot chips in just 25 minutes.

Start by preheating your oven to 400 and spraying a baking sheet with nonstick spray.

Then simply combine all the ingredients (minus the carrots) in a medium bowl and whisk until smooth.

Add your carrots (sliced thin into “bacon” strips) to the sauce and toss to coat thoroughly. Then just lay your carrot strips in a single layer on the prepped baking sheet. Bake for ten minutes, then flip each strip over and bake for an additional five to ten minutes. When complete, your baked carrot chips will be lightly brown and crispy, just like bacon.

Whether you’re a vegetarian looking for a cure to some lingering bacon cravings or just a carrot lover looking for a flavorful new snack, these baked carrot chips are a healthy twist on your favorite. Eat for a healthy snack, breakfast, or serve for a fun and tasty appetizer.

A salty and savory treat, these baked carrot chips will hit the spot for bacon lovers and snackers alike. If you like these carrot chips, try out some of these other clean snacking recipes:

• Oven Baked Zucchini Chips
• Sweet Potato Chips
• Easy Whole Grain Pita Chips

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Savory Carrot Bacon | Healthy Bacon Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Yields: 4 servings | Serving Size: 1/4 cup | Calories: 85 | Total Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 189mg | Carbohydrates: 9g | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Protein: 1g | SmartPoints: 3

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon tahini
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
• 2 large carrots, sliced into thin strips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients except for the carrots and whisk until smooth. Add the carrots and toss to coat in the sauce. Spread the coated carrots in a single even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes and remove from the oven. Turn each carrot chip over and return to oven. Cook and additional 5 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned and crisp. Cool slightly before removing from pan.
3. Leave uncovered until completely cooled. Store, covered loosely, at room temperature

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