10 Simple Dinner Ideas for Healthy Eating in Real Life

You might believe that making dinners at home that are both nutritious and delicious is a process that requires a lot of effort, but I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be that way at all.

When it comes to meals, I prefer to make things as uncomplicated as possible, despite the fact that I enjoy both eating and cooking. This requires selecting recipes that are straightforward, don’t call for any difficult cooking techniques, and don’t have a seemingly endless number of stages.

The following are ten of my favorite easy supper recipes that can help you put a nutritious meal on the table in a short amount of time.

Stuffed sweet potatoes (Sweet Potatoes)

Beneficial micronutrients such as beta-carotene, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber are found in abundance in sweet potatoes.

In addition, they are delicious and go well with a wide variety of different foods. Because of this, they are the ideal foundation upon which to construct a satiating meal.

At my house, we make stuffed sweet potatoes on a weekly basis, if not more frequently. After roasting a full sweet potato, I cut it open and load it with a variety of things, including chicken, beans, vegetables, and cheese.

This dish is really adaptable, and you have many options available to you in terms of flavor combinations to try. You can experiment with one of the straightforward recipes that are provided below, or you can wing it and simply layer your preferred toppings atop a roasted sweet potato.

Sweet potatoes stuffed with chicken and pesto;
Sweet potatoes stuffed with taco filling
Vegetarian Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Mediterranean Baked Sweet Potatoes

Receptacles for grain

In my home’s kitchen, grain bowls are always a big hit. We frequently make this dinner because it satisfies our desire for a dish that is both savory and simple to prepare. My husband and I both love how straightforward and versatile grain bowls are.

Due to the fact that I adhere to a gluten-free diet, our household makes use of gluten-free grains such as quinoa and brown rice. Grain bowls, on the other hand, can be made with whatever type of grain you like, such as farro, millet, or barley.

Grains are an essential resource for dietary fiber as well as other essential minerals such as magnesium. According to a number of studies, diets that are high in grains are associated with a reduced likelihood of developing a variety of diseases, including colon cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes (2Trusted Source).

A grain bowl can be made by topping a portion of cooked grains with cooked or raw vegetables and a source of protein such as chicken, fried or hard-boiled eggs, grilled shrimp or salmon, or any combination of these.

The salad can be finished with a dressing that has been bought, made, or produced at home; alternatively, olive oil and fresh lemon juice can be used for a straightforward preparation.

For instance, this delectable Green Goddess Buddha Bowl is made with brown rice, roasted broccoli, sugar snap peas, avocado, hard-boiled eggs, toasted pumpkin seeds, and a sauce that is made from creamy yogurt.

The following are some additional grain bowl recipes that are ideal for evenings when you don’t have a lot of time to prepare dinner:

Chicken and Thai Basil Buddha Bowls
Grain Bowls with Salmon and Lemon Tahini Sauce
The Buddha Bowl with Sweet Potatoes and Chickpeas

Veggie filled frittatas

Eggs are used in a variety of dishes throughout the day when you keep hens as I do, not just for breakfast. Eggs are a go-to protein source in our house, and they frequently make an appearance in dishes like frittatas and other speedy dinner options.

Eggs already provide you with a sufficient amount of healthy fat and protein; therefore, all you need to do to satisfy your requirements for fiber is to include a wide selection of your personal favorite vegetables.

Asparagus, spinach, sweet potatoes, zucchini, onions, broccoli florets, mushrooms, and tomatoes are some of the veggies that I like to put in frittatas. Other vegetables that I like to use are zucchini and onions. To impart additional flavor into your frittata, you may also choose to incorporate components such as cheese, herbs, spices, or pesto.

In your frittata, you may also incorporate leftovers such as smoked salmon, chicken shreds, and shredded potatoes.

When I serve frittata, I like to accompany it with either sliced avocado or some fresh fruit. You may have this satiating dinner at any hour of the day or night, and it won’t disappoint. Frittatas are quite easy to prepare, and you can have one ready in under an hour if you work quickly.

Here are a few simple frittata recipes that are both delicious and easy to make:

Spring Vegetable Frittata
A cheesy chicken pepper broccoli frittata with peppers and broccoli
A frittata made with wild mushrooms, cheddar cheese, green onions, and peas

Dinner salad

One of my go-to dinners, especially on nights when I’m not in the mood to put much effort into preparing a meal, is a substantial salad that can fill you up.

The majority of salads suffer from the problem of poor composition, which causes you to experience a return of hunger within a short period of time after you have finished your meal. Making sure that you include a sufficient quantity of protein, healthy fats, and fiber is essential if you want your dinner salad to be filling.

You should begin by laying down a foundation of your preferred greens, such as spinach, mixed greens, arugula, kale, or romaine. To increase the amount of fiber in your greens, try including some more vegetables in your salad, such as peppers, cucumbers, carrots, broccoli, or red onions.

The next step is to select a protein-rich food, such as chicken, shrimp, salmon, or eggs that have been hard-boiled. Increasing the amount of a carbohydrate source that is strong in fiber, such as beans or roasted sweet potatoes, will make you feel fuller for longer.

You may give your dish a crunchier texture by topping it with toasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds, and then drizzle it with a healthy dressing such as olive oil and balsamic vinegar, or you can make your own Green Goddess Dressing by following this recipe.

Additional suggestions for dinner salads are as follows:

Salad with Chicken Shawarma and Tahini Dressing
Superfood Salmon Salad
An Asian-Inspired Crunchy Chopped Salad

Stuffed spaghetti made with brown rice

The vast majority of people enjoy a nice pasta dish, but the majority of pasta recipes lack the required components, such as protein and fiber, to keep you feeling satiated for an extended period of time (3Trusted Source).

The good news is that if you follow a few basic pointers, you can whip up a satiating and healthy pasta meal in a matter of minutes.

To begin, pick your preferred type of pasta. You can use any kind of pasta that you choose; however, my personal preference is for Tinkyada’s brown rice pasta. If you are following a diet pattern that calls for fewer carbohydrates, another alternative to pasta is to make noodles out of zucchini.

The next step is to select a protein-containing food. When I want a protein source that comes from a plant, I like to use chickpeas, but I also like to use chicken breasts or ground chicken.

After that, select your vegetables. The traditional pairing of spinach and broccoli is one of my favorites, but you can use virtually any vegetable you like. To finish, choose a sauce, such as pesto, marinara, or olive oil, and drizzle it over the pasta.

The next time you have a taste for a pasta dish, check out one of these recipes:

Pasta with Broccoli and Pesto, Chicken
Pasta salad with roasted vegetables and chickpeas
Zoodles made of zucchini topped with mini meatballs made of chicken, feta, and spinach.

One-pot soups

There aren’t many meals that can compare to the satiation you get from a substantial cup of steaming soup. Fortunately, soup may be an easy dish to cook, and it is an excellent option for dinner preparation because it is easy to produce a large quantity of servings.

Because doing so requires fewer dishes to be washed, I favor creating soups that can be prepared in a single pot. Although I prepare my soups on the stovetop, you may speed up the cooking process by using an Instant Pot with any of the following recipes.

A Yellow Split Pea Soup That’s Creamy and Delicious
Soup with Chicken and Curry
A Stew Made with Lentils, Kale, and Quinoa

Curry

Because it can be prepared in a variety of ways, requires little effort, and is liked by people of all ages, curry is an excellent option for a supper that is both speedy and substantial. In addition, consuming curry on a daily basis may help improve your health by lowering risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as excessive levels of triglycerides and blood sugar.

During the colder months, one of my favorite things to do is make a chickpea and sweet potato curry and serve it over rice or quinoa. This dish is both hearty and comforting.

The preparation of many curry recipes can be completed in thirty minutes or less, including the following easy curry dishes:

A Chickpea Curry from Thailand That’s Both Easy and Quick to Make
A Simple One-Pan Salmon Red Curry Recipe
Thai Chicken Curry Ready in 30 Minutes

Burgers

Burgers are an excellent option for families because they are straightforward to prepare and can satiate the preferences of even the most finicky eaters.

Even while beef burgers are the most common option, you can make patties with almost any other form of protein, such as ground chicken, salmon, tuna, or even lentils.

When I serve the mouthwatering chicken burger that my husband creates, I prefer to accompany it with a sizable salad and roasted sweet potato fries.

To accommodate the requirements of your diet, you can enjoy your burgers on a robust bun made from whole grains, wrapped in lettuce, or placed on top of a bed of greens.

The following are some recipes for burgers that are quite easy to put together:

Chickpea Pizza Burgers
Spinach Feta Salmon Burgers
Extremely Delicious Sweet Potato Burgers with Cheddar and Barbecue Chicken

A whole chicken that has been roasted

Even while roasting a whole chicken could take a little bit of time, the process is actually quite straightforward. Have a look at this guide to learn how to roast a chicken to perfection.

When I roast whole chickens, I line the bottom of the roasting pan with potato wedges, chunks of onions, and chunks of carrots. This ensures that the vegetables cook at the same rate as the bird.

After the chicken has finished roasting, give it 15 minutes to rest before attempting to carve it. You may put that time to better use by preparing a fast salad, such as one of the following:

Easy Tomato Avocado Salad
The All-Time Favorite Green Salad Featuring Apples, Cranberries, and Pepitas
A Salad with Olives and Feta Cheese Topped with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Meals prepared on a sheet pan

This is the perfect plan for you if washing dishes is one of your least favorite chores.

The majority of recipes demand you to utilize a variety of vessels, including pots, pans, and bowls. On the other hand, sheet pan dinners enable you to save time in the kitchen by allowing you to cook all of the ingredients on a single sheet pan rather of using multiple pans.

Take a look at these scrumptious recipes that may be cooked on a sheet pan:

Chicken prepared with harissa and served with chickpeas and sweet potatoes on a sheet pan
Salmon with Lemon Brown Butter and Parmesan Asparagus Cooked on a Sheet Pan
Chicken Fajitas Baked in a Sheet Pan
Vegetarian Mediterranean Sheet Pan Dinner

Final Verdict

It is not necessary to follow difficult instructions or spend a significant amount of time in the kitchen in order to put together a nourishing and appetizing meal.

The dishes that are listed above are not only healthy, but they are also not difficult to put together.

The next time you find yourself at a loss for what to make for supper, give one of the recipes up top a shot.

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