The holidays are behind us and it’s a great time to start a healthier approach to eating. We’re talking about clean eating: consuming foods that are all-natural, not processed or overly-preserved. Sure, it can be tough to cut out some of your favorite foods that may be packaged or made with additives, but once you begin using only fresh ingredients, you’ll feel the difference and you may never turn back. Truthfully, we could all benefit from this type of diet, even if we didn’t specifically make it our New Year’s resolution. Who knows? Your new way of eating may inspire others in your life to clean up their act too.
Ready for a clean slate? Start with these delicious, nutritious recipes:
- 1. Lemongrass Turkey & Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
- This salad is colorful, flavorful and healthy! The sweet potato, lemongrass, avocado and turkey complement each other well, while olive oil and avocado work together to combat pro-inflammatory autoimmune conditions.
- 2. Chicken Salad Cucumber Boats
- Have a little fun while clean-eating with these stuffed cucumber boats. The cucumbers give a nice crunch and serve as a great protein base. Plus, the chicken salad is easy to customize to your own taste!
- 3. Veggie Chickpeas Burger
- Great for lunch or dinner, this burger is packed with fresh ingredients and spices. The chickpeas give it a hearty texture — you won’t miss the meat! You could even forego the bun and eat the patty on its own.
- 4. Roasted Haddock with Dijon-Lemon Sauce
- Haddock is a versatile, mild-flavored fish that contains a variety of vitamins and minerals. Adding a dijon-lemon sauce takes this fish to the next level with flavors from mustard, olives, garlic, lemon and fresh herbs.
- 5. Quinoa with Caramelized Red Onions and Swiss Chard
- Quinoa isn’t praised enough! It’s gluten-free, has complete protein and is rich in fiber; it’s great for everyone. Pair it with red onions and Swiss chard for satisfying taste and additional health benefits.
- 6. Turkey Chili
- Get lots of protein with little carbohydrates with this turkey chili. Using turkey instead of beef lowers the amount of cholesterol and saturated fats. Adding onions and mushrooms provide vitamins B and C, chromium and antioxidants to help your body stay healthy.
- 7. Spaghetti Squash Bolognese Stuffed Collard Greens
- This recipe is great for turning leftovers into something new. Wrap your bolognese in blanched collard greens (low-calorie and virtually fat free!) for a nutrient-dense meal that will become your clean comfort food go-to.
- 8. Eggplant “Meatballs” and Veggie Spaghetti
- A fun vegetarian spin on the classic spaghetti and meatballs, this meal is satisfying yet clean. It’s a great dish to turn to when you’re craving something substantial.
- 9. Roasted Veggie Quinoa Salad with Sweet Pomegranate Vinaigrette
- We told you quinoa’s amazing! Try this salad for a lighter, slightly sweet quinoa dish. Roasted butternut squash adds a delicious flavor along with ample amounts of vitamin A. Round out the salad with a sweet pomegranate vinaigrette loaded with antioxidants.
- 10. Dill Salmon
- So easy to make, this dill salmon might be a recipe you turn to often. Salmon is loaded with antioxidants and vitamin B, and pairs well with fresh dill. Talk about a low-effort dinner!
- 11. Stir Fry with Cilantro Lime Celeriac Rice
- Try a new “rice” with celery root! It’s a fun spin on cauliflower rice for low FODMAP diets. Adding rice vinegar and red bell peppers provides added nutrients such as vitamins A and C, potassium, folic acid and fiber.
- 12. Lemon Thyme Chicken with Braised Root Vegetables
- Pop the chicken into the oven with your root vegetables and you’re pretty much good to go! Roasting the root vegetables with the chicken gives them a mellow, earthy flavor that complements the chicken well. Your family and friends will love this clean-eating recipe too!
- 13. Turkey Brown Rice Stuffed Peppers
- These stuffed peppers are winners on all fronts. They’re beautiful to look at, easy to make, fill you up and provide your body with necessary macronutrients, vitamin C and fiber.
- 14. Spinach and Sun Dried Tomato Salad
- This salad packs a punch with a variety of nutrients from the spinach and avocado. Add in sun dried tomatoes, olives, carrots and lemon juice for a flavor boost and texture.
- 15. Sweet Potato Brownies
- It might be hard to believe, but these decadent brownies are made with natural and unrefined ingredients. Plus, most desserts don’t offer many nutritional benefits like the fiber and protein in these sweet treats!
Want more clean-eating recipes? Get ‘em here:
Rainbow Veggie Noodles Salad with Asian Sauce
Note: PLEASE consult with your doctor before making any changes to your diet or medications. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only, and is not to be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Can’t wait to try the salmon!