The top 50 low-calorie dinner recipes for a healthy 2024
Make your commitment for a healthier 2024 that much easier (and tastier) with 20 low-calorie dinner recipes from Chrissy Freer at Taste.com.au.
Recipes
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Whatever your health goals are in 2024 – whether it’s eating for longevity, to maintain or lose weight, or to simply give yourself more energy – balance is key to any great diet.
So to kick off the year with all the healthy dinner inspiration you need for the weeks ahead, we asked our nutrition editor, Chrissy Freer, to recommend 52 of her top low-calorie dinners that’ll leave you feeling satisfied – without compromising on flavour.
Before you start: Chrissy’s healthy dinner tips
“Creating low-kilojoule dinners that are both filling and delicious is easy if you follow some basic guideliness,” Chrissy says.
“Firstly, ensure your meal includes a serve of lean protein (e.g. chicken breast, fish, lean pork or beef, eggs, tofu or legumes) as protein is extremely satiating.
“Second, add lots of non-starchy vegetables.
“Being rich in filling fibre and other beneficial vitamins, minerals and plant compounds, vegies add bulk and volume to your plate for minimal energy intake.
“Also, choose wholegrains (e.g. brown rice, quinoa, or buckwheat) over processed versions (such as white rice) for added fibre and nutrition, and lastly, add fresh herbs and spices (fresh garlic, ginger, chilli, coriander, ground cumin etc) to boost flavour for negligible added kilojoules, sugar or sodium.”
Healthy Spanish chicken and beans
Searching for healthy meal prep recipe ideas? This low-cal one-pan chicken and beans dish ticks all the right boxes.
This bright, creamy dinner is also super healthy, thanks to loads of veg and a serve of low-calorie prawns.
Packing just as much flavour as a classic burrito, these easy vegie-packed bowls are healthy and gluten-free. Finished with a creamy yoghurt dressing, you’d never guess they’re low-cal.
Piri piri fish with charred corn salad
Turn up the heat on the barbecue and enjoy this winning fish dinner, ready in just 30 minutes.
Korean chilli beef with quick kimchi salad
Serve chargrilled beef steak with a quick kimchi salad for a fiery meal that’s low in calories.
Grilled lamb with pickled beetroot and quinoa salad
A light, healthy dinner that’s packed with flavour, this grilled lamb dish will leave you feeling full for hours.
Miso-glazed tofu & sweet potato salad
With sticky tofu, golden sweet potato and a sesame miso dressing, this healthy Japanese inspired salad ticks all the boxes. It’s low-cal, packed full of good-for-you vegies and ready in 25.
Low-cal chicken burgers with sweet potato and beetroot chips
Looking for a healthier burger that you will love! Try this low-cal succulent chicken burger topped with healthy vegies. You can have chips too - just swap regular chips for these crispy sweet potato and beetroot chips.
From wok to table in under half an hour, this sticky tofu stir-fry is a midweek miracle. It’s easy, low-cal and gluten-free, and is packed with veg like broccolini and spinach so it’s also high in dietary fibre.
Healthy harissa chicken, lentil and kale tray bake
Packed full of flavour, this healthy tray bake has over 3 serves of veg per serve and with added protein of chicken and lentils. It is a great winter dinner option that will impress all the family.
Sweet potato & coriander falafels with tomato salad
Full of zing, crunch and fresh flavour, this recipe is also all under 440 calories, so it’s great for your waistline.
Chicken, broccolini and quinoa salad
We love this nutrient-packed weeknight dinner, which is high in vitamin content and low in calories.
Crispy salmon with zucchini salad
Fresh herbs add a huge dose of flavour to the salmon, with negligible kilojoules and no fat.
Pork and pumpkin with chimichurri
This sensational gluten-free dinner combines lean pork fillets, with sweet pumpkin and flavoursome chimichurri.
Open burger with sweet potato chips
If you love a good burger, this open beef version with sweet potato fries will really hit the spot. Plus it’s low calorie and gluten-free.
A super quick dinner loaded with flavour, this vegetarian fried rice will hit the hunger spot.
Healthy chicken and vegetable burgers
A 30-minute meal that’ll satisfy that fast-food craving while providing a balanced, fibre-rich dinner for the family. It’s low-cal, packed with nutrient-dense veg and brimming with light protein from the chicken and black beans.
Spruce up your healthy salads with protein-packed prawns. This low-cal salad is loaded with super veg, nutritious wholegrains, pickled onion and a balsamic dressing.
Lamb, edamame and lentil salad
In addition to lamb and creamy ricotta, this hearty salad contains lentils, tomato and edamame - each a nutrition powerhouse.
Vegan Japanese stuffed sweet potatoes
Add some miso to your roast sweet potato for an easy, low-cal and plant-based dinner that’s as colourful as it is delicious.
For more recipe ideas, go to taste.com.au or check out the Taste Test Kitchen now.
Originally published as The top 50 low-calorie dinner recipes for a healthy 2024
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