20 dinner ideas for healthy weight loss

Here’s 20 recipes for anyone seeking to lose weight, the healthy and tasty way. Forget fad diets - these meals come in at under 400 calories and are packed with fibre and protein.

While your Insta feed may be awash with influencers spruiking the latest fad diet, in recent years there’s been a welcome shift in nutritional advice towards eating for good health, rather than short-lived weight-loss.

Longevity-promoting diets – including plenty of vegies, legumes, lean protein and good fats – have the power to not only improve your overall health, but also promote sustainable weight-loss (if that’s a goal you’re pursuing).

That’s where these recipes come in: they’re all under 400 calories, and they’re stuffed with wonder ingredients that can help with everything from boosting immunity to increasing energy.

Healthy Spanish chicken and beans.

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.

Japanese fried rice

Combine brown rice with loads of vegetables for a low calorie makeover to this flavoursome, Japanese-style fried rice.

Sweet potato and lentil patties with tzatziki.

Sweet potato and lentil patties with tzatziki

These easy vegetarian patties make for a great lunch-on-the-go.

Healthy potato-crusted zucchini and ricotta quiche.

Healthy potato-crusted zucchini and ricotta quiche

A potato hash brown base makes a great low-fat alternative to pastry in this healthy vegetarian quiche.

Fish tacos with chipotle avocado

These healthy fish soft tacos will be a dinnertime hit with the whole family.

Cauliflower fried rice with prawns.

Cauliflower fried rice with prawns

Low-cal and high in vitamins, cauliflower is a clever alternative to traditional fried rice.

Amaranth and quinoa stuffed peppers

These colourful peppers are stuffed with vegetables, seeds and grains.

One-pan vegetable and quinoa bake recipe.

One-pan vegetable and quinoa bake recipe

Load up your next vego tray bake with quinoa for a super-filling and easy dinner.

Healthy salmon and zucchini salad with almond dressing

Ready in 20 minutes, this fresh salmon salad makes for an easy dinner and great leftovers the next day.

Healthy baked sweet potato, red onion and chickpeas.

Healthy baked sweet potato, red onion and chickpeas

This healthy vegetarian tray bake is a delicious dinner option, loaded with zucchini, capsicum, sweet potato and chickpeas which is a great source of protein.

Buckwheat pasta with roast cauliflower and chickpeas

Healthy pasta? You better believe it! The roast cauliflower in this vego pasta gives it a nutrient and flavour super-boost.

Ginger pork stir-fry with vegie noodles.

Ginger pork stir-fry with vegie noodles

From wok to plate in 20 minutes this easy pork and noodle stir-fry is a weeknight winner.

Roasted broccoli and noodle salad with sesame dressing

With edamame, broccoli and pomegranates, all tied together with soba noodles; this colourful vegan bowl has everything you need, and it is a cinch to make!

Peri peri chicken and zoodle salad.

Peri peri chicken and zoodle salad

Prepare this gluten-free peri peri chicken and zoodle salad the night before to ensure there is enough time for the chicken to soak up all the saucy goodness.

Beef kibbeh with roasted pumpkin hummus

Roast pumpkin takes this homemade hummus to a whole new level of deliciousness.

Low-cal chicken burgers with sweet potato and beetroot chips.

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.

Pumpkin Diane

Nutritionist Chrissy Freer has taken a family favourite dinner and put a healthier, vegetarian spin on it - introducing pumpkin Diane!

Grilled tofu with brown rice, Asian greens and chilli sesame dressing.

Grilled tofu with brown rice, Asian greens and chilli sesame dressing

With a sticky soy chilli dressing and plenty of chargrilled tofu, this hearty vegetarian dish is sure to satisfy.

Grilled beef salad with chilli peanut dressing

Beef strips get turned into a spicy, summery salad that’ll brighten up your plate.

Salmon, chia and broccoli fish cakes.

Salmon, chia and broccoli fish cakes

Canned salmon is a budget-friendly and healthy addition to these gluten-free fish cakes.

For more recipe ideas, go to taste.com.au or check out the Taste Test Kitchen now.

Originally published as 20 dinner ideas for healthy weight loss