For many, the month of January is an easy checkpoint to stop and re-focus our eating habits after the holidays. Is that a bad thing? I don’t think so.
Even when extra conscious of maintaining healthy living over the holidays, a reboot/refresh feels good in the weeks following. I’m usually sick of sweets and crave vegetables more than ever.
This year, rather than focusing on what I shouldn’t eat – like, for example, trying to avoid cards and/or sugar, I want to shift my attention to what I SHOULD be eating. How can I get one more serving of veggies into my day? Did I eat at least one piece of fruit?
More than any other time of the year my husband and I find ourselves eating at home the majority of the time in the first couple of months of the year. If fact, last year, I recall eating at home EVERY meal in January.
I think it was more about the challenge than anything, but we did, and it was great! In doing so, I discovered some of the recipes I’m about to share with you today.
I wouldn’t call myself a recipe creator but more of a recipe “scouter” and “critic.” Ha! I love trying lots of recipes and really work to find good ones that I can then confidently share with others.
There are 30 recipes linked below grouped into 5 categories: breakfast, soup, mains & sides, salads, sweets & snacks.
Since we all know the term “healthy” can mean different things for different people, just know that most of these recipes lean toward lots of vegetables and lower in carbohydrates.
I rarely buy pre-made foods but I recently saw a recommendation for frozen breakfast sandwiches and we ended up really enjoying these.
For a breakfast sandwich, 220 calories is pretty good.
Banana Split Smoothie
I’m really picky about smoothies. This one is my favorite by far, to the point I literally crave it. The recipe is from a devotional book I read last year called Love and Care for the One and Only You. Throw in a handful of spinach for an extra boost.
6 to 9 oz vanilla unsweetened or plain almond milk
1 to 2 ice cubes
1/2 banana
3 large frozen strawberries
1 T. almond butter
1/2 serving chocolate protein powder
1/2 serving vanilla protein powder
Soup
Get your Collard Greens on with this Pot Likker Soupfrom Add a Pinch
The recipe calls for Kielbasa sausage but I find it too fatty. I just use basic Eckrich Skinless Smoked Sausage. I love cooked cabbage so this one is a big winner for me.
This fruit salad could be easily adapted using a variety of fruits. I didn’t use the mint because I’m not a huge mint person. I just used the juice of an orange rather than store orange juice.
In a large bowl, mix all ingredients until well combined. Refrigerate the bowl for 30 minutes so the mixture is easy to handle.
Scoop dough into tablespoon-sized portions and roll into balls. Place balls in an air-tight container and store them in the fridge or freezer until ready to eat.
Did you find anything here you’re particularly excited to try?
Do you have any favorite healthy recipes? Share them in the comments!