Dinner idea that doesn't taste "healthy" or bland?

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  • KristinaB83
    KristinaB83 Posts: 440 Member
    Grilled shrimp fajitas.... Done.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Why does everyone seem to think that "healthy" and nutritious food has to be boring and bland? I just don't get it...

    I'm the primary cook in my family and I'm a total foodie and I'm big on nutrition...nothing I make is bland or boring and it's all pretty nutritious. I'd say pretty much pick up a decent cookbook and go shopping for some whole ingredients and put them together and voila...you have a nice healthy meal.

    Tonight I'm grilling some salmon and serving over a brown rice pilaf with olive oil roasted brussel's sprouts. It's totally healthy...my portion will clock in at around 600 calories or so and my wife's portion will be in the 400 - 500 range depending on how much salmon and rice she takes.
  • jamimari777
    jamimari777 Posts: 101 Member
    Chicken tacos:
    1 onion
    1 lb ground chicken
    1/2 jalapeno
    2 cloves garlic
    1 packet of taco seasoning from the store (check salt content)
    1 chioptle in adobo sauce and 1 tablespoon of sauce from can (super cheap)

    Sautee onion until soft, add chopped and deseeded jalapeno, chopped chipotle and sauce and garlic for a minute or two to toast, then add ground chicken. As chicken cooks, chop it up with a spatula so it looks like taco meat and not a solid mass. You're done.

    I eat this chicken on brown rice with guacamole on the side, or put it all inside a sweet potato.

    My boyfriend who hates healthy food eats his like a regular taco wtih cheese. We are both happy.
  • wandawoman03
    wandawoman03 Posts: 1
    Another vote for skinnytaste.com

    My family has loved every recipe I've made from there. So yummy!

    Some of my favorites are:
    Taco stuffed zucchini
    Santa Fe Chicken
    Broccoli Cheese Soup
    Turkey Meatloaf
  • ParkerH47
    ParkerH47 Posts: 463 Member
    I know this isn't your question necessarily, but if you are making dinner and something tastes bland there are a few cooking tips and tricks.

    One is salt. I think salt gets a bad name - unless your doctor has specifically told you that you have to reduce your sodium, you can and should COOK with salt. I emphasized cook because the main contributor of excess sodium is not from cooking but from processed foods. SO if your cooking with fresh vegetables and lean meats - if a little salt gets you to enjoy it more it is totally worth it.

    Two is roasting and any kind of browning process - browning adds flavour and not calories. Roasting vegetables with a little olive oil, salt and pepper is so damn good (ex.asparagus, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, etc etc). also if you are having chicken breast - which has the tendency to be bland and boring try this next time - sautee in a pan with mushrooms and onions and get some good browning (but try not to burn either) and then when the chicken is done take it out of the pan and then add a splash of wine or sherry to "deglaze the pan" add some salt and pepper and maybe some herbs and pour that over your chicken. Crazy good and still will be similar in calories.

    Three is butter. Nothing excessive, but if you are making a more special dinner if you swap out the calories you might normally get from olive oil or other added fat for cooking and use butter instead you will get a richer more delicious meal. mm i love butter.
  • nmncare
    nmncare Posts: 168 Member
    Bump for ideas!!

    I like making cobb salads. Turkey Bacon, Tomatoes, Avocados, and lettuce. For the dressing, I use Skinny Taste light Blue Cheese Dressing. http://www.skinnytaste.com/2010/04/low-fat-creamy-blue-cheese-dressing.html

    I also LOVE this enchilada casserole. Boyfriend approved! So yummy. But if he wont try food because it looks healthy.. don't make this! Haha. http://www.perrysplate.com/2011/03/stacked-roasted-vegetable-enchiladas.html
  • Marcolter
    Marcolter Posts: 103 Member
    "Fried Rice" using eggbeaters, veggie combo to your taste. , cooked brown rice, non stick pan and some low sodium soy sauce. Use veggie to rice ratio to meet your calorie goals and maybe 1 or 2 eggbeater portions to suit qty you make.
  • sjp_511
    sjp_511 Posts: 476 Member
    I made this last night. I had a gigantic serving - it was more like 1.5 servings - for under 600 calories. It makes about 6 servings at approximately 387 calories per serving. It might be kinda high for you 1200, but here it goes...

    1. In pan, start boiling water for pasta. Add pasta (12 oz) when water is boiling. I use penne shaped, the Smart Taste brand.
    2. In large frying pan, heat some oil (just enough to cover the bottom of the pan) over medium-high heat.
    3. Add chopped garlic to pan, 3-6 cloves depending on taste. I don't chop, I use a garlic press.
    4. Add in half a bag of shrimp. I almost always forget to defrost so I add it in frozen. I usually use precooked because it is faster. If it is not precooked, wait for it to cook before moving on to the next step.
    5. Once shrimp is cooked and heated through, add chopped mushrooms and spinach (2 large handfuls). I usually use one box of mini-bella (the one that is more square, not the large rectangular one). I have used fresh spinach and I have used frozen. Very little difference.

    During steps 3-5, stir frequently, but no need to stir constantly.

    6. Once spinach and mushrooms are heated through and cooked, turn heat to low and stir in 1 jar of marinara sauce (I usually use Newman's Own) and 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt.
    7. When sauce is heated, stir in the pasta (drained).

    Can serve with some parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.
  • colingibb
    colingibb Posts: 31 Member
    Had this the last two nights and it was delicious. Just under 500 cals for the whole meal (including main dish, rice and veggies).. there are also some other really good 500 cal recipes on http://www.Slimfast.com/recipes

    http://www.slimfast.com/recipes/47677/tilapia-gremolata-with-vegetable-ribbons
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Individual food items are neither "healthy" nor "unhealthy." Strive to hit your macronutrient and calorie goals. When you hit your macros, you *have* eaten "healthy," no matter if it's "comfort food" or if it's bland chicken.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Hello guys ,

    i am on a 1200 calorie intake plan and i am trying to find a healthy dinner i can make to surprize my bf tomorrow , that is low on calories yet delicious to someone who prefers the bad stuff..

    anyone have ideas?

    i could eat plain chicken , veggies and call it a night but i know my boyfriend wants comfort food or something that is not so HEALTHY... help !! lol
    1 cup soy sauce, 1 cup white vinegar, 1.5 tablespoon minced garlic. Toss in a pot and add in about 6 pieces of chicken (with skin). Cook until chicken is done and serve over rice.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition


    REALLY? Soy sauce and vinegar with no sweetener to offset? And a *whole cup* of vinegar??

    I am sure this needs juice or honey or something.
  • sarahenagy
    sarahenagy Posts: 65 Member
    Ellie Krieger Macaroni and Four Cheeses (Google it). Really yummy, secret helpings of veggies, hits the comfort food spot.
  • jwags19
    jwags19 Posts: 2 Member
    www.skinnytaste.com

    All healthy, all yummy and husband approved. I have yet to try a recipe from here that my hubby doesn't like.

    I second this.

    3rd! Great website...
  • nateb1983
    nateb1983 Posts: 6
    I found a really easy meal to make and substitute rice for cauliflower, note, i hate cauliflower.

    Chicken and cauliflower rice.

    bake as many boneless skinless chicken breast as you want and season to taste, I use garlic and lemon paper.

    next take your cauliflower and put it into a food chopper to make it real fine like rice, also chop up some onions, bell peppers, broccoli or whatever veg you like. then sauté it in a skillet together in coconut oil until its browned.

    then serve the chicken on top of the cauliflower rice. trust me its real good.
  • cityjaneLondon
    cityjaneLondon Posts: 12,789 Member
    Try Hairy Dieters books on Amazon. You can get them for Kindle. There are 2 books, I have the first. I love the Paella and the Spanish Chicken. There are great curries. I just give DH lots of extra carbs and butter on his potatoes. He is super skinny.:grumble: You could make a pasta dish and have shiritaki noodles yourself. That's what I sometimes do.
  • imjolly
    imjolly Posts: 176 Member
    I don't eat any food that is bland. Just by adding garlic, or other seasonings (onions, basil, Italian seasoning, parsley, etc...) makes a world of difference in taste with no or little calories. There are a ton of healthy, tasty recipes on Pinterest.
  • tabahrak
    tabahrak Posts: 1 Member
    I can second this...skinnytaste has some amazing recipes.
  • Hobb3s
    Hobb3s Posts: 119 Member
    Nicely cooked Trout, grilled asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes (or another veg you prefer).
  • samacooper
    samacooper Posts: 28 Member
    www.skinnytaste.com

    All healthy, all yummy and husband approved. I have yet to try a recipe from here that my hubby doesn't like.

    I second this! Everything from this site is good--husband agrees! I recently made this: http://www.skinnytaste.com/2013/11/loaded-philly-cheesesteak-baked-potato.html

    it was sooo good. Just make sure you use the right size potato, I had to have a half of a potato instead of whole because mine were enormous.
  • momeatsbetter
    momeatsbetter Posts: 1
    I've just started cooking recipes from http://www.stirlist.com Great recipes with photos of healthy food by a girl who is an expert in nutrition.
  • AmoreCouture
    AmoreCouture Posts: 255 Member
    My Husband loves this one.http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/04/cheesy-jalapeno-popper-baked-stuffed.html He has requested it many times and it's not hot at all if you don't include the seeds.
  • daperksofbeingacauliflower
    daperksofbeingacauliflower Posts: 12
    marinate it! get some bbq sauce to marinate it in, and have some nice spicy kale chips or bacon sauteed greenbeans with it!

    personally i marinate mine in olive garden's salad dressing and have it over a salad with the same dressing, maybe throw in some whole grain pasta.

    get chicken legs if you want, and bread them lightly in a low carb or gluten free thing? such as like whole grain or chips? even crushed nuts would be nice. like peanuts crusted or something...

    rotisseree chicken...

    you can have a steak, a lean one is lowcal and delish! try making different rubs, like a coffee rub recipe you can find online <3 omnom

    i hope i gave you some ideas!!!

    oh almost forgot, indian food. extremely flavorful, and relatively healthy since there are lots of veggies and protein. i love palak paneer! its basically spinach and cheese. or any type of vindaloo, like with chicken to add protein.
  • MissLCWolff
    MissLCWolff Posts: 69 Member
    I've never had a recipe from Cooking Light magazine that I didn't enjoy, even when I ate really unhealthily. I particularly love their seared pork tortas (Spanish sandwiches)--441 calories per serving and they taste AMAZING, especially if you sprinkle them with chipotle pepper to add a smoky, spicy kick. http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/seared-pork-tortas-10000002001870/
  • greatmom2
    greatmom2 Posts: 95 Member
    check out Skinnytaste.com There are some fabulous recipes on there.

    There are these easy garlic cheddar biscuits....yum

    And a lot of the recipes are already in the food database on MPF!

    This is a direct link to the beef recipes http://www.skinnytaste.com/search/label/Beef Recipes

    Mmmmmm, I am definitely going to have to try out the garlic cheddar biscuits along with many other recipes in this post! :) Thanks for all the great ideas!!
  • jeneferphillips89
    jeneferphillips89 Posts: 268
    Bump for recipes

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