A Whole Week’s Worth of Better-For-You Dinner Recipe Ideas

It’s officially a new year, and if you’ve set a resolution to eat better and choose healthier options, you’ve come to the right place! We know a thing or two about better-for-you foods and one crucial tip that’ll help you stay on track with your goal. It all comes down to meal planning! But why is that? 

The fact of the matter is that when you plan out your meals ahead of time, you’re more likely to stick to that plan instead of making last minute (and maybe less healthy) decisions about what to cook. So, try to make a plan for the week, pick up what you need from your local Food Lion and set yourself up for resolution success. 

And speaking of setting you up for success, we want to help you with your meal planning with the following seven better-for-you dinner recipe ideas - one for every day of the week! 

Monday: Low Carb Cauliflower Burrito Bowls

Start the week off with a dish that is simple to make and will remind you of a Mexican-style meal your family already knows and loves. This Cauliflower Rice Burrito Bowl recipe is a low-carb variation of the traditional rice meal and is packed with all of the flavors you adore. Sounds like a tasty win-win, right? 

To prepare this better-for-you dinner recipe idea, start by placing the cauliflower in your food processor or blender and pulse until it starts to look like rice. Another option for this step would be to use frozen cauliflower rice to save a couple of minutes of prep time. Whichever you choose, you will then microwave the cauliflower to cook it. 

Next, sauté your peppers and onions in a sweet and

Tuesday: Roasted Salmon with Kale & Cabbage

Tuesday calls for another quick and easy meal and this sheet pan dinner recipe will help you get food on the table in less than 20 minutes and only four simple steps. Made with salmon filets, plus kale, cabbage, balsamic vinegar and a handful of different spices, this better-for-you dish is definitely not lacking in flavor or nutrition! 

Want to serve another side with your meal? Brown rice would be a great option. Or, since you will already have your oven hot, use it to roast some red potatoes or sweet potatoes on a sheet pan with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. 

See all of the steps to make Roasted Salmon with Kale & Cabbage on our recipe portal! 

Wednesday: Veggie-Packed Quinoa Fried Rice

Since Wednesday is the middle of the work (and school) week, your family could use a better-for-you dinner recipe idea that’ll help you power through. That’s precisely why we’re suggesting this Veggie-Packed Quinoa Fried Rice - to help you get over the hump of the week! After all, quinoa is a grain that’s considered a superfood. It’s gluten-free, high in fiber and other essential nutrients and loaded with protein. 

But, wait… Isn’t quinoa a higher-priced food? Not necessarily! When shopping for the ingredients at your neighborhood Food Lion, keep an eye out for Nature’s Promise quinoa for a more affordable selection.

Besides replacing the rice for quinoa, this “fried rice” dish is also filled with four different vegetables, including corn, onions, bell peppers and broccoli. And remember the dinner recipe idea for Monday? If you have any uncooked peppers or onions leftover, this is a great time to use them, so they don’t go to waste! 

Now, snag the whole recipe! 

Thursday: Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers

When trying to stay on track with your new year’s resolution, a cheesesteak sandwich may not be on your list of approved dishes. But, just because you’re trying to make healthier choices doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the flavors you love. In fact, our Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers recipe is a low carb option made with many of the same Philly cheesesteak ingredients, but baked in halved bell peppers instead of served on a hoagie roll. 

Although this meal only takes about 35 to 40 minutes total to make, you can shave off some time on Thursday by precooking your peppers the night before. Then, continue with step two 15 minutes before you’re ready to serve dinner. 

Take a look at the step-by-step directions here! 

Friday: Zesty Shrimp Fajita Bowls

Make Friday evening a fiesta and enjoy the taste of shrimp fajitas from the comfort of home. This dinner recipe idea for Shrimp Fajita Bowls is flavorful, zesty and made with brown rice for a better-for-you option. However, you can use cauliflower rice instead to make it low-carb.

To assemble these bowls for your family, you’ll layer brown rice, sautéed shrimp, bell peppers and onions, then top with pico de gallo, avocado and cilantro. Low-fat sour cream, pickled jalapenos and hot sauce would make tasty toppings as well. 

Saturday: Keto Chicken Parmesan Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

Since you may have a little more spare time for cooking on the weekend, we’re suggesting this nutritious, Keto-friendly twist on the classic comfort food, chicken parmesan. But, don’t worry! This warm and cheesy dinner recipe idea still only takes 45 minutes to prep and cook, so you still have plenty of time for fun with the family throughout the day. 

Not familiar with the winter vegetable, spaghetti squash? It gets its name from the inside of the squash, which can be shredded into strands that look like spaghetti (once cooked). So, it’s practically made for a chicken parmesan dish, right? 

This squash’s flavor profile is mild and slightly sweet, which lends itself perfectly to pair with marinara sauce and cheese. And besides spaghetti squash, two types of cheese and your favorite sugar-free marinara sauce, you’ll also need rotisserie chicken, fresh basil and a few other items. Check out the full list of ingredients on our recipe portal! 

Sunday: Arroz Con Pollo

Just like the meal we suggested for Saturday, this dinner recipe idea is also ready in 45 minutes. But, instead of Italian flavors, Arroz Con Pollo is a traditional Spanish dish. With flavors of bell pepper, cumin, mint, turmeric, and garlic, this chicken recipe does not lack taste. In fact, it is packed with so much flavor! 

To make it, you’ll start by browning the chicken thighs and adding the seasoning. Then, add your chopped veggies and brown the rice in a separate pan with butter. Add chicken broth to the skillet with your chicken and vegetables, combine everything together in a stockpot and cook for 10 minutes. And voila! This better-for-you dinner recipe idea is ready to enjoy!

With these seven better-for-you dishes, you have a whole week’s worth of recipe ideas you can whip up for you and your family. But, the inspiration doesn’t stop there! We have many more recipes right here on our site - all supporting different health goals and needs. Check them out and keep up the great efforts with sticking to your new year’s resolution!