Healthy Dinner Idea Recipes for a Fresh Start

By Chris Scheuer | Updated on January 8, 2023

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Looking to eat a little lighter and leaner after the holidays? Start 2023 with these fresh and healthy dinner ideas.

After weeks and weeks of treats and rich foods, I am ready for fresher, lighter, leaner meals. You too?

We've rounded up some delicious and healthy recipes to start the new year. And while they lean toward the healthier side, these recipes are still super delicious and full of flavor. There's everything from chicken to salmon and a few vegetarian options as well. No sad, boring meals here! Add a few to your menu this week and pin the rest for later. Enjoy!

Thai Coconut Chicken Soup (Tom Kha Gai)

With super tender, melt-in-your-mouth chicken and a silky smooth sauce loaded with fresh veggies and tons of bright, fresh flavor, this Thai Coconut Chicken Soup ticks all the boxes!

Oven Roasted Greek Chicken Meatballs

These healthy, delicious Greek Chicken Meatballs come together quickly with lean chicken, lots of fresh veggies and a ton of fabulous flavor! Serve them as an appetizer, in sandwiches, in bowls with Greek salad, hummus and orzo (pictured), in wraps with pita bread and hummus...

Korean meatball lettuce wraps on a white platter with small bowls of toppings.

Korean Meatball Lettuce Wraps

Looking to eat a little lighter and leaner? These Korean Meatball Lettuce Wraps are easy, healthy and so delicious! The meatballs also make a fabulous appetizer that will disappear in the blink of an eye!

Skillet Lemon Rosemary Chicken and Farro

With juicy, tender chicken, healthy farro and loads of fresh spinach, this hearty, delicious Lemon Rosemary Chicken and Farro is an easy meal in one pan!

Butternut Red Lentil Dal with Gingered Tomatoes

If you love adding healthy veggies to your diet this amazingly delicious Red Lentil Dal is perfect, but oh in meat lovers also go crazy over it as it's bursting with fabulous flavor!

Roasted Veggie and Crispy Chickpea Salad in a cast iron skillet.

Roasted Veggie and Crispy Chickpea Salad

This healthy Roasted Veggie and Crispy Chickpea Salad combines crispy, spicy chickpeas, caramelized veggies, Israeli couscous, buttery, toasted pine nuts and a generous shower of fresh herbs. It makes a delicious side or fabulous main course!

Herbed Chicken Meatballs in a cast iron skillet with gold forks and white plates.

Fresh Herb Chicken Meatballs

These tender Fresh Herb Chicken Meatballs, with a delicious lemon garlic butter sauce, come together quickly and can be prepped early in the day!

Coconut butternut squash soup in a dutch oven and a white bowl with fresh herbs and limes.

Roasted Coconut Butternut Squash Soup

If this veggie-loaded Roasted Coconut Butternut Squash Soup could talk, it would be saying, "Healthy!" but it would be screaming"DELICIOUS"  at the top of its lungs!

Vertical overhead photo of a pot of Avgolemono (Greek Chicken Pasta Soup) on a wood table.

Avgolemono (Greek Chicken Pasta Soup)

This Avgolemono, a lemony Greek chicken pasta soup is healthy and hearty (lots of satisfying protein), creamy (no cream!) and so delicious!

Mexican Seared Salmon Salad

Mexican Sugar-Seared Salmon Salad

This Mexican Sugar-Seared Salmon Salad is one of our favorite meals ever. Use the easy, healthy salmon recipe in lots of other ways too!

Thought for the  day:

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners.
Isaiah 61:1

What we're listening to for inspiration:

The Name of Jesus

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If you enjoy any of these recipes, please come back and leave a star rating and review! It's so helpful to other readers to hear your results, adaptations and ideas for variations.

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4 Comments

  1. Meatball lettuce wraps make a beutiful change at the table. And all your soups make it sooooo diffiult to choose which will go first!
    I admit to cheating and combining several ! Gotta have my cake and eat it too!! You are an amazing chef.
    Donna

  2. Love getting your emails. Always checking out your recipes even if I don't make one it's still lovely and frequently educational regarding cooking/baking in general. Also really enjoy you sharing where you get your inspiration and how you give God the glory and honor. Thank you! Blessings to you and your family in the New Year!