Packing lunch is your best bet when trying to stick to a healthful and budget-friendly meal plan. Come lunchtime, having something delicious waiting for you feels like a treat, but bringing something you're not excited about is the worst. Forgo leftover trauma, and enjoy one of these healthy recipes that's even tastier the next day.
Good news if you're trying to uncover those abs in time for bikini season: many of Summer's in-season produce are just what you need to debloat and slim down your midsection. Take a trip to the farmers market and stock up — this meal plan features fresh Summer produce that help blast belly fat!
Breakfast: Blueberry Green Monster Smoothie
Start your day on the right foot with a light, nutrient-packed breakfast. This blueberry green monster smoothie lets the Summer berry shine — and for good reason, since a diet rich in blueberries may help you shed abdominal fat. With a good helping of protein from Greek yogurt and protein powder, this smoothie will help you power through your morning.
Snack: Cantaloupe Bowl
Make snack time a little more fun by making a cantaloupe boat. Cantaloupe is an ideal Summer food if you're trying to fight bloat — the fruit is high in potassium to combat a salt overload and also is a good source of fiber. This cantaloupe boat features nonfat Greek yogurt, granola, chia seeds, and almonds. The calcium in dairy (and other foods) has been shown to help suppress fat cells as well, but if you're cutting back on dairy, opt for sliced fruit and a sprinkle of nuts or seeds to fill your cantaloupe instead.
Lunch: Avocado Strawberry Lime Salad
Avocado is so delicious, it's an added bonus that it contains high levels of healthy fats called monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), which have been shown to help melt away belly fat. Load up at lunch with this creamy, summery salad: avocado, strawberries, almond slivers, and kiwis, topped with a honey lime dressing.
Dinner: Thai Basil Pesto Zucchini Pasta
Summer squash like zucchini are prime choices for your flat-belly plan, since they're a good source of fiber as well as a pectin that may help regulate blood sugar. Additionally, Summer squash has anti-inflammatory properties to help quiet digestive upset. Flat-belly benefits aside, all you'll be thinking as you eat this Thai basil zucchini pasta is just how light, flavorful, and satisfying it is!
Vegans are often on the hunt for a new and tasty protein-packed breakfast. These five animal- and dairy-free recipes are all varied, but they each share one common thread: at least 10 grams of protein per serving. Whether you prefer a sweet or savory start to your day, there's an option on this list for everyone.
Banana Bread Batter Oatmeal
Banana bread lovers will fall hard for this banana bread batter oatmeal recipe with just under 12 grams of protein. While you can enjoy it warm, it's even more delicious when served cold!
Apple Cinnamon Overnight Smoothie
The refreshing coconut water in this fiber- and protein-packed apple cinnamon flaxseed smoothie from registered dietitian Erin Palinski makes it a hydrating and healthy Summer breakfast.
Southwestern Tofu Scramble
Try a riff on classic scrambled eggs with this hearty Southwestern tofu scramble. Beyond the protein, it's filled with fresh vegetables and healthy spices like turmeric and coriander.
Keep reading for two more high-protein vegan breakfast recipes.
If you're hankering for cheese, but are living the dairy-free life, we have a recipe for you to try: cashew cheese. This tasty soft "cheese" is great for spreading on crackers, adding to sandwiches, or topping off nachos. In this video, The Healthy Voyager, Carolyn Scott-Hamilton, shows you just how easy it is to make. Watch, learn, and then whip up a batch on your own.
Often made with good-for-you ingredients like kale, frozen berries, and Greek yogurt, when made right, smoothies are one of the healthiest foods you can eat. But sometimes using too many ingredients can result in a smoothie that's 500 calories or more. Here are a variety of refreshing and fruity smoothie recipes to satisfy your sweet tooth, fill your belly, and energize — all for under 300 calories.
Cutting back on gluten and grains? This veggie-powered pizza needs to make its way to your kitchen. Freshly grated cauliflower serves as the base for the creative and delicious crust that you can fold up just like traditional pizza! The recipe only called for grape tomatoes and fresh basil, but feel free to toss a ton more veggies on this pizza pie to bulk it up a bit. At less than 300 calories for half the pie, this is a pizza recipe you can enjoy sans guilt. Keep reading for this clever recipe.
Trying to stop yourself from piling a plate high with a stack of fresh flapjacks can be hard. Take temptation out of the picture by just cooking up a single fluffy cake. In under 10 minutes, you can have a satisfying, 350-calorie breakfast treat with more than 37 grams of protein.
The sky-high protein content comes from the combination of low-fat cottage cheese and vanilla protein powder. This recipe is a creative way to use protein powder you normally toss into a shake. Keep reading to learn what goes into this simple protein pancake.
One of my favorite Summer cocktails is the bramble, a mix of gin, lemon, fresh blackberries, and blackberry liqueur. It's also a recipe that's easy to play around with, which makes for a fun day of improvising. For anyone craving a fruity cocktail minus the calories, this variation of a classic bramble makes a great choice. Instead of gin, I chose tequila as the base spirit; to me, tequila is the perfect complement to warm weather and fresh fruit. The recipe doesn't contain any store-bought mixers or fruit juice but relies on fresh, seasonal blackberries and a hint of agave syrup for its sweetness. In the end, it's a cocktail with fewer than 200 calories.
It's National Donut Day! And what better way to celebrate than with some healthy recipes of this favorite dunkable treat? Whether you're vegan, gluten-free, or not into sugar, there's a donut recipe in here for you!
Stumped on what to prepare for your gluten-free guests? Skip the usual GF crackers and cheese and wow your friends and family with these deliciously healthy appetizers that are completely free of wheat, rye, oats, and barley.
