And just like that, it’s another new year! And with a new year comes a new outlook and goals, like eating healthier (or at least healthier than the holiday’s).  This is my collection of Healthy New Year Meal Ideas. All in one place, for you. Healthy dinner, lunch and breakfast ideas to make the transition to eating better, easier.

A chocolate smoothie, salmon with pesto and edamame in a bowl

Changing how you eat does not have to happen dramatically. It can be as simple as swapping frying for baking, 

Breakfast Ideas:

Smoothies are the first thing I think of when I want to eat healthy and detox. They are a great way to pack in a lot of nutrients in one drink.  My Detox Green Smoothie is perfect for this which I love first thing in the morning or an afternoon snack. Chocolate Matcha Breakfast Smoothie is a wonderful energy boost with help from matcha powder and tastes like a milkshake. For some added protein, Strawberry Almond Protein Power Smoothie is delicious and fruity.

Detox green smoothie garnished with fresh strawberry slices
A tall glass filled with a chocolate smoothie
Sliced strawberries decorate the inside of a glass filled with strawberry almond protein power smoothie

Avocado toast is a popular choice of late and my recipe blends artichoke hearts with the avocado and served with added protein, a poached egg. If you’re looking for something with eggs, Sweet Potato and Sage Frittata is one of my favorites.

A perfectly poached egg with the yolk running out onto avocado artichoke toast
Cutting a slice of frittata
A spoonful of yogurt and granola parfait

If you’re looking for something sweet, I like to substitute coconut sugar in Easy Granola with Coconut Sugar and love to sprinkle it on top of my yogurt.

Lunch Ideas:

Salads are always a great go-to, but be aware of unhealthy salad dressings. I like to make my own by mixing 3 parts olive oil to 2 parts vinegar with Dijon mustard, salt and pepper. Very easy and very healthy. Blackened Grilled Shrimp Salad is a filling lunch and grilling is a healthy way to prepare the shrimp. I love my grill pan on the stove for winter grilling.

A closeup showing a perfectly charred grilled shrimp in the salad
Pouring miso dressing onto a bowl of salad greens and vegetables
Pouring dressing onto a beet and arugula salad

One of my favorite dressings that can also be used as a marinade is my Miso Sauce Dressing and Marinade.

It’s also beet season, and my roasted beet and arugula salad is the best use of them. It’s also pear season if your’e so inclined to add fruit to your salad and grilled pear salad gets a delicious topping from crispy prosciutto.

Healthy New Year Meal Ideas – Soups

At hot lunch is just what you need when it’s cold out and I have a large selection of soups. Roasted carrot ginger soup is a healthy and filling option, as is 30 minute winter vegetable soup. Milanese Minestrone Soup is a hearty mix of beans and veggies that is very filling.

A bowl of Roasted Carrot Ginger Soup garnished with sour cream and chives
2 white bowls filled with vegetable soup with colors of yellow, orange and green
A white bowl filled with minestrone soup with beans and vegetables

Dinner Ideas:

Dinner doesn’t mean that you have skimp. Salmon Sliders with Caper Lemon Mayonnaise are so healthy, this will satisfy a burger craving. As will my Chipotle Chicken Burger that has a little kick. Buns are optional if you’re going low carb. For a vegetarian option, Spicy Curry Veggie Burgers with Cucumber Raita might be just what you’re looking for.

A side view of a salmon slider
A thick chipotle chicken burger topped with melted cheese, tomato and lettuce
Spicy curry veggie burger on naan bread with lettuce, raita and red onion on a dark plate

It’s football season and game day doesn’t have to suffer. Remember when I talked earlier about swapping frying for baking? I have the tastiest Baked Chicken Tenders with Buffalo Blue Cheese Sauce. 

Looking for fries? How about a Sumac Baked Sweet Potatoes with Mint Yogurt Dip?

Dipping a baked chicken tender into buffalo blue cheese sauce
Sumac baked sweet potatoes cut into fries

Salmon is one of my favorite light dinners, but it can get boring so I like to make healthy sauces and I have 3 options, Teriyaki Glazed Salmon Recipe, Mediterranean Lemon Pesto Salmon and Coconut Curry Poached Salmon.

Pouring teriyaki sauce over salmon on a white plate with broccoli
2 salmon filets on a white plate with pesto and lemon
A closeup of the salmon in curry topped with red pepper and basil

Chicken dinners are everyone’s favorite. Skillet Dijon chicken has the most delicious sauce and is so easy to make. A winner winner chicken dinner is a healthy option when you make it my way. I roast the vegetables in the pan with the chicken along with stock that makes the gravy. My Rosemary Roasted Chicken with Delicious Gravy recipe has all the details.

Taking some help from the slow cooker is an easy and healthy way to prepare meat. Crockpot Mexican Shredded Chicken has 2 ingredients and you can use the chicken for a multitude of options like baked taquitos or tacos.

A cast iron skillet cooking up 4 chicken thighs in a Dijon sauce
A roast chicken for Healthy New Year Meal Ideas
Shredded chicken baked taquitos stacked on a serving board with fresh lime and salsa verde

Healthy New Year Meal Ideas – Vegetables

Healthy vegetable sides are easy, again, it’s all in the preparation. Simple Roasted Vegetables with Herb Sauce will feel like you’re indulging, but you’re not. Indian Spiced Peas jazz up frozen (or fresh) peas with added bell pepper. For an Asian inspired side dish, Edamame and Snap Peas with Sesame Ginger Dressing Recipe is so good.

Pouring herb sauce over roasted asparagus for Healthy New Year Meal Ideas
A bowl of peas and vegetables with dal, curry and naan bread
Pouring sesame ginger dressing over edamame and snap peas for Healthy New Year Meal Ideas

In keeping with the Indian flavors, vegetable Indian curry makes a fantastic side dish with the most delicious and healthy curry sauce.

A healthy alternative to mashed potato is roasted carrot and parsnip puree, which are a delicious flavor combination. Good old potato salad gets a flavor boost from roasting the potatoes coated in a healthy Dijon and vinegar dressing (without mayonnaise) and fresh herbs.

A colorful vegetable curry served in an oval dish
A serving spoon in a bowl full of roasted carrot and parsnip puree
A closeup of the browned potatoes topped with fresh herbs