100+ Light Dinner Ideas That Are Healthy, Family-Friendly, and Quick to Prepare
A light and healthy recipe doesn't have to be boring.
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Coming up with exciting and delicious dinners for your family can feel overwhelming, especially if you're trying to eat a healthy, well-balanced meal. In fact, finding the time, effort, and energy to create healthy meals that your kids will actually eat can feel downright impossible. But even the pickiest of eaters will love these light dinner ideas, and before you know it the following healthy meals will be part of weekly rotation with no complaints.
From different types of pizzas, tacos, and salads to all of the kebabs you could possibly want, these recipes prove that healthy dinner ideas don't have to be boring. "The components of a 'healthy' meal, whether breakfast, lunch, or dinner, are like the legs of a stool — they all need to work together to give us strength and balance," Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, creator of Better Than Dieting, and author of Read It Before You Eat It — Taking You from Label to Table, tells Woman's Day. "My recommendation for a meal trifecta is a combo of lean protein, whole grain carbohydrates, and healthy fats." Following Taub-Dix's trifecta allows you and your family to feel full and satisfied after eating, without relying on large portions or restrictive dieting. "As an example, a healthy plate for lunch or dinner should contain a protein like seafood, poultry, eggs, or beans; a side of veggies or salad, and a whole grain like bread, farro, brown rice, or pasta," she says. "Adding fruit to your salad boosts this meal even further." And what's even better, these simple dinner ideas are easy to prepare and quick to make so you can spend more time enjoying the meal with your family, rather than bustling around the kitchen making the dish.
With over 100 light yet filling dinner recipes, you'll never substitute flavor for substance again. Packed with tasty and fresh ingredients, these healthy recipes won't have your family scrounging the kitchen for after-dinner snacks, and there's enough variety to keep them interested every night.
Asparagus, Potato & Spinach Galette
Packed with hearty and filling produce, this healthy and balanced dish is as easy to make as it is delicious.
Katsu Pork Cutlet
Just because something is breaded, doesn't mean it can't be considered a light meal. This crispy, juicy pork is topped with ginger-lime cabbage salad, and it's easy to make.
Chicken Kebabs
You may want to make double of these juicy lemon chicken kebabs because they're going to be swiped off of the grill before you can even say "Bon Appétit."
Lemon-Thyme Chicken
This gluten-free dish is full of tasty and good-for-you ingredients, like green beans and artichoke hearts roasted with Parmesan and thyme.
Apricot-Glazed Chicken and Corn
Everything about this dish will please even the pickiest of eaters. The apricot-lime glaze has a touch of hot sauce, which makes the dish sweet, sour, spicy, and delicious.
Mâche, Beet, and Orange Salad
Go meatless with this fast and tasty meal. Toss four cups of mâche, baby greens, or spinach leaves with this homemade lemon-herb dressing, and add in a few colorful fruits and veggies to make your new favorite salad.
Hot Honey-Roasted Salmon and Radishes
Add a little kick to your healthy dinner tonight with these jalapeño-infused honey and spicy radish greens that put a new twist on your typical roasted salmon.
Thai-Style Peanut Chicken Wraps
Replace your go-to flour tortilla with Swiss chard for a lighter meal. The leafy green is sturdy enough to act as a wrap without falling apart when you dip it in the homemade honey-ginger peanut sauce.
Chickpea, Spinach, and Quinoa Patties
Loaded with feta, garlic, and jalapeños, these patties are so flavorful, even the meat-lovers in your family will devour this vegetarian dish.
Oven-Roasted Salmon with Charred Lemon Vinaigrette
Salmon is an easy and healthy thing to make. This recipe only takes half an hour, and it tastes great with a side of veggies or grains.
Get the Oven-Roasted Salmon with Charred Lemon Vinaigrette recipe.
Thyme- and Sage-Roasted Turkey
Say goodbye to the mentality that turkey is reserved for Thanksgiving, and say hello to this woodsy roast that'll give you plenty of leftovers for the rest of the week.
Bell Pepper Nachos
Put a light spin on the Mexican staple: Switch out the tortilla chips for vitamin C and beta carotene-packed bell peppers which are crucial to good immune function.
Fresh Corn, Tomato, Herb, and Israeli Couscous Salad
Showcase your seasonal veggies with this pasta salad that goes perfectly with grilled zucchini and onion. And an added bonus? It only takes 20 minutes!
Get the Fresh Corn, Tomato, Herb, and Israeli Couscous Salad recipe.
Quick Chickpea and Kale Stew
Forget stews that take hours to make in a crockpot; this one only takes 25 minutes. The chickpeas in it serve as a lighter replacement for potatoes or other carb-heavy foods that often go in stews.
Tomato & Watermelon Salad
Bring a little taste of summer home with you at any point in the year with this delicious salad. Paired with basil and feta, this salad makes for a standalone meal or side dish.
Roasted Chile Lime Chicken Legs
This five-ingredient dinner is easy to assemble and doesn't skimp on flavor.
Moroccan Meatballs with Roasted Tomatoes and Chickpeas
Serve these Moroccan meatballs with couscous and feta for a flavor that will take you on a journey.
Get the Moroccan Meatballs with Roasted Tomatoes and Chickpeas recipe.
Ham and Spinach Pizza
When you've got a craving for pizza, this recipe will satisfy. With spinach, red onions, and thinly sliced ham, all topped with a half-dozen eggs, this pizza will become a family favorite.
Balsamic Steak with Eggplant and Peppers
A steak dinner doesn't always have to be heavy. This light option is served with a vegetable medley of peppers and eggplant.
Pork and Peach Kebabs with Grilled Green Beans
This unexpected combo of pork and peach is juicy and delicious. Just throw these skewers on the grill, and you'll have a flavorful dinner in no time.
Get the Pork and Peach Kebabs with Grilled Green Beans recipe.
