Healthy Recipe Inspiration

I hope you can use some of my 24 favorite recipes as healthy recipe inspiration to kickstart the year! 

I’ve always believed that being healthy was a lifestyle choice. 

My definition of healthy and what I consider a healthy diet is probably different than others, and I guarantee there is at least someone who thinks my eating habits are “unhealthy”. But at the end of the day, it’s all about what works for you and what YOU feel good about putting into your body. 

Every new year is an opportunity to reflect on how YOU feel about what you’re eating to fuel your everyday life. No one else’s opinion matters, but the only thing I would recommend is to aim to fill 80% of your diet with recipes like these – they are vegetable forward (prioritizing more vegetables on your plate than anything else), high in protein, and filled with good fats.

These are just 24 of many healthy, non-boring, recipes to kickstart 2024. 

And NO – you don’t have to eat salad to be healthy. There are plenty of recipes besides salad, but I choose to eat salad because my body craves it and I really enjoy the salads I make. 

I still eat my fair share of simple carbs likes noodles and rice, and indulge in cookies, chips, and desserts, but what makes me feel best is coming back to these recipes that are the base of my diet. 

Once you start feeling good about what you’re eating, you’ll also be able to feel it in your body. You’ll start to crave these fresh flavors, crunchy vegetables, and ultimately the feeling of knowing you’re fueling yourself well. 

Cheers to 2024 -and here’s to another good year of food!

1. Salmon quinoa salad with citrus vinaigrette

This salmon quinoa salad is light and simple but super delicious and refreshing – it’s the perfect lunch or light dinner. The citrus vinaigrette in this salad is also versatile and one of my all-time favorite dressings!

2.Mushroom Orzo with Spiced Chicken

This is a healthy, easy, and delicious 30 minute meal that comes together with just a handful of ingredients. The spiced chicken in this recipe is always a crowd favorite, and paired with this mushroom and spinach orzo is a simple yet flavorful way to serve a quick weeknight dinner.

3. Mayak Avocado Poke Bowls

Poke bowls with mayak avocado are refreshing, delicious and healthy. This bowl is addictively good and super customizable – once you make it at home, it’ll become a go-to recipe!

4. Lemon Asparagus orzo with Italian meatballs

This lemon asparagus orzo is a perfect side dish that is zingy, fresh, and so yummy. Whether you’re looking to pair this with a protein for an easy weeknight dinner, or serve this to a crowd, this dish is a 10/10!

5. Crispy chicken Salad with Spring Vegetables 

Crispy chicken, crunchy beautiful veggies, and a creamy honey mustard ranch makes for the ultimate crispy chicken salad. 

6. Green Goddess Chicken Quinoa Salad

This green goddess chicken quinoa salad is one of my go to recipes to make. It’s clean, simple, takes under 40 minutes to whip together, and is so good! 

7. Italian Sausage Orzo

This Italian sausage orzo is a lighter and brighter take on a dish with classic Italian flavors. It’s restaurant quality, flavor packed, and includes both broccoli rabe and mushrooms.

8. Salmon Taco Bowl

These Salmon Taco Bowls are my homemade version of the Sweetgreen Fish Taco Bowl. I used to be obsessed with these bowls, and this version is an easy recipe you can recreate at home. Serve this alone as a delicious weekend lunch option, or prep the dressing on the weekend to have a quick weeknight dinner. If you have leftovers, these are great the following day as well (I usually don’t like leftover fish, but look at the notes below for reheating instructions that I do all the time!)

9. Smashed Tacos with Guacamole and Cucumber Salad

These smashed tacos with pepper jack cheese and a super easy guacamole are a great way to switch up your typical taco night! Paired with this refreshing cucumber, tomato, and dill salad, this is an easy, well-balanced dinner that will HIT THE SPOT!

10. Spiced Pickled Tomatoes on Easy Roast Salmon

Zingy seasonal pickled tomatoes on a delicious easy roast salmon. This dish is not only beautiful, but a unique way to switch up how you serve roast salmon.

11. Sesame noodles with chicken bing

These Sesame Noodles with Chicken and Zucchini are flavor packed, easy, and a weeknight dinner perfect for summer or any time of the year.

12. Burst Cherry tomato pasta with broccolini

This summer pasta with burst cherry tomatoes and burrata is an easy, but luxurious treat. It comes together in just 30 minutes, and it’s PACKED full of flavor from the tomatoes, shallot, garlic, and olive oil. I love how simple yet delicious this dish is!

13. Petrale Sole with sauce Vierge

A delicious, seasonal, and gourmet entree that was my 2023 plated summer dinner party entree of choice! This pan petrale sole is super tender and flakey. Paired with the sungold sauce vierge and charred corn couscous, this dish the perfect balanced plate. 

14. Hot honey chicken plate

The hot honey sauce in this dish is INCREDIBLE – it’s sweet, spicy, and this recipe makes enough to have leftovers. I topped it on a simple piece of roast salmon, and it was also so delicious.

15. Crispy Rice Bowl

This make-at-home version of the Sweetgreen Crispy Rice bowl has a recipe for the blackened chicken, spicy cashew dressing, and all the other fun and delicious components of the salad.

16. Olive oil poached halibut with braised white beans

This olive oil poached halibut is the perfect date night recipe – paired with creamy chickpeas and simple sauteed spinach, this meal is balanced, gourmet, fresh, and just really delicious. 

17. Shrimp Bing with Garlic Noodles

These asian inspired shrimp bings & garlic noodles are a perfect easy weeknight dinner that comes together in less than 30 minutes. 

18. Baked Chicken Parm

With juicy chicken breast, golden brown exterior, and melty mozzarella cheese, this baked chicken parm is restaurant quality but so easy to whip up. I pair it with my creamy mushroom orzo and charred broccoli for the perfect balanced meal. 

19. Chili Oil Cucumber Pepper Salad

This chili oil cucumber pepper salad is the perfect side salad – it’s packed with delicious aromatics, crunchy from the sweet peppers and cucumbers, and just so yummy.

20. Toasted Almond Red Cabbage Salad

Crunchy, flavorful, fresh, and colorful, this red cabbage salad with carrots, edamame, and red peppers is easy but delicious! Tossed together with a toasted almond vinaigrette, you will love EVERY bite 🙂 

21. Chicken and Cilantro Wontons in Hot and Sour Soup

These chicken cilantro wontons in hot and sour soup are a spin on a Chinese takeout classic – it’s comfort in a bowl and SO easy with the trader joe’s frozen wontons. 

22. Cashew chicken and vegetable stir fry

If you’re craving Chinese takeout flavors but want a lighter, better-for-you version, this cashew chicken and veggie stir fry is the perfect easy weeknight recipe.

23. Peach and goat cheese salad

Peaches are some of my absolute favorite foods out there, and this copycat Sweetgreen Peach and Goat Cheese Salad is the perfect weekend lunch idea or meal prep for the week.

24. Harvest Bowl

The sweetgreen harvest bowl is probably one of Sweetgreen’s most well loved and popular bowls (and it’s quickly becoming a favorite of mine as well!). This recipe shows you how to make a delicious juicy chicken, a balsamic vinaigrette, and roasted sweet potatoes.