a collage of some of the 19 Easy Dinners for Weight Loss
We've pulled together some easy weight loss meals to make getting dinner on the table simpler on those busy nights. These are no-fuss, headache-free recipes that use fewer ingredients and fewer steps for delicious, weeknight-friendly dinners. Each recipe has fewer than 575 calories and at least 6 grams of fiber per serving, so you can meet your weight loss nutrition goals and still have a flavorful, filling meal tonight. Recipes like our Toaster-Oven Tostadas and White Bean & Sun-Dried Tomato Gnocchi are simple but tasty dishes you'll return to again and again.
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Chickpea & Quinoa Bowl with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
Mediterranean Chickpea Quinoa Bowl
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Quinoa and chickpeas pack this vegetarian grain bowl with plenty of plant-based protein. Whip up a batch of these flavorful grain bowls and pack in containers with lids to stash in the fridge for easy, healthy grab & go lunches all week long.
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Toaster-Oven Tostadas
Toaster-Oven Tostadas
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Would you believe us if we said you can have restaurant-style tostadas at home in just 15 minutes? It's no problem! Simply layer black beans and Cheddar onto corn tortillas and toast in the toaster oven.
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White Bean & Sun-Dried Tomato Gnocchi
White Bean & Sun-Dried Tomato Gnocchi
Credit: Jacob Fox
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Sun-dried tomatoes are the star of this recipe—providing texture and umami. Combined with the spinach, they make this dish a great source of vitamins C and K.
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Two-Cheese Fusilli with Marinated Tomatoes
Two-Cheese Fusilli with Marinated Tomatoes
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In this healthy vegetarian pasta recipe, using the tastiest possible ingredients is key. That's why we opt for the richer flavor of whole-milk ricotta over part-skim. Pair with a big green salad and a bottle of chilled rosé for a summer meal on the deck.
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Green Goddess Salad with Chickpeas
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In this cucumber, tomato, Swiss cheese and chickpea salad recipe, a healthy green goddess dressing is made from avocado, buttermilk and herbs. The extra dressing is delicious served with grilled vegetables.
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Vegetable Weight-Loss Soup
overhead shot of vegetable soup in a black cast iron pot
Credit: Carson Downing
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A big bowl of this veggie-packed minestrone will leave you satisfied for hours without consuming a lot of calories, which is helpful when trying to lose weight. Plus it's an easy way to boost your vegetable servings for the day—something all of us could benefit from. Top with a dollop of pesto before devouring this delicious vegetable soup and consider serving with a hunk of toasted whole-wheat bread to help round out the meal.
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Easy Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Easy Chicken Enchilada Casserole
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Casseroles make perfect meal-prep dinners—this enchilada version is so easy to prep ahead. The whole casserole can be built and left to hang out in the refrigerator for up to three days. Then all you have to do is bake it off on a busy night and you have a healthy dinner on the table in a jiff. The quick homemade enchilada sauce in this recipe is great when you don't have any of the canned sauce on hand—just season crushed tomatoes with spices and salt for an instant enchilada sauce.
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Meal-Prep Roasted Vegetable Bowls with Pesto
Meal-Prep Roasted Vegetable Bowls with Pesto
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Your co-workers will be jealous when you pull out this healthy lunch of roasted veggies and brown rice. Put together 4 lunches when you have time and you will have packable lunches (or ready-to-eat dinners) for several days—just grab a container on your way out the door in the morning.
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Stuffed Sweet Potato with Hummus Dressing
Stuffed Sweet Potato with Hummus Dressing
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Hearty yet simple to prepare, this stuffed sweet potato with black beans, kale and hummus dressing is a fantastic 5-ingredient lunch for one!
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Black Bean-Quinoa Bowl
Black Bean-Quinoa Bowl
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This black bean and quinoa bowl has many of the usual hallmarks of a taco salad, minus the fried bowl. We've loaded it up with pico de gallo, fresh cilantro and avocado plus an easy hummus dressing to drizzle on top.
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Baked Spinach & Feta Pasta
Baked Spinach & Feta Pasta
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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Feta softens in the oven before it's combined with spinach and pasta, with the pasta cooking right in the baking dish. Enjoy this one-pan dish on its own as a vegetarian main or serve with sautéed chicken breast for a boost of protein.
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Pressure-Cooker Grain Bowl
Pressure-Cooker Grain Bowl
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Whip up this healthy vegetarian grain bowl with ease in your Instant Pot. Pressure-cooking the sweet potato is faster and yields the perfect texture. A drizzle of homemade spicy dressing takes this easy dinner to the next level.
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Stuffed Eggplant with Couscous & Almonds
Stuffed Eggplant with Couscous & Almonds
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Smoky almonds, meaty eggplant and whole-grain couscous with herbs make this meal plenty satisfying. Harissa gives the creamy sauce a little kick.
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Baked Fish Tacos with Avocado
Baked Fish Tacos with Avocado
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Instead of deep-frying, the fish fillets in this quick-and-easy 5-ingredient recipe are coated with a flavorful seasoning blend and baked. Several varieties of flaky white fish can be used for these tacos. When you go to the market to purchase fish, the best strategy is to be flexible and choose the variety that looks freshest that day.
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Chicken & Sweet Potato Grill Packets with Peppers & Onions
Chicken & Sweet Potato Grill Packets with Peppers & Onions
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Cook your whole meal in a packet on the grill with this easy veggie-loaded recipe. The Mexican-inspired seasoning makes the chicken and veggies taste great served with warm tortillas and your favorite taco toppings for a healthy dinner.
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Eggs in Tomato Sauce with Chickpeas & Spinach
Eggs in Tomato Sauce with Chickpeas & Spinach
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Simmer eggs in a rich tomatoey cream sauce studded with chickpeas and silky spinach for a super-fast vegetarian dinner. Serve with a piece of crusty bread to soak up the sauce. Be sure to use heavy cream; a lower-fat option might curdle when mixed with acidic tomatoes.
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Sausage, Pepper & Potato Packets
Sausage, Pepper & Potato Packets
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Make a complete meal in one foil packet with this easy recipe full of seasoned sausage, peppers and potatoes. This easy dinner is great for grilling at home or prepping ahead and taking along on a camping trip to cook over the coals.
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3-Ingredient Sweet Potato & Brussels Sprout Has with Chicken Sausage
3-Ingredient Sweet Potato & Brussels Sprout Hash with Apple Chicken Sausage
Credit: Carolyn A. Hodges, R.D.
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Apple-flavored chicken sausage adds flavor and protein in this quick dinner hash that uses a bag of shaved Brussels sprouts as its hearty, high-fiber base. Steaming the cubed sweet potatoes in the microwave cuts way down on total cook time.
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Quick Shrimp Puttanesca
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Because refrigerated fresh pasta cooks much faster than dried pasta, this Italian-inspired pasta dish will be on the table lickety-split! Puttanesca, traditionally made with tomatoes, olives, capers, anchovies and garlic, gets shrimp for extra protein and artichoke hearts to boost the vegetable servings (and the fiber!). If you can't find frozen artichoke hearts, sub in drained canned artichoke hearts.
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FAQs
What can I eat for dinner everyday to lose weight? ›
- Soup. You can never go wrong with soup. ...
- A bowlful of salad. When it comes to salad, you have unlimited options. ...
- Idli. We're not talking about white rice idlis here. ...
- Grilled chicken or fish. ...
- Quinoa. ...
- Cottage cheese. ...
- A bowl of lentils.
- Beans. Inexpensive, filling, and versatile, beans are a great source of protein. ...
- Soup. Start a meal with a cup of soup, and you may end up eating less. ...
- Dark Chocolate. Want to enjoy chocolate between meals? ...
- Pureed Vegetables. ...
- Yogurt with berries. ...
- Nuts. ...
- Apples. ...
- Yogurt.
To lose 10 pounds in one week, you'll need to burn between 3,500 and 5,000 calories more than you consume each day by restricting your diet to small portions of nutritious yet low-calorie foods, and significantly increasing your aerobic exercise with interval training, sports, and other vigorous activities.
What are the 5 foods that burn belly fat? ›- Beans. “Becoming a bean lover can help you lose weight and whittle your middle,” registered dietitian Cynthia Sass told Today. ...
- Swap your beef for salmon. ...
- Yogurt. ...
- Red bell peppers. ...
- Broccoli. ...
- Edamame. ...
- Diluted vinegar.
A recent study, The Big Breakfast Study: Chrono‐nutrition influence on energy expenditure and bodyweight, showed that breakfast as the biggest meal is the best strategy for weight control.
How do you trigger extreme weight loss? ›- Eat a high protein breakfast. ...
- Limit sugary drinks and fruit juice. ...
- Stay hydrated. ...
- Choose weight-loss-friendly foods. ...
- Eat more fiber. ...
- Drink coffee or tea. ...
- Base your diet on whole foods. ...
- Eat slowly.
- Nighttime Is the Right Time. 1/11. ...
- Keep Evenings Busy. 2/11. ...
- Sleep Well. 3/11. ...
- Work Out (but Not Too Late!) 4/11. ...
- Don't Eat Before Bed. 5/11. ...
- Pack Your Lunch for the Next Day. 6/11. ...
- Stick to a Schedule. 7/11. ...
- Turn Off the TV. 8/11.
- Drink a casein shake. ...
- Sleep more. ...
- Eat cottage cheese before bed. ...
- Resistance training. ...
- Eat small meals throughout the day.
- Drink Two Glasses of Water Before Every Meal. ...
- Reduce Bloating. ...
- Get Eight Hours of Sleep. ...
- Avoid Processed Foods. ...
- Strengthen Your Core. ...
- Ditch Alcohol Completely. ...
- Try High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
Walking Plan to Lose 10 Pounds
If you currently walk 15 minutes per day but aren't seeing results, walk for 30 to 60 minutes. If you want to drop 10 pounds faster but don't have an hour to devote to walking every day, walk for 30 minutes at a very brisk pace and add intensity like hills or weights.
What melts belly fat fast? ›
- Eat plenty of soluble fiber. ...
- Avoid foods that contain trans fats. ...
- Moderate your alcohol intake. ...
- Eat a high protein diet. ...
- Reduce your stress levels. ...
- Don't eat a lot of sugary foods. ...
- Do aerobic exercise (cardio) ...
- Cut back on carbs — especially refined carbs.
Such fat-burning foods include eggs, nuts, and oily fish. The term “fat-burning foods” may apply to those that produce fat loss by stimulating metabolism, reducing appetite, or reducing overall food intake. All foods stimulate metabolism.
What can destroy belly fat? ›The best way to lose belly fat is through a combination of lifestyle changes, including a balanced diet, regular aerobic exercise and high-quality sleep. Keep in mind that gradual weight loss is the most healthy and sustainable way to lose weight and keep it off.
Does eating late cause belly fat? ›Your body will not store more fat after eating the same meal at 9:00 pm as opposed to 6:00 pm—the calorie intake is the same. If you overeat, your body will store the extra calories as fat no matter what time you consume them.
Is 3 meals a day too much for weight loss? ›Generally, eating three meals a day with one or two small snacks is a good rule of thumb for weight loss. A structured meal plan can help you stay satisfied and on track with a healthy routine.
What kills fat cells naturally? ›Running, walking, cycling, and swimming are just a few examples of cardio workouts. Studies show that the more aerobic exercise people get, the more body fat they tend to lose. Cardio may also help reduce waist circumference and increase muscle mass.
Is there a trick to losing weight? ›Drink Water Before Meals
“Drinking a couple of glasses of water roughly 20 to 30 minutes before sitting down to eat will make you feel full faster,” Dr. Ward says. “Do this three times a day—before breakfast, lunch and dinner—and you can cut 225 to 270 calories from your daily diet.”
The table below lists prescription drugs approved by the FDA for weight loss. The FDA has approved five of these drugs—orlistat (Xenical, Alli), phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia), naltrexone-bupropion (Contrave), liraglutide (Saxenda), and semaglutide (Wegovy)—for long-term use.
How should I sleep to lose belly fat? ›In this position, the person sleeps by lying on the bed horizontally on the stomach and the head on the pillow. When you lay on your stomach, your abdomen area tends to get additional pressure from the weight of the body. Due to which it blocks your abdomen and prevents any excess fat accumulation.
Does sleeping naked help lose weight? ›Sleeping naked has a slew of health benefits, including helping you to lose weight. A study conducted by the US National Institutes of Health found that keeping yourself cool while you sleep speeds the body's metabolism because your body creates more brown fat to keep you warm.
What can I add to water before bed to lose weight? ›
Regular intake of fenugreek water generates heat in the body and manages your weight. It also strengthens your digestive system which is essential for weight loss. But remember to drink it at least half-an-hour before crashing on the bed. Crush some fenugreek seeds and add it to a glass of water.
What meat helps lose belly fat? ›Lean meat: It can help keep the metabolism high. Lean meats include skinless chicken breast, the white meat part of the turkey, or the lean cuts of beef. Leafy greens, green tea, and bright vegetables can help reduce swelling and turn off fat-storage genes.
What foods speed up female metabolism? ›- Fish & Shellfish. Metabolism-Boosting Powers: Fish (salmon, tuna, sardines and mackerel) are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and protein. ...
- Legumes (Also known as beans) ...
- Chili Peppers. ...
- Lean Meats. ...
- Low-Fat Milk. ...
- Broccoli. ...
- Lentils. ...
- Oatmeal.
A 2007 study compared the effect of eating the same number of calories in one or three meals per day for 6 months in a group of healthy adults. None of the participants experienced a significant weight change, but those who ate only one meal per day experienced a reduction in body fat.
What 3 meals a day should I eat to lose weight? ›The 3 meals a day concept involves eating 3 meals: breakfast, lunch and supper. The average person eats 3 meals a day but some choose to eat about 6 small meals throughout the day. Some claim that eating 5 to 6 small meals throughout the day helps promote weight loss by kickstarting your metabolism.
What foods burn fat the fastest? ›- Beans and legumes. Packed with protein and fiber, beans and legumes help you build muscle and burn fat. ...
- Eggs. Eggs are a low cost, versatile protein that you can enjoy anytime of the day. ...
- Cayenne Pepper. ...
- Grapefruit. ...
- Lean chicken breast. ...
- Whey protein. ...
- Greek yogurt. ...
- Quinoa.
Drink a casein shake
This means your metabolism will be kept active throughout the night, and you'll wake up feeling energetic instead of starving. Casein's fat burning credentials were confirmed in a Dutch study, which discovered a boost in overnight metabolic rate following consumption of the protein.
For most people, there are no serious dangers involved in eating one meal a day, other than the discomforts of feeling hungry. That said, there are some risks for people with cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Eating one meal a day can increase your blood pressure and cholesterol.
What happens if you eat one meal a day for 30 days? ›Other studies have shown that eating one meal per day may increase fasting blood sugar levels, delay the body's response to insulin, and increase levels of the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin, compared to eating 3 meals per day. This can lead to extreme hunger ( 10 ).
Why am I gaining weight when I'm eating less and working out? ›You've gained muscle.
And here's an often overlooked fact: Muscle tissue is more dense than fat tissue. So as you gain more muscle and lose fat, you change your overall body composition, which can result in a higher weight, but a smaller figure and better health.
What should I eat every 2 hours to lose weight? ›
- Fruits. Fruits make good additions to your frequent meal or snack plan. ...
- Vegetables. Vegetables have a similar nutrient profile as fruits. ...
- Dairy Products. ...
- Whole Grains. ...
- Beans.
What Is A 5 Meals A Day Plan? Eating 5 meals a day involves having breakfast, a mid-morning snack, lunch, mid-afternoon snack, and dinner (7). To do this, you will need to try and eat every three hours. The most important part of this meal plan (and any other diet) is to eat less calories each time.
What time should you stop eating to lose belly fat? ›There's no set time you should stop eating to lose belly fat, but, as a guideline, you should avoid eating two to three hours before bed to stop it from disrupting your sleep and body clocks, which can cause belly fat gain. Studies show early dinners can help people lose weight.