Losing weight can be accomplished by following a healthy diet and being active. Having a healthy diet includes eating nutrient-dense foods like fruits and vegetables, protein, starch, and dairy. In order to stay on track, we compiled a comprehensive list of easy recipes that can help aid weight loss by providing your body with the nutrition it needs. With everything from low-calorie pasta dishes to tasty vegan desserts and even Jennifer Aniston's favorite quinoa salad, these recipes will fill you up without weighing you down. Get your daily intake of good-for-you-foods now, and enjoy a well-balanced diet all week long. Whether you're in need of quick meal ideas that are healthy, or you're looking for that hit-the-spot treat that's low in calories, there's something on this list for everyone. So pass your plate, and enjoy!
— With Caitlyn Fitzpatrick, Hedy Phillips, Hajar Larbah, Jenny Sugar, and Amanda Prahl
For a lightened-up take on classic coleslaw, whip up this detox salad. Apples marry with the dynamic duo of red and Savoy cabbage, combining for a fiber-filled meal that aids in digestion. The addition of fennel seeds adds to the fiber factor, plus a kick of cayenne boosts your metabolism.
Replace traditional shrimp pasta with these delicious zucchini noodles. All you need is seven ingredients and 25 minutes and (a romantic) dinner is served.
This dish is perfect for meal prep — it all comes together in one pan and can be separated out for work lunches. Best of all? It's just eight grams of carbs per serving.
Fill rice paper with tofu and veggies (skipping the cellophane noodles!), and finish the dish with homemade peanut sauce to really bring it over the edge.
Unlike other soups, this creamy recipe doesn't require hours of simmering to bring the flavors together. Just swap out the chicken broth for vegetable broth to keep it vegetarian-friendly.
Loaded with oversize portions of bacon, blue cheese, avocado, and fatty dressing, you can easily eat half your recommended calories for the day in one sitting. Opt for this healthier 375-calorie Cobb salad that still hits all the notes you love about the classic.
See those large chunks of artichoke and parmesan cheese? They're just the beginning — quinoa and Greek yogurt make this salad extra filling, while ingredients like apple cider vinegar deliver serious flavor.
The homemade cilantro-lime dressing gives this taco salad a fresh and zesty flavor. The layered ingredients also offer 20 grams of both protein and fiber. Prep this salad in advance and store in your fridge for a ready-to-go meal.
There's something about a whole roasted chicken that feels so special — and when it's just the two of you, you'll be able to enjoy the leftovers the next day, too.
Even if a barbecue isn't in your near future, you'll want to whip up a batch of this veggie pasta salad. It's lower in fat and higher in nutrients than regular pasta salad, which makes it a good (and good-for-you!) lunch that you'll look forward to.
If you're tired of vegan-friendly sandwiches that don't satisfy, prepare to build the best veggie sandwich ever. Hummus and avocado provide the fiber and protein you need to stay fueled, and layers of tasty veggies offer crunch, flavor, and important nutrients your body needs.
You won't have to sweat the details when you whip up this one-pan meal, and it's packed with low-carb veggies like cauliflower, zucchini, and mushrooms.
You can't go wrong with crumbled sausage, gooey cheese, and a rich tomato sauce. Even better, you can make this dish ahead of time and bake it in the oven when you're ready to serve.
Stir-fry is a no-fail way to use up whatever is left in your fridge, but we love this particular combination: zucchini noodles, broccoli, bell peppers, and eggs, topped with homemade or store-bought teriyaki sauce.
Give your cold-cut sandwich routine a rest and opt for this creative lunch instead. These fresh, raw, and fast wraps feature a unique filling: ground walnuts, seasoned with tamari, cumin, and other spices, and topped with your favorite salsa. It's a great alternative if you're watching your carb intake.
It's high in fiber, iron, and vitamin C, so you can see all the healthy reasons actress Jennifer Aniston loves this simple quinoa salad. Think of it as a bulked-up tabbouleh, since detoxifying parsley lays the base of the greens, while a scoop of quinoa and diced avocado provide over 60 percent of your daily recommended fiber. Squeeze fresh lemon juice on top for a brighter flavor and even more detoxifying power.
Spruce up your usual salad and make this this protein-rich not-tuna salad fortified with an entire can of garbanzo beans. The pecans and apple pieces add fiber while giving this dish a crisp, fresh flavor.
Made with spices like cumin and cayenne to give your metabolism a kick, this Mexican tempeh quinoa salad offers the zesty, fresh flavor you're craving, and the tempeh offers a low-fat protein.
Naturally gluten-free and full of fiber, these tiny legumes are a healthy pantry staple you should always have on hand — and they're absolutely delicious in this lentil salad from Goop. Tangy and clean, this recipe makes for a light yet filling meal and even better leftovers; the longer this salad sits in the fridge, the better it tastes.
Offering nearly 22 grams of protein and 43 percent of your daily recommended fiber, this oh-so-easy recipe satisfies hunger as it supports your weight-loss goals. Assemble all your ingredients tonight, and pack it all up for an easy lunch at work tomorrow.
This light, refreshing meal is perfect for any day! Try this chirashi bowl, made with fresh vegetables, brown rice, and sushi-grade tuna, the next time you're hankering for takeout sushi.
This recipe requires just 10 minutes of prep, before adding the ingredients to your slow cooker. Just be cautious if you're sensitive to heat — the chipotle peppers and fire-roasted tomatoes give this soup quite a kick.
Colorful, crispy, and packed with nutrition, this Asian chicken salad is a much healthier alternative to ordering out at a restaurant. It tastes amazing, so you won't feel like you're missing out!
Would you believe us if we told you this waffle has just two ingredients? All you need is an egg and zucchini, plus any toppings, like avocado, tomatoes, and hot sauce.
It'll take you a little more than an hour to prepare this crispy, flavorful roasted cauliflower, but it's worth the wait. (The lemony sauce alone — delicious.)
This colorful soup is filled with the perfect combination of onions, carrots, celery, cauliflower, and zucchini. The addition of kidney beans makes it extra filling.
You won't miss the bread once you take a bite of this spicy avocado egg salad. It comes together really quickly, but make sure you leave 30 minutes for it to chill before eating.
You'll cook the mushrooms and spinach on the stove for 10 minutes before adding them to a casserole dish and popping it into the oven for 30 minutes. The finished dish is breakfast-for-dinner perfection.
These cookies are made with three different kinds of flour and flax meal, then sweetened with dates, honey, and a hint of vanilla. So, while they taste like dessert, they're healthy enough to eat any time of day.
This recipe puts your Instant Pot to delicious use, making a creamy, dense New York-style cheesecake. Even the crust is low-carb and gluten-free, thanks to almond flour.
A dense, dark chocolate cake with decadent ganache on top — it sounds like everything someone who's dieting should avoid. But this recipe delivers rich, intense flavor, without any sugar to sabotage your goals.
The pairing of cookie dough and ice cream is heaven — which makes this version, made with almond butter ice cream and egg-free dough, eligible for sainthood.
Lemon bars are a staple, but the creamy fillings and shortbread-like crusts aren't exactly low-carb. With just five ingredients, you can make a delicious treat that you'd never guess has substitutions!
Baking a cake can feel like a lot of work (and temptation) if you're on your own, and this personalized shortcake is just the answer. It layers a light, low-carb cake with fresh strawberries and a healthy scoop of yogurt.
Fudge feels like one of those foods that just can't possibly be healthy. Never say never, though: this recipe contains just 0.5 grams of carbs per serving.
Only six ingredients are needed for these pecan shortbread cookies, and they're gluten-free and keto-friendly! You'll mix extra pieces of pecan into the dough for a crunch in every bite.
With rum, coconut cream, and pineapple, this trifle tastes like summer in a glass. And thanks to ingredients like coconut flour and monkfruit sweetener, it's lighter than traditional cakes and puddings.
Panna cotta sounds pretty fancy, but it's easier than you think. In this dairy-free, low-carb, and Paleo recipe, a moist carrot cake sits on top of a creamy, spiced panna cotta base made with coconut milk and honey.