Tantalize your taste buds with these healthy nutritious dinner ideas! These meals will take no time to make but are virtually guaranteed to satisfy every palate in the house. Eating healthy does not have to be a chore or take long. It can be an adventure on its own! Here are some Healthy Nutritious Dinner Ideas, tricks, tips, and recipes for you and your family to enjoy!
Prep is Key!
Map out your success for your healthy, nutritious dinner ideas with the basics: a lean protein, fibrous vegetable, and/or starch, and forage into that spice cabinet to bring it all together.
Who wants to come home, hungry and tired, only to spend hours prepping and cooking dinner? In those moments, it is too easy to go from hungry to “angry!” If there are certain go-to veggies you know you want to include in most of your meal plan, spend 30 minutes of downtime on a weekend preparing them. Quick, successful, healthy meal plans are all about making them in advance.
Anything that may be quickly reheated without ruining the flavor, texture, or freshness can be done in advance. Sauces, gravies, dressing, marinades, and other scintillating toppings will store well, in most cases, until you are ready to use them in one of your healthy nutritious dinner ideas.
One of my favorite healthy, nutritious dinner ideas is the Sheet Pan Dinner.
Sheet Pan Dinners to the Rescue!
A sheet pan dinner is fully customizable and versatile, which makes it ideal!
This is one of many healthy nutritious dinner ideas that have gained popularity over the years! The version you see here is what I do. This recipe serves 4-6 people and takes approximately 15-20 minutes to prepare and an hour or less to cook. The cooking time will vary depending on the type of poultry and the thickness of your veggies.
Start by preheating your oven to 425°F
Make your seasoning mix in a smaller bowl or measuring cup:
Seasoning Mix
Approximately one and a half to two cups of Extra virgin olive oil (note: you may use coconut oil or avocado oil if you prefer.) You’ll need to make enough of this dressing to coat the vegetables and poultry you will want to cook. Adjust the amount based on the size of the meal you wish to make.
Mix in:
- Salt (Pro tip: Choose one with a bold flavor; I like to use Celtic.)
- A teaspoon of the following:
- Turmeric
- Cayenne
- Ginger
- Cumin
- Crushed Rosemary
- Coriander
- Sage
- Fresh-squeezed lemon juice
As a finishing touch, I add the lightest touch of coconut sugar. It adds a hint of sweetness without spiking blood sugar.
After your seasoning mix is complete, coat all your veggies and poultry.
Prepare Veggies:
6 fresh carrots, cut into bite-size pieces, but not too thin or they will overcook in the high heat
A few handfuls of fingerling potatoes or quartered regular potatoes
As many whole cloves of garlic as your heart desires
Grape or cherry tomatoes (I like to use a variety of colors)
Red/yellow bell peppers, quartered
2 medium-sized sweet Vidalia (or whichever type you prefer) onion
Two medium-sized golden beets, once again, small but not too thin
One medium lemon, quartered
(Pro tip: If you wish to include soft vegetables- like asparagus spears, zucchini, summer squash, or broccoli florets- it is best to wait until the last fifteen minutes of cooking before adding them. Otherwise, you risk overcooking them. )
Once you have cut everything, put everything into a large bowl.
Place the seasoned vegetables, starches, and poultry onto a large, shallow sheet. Arrange your vegetables in one even layer on one side of the sheet. Place your seasoned poultry in one even layer on the opposite end of the pan.
I suggest adding a few tablespoons of butter for additional flavor. The butter will also reduce the smoke from the hot oils.
Check on everything thirty minutes into cooking. If you are worried that anything is too dry, pour a small amount of water into the pan.
Once everything is cooked thoroughly, remove the pan from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes.
Chopped fresh parsley as a garnish is a lovely finishing touch. All that’s left is to sit and enjoy the fruits of your labor! The Sheet Pan Dinner is one of many healthy nutritious dinner ideas, but if you’re looking for more, I have included additional resources for you below!
I have not tried this dish with red meat, but I suppose that would be an option, too. Meat would probably not need as long to cook, so keep that in mind.
A colorful splash and tasty companion to this meal is fresh carrot-raisin salad or a cucumber tomato salad.
Have you made this dinner before? What kind of vegetables do you enjoy? What poultry or meat did you use? What kind of healthy nutritious dinner ideas are most popular in your household?
Other Resources for Healthy Nutritious Dinner Ideas and Recipes
If you would like additional healthy, nutritious dinner ideas for you and your family or guests, I would suggest visiting Eating Well, Cooking Classy, and Feasting at Home, to name a few. If you have special dietary needs, preferences, food sensitivities, or allergies, most recipes are highly modifiable.
