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We all want to eat a nutritious diet, but sometimes the reality of planning, shopping for, and preparing a healthy dinner can get in the way of our optimistic goals. That’s why I pulled together this 30-Day Healthy Dinner Challenge, complete with a meal plan, recipes, and printable shopping lists for each week. This takes the guesswork out of feeding your family, and each simple meal is ready with just a few minutes of prep. Can’t beat that on a busy weeknight!
For the Healthy Dinner Challenge, I opted for 3 meals each week. Nobody wants a strict meal plan with a homemade dinner required every single night! In reality, many of these recipes create enough food for leftovers if you have a small family, while also giving you the flexibility to enjoy dining out or any of your family’s other favorite dinners!
I have also included suggestions for side dishes, but you can obviously choose your own favorites where necessary. I love steam-in-the-bag frozen veggies that can be microwaved just before serving; and I almost always opt for wholegrain pasta, brown rice, or wholegrain tortillas and bread when possible. Do what works best for you and your family!
So what criteria did I use to determine if a recipe was “healthy”? This is obviously a subjective term based on each individual’s goals. I did not prepare a meal plan for any specific dietary concerns (for instance, this is not a “vegetarian,” “low-carb,” or “Paleo” plan). Instead, I looked for recipes that:
- each contain about 300 calories per serving;
- include a balance of lean protein, vegetables, and whole grains or complex carbs;
- utilize simple, real ingredients; and
- don’t require much time or effort in the kitchen!
Again, do what works best for your needs and feel free to make substitutes and changes were necessary. Enjoy!
30-Day Healthy Dinner Challenge
{Download a Printable PDF Copy of the Calendar HERE}
Week One Recipes:
{Download the Printable Week One Shopping List HERE}
Grandma’s One Pan Hamburger Helper + Peas
Dump-and-Bake Chicken Fajita Quinoa
5-Ingredient Garlic Parmesan Tilapia + Wholegrain Bread or Rolls + Side Salad
Week Two Recipes:
{Download the Printable Week Two Shopping List HERE}
Lightened-Up Mini Meatloaf + Baked Potato + Side Salad or Other Veggie of Choice
Dump-and-Bake Zucchini Pizza Casserole + Side Salad
Week Three Recipes:
{Download the Printable Week Three Shopping List HERE}
Garlic Brown Sugar Pork Tenderloin + Steamed or Roasted Green Beans + Couscous
Slow Cooker Italian Chicken & Quinoa Soup + Wholegrain Bread or Rolls
4-Ingredient Maple-Glazed Salmon + Brown Rice + Steamed Mixed Vegetables
Week Four Recipes:
{Download the Printable Week Four Shopping List HERE}
One Skillet American Chop Suey + Wholegrain Pasta
Dump-and-Bake Honey Mustard Chicken + Quinoa + Steamed Broccoli
Balsamic-Glazed Pork Loin + Wholegrain Baguette or Roll + Steamed Broccoli or other Veggie
So what do you think? Want to join in the fun? Let me know if you plan to try some of these meals over the next few weeks, and feel free to share links to some of your own favorite healthy dinners as well!
Thanks for doing this! I want to cool healthier. I’m planning on doing this for my husband and myself. Thank you and I will report after 30 days!
That’s wonderful! I hope that you and your husband find some new favorite recipes, DeAnn! Definitely let me know how it goes!
your recipes really help me out with ideas for supper and they taste good too
thanks and keep up the good work and your boys are so sweet and cute
hugs
Hi, Sonia! Thank you SO much for your kind note! I’m really glad that you have found some new recipe inspiration on the blog. Thanks so much for reading along!
Hiya Blair,
I’m typing to you as I freeze in my office chair! We were away for a week in the sun and I’ve come back to more snow and I don’t think I am going to be able to adapt to this, lol.
I love your meal planning and you always have the tastiest and easiest meals. Everyone needs a shopping list because there’s nothing more annoying than forgetting ingredients because you’re in a rush and forgot to put them on your list. Love this! A lifesaver for every busy person – which is pretty much everyone! Have a great weekend 🙂
Thanks so much, Robyn! I thought that you must have been traveling because the comments on your blog were turned off! 🙂 Glad that you’ve made it back, but BOO for snow and cold weather. I’m SO over the winter and ready for spring!
This sounds like such a great challenge! I love that you’ve put in just three meals per week and left the other days open as I feel like that’s more inspiring as people then have to think about the other days – thus preparing them for once the challenge is over!
Thanks, Kristy! Yep — it’s real life! I don’t think that any of us can pull together a from-scratch dinner 7 nights a week! It’s too fun to be able to go out for pizza, or to just eat leftovers! 🙂
Thank you for the program. It is one of the most comprehensive meal planners I have ever seen. I am excited to try it as I am always struggling for something new, quick and simple to make when I get home.
Hi, Cindy! I’m so glad that you will give these options a try! I hope that you find some new favorites. 🙂