Memorial Day has ended, which means that summer is officially here! And there’s just something about the sunshine and warm weather that make us crave lighter, healthier meals (especially now that it’s swimsuit season!). Looking for some ideas? We’ve got a list of some flavorful healthy dinner recipes that are all under 500 calories.
Healthy Dinner Recipes Under 500 Calories
Not-Your-Mama’s Eggplant Parmesan: This delicious casserole might have the same comforting, flavorful taste as your mom’s cooking, but it’s packed with much more protein, due to a special ingredient: quinoa!
Skinny Mac & Alfredo: This recipe gives a classic American dish a light and unique twist by blending in cottage cheese and mozzarella cheese with a delicious sauce. It’s the ultimate comfort food!
Margherita Pizza: Believe it or not, pizza can be good for you! This mouthwatering meal from Eat Yourself Skinny is crispy, cheesy and bursting with natural, fresh flavors.
Asian Turkey Meatballs: Wish there was a way to combine the hearty quality of Italian food and the sweet, tangy taste of Asian food? This delicious recipe allows you to do so!
Wholesome Baked Zucchini Parmesan: Struggling getting the picky eaters in your household to eat their veggies? This vegetarian dish is crispy, comforting and bursting with juicy flavors from the fresh zucchini.
Chicken and Asparagus Lemon Stir Fry: Stir fry dinners are absolutely perfect for summer, because you don’t have to turn on your oven and heat up the house! This light meal is super quick and super refreshing.
One-Pot Wonder Pasta con Broccoli: This delightful dinner from The Wholesome Dish is light, creamy and satisfying without ruining your diet.
Cobb Salad in a Jar: This is not just your average garden salad. This refreshing meal is filling, tasty and super simple to prepare – it’s perfect if you’re on-the-go!
What is your favorite healthy summertime meal?
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I love the healthy twist on dinner classics. Swapping ingredients for healthier alternatives is the best way to reduce calories like using cottage cheese instead of cream for the “Skinny Mac & Alfredo” or using zucchini or spaghetti squash instead of carb-heavy noodles! I’m also super excited to try the different variations of eggplant parmesan from above. Putting quinoa in the dish is an excellent way to add protein to your meal and you’ll probably feel full sooner and more nutritionally satisfied. Being a huge fan of zucchini in cooking, I am looking forward to trying the “Wholesome Baked Zucchini Parmesan.” First, it’s not fried, which is a calorie-saver right there. Second, the summer squash is 95% water so it has very few calories, but tons of essential vitamins. Using zucchini is also a penny-saver because it is way cheaper to buy than eggplant.
I love a dinner salad which includes grilled tuna or salmon. Put fresh, mixed garden greens, chives, green onions, grape tomatoes and some homemade vinegarette and you have the perfect summer meal. Add some lemonade or iced green tea to compliment your meal.
My family’s favorite summertime meal is bbq steaks and pasta salad. It doesn’t heat up the house and it tastes great.