A light meal is a meal that is low in fat and calories. It is easy to digest and provides a variety of nutrients.
Eating light can help people lose weight and maintain a healthy weight. It helps the body to burn fat efficiently, maintain a balanced blood sugar level and increase energy levels.
Seared Steak with Peppers and Chimichurri
A light meal of pan seared steak with peppers and chimichurri is a wonderful way to make an easy, nutritious dinner. The steak is cooked to medium rare, while the peppers are grilled and topped with a simple but delicious chimichurri sauce that is full of fresh herbs and spices. It is a perfect weeknight dinner that you can prepare in a flash!
To make the Argentinian style chimichurri you will need cilantro, cumin, garlic cloves, salt and pepper. To make this easy recipe, add these ingredients to a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped.
Chimichurri is a traditional South American sauce that is used in a variety of dishes. It is a mixture of herbs, garlic, and vinegar. It is often served with grilled or pan-fried meat.
The sauce is a great accompaniment to a steak because it adds a nice kick to the meat. It also goes well with chicken and fish.
If you don’t want the strong garlic flavor of chimichurri, you can cook your garlic cloves in a little olive oil in the oven to soften it up a bit. It will also give the sauce a more balanced flavor.
To cook the steak, preheat a cast iron skillet over high heat. When the skillet is hot, coat it with a tablespoon of olive oil. When the oil is shimmering, gently lay the steak in the skillet and do not touch or poke or stab it. Let it sear on one side for 3 to 4 minutes and then flip over.
Asparagus Chicken Sausage Pizza
This one-pan meal aims to satisfy meat and potatoes lovers in a lighter, healthier way. It combines more veggies with a killer spice mix for flavor and healthful fats (olive oil) to keep you feeling full.
We roast carrots and potatoes on one side of a sheet pan, while we toss the sausage, asparagus, onion and another dose of seasoning on the other. We do this to stagger the cook times so we get a hearty dinner that comes together quickly in under an hour!
You can use frozen vegetables or a combination of fresh and frozen to speed things up, but fresh is best. We also recommend that you chop the veggies as close to the same size as possible so they cook evenly.
Toss the carrots and potatoes with some olive oil and half of the seasoning blend. Add the sausage, asparagus and onion to the other side of the pan with some more oil, the rest of the seasoning blend and some minced garlic.
Continue to roast the vegetables until they’re crisp-tender, about 15 minutes. Transfer the vegetables to a wire rack and let cool.
When the veggies are cool, remove the sausage and set aside. Spread the roasted vegetables on one half of the pizza dough rounds, top with the sausage and then add the asparagus and peppers.
Finish with a drizzle of marinara sauce and sprinkle with some Parmesan cheese.
This simple meal can be made in under an hour and it’s a great option for busy nights. It’s packed with protein from the sausage, healthy fats from the olive oil and a lot of vitamins and minerals. It’s perfect for vegetarians, too!
Shrimp Pasta with Green Salad
A light meal for summer, this shrimp pasta with green salad is a crowd-pleasing dish that comes together quickly and can be made ahead of time. It’s perfect for picnics and parties!
The fresh flavors and satisfying textures in this shrimp pasta salad make it a must-try. The zesty mayo base is complemented by juicy boiled shrimp, sweet garden peas and dill for a refreshing taste that’s also packed with nutrition!
Toss cooked noodles with celery, bell pepper, red onion and shrimp. Then, whisk together mayonnaise, lemon juice and zest, dill, and salt and pepper to create the sauce. Add the dressing to the noodles and mix to coat.
If you are making this ahead of time, it’s a good idea to refrigerate the pasta and veggies to ensure they stay crisp-tender when you’re ready to serve the dish. The dressing should be made at least an hour before serving to allow the flavors to fully meld.
When preparing the pasta, it’s important to use short-cut pasta with nooks and crannies like fusilli that will hold onto the dressing better. Be sure to cook the pasta just a bit past al dente.
This pasta salad is best if it’s served right away, but it can be stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours. The veggies and parsley will wilt a little, but it will still be delicious.
If you’re looking for another easy summer pasta salad recipe, try this Italian-style rotini and tomato salad. It’s creamy and packed with flavor, but it’s still very light! The creamy vinaigrette helps to balance the flavor of the pasta and tomatoes. This dish can be served room temperature or cold and is a crowd-pleasing side dish for any occasion!
Sweet Potato Pan Sheet Meal
Sweet potatoes roasted with sausage and onions is a light meal that cooks quickly on a sheet pan in the oven. It’s perfect for a busy weeknight when you need a quick dinner that’s delicious and nutritious!
Seasoning is key to making this dish taste good. You can use simple kosher salt, but you’ll also want to add spices to give it some flavor. Try adding ground cumin, cayenne pepper, basil or parsley for a spicy kick and freshly grated Parmesan to give it a delicious finish.
You can also sprinkle a little honey over the roasted potatoes, which will caramelize and make them even more delicious! To increase the caramelization even more, you can also add some brown sugar to the pan.
This recipe is a great choice for low-glycemic diet plans like phase two or three of the South Beach Diet. It’s also a great option for anyone on a gluten-free diet.
When you’re buying sweet potatoes, look for ones that are firm with smooth skins and are evenly colored. They should be a little on the small side, so they’re easy to roast.
Be sure to rinse your sweet potatoes before roasting them. This is important because water will prevent the potato pieces from caramelizing properly.
If you’re not a fan of the idea of adding honey to the dish, you can also try mixing in a few tablespoons of maple syrup or some other type of syrup instead. This will caramelize the potatoes as well, but it will not have quite the same intensity of sweetness as honey.
This recipe is a quick and easy meal that is best served hot and fresh, but you can also save it for later. You can portion it out into airtight containers and refrigerate or reheat in the microwave.
Buddha Bowl with Thai Sweet Chili Chicken
Buddha bowls are one of the hottest trends in healthy eating. Often pictured on Instagram and Pinterest, these colorful meals feature a variety of vegetables, grains, fruits, seeds, protein, and other ingredients to create a light meal that’s full of nutrients.
Typically, Buddha bowls contain some sort of grain base like quinoa, barley, or rice, lots of veggies, and a lot of flavor! While these bowls are often vegan, they are also sometimes made with lean meats. The key to making a Buddha bowl is balance — ensuring that you get all the nutrients you need while keeping the flavors and textures fresh.
This recipe uses a Thai sauce called sweet chili sauce, or Nam Chim Kai in Thai, to coat the chicken before grilling it. This sauce is the perfect balance of sweet and tangy, just a hint of spicy. It’s very easy to find at Asian markets and larger grocery stores, as well as specialty shops.
Serve this delicious meal with jasmine rice and a side of your choice of toppings for a wholesome, balanced meal! You can even freeze this meal for up to 4 days in airtight containers, then reheat it in the microwave as needed.