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Sunday Strategist: A Week of Healthy Dinners - August 14 - 18

Updated July 25, 2017
If you like having a healthy meal plan but want something customized to your dietary or caloric needs, check out The Cooking Light Diet. It’s a calorie-driven weekly meal plan—breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner—based on your dieting goals and food preferences. Look for one on a newsstands to find more delicious dinner inspiration.
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Monday: Summery Pork and Beans

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Summery Pork and Beans

This one-skillet meal can work on a busy weeknight or for casual weekend entertaining. Butter deglazes the pan, melding flavors. 

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Tuesday: Zucchini-Ribbon Pizza with Chicken

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Zucchini-Ribbon Pizza with Chicken

If we could make a crisp, fresh salad a mandatory pizza topper, we would. Use a vegetable peeler to ribbon zucchini. Ground coriander adds lemony flavor.

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Wednesday: Chicken Thighs with Peach Salad

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Chicken Thighs with Peach Salad

Sweet peaches and tart green tomatoes gain depth from a bit of char on the grill. Look for peaches that are still slightly firm so they hold up to the heat.

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Thursday: Shrimp-Chile Skewers

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Shrimp-Chile Skewers

More than just being fun to say, these skewers are an improved twist on standard kebabs (button mushrooms, chunks of bell pepper, and wedges of onion). Look for shishito peppers at Asian markets and gourmet grocers. They're mostly mild, but bear in mind that roughly 1 in 10 is about as hot as a jalapeño.

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Friday: Steak and Veggies with Zesty Chimichurri

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Steak and Veggies with Zesty Chimichurri

Beef tenderloin fillets make this quick summer dish a little special. You can also use 2 (8-ounce) sirloin steaks, grilled for 4 minutes on each side.

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Bonus Dessert: Sheet Pan S'mores

Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Sheet Pan S'mores

This summertime treat is perfect for a potluck. They are great served at room temperature, but if you want, pop the pan into a warm (250°) oven for 2 minutes just until the chocolate softens for the full gooey experience. For a fruity twist, place thinly sliced bananas over the chocolate layer before adding the meringue.

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