Sunday Strategist: A Week of Healthy Dinners - December 4-8 

October 23, 2017
Credit: Photo: Rachel Johnson
Every Sunday, we publish a week of Cooking Light dinner plans filled with our favorite recipes—both from current issues and classics. Each meal is designed to be ready and on the table in 45 minutes or less so that you have more time to enjoy the food you’ve prepared and the company of those you’ve prepared it for. 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: Slow Cooker Pork with Peach Barbecue Sauce

Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Slow Cooker Pork with Peach Barbecue Sauce

A generous spice rub and a good sear gave this roast the crust and smoke of great barbecue with the hands-off ease of the slow cooker. The sauce alone—thick, smoky, sweet, and tangy—is reason enough to make this dish year-round.

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Tuesday: Turmeric Chicken–Stuffed Peppers

Credit: Photo: Greg DuPree
View Recipe: Turmeric Chicken–Stuffed Peppers

Curcumin, the bright yellow polyphenol compound found in turmeric, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Preliminary research suggests curcumin may promote weight loss, lower risk of heart disease, and improve blood sugar control. Use a red bell pepper for 8 times more beta-carotene and 1.5 times more vitamin C than green.

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Wednesday: Creamy, Light Macaroni and Cheese

Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Creamy, Light Macaroni and Cheese

A trio of bold, nutty cheeses and a velvety butternut squash puree helped create our cheesiest mac and cheese. The squash trick lets us cut back on cheese overall for an impressive makeover, shaving 500 calories and 30g sat fat.

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Thursday: Supercharged Salmon Salad

Credit: Photo: Greg DuPree
View Recipe: Supercharged Salmon Salad

Aim to eat salmon (or other fatty fish) twice a week to maximize your heart-protective and brain-boosting benefits. Salmon is particularly rich in the omega-3 fatty acid DHA, which can slow plaque buildup in your arteries.

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Friday: 20-Minute Chicken Enchiladas

Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: 20-Minute Chicken Enchiladas

We hacked this Mexican favorite to get it to the table with lightning speed. One richly spiced sauce doubles as the filling and the topper to save time. And since every element is already cooked, the dish needs just three minutes under the broiler to melt the cheese.

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Buckwheat Honey Hot Toddy

Credit: Photo: Rachel Johnson
View Recipe: Buckwheat Honey Hot Toddy

When it comes to soothing cold and flu-like aches and pains, a warm Hot Toddy spiked with ‘the good stuff’ can definitely do the trick on a cold night. Buckwheat honey also lends the benefits of antioxidant-rich honey as well as a dark, molasses-like sweetness.

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