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Sunday Strategist: A Week of Healthy Dinners — March 20-24
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Sunday Strategist: A Week of Healthy Dinners — March 20-24

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. Each of these recipes are from our brand-new April issue. Look for one on a newsstands or in your mailbox soon to find more delicious dinner inspiration.

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Kimberly Holland
March 19, 2017
1 of 6 Photo: Jennifer Causey

Monday: Indian-Spiced Pea Fritters + Roasted Red Pepper and Pine Nut Salad

Whole-wheat panko, green onions, garam masala, and mashed green peas form the base of this easy weeknight supper. This is a great way to use up frozen green peas, but if you buy a bag just for this recipe, use up any leftovers in stir-fries, soups, or salads. Serve these fritters with a side of Roasted Red Pepper and Pine Nut Salad.

View Recipe: Indian-Spiced Pea Fritters
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2 of 6 Photo: Greg Dupree

Tuesday: Pasta with Shrimp in Tomato Cream

Feel free to add your own touches—such as swapping in whole-grain pasta for a nutrition boost or trying goat cheese in place of feta—to make this dish personal for your preferences. If you don't have dry vermouth on hand, you can substitute dry sherry or a dry white wine (such as Sauvignon Blanc or unoaked Chardonnay). Or you could skip the alcohol altogether and use more chicken stock instead; stir in a teaspoon or two of white wine vinegar to balance the flavors with a little acidity.

View Recipe: Pasta with Shrimp in Tomato Cream
3 of 6 Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Wednesday: Mediterranean Chicken and Bulgur Skillet

You'll be delighted by the incredible results from this one-pot wonder: tender bulgur, creamy feta, and moist chicken. You don't even need a sauce since there's so much flavor in the pan. It's a complete meal, though you could serve with a side salad if you'd like. Though you can swap dried oregano for fresh if you don't have fresh on hand, we strongly urge you to stick with the fresh dill flourish at the end; it adds a burst of herbal goodness that you just won't get from dried. If you don't have a 10-inch cast-iron skillet, you can use any other medium-sized ovenproof skillet.

View Recipe: Mediterranean Chicken and Bulgur Skillet
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4 of 6 Photo: Victor Protasio

Thursday: Spinach, Hummus, and Bell Pepper Wraps and steamed vegetables

You'll only need 10 minutes to pull together these wraps, so make sure your side is equally quick. Look for steam-in-bag vegetables or broccoli tots you can quickly bake in the oven while you roll these sandwiches up. These wraps also make a great lunch if you have leftovers. Make this super-simple wrap the night before, wrap in parchment paper or plastic wrap, and store in the fridge—just grab it in the morning on your way out the door. Use Flatout Light whole-grain flatbreads to keep calories in check; you can find them at most supermarkets, usually in the bakery section.

View Recipe: Spinach, Hummus, and Bell Pepper Wraps
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5 of 6 Photo: Greg Dupree

Friday: Cod with Fennel and Fingerling Potatoes

Fingerling potatoes add some satisfying heft to a light dish of fish and veggies in a clean broth. We like the color contrast the purple potatoes lend, but any fingerlings you have will be fine. Use your most flavorful olive oil in this dish—it makes the sauce richer. A mandoline will help you shave the fennel bulb quickly into thin, even slices. If you don't have a mandoline, a sharp chef's knife will work just fine. Spring onions look like bulbous green onions, which you can use as a substitute.

View Recipe: Cod with Fennel and Fingerling Potatoes
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6 of 6 Photo: Greg Dupree

Happy Hour: Strawberry-Lime Rickey

If fresh strawberries aren't quite at their peak in your market, go ahead and substitute thawed frozen berries. Muddling thoroughly is essential here: The more the berries break down, the more color and flavor they'll release into the drink. If you're not a gin fan, vodka or bourbon will work, but we like the subtle fragrance of juniper and other aromatics that gin introduces to the mix. Rickeys are often served alcohol free, and are every bit as refreshing, so omit the gin entirely, if you like.

View Recipe: Strawberry-Lime Rickey

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