CookingLight diet CookingLight diet

Sunday Strategist: A Week of Healthy Dinners - October 2-6

Updated: September 11, 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.
Start Slideshow

1 of 7

Monday: Thai Turkey Lettuce Cups

Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Thai Turkey Lettuce Cups

A little sugar balances the vinegar tang in the turkey mixture and helps develop wonderful crispy bits in the pan. Delicate butter lettuce leaves have a nice cup shape for filling; you could also use romaine.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 7

Tuesday: Almond-and-Flax-Crusted Fish

Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Almond-and-Flax-Crusted Fish

Earthy ground flaxseed and nutty-sweet almond flour join forces to create a super crisp gluten-free breading for tilapia—though you can also use it on chicken too. Serve with Celery, Apple, and Almond Salad.  

3 of 7

Wednesday: Creamy Chicken Quesadillas

Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Creamy Chicken Quesadillas

A creamy base helps the cheese go further and keeps the chicken moist. For a crisp exterior, coat the filled tortillas with cooking spray instead of coating the pan.

Advertisement

4 of 7

Thursday: Turmeric Lamb Chops with Crispy Potatoes and Broccoli

Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Turmeric Lamb Chops with Crispy Potatoes and Broccoli

Lamb loin chops (shaped like mini T-bones) save about 11g sat fat per serving over rib or shoulder chops. You can also ask your butcher to cut "steaks" from a leg of lamb, also lean, or sub 2 (8-ounce) beef sirloin steaks.

5 of 7

Friday: Black Bean and Mushroom Burgers

Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Black Bean and Mushroom Burgers

The food processor brings these meatless patties together in a flash. Another bonus? A new Harvard study found that those who regularly ate a healthy plant-based diet (like this burger) significantly lowered their risk of heart disease. Ground flaxseed adds body to the burgers. This quick dinner is also a great way to work more meatless dishes into your week. Kids can help shape the patties, mix up the avocado spread, and build the sandwiches.

6 of 7

Bonus Dessert: Cider Doughnuts with Maple-Tahini Glaze

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Cider Doughnuts with Maple-Tahini Glaze

We make old-fashioned, cake-style cider doughnuts even more irresistible by adding maple frosting laced with nutty tahini.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

Popular in Recipes

All Topics in Recipes

Advertisement