Happy New Year!

Last year I shared 20 weeks worth of lightened up meals… and I’m doing it again right now.

These are some of our FAVORITE dinners – they spill over into lunches and leftovers, they can be modified to be ever healthier (or not healthier) if you wish, you can remove the meat (um, and cheese?) or add some in – they are so customizable. There are more than enough ideas here for each week, but I find that in my perfect world, planning about three meals per week works best for us. This way, we don’t end up with too much food at the end of the week. And it still leaves me with a few days to eat whatever the heck we want on that day because I prefer to be spontaneous with my meals. And it leaves us with just the right amount of leftovers.

Below you’ll find 112 different meal ideas that I freak out over. Like totally love them ALL.

Leave some of your favorites in the comments! As a product of the internet generation, I ALWAYS need a new idea for dinner.

honey chipotle chicken bowls + 112 different lightened up meal ideas for the new year I howsweeteats.com

1. soba noodle salad with caramelized chicken and chili oil 

2. smoky gruyere butternut squash soup with chickpeas

3. 30 minute portobello fried brown rice

4. chipotle lime shrimp tacos

5. honey chipotle chicken bowls

6. 30 minute shallot, spinach and goat cheese pasta

7. shaved asparagus + whipped ricotta whole wheat pizza

 

1. thai steak salad

2. mushroom chicken noodle soup

3. gruyere, fig jam and arugula breakfast sandwiches

4. toasted coconut tilapia with pomegranate salsa

5. brussels sprouts tacos with caramelized shallot salsa

6. chipotle lime chicken skewers with avocado ranch

7. butternut squash skillet lasagna

 

1. smoky white bean chicken chili 

2. chili garlic beef stir fry with coconut rice

3. red wine roasted mushroom toasts

4. cashew chicken chopped salad

5. cheesy double bean quesadillas with avocado ranch

6. shrimp burgers with chipotle cream

7. stuffed peppers with tomato basil cream sauce

caramelized chicken soba noodles + 112 different lightened up meal ideas for the new year I howsweeteats.com

1. garlic brown sugar flank steak with chimichurri 

2. black bean and cornbread panzanella 

3. goat cheese whole roasted chicken

4. bang bang shrimp with napa cabbage slaw

5. 30 minute buffalo chicken soup

6. roasted red pepper quinoa burgers

7. three bean chili pot pies

 

1. smoky sweet potato burgers

2. cauliflower crust pizza

3. 30 minutes white bean chicken soup

4. baked falafel with spicy feta dip

5. lightened up beef enchiladas

6. roasted almond crusted salmon

7. stuffed poblano peppers

 

1. BBQ salmon burgers

2. chili cheese polenta bowls

3. oven crisped cheddar chicken fingers

4. minestrone pot pie with whole wheat biscuits

5. clams casino pizza

6. broiled fontina toasts with poached eggs

7. thai crunch chicken salad

baked falafel with spicy feta dip + 112 different lightened up meal ideas for the new year I howsweeteats.com

1. toasted sesame quinoa with chicken

2. spicy parmesan shrimp skillet

3. chicken pot pie soup

4. crispy kale grilled cheese

5. marinated flank steak with caprese salsa

6. pineapple cashew fried rice

7. asian turkey burgers with spicy lime mayo

 

1. smoky sweet potato + black bean tacos

2. roasted chicken ramen

3. toasted sesame ginger salmon

4. sweet potato cream pasta with crispy kale

5. roasted grape + goat cheese stuffed sweet potatoes

6. braised short rib beef stew

7. BBQ chicken chopped salad

 

1. butternut squash enchiladas

2. creamy cauliflower soup

3. roasted chipotle chicken taco stacks

4. crab cake sliders with pineapple kiwi salsa

5. harvest pizza

6. crockpot pulled pork chili 

7. thai curry pomegranate chicken

flank steak with chimichurri + 112 different lightened up meal ideas for the new year I howsweeteats.com

1. ginger garlic steak tacos with pineapple pico

2. spicy greens and parmesan white bean stew

3. butternut squash galette

4. chipotle lime whole roast chicken

5. pan crisp salmon with light dijon cream

6. whole what roasted red pepper pizza

7. BBQ quinoa salad

 

1. tilapia burgers with watermelon salsa

2. white bean tortellini soup

3. spicy lime chicken enchiladas

4. butternut squash lettuce wraps

5. white chicken quinoa chili 

6. jerk shrimp tacos

7. black bean stuffed sweet potatoes with arugula + poached eggs

 

1. mushroom melts with mustard aioli 

2. honey ginger chicken tostadas

3. caramelized leek soup

4. beer glazed citrus chicken

5. spinach artichoke linguine

6. warm brussels caesar salad

7. pulled pork tacos with chili slaw

pineapple cashew fried rice + 112 different lightened up meal ideas for the new year I howsweeteats.com

1. pistachio pesto chicken

2. BBQ salmon crispy chickpea salad

3. easy double bean burgers

4. citrus crusted tilapia

5. white bean + chicken enchilada stuffed peppers

6. balsamic brussels sprouts grilled cheese

7. crockpot smoky brisket tacos

 

1. triple berry kale salad

2. spinach red pepper bacon wrapped eggs

3. crockpot mini turkey meatballs

4. asiago portobello burgers

5. crispy shrimp mango spring rolls

6. 20 minute turkey taco nachos

7. thai chicken enchiladas

 

1. brussels sprouts breakfast hash

2. grilled blueberry BBQ salmon 

3. thai chicken quinoa bowls

4. roasted corn caesar salads with yogurt dressing

5. buffalo style quinoa sliders

6. simple summer chickpea salad

7. mini chicken meatball soup

crab cake sliders + 112 different lightened up meal ideas for the new year I howsweeteats.com

1. roasted jalapeño cheddar turkey burgers

2. sweet potato quinoa cakes

3. coconut baked shrimp with pineapple peach salsa

4. greek grilled chicken salad

5. thai butternut squash soup

6. skillet chicken with peppers + peanuts

7. caramelized peach caprese salad