Eating healthy and being creative in the kitchen can be a daunting task. Between picky eaters and busy schedules, it can be easy to fall into a routine of eating the same foods each week – or ordering carryout and stopping at fast food restaurants (which can take a toll on your health). With the New Year closely approaching, it’s a great time to look for inspiration to make some healthy changes to your nutrition.
From hearty meals to tasty sweets, here are our most popular recipes of the last year — all written by registered dietitian nutritionists — that won’t have you spending hours in the kitchen making:
Sweet Potato and Brussels Sprouts Buddha Bowl Recipe & Video
Bowl meals were one of 2017’s hottest food trends, and this vegetarian version was our most popular recipe of the year. The idea behind a “Buddha bowl” is to create a meal in one bowl that emphasizes taste and texture, and a healthy mix of protein and carbohydrates.
Fish Tacos with Avocado-Cilantro Sauce Recipe & Video
Looking to eat something fresh and vibrant even though it’s the dead of winter? These fish tacos bring together healthy ingredients like blackened tilapia with a crunchy cabbage slaw and a creamy sauce made with avocado, cilantro, jalapeno and fresh lime juice.
Vegetarian Cabbage Soup Recipe & Video
Soup is a fantastic way to eat more veggies and fill up on low-calorie broth. This popular cabbage soup recipe is great for cold winter days. Make a batch and eat some now — then save some in the freezer for an easy lunch or dinner later too.
Cocoa-Date Truffles Recipe & Video
These bite-sized treats are actually pretty good for you. They provide protein from black beans, are sweetened with tasty medjool dates, and are low in calories and fat. Roll them into a cocoa-sugar mixture or customize them to your taste with chopped nuts, finely chopped chocolate, or flaked coconut.
20-Minute Squash Mac and Cheese Recipe & Video
A favorite with kids and grown-ups alike, this mac and cheese recipe is made with vitamin-packed winter squash and fiber-rich whole-wheat pasta. It provides added nutrition that you won’t find in the kind that comes in a box, but it’s ready in just about the same amount of time.
Frozen Yogurt Berry Bites Recipe & Video
Craving a sweet frozen treat? These frozen yogurt berry bites are easy to make, cute as can be, and low in fat and calories. They’re a fun excuse to get your kids in the kitchen to help make them too.