17 Winter Dinner Recipes for Weight Loss (2024)

Make a satisfying and healthy meal with these winter dinner recipes for weight loss. Each dinner is packed with nutritious vegetables, low in calories and high in fiber, which is a key nutrient that helps you stay full for longer periods of time. Recipes like Skillet Chili Mac and Delicata Squash & Tofu Curry are tasty and hearty.

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Creamy Fettuccine with Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms

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Sliced Brussels sprouts and mushrooms cook quickly and cling to the pasta in our fall version of pasta primavera. Look for presliced mushrooms to cut prep time. Serve with a tossed salad.

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Baked Vegetable Soup

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Originally prepared in the wood-burning hearths of Italian homes, this peasant-style healthy vegetable soup recipe is simple to make in a modern oven. Brimming with artichokes, mushrooms, zucchini and leeks, this easy soup heats up the house as it becomes the perfect warming meal.

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Slab Chicken Potpie

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Slab fruit pies are all the rage for summer parties, so why not give classic chicken potpie the same treatment and create buzz at a cool-weather gathering as well. Premade pie crusts and frozen veggies make this chicken dinner easy to prepare without sacrificing flavor.

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Skillet Chili Mac

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Poblanos add a kick of heat to this chili mac recipe. If that's not your thing, swap in green bell peppers to tone down the heat in this easy pasta dish, which mashes up mac and cheese and chili into a seriously satisfying skillet dinner.

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Cheesy Spinach-&-Artichoke Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

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This spaghetti-squash-for-pasta swap slashes both carbs and calories by 75 percent for a delicious, creamy casserole you can feel good about eating. It's worth roasting the squash versus cooking it in the microwave if you have the time: the flavor gets sweeter and more intense.

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Middle Eastern Chicken & Chickpea Stew

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This quick, protein-rich chicken stew recipe gets great flavor from cumin, lemon juice and garlic. Make a double batch and freeze it for a quick healthy dinner. Serve the stew with couscous and steamed broccoli.

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Delicata Squash & Tofu Curry

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This easy tofu curry, made with pretty delicata squash and hearty greens, cooks up in one skillet. To speed up the prep, use bagged chopped kale. Delicata squash's thin skin is tender when it's cooked, so there's no need to peel--another time saver. Serve with quinoa or brown rice.

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Cornbread-Topped Chili Casserole

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In this healthy casserole recipe--sometimes called tamale pie--the cornbread gets crusty at the edges, thanks to a cast-iron skillet. For the best texture, use yellow cornmeal with a medium grind. Serve with lime wedges for a little extra tang.

Lemony Lentil Soup with Collards

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You don't need broth for this lentil soup recipe--it's rich thanks to the browned bits in the bottom of the pan that meld into the soup, packing it with flavor. Ground coriander, from the seed of the cilantro plant, has a floral, citrusy flavor that dovetails nicely with the lemon.

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Spaghetti Squash & Meatballs

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With this spaghetti squash and meatballs recipe, you can reduce the carbohydrates and increase the vegetable servings by skipping pasta and serving the Italian-seasoned turkey meatballs and quick, homemade marinara sauce over thin strands of cooked spaghetti squash instead. Cooking the squash first in the microwave and then in a skillet to cook off the extra moisture, gives the squash a more spaghetti-like texture.

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Smoky Shrimp, Corn & Pea One-Pot Pasta

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Make your sauce and pasta all at once with this fast weeknight pasta dinner recipe. By using the exact amount of water you need to cook the pasta--no colanders here--the starch that cooks off into your pasta water, which you usually drain away, stays in the pot, giving you delectably creamy results.

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Easy Vegetarian Chili

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Canned beans and tomatoes make this quick vegetarian chili recipe ready to go in just 30 minutes. Serve over rice or couscous, or with tortilla chips for added crunch, and add extra toppings as you see fit--sliced scallions, chopped fresh cilantro, diced avocado and sliced jalapeños are all tasty choices.

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Potato Enchiladas

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Frozen potatoes, often labeled diced hash brown potatoes, make these healthy enchiladas come together quickly. Feel free to sub in sweet potatoes for an added boost of vitamin A, if desired.

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Chicken & Sun-Dried Tomato Orzo

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Sun-dried tomatoes and Romano cheese pack a flavorful punch along with the tantalizing aroma of fresh marjoram in this rustic Italian-inspired dish. Serve with sautéed fresh spinach or steamed broccolini.

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Beef Stroganoff

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A little tender beef goes a long way when it is supplemented with flavorful mushrooms and enriched with a robust sauce in this healthy stroganoff.

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Baked Tofu Stir-Fry with Cabbage & Shiitakes

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This healthy vegetarian tofu stir-fry recipe is made with less oil by cooking the ingredients on two large sheet pans in the oven instead of in a wok. Flavored with savory black bean-garlic sauce, toasted sesame oil and Chinese rice wine, this quick stir-fry recipe makes a delicious, low-fuss weeknight dinner.

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Pistachio-Crusted Chicken with Warm Barley Salad

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Barley and pistachios give this healthy chicken recipe a double dose of nutty flavor. For an easy change-up, swap in your favorite whole grain, such as brown rice, farro or quinoa.

17 Winter Dinner Recipes for Weight Loss (2024)

FAQs

What should I eat in the winter to lose weight? ›

Winter foods can also play a role in weight loss if chosen wisely. Opting for nutrient-dense, low-calorie foods such as leafy greens, root vegetables, lean proteins, and fruits can help in managing weight.

What is the best thing to eat for dinner to lose weight? ›

Chicken breast and some lean meats

Skinless chicken breast and lean red meats such as tenderloin and flank steak pack protein and iron and have less saturated fat than other cuts of meat. All these qualities make them great options to support weight management and heart health.

What is the best dinner time to lose weight? ›

Canadeo, who says the best time to eat dinner according to several studies is between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., agrees that leaning on the earlier side is better. “Researchers found that when eating earlier, they had better blood sugar regulation and improved fat metabolism, which is a factor in fat storage,” Canadeo says.

How can I get slim in winter? ›

Here are some tips for weight loss in winter:
  1. Consume High Water Content Foods. Water adds the required body weight without adding calories. ...
  2. Eat Heavy Breakfast. ...
  3. Increase Protein. ...
  4. Say No to Packaged Food. ...
  5. Reward Yourself. ...
  6. Savor Sweets That Slim. ...
  7. Maintain a Food Diary. ...
  8. Sleep Well.

What drink is good for weight loss in winter? ›

Fennel water reduces appetite and food cravings in winter. Soak some fennel seeds in water overnight and drink the water in the morning. It maintains gut health and enhances the absorption of essential vitamins and minerals. Consuming fennel water regularly helps in weight management.

What foods burn fat crazy? ›

12 Metabolism-Boosting Foods to Aid Weight Loss
  • Fish & Shellfish. Metabolism-Boosting Powers: Fish (salmon, tuna, sardines and mackerel) are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and protein. ...
  • Chili Peppers. ...
  • Lean Meats. ...
  • Low-Fat Milk. ...
  • Broccoli. ...
  • Lentils. ...
  • Oatmeal. ...
  • Berries.

What is the best dinner to lose belly fat? ›

What foods burn belly fat fast?
  • Olive oil.
  • Beans.
  • Legumes.
  • Nuts.
  • Seeds.
  • Plain yogurt.
  • Fatty fish such as tuna, salmon, mackerel, anchovy, herring, sardines.
  • Eggs, skinless chicken, and lean meats.

How did Kelly Clarkson lose weight? ›

The Role of Diet in Kelly's Transformation

A pivotal aspect of Kelly's weight loss was her shift to a more plant-based diet, steering clear of processed foods and emphasizing the importance of hydration. This dietary adjustment was not just about losing weight but fostering a healthier relationship with food.

What time should you stop eating to lose belly fat? ›

Researchers say a diet plan that restricts eating to between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. can help you lose weight. They add that such a time-restricted diet plan can also help improve blood pressure and overall mood. Experts say it's important to craft a diet plan that works for your schedule.

Should I skip breakfast to lose weight? ›

Some people regularly avoid breakfast in hopes of losing weight, but it may instead hinder weight loss by affecting healthy metabolism. “Without breakfast, the body goes looking for energy elsewhere, pulling reserves from our fat and muscle tissue. This requires energy to do!

What are the 5 foods that burn belly fat? ›

Five foods that may help burn belly fat include:
  • foods with soluble fiber like fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
  • foods with protein like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy.
  • fatty fish like tuna and salmon.
  • foods with probiotics like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi.
  • green tea.

What is the fastest protein for weight loss? ›

Whey protein has been linked to some impressive benefits, including greater weight loss, improved satiety and better body composition ( 32 , 33 ). When overweight and obese adults took 56 grams of whey protein daily for 23 weeks, they lost 5 pounds (2.3 kg) without changing anything else in their diet ( 34 ).

What is the 30 30 30 meal plan? ›

The 30-30-30 diet involves eating 30g of protein within 30 minutes of waking up, and then completing 30 minutes of low intensity exercise. This method first appeared in Tim Ferriss' book The 4-Hour Body in 2010 but was recently popularized by nutritionist and wellness podcaster Gary Brecka.

Can you still lose weight in the winter? ›

So, winter is actually a great time to lose weight if we stay active and follow a healthy diet. But, because we tend to lose our motivation, retreat to our cozy beds and overindulge in warm comfort foods, we can often counteract the positive benefits of the winter months in helping us lose weight.

Which fruit is good for weight loss in winter? ›

02/6​​Oranges​

Owing to their high vitamin C concentration, oranges can aid in weight loss as well as immune system enhancement. It is an ideal fruit for weight loss because it is low in calories and high in potassium, minerals, folate, and fiber.

Why is winter good for fat loss? ›

These mitochondria burn calories to generate heat, a process known as thermogenesis. This makes brown fat an active player in regulating body temperature and energy expenditure. So, when exposed to cold, your body doesn't just rely on shivering to keep warm. It also ramps up the production of these brown fat cells.

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