Hello good people, I have collected a list of fall healthy dinners that are cool enough for fall and warm enough for summer. So scroll through and enjoy the temperatures outside and the ones inside your house.
Healthy Fall Dinners The fall is a time to cook with the harvest. Why not look at this time of year as an opportunity to experiment with more flavorful, nutrient-rich recipes? Here are some suggestions and healthy fall dinners that will keep you on track while tasting great!
Healthy Fall Recipes Under 500 Calories (That Still Taste Delish)
Fall is all about cozy, stick-to-your-ribs meals that feel like a hug in a bowl (or on a plate), and it’s no secret that we love it. But we still want to nourish our bodies, and sometimes, keep things on the lighter side. Thankfully, these healthy fall recipes (all under 500 calories!) will do the trick—they’re roasty, toasty and packed with the flavors of seasonal produce and warming spices…but won’t make you want to hibernate until next spring. Now, who wants a bite of buffalo-stuffed sweet potatoes?
0. ROASTED SQUASH AND TOFU WITH SOY, HONEY, CHILI AND GINGER (324 CALORIES)
Don’t skip the step of pressing the tofu. It’s crucial to get a gorgeously browned, crisp exterior.
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31. SPICY LEMON GINGER CHICKEN SOUP (387 CALORIES)
Number one on our list of comfort foods? Chicken soup. This version wins bonus points for flavor, ease and versatility. (Go ahead, add noodles if you please.)
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32. PUMPKIN POLENTA (305 CALORIES)
Is it just us, or is canned pumpkin a miracle ingredient?
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33. FALL HARVEST QUINOA SALAD (450 CALORIES)
We’re suckers for anything with squash…and halloumi. This dish happens to have both.
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34. BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND RED LENTIL SOUP (421 CALORIES)
It’s worth seeking out red lentils for this recipe, since other colors would make the soup look muddy. They’re also quick-cooking, and who doesn’t want that?
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35. VEGAN AND GLUTEN-FREE CURRY CHICKPEA POTPIE WITH SWEET POTATO ‘CRUST’
Trust us, you won’t even miss the flaky biscuit crust.
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36. ROASTED SQUASH SALAD WITH CRISPY SHALLOTS AND BALSAMIC REDUCTION (311 CALORIES)
Oh hi, one-ingredient dressing. We see you and we respect you.
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37. FALL HARVEST HONEYCRISP APPLE AND KALE SALAD (312 CALORIES)
The season has so much to offer when it comes to fresh produce, so why not toss it all in one beautiful salad?
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38. INSTANT POT CARROT GINGER SOUP (217 CALORIES)
It’s dairy-free, vegan-optional and ready to eat in 30 minutes—more time to cozy up on the couch with good book (or a scary movie).
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Tasty Fall Recipes That Make Weight Loss So Much Easier
Be honest—the last thing you want to eat on a chilly fall day is a salad. Sure, in the summertime, salads are refreshing. They are full of all kinds of summer produce and keep us feeling slim and trim throughout the summer months. But as the colder months come around, it can be difficult to find foods that can help promote and maintain weight loss. Especially when all you’re craving is warm comfort foods! But what if we told you that you could have the best of both worlds?
Comfort foods don’t have to be loaded with calories! With a few tweaks, they can easily be made into healthier meals that you’ll love, without compromising the comfort and flavor you desire during the fall season. The key is to aim for leaner cuts of meat and to boost your favorite comfort meals with lots of nutrients. Hello, vegetables!
From slimming breakfasts to comforting dinners, here are some of our favorite fall recipes to turn to for easier weight loss.
Slow Cooker Cuban Tomato Black Bean Soup
This black bean soup beefs up the protein in this soup by adding in a smoked ham hock, making this soup a filling lunch alternative.
Get our recipe for Slow Cooker Cuban Tomato Black Bean Soup.
Chai Poached Pears
Looking for a healthier dessert option to serve at your Thanksgiving festivities? These chai poached pears are a classy alternative to your usual sugary pies.
Get our recipe for Chai Poached Pears.
Cinnamon Oatmeal Apple Pancakes
Still have bags of apples after going apple picking? Use some of them up by topping warmed cinnamon apples on top of these oatmeal pancakes for a fun fall twist on a classic breakfast favorite.
Get our recipe for Cinnamon Oatmeal Apple Pancakes.
Healthier Carrot Cake Cupcakes
Cupcakes, for weight loss? These cupcakes cut down the sugar and fat by using healthier ingredients without compromising that carrot cake flavor you love!
Get our recipe for Healthier Carrot Cake Cupcakes.
Apple Cranberry Crisp
Another clever way to use those leftover apples! Bake up this apple cranberry crisp for a healthier fruit-forward dessert to serve to a crowd.
Get our recipe for Apple Cranberry Crisp.
Healthy Baked Ziti
Baked casseroles and slow-cooked meals are the name of the game in the fall, so having a few healthier versions of your favorite comfort foods—like baked ziti!—can certainly help with your weight loss efforts.
Get our recipe for Healthy Baked Ziti.
Green Machine Veggie Casserole
Load up your breakfast with all kinds of greens with this easy, low-carb veggie casserole.
Get our recipe for Green Machine Veggie Casserole.
Low-Carb Lemon Cheesecake with Macadamia Crust
This cheesecake is made with a macadamia crust to cut down on the carb and sugar intake while still giving you all of that cheesecake goodness you love!
Get our recipe for Low-Carb Lemon Cheesecake with Macadamia Crust.
Paleo Pumpkin Smoothie
Whoever said smoothies were only a summer food was seriously mistaken!
Get our recipe for Paleo Pumpkin Smoothie.
Sheet Pan Pork Chops with Vegetables
Sheet pan meals make weight loss a lot easier because they require such minimal effort. Simply throw your meal on a tray, bake, and enjoy!
Get our recipe for Sheet Pan Pork Chops with Vegetables.
Warm Goat Cheese Salad
No one wants to eat a cold salad on a cold winter day, so toast up your goat cheese for a fun twist!
Get our recipe for Warm Goat Cheese Salad.
Slow Cooker Chicken in Red Wine Sauce
Change up your usual Sunday roast by cooking chicken in a homemade red wine sauce right in your slower cooker!
Get our recipe for Slow Cooker Chicken in Red Wine Sauce.
Healthier Chicken Pot Pie
Slash those calories with this healthier version of your favorite comforting chicken pot pie.
Get our recipe for Healthier Chicken Pot Pie.
Grilled Chicken Avocado Salad
Miss your summery salads? This grilled chicken avocado salad recipe adds in cranberries for a fall twist while still giving you that fresh, summery vibe.
Get our recipe for Grilled Chicken Avocado Salad.
Hearty Turkey Meatloaf with Tomato Glaze
Change up your usual meatloaf recipe by using leaner ground turkey instead!
Get our recipe for Hearty Turkey Meatloaf with Tomato Glaze.
Best Apple Pie
Yes, even apple pie is considered one of our fall recipes for weight loss! This pie really leans into the apples instead of the carb pie crust and is topped with a heartier, healthier crumble.
Get our recipe for Best Apple Pie.
Butternut Squash Hash
A hearty veggie hash for breakfast—or lunch!—sure does count as one of our favorite fall recipes for weight loss.
Get our recipe for Butternut Squash Hash.
Loaded Chicken Alfredo with Vegetables
You don’t have to skip out on your favorite meals in order to lose weight! Instead, load it up with vegetables to fill you up instead of relying on the starchy carbs to keep you full.
Get our recipe for Loaded Chicken Alfredo with Vegetables.
Sunday Roast Chicken
A juicy chicken with roasted veggies on a Sunday evening? Who could say no to that!
Get our recipe for Sunday Roast Chicken.
Simple Roasted Carrots
Easy-to-Make Healthy Fall Recipes
If you’re in need of an easy side to go with any of your favorite mains, these roasted carrots pretty much go with any sheet pan or slow cooker meal!
Summer produce may get all the most breathless attention, but if you ask us, the fall is really when fresh, seasonal eating gets good. The cooler weather sees the return of all kinds of delicious spring veggies that generally can’t take the summer heat—think peppery arugula greens, and mild butter lettuces as well as Broccolini, and kale. And then there are all the root vegetables like carrots, beets, turnip recipes, and simple potato recipes, to say nothing of harvest time staples like winter squash recipes and apple recipes.
Fall is also when eating gets fun. The cooler whether invites lots of hearty stews and soups, rich roasted chicken, and stick-to-your-ribs dishes. Which is why (for us, anyway) it’s suddenly so easy to start overeating. That’s why making sure the delicious fall foods you eat are healthy is suddenly more important than ever. Sure, it would be possible to gorge on nothing but cheese-covered lasagna and roasted sausage, but you won’t feel very good afterward.
Here, then, are a few dozen of our favorite healthy fall recipes. These have all the flavors the colder temperatures have you craving: Roasted butternut squash, creamy mac and cheese, sautéed mushrooms, bold sauces, and more, but they’re made with smart ingredients and techniques to keep them healthy. Our mac and cheese has a purée of creamy cauliflower to give it a burst of nutrition. Our roasted chicken uses a weighted pan to keep it extra crispy without excess oil. And our smothered pork chops reconfigures the sauce, to cut back on sat fat without sacrificing flavor.
6. SWEET POTATO CHOWDER (319 CALORIES)
Corn and clam chowder can step aside. We having sweet potato tonight.
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7. SWEET POTATO, TOMATO, KALE AND HALLOUMI SHEET TRAY (130 CALORIES)
When you don’t feel like cooking but still need to eat something nutritious, this gorgeous sheet tray has your back. Everything melts together in the oven while you sit back and relax.
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8. INSTANT POT SPICY THAI BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP (447 CALORIES)
Puréed soups are a go-to when we want to eat healthy and feel indulgent—they’re filling and creamy while still feeling light, just like this spicy number.
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9. VEGAN KETO COCONUT CURRY (425 CALORIES)
You don’t have to be vegan or keto to enjoy this warming curry. It’s packed with scallion, coconut milk and cilantro for maximum flavor.
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10. CREAMY VEGAN LENTIL AND ROASTED VEGETABLE BAKE (438 CALORIES)
Caramelized roasted vegetables meet satisfying lentils and cashew cream in this rich casserole. To make it gluten-free, omit the topping and garnish with toasted pine nuts instead.
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