Quick Dinner Recipes: Healthy & Tasty Meals in 400 Calories or Less

So we all know by now that the key to successful weight loss is eating less food, how much food is that really? When it comes to fat loss many dieters take the Goldilocks approach–they either continue to eat too much or they eat too little–all in an effort to shed those pounds.

[A quick dinner recipe doesn't need to exceed 400 calories. This isn't the last time you'll ever eat!]

Let’s take a look at this in the simplest way possible. If you eat an average of 500 calories per meal, the first phase of your weight loss program should be to decrease that just a little. I know what you’re thinking, ‘I’m ready to lose all of this weight…NOW‘. I commend you for that but trying to go from one extreme to the other will simply have you sneaking in the fridge at 2 a.m. foraging for something to stop your stomach from growling in the night.

We’ve come up with some delicious yet healthy dinner recipes that won’t take all evening to make and will help you start eating less and exercising more.

Baked Chicken Pesto with Peas

Ingredients
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, halved
2 bunches of fresh basil, torn
1/3 cup pinenuts
1 lemon, juiced
1 tsp hot sauce (optional)
2 cloves garlic
2 tbsp. olive oil
salt & pepper to taste
1 tbsp. capers
4 cups peas (frozen)

Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Blend all ingredients except chicken breasts in a food processor until well blended and pour into a large bowl. Put chicken in the bowl with pesto and toss until all pieces are coated. Place chicken on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until chicken is not pink inside. Place peas in sauce pan along with 1/4 cup water, salt, and pepper. Cook 10 minutes or until peas are done.

[Pesto gives any protein a ton of flavor without a lot of salt. And its a cinch to make!]

This recipe makes 4 portions, 297 calories per serving! Start this meal with a small salad and you’ll feel more than satisfied. If you’re looking for healthy lunch recipes, this makes tasty leftovers!

Tomato & Garbanzo Bean Soup

Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, grated
1 large can, crushed tomatoes
1 can garbanzo beans (rinse & drain before using)
4 cups water
1 tbsp. kosher salt
2 bay leaves (remove before serving)
pepper
2 tbsp. rosemary, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1 loaf, artisan bread

Directions: Heat oil in large sauce pan over medium heat. Add in onions and carrots and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add in garlic, rosemary, garbanzo beans, salt and pepper. Cook another 3 minutes. Add in water, bay leaves, crushed tomatoes and bring to a boil. Lower heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes. Slice artisan bread and rub with raw garlic. Heat at 350 for 5 minutes and serve with soup.

[Any quick dinner recipe worth its salt will feature a healthy soup recipe. Soup is healthy and easy to make.]

Makes 4 servings. 200 calories of wintery goodness guaranteed to warm you up without bulking you up.

Decide which type of artisan bread you should choose by finding out the calories in white bread and whole wheat bread.

Broiled Haddock with Corn & Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients
2 cups corn, frozen
4 6-ounce pieces haddock
2 tbsp. unsalted butter
salt & pepper to taste
2 tsp. smoked paprika
2 russet potatoes, chopped
1/4 cup skim or soy milk

Directions: Preheat oven to broil. Season haddock with salt, pepper, and paprika on both sides. Place on greased baking dish and broil for 7 minutes or until fish reaches desired doneness, up to 10 minutes. Cover potatoes with cold water and boil 10 minutes or until soft. Drain and return to hot saucepan and add 1 tbsp. butter, milk, salt, and pepper and mash until smooth. In medium saucepan pour 1/4 cup of water over peas and cook over medium heat. Add 1 tbsp. butter and pepper and cook 10 minutes or until cooked through.

[Take your favorite lean protein, add a vegetable and potato and you've got a quick dinner recipe that won't pack on the pounds.]

This quick dinner recipe makes four 365 calorie servings. Instead of adding more salt, add a lemon wedge to each serving for additional flavor.

Eating less food doesn’t mean you have to eat food you don’t like; it simply means that you have to consume smaller portions. It’ll take a week to get used to eating less, but when you start seeing results you’ll be glad you did. These are delicious and healthy dinner recipes that you can cook in less than a half-hour!

Get creative to stay away from salt overload by adding flavor through herbs like rosemary and basil or spices like peppers and cayenne. Remember that lean proteins like chicken and fish have a shorter cook time than beef or pork, so you have more time to sit down and enjoy dinner in 400 calories or less!

Consider a fast before you start on the road to smaller portions, you may find it a big help. Set aside your skepticism and give our review of Eat Stop Eat a read. You’ll learn a lot and you may just find a subtle way to ease into your new way of eating.