best 9 healthy food recipes to lose weight fast

best healthy food recipes to lose weight fast

In this article, we will get to know the best 9 healthy food recipes to lose weight fast and muscle gain

 1 healthy food recipe: Pumpkin Pie Apple Butter

Pumpkin Pie Apple Butter  recipe:

Makes 20 servings, 2 tablespoons each

Active Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours

Get It:

Dip:

• 1 C Puréed Pumpkin
• 1/2 C Vanilla Greek Yogurt
• 1/2 C Marshmallow Fluff (you can substitute with more Greek Yogurt)
• 1/4 C Unsweetened Applesauce
• 2 T Agave Nectar
• 1 t Ground Cinnamon
• 1/2 t Ground Ginger
• 1/4 t Ground Nutmeg
• 1/4 t Ground Allspice

Frosting:

• 1 T Flour (whole-wheat, oat, almond, etc.)
• 2 T Maple Syrup
• 1 T Honey
• 2 T Pecans, chopped (optional)

Make It:

1. To make a spread, put all ingredients in the food processor until smooth.
2. To make the frosting, mix ingredients together and drizzle on top of the spread. Chill in the fridge for 2 hours.
3. Serve with graham crackers, wafers, pretzels, apples, or veggies.

Know It:

30 calories, 0g fat, 0mg cholesterol, 4mg sodium, 8g carbs, 6g sugar, 1g protein

NOTES:

I think that people just forget how tasty and good pumpkin pies are and after some time we all need a reminder. To make it even better I prefer to make my own fresh Greek yogurt using my trusty Greek yogurt maker. For me, creating this pie was a very good reminder and I am determined to make many more pies with various flavors. I feel like we can experiment with pies a lot and we can create something new and delicious. This is a great example of that because if people didn’t experiment we wouldn’t have pumpkin pie apple butter that is for sure. The best thing about it is that you don’t need to waste a lot of your time. This spread is very versatile! I brought it to a party and used the leftovers to make the following:

HOT PUMPKIN OATMEAL:

Just add 2 tablespoons to your hot oats and you’ve got pumpkin oatmeal!

PUMPKIN SMOOTHIE:

Just add the following ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth: a frozen banana, 3/4 cup milk, 1/2 cup yogurt, 2 tablespoons Pumpkin Pie Apple Spread, and ice to taste.

PUMPKIN OVERNIGHT OATS

Mix 1/3 cup rolled oats, 3/4 cup milk, 1/2 cup yogurt, 2 tablespoons Pumpkin Pie Apple Dip, and 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds and let chill for a few hours or overnight.

 What is your favorite way to eat pumpkin?

2 healthy food recipes: The Honeydew Melon

Seasonal Fruit Friday: The Honeydew Melon

How to Pick healthy food recipes

To pick a ripe honeydew melon, look for creamy yellow skin and one that is heavy for its size. It should also have a waxy or almost velvety surface and be free of any bumps or bruises.

How to Store

If you pick an unripe melon, hasten the ripening process by putting it in a paper bag at room temperature for a few days. Ripe melons should be wrapped in plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to 5 days. Try not to wash and slice the melon before you are ready to eat it since it will go bad faster once it is exposed to oxygen. Keep sliced melon in the fridge.

How to Prepare

Cut the melon and scoop out the flesh with a melon scoop or just chop it up using the instructional video below. You can toast the seeds, mash the flesh for babies, or use the melon flesh in the recipes below for snacks, desserts, or drinks!

Healthy Honeydew Melon Recipes

Various recipes include healthy honeydew melon and no matter which one you end up making, you will enjoy the dish. If you don’t know any recipes, we suggest that you simply search online for the best one, but if you want to try some that we liked, then here is a shortlist that we found very delicious. The best thing about all the recipes that you will find is that they all require this honeydew melon and it will mean that you will be creating a very healthy dish that will benefit your health, especially if you have weight issues.

• Drunken Melon Balls
• Green-Tomato and Honeydew Melon Salad
• Melon Madness Popsicles
• Three Melon Mozzarella Salad

FUN HONEYDEW MELON FACTS

• Honeydew melons have only 60 calories per cup, 70% of your vitamin C for the day, and include health benefits like preventing vision problems, cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer.
• The high water content, low-calorie count, and sweet taste also make the honeydew melon an excellent choice for a snack or dessert for people who are trying to lose weight (or for anyone, for that matter!)
• Honeydews are also known as Temptation Melons. So maybe they would be a good dessert for a date night.
• Honeydews are the sweetest of all melons when ripe, so make sure it’s ripe before you eat it!
• Christopher Columbus brought over the first melon seeds to North America on his second expedition. We thank you, Christopher Columbus.

What is your favorite way to eat honeydew melons?

3 healthy food recipes; The Kumquat

Seasonal Fruit Friday: The Kumquat

Picking

Kumquats should be ripe when they are picked from the tree, so if you see one that is slightly green or bruised, don’t pick it! Only get the ones that are bright orange, firm, and smooth, and even ones with the leaves on them. The reason for this is because you don’t want to end up with a fruit that isn’t fully developed. The taste will not be the same and more importantly, it won’t have all the valuable nutrients. If you are not sure when is the best time to pick it, it is best to leave it to professionals or simply learn more about the fruit. The more information you learn about this special fruit the better for you.

Storing

You may store kumquats at room temperature for about 3-4 days, or inside the refrigerator for up to three weeks! If you have a surplus and want to freeze them for a few months, I would recommend making a puree first.

Preparing

The funniest thing about kumquats is that you can eat the whole thing: skin, baby seeds, and all! The skin is a little sour, but the inside is sweet, so be prepared. To lessen this effect, roll the kumquat on the counter under your palm or just between your fingers to mix the juices inside. Be adventurous!

You can eat them straight, or slice them thin for salads, garnishes, marmalades, etc. Just make sure you wash them well before eating since you are consuming the skin too. If you need any more ideas, see the recipes below!

Kumquat recipes to lose weight fast:

• Kale with Caramelized Kumquats
• Kumquat Garlic Chicken
• Kumquat Marmalade with Brie Cheese
• Kumquat Tart with Almond-Date Crust

FUN KUMQUAT FACTS

• 8 kumquats are only 100 calories, 24g carbs, 10g fiber, and 2g protein, and almost all of your vitamin C for the day!
• They are also called “the little gems of the citrus family” but I call them “baby oranges.”
• However, there are not even part of the citrus family at all but were given their own genus (“Fortunella”) in 1915. They’re that special.
• There are two top varieties of kumquats in the United States: “Nagami” and the “Meiwa.” There are so many Nagami kumquats in Saint Joseph, Florida, that it was named the kumquat capital of Florida. People there have kumquats at every meal because there are so many.

4 healthy food recipes: Breakfast Cake

Breakfast Cake for 2 Minute

Get It Cake :

• 1/2 C Oats
• 1 Scoop Chocolate Protein Powder (or substitute 2 tablespoons flour of choice)
• 2 Packets Stevia
• 1/2 t Baking Powder
• 1/4 C Egg Whites (or 2 Egg Whites)
• 2 T Almond Butter
• 2 T Yogurt
• 1/2 C Blueberries (frozen or fresh)

Frosting

• 2 T Almond Butter
• 1 T Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk (or other milk of choice)
• 1/2 t Ground Cinnamon

Make It:

1. Combine the first 4 dry ingredients in a medium-sized bowl, then add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
2. Pour into two mugs, ramekins (this is what I used), or 1 microwave-safe bowl, and microwave for 2 minutes or until done. If it still looks liquidy, it’s not done.
3. Meanwhile, mix the frosting ingredients together and drizzle onto the cake when baked. Eat while still warm!

KNOW IT:

385 calories, 20g fat, 15mg cholesterol, 235mg sodium, 30g carbs, 7g fiber, 6g sugar, 25g protein

NOTES:

I adapted this recipe from Heather but who apparently got her recipe from Tina, so I’m not sure who has the original; but basically, everything came from God anyways so I’m going to give him credit for this one too 🙂 I really love oatmeal bakes, but since there are only 2 of us we have too many leftovers with a whole pan of oatmeal, so this recipe is perfect for 2! You can easily make this for one person by cutting the ingredients and cooking time in half. And plus, this recipe takes about 5 minutes max, so it is perfect for me since I am pretty hungry when I wake up.

I personally think that breakfast needs to be something light and that you can make it in no time because we all know that sometimes you just don’t have an hour to make a dish. Before work, I think that this is a very good solution because it will keep you full for quite some time and you can make it in 2 minutes. This is truly a bake made easy breakfast solution that will make your mornings ten times better.

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Have you ever tried baked oatmeal cakes in the microwave?

 5 healthy food recipes: Healthier Thanksgiving

Healthier Thanksgiving from Breakfast to Dinner

Thanksgiving is a really fun foodie holiday, but this post is just a reminder that you can still indulge and have a feast with friends and family without going overboard. Mattox and I will be in Georgia next week visiting family and I will be at a wedding, so I will probably just be serving as a helping hand rather than planning my own menu.

However, if I did plan my own Thanksgiving menu, I would love for it to look something like the recipes below. Of course, I probably wouldn’t have a big breakfast or lunch, but instead, I would be busy making the big Thanksgiving meal! I hope this post gives you some good ideas for Turkey Day and thank you to all of the bloggers below who created the recipes!

Breakfast

Pumpkin Spice Donuts with Creamy Cranberry Frosting by Better with Veggies

Green Smoothie by me

Lunch

Depending on what time you are eating your big Thanksgiving meal, as well as how many meals you are eating with different families in one day, you might want to choose something light and easy. And what’s easier to prepare than a pear?

Drinks

Blackberry Hot Toddy by The Framed Table

Simply Spiked Cider by Running to the Kitchen

Sides

Cranberry Whole Wheat Buttermilk Biscuits by How Sweet It Is

Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Warm Cider Vinaigrette by Brown Eyed Baker

“Make-Ahead” Mashed Potatoes by Moni Meals

Skinny Green Bean Casserole by Dashing Dish

ENTRÉE

Brined and Roasted Turkey by Cooking Classy

Honey-Baked Ham by the Food Network

DESSERT

Raw Pecan Pie Tartlets by The Sweet Life (VEGAN)

Pumpkin Chiffon Pie by Guilty Kitchen

Blueberry Muffin Pancakes

They can be a great addition to your Thanksgiving dinner because they are very healthy, and they are very tasty. Finding a healthy and affordable thanksgiving dinner plan is not easy, but luckily for you, we have done all the hard work and all that is left for you to do is follow our advice. Of course, if you have some better ideas for a dish you can change it or even implement it in this dinner plan. Most people have issues finding a dessert for thanksgiving because they always try to change it up. Having the same dessert for thanksgiving each year can be very boring and people won’t enjoy it that much. That’s why you have to constantly change up your dinner plan and create something unique that nobody was expecting to see or eat.

You don’t have to change your entire dinner plans, just by making small changes and adjustments, you can easily please all of your loved ones. Adding these blueberry muffing pancakes can help you out a lot.

 6 healthy food recipes Chili-Dusted Dino, Kale Chips

Celebrate Earth Day with Chili-Dusted Dino Kale Chips

• Makes 4 servings of 1 cup each
• Active Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes

Get It:

• 1 Bunch Dino Kale
• 5 T Olive Oil
• 1 t Chili Powder
• Dash of Seasoning Salt and Pepper

Make It:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Rinse Dino Kale, strip the leaves from the stem, and dry in a salad spinner or paper towels.
3. Drizzle with olive oil, mix spices together and sprinkle evenly over kale. Mix well with tongs, then spread evenly on the pan.
4. Pop in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until crispy.

KNOW IT:

43 calories, 7g carbs, 1g fat, 3g protein, 1g fiber

NOTES:

What better way to celebrate Earth Day this Sunday than eating some veggies from the Earth?! My friend Abby would be proud that I was celebrating her favorite holiday. I adapted the recipe above from Smitten Kitchen. These chips are truly tasty, portable, and a more fun way to get in your veggies. I took them on a hike one time since they don’t need to be refrigerated and don’t need any kind of dressing, and it was perfect! And they are way more addicting than Pringles.

This is a day when you have a very good excuse not to go to a fast-food restaurant and make something natural for yourself. Not only you are using very healthy veggies, but you are making a meal that will you and your entire family enjoy. Preparing this dish is very easy and you won’t have any trouble if you follow our instructions closely. Even if you are not good in the kitchen, you can surprise your loved ones with this simple yet tasty dish.

I have also used them as a side for things like turkey burgers and chicken sausage dogs, but you can also crush them and sprinkle on top of popcorn or stick them in a sandwich for a little extra crunch. Also, they taste the best and hold their crunch when eaten the same day. 

 Let me know what you think and enjoy!

7 healthy food recipes: Crock Pot Mole Chili With Jalapeño Corn Bread Muffins

Crock Pot Mole Chili with Jalapeño Corn Bread Muffins

• Makes 6 servings, about 1 cup each
• Active Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 3-7 hours

Get Crock-Pot Mole Chili:

Chili

• 1 lb. Extra Lean Ground Beef
• 1 Medium Red Pepper, chopped
• 1 medium Onion, chopped
• 1 (28 oz.) Can Diced Tomatoes, undrained
• 1 C Water
• 1 Garlic Clove or 1 t Minced Garlic
• 2 T Semisweet Chocolate Chips
• 2 T Chili Powder
• 1 T Ground Cumin
• 1/2 t Salt
• 1/2 t Dried Oregano
• Reduced-Fat Sour Cream (optional)
• Fresh Cilantro, chopped (optional)

Jalapeño Corn Bread Muffins

• 1 C Self-Rising Cornmeal Mix
• 1/2 C Plain Greek Yogurt
• 1 Jalapeño, minced and seeded
• 1 T Canola Oil
• 1 Large Egg

Make Crock-Pot Mole Chili:

1. Heat a skillet on medium heat and add the ground beef. Cook until brown, then drain the fat and add to the crockpot.
2. Add the rest of the chili ingredients to the crockpot, except the optional items. Heat on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours.
3. About 45 minutes before dinner time, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Mix the wet cornbread ingredients until well-blended, then add the cornmeal mix.
4. Coat 12 mini muffin molds with cooking spray and pour in batter.
5. Bake at 425 for 13-15 minutes or until slightly golden brown. Serve warm with chili and optional sour cream and cilantro.

Know it:

Chili: 210 calories, 7g fat, 68mg cholesterol, 685mg sodium, 18g carbs, 2g fiber, 6g sugar, 25g protein

Corn Bread (serving size=2 mini muffins): 115 calories, 2g fat, 35mg cholesterol, 302mg sodium, 18g carbs, 1g fiber, 2g sugar, 5g protein

Notes:

I adapted the above recipe from Cooking Light: Fresh Food Fast. It’s probably the only real cookbook I use outside of online recipes. Outside of pizza night, Mattox requests chili every week but I told him summertime wasn’t really the best time for chili. But now, it’s chilly so that means it’s time for chili! The chocolate chips might seem a little strange, but trust me on this one! If you have ever had a mole at a Mexican restaurant, you know how good it can be. You can also make this without the crockpot by simmering the chili ingredients for about 7-11 minutes in a covered pot.

8 healthy food recipes: Hemp And Blueberry Breakfast Bowl

Hemp and Blueberry Breakfast Bowl

• Makes 8 servings
• Active Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 3 hours

Make Hemp and Blueberry Breakfast Bow:

Hemp Granola (makes 2 cups)

Dry:

• 1/3 C Shelled Hemp Seeds (or a packet of instant hemp oatmeal)
• 2/3 C Rolled Oats (get gluten-free if that’s what you’re into)
• 1/3 C Shredded Coconut
• 2 T Sunflower Seeds
• 2 T Slivered Almonds
• 1 T Ground Flax Seeds

Wet:

• 2 T Coconut Oil
• 2 T Honey
• 1/4 t Vanilla Extract
• A Pinch of Salt

Smoothie

• 8 Frozen Bananas
• 4 C Vanilla Almond Milk
• 4 C Frozen Fruit (I used blueberries)

Make It:

1. To make this for breakfast the next day, I would recommend making the granola the night before.
2. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
3. To make granola, mix dry ingredients, then add wet ingredients and mix until covered.
4. Spread in a single layer on a sprayed baking sheet.
5. Toast in preheated oven for 2 1/2 hours, mixing every 30 minutes to toast it evenly.
6. A few minutes before the granola is done, make your smoothie (or alternatively, heat up the granola in the oven or microwave before serving).
7. Mix smoothie ingredients in a blender until smooth.
8. Spoon 1/8 of the smoothie into a bowl, top with 1/4 C granola, fruit, coconut, almond butter (HIGHLY recommended), or other healthy fruit and nut toppings. Repeat for the rest of the servings.

Know It:

Not including any extra toppings other than granola: 400 calories, 16g fat, 0mg cholesterol, 280mg sodium, 60g carbs, 9g fiber, 24g sugar, 10g protein

Notes:

I have fallen in love with Hello. Neenah, Nadia, and I ran there a few Saturdays ago and it was 100% worth the 6.6-mile trip. I got the Heavenly Hemp Smoothie and I’m hoping they will be in heaven too because it was amazing. We split the Acai Bowl, and I decided I needed to make one at home because I didn’t feel like going on another run to Capitol Hill. This recipe is based on the ingredients of the Acai Bowl, which are “Acai, banana & soymilk blended thick, then topped with hemp granola, berries, and/or superfood toppings.”

Honestly, I only had a pack of hemp oats because my friend gave it to me to try, so that’s how I made my granola. It only makes 2 cups worth, but since you are using only 1/4 cup per serving, I just doubled the recipe to fit the 8 servings of granola. If you are making just one serving, it is 1 banana, 1/2 C milk, and 1/2 C frozen fruit.

If you have at least 1 1/4 C of shelled hemp seeds, then make this recipe that makes 10 cups so you can have more to store! If you don’t have 3 hours, you might want to just make the above smoothie and top with store-bought granola and your toppings of choice. The healer had amazing toppings like goji berries, acai berries, cocoa nibs, mulberries, shredded coconut, flax seeds, etc., but I tried it with sliced banana, shredded coconut, and almond butter and it was 10x tastier with the almond butter. Those fancy acai and goji berries are expensive.

9 healthy food recipes: Brain Booster Smoothie

Makes 1 smoothie

Active Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Get It:

• 1 C Frozen Blueberries
• 2 Handfuls Spinach
• 3/4 C Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
• 1/2 C Light ‘N Fit Vanilla Yogurt (or yogurt substitute)
• 1 T Almond Butter (or other nut butter)

Make It:

Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth.

Know It:

250 calories, 11g fat, 266mg sodium, 29g carbs, 8g fiber, 17g sugar, 10g protein

Notes:

WebMD says in Eat Smart For a Healthier Brain that some foods are known for their brain benefits.  Blueberries are also called “brain berries” and help to prevent diseases like Alzheimer's.  The nut oils in the almond butter have Vitamin E, which corresponds with less cognitive decline as we get older.  CNN has a different list of brain foods, one including spinach, which also helps to prevent dementia.

The only way I’ll eat spinach for breakfast is in a smoothie.  I was skeptical of “green smoothies” at first, but I honestly can’t taste the spinach at all.  The sweetness of the blueberries and yogurt masks any spinach flavor you might taste, and the texture is so smooth that it is easy to slurp up for a quick breakfast.  I have a Ninja blender which works great, but it doesn’t get as even of green color as a Vitamix would.  It doesn’t affect the taste at all, just the prettiness.  I think some Zombies might really like the color of mine    Just make sure to drink your smoothie right away, or it will separate in the fridge and lose the smooth texture.  Let me know what you think, and enjoy!

Have you ever had a “Green Smoothie”?  If so, what do you think?