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My 10 Go-To Healthy Dinner Recipes (gluten free and dairy free)
Happy Monday, Beauties!
I hope you had a great weekend. It’s been really hot here in Santa Barbara and we’re also battling some really big wildfires. Thankfully we are safe and aren’t needing to evacuate, but the fires are definitely a little close for comfort. I’m very thankful for all of the fire fighters who are working around the clock to protect homes and contain the fire.
I can hardly believe it, but last week we officially wrapped up my 4-week summer program, Summer Sculpt!
It was SO much fun and the energy in the group this year was off the charts. We had hundreds of women making healthy changes, doing Pilates workouts from home (and on vacation!), and most importantly, putting their health at the top of the priority list. I am beyond inspired by each and every one of them.
As a part of the program, I host weekly group coaching calls and one question that came up last week was about how I eat healthfully during the week without spending hours planning and cooking.
And it inspired me to share one of my best tips…are you ready for it?
I cook the same meals over and over again.
Haha – inspiring right? 🙂
But it’s true! I’ve found about 10-15 meals that are easy to make and my family loves. Since I make them so often I don’t have to think much about the prep or the recipe, they’ve just become second nature. We rotate them week by week so we don’t get sick of any one thing and it totally works for us. It works because it’s simple.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ll throw in a new recipe here and there and when I’m going through a program (like Summer Sculpt), I’ll cook more recipes from that plan, but on a day-to-day basis, I keep it simple.
In this season of life (2 little ones, business to run, marriage to maintain, friendships to invest in…you know how it goes) it’s the only way I can do it. I do look forward to 18 years down the road when I can leisurely sip a glass of wine, listen to music, and try fun new recipes on a regular basis, but right now, it’s more about ease, simplicity, and getting food on the table before everyone’s crying and ready for bed.
I got a lot of requests in The Sisterhood Facebook group over the weekend to share what my go-to weeknight meals are so here’s a list. I have links to some of the recipes but not all. My son is gluten free and dairy free so all of our dinners are gluten and dairy free as well.
I hope you find this helpful!
My Go-To Healthy Dinner Recipes
Slow Cooker Chicken Curry
- This recipe can be found in the Sisterhood’s Ultimate Recipe Bundle on page 60.
Slow Cooker Beef Chili
- The recipe I use is no longer available online – I’m so sad! But this one is very similar, just omit the sugar.
Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
- Some weeks we use the chicken for tacos, some weeks we make taco bowls using cauliflower rice – the kids love them and it makes great leftovers! Click here for the recipe.
Turkey Taco Bowls
- Super easy: ground turkey with homemade taco seasoning + black beans and topped with lettuce, tomato, cilantro, and avocado.
Sausage + Veggies
- This varies based on what we have on hand – but generally includes chicken sausage (like these from Costco) and roasted veggies (my favorite combo is sweet potatoes and broccoli).
Turkey or Grass-Fed Beef Burgers
- We have burgers almost weekly! My husband and daughter eat theirs with a bun. My son and I eat it with a fork (dairy free/gluten free). And we usually eat our burgers with grilled veggies or sweet potato fries on the side and a salad loaded with fresh veggies.
Breakfast For Dinner
- This one has been out of rotation lately because I’ve been eating eggs for breakfast – but it’s so easy and so healthy! When we do breakfast for dinner I make a big egg scramble with spinach, tomatoes, peppers, and a sprinkle of goat cheese. Sometimes we’ll have high-quality bacon or homemade breakfast sausage (from the Summer Sculpt and Tighten & Tone meal plans) on the side + a serving of fresh fruit.
Grilled Salmon & Veggies
- Salmon (my favorite recipe for salmon is in the Tighten & Tone meal plan) served with grilled veggies and quinoa.
Chopped Chicken Salad
- This is a go-to during the hot summer months. I shared the recipe on Instagram recently, but in a nutshell it includes: chopped romaine, rotisserie chicken, garbanzo beans, cherry tomatoes, sweet peppers, and chopped egg. I dress is with the dairy-free ranch dressing from the March 2017 Sisterhood recipe bundle.
Roasted Veggie Bowls
- I love this recipe because it’s easy and healthy and you can use whatever veggies you have on hand. You can also change up the flavor by changing the sauce/dressing. Click here to view the recipe.
I’m curious, do you have “go-to” recipes in your house? Or do you love to change it up on a weekly basis?
xo,
Robin Long
Robin Long, founder and CEO of Lindywell, certified Pilates instructor, Nutrition Therapy Practitioner, and author of 'Well to the Core,' blends 15 years of expertise with a lifelong commitment to holistic health.
Learn more about Robin Long
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27 thoughts on “My 10 Go-To Healthy Dinner Recipes (gluten free and dairy free)”
I love this! This is so helpful and simple. Your pesto chicken has become a staple in our house for dinners! We also have tacos once a week! I want to try the chicken curry next!
Hi Elisabeth!
There are a few recipes that utilize pesto, but you can find the Pesto Chicken Lettuce Cups in the Ultimate Recipe Bundle on Page. 52! 🙂
You’ll love the curry! 🙂
We have taco bowls ALL the time. I recently started making a green salsa version with the Hatch green chile salsa from Trader Joe’s and it’s really good! We also do breakfast for dinner a lot. I like doing egg bakes with veggies and a protein and then I eat the leftovers for my breakfast during the week.
Such a great idea, Nicole!
Thank you for sharing- Yummy!
I was thinking about you and am happy that you are safe and sound from the wile fires!!!
Thanks Monica!
I am at that stage of life when I can sip some wine, listen to music, and try new recipes. YAY!!!
I adore Greek food! I don’t eat beef or lamb so I spent a lot of time last summer trying to make a healthy version of gyros. I finally found the magic combination to get the flavor profile just right and keep it clean-ish, using chicken. It can also be made the day before to get the best flavor. I have been following Summer Sculpt guidelines since finishing and haven’t made it this summer…yet. I think this will be a good weekend to make it. Thank you for all of your hard work and knowledge. We all appreciate it so much!
Ooh yum! I love Greek food too! And enjoy the leisurely cooking for me! 🙂
I’m SO happy to hear I’m not the only one that rotates the same 15 or so recipes again and again 😉 Now, I have more to add to the rotation. Thanks!!!
Thanks, Karen! 🙂
I love the roasted veggie bowls. One of my new favorite staples. It’s great warmed up or cold (like on a picnic or traveling in the car). Absolutely love the sweet potato and dressing!
Robin, do your kids eat all these meals too? I can’t get mine to eat chili, beans, fish, or salad. Their version of a salad is cucumbers, shredded carrots and dressing, no lettuce. I’ll do it for them for a side dish but not a main course. I’ve always wondered if your kids eat the recipes you send out as is. Mine will try some but not all. I’m super impressed if they eat what you eat! I try not to make extra meals but if I want to make something I know they won’t eat I try to have something as a side that I know they will.
Hi Keri!
Robin generally breaks down the meal a bit for her kids! So, they are eating the same thing, but just in a more simple way – for example: if she is having taco bowls for dinner, she has shown that she breaks the kids’ dinner into avocado, a bit of meat, fruit, etc. – everything on a smaller level for them! 🙂
Great idea to have simple dependable meals on rotation. Makes shopping and cooking so much easier. I try to respect what my kids dislike ito food but we do have a rule about trying at least 3 bites of something even if you don’t like it. I also let my kids vote on any variation or new recipe. I hope they find it empowering that they have a say
Such a great idea – thank you for sharing!
Hi, I was curious if you ever use turkey bacon? And if so, what brand or kind? If not, what kind of bacon do you use? Thanks, Robin and everyone!
Hi Leah!
Robin uses pork or turkey bacon. She suggests you look for a brand that is certified organic, sugar free, and labeled “all-natural” + nitrate free!
Thanks for sharing, Robin!
The Pesto Chicken Bake from the Summer Sculpt meal plan has been a hit and in our rotation ever since I made it the first time. I also make the DIY Taco Bowls from Oh She Glows (http://ohsheglows.com/2015/11/02/diy-burrito-bowl/) all the time. They are easy and always well-received.
That’s great to hear – thanks, Holly!
Thank you for these great ideas! For the recipes with links to Tighten & Tone, do you have to buy the program to see the recipe? Thank you!
Hi Angie!
Yes, you must purchase the program to view the recipes. You can find more information about the program, here: https://thebalancedlifeonline.com/product/tighten-tone/ 🙂
Sadly, totally unhelpful to vegetarians 🙁
Hi, I am trying to figure out how to download these recipes. Sometimes, I can see a “download button” but on this one bundle, I can’t. Can you help? Thank you!
Hi Mary! Is there a specific bundle you are trying to access? Please feel free to let us know at [email protected] 🙂
how does one find the sisterhood’s ultimate recipe bundle to locate the chicken curry recipe?
thanks!
Hi Jeanne! Email us at [email protected] and we can send it to you! 🙂