28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (2024)

If you're looking to slim down, these weight loss recipes are a great place to start. From breakfast to lunch to dinner, these recipes are low in calories and high in fiber. Fiber is an important nutrient because it helps you maintain a healthier weight over time and can leave you feeling full for longer periods of time. Recipes like Slow-Cooker Overnight Barley Porridge and Edamame Hummus Wrap are delicious and can help you meet your goals.

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Salmon-Stuffed Avocados

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Canned salmon is a valuable pantry staple and a practical way to include heart-healthy omega-3-rich fish in your diet. Here, we combine it with avocados in an easy no-cook meal.

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Kale & White Bean Potpie with Chive Biscuits

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In this vegetarian white bean potpie recipe, kale and hearty white beans are topped with easy, homemade chive biscuits. If desired, add a little shredded Gruyère or Cheddar cheese to the biscuit dough.

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Edamame Hummus Wrap

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Made with protein-rich edamame instead of chickpeas, this easy hummus recipe is the perfect vegetarian filling for a grab-and-go wrap. Or double the recipe and use the hummus for a healthy snack with cut-up vegetables.

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Cheesy Chipotle-Cauliflower Mac

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You'll barely notice the cauliflower in this comforting skillet pasta--it's pureed and mixed into the creamy cheese sauce.

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Slow-Cooker Overnight Barley Porridge

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At 6 grams per 1-cup serving, barley is high in fiber compared to many other whole grains. And it has high levels of prebiotic fiber, making it great for promoting healthy gut bacteria. Like oats, barley contains beta-glucans, a type of soluble fiber that's been shown to improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

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Summer Vegetable Gnocchi Salad

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This riff on pasta salad is best served warm while the gnocchi are nice and tender. Plus, the grilled veggies taste extra-good fresh off the fire in this easy gnocchi recipe.

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Veggie & Hummus Sandwich

This mile-high vegetable and hummus sandwich makes the perfect heart-healthy vegetarian lunch to go. Mix it up with different flavors of hummus and different types of vegetables depending on your mood.

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Chipotle Chicken Quinoa Burrito Bowl

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This flavorful burrito bowl features grilled chicken coated in a spicy chipotle glaze. Loading it with vegetables and using quinoa in place of rice adds nutrition for a healthier dinner.

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White Bean & Avocado Toast

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Mashed avocado and white beans make for a fiber-rich and creamy topping, the perfect partner for a crispy slice of toast. Try it for a quick breakfast or snack.

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Roasted Vegetable & Black Bean Tacos

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These hearty vegan tacos are quick and easy to make, perfect for busy weeknights. They are so tasty no one will miss the meat or dairy.

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Vegetarian Slow-Cooker Pozole

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This healthy vegetarian take on the Mexican stew pozole gets tons of flavor from poblano peppers, ancho chile powder and dried herbs and spices, while cannellini beans provide substance, protein and fiber. Chewy hominy--corn that has been treated with lime to remove the tough hull and germ--is integral to the stew. Look for it in cans in the Latin section of your supermarket. Serve the stew with shredded cabbage, radishes, fresh cilantro and sour cream.

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Tomato-&-Avocado Cheese Sandwich

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Parmesan cheese is such a bold flavor, you only need 1/4 cup to add a big punch to this vegetarian toaster-oven sandwich. Get a serving of fruit too, when you enjoy the sandwich with a fresh pear.

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Weight-Loss Cabbage Soup

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Loaded with cabbage, carrots, bell pepper, tomato and plenty of seasoning, this healthy cabbage soup recipe packs in lots of flavor and is ultra-satisfying. This easy recipe makes a big batch for lunches or veggie-packed snacks all week. If you want to bump up the satisfaction factor even more, top with a little cheese or avocado.

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Artichoke & Egg Tartine

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For a Mediterranean-inspired breakfast, serve up fried or poached eggs on top of sautéed artichokes and toast. If you can't find frozen, be sure to rinse canned artichoke hearts well--they're saltier than frozen. Serve with hot sauce on the side, if desired.

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Ancho Chicken Breast with Black Beans, Bell Peppers & Scallions

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In this healthy chicken recipe, the meat is rubbed with ancho chile powder, a spice made from dried poblano peppers. It adds mild heat and subtle smokiness to the rub on the chicken, but you can use regular chili powder here instead. This recipe makes an extra 1/2 cup of the black bean mash--try it wrapped into a burrito for lunch or as a taco filling (see Tips, below).

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Vegetarian Italian Hoagies

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Traditional Italian subs feature meat but this delightfully easy sandwich packs a punch with artichoke hearts, red onion and zesty pepperoncini instead. We love it for dinner as well as lunch. If you're packing the hoagies to take along, keep the ingredients separate and assemble right before eating to avoid soggy bread. Serve with tomato and cucumber salad.

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Beer-Battered Fish Tacos with Tomato & Avocado Salsa

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Lovers of fried fish get the taste without all the calories, and the salsa adds a fresh, clean note. To complete the Baja theme, serve with black beans, some diced mango and a bit of light sour cream.

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Cheesy Beef Enchilada Casserole

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This veggie-packed beef enchilada casserole is mild, so put out hot sauce and chopped jalapeños if you're feeding heat-seekers. The quick and easy dinner recipe makes extra cheese sauce--save it to make One-Pot Mac & Cheese with Cauliflower & Brussels Sprouts later in the week (see Associated Recipes) or serve it with steamed vegetables, such as broccoli, for an easy side dish.

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Chocolate Banana Oatmeal

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Have your fruit and a little luxury too with this kid-friendly healthy chocolate and banana oatmeal recipe. Short on time in the morning? Try our overnight oatmeal variation.

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Chicken Parmesan & Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

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Chicken Parm gets a fun low-carb and gluten-free twist with these cheesy stuffed peppers with chicken and quinoa. Serve with a salad for a healthy dinner that's easy to prep too.

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Edamame Lettuce Wrap Burgers with Peanut Sauce

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Edamame make these homemade veggie burgers mean, green protein machines. Peanut sauce, curry paste and quick-pickled carrots give them Thai-inspired flair.

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Creamy Chicken, Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms One-Pot Pasta

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You'll only have to dirty one pot in this easy pasta recipe that cooks chicken and vegetables right along with the noodles. Plus, by using the exact amount of water you need to cook the pasta, the starch that usually gets drained off with your pasta water stays in the pot, giving you delectably creamy results.

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Berry-Almond Smoothie Bowl

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A little frozen banana gives creamy texture to this satisfying smoothie bowl.

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Quick Shrimp Puttanesca

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Because refrigerated fresh pasta cooks much faster than dried pasta, this Italian-inspired pasta dish will be on the table lickety-split! Puttanesca, traditionally made with tomatoes, olives, capers, anchovies and garlic, gets shrimp for extra protein and artichoke hearts to boost the vegetable servings (and the fiber!). If you can't find frozen artichoke hearts, sub in drained canned artichoke hearts.

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Vegetarian Spinach Enchiladas

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This vegetarian enchilada recipe is weeknight-fast when you skip the step of filling and rolling the enchiladas and make a stacked enchilada casserole instead. Just layer the tortillas, sauce and cheesy spinach filling the way you would lasagna and have the casserole in the oven in 20 minutes.

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Baby Kale Breakfast Salad with Quinoa & Strawberries

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Fruit, whole grains and greens for breakfast? Yes! Start your day off right with this breakfast salad recipe and you'll knock out half of your daily veggie quota with the first meal of the day.

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Avocado, Tomato & Chicken Sandwich

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In this healthy chicken sandwich recipe, the avocado is mashed to create a healthy creamy spread.

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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.

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (2024)

FAQs

How can I lose weight fast in 28 days? ›

Here are his three simple principles to shed fat fast.
  1. Eat at least 1g of protein per pound of bodyweight, daily. ...
  2. Keep your carbohydrates low to moderate when trying to lose weight. ...
  3. Drink at least a gallon of water per day.

What is the easiest food to eat to lose weight? ›

The following foods can support weight loss and boost your overall health in a variety of ways.
  1. Lean Protein. Lean protein sources like chicken, turkey and grass-fed lean beef help keep you full, decrease cravings and stabilize blood sugar, says Feit. ...
  2. Eggs. ...
  3. Vegetables. ...
  4. Avocados. ...
  5. Apples. ...
  6. Berries. ...
  7. Nuts and Seeds. ...
  8. Salmon.
Jan 9, 2024

What can you eat on the 28 day challenge? ›

How does the 28-Day Diet work?
  • For breakfast: Dieters can have 1/2 avocado with a protein or whole grain of your choice. Eggs, avocado or a chocolate smoothie made with avocado or toast are acceptable choices.
  • For lunch: The focus is on fruit and fibre. ...
  • For Dinner: High-protein meals are encouraged.
Jul 12, 2022

What is the easiest way to weight loss within 30 days? ›

We explain how specific changes might help you meet these goals.
  1. Try cardio for weight loss. ...
  2. Eat fewer refined carbs. ...
  3. Counting calories. ...
  4. Choose better beverages. ...
  5. Eat slowly. ...
  6. Add fiber to your diet. ...
  7. Eat a high protein breakfast. ...
  8. Get enough sleep every night.
Jun 30, 2023

How much weight can I realistically lose in 28 days? ›

Weight loss can vary greatly from person to person and depends on a variety of factors such as diet, exercise, and metabolism. Generally, it is recommended that a safe and healthy rate of weight loss is about 1-2 pounds per week. This means that in 28 days, it is possible to lose 4-8 pounds.

How to lose 5 lbs in a week? ›

Losing 5 pounds a week comes to reducing your food intake by 3500 calories over seven days. The value that represents the decrease in calorie intake is known as the calorie deficit. If you want to lose 5 pounds in a week, you will need to reduce your food intake by 17,500 calories, which is a huge calorie deficit.

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 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 are the 5 super foods for weight loss? ›

The following are the top five superfoods supported by science for weight loss:
  • Green tea. Green tea is known to be extra powerful as it contains catechins – antioxidants that can hinder fat storage around the belly and aid quicker weight loss. ...
  • Nuts. ...
  • Legumes. ...
  • Grapefruit. ...
  • Potatoes.

How to lose 10 pounds in 28 days? ›

Making healthy choices, such as adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet, staying well hydrated, incorporating movement into your day and eating processed, sugar-heavy foods in moderation, are just a few expert-backed ways you can reach your weight loss goals safely.

What did Dr Oz recommend for weight loss? ›

Mehmet Oz created the Dr. Oz 21-Day Weight-Loss Breakthrough Diet, a three-week diet plan intended to "jump-start" weight loss followed by a balanced, low-calorie diet for long-term weight management. The diet recommends eating plant proteins, non-starchy vegetables, and healthy fats to promote weight loss.

What do super skinny models eat in a day? ›

Here are some foods that are encouraged on the diet:
  • Vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, asparagus, squash, carrots.
  • Fruit: berries, apples, oranges, peaches, pears, plums.
  • Proteins: poultry, seafood, lean cuts of meat, eggs.
  • Whole grains: quinoa, brown rice, oats, couscous.
Mar 5, 2021

How to lose 10 lb in a week? ›

To lose 10 pounds in one week, you'll need to burn between 3,500 and 5,000 calories more than you consume each day by restricting your diet to small portions of nutritious yet low-calorie foods, and significantly increasing your aerobic exercise with interval training, sports, and other vigorous activities.

Can I lose 20 lbs in a month? ›

Though losing 20 pounds can seem like a challenge, you can do it safely by making changes to your eating pattern, exercise routine, and other eating practices. That said, losing 20 pounds in one month is unsafe and unsustainable. Instead, try losing between 4 and 8 pounds this month, and matching it the next month.

How to lose 10 lbs quick? ›

11 ways to lose 10 pounds safely
  1. Calorie deficit.
  2. Avoid junk food.
  3. Protein.
  4. Move more.
  5. High-intensity cardio.
  6. Resistance training.
  7. Intermittent fasting.
  8. Reduce bloating.
Nov 23, 2023

Can you lose 10 pounds in 28 days? ›

While it's possible to lose 10 pounds in a month through the right lifestyle approaches, the answer varies person to person. By following the guidelines in this article, you can expect to lose up to 2 pounds per week in a healthy, sustainable way.

How to lose 20 pounds in 30 days? ›

Is it possible to Lose 20 Pounds in a month?
  1. Count calories. ...
  2. Drink more water. ...
  3. Increase your protein intake. ...
  4. Reduce your refined carb consumption. ...
  5. Start lifting weights. ...
  6. Eat more fiber. ...
  7. Follow a sleep schedule. ...
  8. Add cardio to your routine.

Can you lose 15 pounds in 28 days? ›

Ask any expert and the first thing they'll tell you is that it's neither safe nor sustainable to lose this much weight in such a short time period. The timeline is not as important as it is to achieve sustainable lifestyle changes, says Dr. Griebeler.

Can you really lose weight in 30 days? ›

It is possible to lose 20 pounds of body fat in 30 days by optimizing any of three factors: exercise, diet, or drug/supplement regimen. I've seen the elite implementation of all three in working with professional athletes. In this post, we'll explore what I refer to as the “slow-carb diet.”

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