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.

01of 28

Salmon-Stuffed Avocados

View Recipe

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (1)

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.

02of 28

Kale & White Bean Potpie with Chive Biscuits

View Recipe

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (2)

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.

03of 28

Edamame Hummus Wrap

View Recipe

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (3)

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.

04of 28

Cheesy Chipotle-Cauliflower Mac

View Recipe

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (4)

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

05of 28

Slow-Cooker Overnight Barley Porridge

View Recipe

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (5)

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.

06of 28

Summer Vegetable Gnocchi Salad

View Recipe

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (6)

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.

07of 28

Veggie & Hummus Sandwich

View Recipe

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.

08of 28

Chipotle Chicken Quinoa Burrito Bowl

View Recipe

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (8)

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.

09of 28

White Bean & Avocado Toast

View Recipe

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (9)

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.

10of 28

Roasted Vegetable & Black Bean Tacos

View Recipe

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (10)

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.

11of 28

Vegetarian Slow-Cooker Pozole

View Recipe

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (11)

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.

12of 28

Tomato-&-Avocado Cheese Sandwich

View Recipe

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (12)

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.

13of 28

Weight-Loss Cabbage Soup

View Recipe

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (13)

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.

14of 28

Artichoke & Egg Tartine

View Recipe

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.

15of 28

Ancho Chicken Breast with Black Beans, Bell Peppers & Scallions

View Recipe

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (15)

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).

16of 28

Vegetarian Italian Hoagies

View Recipe

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (16)

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.

17of 28

Beer-Battered Fish Tacos with Tomato & Avocado Salsa

View Recipe

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (17)

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.

18of 28

Cheesy Beef Enchilada Casserole

View Recipe

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (18)

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.

19of 28

Chocolate Banana Oatmeal

View Recipe

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (19)

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.

20of 28

Chicken Parmesan & Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

View Recipe

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (20)

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.

21of 28

Edamame Lettuce Wrap Burgers with Peanut Sauce

View Recipe

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (21)

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

22of 28

Creamy Chicken, Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms One-Pot Pasta

View Recipe

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (22)

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.

23of 28

Berry-Almond Smoothie Bowl

View Recipe

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (23)

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

24of 28

Quick Shrimp Puttanesca

View Recipe

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (24)

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.

25of 28

Vegetarian Spinach Enchiladas

View Recipe

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (25)

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.

26of 28

Baby Kale Breakfast Salad with Quinoa & Strawberries

View Recipe

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (26)

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.

27of 28

Avocado, Tomato & Chicken Sandwich

View Recipe

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (27)

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

28of 28

Spaghetti Squash & Meatballs

View Recipe

28 Weight-Loss Recipes for Beginners (28)

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

What should a beginner eat to lose weight? ›

Eat real food.
  1. Fruits and veggies.
  2. Whole grains.
  3. Lean proteins such as fish, poultry, and low-fat dairy.

What is the 28 day challenge diet? ›

The 28-day diet is a 4-week exercise and diet program designed to help you burn calories, prevent bloating, shed belly fat, and help you get in shape in less than a month (1). Designed by Dr.

What is the 30 day diet for weight loss? ›

The Whole30 diet is a strict 30-day elimination diet that many people turn to for weight loss or help with digestive concerns. The program encourages you to cut out alcohol, sugar, grains, legumes, dairy, and additives from your diet for 30 days. It is advertised as a total lifestyle change, rather than a simple diet.

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

What foods kick start weight loss? ›

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. ...
  • Legumes (Also known as beans) ...
  • Chili Peppers. ...
  • Lean Meats. ...
  • Low-Fat Milk. ...
  • Broccoli. ...
  • Lentils. ...
  • Oatmeal.

What is the first thing you should eat in the morning to lose weight? ›

To lose weight, eat fewer calories than you burn throughout the day. The best things to eat for breakfast include oatmeal, eggs, lean bacon or turkey, whole-grain toast, peanut butter, smoothies, and yogurt with muesli.

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

"In general, 1 to 2 pounds per week, or 4 to 8 pounds per month, is a safe and sustainable amount to lose," says Sarah Gold Anzlovar, M.S., RDN, LDN and founder of Sarah Gold Nutrition. "Some people may lose more than that in the beginning, but it's often a lot of water weight and not true fat loss."

What does Dr. Oz recommend for weight loss? ›

Oz's weight loss plan includes non-starchy vegetables, lean protein, legumes, fruit, whole grains, and healthy fats.

How to lose 10 pounds in 28 days? ›

9 Expert Tips for Safe Weight Loss
  1. Create a Calorie Deficit. ...
  2. Choose Water Over Sugary Beverages. ...
  3. Limit Processed Foods. ...
  4. Eat More Protein. ...
  5. Eat More Vegetables. ...
  6. Get Enough Sleep.
Jan 10, 2024

How to remove belly fat? ›

8 Ways to Lose Belly Fat and Live a Healthier Life
  1. Try curbing carbs instead of fats. ...
  2. Think eating plan, not diet. ...
  3. Keep moving. ...
  4. Lift weights. ...
  5. Become a label reader. ...
  6. Move away from processed foods. ...
  7. Focus on the way your clothes fit more than reading a scale. ...
  8. Hang out with health-focused friends.

Is oatmeal good for weight loss? ›

Studies show that oats and oatmeal have many health benefits. These include weight loss, lower blood sugar levels, and a reduced risk of heart disease.

What are the 8 clean eating foods? ›

These items are examples of what might be considered in a clean diet:
  • Fresh fruit. Apples, bananas, blueberries, grapes, oranges, strawberries, 100% fruit juice.
  • Vegetables. ...
  • Lean meats/protein. ...
  • Grain (cereal) foods. ...
  • Dairy products.
Sep 12, 2019

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.

How to lose 10 lbs 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.

How to lose 20 lbs fast? ›

Here are the 10 best ways to quickly and safely drop 20 pounds.
  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.

What should be the first meal for weight loss? ›

The first meal of the day, regardless of when you have it after waking up, plays an important role in keeping you active and energetic throughout the day. For most people, the first meal of the day is breakfast, which, according to many experts, is the most important meal of the day.

How to start loosing weight for beginners? ›

How to lose weight in 6 simple steps
  1. Eat protein, fat, and vegetables. Aim to include a variety of foods at each meal. ...
  2. Move your body. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend combining cardio workouts with weight training for optimal health. ...
  3. Eat more fiber. ...
  4. Eat mindfully. ...
  5. Stay hydrated. ...
  6. Get plenty of sleep.

What is the 30/30/30 rule for weight loss? ›

The 30-30-30 rule involves eating 30 grams of protein within 30 minutes of waking up, followed by 30 minutes of low-intensity, steady state cardiovascular exercise. Beyond these steps, the 30-30-30 method doesn't require any changes to other meals or behaviors, restrictions or counting calories.

What foods help burn belly fat? ›

Following a low-carb diet also means consuming more protein. Studies indicate that a diet rich in high-protein foods, such as eggs, fish, seafood, legumes, nuts, meat, and dairy results in overall less abdominal fat, more satiety, and an increased metabolic function.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Cheryll Lueilwitz

Last Updated:

Views: 6204

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Cheryll Lueilwitz

Birthday: 1997-12-23

Address: 4653 O'Kon Hill, Lake Juanstad, AR 65469

Phone: +494124489301

Job: Marketing Representative

Hobby: Reading, Ice skating, Foraging, BASE jumping, Hiking, Skateboarding, Kayaking

Introduction: My name is Cheryll Lueilwitz, I am a sparkling, clean, super, lucky, joyous, outstanding, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.