Healthy Meal Ideas Featuring Fish, Chicken, Turkey, Vegetables and Dessert

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Healthy Meal Ideas

As more people are growing concerned with a healthy diet, more people are starting to look for healthier meal ideas. Healthy meals do not have to be complex or taste terrible. Here are some healthy meal ideas featuring a variety of foods to make your meal planning easier.

Fish Based Healthy Low-Calorie Meals

Fish is an incredibly healthy meat option because of the necessary Omega 3 fatty acids. For those who enjoy it, there are several options for a healthy meal based around fish.

Check out:
• Grilled Tuna Steaks with Salad
• Salmon with Asparagus and Steamed Potatoes
• Tuna Steaks with Cous Cous and Corn on the Cob
• Grilled or Steamed Salmon Seasoned to Taste and Served with a Vegetable Medley

Chicken and Turkey Based Healthy Meals

Chicken and Turkey are far healthier than red meats, and are great alternatives for the people who do not enjoy fish based meals.

Check out these ideas:
• Grilled Chicken with Whole Grain Rice and Steamed Vegetables
• Turkey Casserole with Tomatoes and Sweet Corn
• Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
• Chicken or Turkey Wraps with Baked Potato
• Chicken or Turkey with Pasta and Steamed Vegetables

Healthy Vegetarian Based Meals

Vegetarian meals are a wonderful way to eat healthy. Even people who are not strictly vegetarian can make a more affordable meal by leaving out the meat component. Since protein and other nutrients found in meat can also come from produce, you don't have to sacrifice nutrition or taste.

Check out these ideas:
• Stir Fry with your choice of vegetables
• Vegetable Curry with Brown Rice
• Fettuccine Alfredo (provided you still eat cheese products)
• Macaroni and Cheese (provided you still eat cheese products)
• Vegetable Soup
• Spaghetti with Marinara

Healthy Meal Tips for Dessert

Even when eating healthy, we are still going to crave sweet foods. This is where fruit salads, yogurt, and healthy whole grain cereals can come in handy. Freeze plain yogurt and top with a fruit medley to mimic ice cream. Try a Jell-O Pudding Snack, or making your own Jell-O parfait.

When choosing your healthy meal options, remember that fruits and vegetables are important. You can eat lots of them without worrying so much about your calorie intake. Consider low fat and low calorie alternatives to things such as butter and whipped cream. This will make your meals more healthy without having to sacrifice on taste!

If you want to get healthy meals on a budget, consider using a wholesale club to purchase your meat items in bulk. This will cut down on the price per pound and you can purchase several nights worth of meals at once.

To save time cooking, you can prepare all the meat together, freezing it until you are ready to use it. Steamed vegetables are available frozen and will steam in the microwave in the bag, so when you're in a pinch you can thaw your cooked chicken, turkey, or fish, and serve it with the microwave steamed vegetables for a healthy snack in a hurry.

Festive Turkey Soup - A Change From Chicken Soup Recipes

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There is no doubt that chicken soup is a comfort food. Whether you prefer your chicken soup recipes thick and creamy, or thin with homemade noodles, this is one dish that is guaranteed to lift your spirits and soothe your soul.

What about the times when you fancy something comforting but also a little different? Turkey soup is a great alternative to chicken soup if you feel like a change. It is similar in some ways but also has a different flavor.

If you have cooked a turkey for thanksgiving or Christmas, you might be left with a turkey carcass. Turkey soup is the perfect way to use the carcass and it will give so much flavor to the soup. Add some fresh vegetables and herbs and you can make the most mouthwatering turkey soup recipe.

Recipe for Hearty Turkey Soup

If you want to make the soup base ahead, simply make it to the stage where you sieve it, then let the soup cool completely and keep it in an airtight container until you are ready to use it.

This is a very healthy recipe and the simple flavor of turkey, vegetables and herbs combine to make a heavenly soup, which will definitely lift your spirits. The kitchen smells wonderful while this soup is cooking too. Feel free to use different vegetables. If you have a turkey carcass to use up, you are likely to have leftover vegetables too!

You will need:

1 turkey carcass
4 cups chopped turkey
3 chopped stalks celery plus leaves
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 minced garlic cloves
1 peeled, chopped turnip
2 chopped onions
3 chopped carrots
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
Salt and black pepper, to taste

How to make it:

Heat the vegetable oil in a soup pot over a moderate heat. Add half the carrots, celery, and onions. Cover the pot and cook the vegetables for five minutes, stirring them a few times. Add the turkey carcass and cover it with enough water to cover it. Turn the heat up to high and boil the turkey carcass.

Skim off any fat from the top of the water. Add the bay leaf, thyme, parsley, salt and pepper. Turn the heat down to low and simmer the turkey soup uncovered for two to four hours, adding water if you need to, to keep the turkey carcass covered. Sieve the soup and discard the solids. Let it sit for five minutes, then skim the fat off the top.

Melt the butter over a moderate heat in a soup pot and add the rest of the carrots, celery, onions, garlic, and turnips. Cover and cook the vegetables for six minutes, stirring a few times. Add two quarts of the soup base and the fresh parsley.

Bring the soup to a boil. Turn the heat down to low and simmer it until the vegetables are soft. This will take about an hour. Stir in the turkey meat in the last five minutes of the cooking time. Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste, and then serve it hot.