Star-Approved Recipes for a Healthy New Year

Vibrant in appearance and flavour, Ricardo makes craving tofu an easy feat with a perfectly spiced, avocado-topped chili. If you’re new to tofu, it’s wonderful as a basic protein, absorbing whatever flavour you throw at it.

Tangy-sweet hoisin sauce turns mild salmon into a flavourful main. Simply steamed baby bok choy and hot brown rice are the only sides you’ll need (this meal is all about that salmon!).

Winter’s fennel and pear mingle in this cold-weather salad. A side of lean protein such as roasted chicken, fish or pork tenderloin will round out this meal. Easy enough for a weeknight but would look elegant on your weekend table, too.

Kale salad gets a boost from mineral-rich quinoa for a make-ahead, packable side dish or light main course. To up the ante, serve this meal with roasted salmon and a squeeze of fresh lemon.

Pork chops are extremely lean, so they do need help in the flavour and texture department. Giada ticks both boxes with an umami Parmesan coating. A simple side salad is all you need to finish the plate.

Fish and shellfish offer plenty of lean protein, healthy fats and minerals. Bring out their best taste by infusing them with a classic Italian tomato stew base. Round out this wholesome meal with a slice or two of whole grain sourdough bread.

A mango salad is the ultimate Thai curry side dish, offering a cooling burst of sweet flavour, along with vitamin C, beta-carotene and fibre.

Let the South of France offer some healthy eating assistance in the new year. Tuna is skipped for beans, making this meal suitable for vegetarians or your meatless Monday table. Lean yet substantial, it’s a packable lunch main course or lighter dinner entree.

Instead of a nutritionally-stripped white rice and ground pork, Giada has created a vegetarian version of “cabbage” rolls with iron-rich lentils, mineral-packed brown rice and tangy goat cheese. Vibrant dark leafy green wrappers hold everything in place.

You can have your pasta and eat it, too. Anna Olson pairs gluten-free brown rice penne and pairs it with rapini, broad beans and rosemary for a new twist on a weeknight meal. Walnuts offer a textural contrast and bump up the omega-3s.

Brussels sprouts are still available in plenty this time of year, but if you’re looking for something a bit brighter than steamed or boiled, try this pomegranate-spiked version. Loaded with antioxidants, flavour and, as the name states, beauty, this dish makes healthy eating a breeze.

Get the recipe for The Pioneer Woman’s Beautiful Brussels Sprouts

Allison Day is a cookbook author, nutritionist (RHN) and the creator of the award-winning food blog Yummy Beet.