Kick-start the new year with a slew of celebrity chef-made meals that will get your healthy eating regime back on track. With takeout favourites, comfort food classics and family-friendly mains, these flavour-packed recipes prove that great taste and nutrition are not mutually exclusive.
Ricardo's Tofu Chili with Avocado Salad
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.
Grilled Salmon Steak With Hoisin BBQ Sauce
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!).
Anna Olson’s Grilled Fennel and Pear Salad
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.
Valerie Bertinelli's Kale and Quinoa Salad
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.
Giada De Laurentiis' Parmesan-Crusted Pork Chops
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.
Giada De Laurentiis' Cioppino
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.
The Pioneer Woman's Spicy Mango Salad
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.
Anna Olson's Vegetarian Niçoise Salad
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.
Giada De Laurentiis' Goat Cheese Lentil and Brown Rice Rolls
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.
Anna Olson's Pasta with Rapini, Broad Beans, Rosemary & Walnuts
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.
The Pioneer Woman’s Beautiful Brussels Sprouts
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.