My top 25 healthy recipes for the New Year

We all do it. We all vow to be healthier in the new year. Some of us accomplish that goal but most of our good intentions fade into the year, almost like we never even had them. This is why I have decided to “re-word” my goal for this year. I am not going to go on “diet” (I HATE THAT WORD), I am not going to follow any eating plan, I am simply going to introduce more whole foods into my everyday life. I am going to cook more and eat out less. I am going to eat vegetables/fruit in their whole form as much as I can and I am going to be more active. These are not things that are hard to do. Especially when you love vegetables and fruit as much as I do.

And as for the eating out thing, when I told a friend that that was one of my goals for 2016, she laughed and said she can’t believe that I would say that. Me, the cook in our friendship group. But that’s the thing. When food is your job and you are surrounded by it every.single.day, it becomes exhausting. The last thing I want to do when I’ve been prepping, cooking, shooting and styling up to 10 recipes a day is cook for my family at night. Yes, most often we eat the food I’ve shot but then comes the weekend and I can’t be bothered. I’d much rather read a book or watch YouTube videos. But that’s what I want to change. It takes less time for me to whip up some quesidillas or a sandwich than it does to get in my car, drive to a restaurant and pick up take-aways. Plus, I’ll be saving money. And so, with that in mind, here are my top 25 favourite healthy recipes. Some take a little time but most of them can be thrown together in mere minutes. No excuses!

Healthy banana oat pancakes 

Creamy oatmeal bowls with fruit, seeds and honey. 

Scrambled eggs with smoked salmon on sourdough toast. 

Low carb Berry and yoghurt parfaits 

Easy poached egg and avocado on toast

Mixed berry, coconut and banana smoothie

Chinese chicken salad

Creamy cauliflower mash

Marinated zucchini and goat’s cheese bruschetta

Grilled trout salad with spicy Sriracha lime dressing

Seed loaf 

Chopped salad with lemon vinaigrette 

Crispy low-carb, almond and parmesan-crumbed chicken strips 

Melon, prosciutto and fior di latte salad 

Easy grilled Mexican chicken with pico de gallo

Spicy roasted chicken salad with charred corn and avocado

Braised Brussels sprouts 

Low carb Pork green curry stir fry

Rainbow Asian noodle salad with peanut ginger dressing

Roast pumpkin salad with cranberries and Feta cheese 

Lentil salad with pears, bacon and Gorgonzola

Marinated zucchini salad with goat’s cheese and pine nuts

Pea & ham frittata

Spicy lamb and lentil soup

Guacamole salad