At the end of a long day, it can often be tempting to just pick up a take-out on your way home from work. But, if you’re trying to eat healthier and workout more, there’s no reason why you can’t make something which is just as tasty, quick to make and far healthier. When you’re tired and short on time, the temptation may well be there, but with these healthy weekday meals, you can get home and cook something tasty in no time!
One-Pan Roast Chicken
Healthy weekday meals don’t have to take hours to prepare and cook. A roast chicken takes anything up to 2 hours to cook and at the end of the day, we just don’t have the time. Luckily, this one-pan roast chicken dish is quick, easy and tasty.
Instead of using a whole chicken, use breasts or thighs as they cook in less time. Place the chicken pieces on a roasting tray and sprinkle with oil, herbs and garlic. Then, add some halved baby potatoes. Put the tray in the oven for 30 minutes and put some vine tomatoes, peppers and courgettes into the tray and cook for another 20 minutes. Remove when the chicken is golden and the potatoes are cooked through.
Mexican Salad Tortilla Bowls
Quick, easy and fresh, these Mexican salad tortilla bowls are ready in just 20 minutes and have the right amount of spice and zing, making it a great idea for healthy weekday meals. To make your tortilla bowl, simply turn a muffin tin upside down and push the tortilla into the gaps to form a bowl shape. Bake for 10 minutes, until it is crispy.
For your salad, chop onion, tomatoes, pepper, lettuce, chilli and avocado into chunks and toss together with black beans, lime juice, olive oil and some sea salt. Once your tortilla bowl is ready, simply add your salad into the bowl for a quick and easy meal.
Pesto Courgetti
If you’re trying to lower your carb intake, then this is one of the best healthy weekday meals you can make. For an easy and tasty courgetti dish, simply add some tomatoes into a frying pan with oil, garlic and balsamic vinegar and cook for 5 minutes until softened. Cook your courgetti for 30 seconds in boiling water and drain, then toss together with pesto. Stir in the cooked tomatoes and sprinkle with pine nuts for a quick 15-minute meal.
Watermelon And Rice Noodle Salad
For a refreshing summer dish, then this watermelon and rice noodle salad is ready in just half an hour. Cook the rice noodles following the pack instructions, then refresh in a dish of ice-cold water. Chop up the watermelon and mix into the noodle, along with some beansprouts. To make the dressing, mix together rice wine vinegar, caster sugar, fish sauce and bird’s eye chillis and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Add fresh mint, coriander, basil and spring onions to the noodles and stir through the dressing.
Coconut And Aubergine Curry
When you think of a curry, you may think of a dish which takes hours to prepare and cook. This creamy and delicious peanut, aubergine and coconut curry is under 300 calories and takes just 30 minutes to make, so it is the perfect addition to your collection of healthy midweek meals. Cook aubergine and onion until soft, and then fry with ginger and garlic for 2 minutes. Then, add in cumin and coriander seeds, chilli powder, turmeric and cook for another 2 minutes. To finish, tip in the coconut milk, peanut butter and tamarind paste. Simmer together for 15 minutes and serve!