My Favorite Healthy Recipes to Kick Off 2020

Happy New Year! 2019 was such a whirlwind, it’s crazy to think a new year (a new decade!) is here already.

A new year can bring an element of exhilaration – so much intoxicating energy and motivation in the air with messages about resolutions, intentions, goals, and second chances at every turn. And chances are if you’re reading my blog, you’re interested in health and nutrition on some level. 😉 So I wanted to share some of my favorite healthy recipes on the blog!

But first – healthy can be such an ambiguous term in this day and age. What does healthy even look like?

If you’re trying to adopt a healthier lifestyle with some health resolutions and goals, it’s so easy to feel utterly overwhelmed and confused as to what is best. Is it keto? Whole30? Paleo? Plant-based? Vegan? Intermittent fasting?

Truthfully, different things can work for different folks, so ultimately – you do you! But overall I’m a big advocate of simplicity, which for many (myself included!) means ditching the overwhelm of sudden, big, dramatic lifestyle changes in favor of smaller swaps and changes that build on one another. (And truth be told, smaller changes overtime often lead to far more lasting and sustainable results.)

So when I’m talking about healthy recipes, I’m talking about recipes that provide a variety of nutrients, often contain fiber, protein, fruits, and/ or vegetables, and always taste good!

I’ll be sharing a lot more healthy recipes in January (and this whole year, of course!) but here are some of my favorite healthy recipes to kick off 2020!

Healthy Breakfast Recipes

gluten free french toast in a stack with melted butter

Healthy French Toast

A breakfast stuffed sweet potato makes a delicious, simple, balanced, 5-minute healthy breakfast!

5-Minute Breakfast Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Green Smoothie Oatmeal

This healthy baked pears recipe is sweet, simple, and delicious. Healthy baked pears make a great holiday brunch recipe or simple Thanksgiving dessert!

Healthy Baked Pears with Greek Yogurt

Baked Vanilla Oatmeal Custard

Healthy Lunch Recipes

turkey avocado sandwich on whole grain bread loaded with veggies on a white ceramic plate

Turkey Avocado Sandwich with Veggies

Golden Beet Salad with Blueberry Lime Dressing

An overhead shot of a grilled chicken salad drizzled with healthier honey mustard salad dressing.

Honey Mustard Chicken Salad (with easy honey mustard dressing that has just three ingredients!)

Avocado Veggie Egg Salad

Greek Lentil Power Bowl

Healthy Dinner Recipes

Steel pan of lo mein with bright vegetables and a wooden spoon.

Easy, Gluten-Free Lo Mein

Pizza Quinoa Casserole

Easy Weeknight Sheet Pan Dinner of Orange Ginger Chicken and Broccoli | Gluten Free | Dairy Free | Healthy Recipe

Sheet Pan Orange Ginger Chicken & Broccoli

A close up of a taco stuffed pepper with fresh taco toppings like avocado, red onion, and cilantro.

Taco Stuffed Peppers

Simple, fresh ingredients make up this plant-based Vegetable Herb Quinoa Pilaf with Crunchy, Roasted Turmeric Chickpeas. It's a light, flavorful springtime dinner! | gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, plant-based, egg-free, nut-free | Nutrition to Fit

Vegetable Herb Quinoa Pilaf with Turmeric Roasted Chickpeas

Healthy Side Dish Recipes

Lemon Garlic Turnip Greens

Close up of healthy, easy sauteed mushrooms in a glass bowl garnished with a sprig of thyme.

Easy, Healthy Sauteed Mushrooms

Broccoli & Kale Quinoa Salad

Maple Dijon Brussels Sprouts

Cranberry Crunch Broccoli Slaw

Healthy Soups & Stews

Zucchini Noodle Summer Corn Chowder

A spoon scooping a bite from a glass bowl of lentil stew

Lentil Stew with Turnip Greens

Overhead Shot of white bowls of creamy, golden vegan broccoli cheese soup with herb garnish, surrounded by a white and blue kitchen towel and soup spoons.

Vegan Broccoli “Cheddar” Soup

Chicken & Kale White Bean Chili

Spiced Sweet Potato Carrot Soup

Healthy Snacks & Smoothies

Peanut Butter & Jelly Bites can be made in bar form as well

PB&J Energy Bites or Bars

Use this simple smoothie guide to get 5 servings of fruits and vegetables in one smoothie!

The NTF 5-a-Day Green Smoothie

two spinach and feta muffins on a white plate, one sliced in half.

Spinach & Feta Muffins

Unsweetened Applesauce

Eggplant Pizzas

Wild Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Smoothie

Healthy(ish) Treats & Sweets

a double chocolate banana muffin cut in half, with the halves stacked on each other and the pan of muffins and bottle of milk in the background.

Double Chocolate Banana Muffins

Blueberry Avocado Nice Cream

A small bowl filled with frozen banana bites with peanut butter and covered in chocolate.

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Frozen Banana Bites

Two white ramekins of chocolate raspberry avocado mousse surrounded by avocados, fresh raspberries, and mini chocolate chips.

Raspberry Chocolate Avocado Pudding

Healthy Buckeyes

Almond Flour Oatmeal Cookies with Chocolate Chips

Cherry Cheesecake Protein Pops

Leave a comment and let me know what’s your favorite NTF recipe! And as always, I love and appreciate your support when you share your favorite recipes with your friends and family and save them to Pinterest, too. For more, check out the NTF Instagram and Facebook, too!