Colleen Grant
When the cold weather hits, so do the gingerbread cookies, eggnog lattes, holiday cocktails, fruitcakes, turkey dinners … phew.
There are so many excuses to indulge in fall and winter (hello, Thanksgiving and Christmas and basically any day of the week). Before you know it, mashed potatoes with dinner and pumpkin pie for dessert are the norm. But if you’d like to avoid wolfing down comfort food every evening, stick with this lineup of healthy winter meals.
1. Gluten-Free Rosemary Cauliflower Crust Pizzas
When you make it with a cauliflower crust and homemade tomato sauce, pizza totally counts as a healthy weeknight dinner.
2. Creamy Roasted Vegetable Chowder
No heavy cream or butter here. Instead, this vegan chowder packs in produce like sweet potato, red bell pepper, and corn.
3. Sweet Potato Kale Frittata
We’ll never get tired of having breakfast for dinner. Frittatas seem a bit more meal worthy than omelettes or pancakes, and this version is ready in a flash.
4. Dilled Buttermilk, Potato, and Watercress Soup
Just because you’re not making mashed potatoes doesn’t mean you have to skip them entirely. Potatoes help create a smooth, decadent base for this zippy puréed soup, which is inspired by Scandinavian cuisine.
5. Roasted Chicken Sushi Bowls
The next time you’re tempted to order takeout sushi … make this better-for-you sushi bowl instead. It’s topped by a miso gravy that’s seriously divine.
6. Chickpea Pasta with Creamy Cauliflower Sauce
In case you can’t tell, cauliflower is the secret to making every comfort food dish healthier. Although this recipe isn’t vegan, a few simple tweaks will remove all traces of dairy.
7. Scandinavian Salmon Stew
Here’s an easy way to help meet your twice-a-week fish quota, and it’s surprisingly simple to throw together. This Nordic-inspired recipe will also give you a little taste of the hygge life.
8. Savoury Tomatoes and Dumplings
This vegan cobbler-style entrée will satisfy your bread cravings in the healthiest way. We’ll take seconds (and thirds), please.
9. Winter Holiday Salad
Don’t let the word “holiday” fool you; this salad, made with Brussels sprouts, kale, and a tahini dressing makes for a no-fuss weeknight dinner.
10. Mexican Chicken, Squash, and Toasted Millet Soup
The ingredient list might look long, but this soup is a cinch to make. A food processor does most of the chopping for you.
11. Dairy-Free Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Psst … can you keep a secret? There’s zero dairy in this mac and cheese, which can be baked and served in mason jars for minimal cleanup (and adorable presentation). Cashews and carrots form the base of the “cheese” sauce.
12. Big Batch Tempeh Chili
As the name implies, this vegan recipe makes a lot—which is good, because you’ll want to eat leftovers for lunch all week.
13. Warm Salad Niçoise with Baked Eggs
You probably don’t crave salads in winter, but this versatile dish might change your mind. Everything just gets thrown on one sheet pan, meaning minimal cleanup too.
14. Roasted Butternut Squash with Barley, Kale, and Chickpeas
Butternut squash is a staple in winter, and it’s the star in this vegetarian dish. Simple and satisfying, you could make a case for eating this meal every week.
Colleen Grant
The digital editor at alive, Colleen likes baking healthy(ish) desserts and cooking up a good pun.
