25 Weight Loss Recipes Ready in Under 30 Minutes!

25 Weight Loss Meals to Prepare in Under 30 Minutes

When looking for ways to lose weight, there are two things one should bear in mind: eat less, exercise more! Of course, there is nothing new or revolutionary in this statement, but there is certainly a reason why every weight loss plan starts like this. And while we cannot help you with the exercising part, we can offer you a whole list of weight loss friendly recipes that will surely come in handy once you embark on the venture that is weight loss.

Weight-loss Breakfast Recipes

If you are trying to lose weight, the very first thing you should do as soon as you wake up is drink a glass of water. It will help your body get rid of all the toxins and waste and you will be ready to seize the day. But not before you prepare yourselves a tasty breakfast!

1. Fresh Fruit Smoothies

Time: 10 minutes

Smoothies allow you to mix and match your favorite flavor in one highly nutritive and delicious drink. The only problem is deciding which flavor is your favorite!

Although fruits contain sugar, they have a low energy density so the body needs time to process them. Moreover, they are rich in fiber which makes you feel satiated for a longer period of time and keeps the sugar from entering the bloodstream too quickly.

2. Spinach Potato Pancakes

Time: 26 minutes

These blender pancakes are not only simple to make, but they can be served with both sweet and savory add-ins.

Most importantly, they contain one of the most nutritive vegetables – spinach. With only 7 calories per cup, this green leafy vegetable is one of the world’s lowest-calorie foods. In addition, it contains a compound called thylakoids, which extends digestion, creates a feeling of fullness, and reduces cravings. A study conducted at the Lund University found that thylakoids reduces feelings of hunger by more than 90% and boosts weight reduction by more than 40%.

3. Chewy Granola Bars

Time: 30 minutes

These crunchy bars taste as sweet as a decadent dessert and are perfect when served with a cup of warm milk. They are packed with protein, natural vitamins and antioxidants coming from ingredients like oats, wheat germ, raisins, walnuts, and cherries.

All of the above-listed foods are rich in dietary fiber. In addition, these bars contain cinnamon and clove, two spices that reduce LDL cholesterol levels, lower plasma glucose levels, enhance digestion and boost the metabolism, aiding the organism to burn fat more efficiently.

Note: The original recipe calls for sugar, but you can replace it with honey. Use equal amounts of honey for sugar up to one cup. For amounts over one cup, substitute each cup of sugar with 2/3 or 3/4 cup of honey, depending on the degree of sweetness you are going for.

4. Summer Veggie Omelet

Time: 15 minutes

This omelet is overflowing with fresh, summery veggies. It contains sweet peppers, corn, cilantro, and goat cheese, but omelet recipes are very flexible and you can vary the ingredients to taste.

Eggs are low in calories, but rich in metabolism-boosting amino acids and proteins, which makes them ideal for reducing appetite and increasing fullness. Furthermore, eggs regulate blood glucose and insulin levels, while suppressing the hunger hormone known as ghrelin at the same time. Not to mention they are extremely cheap and easy to make!

5. Ginger Apricot Muffins

Time: 30 minutes

These muffins are so easy to throw together – combine good-for-you-ingredients like pure maple syrup, rolled oats, banana, apricots, and ginger to make a healthy breakfast on the run!
Ginger is a magical spice that should find its way into all your desserts. It contains gingerol, a compound responsible for digestive regulation and feelings of fullness. Ginger promotes fat loss and acts as a natural appetite suppressant.

Weight-loss Lunch Recipes

Losing weight and, more importantly, maintaining it, is not an easy process, but knowing a few simple tricks will help you a great deal. Opt for recipes full of protein, dietary fiber, and complex carbs, which act as metabolism boosters. These quick, delicious, and satisfying lunch ideas will help you lose weight without feeling hungry and will take you no more than 30 minutes to prepare.

6. Cool Cucumber Soup

Time: 18 minutes

Summer is around the corner, so you’d better have an amazing and light recipe up your sleeve. Cucumbers, onions, and parsley make up a quick and refreshing soup to enjoy on the porch!
Cucumbers are the best food to eat when trying to lose weight. They will fill your stomach well, giving you a feeling of satiety, but without contributing calories. In fact, these green veggies are mostly composed of water and, as you might know, water contains 0 calories!

7.Vermicelli Walnut Salad

Time: 30 minutes

Besides containing veggies like snapped green beans, cherry tomatoes, and mushrooms, this colorful salad is also packed with crunchy walnuts.

Although walnuts are higher in calories and fats, they are associated with the same degree of weight loss as low-fat products provided they are consumed in moderation, i.e. a handful daily. In addition, these nuts are rich in protein, dietary fiber, and healthy fats. This combination of nutrients boosts the metabolic functions, thus facilitating weight loss.

8. Veggie Burgers

Time: 30 minutes

Sweet potatoes, carrots, and zucchini combined with rolled oats and Cheddar cheese yield juicy burgers that will make you forget beef for good!

Due to their high fiber content, oats are a great addition to your weight loss plan, just make sure to stay away from unhealthy, fattening processed oats! Carrots, sweet potatoes, and zucchini are also weight-loss-friendly ingredients, low in calories and fat, but rich in fiber.

9. Sesame Chicken Salad

Time: 30 minutes

Sesame-coated chicken and cucumbers dressed in honey and orange juice make up a light and yet fulfilling meal, perfect for warm days.

Lean, unprocessed, protein-rich meats like chicken will increase the feeling of satiety, reduce your appetite, and help you burn calories at the same time! Grilled or baked skinless chicken breast is the best addition to your weight loss plan.

10. Pasta with Artichoke Hearts

Time: 30 minutes

Steaming bowls of flavorful pasta are not necessarily in the forbidden zone when trying to lose weight. Even though simple carbohydrate foods are considered to be to blame for weight gain, it is a fact that they are very low in fat as well. To be on the safe side, choose a healthier type of pasta such as whole wheat, and combine it with weight-loss-friendly ingredients like artichokes.

This nutrient-rich vegetable abounds with dietary fiber which is responsible for making you feel full for longer periods of time and, consequently, assists weight loss.
Note: Originally, this recipe takes 45 minutes to make from scratch, but if you cook the pasta in advance or use leftover pasta, the time will shorten by 15 minutes!

Weight-loss Dinner Recipes

Dinner is the most important meal of the day. So even though you are looking for ways to lose weight, don’t be tempted to skip this significant meal. Instead, prepare one of the following healthy recipes.

11. Easy Turkey Skillet

Time: 30 minutes

This incredibly delicious and easy to make recipe makes use of carrots and onions and is only seasoned with black pepper and salt. A quick and easy, yet incredibly delicious and scrumptious meal!

One thing to bear in mind when trying to keep the scale numbers down is this: lean protein is of vital importance! This is so because it will help preserve muscle mass and what’s more important, it will help you feel satiated. And among the best sources of lean protein is precisely turkey meat. Turkey is carbohydrate-free, low in fat and low in calories. For comparison, a 3-ounce portion of turkey breast contains 170 calories and 7 grams of fat less than chicken breast, pork, and lamb.

12. Spicy Tomato Pasta

Time: 18 minutes

This saucy Italian pasta is all one could want in a dinner- light, delicious and quick!

Contrary to popular belief, bacon can actually facilitate weight loss! Many studies have proven that eating bacon will result in eating fewer carbs. This being said, the fat that bacon abounds with is actually the healthy type, monounsaturated fat, while the carbs are actually empty calories that will result in spikes in insulin levels, a process which contributes to binge eating.

To sum up: bacon will keep you full and midnight snacking won’t be an issue!

13. Orzo Risotto

Time: 21 minutes

This risotto takes way less time to get prepared than a regular rice one risotto would. This tiny rice- shaped pasta will produce the richest risotto and combined with the onion soup this will definitely be a dinner dish that the whole family will enjoy.

Onions are rich in nutrients and fiber, and they also contain an antioxidant called quercetin. This antioxidant will help increase the calorie burn while at the same time reducing inflammation. It will help your digestive tract work with more ease.

The best thing about onions is they can easily be included in many different dishes. By adding onions in a dish, you will make it more flavorful, and not only will you consume fewer calories (44 in a medium-large onion) but you will be getting rid of the excess fat.

14. Pan Crisped Cod

Time: 30 minutes

If you are into fish for dinner, then this pan crisped cod is just the recipe for you! Crisp on the outside and delicately flaky on the inside it is a bite filled with flavor and texture!
Although fried dishes don’t necessarily provoke an image of a healthy fulfilling meal, this one surely is. Due to the high protein content and the cod’s amino acid profile, cod has a power to regulate the metabolism. This means that eating this insanely delicious fish will keep you satiated and will help the slimming process. Eating cod influences the serotonin, the key hormone responsible for appetite signals.

This recipe can also be made with halibut, a fish that is ranked second only to boiled potatoes in terms of its satiating power according to a study in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition: The Satiety Index of Common Foods.

15. Almond Cheddar Chicken

Time: 30 minutes

An easy-peasy dinner filled with contrastive flavors that blend perfectly together into a light hearty dish with a crunchy topping! Make sure you use a healthier mayonnaise substitute and you are in for a healthy treat! You can try using nayonaise, for instance. The vegan alternative to mayonnaise made from soy packed with vitamin B13 and 3 fatty acids.

While we have covered the chicken benefits on weight loss above, in this particular meal we will focus on the benefits of almonds. Oftentimes we avoid implementing almonds in our diet because they are rich in fatty acids. But, here’s a newsflash! It is these fatty acids precisely (the omega 3, omega 6, and omega 9) that will help you lose a pound or two. These fats help in the stabilization of the blood sugar levels and bad cholesterol build up in our blood, and more importantly, they help maintain and reduce our body mass index (BMI). This, in turn, will help reduce belly fat. Moreover, almonds are rich in protein which stimulates the development of lean muscle mass.

Weight-loss Snacks

Yes, you are on a diet, and yes, you want to slim down. But there is another yes that is even more important than these! YES, you will always want to snack on something! And while many people would emphasize the importance of either breakfast or dinner as being the most important meal of the day, we do believe that snacks win in this category. Why? Well, unhealthy snacking is one of the major causes for weight gain. No worries, we’ve got you covered! Here are 5 healthy snack recipes that will beat the regular fatty ones any day!

16. Crispy Sweet Potato

Time: 20 minutes

A tasty wholesome alternative to French fries, these tasty sweet potato chips will become your favorite snack of all time!
With their high water and fiber content and low-calorie content, sweet potatoes are the go-to snack when trying to lose weight. Since they are rich in vitamin A and good carbs, you will be able to nibble these totally guilt-free!

17. Roasted Asparagus

Time: 20 minutes

These asparagus spears will definitely win you over. The sesame seeds give a crunchiness that is truly irresistible, not to mention the seeds pair perfectly well with the sesame oil these are roasted in J.

As for the weight loss promoting features of asparagus, they are plenty! We will, however, focus on only three: it will suppress your appetite, it will help you de-bloat, and it will regulate the sugar levels in your blood.

18. Broccoli with Pine Nuts

Time: 30 minutes

Not only will you enjoy the incredible combination of broccoli and nuts, but you will also be consuming far fewer calories than if nibbling other fatty snacks. Plus, the raisins and pine nuts combined with the broccoli is a combination that is strange but works like a charm.

Broccoli abounds with vitamin C, a nutrient vital for turning fats into energy. Moreover, it contains calcium and chromium, nutrients that will reduce the production of new fat cells and regulate the activity of insulin, respectively.

19. Garlic Mushrooms

Time: 12 minutes

The garlic and balsamic dressing make these mushrooms heaven in a bite, and done in only 12 minutes? That’s a must in anyone’s book!

Oftentimes mushrooms are eaten as a meat substitute, and for a good reason: they are a great source of protein and abound with iron, riboflavin, and niacin. The fact that they can satiate one’s hunger much like meat with far fewer calories and fat, makes mushrooms a perfect companion in your weight loss battle!

20. Lemon Pie Energy Bars

Time: 10 minutes

Talking about satiating your sweet tooth while still remaining on the weight loss side, it can’t get better than this: Yummy energy bars that are flavorful and refreshing!

Although there is a lot to be said about the weight-loss properties of all of the ingredients that are included in this recipe, we chose to give you a reason or two on why dates are weight loss promoting. They are a powerhouse of nutrients! Dates abound in vitamins, minerals, and both soluble and insoluble fiber, thus they will help the function of the digestive tract.

Weight-loss Dessert Recipes

And as the cherry on top, we have selected 5 weight loss friendly desserts that are not only simple and quick to prepare, but are so tasty you will want to eat them every day!

21. Heavenly Cherry Crumble

Time: 30 minutes

A buttery, crisp topping adds a sweet and nutty contrast to the tang of cherries and fruit-filled dessert.

We have already discussed the weight loss benefits of oats, cherries, almonds and cinnamon. This dessert combines all of them, comprising an incredibly healthy sweet treat.
Note: The recipe originally calls for all-purpose flour and brown sugar. To further reduce calories, replace the flour with an alternative made from nuts, or ancient grains like almond, quinoa, spelt, or soy flour. Instead of brown sugar, opt for pure honey.

22. Grape and Raisin Clafoutis

Time: 30 minutes

A clafouti is a custard-like baked dish usually including fresh fruits. This recipe combines green and red grapes with raisins for an elegant and healthy dessert.
Raisins are rich in natural sugar and can serve as a sugar replacement. Moreover, they are rich in fiber and nutrients like B vitamins, iron, and potassium. Grapes, on the other hand, contain resveratrol, a compound that boosts muscle metabolism and energy expenditure, causing you to burn more calories. Furthermore, resveratrol is credited for fighting cravings and hunger.

23. Double Chocolate Beet Muffins

Time: 28 minutes

These fudgy muffins are made chocolatey by combining cocoa powder and non-dairy chocolate chips, but also contain a secret super-healthy ingredient beets! Healthy, simple and perfect for taming your raging sweet tooth while following a weight loss plan.

Beets are an amazing weight loss food. They are very rich in vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium, but contain no fat. This red vegetable is very efficient in preventing water retention in the body, which is a common cause for excess weight. It improves stamina and endurance, allowing you to exercise longer and encourages muscle mass growth.

24. No-Bake Espresso Cookies

Time: 10 minutes

Cookies done in only 10 minutes? These cuties contain coffee that will prevent you from feeling sluggish after lunch. The rest of the ingredients are also very good for you – natural sugar and natural peanut butter, coconut oil and almond milk, rolled oats and cocoa powder. Just mix them up and you’ve got a delicious vegan dessert!

Caffeine in coffee stimulates the nervous system, which sends signals to the fat cells and “orders” them to break down and transform into free fatty acids that can be later used up by the body. Coffee also increases the metabolic rate by 5-10%, which controls the degree of burned calories at rest.

25. Hazelnut Cookies

Time: 25 minutes
So small in size and so big when it comes to health benefits! These cookies are paleo, vegan, grain-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free. They are filled with healthy and flavorful ingredients like coconut flour and oil, chocolate chips, maple syrup, and hazelnut.

Besides chopped hazelnuts, the recipe calls for hazelnut butter as well. Hazelnuts have been shown to boost the metabolism. They also contain thiamine, a compound which keeps the metabolism function properly and helps convert carbohydrates into glucose, which is later used as an energy source.

Note: hazelnut butter is quite pricey but very easy to make at home by simply mixing three cups of hazelnuts in a blender or a food processor.

There you have them, the 25 easy to prepare recipes that wll sure make your weight loss adventure more fun!