7 days of healthy winter dinners

Sunday: chilli

End the weekend on a high, with a pot of chilli con carne to chase away those winter blues. This is one of the best dishes for using up any odds and ends that are lurking in the fridge, so feel free to up the vegies content to suit what you have on hand. These three chillies cater for both meat-lovers and vegetarians.

Monday: parmigiana

This pub favourite is hard to resist, and here it’s also given a healthy makeover making it the perfect way to kick off the new week. Pair it with its signature tangy tomato sauce, a green salad and a few sweet potato wedges for the perfect way to end a chilly Monday.

7 days of healthy winter dinners

Tuesday: curry

There’s no denying that curries are one of the tastiest dishes out there, and one of our favourites during the depths of winter. However, some of them are also very high in calories, so make sure you opt for the right recipe to avoid overindulging. Look for tomato-based curries, or those that get their creaminess from yoghurt, for satisfying dishes that will chase the chill away.

Wednesday: pasta

If you thought a pasta dish couldn’t possibly be good for you, then these recipes are about to prove all that wrong. Evaporated milk, low fat cheese and pesto lend these dishes their irresistible creaminess, and you can easily add a host of vegies, from peas and broccoli to marinated tomatoes and olives to the mix.

7 days of healthy winter dinners

Thursday: soup

When the weather turns cold, warm up from the inside out with some of our favourite soups. Leave the creamy options aside, and stick to some of these classics that use plenty of vegetables and a range of herbs and spices. To make them more decadent, try topping your soup with a swirl of yoghurt, a few slices of grated parmesan, a scattering of croutons or some grilled chorizo slices.

Friday: sweet potatoes

Swap the classic jacket potato for a sweet potato, complete with sour cream, cheese and guacamole. Packed with minerals such as manganese, folate, copper and iron sweet potatoes are also full of antioxidants that help the body prevent inflammatory problems and can help regulate blood sugar levels. Try topping them with leftover casseroles, beans, chillies and spicy salsas to make a filling dish that is deeply satisfying.

7 days of healthy winter dinners

Saturday: tomato-based one pots

Heavy cheese, cream and milk bakes and braises abound during the colder months. However, we think these tomato-based dishes are just as satisfying, and have the benefit of being much better for you. If you’re after more ideas look to Italy and Spain for inspiration, where spicy chorizo, tinned tomatoes, plenty of root vegies and lots of herbs are used to create warming dishes.