Are you one of those magical people who can open the refrigerator and pantry and, without much thought, whip up a delicious and healthy meal?
Yes? Then please comment below with how you got that magic.
If just pulling something together isn’t your magic (🖐️, friend!), this post will share resources and tips on ways to find your new go-to’s. Here are three things to consider when looking for health-conscious recipes and meal ideas. And I’ll share my current top three healthy food sources at the end.
three guiding points
1. First things first: you have to know what you’re looking for. Between cookbooks, websites, social media influencers, and, yes, even TV shows, there is no lack of food-related content for those who are hungry. But, the best way to find the resources that will serve you best is to know what you want and need. So, here are four questions to help you whittle down the crowd.
- What’s important to you? Is there a specific diet you’re following, like Whole 30, WW or tracking macros? Vegetarian? Low cal/high protein? You’ll want to look for sources that adhere to your priorities. If you’ve been following the same lifestyle for a while, you should be able to review any recipe or meal and evaluate if it meets your criteria.
- Do you need it to be quick and simple? If a list of more than five ingredients is too long for you, consider that. Do you only like to cook meals that take 30 minutes or less? Check the cooking times. Like many creators of food content work within a particular food niche, many also narrow it down even further to things like short ingredient lists and quick cooking times. For instance, one thing that attracted me to cooking was specifically Rachael Ray’s 30-minute meals.
- Do you like the creator? Liking the creator doesn’t always apply to cookbook authors, as you’re not actively engaging with the person. But when it comes to following a health-focused social media account, it helps if you like the person. Do you relate to them? Is what they are presenting relevant to the lifestyle choices you want to make?
- Do you prefer images, instructions or both? Occasionally you’ll find a cookbook that doesn’t feature an image with each recipe, or you’ll come across a recipe on a website without a photo. But most social media follows and websites include images and, often, videos of the recipe. If a picture of the food is important to you, flip through the cookbook to see if most recipes are represented with an image. If not, try looking the author up on online. Sometimes they have the same or similar recipes on their website or social media and you can find a photo there.
2. Now it’s time to find your resources. Knowing what you’re looking for, finding good resources will be easy. You can do an online search or search within a social media app using your preferred criteria. For example, you can search by diet, cooking time, ingredients and more. If you’re looking for a cookbook, Amazon is a search engine. Don’t forget you can also borrow cookbooks from your library to give them a try before committing to a purchase.
3. Finally, you’ll want to plan how to collect and organize your recipe collection. There are multiple websites and apps that can help you sort the favorites you find online. You can keep it very simple by saving recipes on a Pinterest board.
If you’re using TikTok or Instagram for ideas, you’ll want to make categories within your saved folders so that you can easily find your favorites. You can start with a basic Food or Recipes folder or collection, but if you like one or two specific creators, I suggest making a separate folder for them, too.
Now you’re all set! Using these three guiding points, you’ll quickly find just the recipes and new meal ideas you’re looking for. I used these exact things to help me find my current favorites:
- Website: Skinnytaste.com
Gina is a wonder when it comes to healthy and delicious recipes. And she even makes it mindless for you by posting seven-day meal plans with macros and WW points. Now, she is also a cookbook author and I have several of those, but her website is full of pictures and videos, and finding recipes is a breeze. - Social Media Follow: Calorie Deficit Queen (@caloriedeficitqueen)
I discovered Casey on TikTok (she’s also on Instagram) and I adore her. Her recipes are easy, quick and delicious. I currently have about 50 of her videos saved. She’s a whiz with low-calorie, satisfying lunches and desserts. She also has eCookbooks you can purchase. - Cookbook: Meals That Heal: One Pot by Carolyn Williams, Ph.D., RD
This cookbook focuses on one-pot meals that promote whole-body health through anti-inflammatory recipes. I have struggled with stomach and digestive issues for two decades, but don’t want to compromise the taste of my food. Carolyn’s recipes hit the mark with great taste and good-for-you.
something more
Have you found great food content creators that make your life and meal planning easier? Please share your favorite creators, recipe links or cookbooks in the comments to help others find their next great healthy resource.