If you're looking to lighten up on the food front after all of those festive treats I've got some great recipes for you!
Full of flavour and filling too - these are 91 of my favourites.
You can click on the image for any of them to be taken to the recipe. If you click the 'jump to recipe' at the top of the individual recipe page it will take you straight to the recipe card. The bottom of each recipe card shows nutritional information.
In general most of these recipes (with a few exceptions) are under 500 calories. Some of the dinners are in the 600-700 calorie range, but I've included them if I think they're extra nutritious.

I've spent the day going digging out all of my favourite lighter recipes on Kitchen Sanctuary.
And Wow! It's been a bit of any eye opener for me!
I generally consider myself - and by extension KS - to favour comfort foods that are more often than not, on the naughty side.
I didn't realise I had so many lighter recipes tucked away on the blog! Maybe that means there really is a skinnier person fighting to get out.
Probably not 😁
So here's my list of 91 Lighter Recipes for the New Year - split into Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Savoury Snacks and Something Sweet. Click an image for the full recipe.
Breakfast
- Brown Rice Porridge with Figs and Blueberries
- Apple Elderflower and Pomegranate Hot Smoothie
- Guacamole and Egg Breakfast Bowl
- White Chocolate Coconut Cashew Hot Smoothie
- Spicy Breakfast Eggs
- Mexican Hot Chocolate Breakfast Smoothie
- Creamy Eggs and Kale Breakfast
- Pineapple Avocado Detox Smoothie
- Malted Coconut Hot Smoothie
- Healthier Grapefruit Breakfast Doughnuts
- Orange Carrot and Ginger HOT smoothie
- Mexican Shakshuka
- Oaty Chocolate Hot Smoothie - Week 3 of my Hot Smoothie Saturday series for October
- Oaty Mocha Hot Smoothie
- Banana Oat Cookies
- Cranberry and Apple Hot Smoothie
- Nuts and Berries Granola
- Almond Coconut Warm Smoothie
- Hot green smoothie
Lunch
- Leek and Potato Soup
- Chicken Noodle Rainbow Salad with Chilli Lime Dressing
- Winter Noodle Salad
- Stuffed Mushrooms
- Chickpea and Lemon Soup
- Three Bone Soup With Veggies and Beans
- Thai Fish Cakes with Vegetable Ribbons
- Warm Quinoa And Goats Cheese Salad With Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
- Honey Garlic Chicken Skewers
- Rainbow noodle salad with Dijon mustard dressing
- Creamy Cauliflower Soup
- Cobb Salad with Smoky Chickpeas
- Tuscan Style Chicken Soup
- Vegetarian Buddha Bowls with Spicy Peanut Sauce
- Baked sweet potato and carrot soup with cheddar potato skin croutons
- Simple Cauliflower Fritters
- Vegetable Bibimbap
- Chicken and Quinoa Salad Bowl
- 20-Minute Butterbean and Chorizo Soup
- Griddled Halloumi and Peach Salad with Homemade Lemon Pesto
- Ratatouille Soup
- Grilled Romaine Hearts with Figs, Pear and Manchego
- Homemade Chicken and Vegetable Pot Noodle (Instant Noodles)
- Piled High Chicken and Vegetable Soup
Dinner
- Cauliflower Fried Rice
- Copycat Firecracker Chicken
- 12 minute Sticky Asian Sea Bass
- Healthier Slow Cooked Spicy Chicken Rogan Josh
- Slow Cooked SUMMER Beef Casserole
- Honey Garlic Butter Baked Salmon
- Sheet Pan Honey Mustard Chicken with Vegetables
- Easy Ratatouille with Feta Croutons
- Honey and Garlic Chicken Stir Fry with Cauliflower Egg Fried Rice
- Pulled Pork and Bean Soup
- Healthier Red Thai Chicken Curry - without the shop-bought sauce!
- One-Pot Turkey Meatballs With Courgetti
- Baked Fish and Chips with Lemon Smashed Peas
- Korean Beef Bulgogi Bowl
- Prawn and Mango Curry Noodle Bowl
- Cauliflower Steak with Spicy Salsa Verde
- Cajun Chicken with Coriander and Lime Rice
- Hawaiian Chicken Salad with Coriander-Lime Vinaigrette
- One-Pot Chicken and Couscous with Feta
- Slow Cooker Spicy Chicken Curry
- Hidden Veg Meatballs
- Skinny Thai Green Curry
- Chicken and Red Pepper Pasta
- Healthier Slow Cooked Spicy Beef Curry
- Pan Fried Salmon and Spaghetti with Lemon Cream Sauce
- Healthier Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken
- One Pot Garlic Chicken Pasta
- Fish Taco Bowl with Zingy Yogurt Dressing
- Roasted Kabocha and Goat's Cheese Salad with Pomegranate Dressing
- Feta and Couscous Stuffed Roasted Romano Peppers
- Thai Prawns with Cauliflower Rice (246 Calories)
Savoury Snacks
Something Sweet
- Banana Oat Cookies
- Banana Bread Energy Balls
- Brown Sugar Glazed Clementines with Cream Cheese, Honey and Pistachios
- Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries
- Chocolate Raspberry Bites
- Hazelnut Mocha Chocolate Mousse
- Fruity S'mores Marshmallow Blinis
- Cashew Apricot White Chocolate Energy Balls
- Avocado chocolate mousse bowl with roasted cherries
- No Bake Berry Bakewell Granola Bars
- Chocolate Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries
Joanne Riley says
Hi Nicky
Thanks for all these recipes and a happy new year to you and your family x
Siobhan says
Thank you so much for all these amazing recipes! Not one has failed! They are easy to follow and really healthy. Happy 2021 and once again- thank you from all of my family! 🇮🇪 ☘️