Nutritionist-Approved: 13 Cozy Fall Recipes
Updated: Dec. 18, 2020These fast, seasonal dishes are packed with nutritionist-approved healthy foods.
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Healthy and comforting
When the temperatures drop and the leaves begin to turn, your thoughts shift to warm and filling dishes. There’s no reason you can’t have your comfort food while minding your heart and health. These delicious dishes all meet the requirements and approval of the nutritionists that worked on The Digest Diet, and they’re supplied by the masters of warm and comfy meals, Taste of Home. Work these popular meals into your weekly repertoire this fall.
Hearty Chipotle Chicken Soup
Spicy and smokey, this warm-you-up soup gets a dash of coolness from sour cream—or try a spoonful of Greek yogurt or this healthy vegan sour cream instead. Key ingredients: protein, pinto beans, onion, garlic, chicken, tomatoes, corn, chile peppers, sour cream.
Pumpkin Sloppy Joes
These hearty favorites are made with a mix of lean beef and pumpkin puree for a lighter, healthier Sloppy Joe that tastes just as delicious as the original. Key ingredients: pumpkin, cloves, nutmeg, chile powder, onion.
Mushroom Pepper Steak
Craving Chinese take-out? Make this fast stir-fry instead, packed with fat-releasing ingredients. Key ingredients: lean beef, ginger, red and green peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, onion,
Maple-Mustard Chicken
This slow-cooker recipe has only five ingredients and takes next to no prep time. Key ingredients: chicken breasts, mustard, brown rice.
Autumn Chowder
This creamy, comforting stew is filled with carrots, potatoes, and corn—and topped with a garnish of satisfying bacon and cheddar cheese. Key ingredients: carrots, corn, cheddar cheese, milk, onion, potatoes.
Pumpkin-Turkey Chili
Simmer a pot of this hearty stew—full of satisfying fat releasers—and you’ll get everyone into the kitchen. Key ingredients: onion, green pepper, oregano, cumin, garlic, beans, pumpkin, tomatoes, chile powder, lean turkey.
Get the recipe at Taste of Home >>
Love pumpkin? Try this nutritionist-approved recipe for pumpkin spice lattes.
Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers
You’ll lose the traditional sausage filling while gaining extra flavor—a double hit of cheese (Monterey Jack and Parmesan) and zesty additions like olives keep this dish deliciously rich. Key ingredients: peppers, brown rice, tomatoes, corn, onion, beans, cheese, garlic.
Apple-Spiced Acorn Squash
This sweet, simple side dish has an extra secret: It’s made completely in the microwave! Key ingredients: acorn squash, apple, cinnamon, nutmeg.
Warm and Fruity Breakfast Cereal
Start a crisp, fall morning off right with a bowl of this seven-grain cereal that’s packed with fruit: fresh apples and dried apricots, cranberries, raisins, and dates. A healthy dash of apple juice and maple syrup provide a touch of extra sweetness. Key ingredients: oats, apples, apricots, cranberries, raisins, dates, cinnamon, walnuts
Rice-Stuffed Butternut Squash
This fancy-looking dish is not hard to make: Just combine roasted squash with a savory rice-and-cheese filling. Key ingredients: butternut squash, wild rice, ricotta cheese, green onion, curry powder,
- Vaccariello, L. The Digest Diet, Reader's Digest Association, 2012