When I search for information about something, I just type the word or phrase into Google and can usually find what I’m looking for on the first few pages of results. When I wrote “Healthy Dinner Recipes,” I was overwhelmed. Of course, there were a lot of results, so I clicked on the first one and got a list of dishes:

Appetizers, Drinks, Breakfasts, Sweets and Delights, Starters, Healthy Cookies, Cakes and Baked … Wraps, Sandwiches and Burgers.

The word ‘dinner’ doesn’t even appear, and looking at some of the foods, they didn’t even seem that healthy to me. The next site I tried was actually better, although I had to scan a lot of recipes to find something that appealed to me.

Criteria for a healthy recipe

If you’re like me, time is precious, so I have to find what I need pretty quickly. Unfortunately, when it comes to finding healthy dinner recipe ideas, you still have a lot to look for. I try to scan the recipe and discard the ones that don’t meet my basic criteria for a healthy dinner. These are the things I look for when selecting a suitable dinner recipe:

– a generous helping of mixed greens

– a protein source such as lean meat, fish, or beans

– a carbohydrate source such as potatoes or brown rice.

Whole wheat bread, brown rice, and whole wheat pasta are healthier options than the white varieties. A green salad is always a healthy option.

If you are a vegetarian it is much easier to find a healthy recipe. However, what to look for is an adequate source of protein. Soy is a good alternative to meat, but it should be eaten in moderation. The Harvard School of Public Health has a good article on protein on their website. (http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/protein.html).

Other sources

So where else can you find healthy food recipes? Another good online source is Amazon.com. If you search for the keyword ‘healthy dinner recipes’ you’ll find a lot of books listed (of course, this won’t help you make dinner tonight!). The only thing to keep in mind is that many of these books focus on weight loss diets, which are not necessarily good for you in the long run. However, Amazon is a good source of information.

If you have children, it is especially difficult to find nutritious and attractive recipes for them. This problem is compounded if you are trying to change your family’s eating habits. The CDC website (http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/nutrition/nutrition_for_everyone/quick_tips/healthy_children.htm) has good information on preparing healthy dinners for children.

Conclution

In conclusion, there is a ton of information available, but trying to focus on the best healthy dinner recipes for you and your family will take time. You also need to be prepared to make a lot of changes until you find something that works for everyone. I used to joke about our children’s reaction to some of my dishes (Lima bean soup comes to mind) – if they don’t like it, it must be good for you!

However, seriously, there are plenty of good healthy dinner recipes available that everyone will love. You just need to be able to spend the time to find them and experiment a little in the kitchen.