31 DAYS OF RECIPES FOR THE HAPPY COOK
PLAN AHEAD FOR SUCCESS
Create a menu plan for the week that fits your schedule (or let the Cooking Light Diet do it for you). Use free time on the weekend to prep ahead (chop and store vegetables, cook batches of grains) and pack lunch portions to grab as you head out the door. You’ll spend fewer weeknights at the drive-through and look forward to the meals ahead.
SHOP SMARTER
Sticking to a detailed shopping list not only keeps impulse buys in check but also saves you time and money at the store, prevents food waste, and limits your trips during the week. Organize your list by department and the order you travel the market, or use the Cozi app to create a list that you and your family can update in real time. Learn more at cozi.com.
REDUCE FOOD WASTE
Extend the shelf life of food by organizing your fridge (meats on the bottom, produce in crisper drawers, and perishable condiments on the door). Keep a list of contents on your fridge and freezer doors and cross off as you use up. Above all, shop smart: Don’t buy more than you’ll need.
JANUARY
1 FRIDAY HAPPY YEAR!
Start off light and bright with Meyer Lemon Chicken.
2 SATURDAY
Flank Steak with Tomato-Balsamic Sauce
3 SUNDAY PLAN AHEAD
Make a double batch of Smoky Farro and Chickpea Soup for lunches during the week (it comes together in one pan, in just 25 minutes).
4 MONDAY MEATLESS MONDAY
Crispy stir-fried tofu is downright delicious. Try Veggie and Tofu Stir-Fry.
5 TUESDAY It’s Taco Tuesday! Beef and Bean Taco Salads come in their own crispy baked tortilla shells. Or try White Bean and Spinach Tacos.
6 WEDNESDAY Lentil Salad with Soft-Cooked Eggs
7 THURSDAY One-Pot Pasta with Spinach and Tomatoes (with a simple side salad)
8 FRIDAY COOK THE COVER
Balsamic and Dijon–Glazed Chicken, Citrus Spinach Salad with Mint, and Farro Salad with Green Onion
9 SATURDAY
Smoky Two-Bean Vegetarian Chili
10 SUNDAY
Buffalo Chicken Sliders with Sour Cream and Onion Potato Chips
11 MONDAY PLAN AHEAD
Green Curry Stew with Potatoes and Cauliflower SERVES 8, so you can freeze half for later.
12 TUESDAY
Mushroom-Lentil Burgers (with fruit salad)
13 WEDNESDAY SNACK ATTACK
14 THURSDAY DATE NIGHT
Seared Scallops with Fennel and Grapefruit Salad
15 FRIDAY
Black Bean Quinoa Salad with Chipotle Steak
16 SATURDAY
Chicken, Broccoli, and Brown Rice Casserole
17 SUNDAY
18 MONDAY NO COOK
Grill an extra chicken breast on the weekend for Chicken, Avocado, and Peanut Salad.
19 TUESDAY
Gingered Sweet Potato Soup with Toasted Coconut and Pumpkinseeds
20 WEDNESDAY
Edamame Salad with Crisp Steak Bits
21 THURSDAY
Sausage and Kale Pesto Pizza with Blistered Tomato–Arugula Salad
22 FRIDAY
Mexican-Style Grilled Vegetable Sandwich with Mango and Jicama Salad
23 SATURDAY
Go old school with Veggie-Packed Meat Loaf, a simple green salad, and the puree from Seared Scallops with Cauliflower Puree.
24 SUNDAY COOK’S NIGHT OFF
Then come home for a deceivingly decadent dessert: Double-Chocolate Cookies.
25 MONDAY
Arctic Char with Orange-Caper Relish with Frisée and Arugula Salad
26 TUESDAY
Cheddar, Broccoli, and Barley Sweet Potatoes
27 WEDNESDAY LEFTOVERS
Thaw and heat Green Curry Stew with Potatoes and Cauliflower from the 11th; serve with quick precooked brown rice.
28 THURSDAY
Skip Chinese takeout night and make your own. Sweet and Sour Chicken gets a light, crispy coating from Wondra flour and powdered peanut butter.
29 FRIDAY PIZZA NIGHT
Roasted Asparagus, Mushroom, and Onion Pizza
30 SATURDAY
Roasted Shrimp and Broccoli with Garlic-Basil Corn
31 SUNDAY
Southwestern White Bean Pita Pockets are a great make-ahead lunch option.
Find more favorite recipes, weekly meal plans, and shopping lists at cookinglight.com/sundaystrategist.
The CL Diet provides weekly meal plans (breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner) based on your preferences and your calorie needs.
Learn more at diet.cookinglight.com/specials.
*For new Cooking Light Diet subscribers
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