It’s a well-known fact that January feels about three times as long as any other month! Between the short days and cold weather, spirits can be low. Added to that, after New Year’s, MLK Day is the only federal holiday in a month with 31 days. That means after the holiday palooza of November and December, everyone has their nose to the grindstone, and tempers are short.
To top it all off, New Year’s diets and new healthy habits start at the same time as taking down your decorations. Even if you are looking forward to making healthy changes in your life, there are always growing pains when adjusting to those changes. And you have to do it when it’s cold, dark and there is no more tinsel in your home. That’s difficult!
Sometimes, making dinner at this time of year can feel like a herculean task instead of a normal chore. You can be exhausted by dinner time. We get it. That’s why we’re sharing fast, easy, comforting, low-carb dishes to get you through the dreary days of winter!
One of the toughest parts of going on a diet is shunning foods we love from restaurants. Not only are we not eating the great foods, but we’re left with the task of cooking for ourselves. Panera Bread’s broccoli cheese soup hit a hit for a reason. It’s creamy, filling and tasty. But it’s not low-carb, and it’s very high in fat. This version is velvety and cheesy and will be a hit even with folks who aren’t fans of broccoli and don’t follow a low-carb diet. Plus, it takes less than a half hour to get dinner on the table. A serving has 195 calories, five grams of carbs, three grams of fiber and 17 grams of fat. Get the recipe.
We have a second cheesy dish! This is an easy stovetop dish that requires only one skillet. You can dip in low-carb chips, vegetables, or a spoon. We’re not going to judge! While the recipe classically calls for beef, you can use any ground meat you prefer. This is a great, easy dish everyone can dig into. And it only takes 35 minutes to make! A serving has 303 calories, six grams of carbs, one gram of fiber and 21 grams of fat. Get the recipe.
This is one person on our team’s favorite meals. They don’t follow this exact recipe, and they call it a “sausage and veggie bake,” but it’s the same idea. There are five minutes of prep work, 20 minutes in the oven, just one pan to clean up and you have meat and veggies all cooked and ready to go. It’s a simple, flavorful way to get a meal on the table when you want something tasty but you don’t want to work hard for it! A serving has 281 calories, eight grams of carbs, three grams of fiber and 15 grams of fat. Get the recipe.
This recipe is a bit of a cheat because it’s not a full meal; it needs a side dish. Our recommendation is to grab a bagged salad from the store and then use your own home-made dressing instead of what comes with it. A salad would be perfect with these delicious and easy air-fried chicken legs. They are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. And they only take 25 minutes! All you have to do is season them, put them in the air fryer and flip them once for excellent chicken legs you are sure to love. A serving has 317 calories, eight grams of carbs, one gram of fiber and 19 grams of fat. Get the recipe.
We hope these recipes help you get through the longest month of the year. February is on its way!
