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18 Healthy Recipe Ideas for 2022

Fresh food for a fresh start.

Need to pivot from heavy holiday fare? It’s time to look forward to a new year and a new start. Here are 18 healthy recipe ideas. Let 2022 mean a wellness-focused New Years. (Updated 2022.)

plate of best healthy food for new year clean eating recipes fig tomato lettuce

The Best Healthy Recipe Ideas 2022

We should all eat a nourishing, balanced diet all year long. But frankly, that window between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve can usually mean a (big) downward slide straight to “Ugh, what happened?” town. Of course, we know exactly what happened: pie! cookies! sweet potatoes! buttered rolls! casseroles! wine! beef tenderloin!

Thankfully, these healthy recipes will help you jumpstart a clean new year for 2022. These wellness-focused recipes below have you covered, from healthy breakfast and snacks to delicious, nourishing dinners.

You’ll also like: 7 Pumpkin + Winter Squash Recipes and Rosemary White Bean Soup

healthy clean breakfast recipe for the new year egg avocado toast with seeds and fruit

Clean and Healthy Breakfast Recipe Ideas

The most important meal of the day just got even tastier, with whole-grain healthy breakfasts, green juice, and a fantastic scrambled egg dish. Healthy recipe ideas in 2022 start with breakfast, the most important meal of the day.

Yoga Retreat Baked Oatmeal

A nourishing, creamy, wonderfully satisfying baked oatmeal for breakfast, adapted from the renowned Kripalu Center.

slice of healthy baked oatmeal on plate with berries and maple syrup

Multigrain English Porridge

A homey, wholesome breakfast bowl.

bowl of multigrain english porridge in bowl with berries

Kale + Pineapple Smoothie

Because sometimes you just need all the fruit and vegetables, all at once. This green smoothie tastes just sweet enough, and will keep you full all morning long.

healthy clean recipes pineapple kale green smoothies on tablecloth with straw

Soft-Scrambled Eggs With Mushrooms and Goat Cheese

This breakfast only tastes rich and creamy, but is actually healthy and filled with nourishing, earthy mushrooms and tangy goat cheese.

gray plate with finished scrambled eggs with mushrooms and figs with coffee

Clean and Healthy Recipes: Snacks + Sides

Edamame and Parsley Hummus

A tasty mash that packs a protein punch while tasting light and satisfying.

edamame dip crackers wood bowl

Fried Crispy Chickpeas

When done right, beans and legumes make truly satisfying — and even delicious — snacks or meals. At the top of my list of great bean recipes is this one for fried crispy chickpeas.

fried chickpeas in bowl with parsley

Spicy Broken Cucumber Salad with Scallions and Cilantro

A quick, no-cook salad with a little spice, and a lot of crunch.

bowl of cucumber salad

Roasted Carrots With Citrus and Avocado

This roasted carrot avocado salad recipe is beyond good. There’s just no other way to describe it. More like a salad-inspired roasted carrot side dish than a traditional salad, this recipe is a centerpiece vegetable dish.

platter of roasted carrots with avocado sprouts and seeds from abc kitchen

Clean and Healthy Lunch and Dinner Recipes

Healthy lunch ideas and healthy dinner ideas offer tons of diverse possibilities, from cozy soups and stews to centerpiece main dishes. Here are some wellness-focused recipes for later in the day.

Healing Ayurvedic Kitchari Recipe (Kichidi)

An easy kitchari (kitchidi) recipe, grounded in Ayurveda. This wholesome, one-pot dinner with chickpeas and vegetables tastes wonderfully satisfying, and promotes deep wellness.

bowl of vegetarian Ayurvedic kitchari with cilantro and spinach on top for dinner

Vegetarian French Lentil Soup

Warming and satisfying, this vegetarian or vegan lentil soup recipe is on heavy rotation at my house all winter long.

mugs of french lentil soup with biscuit

Homemade Miso Soup

Who knew it was this easy to make your own miso soup? Get this homemade recipe, full of light umami goodness.

miso soup in bowl with napkin and cutting board scallions

The Best Chicken Soup

Nothing checks all the boxes of nourishing, feel-good food like a great bowl of chicken soup. Here is my perfected recipe, made with a whole chicken.

Miso-Marinated Black Cod

Nobu restaurant’s famous recipe, adapted into a fresh, family-style fish dinner. Sweet, umami, and easy to make.

nobu miso black cod on sheet pan broiled

Japanese Salmon Rice Bowls

These healthy Japanese salmon rice bowls take inspiration from salmon onigiri, but expand the flavors into a full, well-rounded dinner featuring fresh salmon, rice, nori, edamame, and seasoning. You’ll learn how to make authentic sushi rice, too.

Japanese salmon edamame grain bowl

Native American Wild Rice Sauté With Sweet Potato

A nourishing and special dish from an award-winning Native American chef. One of the healthiest recipes on the site.

wooden dish with native american wild rice salad with sweet potato corn and mushrooms

Light and Healthy Dessert Recipes

Fresh-Squeezed Orange Granitas

The bright, fresh dessert that requires little more than orange juice and a fork.

orange granitas in natural orange cups with juice

A Nice Fruit Plate

Simple — with no cooking at all. What could be better, easier, or more health-focused? Here are the pro tips for making your fruit plate stand out and be extra beautiful.

fruit platter on white tray

Enjoy these best, healthy recipe ideas 2022. What healthy recipes do you plan on making in the new year? Tell us!

bowl of vegetarian Ayurvedic kitchari with cilantro and spinach on top for dinner

Easy Ayurvedic Kitchari (Kitchidi)

A warming, nourishing, easy Ayurvedic kitchari recipe (kitchadi), a rice and chickpea stew grounded in ancient Indian health principles of Ayurveda.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Course: dinner
Cuisine: Ayurvedic, Indian
Keywords:: Ayurvedic, ayurvedic kitchari recipe, beans, chickpeas, comfort food, dinner, easy, health benefits kitchari, healthy, healthy recipe, indian kitchari, kitchadi recipe, what is kitchari
Servings: 4 people
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Ingredients 

  • 1 1/2 cups brown basmati rice
  • 3 tablespoons ghee or neutral vegetable oil
  • 4 1/2 cups cold water
  • 2 15-ounce cans unsalted chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1 1/2 cups small-diced carrots (about 5 medium carrots)
  • 1 1/2 cups small-diced celery (about 5 medium stalks)
  • 1 large onion, diced small
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cardamom (or 5 pods)
  • 3 whole cloves
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons fenugreek seeds
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 3 1/2 to 4 teaspoons kosher salt (or to taste)
  • 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and halved
  • 2 large handful washed baby spinach leaves (optional)
  • 1/2 fresh lemon, juiced, to finish
  • cilantro, to garnish

Instructions

  • In a medium pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the bay leaves, cardamom, cloves, fenugreek, cumin powder, coriander, cinnamon, and turmeric. Bloom the spices in the oil for about one minute, until bubbling and fragrant.
  • Stir in the rice and chickpeas. Add the water, carrots, celery, onion, ginger, and 3 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 50 minutes (less for white rice).
  • Add the spinach and stir until wilted. Add a generous squirt of lemon juice, taste for seasoning, and add an additional 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt, if desired.
  • Serve warm, garnished with fresh cilantro leaves.

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