If you are looking for some healthy winter recipe ideas, look no further! One of the big struggles in winter is that it is comfort food season. A lot of the foods and meals that can make us feel warm on the inside, don’t always help our insides at the same time. A few healthy options can make the world of difference.
First things first…
You shouldn’t feel stressed that the warm meals you want to have will decrease your chance of health and fitness success.
We have all heard that 70% of health and weight management results come from the ability to make the right choices with nutrition.
Whilst this is definitely true, there is another statement that can be added to the end of it for context.
How about this:
“70% of any result does come from nutrition, BUT should not take 70% of your time worrying about making the right choices at the right time.”
The key to success lies with making healthy and informed nutritional choices as easy as possible on a regular basis. You shouldn’t be worrying about what your next meal will be and if it will be good enough, if you can be comfortable knowing that the right choice has been made and will continue to be made, then you can.
A great tip is to cook some meals in bulk and portion them to allow for multiple meals. Food prep is always key and if you can get in the habit of making some meals in advance this winter, then you will thank yourself in summer.
Winter Recipe #1 – Slow Cooked Lamb Shanks
A fantastic, low effort meal that just requires a slow cooker! This makes enough for 4 adult meals, so can be used over a few days.
Ingredients
- 4 lamb shanks
- Olive oil
- 3 carrots, diced
- 4 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 potato, diced
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 800g crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup red wine
- 4 sprigs of thyme
- 2 dried bay leaves
- 1 cups water
- 2 beef stock cubes, crushed
- Salt & pepper
Method
- Heat olive oil in a large frying pan on a medium heat.
- Season lamb shanks with salt and pepper.
- Transfer lamb shanks to frying pan and cook for approx 5 minutes or until brown all over. This will seal the lamb shanks before you transfer them to the slow cooker.
- While the lamb shanks are browning, place the carrots, celery, potatoes, onion and can of tomatoes into your slow cooker.
- In a separate bowl add crushed garlic, tomato paste, Worcestershire, red wine, 1 cup of water and crushed OXO Cubes. Stir until all ingredients are combined.
- Now place cooked lamb shanks on top of vegetables then pour sauce over the top.
- Season with salt and pepper and stir in thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Turn slow cooker onto high and cook for 6 hours or low for 8-10 hours.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD LAMB SHANK RECIPE
Winter Recipe #2 – Hearty Slow Cooker Beef Stew
A fantastic, low effort meal that just requires a slow cooker! This makes enough for 4 adult meals, so can be used over a few days.
Ingredients
- 900gm Stew Beef
- 2 Cups Beef Stock
- 350g Bacon – Cooked Crisp and fat removed
- 400g. diced tomatoes
- 100g. Capsicum – Chopped
- 100g. Mushrooms – Quartered
- 2 Ribs Celery – Chopped
- 1 Large Carrot – Chopped
- 1 Small Onion – Chopped
- 4 Large Cloves Garlic – Minced
- 2 Tbs. Tomato Paste
- 2 Tbs. Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 tsp. Sea Salt
- 1 ½ tsp. Black Pepper
- 1 tsp. Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp. Onion Powder
- 1 tsp. Dried Oregano
Instructions
- Heat slow cooker on low setting. (alternatively use a large pot on simmer)
- In a large pan over medium heat, sear the beef, browning on both sides.
- Transfer to slow cooker/pot
- To the slow cooker, add
-
- Beef Stock,
- bacon,
- tomatoes,
- bell peppers,
- mushrooms,
- celery,
- carrot,
- onion,
- garlic,
- tomato paste,
- Worcestershire sauce,
- sea salt,
- black pepper,
- garlic powder,
- onion powder,
- dried oregano.
- Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours. Or 2-3 hours in pot on simmer with lid on
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD BEEF STEW RECIPE
Winter Recipe #3 – Beef and Eggplant Lasagne
One of those fantastic winter recipe ideas that when cooked can last for days!
Ingredients
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, crushed
- 400g lean beef mince
- 2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 250g dried lasagne pasta sheets
- 120g baby spinach leaves, to serve
- 3 eggplants – sliced lengthwaysolive oil cooking spray
- 1 tablespoon olive oilgood pinch sugar
- 300g low-fat ricotta cheesegood pinch nutmeg
- 1/2 cup basil leaves, chopped
Method
- Preheat oven to 180°C
- Add onion and garlic and to a saucepan on medium heat, cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until softened.
- Add mince and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, for 3 minutes or until browned.
- Add tomatoes and salt and pepper, reducing heat to medium.
- Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until sauce thickens.
- Remove from heat & stir in basil.
- Preheat a pan to medium high.
- Brush eggplant with oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Chargrill for 3 to 4 minutes each side or until golden.
- Sprinkle with lemon juice & set aside.
- Arrange a layer of eggplant over base of deep baking dish, overlapping to cover.
- Spread mince mixture over eggplant.
- Sprinkle ricotta over the mince mixture.
- Top with another layer of eggplant and press down gently with your palm.
- Repeat layers.
- Top with remaining mince and cheese.
- Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until tender and cheese is golden.
- Serve with spinach leaves.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD EGGPLANT LASAGNE RECIPE
Winter Recipe #4 – Shepherd’s Pie With Cauliflower Mash
A low carb take on an old favourite!
Ingredients
- 1 large head cauliflower florets, chopped
- 4 tbsp olive oil (or coconut oil)
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 brown onion, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, diced
- 2 celery sticks, diced
- 2 medium carrots, diced600g lamb mince
- 2 1/2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp thyme leaves, chopped
- 375ml beef stock or chicken stock
- 3 tbsp flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped
Method
- Preheat the oven to 180C.
- Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil then add the cauliflower and cook for about 10 minutes until tender. Drain the cooked cauliflower in a colander and set it aside.
- Heat two tablespoons of olive oil in a large frying pan or saucepan over a medium to high heat. Add the cumin, onions, garlic, celery and carrots and cook for five minutes, or until they soften and begin to brown.
- Add the lamb mince and cook until browned.
- Add the tomato paste and thyme and cook for one minute, then pour in the wine and stock and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper.
- Meanwhile, place the cooked cauliflower in the food processor and blend until smooth.\
- Blend two tablespoons of oil through the puree and season to taste with salt and pepper.
- To assemble, spread the meat mixture into the base of an ovenproof dish.
- Top with the cauliflower puree and smooth the top out evenly.
- Bake the pie in the oven for 30 minutes, or until lightly golden.
- Sprinkle with parsley and serve
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD SHEPHERDS PIE RECIPE
These are 4 examples of highly nutritious, highly tasty and easy to cook meals. They will not only be great to warm you up in winter, but also ensure that you are staying on the right path for your health and fitness goals. If you are looking for more winter recipe ideas, simply click here.
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