Lighten Up! 10 Post-Holiday Recipes You'll Feel Good About Eating (2024)

After stuffing yourself silly on Thanksgiving, it feels good to eat light -- at least until the next holiday. From soups to salads to entrees, all of these recipes are as good to eat as they are good for you.

Salad as a meal is a great way to hit "reset" after the holidays. This simple and satisfying salad can be made with leftover turkey or rotisserie chicken. GET THE RECIPE

In this quick and easy recipe, grated cauliflower is sautéed with aromatics, vegetables, soy sauce, and eggs, like Chinese-style fried rice. It's a healthy, low-carb dish that's hearty enough to serve as a main course. GET THE RECIPE

This dish is similar to Larb Gai, the Thai dish made from minced chicken, fish sauce, lime juice, chilies, and fresh herbs. The combination of sweet, salty, tangy and spicy flavors makes it highly addictive. Bonus: it's ready in 30 minutes. GET THE RECIPE

AKA "kale crack" because they're so addictive, these crispy chips are made from one of the healthiest vegetables on the planet. They're salty, sweet, and spicy with added crunch from sesame seeds. GET THE RECIPE

If you're in need of a little pick-me-up, this soul-satisfying soup is just the ticket. Not only is it vegetarian and healthy, it's ready in just 30 minutes (yet tastes like you spent all day in the kitchen). GET THE RECIPE

Believe or not, this salad will have you eating your vegetables (and, most surprisingly, your kale) with pleasure and abandon. The creamy peanut dressing is laced with ginger, honey, sriracha, and fresh lime. GET THE RECIPE

When you roast chickpeas at a high temperature, they become golden and crisp on the exterior and buttery on the interior. They're as addictive as French fries. GET THE RECIPE

Eating healthy should never leave you hungry, which is one of the reasons I love quinoa. It eats like a grain but is actually the tiny seed of a plant related to leafy greens like spinach and Swiss chard. Here, it's gussied up with sautéed onions, carrots, shiitake mushrooms and pecans to make an earthy and hearty dish. GET THE RECIPE

Made with carrots, sweet potatoes, apples and honey, this nutritious soup is the essence of fall. The secret ingredient is curry powder, which doesn't give the soup an Indian flavor like you might think, but rather lends a subtle hint of autumn spice. GET THE RECIPE

Lentils are a superfood filled with nutrients, so this delicious salad is perfect for a post-holiday detox. It's made with French green lentils, which stay firm and hold their shape when cooked. GET THE RECIPE