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Originally Posted On: https://www.goodcook.com/blog/post/clean-eating-recipes

Clean Eating Recipes That Look and Taste Good

Everyone knows they should care for their bodies, live healthy lifestyles, and eat nutritious foods, but changing one’s diet is hard. What foods should you eliminate? Where should you focus? What do you need to meet the goals?

Fortunately, switching to a diet that focuses on clean eating can quickly answer many of those questions. Clean eating, at its core, means that you eat as many “natural” foods as possible and cut out processed, refined items. Whole grains, vegetables, fruits, lean protein, and particular dairy products fall under clean eating. It isn’t a restrictive diet, as you still have access to all the whole, unprocessed foods it takes to make a limitless number of recipes that nourish your body in the best way possible.

You will likely have to cook more at home, but that’s great! You’ll get to know your food, how to prepare it, and what’s going into it. GoodCook has plenty of tasty clean-eating recipes, and here are a few to get you started on your food journey or give you new ideas if you’re stuck in a cooking rut. They look just as delicious as they taste, with the lovely colors of fresh veggies and fruits livening up each dish.

1 – Ultimate Veggie Omelet

You know the saying − breakfast is the day’s most important meal! Start your morning off right with GoodCook’s Ultimate Veggie Omelet recipe. It’s packed with delicious fresh vegetables and a sprinkle of feta cheese for added flavor. This omelet is an excellent option for lunch or dinner if you’re not much of a breakfast person. Eggs are a solid, easily accessible protein that fit the bill of clean eating. This omelet will satisfy you and give you the nutrition you need.

To whip this recipe up, you’ll need eggs (of course), olive oil, onion, garlic, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and thyme, and feta cheese. Combining all those ingredients provide healthy fat, antioxidants, and essential vitamins. You can have the dish ready in just a few minutes, too! It’s easy for beginners, so if you don’t have advanced cooking skills, it’s no problem. You can still eat excellent food and learn as you go. This veggie omelet is the perfect place to start!

2 – Papaya-Avocado Smoothie Bowl

It wouldn’t be clean eating without fruit! GoodCook’s Papaya-Avocado Smoothie Bowl hits it out of the park in terms of aesthetics. It’s gorgeous to look at, so make sure you snap a photo before you dig in. This recipe is an excellent choice for breakfast but could also be used as a pick-me-up snack, especially if you’re prone to wanting sweets throughout the day. The fresh fruit and optional drizzle of honey in this recipe satisfy your craving and keep you on track.

There’s no cooking involved in this recipe − a plus for beginners and hot summer days when being in the kitchen feels punishing. This smoothie bowl needs quite a fruit haul to make, but it’s worth it. Grab avocados, papayas, bananas, pineapples, coconut extract, coconut milk, fresh berries, and almonds to get started! There are also options for honey and chia seeds if you’re a fan of these.

You will need a blender, but the whole dish is put together inside the papaya itself! This recipe is fun to look at and eat, all while you enjoy a nutrient-packed meal or snack.

3 – One-Pan Mediterranean Salmon

If you’re browsing for clean eating dinner options, this One-Pan Mediterranean Salmon dish is an easy, mouthwatering choice. Salmon is a fantastic source of omega-3 fatty acids, essential for maintaining a healthy heart, and is one of the most popular clean-eating protein choices. It shines through in this recipe, too!

This one-pan recipe is easy on the clean-up and the eyes. This sheet pan recipe is also great if you meal prep. It’s easy to separate and portion everything out once the cooking is done, and you’ll be able to enjoy it for days!

You’ll need to pick up salmon, kalamata olives, walnuts, lemons, olive oil, fresh parsley, garlic, paprika, green beans, and cherry tomatoes (assorted colors) to get started. Once you have all your ingredients prepped and assembled, dinner will be ready in about half an hour! This recipe is simple to prepare, so don’t worry if you’re not a pro in the kitchen yet or are coming home from a long workday and don’t have the energy for something complicated. You can eat fast and well with this one!

4 – Chicken Veggie Spring Skillet

This Chicken Veggie Spring Skillet brings bright flavors and gorgeous colors to the dinner table. It’s an excellent way to highlight the best spring flavors with minimal effort and quick prep time. All told, you’ll have dinner served within 30 minutes.

The balsamic vinegar in this dish is the star of the show. It adds flavor while bringing out the best in the paired veggies. It’s hard to beat the classic combo of cherry tomatoes and balsamic vinegar. Along with those two ingredients, you’ll need chicken tenderloins, a purple onion, asparagus, celery, garlic, olive oil, fresh basil, and Italian seasoning. With a bit of prep and a good skillet, you’ll be sitting down to a filling, clean, nutritious meal in no time!

Eat Well, Eat Clean

These recipes are only the beginning. GoodCook has a wealth of options available for your clean eating journey! Keep an eye out for simple, nutritious meal options that will give your body all the good things you need without the additives!