Your Low-Calorie Meal Plan for July
July 1: Lemon-Caper Pork Medallions
For an elegant but easy dinner you can put together in a twinkling for guests or unexpected visitors, these lightly breaded medallions are truly something special! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Goes Great With: Hearty Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing
July 2: Easy Caribbean Chicken
This is a very simple recipe that uses easy-to-find ingredients. Serve with some steamed vegetables for a complete meal. Use cubes of pork or even shrimp instead of the chicken. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas
Goes Great With: Watermelon Tomato Salad
July 3: Shrimp and Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing
When I meet former co-workers for lunch at our favorite restaurant, we always order this salad. I wanted to share it with my husband, so I made it my mission to re-create it. Mission accomplished! —Lisa Bynum, Brandon, Mississippi
Goes Great With: Grilled Pattypans
July 4: California Burger Wraps
I love the way these fresh flavors blend together. It's a snap to throw this together using leftover burgers for a quick, healthy lunch. The burgers can also be served on buns. —Rachelle McCalla, Batesville, Arkansas
Goes Great With: Faux Potato Salad
July 5: Vegetarian Enchilada Bake
I’ve had this vegetarian enchilada bake recipe for years. You’ll enjoy the delicious Tex-Mex flavors so much that you won't even miss the meat. —Barbara Stelluto, Devon, Pennsylvania
Goes Great With: Jicama Citrus Salad
July 6: Deviled Chicken Thighs
When I make this dish, I invite my next-door neighbor over for supper. It's just enough for the two of us. The chicken stays tender and moist, and the cashews add a perfect bit of crunch. —Bernice Morris, Marshfield, Missouri
Goes Great With: Air-Fryer Roasted Green Beans
July 7: Tender Salsa Beef
This is my Mexican-style twist on comfort food. To keep it kid-friendly, use mild salsa. —Stacie Stamper, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
Goes Great With: Roasted Sugar Snap Peas
July 8: Chicken Jambalaya
This is a great easy chicken jambalaya recipe. It's great to serve at parties and it reheats well after! —Lynn Desjardins, Atkinson, New Hampshire
July 9: Summer Steak Kabobs
These steak kabobs not only satisfy my love of outdoor cooking, they feature a mouthwatering marinade, too. It's terrific with chicken and pork, but I prefer it with beef because it tenderizes remarkably well. —Christi Ross, Guthrie, Texas
Goes Great With: Grilled Asparagus
July 10: Feta Tomato-Basil Fish
I rely on my husband for the main ingredient in this fuss-free dish. He fills our freezer after his summer fishing trip. —Alicia Szeszol, Lindenhurst, Illinois
Goes Great With: Italian Tomato Cucumber Salad
July 11: Chicken & Vegetable Curry Couscous
For my busy family, a semi-homemade one-pot meal is the best way to get dinner done in a hurry. Use your favorite blend of frozen veggies and serve with toasted pita bread for smiles all around. —Elizabeth Hokanson, Arborg, Manitoba
Goes Great With: Sweet Carrots
July 12: Whole Wheat Veggie Pizza
A wonderful crust layered with herbed tomato sauce and toppings encourages my family of six to dig right in to this low-fat main course. —Denise Warner, Red Lodge, Montana
Goes Great With: Green Beans in Red Pepper Sauce
July 13: Sausage Spinach Salad
Want a fast way to turn a salad into a hearty meal? Add sausage. The mustard dressing also goes with smoked salmon or chicken. —Deborah Williams, Peoria, Arizona
Goes Great With: Melon with Serrano-Mint Syrup
July 14: Cod with Sweet Peppers
This quick and delicious recipe is a long-time family favorite. I like to use three or four different-colored peppers for an extra-pretty presentation. Then serve with couscous or brown rice to round out the meal. —Judy Grebetz, Racine, Wisconsin.
Goes Great With: Grilled Brussels Sprouts
July 15: Nectarine Chicken Salad
When guests are coming for lunch or dinner in the warm summer months, I like to serve this attractive, colorful salad. The dressing is refreshingly tart. A neighbor shared the recipe years ago and I've passed it on many times.
Goes Great With: Garlic Mashed Cauliflower
July 16: Garden Pork Stir-Fry
From Mendota, Illinois, Kim Marie Van Rheenen shares her recipe for an easy all-in-one skillet supper that's brimming with fresh-from-the-garden flavor. It's a tasty way to make the most of seasonal produce--from your backyard veggie patch or the farmers market. —Kenny Van Rheenen, Mendota, Illinois
Goes Great With: Summertime Tomato Salad
July 17: All-Day Red Beans & Rice
My family loves New Orleans-style cooking, so I make this authentic dish often. I appreciate how uncomplicated it is. And its smoky ham flavor is scrumptious. —Celinda Dahlgren, Napa, California
Goes Great With: Sauteed Squash with Tomatoes & Onions
July 18: Chicken and Spinach Pasta Salad
My family loves pasta salads, but usually they have too much mayonnaise or oily dressing. Using hummus gives this dish a great taste and texture, while also increasing its nutritional profile. Adding chicken (store-bought rotisserie chicken works well), makes this pasta salad a complete meal. —Jenny Lynch, Rock Island, Illinois
Goes Great With: Roasted Peppers and Cauliflower
July 19: Grilled Pork with Avocado Salsa
I love the zesty taste of this moist grilled tenderloin. The cumin, avocado and jalapeno give it southwestern flair. It's an easy, elegant way to prepare pork. —Josephine Devereaux Piro, Easton, Pennsylvania
Goes Great With: Spaghetti Squash with Tomatoes and Olives
July 20: Fish Tacos
A cool sauce with just a bit of zing tops these breaded fish tacos (that are actually healthy!). This recipe is a delicious guilt-free dish that doesn't break the bank. —Lena Lim, Seattle, Washington
Goes Great With: Balsamic-Glazed Zucchini
July 21: Caribbean Curried Chicken
Having grown up in the Virgin Islands, I've eaten my fair share of authentic curried chicken. This recipe hits the mark with big, bold flavors. It's delicious served over rice. —Sharon Gibson, Hendersonville, North Carolina
Goes Great With: Mediterranean Cauliflower
July 22: Strawberry-Turkey Spinach Salad
This light, refreshing salad is a true showstopper, visually and nutritionally, with fresh strawberries and yellow pepper strips tossed with fresh baby spinach. Serve with warm whole wheat rolls or flax or bran muffins. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Goes Great With: Bok Choy and Radishes
July 23: Key West Flank Steak
My husband, Jason, is the cook in our family. This is his recipe, inspired by his Colombian roots and our visits to Key West. Sometimes we grill extra lime and onion slices alongside. Serve with sides of rice and fried plantains. —Gretchen Ospina, Columbia Heights, Minnesota
Goes Great With: Yellow Squash & Watermelon Salad
July 24: Summer Bounty Ratatouille
Make use of your garden's surplus with this comforting dish from the Provence region of France. It's a vegetable dish traditionally made with eggplant, tomatoes, onions, zucchini, garlic, bell peppers and various herbs. I highly recommend accompanying it with some freshly baked bread. —Phyllis Jacques, Venice, Florida
Goes Great With: Garlic-Sesame Green Beans
July 25: Grilled Chicken Chopped Salad
Layered desserts always grab my family’s attention, but salads? Not so much. I wondered if I could get everyone on board by presenting a healthy salad in an eye-catching way. I’m happy to say that it worked. —Christine Hadden, Whitman, Massachusetts
Goes Great With: Fresh Artichokes with Lemon-Yogurt Dip
July 26: Spicy Sausage and Rice Skillet
The spicy sausage in this quick skillet dish gives it a kick, and the sliced apples are a pleasant, tart surprise. —Jamie Jones, Madison, Georgia
Goes Great With: Garden Tomato Salad
July 27: Grecian Chicken
The caper, tomato and olive flavors whisk you away to the Greek isles in an easy skillet dish that's perfect for hectic weeknights. —Jan Marler, Murchison, Texas
Goes Great With: Peas with Shallots
July 28: Country-Style Pork Loin
This pork roast is so moist and tender, it melts in your mouth. My son puts it at the top of his list of favorite foods. We like it with mashed potatoes. —Corina Flansberg, Carson City, Nevada
Goes Great With: Ginger Beets and Carrots
July 29: Grilled Basil Chicken and Tomatoes
Relax after work with a cold drink while this savory chicken marinates in an herby tomato blend for an hour, then toss it on the grill. It tastes just like summer. —Laura Lunardi, West Chester, Pennsylvania
Goes Great With: Pesto Tomato-Cucumber Salad
July 30: Grilled Beef Chimichangas
I created this recipe when I didn't have the ingredients for my go-to dish. After making this, it became my new favorite! —Jackie Burns, Kettle Falls, Washington
Goes Great With: Sliced Tomato Salad
July 31: Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Cherry Salsa Mole
The combination of pork and cherries has long been a favorite of mine. The hint of spice and chocolate in the salsa mole makes the combination even more special. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California
Goes Great With: Sour Cream Cucumbers
The post Your Low-Calorie Meal Plan for July appeared first on Taste of Home.
