When I was a child, I would always ask my mom, “What’s for dinner?” Most of the time, I already knew. We generally rotated seven different meals over the course of the week, and they would usually fall on the same night of the week, with the same starch and vegetable. It’s a wonder we didn’t get tired of eating like this. Even now, I have three or four go-to recipes that I enjoy making on repeat, however I am always looking for new recipes to break up the monotony of my routine. Whether you are new to the game, have been cooking for years, or are gluten-free, vegetarian, nut-free, or have another dietary restriction, there are plenty of online resources to create new ideas for meals and snacks.
When searching out recipes to try, I aim for recipes for health & yumminess. One of my favorite websites for new recipe ideas that I discovered four years ago is Oh She Glows. All the recipes are organized under easy to follow headings, like “Holidays”, “Quick and Easy”, or “Allergies” which has subgroups of gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free. 
With over 500 recipes to browse through, you are likely to never get bored. In addition, many of the recipes can be modified to fit your preferences. For instance, I made the Chia Seed Breakfast Bowl, but I personalized it with blueberries instead of banana and nuts. This recipe, packed with calcium, protein, and fiber, is very simple and can be placed in the fridge overnight to be ready in the morning or for a grab-and-go snack.
Another great recipe resource is Elana’s Pantry. She has plenty of recipes searchable by type of meal or by dietary restriction. This site is easy to navigate, and there are recipes ranging from ginger licorice tea to chipotle lime salmon. This site contains paleo, dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free recipes, just to name a few.
If dessert is your favorite and you can’t get enough, check out Chocolate Covered Katie. She puts a healthy spin on traditional sweets, like zucchini brownies. I made this 1 minute coffee cake in a mug. It took me only two minutes total to mix up all the ingredients and cook it! I decided to just mix the streusel topping into the cake and add extra cinnamon, but it is a great quick, easy, and portion controlled snack. Mix it up and add in your favorite fruit or even some oats. There are even gluten free and fat-free alternatives. This website also has quick breakfast recipes like oatmeal muffins that can be a quick grab on the way out the door in the morning or as a quick snack while traveling.
As always, if you have your favorite recipes and just want to add a few more vegetables or fruit, it can be a very easy adjustment.
Fruits and Veggies, More Matters has lots of information on including fruits and vegetables into your day. It also has great recipes and includes ways to involve your kids. The website includes resources on growing your own vegetables, what vegetables are in season, and the top ten healthy ways to cook vegetables.
Some of our other favorite recipes websites include: Ellie Krieger with the Food Network, gluten-free-girl and the chef, gluten free slow cooker recipes, and Meatless Monday.
Planning each meal may be a little stressful, but hopefully these recipe resources can be helpful in reducing that stress by providing ideas for delicious, nutritious meals without constant repeat.
Don’t forget to check out our blog posts, Facebook page, resource page, and your local library for more recipes for health and yumminess!
by Margaret Merlie
Eat Fit Health Intern
Graduate Student, Drexel University
MS in Human Nutrition, 2015