When it comes to a healthy diet that can help you shed pounds as you age, eating the right amount of protein is essential—but choosing the right type of protein is crucial, too. Loading your body with fried food or red meat can be detrimental to your weight loss goals, but luckily, there’s one healthy protein option that will never steer you wrong: tasty, juicy grilled chicken.
Health experts agree that grilled chicken is a great staple to include in your diet if you’re trying to lose weight: it’s lean, protein-packed, and highly versatile. If you’re looking for the best recipes to try out this summer as you navigate your weight loss journey, we’ve got you covered. Below are 4 expert-approved recipes you’ll definitely want to return to.
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Grilled Lime Chicken
Lisa Richards, nutritionist and author of The Candida Diet, tells us her Grilled Lime Chicken recipe is an "ideal meal for anyone over 50 years old," noting that all of the central ingredients (garlic, lime and chilies) can help your gut stay healthy. "Gut health is essential at any stage of life, but as we age it is important to focus on this area of our health," she says, adding that "proper gut health will aid in overall health by reducing inflammation and improving immune function." In turn, all of this leads to greater health and faster weight loss. What a win! This flavor-packed chicken can be used as either a main course or a salad topping.
Ingredients: chicken breast, lime, garlic, chilies, olive oil, salt and pepper
Keto Grilled Pesto Chicken with Garden Salad
Isla Zyer, nutritionist, blogger, and plant-based nutrition expert offers a keto-friendly recipe perfect for weight loss. Her keto grilled pesto chicken incorporates heart-healthy ingredients and healthy fats. Once you've seasoned your chicken breast with salt, pepper, and olive oil and grilled it to perfection, simply top it with mozzarella cheese and pesto and throw it in the oven for 2-3 minutes, she instructs. For a simple salad on the side, mix arugula, chopped red onion, cherry tomatoes, white wine vinegar, and olive oil. Yum!
Ingredients: chicken breast, salt, pepper, olive oil, mozzarella cheese, pesto, arugula, chopped red onion, cherry tomatoes, white wine vinegar.
Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Chimichurri Sauce
If a sandwich is more your style, Zyer offers a healthy, weight-loss friendly option for that, as well. "This sandwich is super tasty and only contains 310 calories," she says. Yum! Simply season your chicken and grill it for 3-4 minutes per side or until it's fully cooked. Then, "assemble your greens on whole-wheat sesame buns, top it with your grilled chicken, and pile on onions, roasted red peppers, and chimichurri sauce." Sounds delicious!
Ingredients: chicken breast, leafy greens, whole-wheat sesame buns, onion, red pepper, chimichurri sauce
Greek Chicken Marinade
Jessica Randhawa, head chef, recipe creator, photographer, and writer for The Forked Spoon, offers a taste of the Mediterranean with her Greek Chicken Marinade recipe. She says it "brings all the classic Greek flavors to your kitchen table." What more could you want?! Thanks to the healthy lean meat and vegetables, this is a perfect weight loss meal you'll want to eat again and again this summer—even better, it's super easy to make, with "only a handful of fresh and healthy ingredients."
Ingredients: olive oil, lemon juice and zest, garlic, fresh herbs, salt, black pepper
