By choosing to adopt a healthy and balanced diet you choice to genuinely transform your life positively. As a result, reduced inflammation, more energy, better overall health, and gradual sustainable weight loss.

OK, now comes the real question : Where do you start ?

You’ll need clear guidance on what to eat and what to avoid. In addition you’ll also need healthy recipes that are easy, affordable, and realistic for everyday life. So, this is your kickstart to a healthier, balanced diet.

This is a balanced lifestyle

When you choose a healthy, balanced diet, one essential thing to remember is that You are not starving yourself.

That is to say this is not another restrictive plan you follow for a few weeks before giving up. However it’s a lifestyle you adopt, adjust, and stick to for the long run.

To keep your motivation high, you need simple, easy, affordable and reliable recipes, in other words, meals that help you naturally fall into a healthier eating pattern without frustration.

My personal best balanced meal selection

To help you reach your goal, I’m sharing my personal selection of healthy, light meals that I regularly eat to manage my weight and stay on track without restriction.

These meals are perfect because they are

• delicious
• nutritious
• High in protein
• Easy to cook
• Good for batch cooking and keeping in the fridge.

Ten best meals for a balanced diet

1- Oat porridge : the perfect balanced breakfast

One of the best breakfast you could start your day with. Oats provide slow-release carbohydrates that keep you full for hours and help stabilise blood sugar levels. It is highly customizable. You can add whatever you like to your porridge, nuts, fruits, seeds, yogurt … to make it a perfect balanced breakfast full of nutrients.

2- Banana bowl cake

This oatmeal cake is made in a bowl and cooked in the microwave, simple, quick, and surprisingly satisfying. It’s a great healthy breakfast option that will keep you full and energised all morning. Oats are one of the best cereals for a balanced diet. They release sugar slowly into the bloodstream, helping to prevent insulin spikes and mid-morning crashes.

The banana adds natural sweetness while simultaneously providing potassium and magnesium, two essential minerals that support the nervous system and help reduce stress and fatigue. Eggs hold the cake together and bring in high-quality protein. In one bowl, you get a well-balanced breakfast with carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats.

Meals for lunch or dinner

3- Couscous : vegetables and chickpeas a balanced combination

I cook couscous every single week, it is my favourite meal. I use plenty of vegetables and usually add chicken breast.

This Moroccan dish is incredibly easy to prepare and makes more than one meal. When you come home hungry and need
to eat straight away, this dish saves you. Couscous takes five minutes, and you just reheat the
vegetables, meat, and sauce on the hob or in the microwave. Quick, warm, healthy, light, and delicious.

4- Grilled chicken with herbs and lemon

A simple, light option when you need a protein boost. Chicken breast is one of the best protein sources, and the good news is that it can be cooked in countless ways. This version is one of my favourites : herbs and lemon are a winning combination.

Ingredients:

• Chicken breast fillets
• Lemon juice
• Aromatic herbs of your choice. (oregano, thyme, rosemary …)
• Garlic powder
• Salt and pepper
• Olive oil

Marinate the chicken in lemon and herbs before grilling for maximum flavour. Serve with vegetables or a fresh green salad.

5- Lentil and carrots soup

Lentils are an excellent source of plant‑based protein and fibre, making this meal both filling and comforting. This soup is nourishing yet light. Perfect for cold days and ideal for batch cooking. It keeps very well for quick meals.

6- Chili con carne with black beans

This is the one of the most loved dishes in the UK, because it is warm, hearty and spicy. The good news : it is also a very healthy meal high in protein and fibre. It keeps you full for longer with fewer calories. The vegetarian version is perfect when your fridge is nearly empty. Tinned tomatoes and black beans
can truly save the day.

Add more vegetables and a source of carbs for a perfectly balanced meal.

7- Grilled salmon steak : an every week staple

Cooked in the oven without added fat, salmon is both healthy and delicious, ideal for quick dinners. Serve it with any vegetables you have on hand and a portion of cooked rice. You can also roast sweet potatoes alongside the salmon in the oven; they’re a great option for dinner.

8- Courgette and feta quiche

Why not add something new to your menu with this classic French recipe? It sounds indulgent yet it’s actually a healthy and light option for both lunch and dinner.

Courgettes bring freshness and fibre, feta adds flavour and protein, and the golden, crispy crust provides the right amount of carbohydrates. Served with a green salad on the side, this dish satisfies your taste buds without feeling heavy.

Quiche is a national favourite in France for light lunches at work and easy dinners at home and once you try it, you’ll adopt it.

9-Poke bowl for your lunch box

The poke bowl has become a very popular meal and for good reason. It’s a fresh, colourful, and well-balanced dish that is incredibly quick to prepare. What makes it stand out is the combination of brown rice with crunchy vegetables such as cucumber, mango, edamame, and avocado, topped with a quality source of protein, usually fish. Finished with a light soy sauce.

This makes the poke bowl a perfect option for a healthy lunch box and an ideal meal for busy days when you want something nutritious, satisfying, and easy to assemble.

10- Chickpea Brownie

This is not a traditional brownie, but it does satisfy the need for something sweet and comforting. If you truly want to succeed and embrace a healthy lifestyle, pleasure must stay on the menu. Without it, neither your mind nor your body will cope with constant rigidity.

Eating healthily every single day is absolutely possible, but allowing yourself some pleasure from time to time is essential to stay balanced and sane. You’re here for the long term, not for a few weeks.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with a real brownie and sometimes it’s exactly what you want. But there are also moments when a lighter version makes more sense. That’s why I created a healthy, light, and delicious chickpea brownie. With this option, there’s no guilt and no feeling of restriction, just freedom, satisfaction, and a step away from sugar addiction.