Your Healthy April Meal Plan
Updated: Feb. 12, 2024
This month, we've pulled together a delicious dinner plan for every single day. Get ready for recipes like grilled buttermilk chicken and spicy Mongolian beef salad. Healthy eating couldn't get any easier!
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Day 1: Cod and Asparagus Bake
The lemon pulls this flavorful and healthy dish together. You can use grated Parmesan cheese instead of Romano if you'd like. —Thomas Faglon, Somerset, New Jersey
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Day 2: Grilled Buttermilk Chicken
I created this recipe years ago after one of our farmers market customers, a chef, shared the idea of marinating chicken in buttermilk. The chicken is easy to prepare and always turns out moist and delicious! I bruise the thyme sprigs by twisting them before adding them to the buttermilk mixture; this tends to release the oils in the leaves and flavor the chicken better. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
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Day 3: Spicy Pork Tenderloin Salad
A friend served this curry-flavored salad at a luncheon, and I tweaked it to fit our tastes. Since it's a meal in one, it's perfect for weeknights, and the presentation makes it ideal for entertaining. —Pat Sellon of Monticello, Wisconsin
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Day 4: Italian Turkey Meatballs
What's not to love about moist and tender homemade Italian meatballs? Because they're made with lean turkey, they're lower in saturated fat, too! —Mary Berg, Lake Elmo, Minnesota
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Day 5: Lemon-Dijon Pork Sheet Pan Supper
Most nights I need something that I can get on the table with minimal effort and delicious results. This sheet-pan supper has become an all-time favorite, not only because of its bright flavors but also because of its speedy cleanup time. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah
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Day 7: Herbed Balsamic Chicken
Our kitchen is tiny and cramped, so we try to grill simple (but tasty) meals outside as often as possible during the summer months. Dried herbs work as well, but during the summer use fresh herbs for the best taste. —Kelly Evans, Denton, Texas
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Day 8: Naked Fish Tacos
This is one of my husband's all-time favorite meals. I've even converted some friends to fish after eating this. I serve it with fresh melon when it's in season to balance the subtle heat of the cabbage mixture. —Elizabeth Bramkamp, Gig Harbor, Washington
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Day 9: Asian Chicken Rice Bowl
This super flavorful, nutrient-packed dish makes use of supermarket conveniences like coleslaw mix and rotisserie chicken. This recipe is easily doubled or tripled for large families. —Christianna Gozzi, Asteria, New York
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Day 11: Tilapia with Lemon Caper Sauce
My husband and I are always trying to increase the amount of fish in our diet. This recipe is fast, easy and enjoyable, even for non-fish lovers. —Catherine Jensen, Blytheville, Arkansas
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Day 12: Chicken Ole Foil Supper
These Tex Mex–style chicken packets can be assembled ahead and frozen if you like. Just thaw them overnight in the fridge, then grill as directed. I like to serve them with warm tortillas and fresh fruit on the side. —Mary Peck, Salina, Kansas
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Day 13: Balsamic Roasted Vegetable Primavera
Roasting makes veggies an irresistible part of this light but filling dinner. —Carly Curtin, Ellicott City, Maryland
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Day 14: Parmesan Chicken with Lemon Rice
I like the challenge of inventing recipes with ingredients I have on hand. This easy-peasy meal fits the bill. —Colleen Doucette, Truro, Nova Scotia
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Day 15: Pork Tacos with Mango Salsa
I've made quite a few tacos in my day, but you can't beat the tender filling made in a slow cooker. These are by far the best pork tacos we've had—and we've tried plenty. Make the mango salsa from scratch if you have time! Yum. —Amber Massey, Argyle, Texas
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Day 16: Sauteed Pork Chops with Garlic Spinach
My family enjoys cooking easy and delicious meals. This pork chop recipe is also inexpensive, which makes cooking easier for everyone. Keep an eye on the spinach—it cooks fast! —Joe Valerio, Whitinsville, Massachusetts
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Day 17: Apple-Onion Pork Tenderloin
This slightly sweet and tender pork tenderloin with apples is quick enough to make for a weeknight, but I often serve it on special occasions. It tastes amazing served with mashed potatoes or over egg noodles. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, ID
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Day 18: Bulgur Jambalaya
I like making this dish because it allows me to stay on track for my weight loss without giving up foods I love. —Nicholas Monfre, Oak Ridge, New Jersey
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Day 19: Chicken Provolone
Chicken Provolone, though one of my simplest dishes, is one of my husband’s favorites. It is easy to prepare and looks fancy served on a dark plate with a garnish of fresh parsley or basil. Add some buttered noodles for an easy side dish. —Dawn Bryant, Thedford, Nebraska
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Day 20: Tuna Teriyaki Kabobs
I love to barbecue but don't always want a heavy dinner. These are perfect in the spring, and you'll have room for dessert! —Holly Battiste, Barrington, New Jersey
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Day 22: Spicy Mongolian Beef Salad
This light and loaded beef salad even satisfies my meat-loving husband. —Marla Clark, Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Day 23: Pork Chops with Nectarine Sauce
As a dietitian, I’m always looking for ways to make meals healthy and delicious. These juicy chops are fast, too. —Suellen Pineda, Victor, New York
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Day 24: Grilled Chicken and Mango Skewers
The inspiration for this recipe came from the charbroiled chicken skewers I used to enjoy while strolling along Calle Ocho in Miami on Sunday afternoons. Feel free to garnish them with sesame seeds or spritz them with fresh lime juice. —Wolfgang Hanau, West Palm Beach, Florida
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Day 25: Honey-Roasted Chicken & Root Vegetables
When my whole family comes over for dinner, I make a big platter of roast chicken with sweet potatoes, carrots and fennel. My dad leads the fan club. —Kelly Ferguson, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
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Day 26: Greek Fish Bake
As a military spouse living overseas, I got the chance to try many styles of cooking. Here's a Mediterranean-inspired recipe that we still love today. —Stacey Boyd, Springfield, Virginia
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Day 27: Southern Pork & Rice
At our house, we're big on healthy eating. These ultra tender chops with colorful rice and black-eyed peas are a meal fancy enough for a dinner party. —Annie Holmes, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
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Day 28: Spice-Rubbed Lamb Chops
One of my absolute favorite meals to eat anytime is lamb chops! My girls, Hanna and Amani, love watching me make my delicious chops, but they love eating them even more. —Nareman Dietz, Beverly Hills, Michigan
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Day 29: White Wine Garlic Chicken
This garlic chicken is fantastic over cooked brown rice or your favorite pasta. Don't forget a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese too. —Heather Esposito, Rome, New York
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Day 30: Portobello Polenta Stacks
My friends and I have recently started growing portobello mushrooms from kits we found at a farmers market. We love to try new recipes—like this one—with our harvest. —Breanne Heath, Chicago, IllinoisOriginally Published: March 25, 2020
