Your March Healthy Meal Plan

Day 1: Sweet & Tangy Salmon with Green Beans

I’m always up for new ways to cook salmon. In this dish, a sweet sauce gives the fish and green beans some down-home barbecue tang. It’s a delicious addition to a March menu plan. Even our kids love it! —Aliesha Caldwell, Robersonville, North Carolina

Go to Recipe

Goes Great With: Spinach Salad with Raspberries & Candied Walnuts

Day 2: English Pub Split Pea Soup

This family favorite is the same recipe my grandmother used. Now with the magic of the slow cooker, I can spend 15 minutes putting it together, walk away for five hours, and come back to "soup's on." Finish it with more milk if you like your soup a bit thinner. —Judy Batson, Tampa, Florida

Goes Great With: Mixed Greens with Lemon Champagne Vinaigrette

Day 3: Baked Lemon Chicken

I found this baked lemon chicken recipe many years ago when my children were toddlers. I've changed it a little over the years to make it my own. Everyone in my family just loves it!

Goes Great With: Fingerling Potatoes with Fresh Parsley and Chives

Day 4: Air-Fryer Spicy Turkey Tenderloin

Looking for an easy turkey dish that’s sure to wake up your taste buds? It’s great to serve this air-fryer turkey tenderloin for Thanksgiving when you have a small group. It’s easy to double if you have space in your air fryer. —Sharon Skildum, Maple Grove, Minnesota

Goes Great With: Lemon Garlic Mushrooms

Day 5: Best Ever Lamb Chops

My mom just loved a good lamb chop, and this easy recipe was her favorite way to prepare them. I’ve also grilled these chops with amazing results. —Kim Mundy, Visalia, California

Goes Great With: Zucchini Mushroom Bake

Day 6: Garden Chicken Cacciatore

Treat company to this perfect Italian meal. You’ll have time to visit with your guests while it simmers, and it often earns rave reviews. I like to serve it with couscous, green beans and a dry red wine. Mangia! —Martha Schirmacher, Sterling Heights, Michigan

Goes Great With: Pesto Pasta & Potatoes

Day 7: Cashew Chicken with Ginger

There are lots of recipes for cashew chicken, but my family thinks this one stands alone. We love the flavor from the fresh ginger and the crunch of the cashews. Another plus is it's easy to prepare. —Oma Rollison, El Cajon, California

Goes Great With: Roasted Sugar Snap Peas

Day 8: Turkey Cabbage Stew

Chock-full of ground turkey, cabbage, carrots and tomatoes, this turkey cabbage soup delivers delicious down-home comfort on cool days. If you don’t like cabbage, replace it with chopped green peppers. Simply saute the peppers with the turkey, onion and garlic. —Susan Lasken, Woodland Hills, California

Goes Great With: Tender Whole Wheat Rolls

Day 9: Pork Chops & Mushrooms

My mother-in-law gave me this recipe years ago, and I have used it ever since. My family loves the sweetness with a little kick.—Hilary Rigo, Wickenburg, Arizona

Day 10: Snappy Tuna Melts

I lightened up a tuna melt by switching mayo to creamy balsamic vinaigrette. Kids and adults both go for this quick meal hero. —Christine Schenher, Exeter, California

Goes Great With: Warm Tasty Greens with Garlic

Day 11: Roasted Vegetable Strata

With the abundance of zucchini my family has in the fall, this is the perfect dish to use some of what we have. Cheesy and rich, the warm, classic breakfast dish is sure to please! —Colleen Doucette, Truro, Nova Scotia

Goes Great With: Lemon Almond Asparagus

Day 12: Parmesan Chicken with Artichoke Hearts

I've liked the chicken and artichoke combo for a long time. Here's my own lemony twist. With all the praise it gets, this dinner is so much fun to serve. —Carly Giles, Hoquiam, Washington

Goes Great With: Lemon Pepper Roasted Broccoli

Day 13: Easy Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps

One time when making sloppy joes, I wanted mine spicy, so I doused it in hot sauce. After that, my mind went wild and I made it Buffalo chicken-style with ground chicken, diced celery and blue cheese crumbles. I've been making it this way ever since. —Jennifer Nielson, Spanish Fork, Utah

Goes Great With: Grilled Brussels Sprouts

Day 14: Cod with Bacon & Balsamic Tomatoes

Let's face it, everything really is better with bacon. I fry it, add cod fillets to the pan and finish it all with a big, tomato-y pop. —Maureen McClanahan, St. Louis, Missouri

Goes Great With: Garlic Asiago Cauliflower Rice

Day 15: Arugula & Brown Rice Salad

When we have company, arugula with brown rice is always on the menu. It’s my go-to pick for the potluck and party circuit, and I'm always sharing the recipe. —Mindy Oswalt, Winnetka, California

Day 16: Slow-Cooked Lemon Chicken

Garlic, oregano and lemon juice give spark to this memorable main dish. It's easy to fix—just brown the chicken in a skillet, then let the slow cooker do the work. I like to serve this dish to company. —Walter Powell, Wilmington, Delaware

Goes Great With: Creamy Roasted Garlic & Spinach Orzo

Day 17: St. Paddy’s Irish Beef Dinner

A variation on shepherd’s pie, this hearty dish brings together saucy beef, mashed potatoes, parsnips and other vegetables. It’s always the star of our March 17 meal. —Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario

Goes Great With: Carrot and Kale Vegetable Saute

Day 18: Tandoori Spiced Chicken Pita Pizza with Greek Yogurt and Cilantro

My family and I are big picnickers, and I'm always looking for new dishes to try in the great outdoors. The amazing flavors at our favorite Indian restaurant inspired these mini pizzas. —Angela Spengler, Tampa, Florida

Goes Great With: Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini Yogurt Sauce

Day 19: Southwest Chicken Barley Chowder

Mashed squash helps make this chowder creamy but not heavy, and it's a favorite way to get barley on the table. My kids even ask for leftovers for lunch. —Pamela Cleghorn, Campbellsburg, Indiana

Goes Great With: Simple Vegetarian Slow-Cooked Beans

Day 20: Vegetable & Beef Stuffed Red Peppers

I love making this stuffed pepper recipe. It's one of the few ways I can get my husband to eat veggies. Make it meatless by replacing the beef with eggplant and adding more vegetables like mushrooms or squash. You can also replace the rice with barley, couscous or even orzo. —Jennifer Zimmerman, Avondale, Arizona

Goes Great With: Grilled Cabbage

Day 21: Bacon-Garlic Chicken

Help yourself to my wonderful Italian stovetop chicken. It can be thrown together in minutes but tastes like you made a big fuss. —Yvonne Starlin, Westmoreland, Tennessee

Goes Great With: Smoky Quinoa with Mushrooms

Day 22: Fabulous Fajitas

I've enjoyed cooking since I was a girl growing up in the Southwest. When friends call to ask me for new recipes to try, I suggest these flavorful fajitas. It's wonderful to put the beef in the slow cooker before church and come home to a hot delicious main dish. —Janie Reitz, Rochester, Minnesota

Goes Great With: Grilled Street Corn

Day 23: Easy Crab Cakes

Ready-to-go crabmeat makes these delicate patties easier than other crab cake recipes. You can also form the crab mixture into four thick patties instead of eight crab cakes. —Charlene Spelock, Apollo, Pennsylvania

Goes Great With: Cranberry Wild Rice Pilaf

Day 24: 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

Goes Great With: Grilled Broccoli

Day 25: Tuna and White Bean Lettuce Wraps

Here's a fabulous way to dress up ordinary tuna salad. This easy recipe makes a quick dinner or lunch at the office, and it's good for you. —Heather Senger, Madison, Wisconsin

Goes Great With: Spinach Rice

Day 26: Pineapple Shrimp Fried Rice

My husband often ordered pineapple fried rice at Thai restaurants, so I surprised him by tweaking some similar recipes to come up with a version that's both simple and delicious. —Bonnie Brien, Pacific Grove, California

Goes Great With: Spinach, Apple & Pecan Salad

Day 27: Garlic Spaghetti Squash with Meat Sauce

I have reduced grains and other starches in my diet due to health reasons, so I was looking for filling, comforting meals without pasta or potatoes. When I was tinkering with this spaghetti squash recipe, I discovered something fun to eat! —Becky Ruff, Mc Gregor, Iowa

Goes Great With: Mashed Peppery Turnips

Day 28: Crumb-Coated Red Snapper

I reel in compliments with this moist, crispy red snapper recipe. Heart-healthy omega-3 oils are an added bonus with my simple but delicious entree that’s done in mere minutes. It’s one of the best red snapper recipes I’ve found. —Charlotte Elliott, Neenah, Wisconsin

Goes Great With: Sauteed Squash with Tomatoes & Onions

Day 29: Maple-Dijon Chicken

Eating dinner as a family every night is really important to us, and this recipe is one that we all love. It's our favorite skillet chicken dish. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas

Goes Great With: Lemon-Basil Roasted Potatoes

Day 30: Turkey Gyros

Greek seasoning, feta cheese and dill-cucumber sauce give this gyro an authentic taste. It was my family's introduction to how really good pita bread can be. Instead of feta cheese, we'll sprinkle on cheddar or Monterey Jack if we have it. —Donna Garvin, Glens Falls, New York

Goes Great With: Smoky White Beans & Ham

Day 31: Caribbean Shrimp & Rice Bowl

I had a similar rice bowl on vacation and re-created this lighter version at home. It takes me back to the islands every time I make it. Try grilling the shrimp for more beachy flavor. —Lauren Katz, Ashburn, Virginia

Goes Great With: Cumin-Roasted Carrots