Your Healthy Meal Plan for May

We've got healthy May recipes that keep you on track all month long. Bonus: The menu comes with healthy dessert ideas, too!

1 / 31

Day 1: Tomato Walnut Tilapia

Tomato, bread crumbs and crunchy walnuts dress up pan tilapia fillets in this favorite recipe. I serve it with cooked julienne carrots and green beans. —Phyl Broich-Wessling, Garner, Iowa

Sweet Ending: Mixed Berry Sundaes

2 / 31

Day 2: Ginger Pork Stir-Fry

My recipe box is full of delicious pork recipes, but this fast-to-fix stir-fry really stands out from the rest. My family loves the citrus glaze that coats the tender pork and vegetables. Ginger, garlic and orange juice provide the glaze's terrific taste. —Jackie Hannahs, Cedar Springs, Michigan

Sweet Ending: Raspberry-Banana Soft Serve

3 / 31

Day 3: Ginger-Glazed Grilled Salmon

Sweet Ending: Fruit & Almond Bites

4 / 31

Day 4: Pot Roast with Asian Black Bean Sauce

I love stir-fry with black bean sauce. This recipe takes the delicious flavor of black bean sauce and joins it with fork-tender pot roast. —Judy Lawson, Chelsea, Michigan

Sweet Ending: Hazelnut Almond Biscotti

5 / 31

Day 5: Healthier-than-Egg Rolls

Frying anything at home is a little intimidating for me, but I love egg rolls. With this recipe, I've figured out a way to get the best part of the eggroll—without the mess. If you prefer a traditional egg rolls made with wrappers, you can use this as the filling! —Sue Mitchell, Leakey, Texas

Sweet Ending: Mango Rice Pudding

6 / 31

Day 6: Wild Rice Mushroom Soup

I think mushrooms often get used only to add flavor, but I think they are delicious enough to be the main part of a meal. This recipe uses a large quantity of mushrooms and the result is delicious. Even though this contains some dairy, it freezes quite well! —Wendy Campbell, New Wilmington, Pennsylvania

Sweet Ending: Warm Chocolate Melting Cups

7 / 31

Day 7: California Burger Bowls

Burgers are a weekly staple at our house year-round. Skip the fries, chips and bun—you won't need them with these loaded veggie & fruit burgers. To spice up the mayo, add 1/2 tsp. of chipotle powder. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas
8 / 31

Day 8: Grilled Garden Veggie Pizza

Pile on the veggies—the crisp, grilled crust can take it! This colorful, healthy pizza looks as fresh as it tastes. —Diane Halferty, Corpus Christi, Texas

Sweet Ending: Baked Banana Boats

9 / 31

Day 9: Slow-Cooked Vegetable Curry

I love the fuss-free nature of the slow cooker, but I don't want to sacrifice flavor for convenience. This cozy, spiced-up dish has both. —Susan Smith, Mead, Washington

Sweet Ending: Fruit & Granola Crisp with Yogurt

10 / 31

Day 10: Pesto Corn Salad with Shrimp

This recipe showcases the beautiful bounty of summer with its fresh corn, tomatoes and delicious basil. Prevent browning by spritzing the salad with lemon juice. —Deena Bowen, Chico, California

Sweet Ending: Ginger Plum Tart

11 / 31

Day 11: Chicken Quinoa Salad

We pile our favorite gyro fixin’s into nutritious quinoa bowls. Our local gyro guy has a cool but spicy sauce that transforms his sandwiches. It’s a must here, too. —Leah Lyon, Ada, Oklahoma

Sweet Ending: Healthy Apple Crisp

12 / 31

Day 12: Salmon & Feta Wilted Spinach Salad

Sweet Ending: Carrot Cookie Bites

13 / 31

Day 13: Chicken & Spanish Cauliflower Rice

I learned about the paleo diet from some friends who now have tons of energy and are super fit. Since then, I’ve changed my eating habits, too. Everyone from my dad to my little nephew loves this chicken in Spanish cauliflower rice. —Megan Schmoldt, Westminster, Colorado

Sweet Ending: Low-Fat Peanut Butter Cookies

14 / 31

Day 14: Zingy Baked Chicken Nuggets

These crispy chicken nuggets have just the right amount of spice. Yogurt makes them extra tender. —Lee Evans, Queen Creek, Arizona

Sweet Ending: Picnic Berry Shortcakes

15 / 31

Day 15: Roasted Butternut Squash Tacos

Spicy butternut squash makes such a great base for these vegetarian tacos. I’m always looking for quick and nutritious weeknight dinners for my family. These fit the bill and are so delicious! —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah
16 / 31

Day 16: Lemon-Parsley Tilapia

I like to include seafood in our weekly dinner rotation but don't want to bother with anything complicated (and it had better taste good or the family will riot). This herbed fish does the trick. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho

Sweet Ending: Light Cheesecake

17 / 31

Day 17: Chicken & Goat Cheese Skillet

My husband was completely bowled over by this on-a-whim goat cheese and chicken skillet meal. I can't wait to make it again very soon! —Ericka Barber, Eureka, California

Sweet Ending: Strawberry Sorbet Sensation

18 / 31

Day 18: Shrimp Scampi Spinach Salad

My husband and I really enjoy both shrimp scampi and fresh spinach salad, so I put the two together. My oldest son loves it, too, and he's only 3! —Jamie Porter, Garnett, Kansas

Sweet Ending: Chocolate-Dipped Phyllo Sticks

19 / 31

Day 19: Creamy Dijon Chicken

This chicken dish is extremely fast and economical. It makes a nice sauce that works well over brown rice or wide noodles. If you want extra sauce for leftovers, double the recipe. —Irene Boffo, Fountain Hills, Arizona

Sweet Ending: Cinnamon Nut Bars

20 / 31

Day 20: Black Bean & Sweet Potato Rice Bowls

I have three hungry boys in my house, so dinners need to be quick and filling, and it helps to get in some veggies, too. This one is a favorite because it's hearty and fun to tweak with different ingredients. —Kim Van Dunk, Caldwell, New Jersey

Sweet Ending: Black Bean Brownies

21 / 31

Day 21: Grilled Asian Chicken Pasta Salad

This cool noodle salad makes a great casual one-bowl dinner or a perfect dish for a potluck or buffet. —Sharon Tipton, Casselberry, Florida

Sweet Ending: Vanilla Meringue Cookies

22 / 31

Day 22: Glazed Pork on Sweet Potato Beds

Sweet Ending: Chunky Banana Cream Freeze

23 / 31

Day 23: Ginger Halibut with Brussels Sprouts

I moved to the United States from Russia and love cooking Russian food for family and friends. Halibut with soy sauce, ginger and pepper is a favorite. —Margarita Parker, New Bern, North Carolina

Sweet Ending: Lemon Blueberry Cornmeal Cake

24 / 31

Day 24: Market Basket Soup

I use kohlrabi in this soothing veggie soup. The vegetable has a mellow broccoli-cabbage flavor and can be served raw, but this is my favorite way to eat it. —Kellie Foglio, Salem, Wisconsin

Sweet Ending: Baked Apple Surprise

25 / 31

Day 25: Asian Beef & Noodles

I created this dish on a whim to feed my hungry teenagers. It's since become a dinnertime staple, and now two of my grandchildren make it in their own kitchens. —Judy Batson, Tampa, FL

Sweet Ending: Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Meringue Roses

26 / 31

Day 26: One-Pan Chicken Rice Curry

I've been loving the subtle spice from curry lately, so I incorporated it into this saucy chicken and rice dish. It's a one-pan meal that's become a go-to dinnertime favorite. —Mary Lou Timpson, Colorado City, Arizona
27 / 31

Day 27: Chicken Pasta Caesar Salad

My colleagues and I made a pact to eat healthier, and we took turns sharing dishes. I'm happy to report that, thanks to recipes like this crisp and tangy salad, we all trimmed down. —Teresa Jordan, Springville, Utah

Sweet Ending: Marinated Oranges

28 / 31

Day 28: Crispy Almond Tilapia

Since changing to a healthier style of cooking, I’ve come up with new coatings for baked fish. I use almonds, panko bread crumbs and a smidge of hot sauce to add crunchy texture with nice heat. —Amanda Flinner, Beaver, Pennsylvania

Sweet Ending: Citrusy Fruit Kabobs

29 / 31

Day 29: Hazelnut Asparagus Soup

My heart is happy when bundles of tender local asparagus start to appear at my grocery store in spring. No one would ever guess this restaurant-quality vegetarian soup can be prepared in less than 30 minutes. —Cindy Beberman, Orland Park, Illinois

Sweet Ending: Blackberry-Topped Sponge Cakes

30 / 31

Day 30: Cedar Plank Salmon with Blackberry Sauce

Here's my go-to entree for a warm-weather cookout. The salmon has a rich, grilled taste that's enhanced by the savory blackberry sauce. It's a nice balance of sweet, smoky and spicy. —Stephanie Matthews, Tempe, AZ

Sweet Ending: Lemon-Apricot Fruit Pops

31 / 31

Day 31: Grilled Pork Tacos

My family raves about this moist pork with smoked paprika and pineapple. I dish it up next to brown rice and a salad of avocado and tomatoes. —E Gelesky, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania

Sweet Ending: Grilled Angel Food Cake with Strawberries

Sue Stetzel
Sue has been working with Taste of Home since 2011. When she isn’t writing, she’s answering your burning cooking questions and working with our team of Community Cooks. She spends her free time cooking, crafting, and volunteering for various organizations in her home town.