Healthy Recipes to Kickstart the New Year

The start of the year is always a good opportunity to make changes to your diet and embrace healthier ways of eating. If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to eat healthier, we have a number of recipes that will help you. 

From protein-packed poke bowls to frozen yoghurt ice blocks, there’s something for everyone! Each recipe is enriched with the natural sweetness of pure Canadian maple syrup, adding a touch of indulgence to your New Year’s meals without compromising their nutritional value.

Maple salmon poke bowls 

Packed with healthy, seasonal ingredients and relatively easy to make, this salmon poke bowl recipe is great for working lunches or light, alfresco dinners. 

Taking centre stage is the glazed salmon, marinated in a sweet and spicy sauce made with maple syrup, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar and lime juice. 

The salmon cubes are laid on a bed of fluffy rice, along with mango, carrots, avocado, capsicums, cucumber, green onions and red cabbage. 

The only cooking involved in this recipe is with the toasted sesame seeds, which pair well with the spicy maple sauce and provide the finishing flourish for the dish.

Maple frozen yoghurt ice blocks

Loaded with protein and a natural source of energy, these yoghurt-based ice blocks make for a great pre-workout snack or a healthier alternative to your favourite ice creams. 

They’re incredibly refreshing and offer a great way to beat the heat during the summer months. 

The ice blocks are made by simmering berries, lemon juice and maple syrup in a saucepan before leaving the mixture to cool and then adding yoghurt, maple sugar and vanilla extract.

Then, the mixture is churned and placed into your preferred ice block moulds, ready for freezing. If you want to make these ice blocks even healthier, make sure to use fat-free natural yoghurt!

Maple and chilli chicken noodle soup

Healthy, comforting and utterly delicious, this Asian chicken noodle soup is well worth trying out if you’re looking to lead a more balanced diet in the New Year. 

Made by boiling a whole chicken in an aromatic homemade stock, the soup is equally rich in flavour and nutritional value. 

The chicken is packed with protein, while additional nutrients are provided by the mushrooms and pak choi, with the dish also being naturally low in fats and sugars. 

If you are left with any extra stock from the recipe, you can bottle it up and reuse it by mixing it into other soups, using it to boil rice or simply reheating and pouring over leftover roast chook.

Maple-roasted potato salad with pesto

This healthy potato salad offers a twist on the classic side dish with roasted potatoes and a couple of special ingredients. 

Complete with its own homemade pesto, this recipe draws on fresh, native produce in warrigal greens and macadamia nuts. 

Drizzled in olive oil and pure maple syrup, the potatoes are roasted with their skins on, achieving the sought-after crispy texture while preserving all those health benefits. 

If you’re unable to find warrigal greens, other leafy greens like kale, spinach or chard can be used as substitutes in the vibrant green pesto.

Cauliflower and tofu maple korma

Ditching the meat and dairy ingredients, this vegan-friendly tofu korma serves as a great crowd-pleaser and also offers plenty of health benefits. 

The creamy sauce is made with blanched almonds, pure maple syrup and various spices, carrying the nutty, aromatic and subtly sweet flavour typically associated with korma sauce. 

The tofu and cauliflower, tossed in maple syrup and olive oil before roasting, provide plenty of protein, fibre and antioxidants. 

A garnish of freshly chopped green onion provides the finishing touches to the dish. You may also choose to throw in a few leafy greens like spinach or kale for added benefit.

Get set for 2024!

It’s not always easy to stick to a regimented diet plan, but by adding a few new healthy dishes to your repertoire, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your health goals this year. 

If you’re looking for more healthy recipes incorporating the rich sweetness of maple syrup, make sure to explore the rest of our maple syrup recipes!