dinner.. party of one!

Because I live by myself now, cooking dinner has been tough. Cooking for one person is a definite challenge, especially when you are not a huge fan of leftovers (not to mention a lot of dinner foods to me are not very good on the 2nd day.. except pasta). 

Being a healthy eater, I also love food that is packed high with flavor. Nutritious foods can often times be super bland. So, with the help of Her Campus, I leave you with these 5 recipes-for-one ... high in bold tastes and low in fat and calories.

Spicy-Sweet Buffalo Chicken Breast Sandwich:

A healthy, tangy triumph over any chain’s calorie-laden Buffalo bomb.

Ingredients

• 1 thawed chicken breast
• 1 wheat hamburger bun
• 2 Tbsps. Teriyaki Sauce
• 4 Tbsps. Hot Wing Sauce
• 1 tsp. of garlic powder
• optional: lettuce, tomato, onion, 1 oz. bleu cheese

Directions

1. Place chicken breast on aluminum foil in glass oven safe dish and sprinkle with garlic powder.
2. Mix together the Teriyaki and wing sauce.
3. Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Light French Toast:

Breakfast-for-supper is the perfect midweek pleasure.

Ingredients

• 2 slices whole wheat bread
• 1/4 cup skim or 1% milk
• 1/2 cup Egg Beaters
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. Splenda
• 1 cup strawberries, blueberries, or other fresh fruit
• optional: dusting of powdered sugar, reduced sugar syrup

Directions

1. Mix together all ingredients in a bowl, except bread. Dip each slice of bread on each side into mixture.
2. Coat pan with non-stick spray & turn stove on med/low heat.
3. Place bread in pan for 3-4 minutes on each side.
4. Garnish with fresh fruit.

Spinach Feta Personal Pizza:

This personal pizza is a celebration of cheeses that only taste dangerously decadent.

Ingredients

• 1 La Tortilla Factory wheat tortilla
• 2 Tbsps. pizza sauce
• 10 spinach leaves, fresh
• 1 sliced Roma tomato
• 1 Tbsp. feta cheese
• 2 Tbsps. low fat mozzarella cheese
• optional: 1 slice chopped Canadian bacon, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers

Directions

1. Turn on oven broiler.
2. Spray cookie sheet with non-stick spray and place tortilla on sheet.
3. Toast tortilla lightly on both sides under broiler, approximately 5 minutes.
4. Top tortilla with pizza sauce, spinach leaves, and tomato slices.
5. Sprinkle on feta cheese and mozzarella cheese.
6. Add any optional ingredients and place under broiler until cheese melts.

Spicy BBQ Turkey Burger:

End your week with a restaurant-worthy, big, juicy burger. And no regrets.

Ingredients

• 5 oz. ground turkey
• 1 wheat hamburger bun
• 1/4 medium shallot, minced (about 1 1/2 Tbsp.)
• 1/4 tsp. sea salt
• Pinch of garlic powder
• Pinch of pepper
• 1 tsp. Hellman’s Light Mayonnaise
• 1/4 tsp. Hot Sauce
• 1/4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce or your favorite barbeque sauce
• optional: sliced pickles, tomato, onions

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients into ground turkey with your hands and form a patty.
2. Spray skillet/grill pan on stovetop with cooking spray and heat to medium.
3. Cook burgers for 7 1/2 minutes on each side.
4. Assemble burger on bun and add condiments.

Chile Lime Chicken Taco Salad:

Savory lime-marinated chicken sings in a mouthful alongside crisp Romaine, creamy avocado, and crunchy tortilla strips.

Ingredients

• 3 oz. boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 1 oz. lime juice
• 1 Tbsp. Stubb's Chile Lime seasoning
• 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
• Dash of Adobo seasoning
• 1 1/2 cup Romaine lettuce
• 1/2 cup spinach
• 1/3 cup canned black beans (drained, rinsed)
• 3 Tbsps. salsa
• 2 Tbsps. fat free sour cream
• 1/4 avocado (sliced)
• 1 oz. Tostitos light tortilla chips

Directions

1. Drizzle 2 ounces of olive oil equally in a pan.
2. Cut up chicken into chunks and cook over medium heat until slightly browned.
3. Add lime juice and spices and continue cooking chicken until done.
4. Toss romaine and spinach in a big bowl.
5. Add chicken chunks, black beans, salsa, sour cream, and avocado cut into slices.
6. Sprinkle with crushed tortilla chips.