25 Light And Fresh Meals To Recover From The Thanksgiving Feast

After a Thanksgiving full of heavy dishes and endless leftovers, lighter meals can feel like a much-needed reset. These recipes focus on fresh ingredients and straightforward preparation, helping you ease back into normal eating without overloading your plate—or your sink. From quick salads to simple mains, they’re a perfect way to recover from the feast while keeping things flavorful and easy.

A vibrant dish featuring grilled shrimp on a bed of white rice, accompanied by a fresh salad of sliced peaches, avocado, red onion, and cilantro. Lime wedges are placed on the side for garnish, all served in a dark bowl. — Photo credit: A Latin Flair.

Avocado Lentil Cranberry Salad

Avocado lentil salad in a bowl with serving spoon and silver plate with fork. — Avocado Lentil Cranberry Salad. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Creamy avocado and tart cranberries tossed with lentils in a lemon dressing. Perfect for a post-holiday reset meal that doesn’t skimp on flavor.
Get the Recipe: Avocado Lentil Cranberry Salad

Baby Kale Salad

Baby kale, tahini dressing, and roasted chickpeas come together for a salad that’s quick, crunchy, and full of plant-based goodness.
Get the Recipe: Baby Kale Salad

Lentil Tabbouleh

A fresh twist on tabbouleh with lentils and lemony herbs. Light, refreshing, and perfect when you need something simple and satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Lentil Tabbouleh

Smoked Salmon Salad

Smoked salmon and fresh veggies topped with Dijon dressing make this salad feel light but still filling. A great way to keep it fresh post-feast.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Salmon Salad

Blackened Cod

Bold spices meet a quick pan-sear in this blackened cod. Light and fresh, it’s just the kind of no-hassle dinner that’s great after a feast-heavy week.
Get the Recipe: Blackened Cod

Baked Sablefish

Honey lime sablefish with jalapeño corn salsa in a bowl with a fork. — Baked Sablefish. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Sweet honey lime glaze meets a spicy jalapeno corn salsa for a baked sablefish that feels light but hits all the right notes. Perfect for keeping things flavorful without overloading your plate.
Get the Recipe: Baked Sablefish

Thai Basil Cashew Chicken Skillet

Thai basil cashew chicken in a cast iron skillet. — Thai Basil Cashew Chicken Skillet. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Packed with basil, crunchy cashews, and a quick savory sauce, this one-skillet meal is a fresh way to make weeknight dinners exciting without a ton of cleanup.
Get the Recipe: Thai Basil Cashew Chicken Skillet

Vegetable Bean Skillet

Cast iron skillet with beans and vegetables. — Vegetable Bean Skillet. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Fresh veggies and hearty beans come together in this quick skillet meal. It’s light but still packs a punch, perfect for keeping things simple after indulging.
Get the Recipe: Vegetable Bean Skillet

Cod Piccata

A tangy lemon and caper sauce takes this cod to the next level. Fresh, bright, and ready in no time, it’s exactly what you need to shake off a heavy eating streak.
Get the Recipe: Cod Piccata

Spicy Shrimp Bowl with Rice and Peach Avocado Salad

Packed with shrimp, fresh peaches, and creamy avocado, this bowl keeps things light and flavorful. A perfect way to bounce back after heavy meals.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Shrimp Bowl with Rice and Peach Avocado Salad

Pomegranate Feta Salad with Spinach and Clementines

This salad is loaded with spinach, pomegranate seeds, and sweet clementines. Bright, refreshing, and ready in minutes—perfect for feeling like yourself again.
Get the Recipe: Pomegranate Feta Salad with Spinach and Clementines

Salmon Quinoa Salad with Miso Vinaigrette

Quinoa and salmon team up with crisp veggies and a miso vinaigrette. Fresh, quick, and balanced, it’s a great option to reset your palate.
Get the Recipe: Salmon Quinoa Salad with Miso Vinaigrette

Thai Grapefruit Salad with Shrimp

A bold combo of shrimp and grapefruit with a tangy-sweet vinaigrette. Ready in under 15 minutes, it’s light and full of energy.
Get the Recipe: Thai Grapefruit Salad with Shrimp

Cabbage and Arugula Salad with Crunchy Pickles

Crunchy cabbage and peppery arugula get a fun upgrade with pickles. A quick and simple way to make salads less boring and more exciting.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage and Arugula Salad with Crunchy Pickles

Noodles with Shrimp & Garlicky Cashew Pesto

Shrimp and noodles tossed in a cashew pesto sauce that packs a garlicky punch. A quick, flavorful option when you want dinner without the dishes.
Get the Recipe: Noodles with Shrimp & Garlicky Cashew Pesto

Tomato Zucchini Salad

Simple but not boring—fresh zucchini and tomato come together for a salad that’s light, quick, and perfect for pairing with anything.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Zucchini Salad

Salmon Crudo with Brown Butter, Citrus, and Soy

Fresh salmon meets citrus and soy with a hit of brown butter. It’s quick, bright, and exactly what you need to keep things fresh and flavorful.
Get the Recipe: Salmon Crudo with Brown Butter, Citrus, and Soy

Ground Beef Taco Bowls

Ground beef and fresh toppings come together in a bowl that’s quick, satisfying, and just messy enough to be fun. Perfect for weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Taco Bowls

Incredible Chicken Piccata Pasta

Lemony, creamy chicken piccata pasta ready in 25 minutes. A fast, flavorful way to shake up your dinner routine when you’re short on time.
Get the Recipe: Incredible Chicken Piccata Pasta

Lupini Bean Salad

Protein-packed lupini beans tossed in a zippy lemon dressing. This salad is light enough for lunch but hearty enough to stand alone.
Get the Recipe: Lupini Bean Salad

Seared Tuna Salad with Ginger-Lime Dressing

Sesame-crusted tuna paired with crunchy veggies and a bright ginger-lime dressing. A fresh, light choice that feels anything but boring.
Get the Recipe: Seared Tuna Salad with Ginger-Lime Dressing

Cold Cucumber Green Gazpacho

Cool, creamy, and packed with veggies, this gazpacho is like a reset button for your appetite. Perfect for keeping it light and fresh.
Get the Recipe: Cold Cucumber Green Gazpacho

Thai Lettuce Wraps

Crunchy veggies, juicy pineapple, and peanut sauce wrapped in lettuce. A fresh, fun way to make dinner hands-on without being heavy.
Get the Recipe: Thai Lettuce Wraps

Tofu Watercress Salad

Peppery watercress meets crispy tofu in a salad that’s as quick as it is refreshing. A great way to sneak in some greens with plenty of flavor.
Get the Recipe: Tofu Watercress Salad

Chicken Salad Sandwich

Fresh avocado, crunchy veggies, and juicy chicken on toasted bread. This sandwich is a great way to keep it light while still feeling satisfied.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Salad Sandwich

Gina Matsoukas

Founder and Writer at Running to the Kitchen | About

Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.