Hot Meals in 30 Minutes

"I don't have time to cook." If this is your go-to excuse for eating frozen dinners and take-out every night, you'd better find a new excuse. Here are five healthy, hot meals ready in 30 minutes or less.

Swapping in turkey sausage leaves you with about a third of the calories, a quarter of the fat, and four times the fiber of a traditional sausage dish. Tossing in some red peppers will give you a boost of vitamin C and lycopene, which may lower your risk of certain cancers.

Try this recipe:Sausage and Peppers

Simple and satisfying, this chicken dish works well on a low-carb diet. Plus, this dish is a nutritional powerhouse, with heart-healthy avocados and antioxidant-rich tomatoes from the salsa. In 15 short minutes, you'll have a delicious and healthy dinner.

Try this recipe:Mexicali Chicken

Enjoy the creamy texture of this dish for less than 200 calories. Though the mushrooms are a good source of potassium, which may help lower high blood pressure, add nutrient-packed spinach and/or tomatoes to boost your vitamin C intake.

Try this recipe:Tilapia in Mustard Cream Sauce

This cheesy pasta is the perfect base for a low-cholesterol meal. Using part-skim ricotta cheese keeps the fat at a fraction of the amount found in alfredo sauce, and the lemon adds the perfect tangy complement.

Try green beans with citrus vinaigrette as a side dish.

Try this recipe:Ricotta and Lemon-Basil Pasta

Relying on an array of spices, instead of fatty oils, this Indian-inspired dish is low in cholesterol and saturated fat. Buttery in taste, chickpeas are full of fiber, protein, and iron. Combine them with vitamin-rich spinach and you have a vegetarian dish that won't have you reaching for a snack an hour later. A sprinkling of ground red pepper takes this dish from spicy to hot!

Try this recipe:Chickpeas With Spinach