21 Dinners to Help Boost Your Mood on Shorter Days By Camryn Alexa Wimberly Camryn Alexa Wimberly Camryn Wimberly is EatingWell's Editorial Fellow. As a food and mental health blogger, Camryn explores how food and cooking can help improve mental health and also be an avenue to connect with one's culture and heritage. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on December 9, 2024 Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is the senior nutrition editor for EatingWell. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Close Credit: Greg DuPree As the days get shorter, we could all use a little pick-me-up. That’s why we’ve pulled together these recipes that rely on nourishing ingredients like kale, salmon and yogurt that research has linked to improved mood and lower stress. These satisfying meals also include delicious winter produce, like sweet potatoes, beets, cranberries and winter squash, for a seasonal meal that will hit the spot. Recipes like our Sheet-Pan Salmon with Sweet Potatoes & Broccoli or our Farro Risotto with Mushrooms & Greens are cozy ways to brighten winter’s short days. Love any of these recipes? Tap "Save" to add them to MyRecipes, your new, free recipe box for EatingWell. 01 of 21 Sheet-Pan Salmon with Sweet Potatoes & Broccoli photography / Caitlin bensel, Food Styling / Emily Nabors Hall View Recipe Save The vibrant combo of cheese, cilantro, chili, and lime—inspired by Mexican street corn—makes this salmon sheet-pan dinner burst with flavor. 02 of 21 Roasted Sweet Potato & Beet Sandwiches Photography: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco View Recipe Save These hearty sandwiches are piled high with veggies—including earthy roasted beets and sweet potatoes, lemony arugula and quick-pickled onions—for a satisfying dinner. 03 of 21 Farro Risotto with Mushrooms & Greens Greg DuPree View Recipe Save Guests who choose to wander around Oak Hill Café in Greenville, South Carolina, know that chef David Porras has his own farm out back. This dish is a tasty way he uses up stems from leafy greens, flowers from bolted herbs, and other odds and ends from his copious beds. 04 of 21 Spinach & Artichoke Dip Soup Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle View Recipe Save This creamy soup captures the essence of spinach-artichoke dip perfectly. A touch of lemon juice adds a refreshing zing. Mop up every last bit with a hearty slice of whole-grain country bread or garnish the soup with crushed pita chips for extra crunch. 05 of 21 Buffalo Cauliflower Grain Bowl Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower View Recipe Save This Buffalo cauliflower grain bowl is a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional Buffalo wings, packing plenty of gut-healthy fiber and plant-based protein. It features a variety of fresh and colorful vegetables on a bed of precooked brown rice to keep prep speedy. Feel free to swap out the rice for another whole grain. 06 of 21 Rosemary Roasted Salmon with Asparagus & Potatoes View Recipe Save Yukon Golds are great here because they get crispy on the outside but completely creamy on the inside. A brush stroke or two of balsamic glaze provides a rich color and a sweet finish to the roasted salmon. 07 of 21 Slow-Cooker Kale & Sausage Stew Ali Redmond View Recipe Save Turkey sausage gets transformed in this rich stew made with hearty winter vegetables like carrots, kale and potatoes. Perfect for meal prep or family dinners, this stew comes together easily in the slow cooker. 08 of 21 Sheet-Pan Chili-Lime Salmon with Potatoes & Peppers View Recipe Save Busy weeknights beg for something simple like this salmon sheet-pan dinner. Like the name suggests, it’s all cooked on one pan. The potatoes get a head start, followed by sweet bell peppers and finally chili-coated salmon fillets. It’s a complete meal with easy cleanup! 09 of 21 Roasted Chickpea & Cauliflower Pitas with Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Nicole Hopper, Prop Stylist: Tucker Vines View Recipe Save These pitas are piled high with roasted veggies for a satisfying vegetarian dinner. Bibb lettuce works well with these pitas, but a handful of arugula leaves would be just as nice. If you have it, a garam masala or shawarma spice blend can be used in place of the spices. 10 of 21 Skillet Salmon with Orzo & Green Pea Pesto Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco View Recipe Save This delightful one-pan dinner combines salmon fillets with fresh green pea pesto and orzo pasta. Green pea pesto adds a unique twist to the traditional pesto, bringing a hint of sweetness, body and a vibrant green color to your plate. 11 of 21 Sheet-Pan Chicken Thighs with Sweet Potatoes & Broccolini Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell View Recipe Save Chicken thighs and sweet potato get crispy in the oven while broccolini roasts alongside in a foil packet for even cooking and easy cleanup. Pro tip: Place the chicken thighs in the corners of the baking sheet, where there is more air circulation, for crispy skin. 12 of 21 Roasted Salmon with Spicy Cranberry Relish View Recipe Save This ruby-red cranberry relish recipe gets refreshing crunch from apple and celery. It's also delightful alongside a roast chicken or pork loin. 13 of 21 Chickpea Pasta with Mushrooms & Kale Greg DuPree View Recipe Save Loading up your pasta with vegetables like the kale and mushrooms here is not only delicious, it also makes the meal more satisfying. 14 of 21 Creamy Spinach-Artichoke Salmon Photographer / Brie Passano Styling / Annie Probst / Holly Raibikis View Recipe Save For this quick and easy dinner for four, the vegetables and sauce come together in one skillet in a matter of minutes while the salmon broils. Plus, salmon is swimming in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and loaded with vitamins and nutrients like B vitamins and potassium. 15 of 21 Baharat Spiced Eggplant Ryan Liebe View Recipe Save Baharat means “spices” in Arabic—and this Middle Eastern seasoning is loaded with them. The specific ingredients vary by region and even from family to family, but the warm, aromatic blend always starts with plenty of finely ground black pepper and includes paprika, cumin, coriander, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and often cardamom. You can make your own Baharat Spice Blend or buy it ready-made. Here, yogurt and cherry tomatoes cool the heat from the baharat and serrano peppers. 16 of 21 Kale, Wild Rice & Chicken Stew View Recipe Save Chicken thighs get perfectly tender in just a few hours in the slow cooker. Plus, cooking everything together low and slow infuses all the flavors together for complexity in every bite. 17 of 21 Red Lentil Fritters with Ginger-Yogurt Sauce Charlotte and Johnny Autry View Recipe Save Here we soak lentils instead of fully cooking them, which gives them just enough added moisture to be whirred up into a fritter without being too wet. Serve these curry-spiced fritters on top of a green salad or tucked into a pita. 18 of 21 Vegetarian Chopped Power Salad with Creamy Cilantro Dressing Brie Passano View Recipe Save This healthy vegetarian salad recipe features chickpeas and quinoa for a boost of protein. Cilantro adds color and flavor when blended to make a creamy dressing. Serve this cold salad for lunch or dinner. 19 of 21 Lemongrass-&-Coconut Poached Salmon Photographer: Rachel Marek, Prop stylist: Holly Dreesman, Food stylist: Gabriel Greco View Recipe Save This poached salmon dish features a trifecta of inflammation-fighting ingredients: turmeric, ginger and salmon. For a more filling meal, serve with a whole grain like brown rice, or over rice noodles. 20 of 21 Baked Sweet Potatoes with Cranberries & Turkey View Recipe Save Give leftover turkey new life with these delicious stuffed potatoes. A drizzle of homemade honey-mustard dressing soaks into the hot potatoes, adding tons of flavor. 21 of 21 Sheet-Pan Teriyaki Salmon with Green Beans Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell View Recipe Save Think of this sheet-pan teriyaki salmon as a stir-fry without the stirring! Instead, rice and veggies are baked on a hot sheet pan alongside green beans and salmon coated in a sweet teriyaki glaze. Medically reviewed by Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is the senior nutrition editor for EatingWell. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Explore more: Healthy Recipes Seasonal Winter Winter Dinner Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit