We’ve all heard that breakfast is essential for weight loss, but what about dinner? It’s that meal where many people derail their weight loss journey, succumbing to cravings or consuming too many calories after a long, stressful day. But what if we told you that eating dinner could actually help you lose weight? And no, it’s not all salad and boiled chicken! We spoke with Destini Moody, RDN, CSSD, LDregistered dietitian and sports dietitian at Garage Gym Reviews, who shares her #1 dinner for losing weight and achieving a slimmer midsection.
Weight loss isn’t just about what you eat. The timing of your meals also plays a crucial role. According to a Study 2022 In Nutrition research and practiceEating three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) at specific times each day can help promote weight loss. Other studies found that those who ate a larger breakfast and a smaller dinner lost more weight than their counterparts who ate a larger dinner. These studies also suggest eating your last meal within two hours of bedtime and avoiding snacking before bed to further promote weight loss.
If you’re ready to dive into the recipe (pun intended), read on to discover Moody’s #1 Best Dinner for Weight Loss.
In this article:
This Simple Shrimp, Kale, and Lentil Salad Is the Best Weight Loss Dinner

Made with three simple, whole-food ingredients: shrimp, kale, and lentils, a simple shrimp, kale, and lentil salad is the best dinner for weight loss. Moody tells us, “The three main ingredients have a healthy balance of carbs and protein, plus a low-calorie vegetable.”
With a balanced mix of carbohydrates and proteins and a low-calorie vegetable, this simple dish provides both satiety and essential nutrients. Made with lean protein from shrimp, nutrient-rich kale, and protein-rich lentils, it’s a healthy and satisfying option for those wanting to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
The ingredients:
Total calories: approximately 497
How to do it:
- Thoroughly wash and tear 2 cups of kale into bite-size pieces, making sure to remove any tough stems.
- In a saucepan, cook ½ cup green lentils in water or broth until tender but firm. Drain any excess liquid.
- If the shrimp is not precooked, fry six ounces of shrimp in a pan with a touch of olive oil until pink and opaque.
- In a large bowl, combine the prepared kale, cooked shrimp, and green lentils, stirring until combined.
- For an extra boost of nutrients and to add more volume to the salad, consider incorporating additional vegetables of your choice.
- Season with salt, pepper and possibly olive oil or fresh lemon juice for added flavor.
Benefits of the recipe


1. It’s full of fiber.
“The digestive system can’t break down fiber,” says Moody. “Fiber slows digestion like protein does, which prolongs the feeling of hunger. Plus, your stomach senses how much volume it contains, not how many calories you eat. So if you add volume to your dinner with low-calorie vegetables like kale and tomatoes, you can feel full with a low-calorie dinner.
Kale has a higher fiber content than other salad greens like spinach and lettuce, providing 4 grams per 100 gram serving. Combined with fiber-rich lentils (21 grams per cup, raw), this salad is a satisfying, nutrient-rich choice that can support your weight loss goals while keeping you full.
2. It is rich in protein.
Crucial for muscle repair and maintenance, shrimp, kale and lentil salad doesn’t compromise on protein content. Shrimp and lentils offer a lean source of protein, an essential macronutrient needed to repair and maintain muscles and fight hunger. One cup of raw lentils provides a huge 47 grams of proteinwhile 100 grams of shrimp contains 20 grams. This protein-rich salad will provide a feeling of fullness and a balanced, nutritious approach to weight loss.
“Shrimp is one of the leanest protein sources, meaning it provides a high amount of protein without saturated fat or excess calories,” says Moody. “Protein takes some time to break down in the stomach, which means that meals high in protein leaves you more satisfied even when the meal is low in calories. Lentils contain protein, carbohydrates and fiber, providing plant-based energy while also helping control appetite.
3. You can add more volume to it.
Customization is vital for weight loss, and this shrimp, kale, and lentil salad allows for flexibility in creating a meal that suits your preferences and hunger needs. By incorporating additional vegetables or whole foods, you can increase the volume of the salad to help fill you up without a ton of extra calories.
“Adding more non-starchy vegetables, such as peppers, beets, cucumber, tomatoes, and broccoli, can add more bulk to the salad without significantly increasing the calorie content. You can also use vinegar, lemon juice and salt to create a calorie boost – a free dressing,” says Moody.
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