It’s really starting to cool down here in Cleveland. The warmest day this week will be 61 degrees with lots of rain, and we switched the thermostat from cool to heat. I’m kind of sad to see summer gone. Summer is definitely my favorite season. But Fall weather is the perfect time to make all the best foods. All the soups and comfort foods paired with the cooler weather is amazing.
I started counting macros this year and I love it! I know some people are super against it. But it has been great for me. I am focused on building muscle and I just feel so much better when I get enough protein in each day. And one way that keeps me on track is eating fun and delicious food every day. Even though the weather is colder and you want comfort foods, it doesn’t mean you have to ditch your macros for the season.
I’ve rounded up my favorite fall macro friendly dinners. These are all meals that have been on repeat already for us this fall. And we’ll probably keep making them until winter is over. I’ll keep this updated if I find any other recipes our family loves.
Caramelized Chuck Roast from Macro Friendly Foods
If you aren’t already signed up for the Macro Friendly Foods subscription, you are missing out! So many good recipes that make tracking macros so much easier, and yummier. And new main dishes, side dishes and desserts are added every month. But even if the subscription isn’t something you’re able to do right now, follow Elyse on Instagram. She shares recipes there regularly, and some really great tips on how to count macros without going crazy, and still eating delicious food.
We have made this caramelized chuck roast a few times already this fall, and it is the best roast I’ve ever made. It does sit in the oven for about 3 1/2 hours total, so I love this one on chilly fall days because it warms up the house and makes the house smell amazing. For leftovers of this one, I like to make nachos or add it into tacos.
Pasta E Fagioli from Clean Simple Eats
A few days after I had my third baby, a friend brought me a big batch of Pasta e Fagioli and french bread for dinner. It was delicious! It was the perfect postpartum, comfort food. So, I was immediately on the hunt for a recipe. I love the recipe from Clean Simple Eats! It’s so easy and so yummy. And the leftovers are always somehow even better. I make this one with some parmesan on top and french bread on the side (all my favorite, easy bread recipes are in this post).
When I make this one, I tweak the CSE recipe just a little. The recipe calls for 12 oz of ground beef, but I add a full pound. And instead of measuring out the beans, I just use 2 cans of whichever beans I am using that night. It changes the macros, but it gives me more protein per serving and it’s easier for me.
Shepherd’s Pie from Macro Friendly Foods
Shepherd’s pie is such a great comfort food, and fall/winter is the perfect time for those comfort foods. I love Elyse’s MFF recipe. It’s so simple to make, easy to fit into your macros. Actually, that is how I could describe pretty much all of the MFF recipes.
This one does use instant potatoes. I actually don’t love instant potatoes, so I use the MFF sour cream and cheddar mashed potatoes instead. And it is delicious like that.
And I know at least one of you is all ready and fired up to comment “actually shepherd’s pie is traditionally made with lamb, not ground beef.” Yeah, we know. It’s okay. Take a deep breath.
Honey Glazed Pork Tenderloin from Macro Friendly Foods
This was one of the first recipes I tried from the MFF subscription. It is amazing! SO easy and besides the tenderloin, you probably have everything you need to make it in your pantry. This is a great one to have with the MFF sour cream and cheddar mashed potatoes (really one of my favorite sides from the MFF subscription). It’s the perfect Sunday dinner in the fall.
Chili and Taco Soup
I know the two are separate dinners, but they are both actually great on macros. I use the same chili recipe I’ve always used, just tweaked to add more meat and less fat. (This is my go to recipe). And for taco soup, I use the MFF taco soup recipe.
One last thing before I wrap up this post – soups are amazing for fall dinners. And Elyse from Macro Friendly Foods just released an all soup ecookbook. If you are already a subscriber, these soups are all within the subscription. But if you aren’t a subscriber and you want to try out some of her recipes, this is a great place to start before committing! And Elyse’s soup are always huge portions, so you won’t feel like you’re eating like a bird.
Enjoy these delicious fall dinners over the next couple months! And let me know in the comments which is your favorite.
Leave a Reply