The iVillage Gi plan: 17 dinner ideas

12. Turkey pesto pasta
Boil 40g (1 1/2oz) dried pasta as directed, omitting any added oil or salt. While this is cooking, boil or steam some broccoli and grill two turkey rashers, cutting into bite-sized pieces once cooked. Mix together a teaspoon pesto and a tablespoon natural yoghurt or fromage frais. Stir the pesto, broccoli and rasher pieces through the cooked pasta. Top with a tablespoon grated Parmesan.

13. Marinated lamb chops
Put one-and-a-half tablespoons brown rice on to boil for 35-40 minutes. Mix together three tablespoons natural yoghurt, three-quarters of a teaspoon cinnamon, two cardamom pods, half a teaspoon ground cumin, half a teaspoon coriander seeds, quarter of a teaspoon ground ginger and a pinch of cloves. Use this to marinade a lean lamb loin chop for 30 minutes. When the rice has been cooking for about 25 minutes, cook the lamb either on a griddle pan or under the grill ? this will take around 10-12 minutes. Meantime, boil or steam green vegetables and serve with the rice and lamb.

14. Vegetable noodles
Heat a teaspoon of olive oil in a large non-stick pan. Stir-fry a sliced courgette, a chopped red pepper, a small onion and a bowl of mushrooms for a few minutes. Add a crushed clove of garlic, 1cm (1/2in) fresh ginger, grated, and a chilli (or season to taste). Continue to stir-fry until vegetables are just tender. Meantime, boil a block of noodles, following package directions. Once cooked, add to the vegetables, mix thoroughly and season to taste (fresh coriander, soy sauce, a drop or two of sesame oil, a spoonful nam pla or chilli sauce are all good additions).

15. Couscous salad
Cover 30g (1oz) couscous (bulgar wheat would also work) with water or stock and set aside to swell. After ten minutes, drain off any excess water and fork through the couscous to fluff the grains. Mix in two tablespoons cooked chickpeas, half a tablespoon raisins, the zest of half a lemon or a tablespoon lemon juice (or a preserved lemon if you happen to have any), two teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil and a handful of chopped herbs ? parsley, mint, coriander - whatever you have.

Serve with salad and a pot of Greek yoghurt.

16. Chicken salsa with sweet potato wedges
Cut two small sweet potatoes into wedges, coat with two teaspoons olive oil and bake at 180C for 30 minutes. Meanwhile grill or griddle a chicken fillet for 10-15 minutes, until cooked through. Serve with two tablespoons tomato-based salsa, two tablespoons sweetcorn and plenty of salad or green vegetables.

17. Fajita
Steam a sliced pepper and a sliced onion until soft. Set aside in a covered bowl. Cut a chicken fillet (or pork chop or small piece of steak) into strips and stir fry using one teaspoon olive oil. Warm a flour tortilla for 20 seconds in a microwave. Fill warm tortilla with peppers, onions and chicken strips. Top with one tablespoon each of fromage frais, tomato salsa and guacamole. Serve with salad.