Healthy, No-Stress Dinner Solutions

Slaving over a stove after I get home from work is not my idea of relaxing. I want to spend time with my family or with my feet up rather than have face time with a bunch of veggies that need chopping. Which is why I love this tip from SELF's February cover girl, actress Jenna Fischer, star of The Office.

The actress recently told us that she uses a Crock-Pot to whip up healthy dinners, everything from turkey chili to ribs to her favorite, Mom's Stuffed Peppers. "It's the best invention since the microwave for busy women who want a home-cooked meal," says Fischer, who puts all of a recipe's ingredients into the Crock-Pot before leaving for the set in the morning and comes home to a delicious dinner.

Though I haven't dusted off my Crock-Pot in years (I'm pretty sure I still have it somewhere), I'm all for fast, healthy dishes you can prepare without a lot of time and energy. Here are a few dinners we at SELF rely on when we want to fix something to eat without a lot of fuss―or even a Crock-Pot (each serves 1 and has about 550 calories):

Quick fish: Mix 4 tsp olive oil with 2 1/2 tsp lemon juice. Brush 4 oz salmon with 1 tbsp lemon oil; dust with dill. Broil 8 minutes. Toss 3 cups sliced veggies in remaining lemon oil. Serve with 2 slices of whole-grain bread sprinkled with 2 tsp each olive oil and Parmesan, and garlic to taste.
Also try: Easy Fish Tacos or Cod Satay.

Speedy chicken: Slice 1/4 rotisserie chicken (white or dark meat, skin removed). Serve with a large microwaved sweet potato, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds and dressed with 1 tsp trans-fat-free margarine and 2 tbsp lowfat plain yogurt. Serve with a salad made with 3 cups mixed greens and 1 cup cherry tomatoes, tossed with 1 tbsp plus 1 1/2 tsp regular salad dressing.
Also try: Cameron Diaz's Garlicky Lemon Chicken or Quick Chicken Saltimbocca.

Perfect pasta: Cook 3/4 cup dry whole-wheat penne; heat 1/2 cup marinara and 1/2 cup precooked skinless chicken breast; combine. Sprinkle with 1 tbsp Parmesan. Serve with 3 cups mixed greens and 75 calories' worth of salad dressing.
Also try: Spinach Fettuccine With Yogurt Cream Sauce or Mushroom Pasta with Arugula and Goat Cheese.

Even more time-pressed?
When ordering takeout, opt for these smart choices:

Chinese: Mandarin chicken (364 calories, 15 g fat per cup); Hunan tofu and brown rice (206 calories, 7 g fat per cup); hot and sour soup (110 calories, 4 g fat per cup)

Italian: linguine with marinara sauce (450 calories, 9 g fat per average entrée); tomato, mozzarella and basil salad (196 calories, 14 g fat per average-sized order); thin-crust cheese-and-vegetable pizza (170 calories, 6 g fat per slice).

Mexican: fish tacos (235 calories, 4 g fat each); chicken flautas (65 calories, 4 g fat each); beef taquitos (63 calories, 3 g fat each)

Diner (comfort food): vegetarian chili (205 calories, 1 g fat per cup); barbecue chicken breast (300 calories, 10 g fat per 6-ounce serving); roast beef on whole-wheat bread (459 calories, 12 g fat)