The Easiest 1-Day Jumpstart Plan
Looking for a simple reset that’ll have you feeling better by tomorrow morning? This is it.
It’s a 24-hour nourishing menu designed to leave you feeling stronger, steadier, and more energized…. follow it once or repeat it over and over again.
I’ve packed it with protein- and fiber-rich meals to keep you running on all cylinders, plus easy dinners made with just one pan or pot. Along the way, you’ll also find plenty of alternatives to swap in should you choose.
One day. One step. You’ve got this.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Follow the breakfast, lunch, and dinner outlined below. Don’t love something? Swap in any alternative meal that I’ve listed.
- Add 1 to 2 snacks from the list if you need a boost between meals.
- Still hungry? Enjoy unlimited non-starchy veggies like carrots, celery, cucumber, tomato, leafy greens, broccoli, green beans….at any point during the day
- Hydrate well. Aim to drink about ½ your body weight (in pounds) in ounces of water per day. Example: If you weigh 160 pounds, aim for ~80 ounces. Water, sparkling water, or unsweetened tea and coffee all count. Skip beverages with added sugar and artificial sweeteners. A good rule of thumb is to drink 16 ounces of water with each meal and snack. That will bring you very close to your daily hydration goal. Then, fill in with more water in between.
Here’s the plan:

Breakfast
Swaps:
- 1 High-Protein Bagel with 1 tablespoon nut butter and/or chia jam
- Banana Bread Overnight Oats

Lunch
Chicken Coleslaw with Apples, Pecans, and Apple Cider Vinaigrette (one serving)
Swaps:
- Reboot Bowl + 1 tbsp Tahini dressing (or other dressing of choice)
- Open-Faced Turkey Sandwich + crunchy veggies on the side

Dinner
Sheet Pan Harissa Salmon with Veggies (one serving)
Swaps:
- Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken Chili (2 cups)
- One Sheet Rosemary Chicken + Vegetables (one serving)
- Hearty Lentil Vegetable Soup (2 cups)

Snacks
- Non-starchy vegetables with ¼ cup hummus or guacamole (any store-bought or try some of my homemade versions: Lentil Hummus, Beet Hummus, Mango Hummus, Green Pea & Avocado Hummus, or Guacamole)
- 1 apple with 1 tablespoon nut or seed butter
- ¼ cup nuts of choice
- Sesame-Garlic Edamame (1 cup serving)
Ready to keep the momentum going?
Repeat this plan with various swaps or try one of my other meal plans next:

Thank you so much, Joy! I’m so grateful for all you share!
Sami! We are so grateful for YOU. Thanks for being a part of the community. If you give the plan a shot, let us know how you feel! — Eliza (Team Joy)
Looks delicious and easy. I am ready. Thank you
You ARE ready, Barbara! You’ve got this! Let us know how you feel! — Eliza (Team Joy)
Wonderful thank you
So glad you love this, Janis! Thank you for being a part of Joy’s community! — Eliza (Team Joy)
Thank you for this wealth of information for all of us who get overwhelmed with what we need to do to improve our health care. I always appreciate your thoughtful comments
Mary, we appreciate you! Thank you for your kind words. — Eliza (Team Joy)
Thank you
THANK YOU, Sherrie! Enjoy! — Eliza (Team Joy)
So grateful for you. Thank you for sharing , encouraging, and inspiring.
We’re grateful for you, Terri!! Thanks for your support! — Eliza (Team Joy)
Thank you! Help start the new year off feeling better.
Hooray! Go Joan! So glad you loved this plan! — Eliza (Team Joy)
Thank you for always sharing your amazing healthful recipes.
Thank YOU, Ella! We’re so happy to have you as a part of this community!! If you give the plan a shot, let us know what you think! — Eliza (Team Joy)
My husband is in the hospital and I need some prepped things ready to grab instead of high calorie hospital snacks. Thanks for these ideas!
Oh Beth, sending you and your husband so much love. I’m so happy my food ideas can help in a small way right now, and I’m hoping he’s on the mend very soon!
Thank you for all your delicious recipes
You’re so welcome, Argie! I’m so glad you’re here 😉
Thank you
You’re welcome, Deb!! Thanks for being a part of the community! — Eliza (Team Joy)
So Great..thank you Joy❤️
Thanks, Licette! So glad you love this! — Eliza (Team Joy)
Thank you ! Love this -I have IC ( interstitial cystitis s/a -from Keytruda ) lm having a flare & cant use any acid-lemon ,lime , vinegars-is their a low acid vinegar you know of for my dressing? Thanks in advance for your help .Penny
Hi Penny, thanks so much for the sweet note… and I’m sorry you’re dealing with a flare. Unfortunately, there isn’t truly a “low-acid” vinegar — vinegar is acidic by definition, and it’s commonly listed as a trigger for many people with IC. 
For now, I’d skip vinegar entirely and try an acid-free dressing like one of these:
-Creamy Herb: plain nonfat Greek yogurt (or dairy-free yogurt) + some olive oil + dill/parsley/cilantro + garlic powder + pinch of salt/pepper
-Tahini (without citrus): tahini paste + olive oil, garlic powder, salt, pepper, water to thin it out… you can even add a touch of honey or maple syrup to balance the flavor.
I also recommend you browse my salad dressing recipes (check my recipe index) — I’m betting you can tweak a few to omit acidic ingredients while still getting great flavor. Even the green goddess may work without the vinegar and citrus. You can play around.
Hoping you’re back to feeling great very soon! xx
Looks delicious and easy! Can’t wait to try in January.
Happy New Year, patty!!
Everything looks yummy and easy to prepare. Can’t wait to try your recipes
So happy you’re here, Kathy! Happy New Year!
I look forward to seeing you on the Today Show on Fridays! You’re my favorite. Thanks for sharing so many great recipes!
Awwww—thank you, Chris! That truly means the world to me. I’m so happy you’re enjoying the recipes… thanks for being here and for cooking along with me!! xx
I just want to thank you for all the trouble you go to post these things. When I see an email from you I’m always very excited to see what new wonderful recipes I’ll get to read so thank you again for all your hard work it’s very well appreciated.
Sincerely
Sherry Mckeegan
Sherry, thank you for the loveliest note… you just made my day!!
Knowing you get excited when my emails pop up is everything to me. I’m so grateful you’re here, and I’m thrilled the recipes are helpful!! Sending loads of love and wishing you a healthy 2026 filled with delicious food 😉 xx
Thanks Joy for sharing yummy healthy recipes. I still make the vegetable longevity
Hi Dee! We’re so glad to hear that you make the Longevity Soup on repeat! It’s a good one 🙂 Thanks for being a part of Joy’s community. Stay tuned for more new and delish (and of course, healthy) recipes! — Eliza (Team Joy)
Hi Joy,
I watch both Today shows from 7am to 10am, I definitely like it when you’re on the show.
I look forward to trying a lot of these recipes!
I’m a widow so it’s just me and my dog Roxie, a little Shih Tzu.
Can these recipes with be cut in half or if not can I freeze what I don’t eat when first cooked.
Thank you for sharing your recipes❗️
Stay safe‼️
Hi Charleen! Thank you so much for watching TODAY…and please give sweet Roxie a cuddle from me! 😉
Yes, you can absolutely make these work for one:
-Many recipes are easy to cut in half (especially things like bowls, salads, smoothies, overnight oats, and simple sautés).
-And if you’d rather cook once and eat twice, you can freeze leftovers from soups, stews, chilis, cooked proteins, and many casseroles/meatball-style recipes. I love freezing in single-serve containers so you can just grab-and-go.
So glad you’re here, and thank you for the kind note! xx