Slow cooker meals that won't weigh you down

Beef and barley stew, if cooked correctly, can be one of the healthier meals you'll ever eat. This recipe, via Cooking Light, suggests substituting wheat berries or farro for the hulled barley to make the stew even more healthy. The full recipe is here.

Yes, you can have super-tasty pork chops even if you don't have a grill (or oven). This recipe even comes with its own side dish, as the pork chops cook atop a bed of fruits and vegetables. It's the perfect summer meal, especially if you're having company over. Follow the step-by-step instructions here.

Eggplant parmesan may seem like a heavy meal, but it's completely vegetarian, and this recipe via Delish will surprise you with how light yet filling it is. See the full recipe here.

This no-fuss recipe is perfect for summer nights. The maple-dijon sauce is the star here, pairing equally well with the chicken thighs and the broccoli. Check out the full recipe right here.

Sure, normal risotto made with arborio rice can be very heavy. But if you're craving the dish and watching your figure, you can make an equally creamy risotto using quinoa, the hippest cereal around. Check out the full recipe right here.

If you're craving chili this summer but don't want to feel weighed down by tons of meat, try this vegetarian recipe for pumpkin chili, via SkinnyMs. You can follow along with step-by-step instructions right here.

This recipe also, somewhat appropriately, comes from SkinnyMs. It's not only delicious and light, but it's also one of the few truly no-fuss ways to make minestrone soup. The full recipe is here.

If it's cooked correctly, good steel-cut oatmeal is one of the best, healthiest things you can eat for breakfast. This recipe, via Food, makes the process easy from start to finish. Start the slow cooker before you go to sleep, and you'll wake up to a crock pot full of delicious oatmeal. The full recipe can be found here.

In terms of light family meals, not much competes with a perfectly cooked chicken. Next time you get the urge for poultry, skip the rotisserie chicken and do it yourself! This recipe from Epicurious is incredibly easy and only takes about three hours to complete from start to finish. Check out the entire recipe here.

Pulled pork gets too much love sometimes. Sure, it's delicious, but tender, juicy pulled chicken can be equally tasty, especially served with a tangy-sweet barbecue sauce. This recipe is healthy, easy and tailor-made for summer potlucks. Follow along with the instructions here.

Ramen isn't just for dorm rooms. If it's made with care, it can serve as a delicious light meal, tailor-made for meal prep. MyRecipes has a great recipe for a vegetable-heavy ramen with an umami-rich broth. It's guaranteed to be filling without being heavy. The full recipe is here.

Curry dishes are perfect for the summer. They're light, packed with flavor and if you prepare them in the slow cooker, they're super easy. The Kitchn has a recipe for delicious chicken tikka masala right here.

Thank Food Network for this classic Cuban recipe — a bright, flavorful and surprisingly light shredded beef dish called ropa vieja. The full recipe can be found right here.

At just under 600 calories, this white chicken chili is deceptively light, especially for a chili that tastes this good! The Kitchn has step-by-step instructions for you right here.