These Lemon-Rosemary Turkey Meatballs ensure that I get plenty of protein and help me maintain my weight.

Im not a believer in New Years resolutions.

The Persian New Year, or Nowruz?

It greets the spring in March.

I spent December indulging inKorean barbecue, cream-filled pastries and meat-filledbreakfast strata.

Now, no matter which calendar I adhere to, its time to buckle down.

When Im skipping meat, my go-to is theumami tofu recipethat helped me lose most of my freshman-food-writer 50.

One of my favorite meals islean pork chops with a pan sauce.

Still, there are times that I want to go even leaner and get some fiber, too.

On those occasions, I prepare Vermont food writer Melissa Pasanens Lemon-Rosemary Turkey Meatballs.

He prefers ground chicken, so I use that instead of the turkey.

After making that one major change, I cemented this recipe as a frequent MVP in our dinner rotation.

So far so high protein, but what about the fiber I mentioned?

That comes from the bread I use to make the breadcrumbs to bind the ground meat.

I tear the bread into pieces and grind them in a food processor before adding the other ingredients.

Onion, garlic, grated lemon zest and rosemary combine with the bread to make moist, aromatic crumbs.

I roll the meatballs in flour and then brown them in an oiled pan over medium heat.

Rather than pouring in 12 cup of white wine, I deglaze the pan using 34 cup.

I also use homemade chicken stock instead of canned chicken broth.

Before I add the acid, though, I return the meatballs to the pan to braise.

I dont strain the sauce as instructed because its already pretty perfect in my estimation.

I also dont serve the dish over pasta, as appealing as it looks in the recipe photo.

At this time last year, I had gained 8 pounds that I was afraid would hang on forever.

But I realized that entering my 40s wasnt the life sentence I had feared.

Maintaining a high-protein regime has always worked for me, combined with regular workouts on my Peloton.

After all, thats how I know that New Years resolutions arent for me.