The key to juicy meatloaf is not overmixing the ingredients and using the right fat content in your ground beef. The 10-minute rest time is crucial for redistributing juices throughout the meat. For healthier alternatives, you can substitute half the beef with ground turkey (adding 2 tablespoons olive oil for moisture), use rolled oats instead of breadcrumbs, or incorporate finely chopped mushrooms to reduce meat content while maintaining flavor.