Archive for February, 2009

Cooking the Perfect Chicken

Sunday, February 22nd, 2009
David Marc Fishman asked:


One of the main dangers when cooking chicken is the risk of salmonella. The neatest thing about cooking chicken is watching it turn from this pale, fleshy mass into edible-looking pieces of charred poultry meat. Cooking chicken is generally very easy to do and it’s easy to get a lean piece of meat without paying an excessive amount.

Chicken is easy to prepare, boneless frozen chicken breasts may be cooked in many ways. While boneless, skinless chicken breasts offer us dinner in the blink of an eye, cooking chicken breast on the bone allows us a little more flexibility. Put the cooked chicken breasts on a platter and keep warm. Dress up baked chicken breasts with a pistachio coating for a special taste treat. Cook over direct heat with lid down, reducing heat to medium this is usually a good method of cooking chicken. When shopping for chicken try to purchase boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs that come pre-trimmed. When rubbing the chicken breasts with lemon juice and sprinkling it with salt and pepper this is a fast way to prepare a meal and it will give the chicken a great taste. Boneless chicken breasts will usually defrost overnight in the refrigerator. Chicken breasts are one of the easiest meats to barbecue. You’ll find a delicious selection of chicken breasts and stuffed chicken breasts in the market. Beat chicken breasts flat with a mallet, this make the chicken softer and easier to cook.

Many of the recipes you will find on chicken tell you to use sliced or chopped chicken in salads. Some recipes call for a long cooking time and others use quick-cooking chicken breasts. Stuffing chicken can be done with anything from stuffing the chicken with spinach or medley of vegetables which will add extra flavor to your chicken recipes. Try to find recipes for cooking chicken in a healthy way; what is meant by this is find recipes that don’t call for frying or using a lot of oils. Knowledge on cooking for large groups is always helpful, some cooking methods and techniques are advanced but try to master them and the next time you throw a party it will be that much easier. Using pre cut or shredded chicken will help you save time when preparing a meal.

Prepare the grill by heating it appropriately, if using a gas grill just turn it on, if using a non gas grill use single layer of coals. Barbecuing chicken is very healthy way to cook because the fat juices do not get absorbed by the chicken.. So, which chicken should you choose for great barbecue, and how should you prep it. Fresh chicken legs and chicken pieces can be cooked on the barbecue, but should never be cooked from frozen. This is the kind of barbecue food that people love to eat. To have a successful barbecue, you should have the following, prepared chicken, tongs, and seasoning. It’s definitely a great way to prepare chicken. Great barbecue chicken is fast and easy to prepare and it is also healthy for you. So just have fun barbequing.

There are so many people barbequing today because everything taste better when cooked on an open flame.



Amber

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Three Healthy Recipes for Weight Loss

Thursday, February 12th, 2009
Lana Hawkins asked:


when you are starting a new weight loss program you can be lost about what to eat. No problem! Here are some great foods that are easy to make and are healthy.

Ginger White Tea

White tea is a delicate tasting tea that is complemented by soft flavored herb and spices. This tea has just a touch of ginger to give the drink subtle layers of flavor.

INGREDIENTS:

- 1 bag of Tetley White Tea or another comparable White Tea brand

- Boiling hot water

- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger

- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon

- Sugar substitute (optional)

PREPARATION: Place the ginger and the white tea bag into a mug or teacup and pour the boiling water over the top. Cover and let steep for 2-4 minutes. Add a sugar substitute if desired and stir. Makes one serving with zero calories.

Low Calorie Turkey Ball Soup

This soup is hearty and filling. You can serve it on cold nights as a main dish, or on the side with a sandwich. Turkey ball soup also makes a great lunch. It only has 178 calories per a two cup serving, so fill up!

INGREDIENTS:

- 1 pound ground turkey

- 2 cans mixed vegetables

- 3 teaspoons beef bouillon

- 1 ounce dry pasta

- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

- salt and pepper to taste

- 1/2 gallon of water

PREPARATION: Fill a large pot with water and add the canned vegetables, bouillon, pasta and seasonings to it. Put the pot on high heat while you prepare the turkey. Prepare the turkey by rolling small pieces into balls the size of jelly beans and then add the turkey balls to the pot. Let the soup cook until it is boiling and the turkey is well cooked.

Healthy Pasta Dinner

Kids love this dinner because of all the textures and tastes. Broccoli is nubby, the pasta is firm, the sauce is smooth, and the chicken is chewy. It is a winning combination.

INGREDIENTS:

1 lb. package of frozen broccoli

12 oz. package of Smart Taste elbow pasta (or another kind of high fiber pasta) cooked

1 tbs. Italian seasoning

1 clove of garlic

Salt Butter flavored cooking spray

2 cans chopped chicken breast (You can also leave out the canned chicken and serve the pasta with a whole chicken breast or fish.)

Salt

PREPARATION: Steam the broccoli, then drain it and toss with pasta and chopped chicken breast. Chop garlic into small pieces. Spray a small saucepan with cooking spray and add the garlic and Italian seasoning. Pour garlic over the pasta mixture and toss. Add salt to taste. Serve immediately.



Ruby

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Chicken and Broccoli Braid (and It’s Diabetic Friendly, Too!)

Thursday, February 12th, 2009
Linda Wilson asked:


If you are tired of fixing chicken in the same old ways and want to surprise your family and/or friends with something different, this Chicken Broccoli Braid recipe is for you!  Not only does it make a pretty presentation but it is almost a meal by itself.  This one dish contains your meat, veggies, dairy, and bread all-in-one.  Just add a salad and a simple dessert, if desired, and you have your meal!

CHICKEN ‘N’ BROCCOLI BRAID

2 cups cooked chicken breast, cubed

1 cup chopped fresh broccoli

1 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese

1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper

2 tsp dill

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise

1/4 cup reduced-fat plain yogurt

2 tubes refrigerated reduced-fat crescent rolls

1 egg white, lightly beaten

1 tbsp slivered plain almonds

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.   In a large mixing bowl, combine chicken, broccoli, cheese, red pepper, dill, garlic and salt.  Stir in mayonnaise and yogurt.  Unroll both tubes of crescent roll dough onto an ungreased baking sheet and press together forming a rectangle.  Seal seams and perforations.  Place chicken mixture down the center third of the dough.  On each long side, cut dough 3-inches toward the center and about 1 1/2-inch intervals, forming strips.  Bring one strip from each side of filling and pinch ends together to seal.  Repeat the process until reaching the end.  Pinch ends of loaf on both ends to seal in the mixture.  Brush top with egg white and sprinkle almonds over the top.  Bake for 15-20 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the filling is heated through.

1/8 of this recipe has 28 g carbs and 19 g protein.

Serve with a salad and you have a meal!

Enjoy!



Norma

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How To Create Healthy Powerhouse Sandwich Recipes

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009
Carole-Anne Stanway asked:


Making healthy sandwiches allows you the opportunity to utilize your creative talents in the kitchen once again. Sandwiches can be created as an entire meal, providing all the nutrients necessary for your healthy living.

To create a healthy powerhouse sandwich, use your imagination, by including herbs such as fresh basil leaves, cilantro or fresh parsley. Fresh watercress gives a sandwich a great nippy taste; in addition it gives an appealing look and has virtually no calories. Did you know that watercress is a good source of beta carotene, calcium, iron and potassium?

Fresh chives, which contain sulphur oil (which may lower blood pressure if one consistently eats a large amount), fresh romaine lettuce, is low in calories and high in fiber. Try to choose the dark green leafy lettuce; spinach which is full of vitamin A and folate, and high in Vitamin C and potassium, is an excellent choice for sandwiches as it is also a vegetarian source of protein.

When creating your sandwiches, try using sliced whole rings of green, red, or yellow peppers, as they are not only colourful, but an excellent low calorie source of Vitamin C.

Try using sandwich style sliced dill pickles (patted dry)or cucumbers sliced. Crisp fresh snow peas, are low in calories and high in Vitamins A and C. Snow peas, besides containing protein, help to create a nutritionally complete meal when combined with whole grain products.

Sliced beef steak tomatoes make a great addition to any sandwich. Try using asparagus or green capers on top of your filler. We have only the a few “green” and some red vegetable and herb ideas to season your sandwiches.

Fillings for healthy sandwiches are where we need to use care in calorie use. Always use a light Miracle Whip, light cream cheese or Dijon mustard. Light Miracle Whip and cream cheese taste just as good as the regular products and are one half or less than the calories and fat.

The most favorite fillings for sandwiches are hard boiled eggs, tuna, shrimp, roast beef, thinly sliced ham, smoked salmon in thin slices with cream cheese and capers, various light cheeses, such as Edam, Light Mozzarella, Provolone, Asiago, avocado sliced or in a spread, artichoke tapenade, Black Forest Ham, chicken salad spread, chicken breast slices,

Avocados, which incidentally, are fruits, are high in the “good” fats, meaning mono-saturated, but always remember they are high in calories and fats. These are only a few ideas, but, add the greens previously mentioned and you will have a deluxe healthy sandwich when a good protein is added to your greens.

The last item I will write about is bread, one of the most important items. The healthy breads to look for are logically the ones that contain whole grains, oat, flax, spelt bread, rye bread. These breads contain the “good” carbohydrates that constitute a healthy food choice.

White flour breads have no nutritional value for our bodies. Please try to introduce these good choice breads to your children at any early age, so they will become accustomed to eating healthy bread for healthy living.

Creating healthy appealing powerhouse sandwiches is a learned craft; you will be using all the necessary nutrients of a healthy meal for healthy living. There are a multitude of other types of healthy sandwiches, party sandwiches, rolled sandwiches, pinwheel roll-up sandwiches and even wraps to enjoy creating for you and your family.

You will be surprised at just how creativity bursts out in you when you start making these healthy recipes. These breads taste marvelous, but, it is sometimes a chore to talk children into them. Start children with a good 100% whole wheat bread that is fresh. I am certain that once you add the choice of good healthy items for the sandwich covered with the good bread, your child will love it. Later on, you can slowly introduce other varieties to him/her.

Fortunately, we now have available to us bagels, crusties, and many breads with 100% whole wheat plus many other nutrients in the breads for healthy living.

If you are making sandwiches with sauces, it is easy to eliminate butter or margarine. Replace it with mustard, low-calorie Mayonnaise, light cream cheese. It will eliminate 100 calories to your sandwich.

We have given you a start on your creative power sandwich making. Use your imagination and run with it.

Learn all about the healthy vegetables and how to use them for power sandwich making for healthy living.



Herman

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high protein/carb recipes for people who cant cook?

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009
bobby asked:


I cant cook to save my life, I even end up burning toast but I need to know easy things to make or buy that are high in protein or high in good carbs.
I know chicken breasts, egg whites, soya etc are all high in protein but what am i supposed to do with raw ingredients like those?

any suggestions?

Dean

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Healthy and mostly vegetarian recipes for 4 people?

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009
zhidia_00 asked:


Our family usually eats a lot of meat, and I really want to incorporate more vegetables into our meals without getting rid of meat completely, as I’m sure everyone would complain. Could you suggest some sort of easy dinner (and by easy I mean I can make/prep it in less than an hour) that involves vegetables/is healthy in some way?

Also, I’m looking for a good recipe for lemon chicken - I’m thinking baked chicken breasts with like a lemon sauce or something?

Thank you for any help you can provide!

Harold

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Grandma Hystad Recipes©, Bar Mixes, Food Information

Monday, February 9th, 2009
Bruce Chambers asked:


CONTENTS

ASTA RECIPES

CRUSTY CHICKEN BITES

STRAUBERRY, RASPBERRY SMOOTHIE

VEGETABLE FRIED RICE

LIGHTSIDE

FIESTA BURGERS

VEGAN MIXED BERRY MUFFINS

FOOD INFORMATION

FOOD THERMOMETERS

CHINA WARNING

E-COLI OUTBREAK IN ONTARION

CRIME WEBSITE

BEVERAGES, BAR MIXES

   PASTA RECIPE

4 cups (1 L) cherry tomatoes, halved 

12 cloves garlic, halved 

1/4 cup (50 ML) extra-virgin olive oil 

1 tsp (5 ML) dried basil 

1/2 tsp (2 ML) salt 

1/4 tsp (1 ML) each hot pepper flakes and pepper 

1 lb (500 g) bucatini 

1/4 cup (50 ML) chopped fresh parsley 

1/2 cup (125 ML) shaved Parmesan cheese

In 13- x 9-inch (3.5 L) metal cake pan, toss together tomatoes, garlic, oil, basil, salt, hot pepper flakes and pepper; roast in 400°F (200°C) oven until tomatoes are shrivelled and garlic is tender, about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, in large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until tender but firm, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and return to pot. Add tomato mixture and parsley, tossing to coat. Serve sprinkled with Parmesan.

CITRUSY CHICKEN BITES

1 tsp (5 ML) grated lime rind 

2 tbsp (25 ML) grated orange rind 

1 tbsp (15 ML) orange juice 

2 tsp (10 ML) packed brown sugar 

1 tsp (5 ML) each paprika and chilli powder 

Pinch salt 

1 lb (500 g) boneless skinless chicken breasts

In bowl, whisk together lime rind and juice, orange rind and juice, sugar, paprika, chilli powder and salt.

Cut chicken into 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes; add to bowl and toss to coat. Place on foil-lined baking sheet. Broil for about 5 minutes or until no longer pink inside.

Preparation time: 30-35 minutes, cooking time 5 minutes

STRAUBERRY, RASPBERRY, SMOOTHIE

1 cup (250 ML) raspberries 

1/2 cup (125 ML) cranberries 

1/2 cup (125 ML) strawberries 

1 cup (250 ML) orange juice 

1 cup (250 ML) yogurt 

1 tsp (5 ML) honey 

ice cubes

Wash the fruit. Place all the ingredients in a blender. Mix well for a runny puree. Serve chilled in a tall glass.

SQUASH APPLE CASSEROLE

This dish is high in vitamin A, a good source of vitamin C, cholesterol free, and almost sodium-free.

2 1/2 cups fresh winter squash, cut into 1/2 inch slices

1 1/2 cups cooking apples, pared and cut into 1/2 inch slices

2 tea spoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

Alternate layers of squash and apples in an 8"x 8" pan, ending with apples on top layer. Sprinkle spices over top layer. Cover pan with aluminum foil and bake in 350 degree F oven for approximately 45-60 minutes until squash is tender. Remove foil and bake another 10-15 minutes to remove any excess liquid that might have accumulated. Cool slightly before serving.

Serves 4.

Vegetable Fried Rice

1/2 cup celery, sliced

1/4 cup onion, chopped

1/4 cup peas

1/4 cup carrots, chopped

1/4 cup corn, broccoli, peppers or mushrooms, chopped (optional)

2 cups boiled rice

1 tablespoon Worcestershire or soy sauce

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, or 1 clove fresh garlic, minced

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

Dash of pepper

Heat oil. Add celery, onion, and garlic. Stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add peas and carrots, and any optional ingredients. Stir-fry again, turning pieces all the time until they are tender, about 4 minutes. Add rice, Worcestershire or soy sauce and pepper. Stir-fry about 2 minutes.

LIGHTSIDE

Can you rearrange ELECTION RESULTS?

I get lies, lets recount.

My wife got a bill from the computer service man the other day.

She asked the service man to let her know what the problem was so she could let her husband know.  He replied “An ID ten T error”. So I wouldn’t forget I wrote it down. ID10T.

Fiesta Burgers

1 ½ pounds ground beef

¼ cup onion, chopped

2 tablespoons red bell pepper, finely chopped

3 tablespoons salsa

2 teaspoons prepared Dijon-style mustard

1 tablespoon prepared horseradish (optional)

salt and pepper to taste

4 sesame seed hamburger buns

leaf lettuce and sliced tomatoes

Preparation Directions

Wash hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds before handling the meat.

In a bowl, mix ground beef with onion, red pepper, picante sauce or salsa, mustard, horseradish (if desired), salt and pepper.

Form into four burgers, about ¾ inch thick.

Wash hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds after handling the meat.

Using utensils, place burgers on grill that has reached medium-high heat.

Check each burger with a food thermometer after approximately 10-15 minutes. Turn burgers as needed. A hamburger is done when it reaches 160 °F.

Clean the thermometer between uses with hot, soapy water.

Place burgers on buns and top with condiments and garnishes of choice.

After checking the final temperature, remember to clean the food thermometer with hot, soapy water.

SERVES 4

VEGAN MIXED BERRY MUFFINS

Flour, white, 1.75 cup

Raw sugar, 4 tsp

Baking Powder, 2 tsp

So Good ‘Trim’ Soymilk, 1.25 cup

Egg Replacer, 1 serving

Applesauce, unsweetened, 25 grams

Strawberries, frozen, unsweetened, 0.125 cup,

Blueberries, frozen (unsweetened), 0.125 cup,

Blackberries, frozen (unsweetened), 0.125 cup,

Raspberries, 0.125 cup

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 12-cup muffin tin with non-fat cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients.

In a smaller bowl- combine applesauce and soymilk.

Chop the frozen berries into a manageable size.  Add wet ingredients to the dry, and stir to combine, adding berries as you mix. Using a 1/4 cup measure, scoop into prepared muffin tin (they should be about 2/3 full), bake for 20-25 minutes (when a toothpick inserted comes out clean). Cool in tin for 5 minutes, then turn out to cooling rack.

serve warm.

Number of Servings: 12

FOOD INFORMATION

Many people assume that if a hamburger is brown in the middle, it is done. However, looking at the color and texture of food is not enough—you have to use a food thermometer to be sure! According to USDA research, 1 out of every 4 hamburgers turns brown before it reaches a safe internal temperature. The only safe way to know if meat, poultry, and egg dishes are "done" is to use a food thermometer. When a hamburger is cooked to 160 °F, it is both safe and delicious!

MADE, PRODUCED IN CHINA GET WARNING

Public confidence in the Made in China label has been rocked in recent years by a series of product safety scandals.

Most recently, tainted milk claimed the lives of four children in China and sickened tens of thousands, and triggered import bans of Chinese-made dairy products across the globe.

The United Nations released a report Wednesday urging China to set up a single regulatory agency to monitor the safety of food products from the farm to the table.

The report says China’s oversight of food products is split between numerous agencies and their tasks complicated by numerous laws and regulations.  

WHO food Safety Chief Jorgen Schlundt says the cumbersome system resulted in a slow response when the tainted milk scandal emerged in September.

Chinese milk producers added the industrial chemical melamine in their products to make them appear richer in protein. Melamine can cause kidney stones, and even life-threatening kidney failure in some cases.

On October 20, 2008, Confirmed cases of E.coli were linked to a Harvey’s Restaurant in North Bay Ontario. 

More confirmed cases rose to 35-health officials claim. Health officials also said they know of a total of confirmed case of E coli 0157:H7 in the outbreak, involving eight health units in Ontario.

The out break was likely caused by human error rather then undercooked hamburger meat, a professor of food sciences, University of Manitoba, who has worked for Agriculture Canada.

NEW WEBSITE FIGHTING CRIME

The B.C. Crime Prevention Association has just launch a new website. Originally set up to support law enforcement, now available to everyone.

 Information on cyber bulling, resource guides, blogs,     printed materials including copyright law, staking, fraud awareness, I.D.theft, senior safety, and crime-proofing property.  Check out:  www.bccpa.org/library

RESPONSIBLE DRINKING

If you have teenagers, or in fact any adult, impress on them the risks of driving while intoxicated. Statistics demonstrate drunk drivers cause many fatal road accidents.

It should be known that like any other drug, addiction is a potential hazard.  Excess of alcohol will affect organs such as the brain, heart, and liver.

BEVERAGES, BAR MIXES

EGGNOG

4 eggs, 4 cups milk, 4 tablespoons lemon juice ½ cup cream. 

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon salt, 1/3 cup sugar.

Beat eggs until thick and lemon colour

Add sugar, nutmeg, and lemon juice

Add ice-cold milk and cream

Beat with rotary beater until frothy

Makes: 6 large glasses.

GRAPE JUICE

10 pounds grapes

2 cups water

3 pounds sugar

Add sugar and stir until dissolved.

Bring juice to boiling point

Pour in bottles and seal

Makes: 4 quarts of juice.

BAR MIXES

Monte Carlo

1 jigger rye

½ jigger Benedictine

2 dashes bitters

Shake with cracked ice and strain.

Rum and Coca-Cola

1 ½ jiggers Puerto Rican White Label Rum

Juice of one small lime

Cola drink

In tall glass, 3 ice cubes and fill with cola. Stir.





Alfred

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Kamado Cooking For Chicken

Thursday, February 5th, 2009
Paul Yates asked:


If you’re not familiar with a kamado it’s a derivation of an ancient Chinese clay cooking pot that was later adapted by the Japanese (who named it Mushikamado) and it finally made it to the western world in the middle of the last century. Nowadays the clay has been replaced by high performance ceramic, it still typically is fuelled by charcoal but the versatility of the ceramic barbecue grill is pretty amazing. There’s a variety of brands on the market such as the Primo kamado and the Big Green Egg but it has to be said that trying to find a kamado ceramic barbecue in Europe is still a thankless task.

The kamado is so versatile in that you can use it as a grill, smoker or even as an oven. The temperatures you can reach make it possible to cook pizza and I also like to use mine to mimic the tandoor and it’s great for chicken tikka and naan bread. For today however I’m going to concentrate on the whole chicken and use my kamado as a smoker and a traditional oven.

Roast Chicken

A roast chicken dinner has to be one of my favorites and cooking the chicken in the kamado makes for a fantastically moist bird and what’s more it couldn’t be more simple. It’s just a matter of heating the kamado up to the normal roasting temperature of 180°C and applying the rule of 20 minutes per pound plus 20 minutes and you’ll get it right first time and every time. Put a drip tray under the bird with about an inch of water in it for added moisture and really tasty gravy.

Because you’re cooking at a normal roasting temperature you can also do your roast potatoes at the same time and just one final tip for the chicken:-

Sprinkle the bird with salt and pepper before cooking to give a simple flavor and the salt with crisp up the skin. Stuff the cavity with 10 cloves of garlic.

Smoked Chicken

The kamado barbecue is the most economical smoker that I’ve ever used. Thinking back to the days of an offset bbq smoker and tending the coals every hour really doesn’t excite me and thankfully since I bought my Big Green Egg it’s now become a thing of the past. The kamado has to be the most economical outdoor cooker that I’ve ever used, load it up with charcoal and it will happily run at a “normal” smoking temperature for five or six hours without the need to tend it. Just keep your eye on the thermometer every hour or so and adjust the vents if appropriate.

All the flavor for smoked chicken has to come from the smoke because if you salt the bird then this will make it dry out. Feel free to season with a little pepper and as an option you can inject the bird with some olive oil and this will keep it super moist and add a little flavor. For smoke, try bbq wood chips from a citrus fruit such as lemon, a subtle flavour for a subtle meat.

The cooking process for smoked chicken is pretty simple, just work on 60 minutes per pound of meat at 120°C and you’ll be about right. To test whether it’s done you can ether use a barbecue thermometer or simply skewer the chicken in the thigh and check that the juices run clear. Once cooked, put the bird aside to rest for 30 minutes, it will still cook and as the chicken cools, the juices will be sealed into the meat and this means that any leftovers will be great cold. Leftover chicken breast can be dry but not if you follow this smoked chicken recipe.



Matthew

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Quick and Easy Recipe

Sunday, February 1st, 2009
Dharmendra Kumar asked:


Another day, another dinner to prepare. Are you having a difficult time finding easy to prepare meals that can satisfy your growing family?

You want to give your family the best, but time is in short supply and preparing a healthy meal has become a chore. Too often take out or frozen dinners have to do. Is there a way to combine healthy eating with convenience?

Healthy Family Meals - Better for Children, Easier for You

Yes! Quick and easy recipe, new methods of cooking and easy to prepare staples can change your eating habits and lead to a better eating style for your family. According to the ‘Kid’s Health’ Program created by the Nemours Foundation, family meals are an important part of developing healthy habits in your kids.

Eating as a family will encourage your kids to eat healthy foods like whole grains and vegetables. It will discourage unhealthy snacking and even make them less likely to try smoking, alcohol or marijuana.

But how do you plan healthy family meals on a tight schedule? Here are some ideas to start:

Does your family love lasagna? Maybe you thought that it was a labor intensive dish that just doesn’t fit your lifestyle. Cheesy and full of fat, perhaps it’s not even a wise choice. However, lasagna is actually one of the most versatile meals to prepare - and with instant (no boil) noodles, it doesn’t even have to be a big job.

There are lasagna recipes for vegetarians, low-carb, low-fat and even diabetic diets. Lasagna noodles now come in instant, no-cook preparations that cut time and energy when making this hearty dish.

For lasagna or other pasta dishes, try using whole wheat pasta and shredding carrots or zucchini into the meat sauce for an easy way to up the nutritional value. Using lean ground beef or even substituting with ground turkey or chicken can make for a surprising, yet nourishing result. Buy bottled pasta sauces for even faster preparation - many grocers carry a wide assortment that will add variety to your dishes.

Looking for an elegant chicken dinner? Don’t forget about frozen skinless chicken breasts. Baked in the oven with a dollop of salsa and shredded cheddar on top makes for a healthy alternative to frying or heavy sauces.

Need ideas for a side dish? Why are you wasting time cutting and washing lettuce when you can pick up a prepackaged bag at the grocers? Not to say it’s the cheapest method, but it definitely helps busy families put nutrition ahead of convenience when planning a meal.

Have you ever tried steaming vegetables in the microwave? Fresh or frozen veggies make for another easy side dish when they’re popped into the microwave for a few minutes. Add a couple tablespoons of water and cover with a paper towel, an easy AND healthy alternative to frying or boiling.

We’re all concerned about our children eating healthier foods. Regular family meals will encourage kids to develop healthy eating habits - an important key to good health later in life. By making meal time less stressful you can focus on the joys of spending time together instead of the hassles of preparing healthy family meals.

 

For more Free Resources http://www.dishadvice.com



Charlie

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