Favorite healthy recipe?

[ElitePhysiques]

As creatures of habit, we often get stuck in the same routines.  I often find this to be true in my eating habits as well.  I really enjoy the healthy food options I make, and they are easy since I know the recipes well and can cook them with no hassle or need to look at ingredients, amounts, prep, etc...  

However, I am wondering what some of your favorite healthy recipes are in an attempt to explore new options in my kitchen.  I am looking forward to see what I have been missing out on...

[WendyB]

Hi! Welcome to the forums!

Have you checked out the Whats Cooking forum? There are all kinds of recipes and Ideas.

[ElitePhysiques]

Hi Wendy...

Thanks for your response.  I guess what I'm really looking for are peoples opinions and suggestions.  As a fitness professional, I have visitied a lot of the sites for healthy recipes, and a lot of those recipes sound amazing.  But, personally, I like to hear what people are really excited about.  It's one thing to see a recipe, but if someone is excited to write about that same recipe and include their spin offs or suggestions...its much more appealing for me to try that!

Thanks

Mychael

Spoiler

[WendyB]

Ok I am going to move this to the Whats Cooking forum as you will get a better response

[ElitePhysiques]

I don't know how you're going to do that...but I appreciate it!

Thanks

[MRose]

Hi there!

One of my favorite recipes to cook is "yogurt" chicken. My husband requests it all the time! It's a good recipe for after long days because it's fast and has a lot of lean protein. Here is the original recipe:

2 chicken breasts, pounded thin
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
1/4 cup mayonnaise (bear with me...)
3 tbsp grated parmesan, plus additional tbsp set aside  
1 tbsp bread crumbs

Heat oven to 375F. Line baking dish with foil. Blend yogurt, mayo, and 3 tbsp parmesan, and coat chicken with mixture. Place chicken into baking dish, and sprinkle top with bread crumbs and remaining parmesan. Bake for 20 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink.

Here are the tweaks I personally use to make it a bit healthier:
1) I make my own paleo mayo
2) I use fat free "Greek yogurt" made with coconut milk (this is just a preference, if you're good with dairy, go for the normal stuff!)
3) Instead of parmesan cheese, I use nutritional yeast.
4) Bread crumbs are omitted.

You can use all mayo and no yogurt, replace one or both with sour cream, add spices, make it your own!

[WendyB]

I like this in the Winter 

HEARTY CHILI

10 Ounces Lean Ground Turkey Breast
1 Onion, diced
2 (28 OZ) Cans Tomatoes, diced
2 Zucchini, diced
2 Yellow Squash, diced 1 (15 OZ) Can Black Beans,
rinsed & drained
2 (15 OZ) Cans Fat Free
Beef Broth, reduced sodium <---- here I use water and add Garlic, thyme, Parsley really any spice you like
4 Celery Stalks, diced
2 Green Peppers, diced
1 (1 ¼ OZ) Dry Chili Seasoning Mix

Spray a large skillet with cooking spray. Add the turkey and onion and sauté until turkey is cooked through. Transfer to a soup pot. Add the remaining ingredients and cook for 30 minutes on medium heat. Serve

SERVINGS 20; CALORIES 76; FAT 1 g; PROTEIN 7 g; CARBS 11 g;
FIBER 3 g; CHOL 8 mg; SODIUM 270 mg; CALC 45 mg
SERVING SIZE= 1 Cup

[ElitePhysiques]

Thanks @MRose.  This sounds like a simple and healthy option.  I will give it a shot!

[ElitePhysiques]

Fall and Football...Time for chili!

[WendyB]

I added a note to mine. I do not use any broth base things like low sodium chicken or beef broth. I use water and add more spices to cut down on Sodium. Depends on what I'm am making  but garlic always goes in   But its your choice.I really do not think broth adds that much flavor. But thats me

I do have a real chili recipe wth beans and bacon. Will need to look it up

[MRose]

@WendyB, have you tried bone broth? It's a bit of a pain to make if you aren't already doing roast chicken or something like that, but it's really good! So much better than bullion or a box of broth! And wicked healthy. The flavors are semi-mild (depending on what you use) so most people add spices in the last hour of simmering, so it's perfect for what you are already doing!

[WendyB]

@MRose Thats a great idea! Thanks!

[Annie-NH]

I love soups and last fall I came up with this receipe.

2 lb carrots peeled and  into chunks,

1 large sweet onion peeled and quartered

put in glass baking dish, drizzel with olive oil ( 1T) toss and add salt and pepper. cover with foil and roast for 1-2 hrs at 350.   puree in blender, put in crockpot or sauce pan, add low sodium chicken stock to thin to a desired consistency, add 1 tsp cinnamon,  1/2 t ginger, and simmer for an hour on low.

depending on what I have on hand I sometimes add mushrooms, garlic, etc

[MaginB]

Hey there nice thread @ElitePhysiques! I like to eat clean and when it comes to cooking I'm kind of lazy hahaha so a simple lemon herb chicken it's one of my favorites, is a simple and delicious dish. 

All you need is the chicken and the amount of spices are completely up to you. 

• Cut lemon in half, and squeeze juice from 1/2 lemon on chicken. Season with salt to taste. Let sit while you heat oil in a small skillet over medium low heat.
• When oil is hot, put chicken in skillet. As you saute chicken, add juice from other 1/2 lemon, pepper to taste, and oregano. Saute for 5 to 10 minutes each side, or until juices run clear. Serve with parsley for garnish.

Hope you like it! 

[ElitePhysiques]

I think you are right @MaginB.  Simple is always a good go to, especially with hectic schedules these days!

[ElitePhysiques]

I've been playing around with quinoa a lot lately, and put a quinoa spin on a favorite my mom used to make.  She used to make a Mediterranean pasta salad, so I switched the pasta out for quinoa, and it turned out really good and is a great side dish without all the starchy carbs.

Unfortunatley, when I cook, I don't necessarily cook with exact measurements, so I will guess, and you can change acordingly.

2 C cooked tri-color quinoa.

2/3 C chopped cherry tomatoes (red and yellow)

2/3 C chopped cucumber

1/2 C Feta

4-5 Tbsp Italian Dressing

[MaginB]

That sounds delicious @ElitePhysiques! I will definitely try it 😄 

[ldav125]

Here is a recipe for a healthier pizza - the crust is made with plantains. ( those things that look like bananas! 

2 plantains 

2 eggs

Italian seasoning

Pizza sauce (homemade or jar)

mozzarella cheese
turkey pepperoni 

peppers/onions (whatever other desired toppings)

Preheat oven to 450

Peel the plantains - you have to use a knife along the seams of the plantain so they peel easily. 

Chop them up and place in a food processor with eggs and spices ( Italian, crushed red pepper, whatever you like) 

After processed line a baking sheet with parchment paper ( this is key that you use parchment paper) 

spread the plantain "dough" on the paper with a spatula. Then bake in oven for 10-15 minutes. 

take it out of the oven, add sauce and toppings and then put it back in for another 10-15 minutes. 

after it's done you can slide it off onto a cutting board and cut. 

[TXAnneV]

One of my favorite recipes for dessert, or a healthy breakfast: Baked apple

I use one large tart (Granny Smith/Bramley) apple per person.
For two people the recipe is:
2 large Granny Smith/Bramley apples
42g (1.5 oz) raisins chopped finely
28g (1 oz) Pecans finely chopped
Cinnammon
2-3 Tbsp water

Core each apple, and place in a baking dish, (separately or together) Add water to dish.
Combine raisins, pecans & cinnammon, and firmly pack into core or apple.

Bake at 350F for 40-45 minutes.

No need to add anything, just enjoy!