Posted: November 28, 2011 | Author: runningforpizza | Filed under: 24-Day Challenge Friendly Recipes, Food | Tags: avoid holiday weight gain, cauliflower mash, chicken and veggies, cook healthy, dinner recipes, eat healthy, eat right, eat to lose weight, fast easy dinner recipes, healthy blue cheese dressing, healthy dinner, Healthy Dinner Ideas, Healthy Dinner Menu, healthy dinner recipes, Healthy Dinners for Two, Healthy Low-Fat Dinner Recipes, healthy meatloaf, healthy recipes, healthy taco salad, holiday weight gain, homemade dressing, lean dinner, lentil sauce, low carb dinner, low fat dinner, low fat recipes, low-carb recipes, lowfat blue cheese dressing, lowfat dressing, mashed cauliflower, meatloaf with oatmeal, New Year's Resolutions, oatmeal recipes, paleo recipes, recipes high in folate, steak and salad |
Over the past week, we’ve spent a lot of time cooking, and even more time eating.
What’s more? It’s only the beginning of our holiday season eating extravaganza that ends with New Year’s resolutions meant to undo the damage.
That rattling in your closet is all of your buttons shaking in fear of what you intend to consume over the next month.
I’m not going to ask you not to eat at parties or enjoy the many holiday treats that will surely show up at your home or office this season. Instead, I’m going to suggest some meal options for the days in-between the butter, cream cheese, sugar, mayonnaise, icing, eggnog-laden gatherings.
Below are five meals you can feel good about. Not only are these dinner ideas healthy and tasty, they are also easy. You’ve already slaved over a turkey. Now you’re off the hook for the rest of the year.
After the holidays, I will absolutely help you get back in shape even if you break every rule in my book; but, success will come sooner and easier if we can temper the damage on the front-end.
What’s for dinner?
1) Meatloaf (using oatmeal instead of breadcrumbs) with cauliflower mash instead of taters
For the meatloaf, use 1 lb of lean ground meat, 2/3 cup of oatmeal, 1 egg, 1/4 cup of chopped onion, 1/2 tsp of minced garlic, 1 drained can of diced tomatoes, 1 Tbsp of worcestershire and 1/2 tsp of pepper. Mix and bake at 350 for 40 mins, top with Heinz 57 and bake for an additional 10 mins.
For the cauliflower mash, steam or boil fresh or frozen cauliflower until tender, then process with your favorite mashed potato ingredients.
2) Lentil sauce over quinoa
Cook 1/2 lb of sausage or ground meat in a pot with 1 tsp of olive oil. Once the meat cooks, add 1 can of lentil soup and 1 can of Rotel. Heat through so some of the liquid evaporates, and serve over quinoa.
3) Taco salad
Cook ground meat with 1 tsp each of the following: chili powder, onion powder, paprika, garlic salt, cumin and red pepper. Add 1/2 cup of diced onion and cook until translucent. Serve over torn up lettuce and top with grated cheddar, diced tomatoes, diced peppers, a dollop of plain yogurt (greek is best because the flavor mimics sour cream) and a sprinkle of crushed tortilla chips.
4) Steak and salad with blue cheese dressing
Marinate steak in 2 Tbsp worcestershire, 1 tbsp dijon mustard, 1 Tbsp of orange or apple juice and 2 tsp pepper for at least 30 mins. Grill to desired doneness, and serve with romaine, diced red onion and a dressing made of the following: 1/2 cup of cottage cheese, 1/2 cup of yogurt, 2 tsp chopped onion, 1/2 tsp minced garlic, splash of red wine vinegar and 1 Tbsp of blue cheese – process till smooth and salt & pepper to taste.
5) Roasted chicken and veggies
Heat oven to 400F. Mix juice of 1 lemon, 2 Tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp pepper, 1 tsp sea salt, 1 Tbsp freshly chopped herbs (basil, thyme, rosemary or sage will work) and 1 tsp minced garlic. Baste chicken breasts, and use the rest to toss with vegetables of choice (broccoli, carrots, onion, fennel, sweet potato chunks, bell peppers, cauliflower, etc.). Bake chicken and vegetables for about 20 minutes, or until done.
Posted: February 2, 2011 | Author: runningforpizza | Filed under: Food | Tags: cauliflower mash, healthy food substitutions, healthy ingredients, mashed cauliflower, mayonnaise substitute, quinoa, sour cream substitute, yogurt |
Plain yogurt (I prefer greek) is a fantastic substitute for sour cream and mayonnaise. You can use it as a direct swap for sour cream, and as a substitute for mayonnaise just mix 1/4 of mayo to 3/4 strained yogurt for whatever amount the recipe calls for. You’ll save a ton of fat and calories, but even my husband can’t tell the difference in the taste. Just make sure you get the plain yogurt – trust me when I say that accidentally getting using vanilla yogurt in place of sour cream or mayo will make for an interesting (errr…) flavor sensation.
Cauliflower is a healthy, yummy alternative to mashed potatoes. Steam/boil cauliflower and add in your usual potato seasoning (milk, butter, salt, pepper, cream cheese, horseradish, etc.) for a light alternative that does not taste “diet.”
Quinoa is a grain that acts like a protein. Sound too good to be true. It’s not. I use it in place of rice in all my mediterranean and asian dishes, and it gives a lovely nutty flavor that is nice without being overpowering. I’ve made quinoa cakes by adding egg to cooked quinoa and then frying patties in a bit of olive oil. Last week I even used prepared quinoa in place of breadcrumbs in meatloaf.
I recommend these substitutes with the disclaimer that they should not be used as an excuse to overeat. They aren’t calorie free, they are simply good alternatives to less nutritious/higher calorie options. I hope you try them and like them.
As always, I believe you should play with your food and enjoy your food. The more you pay attention to what goes in, the better understanding you’ll have of what you get out of your body.
