The Anti-Chicken Fingers Movement - Roasted Zucchini, Corn and Tomatoes

• As you know, I've been on a Bethenny Frankel kick lately. Here is yet another fabulously healthy recipe straight from her book...which by the way, if you've ever been on a diet and/or been thinking of going on a diet, her book Naturally, Thin is a must-read that will change the way you think about food and dieting.
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• Roasted Zucchini, Corn and Tomatoes
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• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh shredded basil
• 2 medium zucchinis
• ½ cup pear tomatoes
• 1 corn on the cob

Preparation

1. Cut zucchini into 1 inch pieces.
2. Cut pear tomatoes in half.
3. Remove corn from one ear.
4. Heat nonstick skillet over medium high heat and coat lightly with olive oil.  Add zucchini and garlic and season with salt and pepper.  Toss so garlic doesn't burn.
5. After slightly golden brown, add corn and tomatoes. Cook until zucchini is tender.
6. Add shredded basil just before serving.

Buon appetito! Leah

New Ways to Prepare Healthy Snacks - Guest Post by Barry Zagreb

Snacks are not completely off the table when trying to stick with a healthy diet. You just have to learn how to snack smart by preparing healthy snacks that both satisfy the urge to snack while providing a health benefit. Try these new ways to prepare some old favorite snacks so they can still be part of a low calorie, healthy diet.

Flavored Popcorn
Popcorn has long been recommended as a snack option for a low calorie, heart healthy diet. It is whole grain, easy to tuck an un-popped microwave bag into a backpack or purse, easy to prepare and it’s boring. Spice up microwave popcorn with of your favorite spices or toppings so the old healthy standby will taste new and different.

Pop a bag of plain popcorn, then shake in some red chili powder or paprika for a fiery and crunchy snack. Create an Indian inspired snack by heating one teaspoon of oil in a pan, then adding one-half teaspoon each of ground cumin, turmeric and red chili flakes and let sizzle for one minute. Add one-half cup of roasted peanuts to the bag of popcorn and pour hot spice mixture over popcorn. Top with juice from half a lemon if desired. If sweet is more your taste, melt a little dark chocolate and drizzle over popped corn or sprinkle the snack with ground cinnamon.

Wrap It Up
Create a healthy snack by starting with a whole wheat wrap, add some low fat toppings and wrap it up. Great for on-the-go snacking or as a healthy dessert choice. Lay whole wrap flat and spread with a thin layer of reduced fat peanut butter, then top with banana or apple slices, raisins, strawberries or any other favorite fruit. Drizzle a little melted dark chocolate over the peanut butter and fruit mix, wrap it up and enjoy as-is or heated in microwave or on stove top.

Healthy Pizza
Pizza can be a healthy snack choice, it all depends on what sits atop the pizza dough. Start with a ready-made, individual size pizza crust and top with fresh sliced fruit or veggies. Tomato based pizza sauce contains Lycopene, an anti-oxidant compound which provides several health benefits, so start building a healthy pizza with a layer of tomato sauce and reduced fat xccheese (another healthy food when eaten in moderation), heat until cheese melts, then top with a variety of fresh vegetables. If fresh fruit pizza is more to your liking, mash some fresh berries with the back of spoon, spread on whole wheat crust, then top with slice fruit and a drizzle of melted dark chocolate. Low fat yogurt can also be used as the base spread for a healthy fresh fruit pizza.

Dark Chocolate
You can still eat chocolate and maintain a low calorie, healthy diet. The key is selecting a good quality dark chocolate (which is packed with anti-oxidants) and eat it in moderation. One to two ounces per day is considered a moderate amount. Dark chocolate can be eaten as-is or used in recipes just like milk chocolate, and it will elevate any snack when melted (in microwave) and drizzled on top.

Barry Zagreb writes about health, parenting & finding the best homeowners insurance quote.

The Anti-Chicken Fingers Movement ~ Stir Fry in a Tortilla

This was the perfect meal for a Friday night.  Cheap, easy...and quick.  As you know, I'm very into health-friendly foods.  I like to find amazing recipes that are lower in bad fats and high in protein and healthy carbs.  Anytime you can sneak in a ton of veggies into a great meal, it's going to be a winner all the way around.  This will be one I make again, for sure! Enjoy!





Ingredients:

• 1 Tbl olive oil
• 1 red bell pepper sliced
• 1 yellow or orange bell pepper sliced
• 1 box 0 oz mushrooms
• 1/2 cup sliced red onion 
• 1 lb of boneless, skinless chicken breast, cooked and cut up into bite-sized peices
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• salt & pepper
• 8 whole wheat tortillas
• 1/4 cup whipped light or fat free cream cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded reduced fat cheddar cheese or cheese of your choice

Instructions:

Warm oil in large, nonstick skillet.  Add the bell peppers, mushrooms, and red onion and cook, stirring frequently for five minutes or until tender. Reduce heat to medium and cover, cooking five minutes longer.

Add chicken, chili powder, cumin, and salt and pepper to taste, tossing to mix well.  Cook and stir until heated through well.

Meanwhile, warm tortillas in oven.  Spread each tortilla with cream cheese, then top with chicken & veggie mixture, then with cheese.  Roll up tortillas, and enjoy. 

We just ate these alone, no sides.  Like I said, easy for a Friday night!  Happy Eating Friends! ~Trina

The Anti-Chicken Fingers Movement ~ Homemade Beef Stew with Rice

Well, the weather (until Saturday) this week had been rainy and gloomy, so I decided to buy some stew meat to throw in the crockpot for some homemade beef and rice stew.  It turned out delicious, substituting rice for potatoes really does something for this soup.  The leftovers are better, as the rice has soaked up all the juices.  My little boy lapped up every bite...

Ingredients:
1-pd of beef stew meat (already cut up)
1-package of frozen carrots, peas and green beans (or fresh)
2-cups uncooked (4 servings cooked) brown rice
3- Celery sticks cut up
6-Cups of Beef Broth
Garlic powder, salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:
Pour beef broth into crockpot and turn on to low heat.
Add beef, frozen veggies, celery sticks, and garlic powder, salt & pepper to taste.  Leave for 6-8 hours on low heat, then cook rice according to directions.  Add to stew, stir, and serve with your choice of bread and/or salad.  Happy eating friends! ~Trina

The Best Foods To Eat During Pregnancy - Guest Post from Zoe (UK)

Now that there are two mouths to feed and 300 extra calories a day in sight, it’s important to follow a healthy, balanced diet for both you and your baby. Those extra calories need to provide your baby with the nutrients it needs to keep developing and growing, and to put him or her in good stead for a healthy lifestyle. As well as eating well whilst pregnant, it’s important to get plenty of sleep before your little bundle arrives, and ensure your sleep is spent on a mattress that is firm, yet soft enough to accommodate your new curves. Also, continue with your regular exercise regime until you feel comfortable. Here we give you a varied list of “power foods” that will ensure you have a healthier, smoother pregnancy.

1. Leafy, green vegetables – a nutritional hero in your pregnancy diet, eat vegetables like cabbage, broccoli and spinach to provide you and your baby with a good intake of fibre, folic acid, vitamin C and calcium.
2. Yoghurt – yoghurt works great as a midday snack, and greek yoghurt with your favourite fruit is even better. Jam-packed with protein, calcium, potassium and folic acid, you can pick up a yoghurt at your nearest supermarket and eat on-the-go for mummies to be with busy lifestyles. Equally, blend with your favourite fruit to make smoothies. Yoghurts can also prevent stomach upsets and yeast infections due to all the “active cultures”, better known as good bacteria, so it gets a double thumbs up.
3. Porridge – a delicious way to get your fibre and iron intake, porridge is a great breakfast to start your day. Add blueberries and apples for a fruity twist, or banana and cinnamon for a bit more of a kick. Or just choose your favourite fruits and get making your own varieties!
4. Wholemeal bread, potatoes and rice – these make up a big part of your daily intake of calories, so go for wholemeal bread for toast and sandwiches, because wholemeal and wholegrain contain loads more vitamins, fibre and omega 3.
5. Avocados – this superfruit is packed full of vitamins, like B6, which can help with morning sickness, and plenty of folic acid, so it’s a great food to eat when you’re pregnant. Try avocado on salads, or spread on wholemeal toast for a great breakfast or snack.
6. Beans – a great source of protein for both you and baby, choose from a wide range. Our favourite is the edamame bean, as they are a yummy way of getting your intake of protein, calcium, folic acid and vitamins. They can be cooked with soups, casseroles and pastas or eaten on-the-go as a healthy snack.
7. Red peppers – containing lots of vitamins A, C and B6, red peppers and your favourite dip are another great snack to take around with you during the day. You can also chop them up and throw them into pasta dishes and stir-fries, or into your sandwiches and salads.
8. Kiwi – another superfruit to add to your pregnancy diet. Kiwis have just as much vitamin C as an orange, so it’s a great way to boost your C-vit intake, and keep your baby healthy and strong. Kiwis are also packed with folic acid and antioxidants to make you and your baby stronger at attacking viruses.

Zoe is an avid blogger and experienced freelance writer, and loves to share her knowledge through content on the internet. Zoe is currently writing on behalf of bed superstore Archers Sleep Centre.

Toddlers Eating Habits - Just Enough To Keep A Baby Bird Alive?

My child just doesn’t eat.  My husband and I actually read the little sheet the pediatrician gives you; you know the one their assistant prints from some random googled site between her Facebook posts.  It reads “a toddler is only expected to eat as much as a baby bird.”  Check!  We’re good!  That is precisely how much our two-year-old is eating. 

I know what he likes.  At least, this week.  He loves him some green beans and broccoli (no, really!)  And pineapple and raisins.  And beef…taco meat, burger bites, even steak—my diet the first four weeks of his existence in my belly, thanks to many business meetings in Kansas City.  In fact, the first person to know I was pregnant, other than myself, was my KC cabbie shuttling me to the airport the morning my stick showed two pink lines. 

   My husband and I were in agreement that we wouldn’t be those parents–the parents who’d cook up chicken korma with a side of mango chutney and naan just to feed our offspring hot dogs and mac and cheese.  And we aren’t…yet.  We serve a meal and they are expected to eat it.  If they don’t, I guess they’ll figure it out by the next meal that they should eat what they’re served.  However, the trick doesn’t seem to be working.  He doesn’t flinch.  He still doesn’t eat.  He seems to not have eaten a bite.

   Yet, there are those meals where they throw down.  I get such delight in seeing them polish off an entire plate.  I feel accomplished.  Finally, my trice-daily attempt at balanced meals including a protein, grain, vegetable and dairy product (almost always their sippy of milk).  And then it seems he doesn’t eat again for a week.  Still, I take such pride in those fleeting moments.  I take into account the snacks I’d given through the course of the day.  Goldfish seem like the biggest culprit.  Or maybe just milk.  I feel blessed with the fact that they do enjoy the beverage of choice for little men.  But, maybe too much is simply too much when their little bodies are in need of other vitamins and minerals.

   As his primary caregiver, I know I’m presenting him with a nice balance and constantly trying to rework our menu to find something he’ll eat, something that sticks for a while.  There is only so much you can do.  We weigh in healthy at our checkups.  In fact, he is 90th percentile in weight and height, so something is nourishing him.  So, how does he poop?  Cause he poops…today he pooped three times.  I really haven’t figured that one out yet… 

   So, if you’re confident you’re providing a balance of healthy options and they are eating, they are pooping and they are growing, then maybe, in fact, they are eating as much as they need, even if it’s just enough to keep a baby bird alive.   

Holiday Recipe Spectacular - Appetizer - Easy Veggie Dip

My mom started to make this a few years ago and it's way better than your plain ol' ranch dip.  Quick and easy to whip up...perfect with veggies and chips!

Easy Veggie Dip


ranch dip mix
1 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup bacon bits

Mix and refrigerate for at least an hour.  Serve with veggies and we like our Ruffles with Ridges for this one too!
Photo Credit