That line’s become a part of our culture to describe meat dishes that aren’t made with chicken, but none the less, taste almost exactly like our favorite poultry meat. And why do we think that many of these alternative white meats (including tofu substitutes) taste like chicken?

Because most of us have grown up eating chicken in every conceivable way, shape, and form. Chicken is by far the most versatile meat used in recipes and will continue to be so as long as it remains relatively inexpensive and easy to prepare.

To give you an idea of the vast variety of chicken recipes, I’ve dug up a few favorites that folks are often looking for online:

Garlic lemon chicken, beer can chicken, chicken marsala, chicken and dumplings, baked chicken, chicken parmesan, chicken pot pie, bourbon chicken, chicken noodle soup, chicken salad, chicken and dumplings, chicken breast, white chicken chili, fried chicken, chicken tortilla soup, chicken cordon blue or bleu, chicken parmesan, chicken divan, chicken wings, chicken cacciatore, chicken enchiladas, orange chicken, chicken casserole, chicken stew, curry chicken, fried chicken.

And that’s just a small sample of the wonderful chicken recipes you can find online. It doesn’t matter if you’re not the greatest cook in the world or if you love to cook but short on time. You’re bound to find several chicken recipes that fit your budget, schedule, and level of cooking expertise.

You can bet your sweet chicken noodle that somewhere right now there’s a cook putting a chicken in a pot, oven, pan, or casserole dish getting ready to create another delicious chicken inspired dish.

by: Donna Monday

Below are some tips for making healthy food choices:

- Coconut is high in saturated fat, while olives
are high in monounsaturated fats and calories. You
should use these items sparingly to avoid getting
too many calories from fat.

- When vegetable grains are cooked, saturated fat
or cholesterol is often added. For example, egg
yolks may be added to bread or even pasta.

- Processed, canned, or preserved vegetables may
also contain added sodium. With some people, too
much sodium (salt) may lead to high blood pressure.
There are some food companies that are actually
canning vegetables with less salt. You can look
for these in the market area or choose fresh and
even frozen vegetables.

- Nuts and seeds tend to be high in calories and
fat, although a majority of the fat is polyunsaturated
or monounsaturated. There are some varieties,
macadamie nuts for example, that are also high in
saturated fat.

Foods that are high in soluble fiber are a great
choice as well. Examples include oat bran,
oatmeal, beans, peas, rice bran, barley, and
even apple pulp.

Whenever you are looking for healthy food choices,
always make sure you read the nutrition label
or information about the food. You can then
determine what the food contains and how healthy
it truly is for your body. By taking your time
and making your healthy food choices wisely,
you’ll have a lifetime to enjoy the foods that
will take care of you.

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.

If you cannot be an all-out vegetarian and can’t bear the thought of permanently abstaining from meat and other non-veggie foods, at least consider eating at least seven meals a week. Granting that each day there are about three complete meals, in a week that would be equal to 21 meals. When you look at it this way, seven out of 21 meals do not seem too much of a sacrifice. You can start with lesser number if you want, just make sure to gradually increase it over a period and start feeling the advantages of getting direct nutrition from these foods. The vitamins and mineral content of this food group can never be captured by processed products, and can only come as close as half of its nutrition, despite its labels of being healthy. Doing so in your diet, and preferable keeping a dish or two with your usual daily meals, can aid your digestion, help in the flushing of harmful substances and toxins by becoming the most natural detoxification program, and keep you away from illnesses and disorders.

The environment we now live in is not as free from chemicals and pollution as before. To battle it out, being mindful of what we take in inside our body is the best front line of defense that we can give ourselves.

Social Bookmarking

Believe it or not, fat is not tantamount to adding pounds. It has been a misconception among the majority, so they then tend to avoid all the foods they think can make them fat and eliminate the good ones in the process too. There are different types of good fats and bad fats. In your fat free food list, it is healthy to determine which one qualifies as a “can eat” or “cannot eat.”

Fats that should be IN your food list:

1. Foods rich in monosaturated fats such as
   • Almonds and almond butter which are also rich in other nutrients
   • Other highly nutritious nuts such as macadamias, hazelnuts, cashews, pecans and pistachios
   •  Avocados
   • Olive oil and canola oil
2. Polysaturated fats in foods like:

• Fatty types of fish such as tuna and salmon
•  Walnuts, safflower and other types of nuts
•  Corn oils and sunflower oils

Fats that should be OUT of your food list (or should be at a regulated amount only):

1. Saturated fats
   • Animal products such as pork, beef, chicken, and other dairy products such as butter
2. Trans fats

•     Fast foods are the usual sites for meals containing high amount of trans fats
•      Commercially baked products
•      These two contain trans fats due to the hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated types of oils

1. Cholesterol

•        Egg yolks
•        Meat
•        Some types of shellfish
•        Dairy products

Keep in mind to not easily fall for foods labeled as fat free. They may be lesser in fat, but taking a look at the nutritional content can reveal a high quality content. What is important when considering a diet plan is to make sure that you are doing it the safe and proper way. 

Social Bookmarking