In a fast-food, packaged-meal world, nutrition and healthy eating often take a back seat to convenience and speed. It helps us live our busy lifestyle, but it makes weight loss more difficult to achieve and maintain.
If you are serious about getting to your ideal weight and staying there, the road begins with eating a healthy, nutritionally balanced diet.
And the best way to do that is to prepare your own meals. But, even when you do, packaged and prepared foods, and their extra calories, still sneak into your diet through things like salad dressings, desserts and snacks.
Here’s three healthy alternative recipes that will help seal off the leaks in your diet and make it that much easier to manage your weight.
Emeril’s Green Onion & Cilantro Salad Dressing
Let’s start you off with something healthy AND full of taste:
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1 cup grape seed oil
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard
- 2 bunches or 1 cup of blanched green onion
- 1/2 cup of cilantro
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground white pepper
Combine ingredients and blend until smooth and — Bam! — a great salad dressing.
While grape seed oil is a high-calorie (120 calories and 15 fat grams per tablespoon), it’s also low in cholesterol, sodium and saturated fat. It’s also an antioxidant supplement and a good source of Vitamin E. And the fat in the grape seed oil helps you absorb some of the nutrients in the salad. (howstuffworks.com)
Pineapple-Raspberry Parfaits
‘Parfait’ is ‘perfect’ in French, and that’s just how these treats taste. Turn any weeknight into treat night with this quick and easy recipe. Makes 4 parfaits.
Ingredients:
- 2 8-ounce containers (2 cups) nonfat peach yogurt
- 1/2 pint fresh raspberries, (about 1 1/4 cups)
- 1 1/2 cups fresh, frozen or canned pineapple chunks
Divide and layer yogurt, raspberries and pineapple into 4 glasses.
(eatingwell.com)
Baby Tiramisu
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup nonfat ricotta cheese, (4 ounces)
- 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 12 ladyfingers, (about 1 3/4 ounces)
- 4 tablespoons brewed espresso, or strong coffee, divided
- 2 tablespoons bittersweet chocolate chips, melted (see Tip)
Combine ricotta, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon in a medium bowl.
Place 6 ladyfingers in a 9-by-5-inch (or similar size) loaf pan. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons espresso (or coffee). Spread the ricotta mixture over the ladyfingers. Place another layer of ladyfingers over the ricotta and drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons espresso (or coffee). Drizzle with melted chocolate. Refrigerate until the chocolate is set, about 30 minutes.
Tip: To melt chocolate: Microwave on Medium for 1 minute. Stir, then continue microwaving on Medium in 20-second intervals until melted, stirring after each interval. Or place in the top of a double boiler over hot, but not boiling, water. Stir until melted. (eatingwell.com)
It’s easier, more fun and healthier than you think to create your own delicious dishes. Your local Herbal One nutritional consultant can help with recipe ideas, shopping tips and the nutritional information you need to stay healthy while you manage your weight.