Top 3 Recipes That Are Not Just Tasty and Addictive, But Healthy As Well

One of the most important things for any delicious dish is the way it will be served at table. Each dish should satisfy all senses.

Did you know that since most dietary dishes have the biggest amount of vegetables in them, the taste and colors are most vibrant in them?

Recipe #1: Delicious Bio Millet Cupcakes

The best thing about this recipe is that all products, except millet are raw. Do not forget that millet is one of the healthiest foods. It is easily digestible, gluten free and its consumption contributes to cleansing the body. That's what makes it perfect for your diet and healthy cooking.

Ingredients:

• 200 g bio millet
• A pinch of salt
• 500 ml water (mineral or spring)
• 3 tablespoons of tofu
• ½ avocado
• 3 tablespoons coconut oil
• Fresh basil
• Several olives

The millet should boil in a ceramic pot with a pinch of salt in it. It must be well boiled in order to clot and the cupcakes to be well formed.

While the boiled millet cools, put all the ingredients needed for the filling in the blender and mix them. You should put plastic wrap on the bottom of the cupcake shapes. In this way you will be able to easily take them out. Use a spoon to put 2 balls of the boiled millet and press them with fingers in order to take on the form of a cupcake. Add a spoonful of the filling mixture.

Put the millet cupcakes for about an hour in the refrigerator. Decorate them with a variety of fresh vegetables, dried tomatoes, sprouts or whatever you like. Use your imagination!

Recipe #2: Steamed Vegetables with Coconut Oil and Hemp

Now everyone knows that the healthiest way to cook is by steaming. But most people do not know that this is also one of the easiest and convenient ways. Most promotional pictures of steaming utensils show appealing piece of salmon or chicken but there many more dishes we can cook this way.

There are many ideas on how to prepare healthy food. Take a look at this one:

Ingredients:
• Several organic potatoes;
• 200g frozen organic carrots;
• 200g frozen organic corn;
• 50 grams organic hemp seed;
• Coconut oil;
• Soy sauce;
• Ground nutmeg (if you like it)

Wash well and cut the potatoes into slices (0.7 cm). Actually, you can cut them in any way, but if you want your dish to look beautiful, this is the best option.

If the potatoes you use are organic, do not peel them. The peelings are useful because they contain the most valuable ingredients of the potato.

Put nutmeg spice in the steaming utensil. Arrange the potato slices on the two levels below. Put corn and carrots on the top levels without mixing them in order to be able to arrange them well later when serving.

Turn the timer to 20 minutes and until you prepare your favorite salad, the dish will be ready.

Serve as you arrange the carrots and corn on the potato slices and sprinkle them with hemp seeds.

Pour soy sauce and melted coconut oil on them.

And remember that the most delicious spice to the dish is a pinch of love!

Recipe #3: Raw Mediterranean Protein Omega-3 Crackers

If you need an extra dose of crude plant protein, these gluten-free crispy crackers are the perfect solution. They are extremely healthy, delicious and rich in nutrients such as omega-3 fats, many minerals, vitamins and fiber. Moreover, they combine incredible Mediterranean flavors and 4 types of raw seeds.

Here is the recipe for 16 crackers:
• 1 cup ground flax seed
• ½ cup hulled hemp seed
• ½ cup soaked sunflower seeds
• ½ cup soaked pumpkin seeds
• 4 pieces of soaked dried tomatoes
• 4-5 cherry tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ½ red onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• basil and oregano

First of all, soak the ground linseed in a cup of water. Then strain the soaked dried tomatoes, cherry tomatoes and the other spices. After that, add the puree to linen mixture. Then add the other seeds - hemp, sunflower and pumpkin and mix them well. Finally spread the mixture on a baking sheet and form squares with a knife.

The baking dish is placed in the oven at 60 degrees for 1 hour. Then the temperature should be decreased to 50 degrees. After 12 hours crackers should be turned carefully in order to dry on the other side. The whole drying process is about 20-24 hours until they are fully prepared and crispy.

Tip: I recommend them in combination with a rich green salad!

About the author: Radmila is co-author at qualityhoodia.com - supplements and dieting recipes. Proud author of more than a dozen healthy food recipes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7350358

Quick Vegetarian Recipes Part One - 7 Secret Tips to Keep Broccoli Bright Green After Boiling It

Poached broccoli is one of the best quick vegetarian recipes. Broccoli is high in vitamin C and other antioxidants, it can improve your health and minimizes the onset of some diseases. If you cook it not in the right way broccoli becomes dark green, limp and unappetizing. I will share with you my experience to do the quick vegetarian recipes. This will help you to get beneficial vitamins and keep it bright green and delicious.

What you need:

1. Fresh broccoli

2. Olive oil, salt, water

3. A regular pot

How to do:

1. Buy a broccoli that looks refreshingly green with small and compact flower buds. It is young and tender. Broccoli with bigger buds tend to have bugs hiding in it. It is the tougher. The good broccoli should be without soggy parts, black spots and mold.

2. Trim any discoloured parts off the broccoli with a knife. Any discoloration would become more pronounced after you cook it. Cut the stems on the broccoli to the desired length, and cut the tops into even floret.

3. Wash the broccoli under cool water. Broccoli can retain sand and dirt, which can foul up the cooking water and affect the colour of the broccoli as it cooks.

4. Fill with a large amount of water in the pot such as one ounce broccoli for every four cups of water. Bring the water to boil.Sprinkle in around 1 teaspoon salt. The salt provides a "barrier" against the carbon dioxide, and keeps the chlorophyll green. Then add some oil. The oil helps keep the surface of the broccoli shiny even after the boiling, and the oil can help you achieve a slightly higher boiling point.

5. Add broccoli to the boiling water. This is very important secret to keep the broccoli in its green colour. The high heat helps to seal in the green colour and the corresponding nutrients right under the skin of the broccoli. You should add the head of broccoli stem side-up, because any impurities in the cooking water will collect at the top and may discolour the florets if you cook it right side up.

6. Blanch the broccoli for no more than two minutes. Take out the broccoli when you see the steam leaking out and that you can smell the aroma of fresh broccoli, drain the broccoli before it is completely cooked, because it will "cook" itself with the heat even after they are taken out and put on a dish. Any longer cooking the broccoli will lose its vibrant green colour.

7. Serve the broccoli immediately.

Please quickly start to make you and your family to achieve the best health of your life with quick vegetarian recipes in your hands. I am waiting for you to share your achievement story with quick vegetarian recipes. Click on the link to learn more and get other amazing free recipes: http://www.hot-tips-for-you.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7513093

Vegetarian and Vegan Bodybuilding

Just because you want to take up Bodybuilding, doesn't mean that you need to eat lots of meat, or in fact, any meat. If you are a vegetarian or vegan then chances are you have taken the decision to not eat meat, fish and maybe eggs or any other animal products. Whether your choice is down to ethics or you just do not like the taste or the idea of meat and fish, do not let anyone tell you that you need to give up and eat meat in order to build your body.

Here are some of the things to consider if you are a vegetarian or vegan and have decided to take up bodybuilding.

Make sure that you are getting enough calories. If you have eaten a vegetarian or vegan diet for some time then chances are you will not have any problems eating, but you may well need to increase your calorie intake. A deficit in calories when training hard will only leave you feeling tired and drained and will cause you to breakdown any muscle that you are trying to build.

One easy way to increase your calorific intake in a safe way would be to eat small snacks spread throughout the day. Eating a banana or an apple or even a couple of whole wheat biscuits with a spoonful of peanut butter for instance and if you eat dairy, consider natural yoghurt with some fruit.

Like with all forms of exercise, you must keep your body's fluid levels up by drinking plenty of water as becoming dehydrated can not only be dangerous but also will lower your body's efficiency when using all of the nutrients that you have eaten. One fact that not a lot of people know is that a water molecule is required to break down the bond between two fat molecules.

Eating plenty of protein is also very important for bodybuilding. Some will claim that the best way to eat protein is to eat meat, but this argument is scientifically floored as gram for gram, many vegetables contain more protein than meat as many meats contain a high water content. Free range eggs are of course a great source of proteins, especially the white part called the albumin. If you do not eat eggs then whey protein is also very good, although you must make sure that the whey that you use comes from a vegetarian source.

For Vegans there are also some great alternatives to eggs and whey and these include refined protein isolates such as Soya protein, Rice protein and Hemp protein powders. All of these are very easy for the body to digest and can be mixed to make the most of all of their nutrients. Of the 3, Soya is the most complete protein powder as it contains all of the essential amino acids required by the human body. Of course, any Soya protein powder that you choose to use should ideally be from an organic source.

Ensure that the bodybuilding supplements that you use are suitable for vegetarian and/or vegan diets. Just because a supplement contains all vegetarian or vegan products doesn't mean that it is not wrapped in a gelatine capsule. Choose a bodybuilding supplement such as BodyCheck, which is suitable for Vegetarian, Vegan, Halal and Kosher diets, and has the added benefit of not only helping to increase your endurance but to help aid recovery also with a selection of natural anti-inflammatory herbal extracts.

For some more tips visit Vegetarian Bodybuiling HD

Come and see our website over at https://vegetarianbodybuildinghd.wordpress.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7495123

Does A Vegetarian Find It More Difficult To Build Muscle?

If you are a vegetarian and you want to build muscle, it will not be that difficult. That's right. Being a vegetarian should not hinder you from achieving your fitness goals. However, things will not be the same as those who eat meat. There are certain things you need to do in order to make sure your body gets enough protein for the muscles to feed on.

The good thing about being a vegetarian is the fact that you can still eat food products which come from animals such as milk and eggs. This means that you can get proteins from them without ruining your diet. For vegans, on the other hand, it will be more challenging. Instead of food products, they will have to rely on nuts and seeds for their protein needs. In order to help you build muscles the healthy and the vegetarian way, here are some tips for you.

First, you need to eat food that will give you sufficient calories that you need. Consult a fitness professional to know how much calorie content you need to intake each day. Your body needs fuel. If you are going to build muscles, you need to ensure that you have energy to start the exercise routines.

Second, you need to eat lots of fruits and vegetables. These are foods that are rich in nutrients. The muscles need vitamins and minerals to grow well. Your body needs the nutrients in order to be protected from illnesses and injuries that can damage the muscles.

Third, you need to consume more legumes. Legumes are a great source of carbohydrates. The good thing about them is that they contain very little amount of fat. Even if you consume much, your body fat percentage will not increase. A low body fat percentage means a high body muscle percentage.

Fourth, you need to replace your rice with quinoa. If you do not know quinoa, let me give you a simple overview. It is a type of grain which is very rich in protein. It is a better substitute than brown rice and other grain products. Quinoa is a mostly protein. It contains little to no carbohydrates therefore your muscles can benefit a lot from it.

Fifth, you need to eat more egg whites than egg yolks. In fact, it is better if you eat just the egg whites. The yolk is filled with calories and cholesterol therefore it is not good for your body. On the other hand, egg whites are filled with protein which your muscles need to grow. This is the reason why bodybuilders love egg whites. If you really want the yolks, you need to follow the 1:2 ratios. Consume 1 egg yolk per 2 egg whites.

These are some of the tips that will help you achieve your fitness goal even if your food choices are limited. Remember that if you want something, you can always do something to achieve it. Being a vegetarian should never be an excuse to have a well-built body.

Hi. I'm Rachel Berret, I'm a big fan of osteopathic treatments. I have a super osteopath that helps me overcome my own aches and pains when they flame up.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7523014

Nutritional Benefits of Couscous

Not so many people know what couscous is and fewer people have actually tasted delicacies and dishes made of this healthy food. Couscous is actually a grain food that is comparable to pasta or rice. It is actually made of semolina wheat that's moistened and then formed into tiny grain shapes. Couscous grains are smaller than rice grains and are dusted with flour so that they can retain structure. It can be interesting to know that couscous is staple food of some regions of the world and is considered like the pasta or rice in some countries. Just like pasta and rice, the couscous can be very versatile in terms of preparation and can be used in various dishes and salads; and they can also be used to prepare side dishes.

Since couscous is made from semolina grain, it is manufactured and sold in various ways. Some sell couscous without adding any kind of seasoning or without any extra ingredient. However, there are some stores that sell them in different varieties including couscous that are roasted in onion, garlic or olive oil. Amazingly, couscous can also be made with other kinds of wheat to give different flavors to it.

People from different parts of the world prepare the couscous differently. Some countries, like those from the African region, serve couscous in thin broth and in combination with cooked vegetables. In Morocco, however, couscous is served with lots of vegetables, sauces and beans. In Western countries, however, couscous is used more like an alternative to rice and pasta. If couscous is not local to your area then you can always buy them from health stores or from the ethnic food section of some supermarkets.

When it comes to nutrition, the couscous will never sell you short. It is, in fact, one of the healthiest grain-based products around. Its glycaemic load for every gram is 25% lower that of pasta. Not only that, couscous is also known to have superior vitamin content over pasta. To prove this, it should be said that couscous contains twice the content of niacin, riboflavin, vitamin B6 and folic acid compared to pasta. It also contains more thiamine and pantothenic acid.

Couscous is also a very good source of protein since it has 3.6 grams of protein in every 100 calories. Its protein content is the same as that of the pasta but a bit higher than white rice. Also, it would be interesting to note that couscous only has 1% ratio of fat to calorie making it one good alternative to rice and pasta if you want your food to be lower in fat content.

Couscous is, of course, a very good source for carbohydrates. If you are tired of cooking the usual grain staples like pasta and rice then the couscous can be good alternatives. With its carb content, it can be very satisfying hunger-wise despite its small grain size. The best thing about couscous is that it contains no cholesterol.

Remember that you can prepare by itself to take the place of rice or pasta or it can be cooked in combination with beef, pork, chicken and vegetables.

Sydnie has been an online writer for nearly 2 years now. Not only does this author specialize in gardening, travel, relationships, and product reviews, you can also check out her latest website on Omron HEM-780 Blood Pressure Monitor [http://hem-780.net] which reviews and lists the best Blood Pressure HEM-780 Omron Monitor [http://hem-780.net].

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5393943

Vegetarian Diet is the Best Way to Lose Weight!

You've been struggling with your weight and you're looking for the best way to lose weight but with all kinds of different diets it's hard to know what foods you can eat and what to avoid.

There are numerous benefits to eating a vegetarian diet! Vegetables are the most important things for a healthy diet and weight loss. Vegetables and fruits both are full of fiber, but vegetables tend not to have the extra calories and sugars that fruit has. a vegetarian diet could have you feeling better in no time! It's true.

On a healthy vegetarian diet one can very easily lose weight and stay fit. Vegetarian diet fights against cancer and heart disease. Vegetarian diet also help you avoid some food-borne illnesses. Eating vegetarian is not only healthy, it's good for the environment as livestock deplete enormous land and water resources.

Your food should nourish and feed your body. It should leave you feeling refreshed and energized. The body is a machine and it needs good fuel. The fact of the matter is that most people are overweight and obese. This is because we eat too much meat and too much fat. Problems such as high blood sugar, Type II diabetes, high cholesterol and other health related problems are caused by our diet. All of these problems can be prevented by changing your diet.

Vegetarian diet is the best way to lose weight! Have you ever really seen a fat vegetarian? Most likely you have not. In fact, most vegetarians are lean and healthy. Many vegetarians who resume their old diets have found that the weight they lost tends to come back. Your will power is not enough to prevent the onset of weight from eating a high-fat meat based diet.

Eating vegetables properly is the best way to lose weight! As a vegetarian you are essentially feeding your body the nutrition that it needs to provide your body with useful energy, not energy that has to be stored. You just feel better because of this.

Many diets fail because we are forcing ourselves to avoid food that we like. This only leads to temptation to eat those foods. The trick to being a successful vegetarian is to realize that you don't need to eat meat and that you can go without it.

You are focused on eating healthier and you forget that you are trying to lose weight. You actually begin to lose weight without realizing it, simply because you have eliminated your main source of fat and overall unhealthiness. At the same time, all of the bad health effects disappear because of your healthy and natural diet.

You don't have to carve meat out of your diet all together. Fill your plate with more vegetables than meat and you'll feel just as full. Did you know that the average steak serving is between six to twelve ounces, yet recommended portion sizes are only three to four ounces. By cutting your meat serving by half and filling up with veggies, you'll not only get what you crave, but also won't bust the bank.

If you are considering making the switch to a vegetarian diet, and seeing this is the best way to lose weight you probably will want to pass your new-found nutritional knowledge onto your family. In fact, as a parent you probably want to ensure that your family is receiving the best nutrition possible. It also helps them to learn about why it is important to eat healthy.

The problem, however, was in finding vegetarian meals that met my stringent criteria; healthy, protein-filled, easy to prepare, and most importantly tasty.I'm not sure what your experience has been with vegetarians, but I've come across many in my time and a large number of them don't have the body type that I would categorize as fit. So, when I finally came across Kardena Pauza's Easy Veggie Meal Plans, my interest was definitely peaked. Everything that I was looking for in a vegetarian diet she had put together in a 90 day program. I had to try it. Find out more details here: [http://www.vegetariandietfoods.info]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3556003

Vegetarian Weight Loss Diet With Recipe Plans - Vegan Food Ideas

One of the biggest challenges with a vegetarian diet plan for weight loss is finding enough variety and availability of foods in local stores. If you're a vegan looking for recipes sometimes you need to get creative and look for alternatives when maybe your favorite vegetarian food items aren't available. Keeping that in mind, here are some tips to lose weight and include some solid natural weight loss foods to spice up recipes. To be honest, you don't even need to be a vegetarian to enjoy them. These are healthy foods in general to eat to lose weight for anyone.

1. Fiddlehead Ferns: These have a slightly bitter and nutty flavor. Many people will often replace something like asparagus with Fiddlehead Ferns. The harvest period is a limited time in May so keep that in mind. Also, the flavor tends to diminish after they've been picked so you'll want to use them as soon as possible.


2. New Zealand Spinach: Spinach in general is one of the best choices to include in recipes of healthy foods to lose weight fast. There are also some other healthy benefits besides weight loss of course - promotes healthy skin, bone strength and density, helps protect eyes from cataracts and aids in lowering blood pressure.


3. Garlic Scapes: Many people use these as a milder alternative to regular garlic. You can use them the same way as you would with regular garlic in your recipes.


4. Sea Beans: As some call them, the poor man's asparagus. There popularity has increased their value. However, they taste basically as their name might suggest, a salty bean.


5. Scorzonera: So while this ugly brown root of the scorzonera might turn people off it tastes just like oysters. You can easily boil them, cut them up and make a soup and it's great for weight loss. They do go bad quickly so make sure to use them when you get them.

Another great thing about choosing to eat a more vegetarian diet is that it typically ends up being cheaper for you in the long run. If your meals are predominately vegetables you can expect to save much more money since you're eliminating meats that may have been purchased in the past.

The above are some quick and easy vegetarian weight loss recipes for your diet. Remember to stay creative and try new alternatives to exiting recipes you may already have in your regular diet plan. These are some great foods to incorporate in your everyday diet plan.

Joe Sladee, from http://www.destinationfatloss.com, is a fitness fanatic who's dedicated to helping anyone and everyone who has an ounce of motivation to lose weight and get fit. Join him on his fitness journey and get all the tips for a lean tone body free by visiting him and his program at http://www.destinationfatloss.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7098955

Top 5 Herbal Weight Loss Supplements

Science Behind Weight Loss Supplements

Scientists worldwide are continually studying the potential for herbs that might help with weight reduction. The best research is available to the public by searching through the PubMed online medical database at the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Anyone can conduct a search for studies on any herb, using search terms to find the titles and abstracts of articles of interest.

Examining the research on common herbs that are marketed for losing weight shows that certain herbs can be very helpful. On the other hand, other well-known herbs have no scientific support or anything remotely related to it. They are mostly scams.

Top Herbs

Green tea is an example herb that is supposed to help with weight reduction. A recent PubMed search on 'green tea' as a search term yielded 4,536 articles. Modifying it to 'green tea and weight loss' yielded 88 articles, many showing positive results. This an example of a well-researched herb. Indeed, a quick inspection of these articles shows that green tea is the probably best of all the herbal weight loss supplements.

Green tea seems to be the star of the show in other ways, too. This herb is well-researched for its multiplicity of health benefits, including improvements in total cholesterol, LDL and HDL cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, total triglycerides, and levels of insulin, cortisol, growth hormone, and IGF-1.

Additional searching on other herbal supplements for weight control shows that numerous herbs are well-supported by scientific studies. Several could contend for the top 5 list. The top 5, including green tea, that appear to be the best at the moment, based on scientific research are: 

• Green tea (Camellia sinensis)
• Banaba (Lagerostroemia speciosa)
• Gymnema sylvestre
• African mango (Irvingia gabonensis)
• Bitter melon (Momordica charantia)

The mechanisms of action, when known, vary among these herbs. The most common mechanisms entail antioxidant (anti-inflammatory) power, enhanced fat cell metabolism, and blood sugar and insulin regulation.

Herbal Weight Loss Supplements to Avoid

This is a much bigger topic. It is an easier topic to explore on Pubmed, since some of the most widely marketed 'weight loss' herbs have very little research to sort through, and sometimes none at all. Two of the top examples are Hoodia and acai berry.

A PubMed search on Hoodia yields 37 published articles. This herb is widely marketed as an appetite suppressant and has been endorsed by Oprah, Dr. Oz, and other celebrities. The most pertinent and most recent research on this herb as a treatment for overweight was published in 2011 (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 95 no. 5, pp. 1171-1181). This research showed that, after a 15-day study period, there was no significant difference in food intake or body weight between the Hoodia-treated group and the control (placebo) group.

Moreover, Hoodia was not well tolerated during this study. Side effects included nausea, vomiting, disturbed skin sensations, increased blood pressure and heart rate, and higher bilirubin levels.

On the other hand, a PubMed search on acai appeared more promising at first, since it yielded 92 research articles. At least 15 of these had nothing to do with the herb. Of those remaining, many properties of acai were reported. However, none involved weight loss. There were no published weight loss studies on acai whatsoever.

Acai berry juice is marketed with almost breathless claims about how this so-called exotic, tropical fruit juice is a miracle weight loss supplement. The truth is that the acai berry is an inexpensive product of common date palms in Brazil that has no documented weight loss benefits at all.

As weight loss supplements, Hoodia and acai sure seem to fit the descriptions of scams to me. Unfortunately, these are not the only ones.

Dr. Dennis Clark reviews the scientific evidence, or lack of it, behind weight loss supplements and other approaches to weight loss. He provides his overview of the five components of weight loss that you must know in his free belly fat book.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6944807

Fast Healthy Recipes - Asian Green Bean Stir Fry

If you work all day, the last thing you want to do when you get home is to slave in front of a hot stove to prepare dinner. However, you don't want to fall to temptation and drive through the take out window for some sub-standard fast food. If you are trying to eat healthy and watching your weight, you want to eat foods that are nutrient rich, giving the most goody for the calories you consume.

The below recipe is great for a quick snack or as an accompaniment to a main entrée. It's a great complement to chicken, fish, pork or beef.

Asian Green Bean Stir Fry
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 pound green beans, cut 1-inch portions
Pinch of crushed red pepper
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen mixed stir-fry vegetables (thaw if frozen)
1 tablespoon black bean-garlic sauce (found in Asian food section of most large grocery stores)

Directions:
1. In large frying pan heat sesame oil over medium-high heat.
2. Add green beans and crushed red pepper.
3. Cook 2 to 3 minutes until seared, stir often.
4. Add water, cover, reduce heat to medium.
5. Cook 3-6 minutes, stir occasionally, cook longer for tender vegetables.
6. Uncover, increase heat to medium-high, add stir-fry vegetables and black bean-garlic sauce.
7. Cook until heated through, stirring often.
8. Dish is ready when the majority of the liquid has evaporated.
Serves approximately 4,1 cup servings.

Health Benefits:
Beans are rich in fiber and protein but also a great source of iron and Vitamin B6. Low in fat and calories, providing antioxidants that protect the heart.

Karen Ficarelli is the founder and CEO of Fitness4Her.com, a diet, exercise program and women's fitness blog, developed especially for women. A sports nutritionist and personal trainer, Karen has a treasure chest full of healthy recipes that will keep you eating healthy and lean.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3414551

Healthy Chicken Recipes - 4 Tips For Awesome, Flavorsome Food

As we enter the beginning of a New Year many people will have resolved to lose weight and with this in mind I am going to give you some tips to cook healthy chicken recipes that will flood your taste buds with amazing flavor but also help as part of a calorie controlled diet.

But first of all, here are a few fun facts that you may not know about the chicken.

There are more chickens on earth than there are human beings

A chicken bred with a turkey is called a "Turken" which has the head of a turkey and the body of a chicken.

The United States has 4 cities with the word "chicken" in them: Chicken Town, Pennsylvania, Chicken Bristle, Kentucky, Chicken Alaska and Chicken Bristle Illinois.

The largest amount of yolks ever found in a single chicken's egg is 9.

Anyway, enough of that and on to some tips for creating healthy chicken recipes. Chicken is a very popular meat to cook because its subtle flavors adapt well to many different dishes and methods of cooking. It is also high in protein and has less fat than red meat. Having said that, however, many Americans buy boneless, skinnned chicken breasts and cooked wrongly, these can soon end up dry and tough as old boots, which leads me into my first tip.

1. When it comes to basic cooking there are two different methods: dry heat and moist heat. Dry heat includes baking, roasting, frying and grilling and moist heat includes poaching, steaming, microwaving and slow cooking. When using dry heat for chicken breasts, use a high heat and cook for a matter of minutes. Grilled chicken cooks in about 8-10 minutes. When using moist heat to cook chicken breasts they will take longer, but only about 15 minutes (depending on the thickness of the breasts).

2. Chicken crockpot recipes are always popular especially with working moms and nothing beats the smell of slow cooked chicken as you come through the door. In order to make these recipes both healthy and tasty, I would recommend that you use chicken thighs. So many people overlook chicken thighs and choose breast, but thighs are much more flavorsome and incredibly cheap. Remove all the skin and brown them all over in a pan before removing them with a slotted spoon and adding them to your favorite crockpot recipe. They will happily cook in a crockpot, retaining both moisture and flavor. Try adding some fruit like dried apricot or prunes as these work really well with chicken and help to bulk out the dish.

3. Try getting lots of flavor into your chicken, whether it be breasts or thighs, by marinating for several hours prior to cooking. A sweet and sour marinade consisting of honey, soy sauce, olive oil, and chill works well and if you pour the entire contents into your pan to cook the chicken, you will end up with delicious, tasty, sticky chicken which works really well with stir fried vegetables or a green salad.

4. Shake and bake chicken is another great way to pep up the humble chicken and keep the fat content low. You can make your own seasoning with a basic crumb mix and what you add to this is entirely up to you, but some good combinations include lemon zest and cracked black pepper, crumbled Parmesan cheese, or even some curry powder for a taste of India. Chicken, oven baked in this way, retains the moisture inside whilst becoming nice and crunchy on the outside and is always a winner with the kids.

Use these tips and don't be afraid to get creative and experiment with marinades and seasonings. When it comes to healthy chicken recipes the only limit is your imagination.

To learn more about Healthy Chicken Recipes, download my 10 day e-learning course here: "Popular Restaurant Recipes"

Patrick Edwards is the owner of www.restaurantrecipesonline.com where he provides premium Restaurant recipes and tips.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5711109

Favorite Healthy Recipes For Kids

Parents know that it is challenging to come up with fast and healthy recipes for kids. Kids can be very finicky eaters, especially when it comes to vegetables and grains. Moms, Dads and chefs all over the world are always swapping new ideas for meals and ways to ensure a child will eat healthy and good tasting food.

One of the biggest challenges facing parents is how to get a child to eat their vegetables. Instead of pouring fattening melted cheese all over broccoli, try hiding the unpopular green villains. Mix the veggies with chicken and a cream sauce and then roll it up in a doughy casing. Use either a tortilla (corn or flour), a crepe, or a pita pocket.

A Quiche made out of eggs, lean bacon and vegetables is both easy, quick and relatively cheap. Buy a ready-made pie crust at your local market and in a large mixing bowl, combine 5 eggs, broccoli (or any other vegetable) and cooked bacon pieces all together. Then pour the mixture into the pie crust and stick it in the oven at 425 degrees for a half hour. This is a healthy and delicious treat for the whole family.

Kids always crave certain foods such as pizza. A pizza can be made very healthy and made quickly. You can really go wild with the veggie toppings and load a ready-made pizza dough full of them. First cover the dough with a marinara sauce, sprinkle mozzarella cheese (an naturally low-fat cheese) over the sauce and then pile on the veggies. Stick the pie in the oven at 400 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes.

Chicken nuggets are also a favorite. When baked instead of fried, these are very nutritional meal items. Set your oven to 400 degrees. Take raw chicken tenders and dip them into beaten 2 or 3 egg yolks. Then take the nuggets or tenders and dip them into breadcrumbs. The breadcrumbs that are commonly sold at grocery stores work great. Place the chicken on a greased pan and set in oven for a half hour. Grilling the chicken nuggets is also a great idea. This dish goes great with rice, mashed potatoes or just a little bit of fruit as a dessert.

A popular breakfast recipe for little ones is whole grain pancakes. Kids will think you are feeding them a sweet snack instead of a healthy meal. Whole grain pancake batter is sold right along side the regular pancake batter at your local grocers. Instead of fatty maple syrup, opt for a non-preservative berry spread to top the pancakes.

For a midday snack: apple sticks, strawberries, and other sweet fruit will always win them over. Children and teens are natural fans of fruit and often don't request any additional toppings or dipping sauces. If their favorite fruit is not in season, frozen fruit is just as nutritious and delicious when thawed.

Remember that a child will crave what he or she is fed the most often. There are many healthy recipes for kids that will always be a hit. Your children will thank you for it, someday.

Get hold of lots of tasty healthy recipes for kids from healthy eating for kids.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6641305

Healthy Recipes for Your Kids' Breakfast

Preparing breakfast for kids is a challenging task for moms. Kids need healthy foods to start their day and that means that moms need to be creative in finding breakfast recipes. Mornings are always rushed, so the solution can't take a lot of time. If you are trapped in this kind of situation, don't worry. 

Nowadays, plenty of healthy recipes for your beloved children are available. Below I will share some great recipes for a healthier breakfast each day. These recipes are easy; all you need to do is just make some small adjustments to the original ingredients. I know that you don't have much time to prepare breakfast so hopefully these ideas will be very helpful for you.

Pancakes or Waffles

You will love to know that there are ways to make your pancakes or waffles a little bit healthier. You can use ¼ cup of bran flour to substitute for some of the regular flour, and this is a great way to add fiber in your kids' foods. This substitution won't change the pancake taste or texture. Your kids will still get a tasty pancake while at the same time they will get enough fiber for their body. 

Do you want another pancake trick? Well, you can also add ½ cup of banana or apples to add flavor. Add some cinnamon to the flour before adding water, since cinnamon and apples go very well together. These fruits will add vitamins in the pancake that make their systems strong.

Muffins

Most kids love muffins since they are easy to grab. You can make the recipe healthier by adding certain fruits like strawberries, bananas or raisins. It is also possible to add vegetables such as spinach, carrot or pumpkin. Adding ¼ cup of fruits or vegetables gives your kids a vitamin boost.

Smoothies

Some kids don't like to eat in the morning. If your kids don't like to eat pancakes or waffles for breakfast, there is a great trick to overcome this. You can make a smoothie so that they can drink their breakfast. The basic compositions for smoothie are milk, yogurt and fruit. To create a delicious flavor, you can mix some fruits like pineapple, strawberries, kiwi or blueberries. Add low-fat vanilla-flavored yogurt and skim milk then mix them. If your kids don't like milk in the smoothie, you can substitute 100% fruit juice. It can be fun to get your kids to help you and they can choose their favorite fruits to mix.

Other Ideas

You can also try to serve oatmeal and add some cinnamon, blueberries or other fruits. The key to serving a healthy breakfast is to keep it high in fiber and low in sugar. With the ideas above, preparing healthy recipes for breakfast won't be as hard as you thought.

We have done research about the five Best Selling Healthy Breakfast Recipes in the market. You can learn it here at http://www.secrethealthyrecipes.com. We also give you Special Discount in there so visit us right now.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6872696

Looking for Healthy Easy Recipes for Dinner? Try These Spanish Meatballs

Trying to choose quick healthy easy recipes for dinner can sometimes be cumbersome, especially you're in a mad scramble to get everything prepared, cook a meal the whole family can enjoy all the while making sure it's nutritionally dense and well balanced. 

With this Spanish meatballs recipe below you can rest assured because it's a quick and healthy easy recipe for dinner that the whole family will enjoy.

Healthy Easy Recipes for Dinner: Spanish Meatballs

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 500g organic lean minced beef

• 1 large organic or free range egg

• 2 400g tins of chopped tomatoes

• 2 organic beef stock cubes

• 1 litre of boiling water

• Dried Herbs de Provence (or a good selection of dried mixed herbs)

• 1 white onion, finely sliced

• 1 garlic clove, finely sliced, extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil, salt and ground black pepper

Method:

1. Mix the mince with the egg and half the onion chopped. Season with 1 stock cube and black pepper.

2. Roll the mixture with your hands into ping pong sized balls and fry in oil until almost cooked (the meatballs can still be slightly.

3. pink in middle as they are going to simmer in the sauce). Be sure to turn them around now and again so they cook evenly.

4. Take the meatballs out and put them on a plate to rest.

5. Drain all but 1 tablespoon of oil in the pan, retaining the bits of meat that are left in the bottom of the pan.

6. Add the rest of the chopped onion and some finally chopped garlic and sauté for a further 2 minutes until golden.

7. Add the 2 tins of chopped tomatoes and a good sprinkling of mixed herbs.

8. Add in the water and crumble in the final stock cube. Season with salt and pepper if required.

9. Simmer for about 10-15 minutes until the sauce thickens a little.

10. Add the meatballs and mix them well with the tomato sauce. Let them cook for another couple of minutes.

These meatballs are delicious and can be served with some steamed greens such as broccoli, asparagus, spinach or any other of your favourite veg. If you do find yourself craving some pasta or spaghetti you can have them with some 'miracle noodles'. These little gems are low calorie and low carb which means they are perfect if you are carb conscious and looking to drop a few pounds or maybe even if you're looking to lose a stone fast. That's not to say that carbs should be avoided altogether, definitely not. I hope you enjoy this healthy recipe idea for dinner and that you give it a go. Hasta luego.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Mulry

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7514148

Vegetarian Weight Loss Diet - 4 Top Tips For Losing Weight Quickly

If you are a vegetarian and looking out for a weight loss plan, you have come to the right place. This article discusses some great tips on a vegetarian weight loss diet; using which you can shed all that extra fat, while continuing to be a vegetarian.
It is not at all a difficult proposition to plan a vegetarian weight loss diet. All that you need to ensure is that your diet consists of all the essential ingredients. This will ensure that your body gets all the vitamins and minerals that it needs.


Let us take a look at some simple, yet amazingly effective ways to weight loss following the vegetarian way.
Tip#1: Try and include as many crunchy vegetables and fruits in your diet. Apples, string beans, tomatoes, salad, broccoli, cabbage and carrots are some of the fruits and vegetables that you can include with your eyes shut. It contains almost all the nutrients that your body needs.
Make sure that you don't add up high calories dressings or sauce along with these vegetables.


Tip#2: The diet plan adopted should contain all types of beans since they are known to be the powerhouse of protein. Beans are low in calories and fat, while being high on proteins. In fact, they are a must for vegetarians, since they do not consume meat.

Tip#3: Spinach is another item that must be a part of the new diet program. It is again low on calories, doesn't contain fat and very importantly, high on protein. You can include it to be a major part of a variety of dishes.

Tip#4: A handful of nuts included in your daily regime can do well for your body as well as for your skin. Nuts are known to be good sources of Omega 3 fatty acids and contain certain other important oils that your body needs.

Once you take care to include these essential ingredients in your special weight loss plan, you are sure to shed all that excess fat in quick time.

Are you looking out for some great tips on Lose Weight Diet? You can check out my blog on Lose Weight Diet [http://loseweightdiet.org/] You can know more on Diet Plans [http://loseweightdiet.org/category/diet-plans/] right from my website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3808539

Lose Weight Without Changing Your Lifestyle

I have seen several advertisements lately for various products that guarantee that you can lose weight without changing your lifestyle. The testimonials say things like "It was so easy and I didn't have to change a thing!" Can we take a step back and just think about that for a second? Because as a personal trainer I find that very disturbing.

So you grow up, start your career, and have a family. You have a lot going on, which probably means that you have spent several years not eating well and have been less active than you should be. Now you find yourself with a few extra pounds feeling sluggish and down about yourself, with perhaps some health issues. Sound about right? You are not the only one. It happens to a lot of us.
Now you have decided that it is time to shed the weight. So you go for one of these easy, quick-fix products. One of two things is going to happen.

One possible outcome is that you do lose some weight, but then what? Are you going to use these products forever? Probably not. So it is highly likely that you will put the weight back on. After all, you have not changed your lifestyle, which we have agreed is probably how you got there in the first place, right?
The more likely outcome is that you do not lose weight, so you have wasted a bunch of money and now you feel even worse. So you either give up or you move on to the next quick fix.

So I submit this to you for your consideration. CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE! Being healthy and fit is a lifelong commitment, but it does not matter when you start. Think of it as a "rest of your life" commitment. Getting healthy requires just as much effort as everything else in your life. Presumably you did not graduate high school and get a job as a CEO of a Fortune 500 company the next day. Getting married and having kids takes work. It is time to take ownership of your health. Earn it.

Now I do not advocate going "cold turkey". Making drastic and abrupt changes will likely result in failure just as much as the quick-fixes. Make incremental changes. Go for a 20-minute walk. If you have a donut every day with your morning coffee, two days a week swap it out with a banana. 

I think you will find that taking baby steps to make permanent changes will be far more effective and rewarding than the drive-through method that companies promote just to make a buck off of you.

Can these "miracle" products help you lose weight quickly without changing your lifestyle? It is possible I suppose, in isolated cases, but that does not mean that you should use them. Asbestos is a great insulator and look where that got us.

If you need help and don't have the support system needed to make changes, consider using a personal trainer, http://www.bodyengineerz.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7527725
 

How to Make Healthy Soup Recipes for Weight Loss: 3 Things You Must Do

This article is on how to make healthy soup recipes for weight loss. Regardless of your goal, whether you have to lose a stone, 2 stone or even just drop a few pounds, starving yourself is not the answer. You need food to function properly, food that's going to give you enough fuel, energy and has the correct balance of proteins, fat and carbs. One excellent way of doing this is from making your own homemade soup. This article will guide you through the 3 things you must do to make your soup: healthy, delicious and ensure it helps you achieve your goal not hinder you.

1. Where's the protein?

The first element of your healthy soup recipe for weight loss is to ensure that it includes a complete protein, whether this comes from lean meats like chicken, beef, turkey or from fish or shellfish like salmon, scallops or prawns. Now if you're a vegetarian don't worry I've got you covered: you can get your complete protein from the fantastic all in one super food quinoa. 

Quinoa is a type of grain and basically it's a nutritional powerhouse and is known as the grain of the Gods. It's especially delicious in healthy soup recipes for weight loss. So step 1: include some element of protein either from a meat/fish source or you can get it from quinoa. Now you can get some protein from beans, legumes and other grains but for a complete protein the only grain that has it is quinoa.

2. Include lots of fresh vegetables.

When you're making healthy soup recipes for weight loss you definitely want it to include lots of vegetables. If you can, try and use organic vegetables where possible, otherwise use lots of seasonal vegetables in your healthy soup recipes, the vegetables will be full of nutrients, vitamins and fibre all of which are excellent for weight loss.

3. Don't complicate things.

Make your life easier and keep your healthy soup recipe ideas for weight loss as simple as possible. Much like your training program you should be following, it doesn't have to be complicated. A simple broth based soup that has lots of seasonal vegetables and some protein such as a winter warmer stew with beef and lots of fresh celery, carrots, parsnip, onion, broccoli and cauliflower will be delicious and will fill you up nicely and it isn't very complicated to make.

Losing weight isn't easy but it doesn't have to be super complicated either. So remember these three tips when making healthy soup recipes for weight loss: include some complete protein, make sure it has lots of vegetables and don't over complicate things. If you come up with any healthy soup recipes that you think are especially tasty I'd love to hear from you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7517489

Losing Weight Made Easy With Healthy Breakfast Recipes

How many times have you heard the old adage, "breakfast is the most important meal of the day?" Odds are you have probably heard it plenty of times in your lifetime. But what does it really mean and how does it affect your weight loss goals? Most importantly what can you eat for breakfast, that is both nutritious and delicious, and still stay on track on your diet?

The reason it is so important is that it allows you to set the day right and give you the energy and mental stamina to get you through the morning. Having said that, this does not mean you can load up your breakfast plate with high fat and highly processed foods. This will only sap the energy from you and actually do the reverse of what a good breakfast should. This is why having healthy breakfast recipes in your arsenal is so important for you and your family.

 Healthy breakfast recipes will help you and the family lose weight and give you the energy you need to start the day.

Any healthy breakfast recipe should consist of all natural hearty foods that will keep your stomach full throughout the morning and give you the energy to excel throughout the day. Having an abundance of energy is a wonderful by-product of using healthy breakfast recipes in the morning.

Healthy breakfast recipes will keep you from overloading on the sugars and fats which tend to slow you down and not give you the energy boost you need and want. A personal favourite of mine is creating a whole omelet with some yellow peppers, salsa, and some low fat cheddar cheese. As a side, I like to have some fresh fruit consisting of grapes, cantaloupe, and honeydew melon. 

I also enjoy a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice with my regular cup of coffee. This healthy breakfast recipe is all natural and will surely give you the energy you require to get through the morning. A breakfast like this, first thing in the morning, will allow you to lose that weight without feeling that you are missing out anything good. This healthy breakfast recipe is chalk full of protein, natural sugars, and enough good calories to give you the strength and energy to conquer your challenges all morning.

Losing weight is a challenge and the challenge often stems from having to eat a diet consisting of too few calories or depriving oneself from tasty foods. However, there are healthy breakfast recipes that allow you to eat delicious meals with the right amount of nutritional value and caloric intake to help you not only lose weight but give you the right amount of energy required to succeed every day.

Breakfast is a very important meal in any diet plan. This is why having a selection of healthy breakfast recipes to choose from help you and your family eat healthy, lose weight, gain the daily energy required, and not get bored of eating the same food over and over again. It is these benefits that healthy breakfast recipes gives to you that makes it an essential part of your diet plan.

If losing 10% of Your Weight, in Body Fat, in the next 30 days is of any interest to you, or someone you love, then this FREE Report is a must have!

This report will help you easily lose fat and gain muscle by giving you some nutritious and delicious healthy breakfast recipes which will make losing that extra weight an enjoyable and tasty experience!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_M_Santos

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5795704

Cooking Healthy Recipes - Tips in Healthy Cooking

Healthy cooking is in nowadays when people are becoming more and more conscious of what they eat. Of course, eating healthy is one of the important things that you have to remember always if you don't want to suffer later from diseases and other health problems.

Indeed, opting and switching into cooking healthy recipes can be of big help for your health. If you are starting to have that change in your lifestyle into a healthy one, you can actually start from small steps. Hera are simple tips that you might find useful in your quest to stay healthy with your food.

- Make sure to get fresh ingredients for your recipes. If you are looking for the healthiest, go for organic vegetables, as this would mean no pesticides or chemicals that can ruin your healthy recipes. If organic vegetables and ingredients are not available in your area, make sure to wash your vegetables thoroughly before using them to get rid of chemical residues.

- Cut down on salt. This can be one of the important tips in cooking healthy recipes. You can also increase or add more herbs to your recipe as an alternative to salt and you will be surprised that it does not show any change in flavor.

- Increase vegetables into your diet. Fruits and vegetables are great sources of nature's vitamins, minerals and many other important nutrients needed for the body. Eat in variety as you can never get most of the nutrients you want in just a single vegetable or fruit.

- Avoid fats as possible. Go for more fibrous foods. If you can't totally avoid fats, go for the unsaturated ones. If you need to use oil, use olive oil or canola oil as these are the healthier forms of oils. Check labels of processed foods as well. These are places where saturated fats may be hiding.

- Find alternatives. If you do not want to put meat on your cooking, you can also find alternatives to meat. Among the healthy alternatives to meat are soy protein, or TVP, also known as textured vegetable protein.

- Watch your process of cooking. Aside from the ingredients, you also have to take into consideration the process whereby you cook your food.
Cooking healthy recipes should not just be about ingredients but also the manner of cooking. Among the healthy ways to cook healthy food are baking, steaming, broiling, baking, grilling and braising. Although it may not be good to grill your food regularly.

- Cut down on processed foods. They are usually those that are high in sodium which is a culprit in high blood pressure and other problems as well.

- Use natural herbs and fat-free sauces to help you make a healthy recipe. Indeed, herbs can replace other processed spices in the market. Go for natural ones as well.

These are just a few on the many things you can do to practice cooking healthy recipes. Indeed, you have a choice and as soon as you have learned what to look for in your healthy cooking, you will eventually make it a habit to go for healthy ingredients, healthy recipes and healthy methods of cooking.

Carolyn Anderson loves healthy cooking. If you want to learn healthy cooking, check out Fun With GF-LG Food. Also check out Healthy Urban Kitchen, a manual that can teach you how to shop and cook healthy food.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5104855

Healthy Recipe: Chicken Tortilla Pizza

Before you reach for the phone to order pizza drenched with saturated fat and sodium, try my chicken tortilla pizza. This is a recipe I make when I know everyone in my family is going to be running in different directions. It's so easy to make them ahead of time.
They'll keep for several days in the fridge so everyone can just reheat them when they come home, or store them in the freezer for later. You can also cut them up and grab a slice for a quick snack, satisfying those pizza cravings without all the fat and calories.


CHICKEN TORTILLA PIZZA
1 whole wheat flour tortilla
¼ cup part skim mozzarella cheese
1/3 cooked, shredded chicken
¼ cup pizza sauce
¼ cooked green pepper
Preheat oven to broil. Poke tortilla with a fork several times on both sides. Lightly spray tortilla on both sides with olive oil cooking spray or an olive oil spritzer. Place on cookie sheet and put under broiler until the tortilla just starts to brown. Flip the tortilla and crisp the other side. Remove from oven. Add sauce, cheese, chicken, and vegetables. Return to broiler and cook just until the cheese begins to melt.

 Nutritional Info - 1 pizza

300 calories
7.6 g fat
3.5 g saturated fat
571 mg sodium
4.5 g fiber
29 g protein

Time Savers
Use the meat from a store-bought rotisserie chicken instead of cooking your own.
Make all the ingredients on the weekend and just assemble and cook the pizzas at dinnertime.

Options
Add mushrooms or any veggies you like.

Betsy McGuire invites you to visit http://www.chickpeawellness.com/ and sign up to receive her mind, body, and spirit blog the day entries are made. You can also "like" Chickpea Wellness on Facebook and receive new articles on your wall.

Copyright 2012 Chickpea Wellness, LLC

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7023880