First spring was here...then it wasn't...then it was...then it wasn't... Now the temperature is 84 degrees with air so thick you can almost swim in it! Oh, yeah! And the pollen is piling up on everyone and everything.
Enough about the weather. On to today's post...
Today I have decided to bring a new recipe along with some tips about healthy eating. Since spring is now here, officially, I have jumped back on the health bandwagon. Healthy eating doesn't have to be difficult or bland. Just follow a few tips and you'll be fine! (These are just a few guidelines that I try to follow)
- Eat whole foods. Think of the foods that God intended for us to eat! This would include any minimally processed fruits, vegetables, meats, and whole grains. Like eating baked chicken instead of a frozen chicken casserole, or sliced strawberries instead of strawberry jam.
- Eat lean meats. This would include chicken, turkey, fish, and some beef. Avoid pork if possible. It is not the healthiest meat, and it is usually processed with a lot of salt like bacon. And only eat beef if you can find lean, organic, and healthy meat. We are fortunate to get our beef from my uncle's farm. This stuff is the real deal!
- Try and eat at least 1 to 2 servings of vegetables at mealtimes. This will reduce the need for more meat. Try to make your plate colorful! Hamburgers, french fries, and sodas are all one color: BROWN.
- Eat locally as much as possible. If you live in the middle of Oklahoma, then you probably won't be able to find local Atlantic salmon. Just by what you can locally. Local foods can be healthier because they are picked when they are ripe, and don't have to travel thousands of miles to get to the dinner table. Eating locally also benefits you local economy.
- Watch your portions! Visualize the proper serving size. Meat should be about the size of a deck of cards. Vegetables and fruits should be about the size of a tennis ball.
Now to demonstrate some of the tips above, I will give you a new recipe to try. This recipe came from a children's cookbook by Emril Lagasse. I love recipes from children's cookbooks because they are so simple, easy, and tasty! This recipe is called "Fish in a Pouch."
Ingredients:
1 stick of butter, softened (although 1/2 of a stick is plenty)
2 t Worcestershire sauce
1 T chopped fresh parsley
1 t minced garlic (about 1 large clove)
1/8 t salt
1/8 t white pepper
4 fish fillets such as flounder, sole, cod, scrod, or whitefish (we used salmon)
2 t Baby Bam (or other seasoning mix)
Mix the butter with the next 5 ingredients.
Sprinkle about 1/2 t of the Baby Bam onto each fillet.
Smear the butter mixture over each fillet.
Seal the fish pieces and bake at 375 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.
And voila! Wonderful, healthy fish that looks great and tastes awesome!
We served this up on a bed of brown rice with green beans on the side. Yummy and colorful! Enjoy eating healthy and feeling great! : )
Fly with Christ!
Rachel : )
