Healthy Eats: Watermelon Avocado Salad

watermelon avocado saladWhen you think of summer, do you think of watermelon? I sure do! The Watermelon Avocado Salad is possibly the most refreshing side dish you could pair with your grilled chicken for a perfect summertime dinner! And it is so easy which we LOVE!

Chop watermelon, avocado and a little tomato if you have it. Squeeze a fresh lime over the fruit  and season with a little salt and pepper. Toss lightly as to not mush the avocado. There you have it, the watermelon avocado salad, a perfect compliment to your summertime cookout!

*Remember that while avocado is a fruit, it’s macronutrient composition should be counted as a fat in your meal plan.

We have so many healthy EATS that you can make right in your own kitchen!

*The exact portions will vary per person. Contact us for more details on your portions and macronutrient breakdown per meal/per day!

Healthy Eats: Crispy Beef Lettuce Cups

The next time you’re craving PF Changs, save yourself 1000+ calories and opt to prepare Crispy Beef Lettuce Cups at home instead. By using healthy ingredients and measuring your carb (rice) and meat portion before assembling the crispy beef lettuce cups, you’ll be sure to stay on track with your Check Total Health meal plan.

Beef: We like the organic grass fed ground beef – anything greater than 90/10 is ideal. 90 being the lean meat and 10 being the fat. Spray a skillet with non-stick cooking spray and heat to medium high heat. Add the beef and break apart into small crumbles. For seasoning, try the Mrs. Dash no sodium for steak. Cook the beef until it is crispy and no fat remains in the pan.

Vegetables: Chop carrots, bell peppers and onions. Of course you could use any vegetables that you prefer including broccoli, zucchini, etc. Start with the onions in a non-stick spray coated pan. If they start to stick add a little water. Then add in the carrots and a few minutes later the peppers. The amount of time in the pan depends on the crispness you prefer for your vegetables! Pour in 1 TBSP low sodium soy sauce, 1 TBSP PBFit or PB2 (the ground peanut powder), just a dash of sesame oil, and a bit more water if necessary. The consistency should be a thick sauce!

Rice: White (Jasmine) or brown, previously prepared and correctly measured based on the individual’s meal plan.

Lettuce Cups: We like the large butter lettuce leaves. Rinse them thoroughly and pat dry.

To assemble, you can either leave all elements separate and put a little in each lettuce cup or mix all of your veg, rice and beef together and then divide among the crispy beef lettuce cups!

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*The exact portions will vary per person. Contact us for more details on your portions and macronutrient breakdown per meal/per day!

Healthy Eats: Tropical Snapper & Roasted Carrots

Summer is here and this recipe for tropical snapper & roasted carrots will remind you of sunshine and waterside dining. Use fresh or frozen snapper, seasoned lightly with salt and pepper. Broil in the oven for 10-12 minutes. Serve on top a bed of brown or white rice. Top with tropical salsa and toasted coconut and crushed roasted almonds.tropical snapper & roasted carrots

Tropical Salsa: chop tomato, red onion, cilantro, pineapple and/or mango. Squeeze the juice of 1 lime and season with salt, pepper, and a dash of cumin.

Roasted Carrots: Clean and halve (length wise) medium-large carrots. Arrange in single layer on a foil lined baking sheet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Spray carrots with non-stick spray as well and then season with light salt, pepper, garlic powder and dried thyme. Roast at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Then flip carrots and continue roasting for another 7-10 minutes.

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*The exact portions will vary per person. Contact us for more details on your portions and macronutrient breakdown per meal/per day!

Healthy Eats: Grilled Vegetables

Ah vegetables. So good for you but not the most loved of all food groups. Why? Because most people don’t prepare them with enough flavor to be delicious! If boiled broccoli has you down in the dumps about veggies, try a new preparation: grilled vegetables!grilled vegetables

Many vegetables can be grilled directly on the grill grates: asparagus, peppers, onions, zucchini, squash, etc. You can also skewer the vegetables and marinade them in white wine, lemon, or lime juice and seasonings. For me, I keep our grilled vegetables simple: a little salt, a little pepper, some garlic powder and a spritz of non-stick cooking spray. On the halved avocados (considered a fat source as a macronutrient), I squeeze fresh lime, cumin powder, salt and pepper. The texture of a grilled avocado is very smooth and velvety – yum!

The next time you are bored with your brussels, try grilled vegetables instead!

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*The exact portions will vary per person. Contact us for more details on your portions and macronutrient breakdown per meal/per day!

Healthy Eats: Tex Mex Salad

Salsa is my go-to condiment to make healthy food taste oh so good! Depending on what we have in the fridge, I tend to play “Chopped” and make a unique salsa each time. My standard salsa though is just chopped tomatoes, sweet or red onion, cilantro, lime juice, cumin, salt and pepper to taste. If I have bell peppers, corn (roasted is best), zucchini, yellow squash or mango, then countless combinations are possible! Tex Mex Salad

The Tex Mex Salad is just chopped lettuce (Romaine pictured here), fresh salsa, and your lean protein (barbecue turkey burger pictured here). You won’t need a dressing because the salsa has enough liquid to moisten the lettuce. Clean eating that tastes great is only a salsa away! Try the Tex Mex Salad the next time you are craving something south of the border!

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*The exact portions will vary per person. Contact us for more details on your portions and macronutrient breakdown per meal/per day!

 

Healthy Eats: Cucumber Dill Salad

This cool, refreshing summer salad is easy-peasy, lemon squeezy. Our Cucumber Dill Salad is just chopped English Cucumber (2 large), chopped red bell pepper, and thinly sliced sweet onion tossed in Greek Yogurt, fresh lemon juice, dried or fresh dill, garlic powder, salt and pepper. cucumber dill salad

Whisk together 1/3 cup Greek Yogurt (nonfat), with the remaining ingredients and toss around the sliced and chopped vegetables. Pair this cucumber dill salad with a barbecue turkey burger or other lean meat and enjoy!

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*The exact portions will vary per person. Contact us for more details on your portions and macronutrient breakdown per meal/per day!

Healthy Eats: Arugula Quinoa Salad

The spicy bite of arugula pairs nicely with cold quinoa, yellow tomatoes, red onions, and a light lemon juice vinaigrette to make a tasty arugula quinoa salad!2016-05-17 19.09.41

Chop up your favorite vegetables and add to clean arugula or an arugula mixed medley. Sprinkle a bit of salt, pepper and garlic powder over the lettuce, vegetables, and quinoa (remember this is a carb so portion control really matters). Squeeze the juice of one lemon over your mixture and toss to coat. Add your allowed protein source such as fish or chicken and enjoy!

You can make so many wonderful combinations with the major staples of lemon juice vinaigrette, quinoa (or couscous) and a spicy lettuce such as arugula.

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*The exact portions will vary per person. Contact us for more details on your portions and macronutrient breakdown per meal/per day!

Healthy Eats: Chia Seed Strawberry Jam

Chia Seeds are one of those “popular foods” right now. Why? They are loaded with nutrients that benefit the body and the brain, are low in calories, are full of antioxidants, high in fiber, protein, and omega 3 fatty acids and can help aid in weight loss! Chia Seeds really are a super-seed! What could be better than starting your day out right with this superior seed? I can’t think of anything…so top your ezekial bread or your protein pancake with Chia Seed Strawberry Jam!2016-02-03 07.10.35

To make, clean 2 lbs fresh strawberries and place in a food processor. Pulse until the strawberries reach the desired consistency for you jam (somewhat chunky). Pour into a large mixing bowl and add the juice of 1 lemon, 3 TBSP Chia Seeds, and 6-8 TBSP of Truvia (or other no calorie sweetener). Stir to combine then pour into glass jars. Refrigerate for a few hours so Chia Seeds can go to work to thicken up the jam. Then keep one in the fridge and freeze or gift the other jars. Jam lasts up to 1 week in the refrigerator and 1 month in the freezer!

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*The exact portions will vary per person. Contact us for more details on your portions and macronutrient breakdown per meal/per day!

Healthy Eats: White Wine Garlic Chicken

Wine and light beer make excellent marinades without the calories or fat that you’ll find in oil. The next time you go to marinate your chicken, try using a light beer or white wine instead of oil. white wine garlic chicken

For moist and delicious white wine garlic chicken, combine trimmed chicken breasts, 1/2 cup white wine (pinot grigio is my favorite), 1 TBSP minced garlic, and any chopped or dried herbs of your choice in a Ziploc bag or plastic container. Marinate for at least a few hours and grill or bake until cooked all the way through.  Serve with fresh vegetables such as broccoli and wild rice!

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*The exact portions will vary per person. Contact us for more details on your portions and macronutrient breakdown per meal/per day!

Healthy Eats: Barbecue Turkey Burgers

Turkey breast or very lean turkey can be dry and hard to eat when microwaved. Our quick fix for this problem is to patty out burgers and grill them with just a bit of barbecue sauce. You can make it homemade for the most control over ingredients or buy a prepared bottle from the store. Be careful of sugars and carbs when you select and use the barbecue sauce.barbecue turkey burgers

I’d recommend making a homemade sauce for your barbecue turkey burgers: Combine a few squirts of ketchup, some soy sauce, garlic powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, and Truvia (or other no calorie sweetener). Serve your barbecue turkey burgers with fresh grilled asparagus, brown rice, and half an avocado for a complete balanced meal!

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*The exact portions will vary per person. Contact us for more details on your portions and macronutrient breakdown per meal/per day!