Cooking to Lose Weight

I love to cook! Cooking to me is relaxing and fun. Unfortunately, since I love making baked goods like breads, pies, and cookies…it doesn’t really fit in with my desire to eat healthy and lose weight. So I have started looking at my everyday meals and my favorite dishes to determine what I can do to them to make them healthier. Since I like easy and don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen when I have school, many of my recipes require very little prep time and these two easy recipes work really well on a hot summer afternoon!

I personally love Mexican food – all the spices and the tortillas and the cheese – yum! But traditional Mexican food can be very high in fats and carbs and neither are particularly high on my list of Healthy Foods. The first of my recipes is for a

Carb-Free Taco Salad.

1 lbs. of Extra Lean Ground Beef (or Venison)
1 small Zucchini (diced)
1 small Yellow Squash (diced)
1 medium Onion (chopped)
2 medium Roma Tomatoes (diced)
Romaine Lettuce
Sharp Cheddar – Shredded
Salt
Cumin
Chili Powder
Garlic Powder
                (OR 1 pkg of Taco Seasoning)
Salsa or Fat Free Catalina Dressing

 Brown meat in medium sauce pan until it is mostly cooked and then throw in the vegetables and sauté until the onions are clear and the squash is soft. Drain any grease that remains after everything is cooked. Season the mixture to taste with salt, cumin, chili powder, and garlic powder or substitute for one packet of Taco Seasoning. While the meat and squash is cooking make medium beds of romaine lettuce (I like romaine because it has more vitamins and fiber than iceberg and it is more filling). Add some of the diced tomatoes and sprinkle with a little cheese. Scoop about 1/3 cup of the meat mixture onto the lettuce and use either salsa or Fat Free Catalina for a dressing. Adding avocados adds flavor and provides healthy fats called omga-3s. Even though there are no beans or tortillas, this is a fun and filling salad to serve on a hot summer afternoon!  Serves 4.

Of course when it is a 105 degrees outside, nothing is more refreshing than a cold ice-cream and I have always been a huge fan of Frostys! I love chocolate (it cures everything I swear) but since I have made a concerted effort to replace unhealthy foods for healthy alternatives, I knew I was going to have to replace my ice-cream too. This simple frozen treat isn’t exactly like a Frosty but it’s really close and doesn’t come with a side order of Guilt.

 

Dutch Chocolate Nutrimeal Frosty

¾ Cup Almond Milk

1 tsp Vanilla Extract
½ of a frozen Banana (sliced)
2 Scoops of Dutch Chocolate Nutrimeal
2 tsp of Truvia
2 cups of crushed Ice

Combine all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth. Serve immediately. Serves 2.

 

Leading a healthy lifestyle can and should allow you to enjoy foods that you love otherwise you will get deflated and feel guilty when you go back to those flavors that have always made you happy. Food should feed the senses as well as the belly. Serve foods seasoned with herbs and spices – these not only create enticing aromas but the smells will tickle the part of the brain that releases the endorphins that make you ENJOY foods! Healthy doesn’t have to mean bland, cardboard flavored, or boring. Just find healthy ways to replace the unhealthy aspects and remember to treat yourself once in a while just to keep yourself heading in the right direction to a Happy Healthy Lifestyle!

Happy Cooking!

 Rachel