Healthy IS Delicious!

     One of my favorite foods is salmon; there is so much you can do with this fish not to mention the amazing health benefits it has to offer. This super food can help boost brain functions and give your skin the nutrients to get that beautiful glow! Check out these links for a complete list of health benefits and nutrients this super food has to offer, http://bit.ly/1XII89G , http://bit.ly/1LKLd3D .

     Salmon is one of my go to foods in order to get my protein. I love buying fresh salmon from the fish market, frozen salmon just doesn’t compare. One way you can cook your salmon is on the grill but I bake mine in the oven, that way I can multitask and prepare the rest of the ingredients for the meal while the salmon cooks. I usually top my salmon with olive oil, fresh minced garlic and rosemary then bake it in the oven for 20-30 minutes depending how thick it is. I will buy the salmon at Costco whenever I go there because the pieces are HUGE and it tastes just as good as what I buy at the fish market. Just look at how big this piece of salmon is!

      For those of you who hate the fishy taste of salmon; try squirting some fresh lemon juice on your salmon to cut the fishy taste. The different dishes you can prepare with salmon are endless. Two of my favorite meals with salmon are; a salad made with fresh mixed greens, cucumber, walnuts and fresh feta or a quinoa salad with avocado, bell pepper and butternut squash. A portabella mushroom cap also tastes delicious thrown into this mix!

    

     A quick note on quinoa; this delicious super grain is packed with amazing health benefits. Check out this article for more information, http://onforb.es/1GVwBiY .

     

     

   

      One of my favorite fruits is the pomegranate, but it can be so messy to get the seeds out! There are a few tricks for getting the seeds out of a pomegranate without making a mess! Check out this YouTube video for the quickest and easiest way, http://bit.ly/1Q44LTX . This fruit is not only delicious but it’s packed with amazing health benefits as well! Click here for a complete list of nutritional value and health benefits a pomegranate has to offer, http://bit.ly/1Ws0VUq . Enjoy!

Ditch the Salad for a Night

     Moderation is important when it comes to eating; you want to make sure to get a balance of proteins, carbs, and fats. Following a healthy lifestyle I tend to get tired of eating salad topped with lean meat and crave a hearty meal. One of my favorite healthy splurges is Ethiopian food. I have only had it twice and both times my friends and I ordered a platter with both meat and vegetarian dishes. The platters will specify how many people they each serve and the food is very filling. http://bzfd.it/1jZ7xwW is a link with pictures and explanations of Ethiopian dishes.
 

   

      Food is served on injera which is a sponge like but delicious bread. Extra rolls of this spongy bread, or injera, are brought out and used to eat your food. That’s right; you get to eat with your hands! This meal is great if you are trying to load up on carbs and protein, it will definitely leave you stuffed!

   

     Now on the lighter side, I love making stir fries. It’s an easy way for me to get a ton of vegetables in my meal. My favorite choice of meat in a stir fry is chicken; it’s quick and easy to cook up and makes for a fast and simple meal that’s healthy. For a vegetarian or vegan option you can use tofu or tempeh. I can never get enough stir fried veggies; broccoli, onions and baby corn are my top favorites for my stir-fries.

     Garlic is also one of my favorite ways to add flavor, I love fresh garlic! Sometimes Costco will carry a huge bag of fresh, peeled garlic cloves. I will put them on a pan and drizzle a generous amount of olive oil on them, followed with seasonings, once that’s done just pop it in the oven and roast them until they turn golden brown and soft in the middle. They are good enough to eat on their own this way; they taste almost like a roasted potato. Try this roasted garlic recipe from Savory sweet life’s blog http://bit.ly/1i1blMQ . Another option for preparing garlic is to mince the peeled garlic cloves and cook on the stove top in a pan until it is nice and brown then add it directly to the stir fry or to the sauce.

     As for healthy sauce I use with my stir fry, I tend to use an all-natural salsa I find at the store (it’s faster than making my own) but there are several ways for creating a healthy sauce.  http://bit.ly/1R1JQir  and http://bit.ly/1W9Eqsr  have some great sauce recipes and ideas. Enjoy!