Asian Cooking Tips

I'm sure many of you, like myself, crave Chinese and Asian cuisine from time to time but eating out at a restaurant can cost you BIG TIME!! I'm not talking just hard cash, I'm talking calories and sodium! One simple trip to an ALL YOU CAN EAT buffet can be THOUSANDS of calories PLUS THOUSANDS of grams of sodium! No wonder we walk out bloated 3 times our size from when we walked in! But don't be scared you'll never be able to eat Asian food again (trust me I LOVE me some PF Changs when we travel) just try cooking it yourself and eating it out very very rarely!

There are 3 MUST haves when cooking Asian cuisine. Adding these ingredients can turn any simple meal into an Chinese or Asian extravaganza!

1. Soy Sauce
2. Sesame Oil
3. Ginger (fresh or ground)

Of course I could go on and on about other items to add to your Asian cooking arsenal but let's stay simple for now. Here is a simple lunch or dinner time recipe I made for lunch today!

2 tsp low-sodium soy sauce
1 tsp dijon mustard (hot mustard if u like a kick)
1 tsp sesame oil
(mix together and set aside)

3 ounces boneless skinless chicken breast diced in cubes (you can buy frozen chicken and microwave if u don't have fresh chicken. buying frozen in bulk always ensures you have chicken on hand! I buy fresh usually but always have frozen on hand for quick lunch meals)
salt & pepper to season chicken

1/2 c finely chopped green onions
1/2 c chopped carrots
1 clove garlic minced
1 pkg of Uncle Bens Whole Grain Brown Rice
1/2 c frozen peas
1/3 c Liquid Egg Whites

Add diced chicken and sauteed in pan with a drizzle of sesame oil until brown. Transfer to plate to keep warm.
Using same pan. Saute onions, carrots and garlic for about 1 minute. Don't burn your garlic. Add rice packet (soooooo convenient! who has time to boil rice at lunch? not me!) peas and continue to cook for about 3-5 minutes. Push contents to side of pan, creating an open space in middle of pan. Add egg whites and as they start to cook, scrape and combine everything in pan. Add chicken back to pan. Cook another 2-3 minutes until carrots are soft. Pour soy mixture into pan. Stir well and serve!
And if you wanna get a lil fancy....sprinkle some sesame seeds on top! Serve and viola!

 Happy Cooking,
Nic

Quick Brkfst

So I find myself MANY MORNINGS rushing to get out the door to take kids to school, get to the gym and start my day. As we have been told since we were kids, breakfast is THE most important meal of the day and "they're" right! So don't skip it! You will find yourself crashing in the early and late afternoon which leads to you rummaging through the junk food for a quick fix. So for those mornings when you don't have time to bust out the pans, the toaster, the griddle and the mess reach for something like this!

PB Breakfast Banana Split
Sliced Banana
Yoplait Light 100 calorie Boston Cream Pie
1 Tbsp of Smart Balance PB (80 cal) or PB2 Powdered PB (45 cal)
Sprinkled with granola (I use Golden Temple French Vanilla Almond from Healthy Living section at HEB)

Quick. Simple. Easy.  You can add other fruits such as blueberries, raspberries or strawberries. Use any granola mix you like. Add some almonds or pistachios. Or turn it into a quick dessert by drizzling a lil sugar-free chocolate or caramel sauce (as I showed in my last post)!

And as I type I find my son has rubbed yogurt all in his hair! So on that note, I'm off!

As Always Happy Eating,
Nic
 

Food Shots 2

Food Shots 2, a set on Flickr.

Food Shots

Food Shots, a set on Flickr.

Late Night Sweet Craving

I don't crave sweets very often but when I do, I go for something healthy! Stress can cause us to crave sweets as well as a rise or fall in blood sugar levels. Eating 5-6 small meals a day helps to regulate our blood sugar levels as well as keep our metabolism working hard! There are also those days that nothing helps rid you of those cravings so remember to drink plenty of water to fill you up first and then indulge!
Think fruits and sugar-free syrups. Yogurts and sorbets. Throw on some granola or nuts for some added crunch.

This treat I made tonight for these very reasons. I was craving something sweet!!!! Soooooo I sliced a small banana. Added some blueberries and blackberries. Drizzled with a lil sugar-free chocolate and caramel sauce. Boom! Done! Small treat that's healthier than the alternative we would normal reach for...a cookie, ice cream, chocolate covered nuts or candy. My dessert = less than 100 calories, no fat. 1/2 cup of ice cream = 170 calories and 9g of fat! Certainly don't wanna eat that ESPECIALLY before bedtime. Enjoy........while visions of sugar plums dance in your head!

Sweet Dreams, Nic

Just Do It

Hello!

I must start my first post by saying a huge THANK YOU to all those who have encouraged me to start a blog! So often people tell us things or make suggestions that, at first we take as a huge compliment and great idea then merely do nothing! So I am stepping out of my box, a little out of my comfort zone and am taking that step. Like a New Years Resolution, we often make and never keep, I told myself I would start DOING instead of just SAYING! So here goes........

My culinary background reflects my love and passion for food and in recent years, with kids, getting older and my expanding waistline, I have turned to finding healthier ways to cook. From simply substituting one item for another to certain cooking techniques and quick easy meals, there is a way to eat healthy and it taste fabulous. "Healthy-good-for-you-food" doesn't have to taste bland and be boring. I will share with you tips, techniques and recipes for the single person, the novice, the mom-on-the-go, and my fellow foodies.

We all know staying in shape and healthy is a way of living - a lifestyle. So exercise and fitness go hand in hand with food and diet. My background in fitness, as well as currently studying for my personal training certification through Cooper Institute in Dallas, enables me to share my experience and knowledge with those of you who seek it! I love helping others discover new and exciting things! After all, what's life without fun and excitement?? Booooorrrring!

So spice up your life! Take a risk! Do something new! And join me on the journey! The best part about food and cooking is it brings people together! So gather your friends, family and kids in the kitchen and get cookin!


Your Fitness Foodie,
Nic