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LIGHT AND HEALTHY MENUS AND RECIPES

We all know that we should eat healthier, whether to reach and maintain a desirable weight, or just for overall good health. Several years ago, my mother developed some health issues and it was necessary to make changes to her diet. Since I am responsible for her care, I had to do the research. I took suggestions from her doctors and read a lot of information provided by the experts. We ate relatively healthy for years, so it was just a matter of cooking healthier foods on a regular basis. I cut down on the amount of fat in recipes and substituted the good fats for the saturated fats as much as possible. We always liked vegetables and fruits, so we just eat more of them. We eat fish more often and, when we do have meat, it is usually the leaner cuts. All of our bread and pasta products are either 100 percent whole wheat or a multigrain blend. We also have nutritious grains and legumes more often. Sweets are rare treats and are usually homemade so that I can control the amount of sugar and other ingredients. We splurge on occasion, and that keeps both of us totally satisfied with our new lifestyle. It was more difficult for my mother to adjust but, at this point, even she prefers the healthier foods. And we certainly can see positive results. Her health issues no longer exist, much to the amazement of her doctor. And, between the two of us, we lost nearly 120 pounds and are still maintaining the weight. I still can't believe how easy it was, and still is, and I never once felt like we were on a 'diet'.

If there is a downside to healthy eating, it is that you must be prepared to cook almost everday. Store-bought prepared foods are improving but, if you read the ingredient lists and nutritional information, which you should do, they just are not as healthy as homemade. Even if most of the ingredients are acceptable, they are still very high in sodium, and that's not good for anyone. Since very few restaurants provide nutritional information, dining out should be an occasional treat. However, if you love to cook and experiment with new recipes, or create some of your own, it is well worth the effort.

Linguine with White Clam Sauce Sautéed Cherry Tomatoes Garlic Bread Vegetable Fajitas White Beans with Cherry Tomatoes and Mexican-Style Seasonings Grilled Chicken Breasts Wild Rice Pilaf Baked Tomato Halves Green Beans and Chick Peas Marinara Rustic Bread Pasta with Rapini Tomato and Onion Salad Chicken and Dandelion Soup Crusty French Bread Baked Salmon Fillets with Mustard and Herbed-Breadcrumb Crust Sautéed Spinach Leaves Oven-Roasted Herbed Potatoes Roasted Broccoli and Potatoes Everyday Tossed Green Salad Crusty French Bread Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes, Herbs and Goat Cheese Everyday Tossed Green Salad Turkey Chili with Two Beans Baked Corn Tortilla Chips Roasted Red Pepper Sandwich with Asiago Cheese Italian Potato Salad

Fish Fillets Steamed on Spinach Leaves Brown Basmati Rice Pilaf Bean Soup with Kale, Pancetta and Parmesan Rustic Bread Light and Easy Eggplant Parmesan Tossed Greens with Vinaigrette Light and Easy Sweet and Sour Pork Basic White Rice Turkey Loaf Smashed Potatoes and Onions Sautéed Broccoli with Parmesan Cheese Eggs Poached in Tomatoes Rustic Bread Roasted Shrimp with Lemon and Parsley Roasted Asparagus Green Beans, Corn and Toasted Barley Salad Skinless Baked Chicken Thighs with Herbed Breadcrumbs Baked Sweet Potato Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Vinegar and Parmesan Cheese Caramelized Onion and Sun-Dried Tomato Pizza Tossed Greens with Vinaigrette Lentil Soup with Red Wine Vinegar Toasted Garlic Pita   See the Light and Healthy Recipes page for many more recipes and create menus of your own. Enter your search terms Submit search form   teriskitchen.com Web

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