Losing Weight without starving yourself – Part 6
Dinners
Many people feel that dinner is the most important meal of the day. And many of them are right. Dinner is a time for families to connect, talk about their days, and bond together as a unit.
Just because you’re trying to lose weight doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice taste at dinner time. In fact, we’re willing to be that some of these recipes will be big hits with your family and they won’t even know that they fit into your diet!
Spaghetti and Meatballs
1 ½ lb. lean ground turkey
2 egg whites
½ c dry breadcrumbs
¼ water
½ finely chopped onion
2 cloves minced garlic
¼ c parsley
2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp ground black pepper
3 c low-fat marinara pasta sauce
12 oz. spaghetti
¼ c reduced-fat Parmesan cheese
1.Preheat oven broiler
2.In large mixing bowl, combine turkey, egg white, breadcrumbs, water, onion, garlic, parsley, basil and black pepper. Mix thoroughly and shape into 1 ½” diameter meatballs
3.Arrange meatballs on a baking sheet and place under broiler for 10-12 minutes turning occasionally until they are browned on all sides
4.In a large saucepan, combine sauce and meatballs. Simmer on low for about 20 minutes.
5.While the sauce is simmering, prepare spaghetti according to package directions.
6.Plate and top with Parmesan cheese
6 servings
Homestyle Meat Loaf
1 ½ lbs. lean ground turkey
1 chopped onion
4 egg whites
1 c salsa
¾ oats, uncooked
1 pkg. dry vegetable soup mix
¼ tsp ground black pepper
½ c ketchup
6 portions red potatoes
2 lbs. green beans
¾ c skim milk
2 tbsp Butter Buds
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2.In large mixing bowl, combine turkey, onion, egg whites, salsa, oats, soup mix, and pepper. Press mixture into 9” x 5” loaf pan and spread ketchup over top. Bake in oven until no longer pink in the center – about 60 minutes
3.About 25 minutes after putting the meatloaf in the oven, cut potatoes into 1” chunks. Place in large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until tender – about 20 minutes
4.Cut stems off green beans and place in a large saucepan with 1” of water. Heat to boiling over high heat. Then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 6-8 minutes until crisp-tender. Drain
5.Remove meatloaf from oven and let sit 5 minutes before slicing.
6.Drain potatoes and return to pan. Mash while adding skim milk a little at a time. Add butter buds and mash vigorously until light and fluffy.
Chicken Veggie Stir Fry
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon minced ginger
1 tablespoon minced scallions
1 pound boneless, skinless, chicken breasts, sliced into strips
1 cup broccoli spears
1 cup julienne carrots
1/2 pound green beans, chopped
1/2 cup julienne red pepper
1 cup quartered button mushrooms
3 heads baby bok choy, chopped
Low sodium teriyaki sauce
1.Heat the oil in a wok over high heat.
2.Add the garlic, ginger, and scallions. Cook until aromatic, about 2 minutes.
3.Add the chicken. Sauté until the edges are brown, about 3 to 4 minutes.
4.Add the broccoli, carrots, and green beans to the wok. Cook approximately 5 to 8 minutes, until the vegetables begin to become tender.
5.Add the red pepper, mushrooms, bok choy, and teriyaki sauce to the wok, cook approximately 5 to 8 minutes more, or until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are done to your likeness.
6.Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve immediately.
Chicken Fried Rice With Veggies
2 cups of cooked brown rice
1 16oz bag of mixed veggies (any kind)
1 pack of chicken breast cut up
3 table spoons soy sauce
2 eggs (1 whole, 1 egg white beaten)
Cooking spray
1. Cook brown rice according to package and set aside.
2. Cook cut up chicken breast until done and set aside.
3. Cook beaten eggs (scrambled style) and set aside.
4. Cook mixed veggies according to package.
5. Spray large skillet with cooking spray, add chicken,
eggs, and veggies. Stir and cook until heated through
well.
6. Add the 3 tablespoons of soy sauce (or according to
taste) to mixture in skillet. Cook for about 10 minutes
to make sure it is heated through.
Beef Stroganoff
1+ pounds of top bottom roast (or sirloin)
1 8oz container of fat free sour cream
1-2 tbsp(s) of beef granules or powder
1 tbsp of flour
Whole wheat pasta
Veggies are optional. Recommended: Mushrooms, broccoli
1.Cut your beef into cubes or strips (if you use the round bottom roast, it is best to tenderize it).
2.Place the beef into a pan that is sprayed with cooking spray. Cook until the beef is slightly brown (10-15 mins).
3.While your beef is browning, combine 8oz of sour cream, a tbsp of flour and 1-2 tbsp(s) of beef granules or powder. Mix them together (will look light brown)
4.After beef is slightly brown, pour the sour cream mix over it. Stir and let it cook for about 8-10 mins.
5.While this is cooking, boil water and cook pasta.
6.When finished place one serving of pasta on a plate and cover with meat and sauce.
Jambalaya
1/2 cup chopped Celery
1/2 cup diced Onion
1/2 cup diced Green Pepper
1.5 cups of diced Fat-Free Ham
1.5 cups of diced cooked boneless/skinless Chicken Breast
1/2 cup Chicken Broth
1 14 oz can of Diced Tomatoes (not drained) or 2 medium
fresh diced tomatoes
1 tbsp Hot Sauce
1-2 tsp Cajun Seasoning
1-2 tsp Dried Jalapeño Pepper
1/2 cup Brown Rice (uncooked)
1.In a non-stick pot, or one sprayed with cooking spray, sauté Celery, Onion, and Green Pepper until Onion is tender.
2.Add Broth, Tomatoes, meat, and seasonings.
3.Bring to a boil for 5 minutes stirring frequently.
4.Add rice and simmer for 15 minutes stirring frequently until rice is cooked and consistency is as desired.
Chicken Noodle Soup
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 chopped onion
4 carrots peeled and chopped
4 chopped celery stalks
4 bay leaves
½ tsp ground black pepper
12 c fat-free chicken broth
2 c water
2 lb. chicken breast cut into bite-size pieces
1 lb. whole wheat or no yolk noodles
2 tbsp chopped dill
1.Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté for about 4 min.
2.Add carrots, celery, bay leaves, black pepper, chicken broth and water. Bring to a boil over high heat
3.Add chicken and bring back to coil
4.Add noodles and simmer until tender – about 8 minutes. Reduce heat to low
5.Remove bay leaves and stir in parsley and dill
8 servings
Chicken Enchiladas
1 lb. cooked and shredded chicken breast
4 sliced green onions
2 tbsp chopped cilantro
1 minced jalapeno
3 cans green enchilada sauce
8 corn tortillas
1 c reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese
½ c salsa
½ c light sour cream
1 diced tomato
¼ c sliced black olives
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a 9” x 13” baking dish with cooking spray
2.Lightly coat a large skillet with cooking spray and place over a medium-high heat. Add green onion, cilantro, and jalapeno. Sauté for 2 min. Add chicken and 1 can of enchilada sauce. Cook, stirring occasionally until heated through – about 5 minutes
3.Pour the other 2 cans of enchilada sauce in a medium bowl and microwave until warm – about 2 minutes. Dip each tortilla in the heated sauce and fill with 1/8 of the chicken mixture. Roll up and place seam-side down in the baking dish
4.Pour remaining heated sauce over enchiladas and sprinkle with cheese. Bake until heated through and cheese is melted – about 15 minutes.
5.Divide lettuce onto four plates and place a portion of enchiladas on top. Top with a spoonful of salsa and a dollop of sour cream, tomatoes, and olives.
4 servings
CONCLUSION
We, as Americans, are the fattest nation in the world. There’s a reason for that. We eat all of the wrong foods and spend our time in a sedentary lifestyle that allows that food to settle into areas of our bodies where we don’t want it to be. That food is then converted into the energy that it was meant to provide, but when we don’t use that energy, it turns to fat.
The media doesn’t help us either when it comes to a healthy body image. We could be heavier than what our recommended body weight is but still be in great shape. After all, muscle weighs more than fat. But the media has us believe that all women must be a size 4 and all men should be ripped with muscles.
The reality is that body shapes are different and weight should not be our only gauge of how in shape we are. The idea is to be sure we eat healthy and take advantage of the way food is meant to work for us – not against us!
When you resolve to take off those extra pounds, your whole mindset has to change in order for you to be successful. You have to change your habits – not only your eating habits, but when you eat and how you eat.
As we’ve shown you, you can eat many foods while trying to lose weight and you don’t have to starve yourself in the process. There’s nothing you really have to sacrifice, you just have to change a little.
Instead of having flour tortillas, have wheat ones. Instead of eating 5 cookies, just eat 1. Switch to low-fat or no-fat versions of your favorite foods like cheese and sour cream and decrease your portion size to make sure you don’t overeat.
Dieting to lose weight doesn’t have to be painful or uncomfortable. It can be fulfilling and satisfying and even tasty!
Now that you have the tools you need, you can modify any of the recipes we’ve given you and create your very own foods with the “allowed” ingredients.
It’s up to you to succeed. We know you can! So here’s to your slimmer body, but most of all – a healthier YOU!
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