Lynbrook | New Hyde Park | NY

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Recipe of the Week: Chicken Zucchini Noodle Caprese

Original recipe from Skinnytaste.com
Servings: 2 • Size: 2 cups • Points +: 9 • Smart Points: 7
Calories: 342 • Fat: 17 g • Saturated Fat: 5 g • Protein: 34 g • Carb: 15 g • Fiber: 4 g
Sugar: 2 g  • Sodium: 808 mg • Cholesterol: 105 mg

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut 1/2-inch cubes
  • kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 3/4 lb grape tomatoes, cut in half
  • pinch red crushed pepper flakes
  • Kosher Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
  • 1 large zucchini, spiralized with Blade D
  • 2 oz fresh mini mozzarella balls, cut in half

Directions:

  1. Start by spriralizing the zucchini using blade D if you have the Inspiralizer, or the thickest noodle blade your spiralizer has.
  2. Season the chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper and oregano. In a large non-stick pan set over med-high heat, heat 1/2 tablespoon of the oil. Add the chicken and cook, stirring until browned and cooked through, about 6 minutes. Set aside.
  3. Reduce heat to medium, add the remaining oil and garlic and cook until golden, 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, and crushed red pepper flakes, and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and black pepper. Reduce the heat to low. Simmer, covered, until the tomatoes soften, 15 minutes.
  4. Increase heat to high, stir in the zucchini and basil, season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook 2 minutes. Add the chicken back to the skillet along with the mozzarella and serve right away.

Recipe of the Week: Walnut Crusted Salmon

Serving Size: 2
Prep Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

For Toppping:

  • 12oz salmon filet (Wild Caught)
  • ½ cup walnuts, crushed
  • 2 tbs flax meal
  • 2 tsp oregano
  • 2 tsp basil
  • 1 tbs real maple syrup
  • Pinch lemon pepper

For Dressing:

  • ½ cup balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tbs olive oil
  • ½ lemon, squeezed
  • ½ lime, squeezed
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • Pinch ground black pepper

Directions:

  1. Marinate salmon in balsamic citrus dressing for 30 minutes before cooking. While salmon is marinating, mix together walnuts, flax, oregano, basil, and lemon pepper.
  1. Preheat oven to 350*. Remove salmon from marinade and brush top of filet with maple syrup. Sprinkle the dry mixture on top of fish.
  1. Place salmon on a baking sheet and cook for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and serve with your favorite vegetable!

Which Fitness Tracker Is Right For You?

This year’s top fashion accessories are fitness trackers! If you are one of the few that have yet to join the movement, here are some of the highly rated trackers out there to help you to get started on your fitness goals. We’ve compared several brands and models to help to choose the right activity tracker for you.

1. Fitbit Surge: According to Consumer Reports the best overall tracker is the Fitbit Surge. This fitness tracker is also a watch. The Fitbit Surge has been classified as number one because its easy to use, it’s heart-rate monitor accuracy and sleep-count accuracy. The other features of this great fitness tracker is it calculates how many floors you climb a day, has GPS tracking to calculate running outside and has a food tracking ability. In addition, the battery lasts for 7 days without charge. The price for this fitness accessory is around $250.

2. Basis Peak: The Basis Peak is also a watch like the Fitbit Surge. This watch is rated just as high as the Surge in the fact that it is easy to you and heart-rate monitoring accuracy. The battery life lasts around 4 days. This watch is good for individuals who are looking for a simple, accurate heart rate monitoring watch that does not have any fancy features. This fitness watch starts at a retail price of $200.

3. Fitbit ChargeHR: The Fitbit ChargeHR is not a watch, but a band unlike the Surge and the Basis Peak. This band is highly rated in terms of ease of heart rate monitoring and sleep-count accuracy. The battery life lasts around 5 days. The features of this band consist of food tracking, sleep tracking and stairs climbed tracking. If you are not looking for a GPS tracking, this band is very similar to the Fitbit Surge. The pricing for the Fitbit ChargeHR is $150.

4. Samsung Gear Fit: The Samsung Gear Fit is highly rated amongst the fitness bands. The band is easy to use, has heart rate monitoring and sleep count activity. This band has also has a sleep tracking feature as well as notifications to update you about your exercise progress. The battery lasts about 3.5 days. This fitness tracker averages around $150.

5. Fitbit One: The Fitbit One is a clip on health tracker. This fitness tracker is easy to use and also has a sleeping tracker. Other features include tracking of floors climbed, GPS tracker and a food tracker. This clip on food tracker has a battery life of 14 days. The price on this fitness tracker is $100.

6. Microsoft Band:This band ranks high in sleep-count accuracy and heart rate monitoring. This band also has GPS tracking and notifications that alert you throughout your exercise progress. The battery life for this watch is 1.5 days and is priced at $130.

7. Withings Activité Pop: If you are looking for a fitness accessory that just tracks sleep, this is the watch for you. The battery life also lasts for a very long time, 240 days. The price of this gadget is $150.

There are many different fitness tracking devices out there that feature an array of different applications, you just have to pick the right one for you! Get out there and get tracking!

 

By Sally Leahy

Recipe of the Week: Flourless Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 can chickpeas, drained (16 oz)
  • 3/4 cup almond butter
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup coconut sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 1/2 cup chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

STEP 1: Preheat oven to 350 ° degrees. Spray a 9×9 pan with coconut oil spray. You can also use a 9×13, but if you want thicker, gooier brownies, the smaller works best! STEP 3: Bake for 45 to 60 minutes depending on what size dish you are using. You’ll know they are done when the top is slightly browned. Remove from the oven and allow bars to cool for 10-15 minutes before cutting.

STEP 2: Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor (except for the chocolate chips) and blend until smooth. Add chocolate chips to the batter and mix with a wooden spatula, being careful of the blade. Pour into baking pan and sprinkle with a few more chocolate chips on top.

STEP 3: Bake for 45 to 60 minutes depending on what size dish you are using. You’ll know they are done when the top is slightly browned. Remove from the oven and allow bars to cool for 10-15 minutes before cutting.

 

Original recipe & image from toneitup.com

Anatomy of the Elbow & Shoulder for Baseball Players (Part 2 of 3)

In our previous article, we discussed the importance of stretching and strengthening the hand. (Didn’t see it? You can read it right here!) However, there is more to the upper extremity than just our hand and forearm; it is also important for baseball players to stretch and strengthen their elbow and shoulder joints.

Moving up the chain, we will discuss the muscles that cause flexion (bending) and extension (straightening) of the arm at the elbow joint. Baseball players tend to focus on the triceps (muscles located on the back of the arm) because it is involved in the extension of the elbow, which as we know happens when you throw a ball. The concept that most people forget is balance in the body. Every joint in the body has muscles that allow for movement to happen. If we have muscles which extend the arm, we have muscles to bend the arm as well. The biceps’ action is to flex the arm (think when someone says “make a muscle”). This muscle needs to be able to stretch very quickly when the ball is thrown and needs to be strong enough to handle the force that the triceps are putting on the elbow joint to help with elbow health. Strengthening both the triceps and biceps, as well as, stretching these muscles can contribute to increased velocity, distance, endurance, and overall health of elbow and shoulder.

The third portion of the upper extremity is the shoulder. Most baseball players know the importance of a proper warm up because it helps to loosen up the shoulder joint. But starting at the fingers and moving up the arm to the shoulder will allow for the muscles to warm up and strengthen in a functional way. (Remember our post about the hand from January 19?) Just like the other joints, you want to strengthen the opposing muscle groups; however, the shoulder joint is a little more complex. Since the shoulder has a larger range of motion than the elbow, it requires more muscles to create the movement. Strengthening the shoulder properly in all ranges is important for increased performance and joint health. Stretching the shoulder is vital because of how aggressive the movement of throwing is. Muscles are contacting and relaxing so quickly, that if not properly warmed up it is very easy for an injury to occur in any part of the chain if not moving properly.

 

 

By Corynne Pereira

Recipe of the Week: Moosewood’s Best Chili Recipe

This week’s recipe comes from Moosewood restaurant in Ithaca, NY. A hearty vegetarian chili packed with beans and vegetables.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 cup onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
  • 1 cup carrots, diced
  • 2 cups red bell peppers, seeded and chopped
  • 1 fresh hot pepper, seeded and minced
  • 1 ½ tablespoons cumin seeds, ground
  • 1 tablespoon coriander seeds, ground
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
  • 1 28-ounce can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
  • 1 15-ounce can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained

Directions:

  1. Warm the oil in a covered soup pot on low heat.
  2. Add the onions, garlic and salt and coo until soft, about 10 minutes. Add the carrots and bell peppers, increase the heat to medium-high and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often. Stir in the hot peppers, cumin, coriander and oregano and cook for 5 minutes more, stirring occasionally so the spices won’t stick.
  3. Add the corn, tomatoes, kidney beans and black beans. Bring the chili to a boil;
    reduce heat, cove, and simmer, stirring often, for at least 30 minutes.

Transformation Tuesday: Debra’s Story

My name is Debra Scuderi and I have been struggling with my weight for a while. I have suffered from multiple injuries and have had many other trainers before who have exacerbated those injuries.  I used to be overweight and not happy with myself until I joined the 5 Week Weight Loss Program at Peak Performance. I started to train with my exercise physiologist, Sally, and have dropped 6 pounds in a month!

debra

I am now so much happier and confident with myself. I have already lost 6 lbs and am continuing to lose weight through healthy eating and regular exercise. I have learned so much from Peak Performance! I feel great and am very lucky to have met Sally and have her help me! Thank you Peak Performance and Sally!!

Recipe of the Week: Crock Pot Chicken Taco Chili

Serving Size: 10

There is nothing better than a Crock Pot meal on a winter weekend and this one is a favorite. It’s easy to make and little prep is required!

Ingredients:

  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 16oz can black beans
  • 1 16oz can kidney beans
  • 1 8oz can tomato sauce
  • 1 10oz package corn kernels
  • 2 14.5oz cans diced tomatoes with chilies
  • 1 packet taco seasoning (or make your own taco seasoning recipe)
  • 1 tbsp cumin
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 24oz boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • chili peppers (optional)

Directions:

Combine onion, beans, tomato sauce, corn, tomatoes, taco seasoning, cumin, chili powder and chili peppers in a slow cooker. Place chicken on top and cover. Cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 6 hours. Half hour before serving, remove chicken and shred. Return chicken to slow cooker and stir in.

Nutrition per Serving:

  • Calories: 204
  • Fat: 2g
  • Carbohydrates: 33g
  • Fiber: 10g
  • Protein: 17g

**For those with special dietary needs, a couple options are to remove the corn to reduce the carbohydrates by about 5g per serving or you can reduce the serving size and pair with spinach leaves for a taco salad.