Lynbrook | New Hyde Park | NY

motivation

Recipe of the Week: Summer Eggplant and Zucchini

Peak Performance’s members are really just of chefs who know how to cook & eat healthy.

Thank you to Donna P. for sharing her recipe!

 Ingredients:

  • 2 small eggplants
  • 1 small onion
  • 2 bell peppers
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 4 ripe tomatoes (about 1 pound)
  • ¼ cup fresh basil
  • Extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

  1. Cut eggplant into small chunks. Mince garlic. Finely chop onions.
  2. Coat sauté pan with Extra virgin Olive oil. Sauté eggplant and onion about 5 minutes on medium/medium low heat until starting to soften. Stir occasionally.
  3. While eggplant and onions are cooking finely chop bell peppers and cut zucchini into small chunks.
  4. Add peppers, zucchini, garlic and Italian seasoning to the pan. Stir to combine. Cook 5 minutes
  5. Chop tomatoes and add to the pan. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add a shake of red pepper flakes. (Of course this is optional).
  6. Simmer on low until vegetables are tender. About 20 minutes. If there is too much liquid cook uncovered for last 5 minutes.
  7. Finely chop basil and stir into the vegetables. Adjust seasoning if needed.

Tips for Establishing a Healthy Routine

We asked Peak Performance’s own Exercise Physiologists about how they have created routine in their lives. From working out, to meal prepping to staying hydrated, read on for their best tips!

What is a routine and why is it important to me?

Not to be confused with a popular French Canadian dish, a Routine is a task or behavior performed regularly. It can be daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly- and it can be anything from brushing your teeth, to changing the oil in your car, or getting to work and the gym. Each task is some part of every person’s life to some degree of regularity. In relative terms, a routine is what’s considered a normal pattern for someone. Although the “normal” can vary from person to person, it provides structure, familiarity and helps to form habits that can save time and energy (two of our most valuable resources).

How would I set up a routine to benefit my life?

Routine behavior is almost autonomous, meaning that we don’t give it much active thought from to start and finish. For this reason, it can be tricky to consciously kick an unhealthy pattern out for a more beneficial one. Some tried and true methods for positive routine forming involve some thought organization, a bit of planning, and most importantly time and patience.

First: Recognize the behavior that you would like to change or add. Write it down. Next: Take some time and write down your daily routine, then find out if your new goal or task fits into your current routine, and write it in. If the change is drastic, you may want to break it into smaller steps to make the transition easier. The difficult part of this process is taking the conscious effort over the next few days and weeks to perform that task as it fits. With consistency and repetition, that new task or behavior will become a habit, streamlining your life into a healthier version of itself.

 

By Matthew Rhodes, MS

Recipe of the Week: Sneaky Veggie Turkey Meatballs

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 22
Total Time: 32 minutes
Yield: about 20

The texture you expect from a traditional meatball, but with added nutrition of veggies, your whole family will love these.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1/2 cup carrots, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup parsley leaves, lightly packed
  • 1 small onion, peeled and halved
  • 1/2 cup Italian flavored breadcrumbs
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan

 INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Coat with nonstick spray. Place the carrots, parsley, and onion into a food processor. Grind well, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  2. Add the remaining ingredients and grind to combine into a smooth mixture. Portion into 2-tablespoon size meatballs and place on the prepared baking sheet.
  3. Bake for 22-25 minutes or until cooked through. Serve with warm marinara sauce and pasta as desired.

 

 

Original recipe can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Chicken, Avocado and Mango Salad

PREP TIME:15 mins
TOTAL TIME:15 mins
YIELD: 4 servings

INGREDIENTS:

  • 12 oz grilled chicken breast, sliced (from 1 lb raw)
  • 1 cup diced avocado
  • 1 cup diced mango, from 1 1/2 mangos
  • 2 tbsp diced red onion
  • 6 cups baby red butter lettuce

FOR THE VINAIGRETTE:

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp white balsamic vinegar
  • salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Whisk vinaigrette ingredients and set aside.
  2. Toss avocado, mango, chicken and red onion together.
  3. Fill a large salad platter with baby greens or divide on 4 small dishes.
  4. Top with chicken/avocado mixture and drizzle half the dressing on top.
  5. Serve with remaining dressing if desired.

 

Serving: 1 salad, Calories: 258kcal
Carbohydrates: 12g, Protein: 21g, Fat: 14.5g,
Sodium: 62mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 6g

 

This recipe is originally from SkinnyTaste.com! Find this and other great recipes here!

 

Recipe of the Week: Moroccan Chicken Bowl

Serves: 4
Prep: 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS
BASE

  • Arugula

MOROCCAN CHICKEN

  • 1 tsp. sweet paprika
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. Pepper
  • 4 (5-oz) boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil

TOMATO SALAD

  • 1 pt. cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 sliced scallion
  • Pinch salt
  • Pinch Pepper

SWEET ‘N’ TANGY SLAW

  • 2 tbsp. cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp. honey
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. Pepper
  • 1/2 large head red cabbage, cored and shredded

QUICK PICKLED ONIONS

  • 2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
  • Pinch salt
  • Pinch sugar
  • small red onion, thinly sliced

DIRECTIONS

  1. Make chicken: Combine sweet paprika, ground cumin, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and pinch of red pepper flakes. Rub onto chicken breasts. Heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium. Cook chicken breasts until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to oven and roast at 425°F until just cooked through, 9 to 11 minutes.
  2. Make slaw: Whisk together cider vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper. Toss with red cabbage. Let sit, tossing occasionally, at least 10 minutes or refrigerate up to 3 days.
  3. Make pickled onions: Whisk together red wine vinegar, sugar, and salt. Toss with small red onion. Let sit, tossing occasionally, for at least 20 minutes or refrigerate up to 3 days.
  4. Make tomato salad: Toss cherry tomatoes with olive oil, scallion, salt, and pepper.
  5. Assemble bowls: Combine arugula, chicken, tomato salad, slaw, and pickled onions in bowl.

 

Original recipe from Woman’s Day can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Pecan Apple Chickpea Salad

INGREDIENTS

For the salad:

  • 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup small diced organic honey crisp apples
  • 1/3 cup coarsely chopped raw or toasted pecans*
  • 1/3 cup dried tart cherries
  • 1 stalk of celery, diced
  • 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley (or sub cilantro)
  • ¼ cup chopped green onions

For the dressing:

  • 3 tablespoons tahini
  • 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • Lots of freshly ground black pepper
  • 2-3 tablespoons warm water, to thin dressing

For the wraps:

  • 3 large spinach tortillas*
  • 3-4 cups organic spinach
  • ¾ cup shredded carrots

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Add rinsed and drained chickpeas to a large bowl and use a masher or fork to mash most of the chickpeas. Add in diced apples, chopped pecans, tart cherries, celery, parsley and green onions.
  2. In a separate bowl, make the dressing: Add tahini, honey, dijon, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, salt, pepper and warm water. Mix to combine until a creamy dressing forms. Add more water if necessary. I found that somewhere between 2-3 tablespoons was perfect.
  3. Add dressing to the chickpea salad. Stir to combine and coat all the ingredients with dressing. Taste and adjust as necessary. You may want to add more salt and/or pepper.
  4. Lay out spinach wraps and add about 1 cup of spinach, top with ¼ cup shredded carrots. Top with ? of the chickpea salad mixture. Tightly roll up the wrap, tucking in the ends as you go. Secure tightly with a toothpick if necessary. Makes 3 large wraps! You can also eat the salad as is or put in lettuce wraps or Swiss chard. Salad will stay good for 5 days in the fridge.

*If you use smaller 8-inch tortillas, you’ll likely get 4 servings out of this recipe.

NUTRITION (for 1/3 of recipe without the spinach wrap)
Makes: 3
Serving Size: 1
418 Calories, 20.0g Fat, 52.3g Carb, 17.2g Sugar, 12.2g Protein

 

Original recipe from Ambitious Kitchen can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Cheeseburger Soup

TOTAL TIME: 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1/2 pound ground turkey
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 medium carrots, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, wheat or gluten-free
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 1/2 cups chicken broth
  • 10 ounces Yukon Gold potatoes (2 medium), peeled and finely diced
  • 1 (12-ounce) wedge cauliflower (1/4 of a large head), stem attached
  • 1 3/4 cups sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 tablespoons chopped scallions, for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

  1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, sauté over medium-high heat. Add the turkey and brown the meat, using a wooden spoon to break it into small pieces as it cooks, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain the meat and transfer it to a small bowl.
  2. In the same pot, melt the butter. Add the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic. Cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the flour, salt, and pepper to taste and cook, stirring, for 1 minute to cook the flour. Return the turkey to the pot and add the chicken broth, potatoes, and cauliflower and stir.
  3. Transfer the cauliflower and 1 cup of the liquid to a blender and blend until smooth. Pour the puree into the soup and stir well. Add the cheddar and stir until melted. Serve topped with the scallions.

NUTRITION INFORMATION

Yield: 6 servings, Serving Size: 1-1/2 cups
Freestyle Points: 7, Calories: 254 calories, Total Fat: 11.5g, Carbohydrates: 19g, Sugar: 5g, Protein: 20g

 

Original recipe from Skinny Taste can be found here!!

Are You Getting in the Way of Your Own Goals?

1. It’s Cold Out

Sounds like just another excuse. We come to the gym when it’s hot out, when it’s raining, when it’s sunny – so what makes this any different? Of course, we need to bundle up, but the walk from your front door to the car and the parking lot to the gym door is short. If the roads are safe to travel, the gym doors will be open for you.

2. Don’t Know what to Do

If you don’t have the knowledge to work out on your own, ask an Exercise Physiologist for guidance. They will help you get acquainted with every piece of equipment in the Fitness Center so you can get your body moving.

3. No Time

If the President of the United States has time to go for a run as the President of the United States—the rest of us have plenty of time to exercise.  A former president told Men’s Health magazine in an interview that he works out for 45 minutes, six days a week, and always on election days!

4. Nothing to Wear

It’s not a fashion show—the Fitness Center to get healthy and feel better.   Whatever you feel comfortable in works and a good pair of sneakers.  Enroll in a facility that has an environment that makes you feel good! As long as your clothing is loose and stretchy, you’ll be comfortable during your workout.

5. I Don’t Have the Energy

Tired all the time?  Start exercising and you won’t be.  Exercise helps increase energy levels during the day so you will sleep better at night – sounds like a great way to keep you motivated!