Lynbrook | New Hyde Park | NY

sports performance

Recipe of the Week: Broccoli Salad

This low-fat broccoli salad is a healthy alternative to the traditional recipe. It’s great for an every-day meal or can easily be doubled for a crowd. Serve it up for the family at your Labor Day BBQ!
Serves: 4-6
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
  • 1 head broccoli bottom trimmed to about 3?, cut into bite sized pieces
  • 1/2 cup raisins or dates chopped
  • 1/3 cup chopped red onion
  • 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1/4 cup raw walnuts chopped
Dressing:
  • 1/4 cup homemade mayonnaise (or store-bought vegan)
  • 2-3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tsp date syrup (or pure maple syrup)
Directions:
  1. Put all the ingredients except the dressing into a large bowl.
  2. Mix the dressing ingredients in a separate bowl, tasting for you’re preferences (less sugar or more depending).
  3. Pour over broccoli mixture and stir to coat.

Nutrition Facts*:

Calories 206 
Total Fat 10.8g
Total Carbohydrates 25g
Dietary Fiber 4.2g
Sugars 14.5g
Protein 5.2g
*using a homemade tofu mayonnaise
Original recipe from Plant Based Cooking can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Shredded Beef Lettuce Cups

Prep Time: 20 min.
Cook Time: 6 hours
Makes 8 servings
Ingredients:Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps

  • 1 boneless beef chuck roast (2 pounds)
  • 3 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 2 medium sweet red peppers, chopped
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 can (8 ounces) unsweetened crushed pineapple, undrained
  • 1/3 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons white vinegar
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 24 Bibb or Boston lettuce leaves
  • Sliced green onions, optional
Directions:1. In a 4- or 5-qt. slow cooker, combine roast, carrots, peppers and onion. Stir together next six ingredients in small bowl; pour over roast. Cook, covered, on low until roast is tender, 6-8 hours.

2. Remove roast from slow cooker. Cool slightly; shred roast with two forks.

3. Skim fat from cooking juices; transfer juices and vegetables to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and water. Gradually stir cornstarch mixture into juices; cook until sauce is thickened, 3-4 minutes. Return beef, sauce and vegetables to slow cooker; cook until heated through, 10-15 minutes.

4. Serve beef in lettuce leaves. If desired, sprinkle with green onions.

Tips:
Water chestnuts are a great addition to this recipe and hold up well in the slow cooker.
For more crunch, top with shredded carrots and radishes!!

Nutrition Facts:

3 lettuce cups: 271 calories

11g fat, 18g carbohydrates, 24g protein
Original recipe from Taste of Home can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Buffalo Chicken Sliders w/ Sweet Potato Buns

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 lb. ground chicken
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 2 green onions, white and green parts, thinly sliced
  • 2–3 Tbsp. buffalo sauce
  • 2 Tbsp. almond flour
  • ¼ tsp. black pepper
  • 1 large sweet potato, sliced into ¼-inch rounds (with skin intact)
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • Optional: ¼ cup blue cheese or ranch dressing
  • Optional toppings: Sliced tomatoes, leaf lettuce, sliced red onion, avocado slices, etc.

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 375*F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Arrange sweet potato slices in a single layer on baking sheet. Brush lightly with olive oil, salt & pepper, to taste. Bake 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned and tender, flipping them over halfway through baking time.
  3. In medium bowl, combine chicken, garlic, green onions, buffalo sauce, almond flour and black pepper. Mix well.
  4. Preheat grill to medium-high heat; about 400* F
  5. Divide chicken mixture into 8 portions. Flatten them into patties. When grill is hot, place patties over direct heat. Grill 5 minutes on each side or until cooked through but not overcooked.

 

Original recipe from The Real Food RDs can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Broccoli Pasta Salad

Prep time: 30 mins
Cook time: 10 mins
Total time: 40 mins

Serves: 4 to 6

Ingredients:
  • 3 cups small broccoli florets
  • 1 cup cut green beans
  • 2 cups uncooked fusilli pasta (try whole wheat or gluten free!)
  • 1 small zucchini, thinly sliced and cut into half moons (or spiralized)
  • 1 cup sliced cherry tomatoes
  • 4 oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
  • 8 fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup pine nuts
  • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Lemon Tahini dressing: (can be made ahead)
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons tahini
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, more for squeezing at the end
  • 2 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon maple syrup
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • 3 tablespoons water

 

Instructions:
  1. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, tahini, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, mustard, maple syrup, salt and water. Set aside.
  2. Prepare a large pot of salted boiling water and a large bowl of ice water. Drop the broccoli and green beans into the boiling water and blanch for 1-2 minutes, until tender but still bright green. Remove and immediately immerse in the ice water to stop the cooking processing. Keep in the ice water long enough to cool completely, about 15 seconds. Then, drain and and place on a kitchen towel to dry.
  3. In a large pot of salted boiling water, prepare the pasta according to the instructions on the package, cooking until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
  4. In a large bowl, combine the broccoli, green beans, zucchini, tomatoes, basil and the pasta. Drizzle with the dressing and toss. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and squeezes of lemon, if desired. Sprinkle with the pine nuts and chill for 15 minutes. Can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

 

Original recipe from Love & Lemons can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Chipotle Lime Grilled Shrimp

Let’s spice up that summer BBQ routine! This delicious grilled shrimp is served on a stick and marinated in a smoky, chipotle lime marinade.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Marinate Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1 chipotle chili in adobo, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons adobo sauce
  • 2 limes, juice and zest
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon cumin, toasted and ground
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

  1. Marinate the shrimp in the mixture of the remaining ingredients for at least 20 minutes.
  2. Skewer the shrimp and grill over medium-high heat until cooked, about 1-3 minutes per side. Tip: Add the chipotles to the marinade one at a time and taste test for heat.
  3. Options: Add 1 tablespoon honey to the marinade. Add 2 tablespoons cilantro to the marinade. Add a splash of tequila to the marinade.

 

Original recipe can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Vegetarian Lasagna

This vegetarian lasagna is loaded with fresh vegetables and each serving is about 200 calories. Perfect to feed the whole family for dinner!

INGREDIENTS:

 

  • 3 cups chopped veggies of your choice (try a mix of broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and red peppers)
  • 1/2 chopped onion
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup low fat ricotta cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 2 cups fresh spinach
  • 2 cups tomato sauce
  • 12 uncooked oven-ready whole grain lasagna noodles
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Chop the veggies. Saute the onion and garlic in the oil over medium high heat. Add veggies and saute until tender. Set aside.
  2. Whisk egg into ricotta cheese and stir in fresh spinach.
  3. Pour a little sauce in the bottom of a greased 9×13 pan. Top with 4 lasagna noodles,1/2 cup ricotta mixture, 1/2 of the veggies, and 3/4 cup sauce. Repeat; top entire pan with noodles, remaining sauce, and mozzarella cheese.
  4. Cover and bake for 40 minutes at 375 degrees. Remove foil and bake for 10 minutes more or until cheese is bubbly.

NOTES: Check the lasagna at 30 minutes and add 1/4 cup vegetable stock if the lasagna looks too dry.

 

NUTRITION:
Serves: 9
Calories Per Serving: 202
Fat 7.2g, Carbohydrate 25.5g, Protein 11.2g
Original recipe from Pinch of Yum can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Immune Boosting Lemon Ginger Chicken Soup

Give your immune system the support it needs with this delicious, warming soup! This recipe is packed with ingredients that are good for you, too.

Yields: 16 servings

Ingredients:

  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pound chicken breast
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 3 large carrots, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 3 cloves of garlic, diced
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 medium lemon (zest and juice)
  • 1 fist full of fresh ginger (washed, with skin on)
  • 2 quarts of chicken broth
  • 1 can of organic coconut milk (optional)

Directions:

  1. In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and brown.
  2. Add onion, garlic, carrots, celery, salt, and pepper to pan and cook until softened (about 5 minutes).
  3. Add 2 quarts chicken broth and ginger with skin on and bring to a boil. Note: the longer you boil the ginger, the stronger the flavor will be.
  4. Reduce heat, simmer 35-45 minutes
  5. Remove ginger and discard
  6. Remove the chicken, shred and set aside
  7. Add lemon zest and squeeze lemon to taste. Continue to simmer for 15 minutes then add shredded chicken
  8. Option to add 1 can organic coconut milk (it makes the broth creamier!)

Nutrition Facts:

Calories: 130
Total Fat: 8.5 g
Saturated Fat: 5.2 g
Carbohydrates: 4.5 g
Protein: 9.2 g

 

Thank you to Korr.com for sharing this recipe! You can find the original recipe here!

Avoiding Overtraining with Athletes

Exercise is an important part of a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Creating the habit of a regular exercise routine provides numerous health benefits including an increase fat free mass, lower blood pressure, and help stimulate cognitive function. It’s important to note that developing a safe and effective exercise regimen is key at any age from younger athletes to senior citizens. Poor exercise selection can result in injury, over reaching and over training. So how can you select the right program to avoid over training?

First, let’s define overtraining. Overtraining is the excessive frequency, volume or intensity of training that results in extreme fatigue, illness or injury (which is often due to lack of sufficient rest, recovery, and perhaps nutrient intake). There are two types of overtraining, aerobic and resistance. Aerobic endurance overtraining results predominantly from an excessive volume overload, this relates to cardiorespiratory training (i.e. running, cycling). Training within the appropriate heart rate zone is important for avoiding overreaching or overtraining. Equipment such as a heart rate monitors are great for those exercising at high intensity workloads to assess target heart rate zones and track progress over time.

The second type of overtraining is resistance overtraining. Resistance overtraining primarily results from excessive high-intensity overload; more specifically too many repetitions using heavy weights or too rapid a rate of progression. For prevention of overtraining, an important component would be a properly planned periodization program developed by an exercise physiologist. This type of programming allows the body to adapt to the stress (exercise) that it is being placed under at a safe rate of progression and volume of the workload.

Different types of overtraining (aerobic, resistance) have been reported to have different signs and symptoms, although performance decrements are commonly a key aspect of both. Signs and symptoms of over training are under or impaired performance, fatigue or exhaustion, mood disturbances, apathy, disturbed sleep, loss of appetite and irritability. There is a high degree of variability between individuals with regard to developing overtraining. Training practices that cause some individuals to thrive may lead to overtraining in others. It is critical to have sufficient rest between training days to facilitate the recovery process. The amount of rest, however, depends on the duration and intensity of the training program and should be individualized for each person. Periods of high-volume or high-intensity training (especially in high level athletes) require sufficient recovery.

 

Brandon Ayala, CSCS