Lynbrook | New Hyde Park | NY

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Recipe of the Week: Chicken and Wild Rice Bowl

Serves: 2 | Serving Size: 1 cup wild rice, 1 cup vegetables and half of the chicken

Ingredients 

  • 3/4 cup wild rice
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil, divided
  • 12 medium Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
  • 1 large carrot, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 7 ounces chicken breast, thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
  • 2 tablespoons chicken stock
  • 1 teaspoon tamari soy sauce
  • 2 medium scallions, thinly sliced

Directions

  1. Bring about 3 cups of water to a boil in a small pot over high heat. Add the wild rice, return to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for about 20 minutes for hand harvested wild rice, or up to 45 minutes for cultivated wild rice. When the rice is tender, drain and keep warm.
  2. In a large skillet, spread 1 teaspoon olive oil and place over medium-high heat. Place the Brussels sprouts in the pan, cut side down and sprinkle the carrots in between them. Let sear until browned, about 1–2 minutes, then start stirring and moving the vegetables around with a spatula until there are browned spots on them and they are crisp-tender. Drizzle the lemon juice over the vegetables and toss to mix. Keep warm.
  3. Toss the chicken slices with thyme and sage until well-coated. Spread the remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil in a large skillet and place over medium-high heat. Place the chicken strips in the pan and let brown for about 2 minutes without moving, then turn the pieces and cook for about 1 1/2 minutes, until just browned and cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a plate. Deglaze the pan with chicken stock and tamari—bring to a boil, then pour over the wild rice.
  4. Divide the wild rice between two low bowls, then arrange half of the vegetables on each bowl and top with half the chicken. Sprinkle with scallions and serve immediately.

Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 441
Fat: 7g; Carbohydrate: 61g; Dietary Fiber: 10g; Sugar: 6g; Protein: 37g

 

This recipe is originally from MyFitnessPal. Find it here along with hundreds of other great recipes!

Developing Strong Habits

Many people have goals to live healthier lifestyles through nutrition and exercise.  The desire to change is often reflected by good intentions to adopt new behaviors such as eating foods that are good for you and exercising every day.  However, unhealthy habits may easily override an individual’s good intention.  Here are a few helpful tips to make small changes that will make large differences. 

  • Place Exercise Clothing on the Couch
  • Put exercise equipment (dumbbells stationary bike) where you engage in sedentary behavior
  • Join a gym that is located between work and home
  • Buy single servings of soda rather than one-liter bottles
  • Place snacks in single-serving baggies
  • Make healthy snacks more noticeable than unhealthy snacks
  • Create a pantry that is not near the kitchen or television

Strong habits, good or bad, are performed frequently in the same context whereas weak habits are performed irregularly.  Making conscious decisions to eat better and exercise more may not be enough.  It is far easier to engage in sedentary pursuits than physical activity.  When physical activity alternatives are convenient compared to inconvenient sedentary activities, people spend increased time being physically active.

Bad habits such as unhealthy eating provide instantaneous reinforcement, while healthy eating and exercise requires a long term commitment to realize benefits.  These modifications may help prevent unwanted behaviors and encourage healthy ones.

 

By Brandon Ayala, CSCS

Recipe of the Week: Roasted Chicken & Winter Squash Salad

4 servings
Prep Time: 25 min
Ready In: 45 min

Ingredients:

  • 2½ pounds delicata squash
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard, divided
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice, divided
  • 1 teaspoon ground pepper, divided
  • ½ teaspoon salt, divided
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast
  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
  • 1½ teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
  • 8 cups mixed salad greens
  • 4 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese
  • 4 teaspoons salted roasted pumpkin seeds

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Coat a large rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.
  2. Cut squash in half lengthwise and remove seeds. Cut crosswise into 1-inch slices.
  3. Combine 1 tablespoon oil, 1½ tablespoons mustard, garlic, rosemary, lemon zest, ½ tablespoon lemon juice, ½ teaspoon pepper, and ¼ teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Add chicken and the squash and stir to coat. Arrange in a single layer on the prepared pan.
  4. Bake, without stirring or flipping, until the squash starts to brown and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, 20 to 22 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a clean cutting board and slice.
  5. Meanwhile, whisk the remaining 2 tablespoons oil, ½ tablespoon mustard, 1½ tablespoons lemon juice, maple syrup, thyme, and the remaining ½ teaspoon pepper and ¼ teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Add greens and toss to coat.
  6. Divide the greens among 4 serving plates. Top with the chicken and squash, Parmesan, and pumpkin seeds.

 

Nutrition:

Serving size: 2 cups salad, 3 ounces chicken and 2 slices squash
Per serving: 415 calories; 17g fat; 7g fiber; 39g carbohydrates; 31g protein; 10 g sugars

 

Original recipe from EatingWell.com can be found here!

 

Recipe of the Week: Spaghetti Squash Lasagna with Broccolini

Serves 4
Ready in 40 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 2½- to 3-pound spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise and seeded
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 bunch broccolini, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
  • ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
  • ¾ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Directions:

  1. Position racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 450°F.
  2. Place squash cut-side down in a microwave-safe dish; add 2 tablespoons water. Microwave, uncovered, on High until the flesh is tender, about 10 minutes. (Alternatively, place squash halves cut-side down on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake in a 400°F oven until the squash is tender, 40 to 50 minutes.)
  3. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add broccolini, garlic and red pepper; cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes. Add water and cook, stirring, until the broccolini is tender, 3 to 5 minutes more. Transfer to a large bowl.
  4. Use a fork to scrape the squash from the shells into the bowl. Place the shells in a broiler-safe baking pan or on a baking sheet. Stir ¾ cup mozzarella, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper into the squash mixture. Divide it between the shells; top with the remaining ¼ cup mozzarella and 2 tablespoons Parmesan.
  5. Bake on the lower rack for 10 minutes. Move to the upper rack, turn the broiler to high and broil, watching carefully, until the cheese starts to brown, about 2 minutes.

 

Nutrition Information:

Serving size: ½ stuffed squash half
Per serving: 194 calories; 11g fat; 2g fiber; 15g carbohydrates; 11g protein; 5g sugars;

 

Original recipe from EatingWell.com can be found here!

The Importance of Habit Forming

You’ve heard it talked about, time and time again; “Healthy habits make healthy people”. But how do our old and new habits influence the way we live? At its most basic level, a habit is an autonomous, regular behavior. So in order to create or change a habit, some activity or reaction must be performed over and over again consciously until the brain takes over and sets that behavior as automatic.

Enter: Brain. The brain wants to make life easier on itself, it does not want to have to think, problem solve, or use logic any more than needed and because of this, your brain will respond to a repeated action by streamlining it – freeing up space to think about the funny cat video that Karen sent yesterday. This happens on a three step process called a “Habit Loop.” Step one is a cue or trigger. The cue will signal the beginning of that streamlining process. The cue can be anything; a place, an emotion, a sound, or a person. The next step in the loop is the routine. The routine is whatever behavior is most associated with that cue. The third and final step in the loop is the reward. This is the pot of gold at the end of the loop, the brain will release a bunch of feel good chemicals to let you know that you have done a good job, and thus, are more likely to perform that habit again in the future.

So why is it important to understand this process? Positive and negative habits effect up to 40% of someone’s decision making, without them even being aware of it. If someone can consciously alter a negative habit into a positive one, and create a shortcut into a positive habit loop, they can #lifehack their way to greater levels of health and happiness without even thinking about it. Each day, the small changes someone repeatedly makes will become an automatic part of their life. If these changes are made with the intent to improve ones life, they are added to a habit loop of constant improvement by the brains own streamlining design. The more of it we do, the more effortless it becomes.

 

By Matthew Rhodes, M.S.

Recipe of the Week: Veggistrone

Makes 10 servings
Ready in 1 hour 45 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 cups chopped onions (2 medium)
  • 2 cups chopped celery (4 medium stalks)
  • 1 cup chopped green bell pepper (1 medium)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 cups chopped cabbage
  • 3 cups chopped cauliflower (about ½ medium)
  • 2 cups chopped carrots (4 medium)
  • 2 cups green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces, or frozen, thawed
  • 8 cups low-sodium vegetable broth or chicken broth
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 1 (15 ounce) can kidney or pinto beans, rinsed
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 4 cups chopped fresh spinach
  • ½ cup thinly sliced fresh basil
  • 10 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

  1. Heat oil in a large soup pot or Dutch oven (8-quart or larger) over medium heat. Add onions, celery, bell pepper and garlic; cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 13 to 15 minutes. Add cabbage, cauliflower, carrots and green beans; cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, about 10 minutes more.
  2. Add broth, water, tomato sauce, tomatoes, beans and bay leaf; cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, until the vegetables are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Stir in spinach and simmer for 10 minutes more.
  3. Discard the bay leaf. Stir in basil. Top each portion with 1 tablespoon cheese.

Nutrition Information:

Serving size: 2 cups
Per serving: 162 calories; 5g fat; 9g fiber; 24g carbohydrates; 7g protein; 10g sugars

 

Original recipe from Eating Well can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Chicken & Brussels One-Pot Pasta

Yield: 5 servings

Ingredients:

  • 8 ounces whole-wheat linguine or spaghetti
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 4 cups sliced mushrooms
  • 2 cups sliced Brussels sprouts
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons Boursin cheese
  • 1¼ teaspoons dried thyme
  • ¾ teaspoon dried rosemary
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

Directions:

  1. Combine pasta, chicken, mushrooms, Brussels sprouts, onion, garlic, Boursin cheese, thyme, rosemary and salt in a large pot. Stir in water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil, stirring frequently, until the pasta is cooked and the water has almost evaporated, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Serve sprinkled with chives.

Nutrition:
Serving size: about 1½ cups
Per serving: 353 calories
10g fat; 8g fiber; 42g carbohydrates; 27g protein 4g sugars; 568 mg potassium

 

Original recipe can be found here from EatingWell.com!

Maintaining Your Current Weight

Most of the time when people looking to lose weight, they are thinking about fat loss and gaining muscle mass. Let’s talk about what happens when you reach your goal weight or are happy with your current weight. The time and energy put into reaching your goal are very important; in order to maintain your goal weight, an equal amount of work still needs to be put forth.

You have worked so hard to get to this goal weight and sometimes it’s a little difficult to change the diet you were keeping and not go back up in weight. Also, look at the exercise side of things-  if you were working out 7 days a week to hit your goal, that may not realistic for your everyday life. It might take time in order to find what works best for you, but the great thing about being at a point where you are healthy and happy with yourself, is you don’t have to work quite as hard to maintain. These changes have become a part of your lifestyle and sticking with a balanced diet and regular exercise will allow you to remain healthy. By continuing to be mindful, you are less likely to lose track and eat poorly – you would not want to fall in reverse with your health and fitness.

Keep in mind that keeping a healthy, balanced diet is half of the weight loss battle. As for exercise, 3 days a week minimum should be enough to maintain your weight as long as you get a quality workout in. if you have an occasional week where you only work out once, you will not gain weight as long as you are living a healthy lifestyle. This means walking a little more during everyday activities, eating smart, and continuing to make healthy decisions everyday.

Throughout your journey to your goal weight, the healthy lifestyle habits are the habits you want to always maintain.  Adapting this lifestyle for the long term will allow you to lead an overall healthier life- not solely for weight reasons, but for health concerns, too.

 

By Corynne Duprey