Lynbrook | New Hyde Park | NY

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Recipe of the Week: Zucchini Enchiladas

Total: 1 hr 5 min
Active: 35 min
Yield: 4 servings (3 enchiladas per serving)

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 4 scallions, sliced (white and green parts separated)
  • 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken (skin discarded)
  • 1 1/2 cups salsa (not chunky)
  • 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
  • 3 to 4 medium zucchini
  • Several dashes chipotle hot sauce, plus more for serving, optional
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the scallion whites and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until soft, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle in the chili powder and cook, stirring, until the scallions are coated and the oil is brick red, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the chicken, 1/2 cup of the salsa and 1/2 cup of the cheese. Set aside.
  3. Halve the zucchini lengthwise and arrange cut-side down on a work surface. Use a Y-shaped vegetable peeler to shave off ribbons the entire length of each zucchini and as wide as possible (the first few may be too skinny). Make 36 zucchini ribbons total.
  4. Lay out 3 ribbons, slightly overlapping to make a rectangle (think of this as your “tortilla”). Pile about 1/4 cup of the chicken mixture down along one of the short ends of the zucchini tortilla and then roll up to enclose the filling. Put in a 2- to 3-quart baking dish. Roll up the remaining zucchini ribbons and filling and arrange in the dish. Top the rolls with the remaining 1 cup salsa. Add several dashes of the hot sauce and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
  5. Bake until the cheese is melted and the filling is hot, about 25 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes. Thin the sour cream out with a little water and drizzle over the enchiladas. Sprinkle with the reserved scallion greens and serve with more hot sauce (optional).

 

The original recipe from the Food Network can be found here!

 

Strength Training with Orthopedic Limitations

 

Strength and conditioning and physical therapy go hand-in-hand in the rehabilitation process, but they are often seen as separate or opposing entities. Physical therapy helps individuals to recover from injuries, surgeries, impairments with the use of manual therapy (massage, myofascial release, joint traction etc.), electrotherapy (used for pain relief and passive muscle activation), and the implementation of an exercise program (depending on the severity of the injury/impairment). Most patients enjoy the benefits of the manual therapy and hands-on treatment from the therapist and feel better after relaxing with ice and electric stimulation. However, building the strength required to return to daily activities and beyond comes from performing resistance exercises with periodical progression.

Injuries, surgeries, and diseases leave us weakened and/or physiologically imbalanced. The initial focus following a diagnosis is to alleviate the impairment, enhance tissue repair, and improvement of range of motion. When appropriate, basic therapy exercises can be progressed by adding resistance to increase overall strength and correct imbalances. Both physical therapy for injured or orthopedically limited population and strength training for healthy individuals use the same principle of progressive overload to achieve the common goal of strength improvement.

Outside of the physical therapy office, individuals should continue to follow a resistance training program to continue the recovery process and make improvement even beyond where they were pre-injury. Although it is important to isolate a single muscle or muscle group during the recovery process, total body and bilateral exercises should be performed to prevent further imbalances and to improve overall fitness. Building strength in the muscles surrounding a joint can lead to less pain in joints during certain activities. Strengthening opposing areas of the body and learning better techniques/ movement patterns can lead to better habits that will aid in future injury prevention.

 

By David McCalla, CSCS

Recipe of the Week: CHICKPEA SWEET POTATO STEW

TOTAL TIME: 4 hours 15 minutes
PREP TIME: 15 minutes
COOK TIME: 4 hours

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 15 oz cans garbanzo beans, drained
  • 1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 4 cups vegetable broth, fat free
  • 4 cups fresh baby spinach

DIRECTIONS:

Slow Cooker:

  1. Place the onions in a microwave safe dish and microwave 2 to 3 minutes.
  2. Add all the ingredients to your slow cooker except the spinach.
  3. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
  4. Add in the spinach leaves and stir.
  5. Cook an additional 15 minutes on high.

Stove Directions:

  1. Add the ingredients together except the spinach and cook on medium-low heat for 35-40 minutes.
  2. Stir every 10 minutes or so, adding additional broth if you find the liquids reducing by too much.
  3. (You can also sweat the garlic and onions first, but if doing so add a teaspoon of olive oil.)
  4. Add the spinach the last 2 minutes, until wilted.

 

NUTRITION INFORMATION

Yield: 6 servings, Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups

Amount Per Serving:

Calories: 165 calories, Total Fat: 2.2g, Sodium: 751mg, Carbohydrates: 32.3g, Fiber: 6.2g, Sugar: 5.4g, Protein: 6.3g

 

Our favorite recipes come from Skinny Taste! Find the original recipe here!

Recipe of the Week: BLUEBERRY OAT MUFFINS

TOTAL TIME: 1 hour

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 1/2 cups quick gluten free oats
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 2 large egg whites
  • 1 tbsp coconut or canola oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2/3 cup Bobs Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup fresh blueberries
  • baking spray

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a muffin tin with liners and lightly spray with oil.
  2. Place oats in a food processor or chopper and pulse a few times. Soak oats in milk for about 30 minutes.
  3. In a medium bowl combine brown sugar, honey, apple sauce, vanilla, egg whites, oil and mix well.
  4. In a third bowl combine flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and whisk to combine.
  5. Combine oats and milk with sugar, applesauce mixture and mix well.
  6. Slowly add in the dry ingredients and mix until just incorporated. Fold in blueberries.
  7. Spoon into the muffin tin and bake for 22-24 minutes. Enjoy!!

NUTRITION INFORMATION:

Makes: 12 servings, Serving Size: 1 muffin

Amount Per Serving:

Calories: 148 calories, Total Fat: 2.5g, Sodium: 168.5mg, Carbohydrates: 32.5g, Fiber: 2.5g, Sugar: 18g, Protein: 3g

 

Original recipe comes from Skinny Taste and can be found here! 

Member Spotlight: Susan

 We love to highlight the success of our members! Here is the story of one client who has been working extra hard since joining Peak Performance Fitness. Read all about her accomplishments and check out her measurement changes!

Since starting at Peak, Susan has been successful in working towards her health and fitness goals. The Weight Loss Program has helped her not only jump start her weight loss, but develop healthy eating habits. Throughout the 12 week Weight Loss Program, Susan lost an estimated 3-4% loss in body fat. Susan also averaged around 9 lbs lost per month. Through a combination of consistent exercise, weekly one-on-one training sessions, and nutritional guidance, Susan has been able continue her weight loss success.

  • -Starting Body Fat %=40%
  • -Current BF %=34%
  • -Starting Weight=215 lbs
  • -Current Weight=190.8 lbs
  • -Net Weight Loss=25 lbs

Strength Training for Seniors

As we age, our bodies start to change, our priorities shift, and things start to hurt that never did before. Old adults often experience difficulty walking for distances, climbing stairs, or carrying groceries. These changes are largely due to muscle loss which mainly results from inactivity.

In order to help us stay strong and vital during older adulthood, we need to participate in regular strengthening exercises, which can help prevent osteoporosis and frailty by stimulating the growth of muscle and bone. Feeling physically strong also promotes mental and emotional health. Strength training exercises are easy to learn and are safe and effective for the older population. Strength training helps you maintain bone density, improve balance and coordination, reduce risk of falling, and maintain independence.

When starting an exercise routine, always consult your doctor first. It may be beneficial to work one-on-one with an experienced fitness professional to ensure you are performing appropriate exercises or if you have any orthopedic concerns. If starting on your own, start by focusing on exercises which utilize your own body weight, and learning the proper form. By doing so, you will build a base level of strength before adding extra challenges (i.e. resistance bands or dumbbells) into the mix.

Resistance training has been proven to be beneficial for individuals with chronic conditions. In some cases, certain symptoms may be relieved with regular exercise. Here are some of the benefits of common conditions in older adults:

  • Arthritis—Reduces pain and stiffness, and increases strength and flexibility.
  • Diabetes—Improves glycemic control.
  • Osteoporosis—Builds bone density and reduces risk for falls.
  • Heart disease—Reduces cardiovascular risk by improving lipid profile and overall fitness.
  • Obesity—Increases metabolism, which helps burn more calories and helps with long-term weight control.
  • Back pain—Strengthens back and abdominal muscles to reduce stress on the spine.

As always, we recommend that you please consult with your doctor before beginning any exercise program.

 

By Louise Mills-Strasser, MS, ACSM EP-c

Recipe of the Week: LEMON SPINACH HUMMUS

Yields: 1-3/4 cup
Prep Time: 8 min
Total Time: 8 min

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup tahini
  • 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 3 ounces baby spinach
  • 1 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained
  • olive oil and fresh parsley, for garnish

 Directions:

  1. In a food processor, whip together the tahini and lemon juice until smooth and creamy. Add the spinach, parsley, garlic, olive oil and salt. Process for one minute, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add half of the chickpeas and process for one minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add the remaining chickpeas and process until smooth, about one to two additional minutes.
  2. Transfer the hummus to a bowl for serving. Drizzle extra olive oil on top and sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley, as desired. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

 

Original recipe from Spoonful of Flavor can be found here!

 

Strength Training with Kids

Once a controversial topic, strength training within the younger population has been proven to be beneficial in a number of ways. There are several positive effects of strength training including, teaching the “mind to muscle connection,” improving coordination, and injury prevention. When done properly, young athletes can greatly benefit from a properly constructed strength training program. However, the right programming is essential to keeping kids healthy and injury free.

Most children have yet to develop muscular coordination and therefore will find it extremely difficult to maintain proper form under the stress of outside resistance. Free weights or machines may not be appropriate in many cases, this is where body weight comes into play. A proper program for a child should be comprised of several body weight exercises and avoiding complex exercises; meaning excluding those that involve lifting free weights in a complex manor. Body weight exercises are not only good to help build them a muscular foundation, but to help develop their coordination and highly mitigate the risk of injury. Risk of injury in young athletes is very high and this is frequently due to lack of muscular development which does not support their joints and ligaments. This injury risk can be prevented by starting to develop strength and sport specific skills at an earlier age. The following are some example of body weight exercises that may be appropriate to incorporate into an adolescent strength training program: squats, walking lunges, wall sits, box jumps, push ups, dips, planks, and/or leg lifts.

Not only will beginning an exercise routine early on help kids to develop muscular coordination and strength, but it will help them excel at their sport. The decreased risk for serious injury will give them a great foundation to further develop later into their teenage years.