How to Create Healthy Recipes for Dinner?

These days more individuals attempt to eat well. In any case, tragically not every one of them know the fundamental tenets of sound food. Fortunately, there are basic and you can catch on quickly how to make your own particular solid formulas for supper. 

Leading all every supper ought to be adjusted. What does it mean? It ought to contain some poultry, incline meat, ocean fish, fish, some cocoa rice, entire wheat pasta, oat or potatoes with their skins on, right flavors and a lot of vegetables. 

Second - all items must be before their termination date. 

Third - you ought to set up your dishes appropriately. You can bubble, cook, flame broil, broil, moderate cook or steam. Abstain from singing, especially profound fat fricasseeing. This is presumably the unhealthiest approach to make suppers. Also, recall - a large portion of veggies you can just eat new. They have the most vitamins and supplements then. 

Mexican chicken chilli

Ingredients

2 onions

4 cloves of garlic

1/2 bunch of fresh coriander

2 free-range chicken breasts

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon ground cumin

½ teaspoon ground coriander

1 whole dried chipotle chilli

1 pinch of dried chilli flakes

2 x 400 g tins of chopped tomatoes

1 x 410 g tin of black beans

4-6 flour tortillas

2 gem lettuces

0% fat Greek–style yoghurt

1 lime

TOMATO SALSA

1 red pepper

1 red chilli

4 ripe tomatoes

3-4 spring onions

½ a bunch of fresh coriander

1 lime

Method

Peel and slice the onions, peel and finely chop the garlic, and pick the coriander leaves and finely chop the stalks. Slice the chicken into 1cm strips.

Heat the oil in a pan over a medium heat and, when hot, sauté the onions, garlic, coriander stalks, spices, and whole and flaked chilli for 5 minutes, until the onion is soft but not coloured. 

Add the chicken strips and cook for a couple of minutes, then add the tinned tomatoes. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, partly covered, for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the chicken breaks apart when pressed with the back of a spoon. Add a splash of water if it looks too dry at any stage. 

Next, make the salsa. Blister the pepper and chilli skins by placing them under a hot grill or holding them with tongs over a gas flame. Once blackened all over, place in a bowl, cover with clingfilm and set aside to cool. Roughly chop the tomatoes, put them in a colander with a pinch of sea salt and place it in the sink for 15 minutes to allow the salt to draw out some of the tomatoes’ water, then give the colander a good shake. Peel the skins from the pepper and chilli and discard along with the seeds, then place them on a board with the spring onions and chop. Add the tomatoes and pick over the coriander leaves and continue chopping until you have a fine salsa. Transfer to a bowl, and season with black pepper and a good squeeze of lime juice.

Shred the chicken using two forks, then drain and stir the black beans into the chilli. Continue cooking for a couple of minutes until the beans are heated through, then remove from the heat and stir in the coriander leaves.

Chop the lettuce, then serve the chilli in the tortillas with the lettuce, a good spoonful of salsa and a drizzle of yoghurt, with lime wedges on the side.

Source: http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/chicken-recipes/mexican-chicken-chilli/#XFh8XCrHPvOCxkuL.97

Easy After Work BBQ Chicken

Ingredients
1 (3 1/2-pound) chicken, cut into 8 pieces
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups bottled sauce or Easy BBQ Sauce, recipe follows
Easy BBQ Sauce:
3/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons minced onion
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/4 to 1 teaspoon hot sauce, (recommended: Tabasco)
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons chopped scallions (white and light green parts)
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly grated lime zest
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice
Lime wedges, for serving
Directions
Prepare a medium-hot grill or preheat the broiler. If using the broiler, line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.

Season the chicken with salt and pepper, to taste. Put the chicken on the grill or, if broiling, put it on the prepared baking sheet. Grill or broil, 4 inches from the heat, turning once, for 10 minutes per side.

Put 1/2 of the BBQ sauce in a small bowl, for drizzling and serving. Reserve.

Baste the chicken with the remaining sauce and grill or broil for 5 minutes more. Transfer the chicken to a serving platter, drizzle with some of the reserved sauce, and serve with lime wedges and the remaining reserved sauce.

Easy BBQ Sauce:
In a small bowl, whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, onion, mustard, hot sauce, and black pepper. Stir in the scallions, lime zest, and lime juice. Can be covered and refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Yield: 1 cups

Recipe courtesy of Paula Deen (TIE, pg. 91)

Source: http://www.foodnetwork.com/

How to Make Perfectly Crispy Chicken Fingers

You want to have the right finger foods by your side.  With that crispy exterior, moist juicy meat and the perfect shape for dunking and dipping, chicken fingers are a winner no matter what’s happening on the court. Want to score big with your family and friends for the next game? Learn how to make chicken fingers and watch your TV room turn into the hottest ticket in the hood. Here’s how:

Cut: You can save yourself a step, by purchasing FreeBird chicken tenders. Of course, if you’re starting from scratch, slice chicken breast into long horizontal strips about 4-inches long and about 1/2 inch in thickness. Strips should be cut evenly, so they all cook at the same rate.

Flour: Place enough flour in a shallow (but wide) baking dish so that you have plenty of room to toss each piece of chicken so that it gets fully coated with flour. Before placing chicken strips in the flour, make sure to season it with salt, pepper and a dash or two of cayenne pepper so that pieces are well spiced from the inside out. Give attention to each piece, coating fully with flour one at a time.

Eggs: Beat 2-3 eggs, depending on your batch size, and pour into another shallow baking dish. Shake excess flour off of each piece of chicken before dipping into egg mixture. Before moving on to the next stage, make sure to allow excess egg coating to drip off so that each piece is evenly coated.

Crumbs: Personalize your chicken fingers by choosing a crumb that works for you. Simple breadcrumbs will work nicely, but Japanese Panko will add extra crunch. For a Southern twist, cornmeal is a great choice; then again matzah meal, butter cracker crumbs and cornflakes could turn out to be your favorite. The key is making sure whatever crumbs you choose are small and uniform so they can adhere to the egg-washed chicken evenly. Coat one piece at a time and line up on a clean plate to prevent the coating from getting gummy and pieces from sticking together while you prepare to pan fry.

Oil: Pour oil into a large high-sided sauté pan so that it covers the bottom. Make sure there is enough oil and plenty of room in the pan for each piece. (If not, brown in batches.). Add strips to oil when it just begins to smoke then turn heat to medium, carefully turning with a spatula until all sides are evenly colored, adding more oil as needed to make sure strips are browning, not burning. Remove to a clean plate or transfer to a foil-lined pan and keep warm in a low oven while cooking additional batches.

Seasoning: Sure you seasoned the flour, but a little kick on top is the stuff of champions. Sprinkle with a little more salt and pepper, toss with fresh chopped herbs like thyme, tarragon or chives for a distinct upscale flair or take on some heat with the addition of chili powder or fajita seasoning.

Dip: Chicken fingers are never fully complete without a delicious dunking sauce. Create your own buttermilk ranch dressing with sour cream, mayo and herbs; mix together a sweet spicy honey mustard; or just put together a trio of your favorite BBQ sauces. Thinking of an upgrade on the old standbys? Try pesto and lemon zest seasoned mayo, cilantro curry yogurt or spicy salsa verde. Either way, you can’t lose!

Source: http://freebirdchicken.com/

Serbian Ground Beef, Veggie, and Potato Bake

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef 

1 tablespoon olive oil 

1 green bell pepper, chopped 

1 onion, chopped 

1 carrot, shredded

 2 celery stalks, chopped 

1/2 tablespoon paprika 

1/2 teaspoon salt 

3/4 teaspoon black pepper 

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper 

1 pinch ground cinnamon 

1 pinch ground cloves 1/4 cup water 

1/8 cup red wine 

1 cube beef bouillon 

2 tablespoons half-and-half 

2 potatoes, peeled and sliced

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a casserole dish.

In a skillet over medium heat, cook the beef until evenly brown. 

Remove beef from skillet, reserving juices, and set aside. 

Mix in the olive oil, and saute the green pepper, onion, carrot, and celery until tender.

Return beef to the skillet, and season with paprika, salt, black pepper, red pepper, cinnamon, and cloves. 

Stir in the water and red wine until heated through. 

Dissolve the beef bouillon cube into the mixture.

Remove skillet from heat, and mix in the half-and-half.

Layer the bottom of the prepared casserole dish with enough potato slices to cover. 

Place the beef and vegetable mixture over the potatoes, and top with remaining potatoes.

Cook, covered, 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the potatoes are tender.

Source: http://allrecipes.com/recipe

Chicken and Avocado Salad

With this recipe, you'll take a traditional chopped romaine, tomato, and cucumber salad topped with roasted chicken and give it a Mexican twist by adding spicy fresh cilantro, tangy lime juice, and slices of ripe avocado. You can enjoy this main-dish salad on any Phase of the South Beach Diet.

Source: http://www.southbeachdiet.com

8 Foods That Give You an Afternoon Energy Boost That AREN'T a Cup of Coffee

You know the feeling. Your shoulders sag forward, your eyelids are heavier than paperweights, you've read and reread the same sentence seven times in a row…it's the dreaded 3 p.m. slump, and your options for a quick pick-me-up feel few and far between. Impromptu headstand? You're frightening your officemates. Car nap? Try not to get fired. Instead, you slug another cup of caffeine, only to find yourself tossing and turning at midnight, the cycle beginning again the following day. (Find out 5 other things that make you tired, here.)

Put down the coffee pot. There are other great options for an instant energy upgrade, says Keri Gans, Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist and author of The Small Change Diet—they just take a bit of know-how and planning ahead.

The key to beating the dreaded afternoon slump, Gans says, is being prepared with healthy snacks on-hand, specifically, foods with carbs for quick energy, and that are high in fiber, protein, and/or healthy fats to provide longer-lasting energy, without the jolt of caffeine. 

"A lot of times, when we're crashing in the middle of the day, we're simply hungry," says Gans. "What you need is carbs, that's the bottom line. Then, protein and fat keep you satiated longer, so it's a win-win."

Clear out some space in your desk drawer or office fridge for these 8 snacks that pack a true energy punch:

A fresh piece of fruit + a serving of almonds. "It's perfect: healthy, with quick energy, and so portable," says Gans. And, you'll be pleased to hear that Gans chuckles at the notion that we should steer clear of certain kinds of fruit. "The carbs and sugar in fruit is natural," she says. Oranges, bananas, grapes—they're all delicious and fair game. 

Roasted edamame. Peeking in her own cabinets, Gans spots this favorite energy-boosting food—"it's very high in fiber and very high in protein." To make this nutty, chewy snack, simply thaw frozen shelled edamame beans, toss with olive oil, sea salt and black pepper, and roast on a baking sheet at 375°F for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes until the beans begin to dark and crisp up. Gans recommends a ¼ cup serving.

Baked black bean or lentil chips + The Laughing Cow spreadable cheese wedges. "It sounds weird, but cheese and chips is a great combo for energy," says Gans. "Just smear it on!" The baked chips are packed with protein and fiber, and The Laughing Cow Light spreadable wedges boast 7 flavors and 35 calories each. Try the Light Queso Fresco & Chipotle flavor. "Spicy can wake you up!" says Gans. For more foods packed with fiber, check out this list of 15 healthy high-fiber foods that make you feel full and satisfied.

Low-fat chocolate milk. "You could be dragging because you're dehydrated," says Gans. "Sometimes, something cold and refreshing is all you need." Gans buys Organic Valley's individual drinks; "I love them as a pick-me-up." For more help in the hydration department, definitely check out these 10 ways to drink more water.

Greek yogurt + fresh berries. Go for the low-fat, not non-fat, version of this go-to snack, Gans offers. "You want that little bit of fat for energy with staying power." 

Grapefruit wedges + cottage cheese. Again, opt for the healthy fats from low-fat (2% milkfat) cottage cheese (Gans likes the 90-calorie Breakstone version). Pair a hearty scoop with grapefruit wedges for an instant pick-me-up, courtesy of the protein in the cottage cheese, grapefruit's natural carbs, and the aroma of citrus that instantly awakens your senses.

KIND bars. "They're low in sugar, high in fiber, and easy to take along with you," says Gans. "I love the Dark Chocolate Sea Salt, and a new one, the Dark Chocolate Mocha Almond." You had us at dark chocolate!

Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt Bars. You can't go wrong with a sweet treat that also fights the urge to doze off under your desk. Gans digs the Mint Chocolate Chip Yasso bars—the minty taste wakes up your senses, and you'll get an energy boost from 13g of sugar (a lot of it coming naturally from the lactose, she says), and staying power from 6g of protein, but all with only 100 calories. Prefer Peanut Butter Cup or 80-calorie Mango? Lucky for you, there are currently 11 flavor choices.

Source:http://www.womenshealthmag.com/food/good-energy-foods

36 Super Foods That Burn Fat & Help You Lose Weight

If you view food as the enemy, here are 36 items that might make you change your mind and have them work for you instead of against you. While they may be pretty super, you shouldn’t put all of your attention on any one of them. Start by introducing a few more foods that burn fat into your diet each week until you find that you’re eating much more of them than you used to.

Tomatoes

Is it a fruit? Is it a vegetable? Who cares? All you need to know is that it’s got a ton of good things for your body for the long term, and in the short term it works to help you lose weight and help keep it off. They’re low on the calorie meter, but they help to give you that full feeling, and contain fiber that keeps things moving.

Like any bona fide superfood tomatoes bring more to the table than just weight loss. The lycopene brings antioxidants that studies are showing to be potentially helpful with a myriad of diseases and conditions. Be sure to add tomatoes to your cart next time.

Oranges

Healthy Vitamin C levels will help to keep you functioning at optimal levels, but if you’re looking to burn fat you might be concerned about the sugar in oranges. There’s no getting around it, oranges do contain sugar, which has the potential to turn to fat if it’s not burned up. But the calorie count is low, and the fiber actually helps to regulate your blood glucose levels.

In order for this to work out for you as a weight loss aid, eat it in moderation and to curb your sweet tooth when you’d otherwise be reaching for a candy bar or other sweet treat.

Oats

Although Paleo Diet followers would disagree, many others state that oats work as part of a weight loss strategy because the amount of fiber boosts your metabolism and helps you feel fuller longer. Everyone from The Biggest Loser trainer Bob Harper to the American Heart Association says to make a bowl of oatmeal for the best start to your day.

The antioxidants and other minerals oats contain make it a solid choice and not just a source of fiber. Cutting your cholesterol might also be on your list and this is a great way to get those levels down.

Spices

There’s no need to eat bland and boring food when you’re trying to lose weight. This is a great time to experiment with seasonings from different cultures. Many of them have thermogenic properties that boost your metabolism, while making some so-so dishes taste like they’re from a restaurant.

Some examples: Mustard seed will spice up your entree and get your metabolism going, and ginger can help with your digestion. Ginseng can boost up your energy, and black pepper can help burn calories. Like Indian food? Turmeric can help break up fat.

Sweet Potatoes

Oprah likes sweet potatoes, and credits them as part of the reason she lost weight one time. But can you really slim down by swapping a baked potato with its sweet cousin? Turns out sweet potatoes are great for dieting because they have fewer calories and also help you stay satisfied between meals.

If you’re addicted to spuds this can be one way to take out a food that usually gets the no-no when dieting and replace it with a superfoods such as this that has good things for you like fiber, Vitamin C, potassium, and Vitamin B6.

Apples

It’s hard to wrap your head around the fact that you are helping yourself to lose weight when you eat an apple. They are so sweet that they can help conquer sweet cravings, and it’s easy to see why they end up in a lot of desserts. But they are low in all of the things that you want them to be like calories, fat, and sodium. They have a good amount of fiber.

The fiber helps you feel full, and keeps you from going mad in between meals. It also helps keep things moving along digestively. Just be sure to chew your apple up real well before swallowing, and buy organic so you can leave the peel on.

Nuts

This is one food that almost every single diet plan in existence suggests you eat. Nuts are one food that unites the vegetarians and the Paleo followers, and we have yet to find a diet program that says not to eat them. They’re straight from the Earth and a small handful of raw organic almonds, walnuts or pecans can be a crunchy snack that leaves you feeling good for a few hours or more.

If you don’t like eating nuts for a snack, try chopping them up and sprinkling them on main dishes or side items. You’ll still get the good fats they bring and they help flavor up the meal.

Quinoa

This is been known for some time in the vegetarian realm but is now making the rounds to the mainstream. The weight loss benefits usually come in the form of switching out sides with quinoa instead of more calorie-dense foods like rice or potatoes. You’ll still get the benefit of rounding out the meal, with the added bonus of the vitamins that quinoa has.

If you haven’t tried it yet, what are you waiting for? It helps you feel full, doesn’t have a lot of calories, and ranks low on the Glycemic Index. Score!

Beans

Beans are a staple item in The Four Hour Body’s Slow Carb Diet. They are lauded for their ability to help regulate blood sugar levels and help with digestion due to their fiber content. Try adding a can of organic black beans as a side to your next meal, especially if it can replace a more carb-laden item like bread or rice.

Many restaurants keep black beans on hand as a substitute for a side, so they’re a great go-to item when you’re out with friends and want to eat well without looking like you’re on a diet.

Egg Whites

The egg debate rages on with so many gurus saying the yolks are OK, and so many others saying for weight loss you should stick to egg whites. Why all the fuss? Eggs are a good source of protein, and the main argument is on whether the fat and cholesterol in the yolks is worth eating.

Play it safe and get the benefit of the protein without worrying about the yolks. When your weight is where you want it you can start adding them back into the equation.

Grapefruit

No need to go on some whacky grapefruit diet to get the benefits of it, but for most people this is going to require a new purchase at the store. Grapefruit doesn’t tend to make it onto most people’s shopping lists, but it should. In regards to weight loss the long standing myth that they help you lose weight is being proven left and right by clinical studies.

And you don’t have to buy the fruit, you can also simply buy grapefruit juice and start drinking that instead. Tim Ferriss of The Four Hour Body says he uses grapefruit juice on his “free days” in an effort to avoid the food he’s eating from causing weight gain.

Chicken Breast

While not an option if you’re going vegetarian or vegan, this is often used by dieters and bodybuilders alike because of its high protein value and low amount of fat. Dark pieces of chicken just don’t measure up when it comes to quality protein. Most Americans have no trouble adding chicken to the diet, since it’s one of the most popular meats in the country.

Just remember that it should be skinless. Try using different spices like the ones mentioned above to make it more interesting. Combined with strength training this can help tone your muscles leading to a higher metabolism.

Bananas

Perhaps it’s because it takes us back to our simian ancestry that makes eating a banana seem natural. The more studies they do on the effects of bananas in humans, the more attention they get as a definite way to help keep us at our ideal weights. They’re super easy to incorporate into the day, since they’re so versatile.

Cut some up and add it to oatmeal, keep a bunch around as a quick grab when you need something sweet or on-the-go. Just stick to one a day since they are a source of sugar as well.

Pears

Pears often get overlooked as the long lost cousin to apples, but they bring their own unique flavor and host of benefits, including weight loss properties. They help you feel full when you eat them, and they’ve got a different consistency to apples and other fruits, making their fiber even more effective.

They’re also used in plenty of recipes that yield delicious results. If you didn’t use pears in your cooking before, or as a fruit to just have around, now’s the time to start.

Pine Nuts

These contain a phytonutrient that actually helps suppress your appetite. This means you don’t have to resort to expensive diet pills with nasty chemicals that are meant to do the same thing. All you have to do is keep a supply of pine nuts available.

Since they’re tiny and crunchy you get to eat a lot of them without having to worry about ruining your efforts. It let’s the body have it binge time while still helping you lose weight by keeping you away from more offensive foods.

Mushrooms

Opting for mushrooms instead of pepperoni or sausage on your next pizza may do little to help drop the pounds, but increasing your intake of mushrooms along with other healthy foods should yield better results due to their low calories and high vitamin content.

Be sure to branch out when it comes to mushrooms, trying the ones that may look a little strange instead of always opting for the button mushroom used everywhere. They all have their own unique characteristics, but all share the common bond of helping you to lose weight.

Lentils

Lentils are gaining more popularity has a healthy food, and one that can help you lose the weight. The fiber they contain will help keep you feeling good between meals, and will help your blood sugar levels from spiking.

If you’re going vegetarian you can use lentil as a good protein source, or you can use them to compliment a protein and act as a side dish. It helps keep your cholesterol in check and help you process carbs more effectively.

Hot Peppers

If you like your food hot, there may be some good news for you. Hot peppers like habaneros, jalapenos, and chipotles can actually help you to lose weight, while also adding a kick to most any dish. They contain capsaicin which provides several benefits that relate to losing weight.

And if you were worried that eating these hot peppers would make you burn a hole in your stomach, recent research is showing that they may actually help to prevent stomach problems like ulcers by killing the bacteria responsible. Fire away!

Broccoli

We’d be remiss if we didn’t include broccoli on this list, even though you’re probably sick of everyone telling you about it. Turns out your mom and your grandma were right, these are really good for you, but aside from that they can also help you shed some fat.

How? Broccoli fills you up, but it’s not just a filler. It has tons of nutrients per pound, and it’s also packed with fiber so it keeps you regular, which keeps you feeling good. Spice it up with spices or peppers, but just skip the broccoli cheese soup, as that doesn’t work for weight loss.

Organic Lean Meats

Lean meats are full of protein without all of the fat, but you want to make sure that you opt for organic if you’re trying to lose weight. With conventional meets they’re pumping the cows, pigs, and other animals full of so many antibiotics and growth hormones which ends up in the meat you’re eating. This can thwart your weight loss efforts.

Organic meats aren’t going to contain more nutrients in them than ordinary meats, but it’s what they don’t have in them that makes the difference. If you can’t find organic, go with grass fed or all-natural.

Cantaloupe

Some say that you burn more calories eating cantaloupe than what it contains. Whether or not that’s the case is up for debate, but this is still a great food to add to your repertoire for weight loss. It’s sweet, but it’s not high in calories the way most sweet things are. It also has fiber in it, even though it doesn’t taste like it does.

It goes great in a fruit salad with other diet-assisting fruits like honeydew, strawberries, or simply by itself as a quick snack or sweet pick-me-up. Added bonus: it helps to make your skin look great.

Spinach

Spinach is often a vegetable left on the plate of children, but adults are coming around to it since it really does contain a lot of good things in it for losing weight and general well-being. You can eat it in several different ways, fresh as a salad, in a can, and it also comes frozen. It works for weight loss by adding bulk to your stomach without tacking on the calories.

This is a good vegetable to buy organic if you can, since conventional spinach picks up a lot of chemicals from the fields.

Green Tea

Perhaps you knew that green tea is packed with antioxidants, but did you also know that it can help you shed the fat? It’s the catechins! These are a part of green tea that get your body to switch over to burning more calories, as well as fat.

Unfortunately for the other teas, green tea comes out the winner on many fronts because it’s not as processed as the others, and therefore retains much of its goodness, like antioxidants and phytonutrients that make it a superstar among superfoods.

Cinnamon

Don’t underestimate the power of cinnamon, it’s not just for baking anymore. You can get weight loss benefits simply by adding more cinnamon to your diet, with teaspoon a day showing positive results. What causes the magic? It’s the way that cinnamon helps to regulate your blood glucose levels. These play a major part in how you feel throughout the day, how energetic you are, or how sluggish you can get.

Maintaining good blood sugar levels also helps you resist cravings. Just make sure that you’re not counting that cinnamon on your cinnamon roll!

Asparagus

Asparagus has plenty of positive effects in the body, and each of them seems to play a particular role in helping you lose weight. The first is that it assists your body in expelling toxins and other wastes. It also helps with digestion and keeps good bacteria in your gut. Not to mention that it’s a superfood, so it has a ton of vitamins and minerals that help you all-around.

A lot of dieters also like the way asparagus tastes, and it’s very easy to prepare, and accepts seasonings and spices very well making it an good addition to your regular menu.

Avocado

Even though the fast food chains have jumped on this trend and are sticking guacamole in everything, eating avocados is a great idea for slimming down. For years they were avoided by dieters because of their fat content, when everything that had fat in it was labeled as evil. Then we got smart and realized that not all fat is created equally and good fats actually help you lose the fat you have.

Try adding avocado slices to sandwiches, or mash them up to make your own guac. Try to avoid the guacamole you see in restaurants because you won’t have quality control over the ingredients.

Peanut Butter

This gets special mention for weight loss because it’s a good fat that can be used to help lose fat. It tastes great and can satisfy cravings and even keep them from coming at all. In The Abs Diet peanut butter is recommended for use in smoothies and is labeled a superfood.

Almond butter is also a good fat to have that can provide a lot of creamy goodness, but it’s generally more expensive than peanut butter. In any instance opt for the organic varieties so you’re only getting peanuts and potentially sea salt.

Salmon

Salmon contains omega-3 and some diets are built around it. At first glance you might think it’s too fatty to be a weight loss super food, but it doesn’t rank high in saturated fat, the kind that you find in a fast food hamburger, and the omega-3 content trumps any other concerns.

This is something that you want to try adding to your diet to see how your body responds to it. If you are getting good results from it you can consider having it more times per week. Luckily there are plenty of good salmon recipes that will keep the fat content low but make it taste great.

Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

The enzymes in apple cider vinegar help the digestive system and have been shown to promote gradual weight loss. The recommended way to take it is adding it to distilled water and drinking it before a meal. It will help your food get digested properly so your body can use the nutrients the food contains.

It also works to suppress your appetite, so if you find that you become ravenous between meals and are looking for a way to calm your urges until the next meal time, this may be a solution for you.

Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt has been getting attention as a healthier form of yogurt. This is because it packs a bigger protein punch, with less sugar than ordinary yogurt. But you don’t have to give up regular yogurt altogether, and there are other foods that Greek yogurt can fill in for.

For example you can use it as a reasonable substitute for sour cream and shave off plenty of calories and fat grams. You can also use it in your baking to replace other fats and oils, but this might take some trial and error.

Olive Oil

The reason olive oil helps you to lose weight is because it can take the place of other things like salad dressing and other oils that are considered bad fats. Even you change nothing else in your diet or lifestyle and just start using olive oil you should still benefit by losing weight. But most people find that if they start to embrace more of a Mediterranean diet the results are accentuated.

Almost any diet that replaced the Standard American Diet is going to be better for you and cause the pounds to drop, and using more olive oil in your life can bring many positive benefits.

Blueberries

The wonderful thing about blueberries and weight loss is that it’s not just general weight that you lose, but specifically the fat. They might be responsible for helping the body break down fats and sugars, plus they taste amazing and can flavor up otherwise tame meals. They also play well with other fruits in a fruit salad. Just be sure to eat them without adding sugar to them.

We singled out blueberries for their fat busting properties, but many other berries can help on your weight loss quest, so broaden your horizons and have a berry nice day.

Turkey Breast

Turkey breast is a great food to keep on hand because it’s so convenient to eat in moments of weakness, and because it provides a lean protein source. Those on a no-carb or low-carb diet will be going through plenty of turkey breast and other meats, and those that are on a diet where you balance carbs with proteins will also find it useful.

The protein it contains can also help if you’re strength training or trying to build muscle in an attempt to rev up your metabolism. This works by increasing the number of calories your body burns 24 hours a day.

Flax Seeds

You can sprinkle flax seeds on most anything, and it would be a better option than many of those sprinkle diet programs that keep popping up. This is because it contains things that help your body, like omega-3s, and it contains fiber, which will help you feel full.

It’s the essential fatty acids that also work to give your metabolism a boost. As a side bonus it also lowers the levels of bad cholesterol in your body, and made it onto our list of superfoods for its many healthy benefits and ease of use.

Keep It Fresh!

It’s best to use fresh ingredients whenever possible, especially with the super foods listed here. They lose a lot of their antioxidant value and weight loss power the more they’re processed. Keep things as close to nature as possible.

In addition to keeping them in their natural state, opt for organic whenever you can. The lack of pesticides, herbicides, and genetically modified ingredients will allow their Super nature to shine through and won’t serve as a counterbalance to their inherent goodness.

Soup It Up!

Turning appropriate super foods into a soup is a great way to reap their benefits and make them more edible. Soup is a great weight loss tool, as it helps with digestion, and you can combine many foods together at the same time for some real vitamin-packed weight loss meals.

You can use soup as a starter for a larger meal, or you can make a meal out of it when it’s too late in the day to have a big meal resting on your stomach. It’s easier to digest since most ingredients are bite-sized or smaller and have been cooked until mushy.

It’s no surprise: the foods that you suspected all along are healthy and good for you and make a stark comparison to all of the heavily processed, prepackaged foods that are sold by supermarkets, fast food joints, and restaurant chains across the country. Fill your cart with these the next time you go shopping and start infusing your body with foods that will make it slim and trim!

Source: http://bembu.com/fat-burning-foods

Grilled Butterflied Leg of Lamb

A butterflied leg of lamb, which cooks quickly and evenly on the grill, has been split down the center, then unfolded and spread open to resemble a butterfly.

INGREDIENTS

1/3 cup olive oil

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary, or 2 teaspoons dried

4 garlic, minced

Coarse salt and ground pepper

1 butterflied leg of lamb (4 to 5 pounds), trimmed of excess fat

DIRECTIONS

In a medium bowl, whisk together oil, lemon juice, vinegar, rosemary, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Place lamb in a large shallow dish with marinade, and turn to coat. Cover; marinate 1 hour at room temperature or up to overnight in refrigerator, turning occasionally. (Bring to room temperature before grilling.)

Heat grill to medium-high. Thread several metal skewers through lamb in both directions to hold meat together during cooking.

Grill lamb until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat registers 140 degrees for medium rare, 10 to 15 minutes per side. Let the meat rest, covered, about 10 minutes. Remove the skewers. Slice the meat thinly, against the grain where possible.

COOK'S NOTES

Skewer the meat in both directions to keep it together. That way, it will be easier to manage once it's on the grill.

Source: www.marthastewart.com/1145295/grilled-butterflied-leg-lamb

Thai corn soup

Ingredients

 3 teaspoons Thai red curry paste

 400ml coconut milk

 1 1/2 cups chicken stock

 400g can sweet corn kernels

 310g can creamed corn

 1 tablespoons coriander, chopped

 2 tomatoes, chopped

 3 spring onions, chopped

 Select all ingredients

Method

Step 1

Place curry paste in a medium saucepan. Stir on low for 1-2 mins, until fragrant. Add coconut milk and stock and bring to the boil.

Step 2

Stir through sweet corn and creamed corn and simmer for 5 mins. Ladle into bowls and top with tomato, onions and coriander, to serve.

Source: http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/35084/thai+corn+soup

Shrimp, Leek, and Spinach Pasta

INGREDIENTS

3/4pound gemelli, fusilli, or other short pasta
2tablespoons unsalted butter
2 leeks (white and light green parts only), halved lengthwise then crosswise
kosher salt and black pepper
1pound peeled and deveined medium shrimp (raw)
finely grated zest of 1 lemon
3/4cup heavy cream
10ounces baby spinach (about 12 cups)


DIRECTIONS

Cook the pasta according to the package directions; drain and return it to the pot.
Meanwhile, heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the leeks, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the leeks have softened, 3 to 5 minutes.
Add the shrimp and lemon zest and cook, tossing frequently, until the shrimp is opaque throughout, 4 to 5 minutes more.
Add the cream and ½ teaspoon salt to the pasta in the pot and cook over medium heat, stirring, until slightly thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the shrimp mixture and the spinach and toss to combine.

Source:http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/shrimp-leek-spinach-pasta

Chilli beef quesadillas

Ingredients Nutrition
 400g beef mince
 1 tablespoon smoked paprika or
 35g pkt taco seasoning
 400g can chopped tomatoes
 1 tablespoon olive oil
 8 x 15cm-diameter flour tortillas
 1/2 cup (40g) grated cheddar cheese
 2 ripe avocados, halved, stoned, peeled, coarsely chopped
 1/4 cup coriander leaves
 Sour cream, to serve
 Select all ingredients

• Method
• Related Recipes
• Notes

1. Step 1
   Heat a non-stick frying pan over high heat. Add beef and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon to break up any lumps, for 5 minutes or until the mince changes colour. Add paprika and cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until combined. Add tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until combined and thickened slightly. Set aside for 5 minutes to cool.
2. Step 2
   Preheat oven to 120°C. Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add a tortilla and spoon over one-quarter of the mince mixture. Sprinkle with one-quarter of the cheese and top with a tortilla. Use a spatula to press tortilla down. Cook for 1 minute or until golden. Turn quesadilla over and cook for a further 1 minute or until golden. Transfer to an oven tray and place in oven to keep warm. Repeat with remaining oil, tortillas, mince and cheese.
3. Step 3
   Meanwhile, combine the avocado and coriander leaves in a small bowl. Cut each quesadilla into wedges. Place on serving plates, dollop with sour cream and top with avocado mixture. Serve immediately.
4. Source by:http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/20488/chilli+beef+quesadillas?ref=collections,beef-recipes