New Healthy 2005 - recipe share...

OK then, how many of us have vowed to eat healthier, lose a bit of weight and get fitter as a New Year resolution???

I know Im one of them - I usually eat quite healthy at home cos I make a point not to buy all the things I like but shouldnt eat when I go shopping, however lunch at work is another thing ENTIRELY!!!

Just boiled me up some pasta n added some low fat mayo a tin of tuna and some sweetcorn and peppers for my lunch tomorrow - yummy, but I know Im gonna run out of ideas rapidly!!

So how about sharing your ideas for healthy lunches to take to work?? Pasta, Cous Cous, Rice, Noodles - Ive got the lot but dont tend to buy salad as it tends to go out of date to fast.

Lets give those of us attempting (for the first month of the year, at least) to be healthy some inspiration......

Parsnip soup.

Get 3 or 4 big parsnips (from now on called "snips" :))

Peel and dice, and fry gently in tiny bit of olive oil, then pour boiling water on to cover them.

Boil gentle untilvery soft. Now use blender (hand held is fine) until smooth....

now add tad more water to loosen it up and put another 2 or 3 snips in (dices again) plus any other root veg you have.

Cook the veg IN the parsnip soup.

Serve with brown bread and NO BUTTER.....dont need it....

Also...dont be afraid of mince beef...just do this:

When frying, invest in really REALLY cheap kitchen roll. After the meat is fried BEFORE adding tomatoes or anything, tilt pan tot he side, push meat to top half of pan, put big wad of kitchen roll in and absorb oil. You'll be TERRIFIED how much oil comes out :(

Then carry on cooking.

Next? Half your meat intake and replace with BEANS :)

Kidney? Yeah
Flageolet? Teah
Mixed pulses in a tin? Yeah.

Whatever you cook, half the meat, doulbe up with pulses. Sorted. Cheaper Healthier, and frankly nicer.

Also you can use Letils (which I rediscovered last week and which look like sh1t and taste amazing)

and you dont need to soak lentils (unlike split peas/grains)

If you CAN be arsed to soak split peas over night....you're even MORE sorted :)

oh...and good luck :D

Thanks..... now just need to get some 'Snips' and enough spare time to make it! :)

Noooooooo not parsnips. Sorry Zak but they are my most hated vegetable. And my parents grew way too many of them last year :(.

Still I suppose your recipe might come in useful for trying to get rid of them quickly :D.

http://www.homestarrunner.com/parsnips.html

:D

/\ that is mental :)

Might be a bit late, but I've just started altering my diet a little. I generally eat healthily, but I thought I might try to reduce my processed carb and saturated fat (or whatever they're called) intake for January. Just to see how it affects my health. I shan't bother with proper measurements.

What you need:
A dash of Olive oil.
Brown Rice - cooked.
Prawns
Apple (Fiji or Royal Gala work well).
A wok.

Method:
Heat the wok and oil until the oil runs quickly.
Cook the prawns in the oil until cooked through and beginning to shrink.
Dice an apple and throw into the pan, along with a handful of rice.
Fry until steaming.
Cool.
Store.

Alternatively, if you don't like cooked apples, put the apple in just before you serve.

Delicious.

Nice Theo..

I do similar, but also add finely diced onion (in first), finely diced red/green/yellow pepper (one of each), sweetcorn and finely chopped mushrooms. Then once cooled stir in juice of 1/2 - 1 lemon (to taste).

My healthy meal that has no name at all yet... consists of the following ;

quorn pieces nicely fried with a small and I mean small amount of olive oil.
Once these have been cooked - take 4 average sized potato's( washed )and slice into slices that are roughly 1/2 a cm thick and place these on a tray and add a small drop of olive oil to stop them sticking. Cover the potato's with parsley and place in the oven.

Fry Mushrooms or whatever veggies you like and then stir in some organic tomato pasta sauce with the quorn. Add fried veggies to the quorn and sweetcorn ( the INDESTRUCTABLE foodstuff ) and stir nicely.

Pour above mixture into a nice dish and top with the potato pieces that hopefully should be cooking nicely by now.

Place them in a slightly overlapping fashion and then place in the oven for about 15-20 mins depending on how overclocked your oven is ;) If using a prommie or other cooling system - Extend cooking time accordingly.

Once ready - serve with whatever you desire - I find garlic breads a nice complement.

Other variations - substitute the pasta sauce for any type of cooking sauce - jalfrezi is quite nice for a nice spicey feel :)

My contribution...

Lime and Coriander Chicken

Serves: 2
Prep time: 10mins
Cooking time: 15mins

Ingredients
2 skinless chicken breasts
250g low fat yoghurt
5 tbsp chopped coriander
1 lime, zested and juiced
1 birds eye chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
1 tsp vegetable oil


Method

Trim any visible fat from the chicken breasts.

In a bowl mix the yoghurt with 3 tbsp of the coriander, the lime zest and juice and chilli.

Add the chicken and mix to coat well.

Cover with cling film and marinate in the fridge for 1 hour.

Place a griddle or frying pan over a high heat and lightly brush with the oil.

Cook the chicken over a medium heat for 8-10 minutes on each side until thoroughly cooked.

Slice the chicken and serve sprinkled with the remaining coriander.

Serve hot with mixed rice and vegetables or cold in sandwiches or salads.