Posts Tagged ‘farmers market’
Clean Eating 101
Clean Eating is more than just a trendy catch-phrase. In fact, it’s something we can all benefit from whether or not we’re trying to lose weight. And the tenants for clean eating are easier than you might think — but certainly this helpful infographic from Skinny Mom helps break down the Do’s and Don’t’s in an easier-to-understand way.
Keep in mind, you need to adapt these tips to your own body and your individual lifestyle. For example, I find that eating 3 meals a day (with a healthy snack or two when needed) works much better for me than eating 6 smaller meals (as the infographic recommends).
The road to a healthier and happier you is an individual one. You want to make healthy choices that serve your needs. This might mean visiting your doctor and discussing your goals. But certainly clean eating can factor into anyone’s health regimen (no matter what their goals) and provide lots of benefits — not to mention surprising amounts of flavor. (Since switching to farmers markets for most of my produce, I find vegetables and fruits bought at traditional grocery stores to be pretty tasteless).
Yes, buying fresher, more organic (clean!) produce and food products can be a little pricier. But as my own personal physician recently pointed out to me, the cost savings benefits in terms of overall health far exceed the costs of clean eating. To find a farmers market in your area, click here.
Photo Source: Skinny Mom
Who cares if summer heat is beating down on most of us? It’s still a great time of year to make my Chunky Turkey Chili recipe (the same one featured in my latest book, Weightless: My Life As A Fat Man And How I Escaped). Recently, I visited my local farmers market, where I purchased fresh spices (see picture, below) to use when making this recipe. And I have to tell you, it turned out great. So visit your farmers market for these ingredients (if you have one nearby) or buy the freshest versions of these ingredients as you can. Then join me in making this fail-safe recipe that’s a winner whether you’re trying to take off excess weight or simply working to maintain the success you’ve already achieved. Bon Appétit!
Ingredients (in order of appearance)
5 tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil
3 white onions, peeled & chopped
2 (two) 7 oz. cans of diced green chilies (mild or hot – your choice)
3 tbsp. fresh garlic, chopped (can also used jarred, but without added oil)
4 tbsp. chili powder (more if you dare)
1 tbsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. ground cayenne pepper (more if you dare)
2+ lbs. lowfat ground turkey
1 (one) 6 lb., 6 oz. can (or several cans that equal the same) of ready cut diced tomatoes (in their own juice, no added sodium if available)
4 large bell peppers, chopped
Directions
In a large pot (the bigger the better), add the olive oil and chopped onions. Cover and cook over medium heat for several minutes (until the onions begin to soften).
Next, add the garlic, chili powder and cumin. Mix it up and then add both cans (liquid and all) of the diced green chilies to the diced onion. Cook covered, over medium heat for about 10 minutes.
Next, add the ground turkey — making sure to mix all of the meat into the mixture while keeping the turkey from “clumping” together (work to break it up into loose pieces/bits). Continue to cook on medium heat for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally (and de-clumping the turkey when necessary).
Once the turkey is cooked through, add the canned tomatoes and chopped bell peppers, mix thoroughly, then cover and cook on high heat until the contents reach a boil. As soon as you see that your mixture is boiling, reduce the heat to LOW and cook for about 20 minutes more so all the flavors mix together and blend to perfection.
Makes approximately 18 servings
A Few Helpful Hints
Add a small green salad with carrot shavings and balsamic vinegar along with two to three multigrain crackers to create a complete meal.
After preparing this big batch of chili, I divide it into portion sizes (usually two per storage container) and then, after the containers cool off, stick them in the freezer. After a day or so of thawing (in the fridge) you can zap it in the microwave for a quick, delicious dinner anytime during the week. (You can even store single size portions and take the chili to work for an easy and delicious, microwavable lunch!)
It should be noted that this stuff is so good that you can even serve it to your friends who aren’t on a diet. (Trust me — they’ll never know they’re eating something super healthy.) I’ve even made a big batch of this recipe as a dip for parties and served it with multigrain chips along with sour cream and cheese on the side.
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