I love eating healthy but delicious foods. I know there is almost always a trade-off if you want to eat something tasty. Usually it comes with having to eat far more calories! But I have found a formula that works for me to take the usual and bland into something unusual and tastier!
It’s not that easy to make a healthy dinner time after time again, but if you know how to prepare healthy meals using a quick guide you’ll stand a better chance of whipping up something delicious and nutritious without even thinking too much about it for you and your loved one.
The most important part of coming up with a plan for healthy dinner recipes for 2 every night is to know which foods to pick as well as how much of those foods to serve for dinner. The best recipes for dinner are usually the most simple ones you can prepare quickly and deliciously.
Here’s how to do it:
- Select only foods that are healthy. I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but it’s a proven fact that the majority of people on this planet have no idea how to pick the healthiest foods on a consistent basis. You can start by choosing only foods that are nutrient-dense. For example, if you’re picking out a protein food, try your best to not have red meat more than once a week because of the saturated fat content, even in so-called lean meats. Instead, choose fish, chicken, and beans or lentils as your protein source. Whatever you pick out as a protein source, try to pick out the ones that don’t have saturated fats because as you know, this can lead to having problems with your cholesterol and add on extra pounds fairly quickly. When you’re picking up vegetables for dinner try to stay away from the ones that are high glycemic. Starchy vegetables are notorious for packing on the pounds. When it comes to starchy, we’re talking about baked white potatoes, white rice, and enriched white breads, for example. If you’re going to have bread with your dinner, try to pick out a healthy bread such as whole-wheat or any other bread with whole grains. For those of you who want to add calcium to your diet, pick out a low-fat milk or fat-free milk. Stay away from the 2% and above when it comes to milk and cheeses.
- Use the proper balance when you’re serving your dishes. If you place vegetables and fruits on one half of your dish, a protein source on one fourth of that dish, and some type of whole grains on the other fourth of that dish, you will have a very healthy meal as long as the amount of food you eat is not overbearing.
- Properly control the amount of food you eat. You may have picked out the perfect balance for your meal by having your plate full on one side with vegetables and fruits and the other side with protein and whole grains. However, this will not do you any good if you go back for seconds every single night!
- Do your best to eliminate unhealthy foods. Even though it’s okay to splurge every once in a while and have that chocolatey delight that you’re always craving or that pepperoni pizza with extra cheese, it’s wise to severely limit any type of food that is not good for you. If you’re eating a food that contains far too much sodium or saturated fat, excess sugar, or too much cholesterol, you are going to place yourself in a position where your body will most likely start complaining on you after a while; and everybody knows there’s nothing worse than a body that is continually complaining to its owner!
Here’s an example of healthy dinner recipes for 2:
Baked or Rotisserie Chicken with Green Beans and Brown Rice
This dish is extremely simple to make. Buy two whole breasts and two chicken quarters. Season the chicken with Badia (Sazon Completa) complete seasoning, a little bit of salt and pepper, and fresh minced garlic 9or use garlic press). Bake in the oven for 45 minutes on 375 or use your rotisserie at the appropriate settings.
For the brown rice, you will need 1 cup of rice, 1 1/2 cups of water, 3 medium cloves of fresh minced garlic, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and salt.
In a two-quart saucepan, saute the garlic in the olive oil on medium until the garlic is a little off-white (do not overcook). Immediately place the 1 1/2 cups of water in the pan, and place 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Place the burner coil on “hi” setting.
When the water comes to a boil, put the cup of rice in, stir it a little bit, then lower the setting to just a little bit less than medium. Cover and cook for about 20-25 minutes, making sure the rice does not burn on the bottom.
Add some steamed or pan-fried green beans in a little bit of olive oil and top them with a tiny bit of salt and pepper.
Add your favorite fruit and you are good to go!
If you don’t feel like cooking chicken that night, go to your favorite supermarket and grab one of their rotisserie chickens and make the rice and green beans at home.
