Health and Wellness Associates

Tomato and Broccoli Broiled Top Breakfast Frittata

If you’re like me and a big fan of hitting the snooze button, then you know that making a nutritious and filling breakfast can be a challenge. Prepare this veggie packed frittata on the weekend and enjoy a slice for a grab-and-go breakfast. Your stomach will thank you!

Ingredients

8 eggs, beaten
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
½ yellow onion, peeled and chopped
1 large tomato, chopped
2 cups frozen broccoli florets, defrosted
1 ounce goat cheese

Preparation

Beat eggs together with salt and pepper in a large bowl until well combined. Place rack in the middle of the oven and preheat broiler.
Heat olive oil in a large, ovenproof skillet on medium heat. Add onion and saute until translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in tomato and cook until tender, about 2 minutes. Stir in broccoli.
Pour in beaten egg and move around until it covers the pan completely. Cook the frittata until it’s starting to set around the edges, then sprinkle the top with goat cheese. Place the frittata under the broiler to cook through. It should only take a minute and keep a close eye on it to make sure it doesn’t burn.

4. With an oven-mitted hand, remove from oven, let cool slightly, then invert onto a serving plate, Cut into four slices and serve or refrigerate until ready to eat.

Ingredient Variations and Substitutions

I love to make frittatas as an easy and satisfying breakfast throughout the year and switch things up based on what vegetables are in season. Try heirloom tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella in the summer, kale and cheddar in the fall, cauliflower and feta in the winter, and asparagus and goat cheese in the spring.

If you’d like to reduce the amount of cholesterol in this recipe, replace some of the whole eggs with egg whites. You’ll need whites for every egg. You could also replace 2 eggs with ½ cup milk or unsweetened, unflavored plant milk.

To make this dairy free, simply leave out the goat cheese.

If you like your eggs with hot sauce, stir a teaspoon into the beaten egg or douse generously with your favorite hot sauce to serve.

I also like it topped with fresh herbs, like chives, green onions, or parsley.

Cooking and Serving Tips

Another fun option is to turn this recipe into mini-frittatas baked in a muffin tin. They’re perfect for snacks or sandwiched between a whole grain English muffin or mini-bagel to make a breakfast sandwich.

To make, crack an egg into 8 wells sprayed with oil, season with a bit of salt and pepper, then whisk together with a fork. Divide the sauteed onions, tomatoes, and defrosted broccoli between the wells then bake in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes.

To include a serving of healhty carbs with this meal, serve this with a slice or two of whole grain toast or English muffin, a side of fresh fruit, or add cubes or slices of steamed sweet or white potatoes to the frittata.

This frittata also makes a delicious dinner. Serve with whole grain bread or roasted potatoes and a side salad dressed with a quick dressing of equal parts lemon juice, olive oil, and a teaspoon of mustard to emulsify.

This frittata will last 5 days covered in the refrigerator. Serve warm, reheated in the microwave for 30 seconds, or at room temperature.

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Dr P Carrothers

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Preventative and Restorative Medicene

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Cheesy Cauliflower Cakes

April 10, 2018 healthandwellnessassociates

Health and Wellness Associates

Cheesy Cauliflower Cakes

Want to eat more cauliflower but just not sure what to do with it? These tasty cakes are a must-try recipe even if you’re thinking cauliflower isn’t for you.

Boil, steam, saute or roast the cauliflower ahead of time for extra fast meal prep and serve the cakes with salad or a piece of fish for a light and satisfying meal. Cauliflower and lower-fat Parmesan cheese are usually well tolerated by those who experience heartburn since they are baked instead of fried. There’s no extra grease, either.

Ingredients

2 cups cooked cauliflower
1 egg, beaten
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup panko breadcrumbs

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375F.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl combine cauliflower, egg, cheese and breadcrumbs.
Mash ingredients with a fork until well mixed.
Using clean hands form into 8 cakes.
Place cakes on prepared baking sheet and spray the tops with cooking spray cooking.
Bake for 20 minutes until golden.
Allow to cool slightly before serving.

Ingredient Variations and Substitutions

If you can’t find fresh cauliflower at your local market, use frozen as it is just as nutritious as fresh.

If you do use frozen, simply thaw in the microwave on high for 2 to 3 minutes. Drain well to remove any excess liquid and then allow to cool slightly before mixing with other ingredients.

These cakes are tremendously flavorful as they are but you can add an extra dimension of flavor by mixing in a handful fresh herbs like parsley, basil, or chives.

Cooking and Serving Tips

To make the tops of these cakes extra crispy, broil for 2 to 3 minutes before removing from the oven. If you do choose to broil, keep a close eye on them to be sure they don’t burn. Serve over a bed of fresh greens for a vegetarian lunch or as a side dish with a piece of lean meat or fish.

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Diets and Weight Loss, Foods, Health and Disease, Uncategorized

3 Foods to Throw Away

March 5, 2018 healthandwellnessassociates

3 Foods to Throw Away

Diet experts often say that you should clean out your pantry, your cupboards, and your refrigerator when you start a new weight loss plan. I completely agree. It’s important to set up your kitchen for success if you’re really serious about slimming down. But often, dieters don’t have the time for a complete kitchen overhaul.

If you are short on time but committed to getting lean and fit, here’s the quick-start plan for kitchen clean-up.

Grab your trash can, open the refrigerator door and dump these three items to decrease your calorie intake and lose weight faster.

1) Salad Dressing

Salad sounds like the perfect diet food. Fill your lunch plate full of healthy veggies and you’ll lose weight, right? Wrong! In many cases, your salad is a diet disaster. And many times, the salad dressing is what adds the most fat and calories. In small amounts, salad dressing isn’t too bad. But when is the last time you measured the amount that you poured on your salad? The calories in salad dressing can ruin your energy balance for the day. Even fat-free dressings have a downside. Often, these products are full of sugar and still very high in calories. A better option is to add spicy, flavorful ingredients like peppers or radishes to your greens and go dressing-free. Or dress your salad with lemon.

2) Flavored Coffee Creamer

If you can’t live without the sweet, milky taste of flavored creamer in your morning coffee, I feel your pain. I used to be addicted to hazelnut creamer. But I got over it when I realized the health impact it had on my diet. If you read the nutrition facts label, the calorie and fat content of flavored creamer doesn’t look too bad. But when you read between the lines, the story isn’t so pretty. Flavored creamers are one of the most common foods we overeat.

If you multiply your actual portion size times the calorie count per serving, you might be surprised. Think the fat-free creamers are better? Nope. Non-dairy fat free creamers are one of the most common sources of hidden fat. A better option is to learn to make healthier flavored coffee drinks at home.

3) Juice

Again, juice sounds like it should be part of a healthy diet-friendly breakfast. In fact, some dieters make juice the entire meal. But the bottom line is that when you drink fruit juice you are drinking a glass full of sugar. Fresh juice does contain vitamins that are good for you, but why not just eat a whole piece of fruit? You might be surprised to find that when you compare the calories in an orange to the calories in a glass of orange juice the fruit fares better. And whole food is more satisfying than sipping your calories through a straw.

The one thing that these foods have in common is that many dieters believe they are healthy because they contain a healthy ingredient or because they have a healthy-looking label. We often overeat foods that carry that “health halo” and we end up consuming excess fat, calories and ingredients that aren’t good for us Of course, dumping these foods is just the beginning of a full kitchen clean-up, but if you can trash these three things, you’ll be on your way to a healthier diet and a slimmer physique.

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Foods, Uncategorized

Easy-Brezzy! Chicken and Broccoli Stir-fry!

March 5, 2018March 5, 2018 healthandwellnessassociates

Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry

Ingredients

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast cut into 1 inch pieces
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
2 cups small broccoli florets
1 cup sliced mushrooms if you don’t like mushrooms you can add more broccoli instead
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 cup oyster sauce
1/4 cup low sodium chicken broth or water
1 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon cornstarch
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the broccoli and mushrooms and cook for approximately 4 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
Add the ginger and garlic to the pan and cook for 30 seconds more.
Remove the vegetables from the pan; place them on a plate and cover.
Wipe the pan clean with a paper towel and turn the heat to high. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil.
Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper and add them to the pan in a single layer – you may need to do this step in batches. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through.
Add the vegetables back to the pan and cook for 2 more minutes or until the vegetables are warmed through.
In a bowl whisk together the oyster sauce, chicken broth, sugar, sesame oil and soy sauce. In a small bowl mix the cornstarch with a tablespoon of cold water.
Pour the oyster sauce mixture over the chicken and vegetables; cook for 30 seconds. Add the cornstarch and bring to a boil: cook for 1 minute or until sauce has just started to thicken.
Serve immediately, with rice if desired.

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Diets and Weight Loss, Foods, Health and Disease, Uncategorized

Best and Worst Health Choices at McDonald’s

February 23, 2018 healthandwellnessassociates

Best and Worst Health Choices at McDonald’s

McDonald’s Nutrition Facts: Menu Choices & Calories

The best thing to do is never eat at McDonalds. When taking a trip, or visiting friends, sometimes it is a must. But don’t make it a routine!

Convenient food doesn’t have to ruin your diet. You can eat healthy McDonald’s fast food meals under 500 calories if you know how to navigate the menu. Use this guide to find out which is the most healthy McDonald’s food item to choose, which foods to avoid, and how to combine different menu items so you can enjoy a low-calorie McDonald’s meal without suffering dieter’s remorse.

Analyzing the McDonald’s Menu

McDonald’s and many other fast food restaurants post calorie counts for each of their food products.

But if you are in the drive-thru lane you might not have time to grab your calculator and do the math. So be safe and stick to sandwiches that include grilled meat or chicken to keep the calorie count low. You’ll also boost your daily protein intake with those choices.

It’s also a good idea to skip the French fries and choose fruit instead. If you want to indulge, get a small size of fries and choose a smaller sandwich. And your best bet for saving calories? Skip the soda! Get water and add lemon to make the water taste better.

The best way to stay healthy at McDonald’s is to order a la carte. That means you bypass the popular Value Meals and only order the menu items that you love so you don’t waste calories on foods you don’t need.

Most Popular McDonald’s Food

Big Mac Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 burger

Per Serving % Daily Value*

Calories 540

Calories from Fat 252

Total Fat 28g 43%

Saturated Fat 10g 50%

Cholesterol 80mg 27%

Sodium 960mg 40%

Carbohydrates 46g 15%

Dietary Fiber 4g 16%

Sugars 9g

Protein 25g

Vitamin A 10% · Vitamin C 2%

Calcium 25% · Iron 25%

*Based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Whether you’re living with diabetes or just want to get healthy, there are simple steps you can take to lose weight and feel great without sacrificing your sweet tooth.

GET STARTED TODAY

While you might imagine that burgers rule at McDonald’s, French fries, chicken sandwiches, and chicken nuggets are also very popular. Even breakfast items rank very high on the McDonald’s must-have list. These are calorie counts for some of the most popular items:

A 4-piece order of Chicken McNuggets provides 180 calories, 11 grams of fat, 10 grams of protein and 11 grams of carbohydrate.

The more popular 10-piece order of Chicken McNuggets provides 440 calories, 27 grams of fat, 24 grams of protein and 26 grams of carbohydrate. Double those numbers for the 20-piece chicken nugget calories and nutrition.

An Egg McMuffin provides 290 calories, 12 grams of fat, 17 grams of protein and 29 grams of carbohydrate.

A McChicken sandwich provides 350 calories, 15 grams of fat, 14 grams of protein and 40 grams of carbohydrate.

One Quarter Pounder with Cheese provides 540 calories, 27 grams of fat, 31 grams of protein and 42 grams of carbohydrate.

A Filet-O-Fish sandwich provides 390 calories, 19 grams of fat, 17 grams of protein, 38 grams of carbohydrate.

A Cheeseburger provides 300 calories, 12 grams of fat, 15 grams of protein and 33 grams of carbohydrate.

If you choose to enjoy your meal with one of McDonald’s popular sweetened drinks, you’ll have to add more calories. A large McDonald’s Sweet Tea contains 160 calories and a large Coca-Cola contains 300 calories.

Healthiest Options on the McDonald’s Menu

There are some items that are lower in calories. Depending on the meal you choose to enjoy, there are several different ways to enjoy a full meal for under 500 calories.

McDonald’s Breakfast Under 500 Calories

There are some items you should avoid if you are watching your waistline.

The Sausage, Egg & Cheese McGriddle provides 550 calories. And the Bacon Egg & Cheese McGriddle doesn’t fare much better at 420 calories. These items, however, should keep you satisfied and won’t ruin your daily calorie count:

Fruit & Maple Oatmeal: 310 calories

Apple Slices: 15 calories

Coffee: 0 calories (no cream or sugar)

Lowfat Milk: 100 calories

Total: 425 calories

Fruit and Yogurt Parfait: 150 calories

Iced Latte: 60 calories (medium with nonfat milk)

Hash Browns: 150 calories

Total 360 calories

Egg McMuffin: 290 calories

Hash Browns: 150 calories

Black coffee: 0 calories

Total: 440 calories

Low-Calorie McDonald’s Lunch or Dinner

Most dieters will visit McDonald’s for their popular lunch or dinner burgers and fries.

So can you enjoy these popular favorites and still keep your weight loss program on track? Yes! Just stay away from the super-sized items and high-fat condiments like mayonnaise and cheese.

Milk: 100 calories (1% low fat)

Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad (no cheese or tortilla strips): 260 calories

Fruities (Mandarin orange): 35 calories

Total: 395 calories

Premium Grilled Chicken Sandwich: 380 calories

Side Salad: (no dressing) 20 calories

Water: 0 calories

Total: 400 calories

Hamburger: 250 calories

Kids Fries: 110 Calories

Small Diet Soda

Total: 360 calories

Cheeseburger: 300 calories

Side Salad: 20 calories

Newman’s Own Low Fat Dressing: 80 calories

Water

Total: 400 calories

Hamburger: 250 calories

Small fries: 230 calories

Water

Total 480 calories

Unhealthiest Food on the McDonald’s Menu

As you might expect, the fries won’t do wonders for your diet. An order of large French Fries contains 510 calories, 24 grams of fat, and 66 grams of carbohydrate. And you might also want to avoid the Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese which will add 780 calories and 45 grams of fat to your daily total.

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Rx to Wellness, Uncategorized

Simple and Cleansing Kichadi

February 2, 2018February 2, 2018 healthandwellnessassociates

Simple and Cleansing Kichadi

Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp. coconut oil or ghee

½ Tbsp. cumin seeds

½ Tbsp. mustard seeds

½ Tbsp. coriander seeds

½ tsp. ground turmeric

1 cinnamon stick

1-2 Tbsp. minced ginger (to taste)

1 large tomato, chopped (optional)

2 medium yellow onion, diced

2 medium carrots, chopped

1 small / 250g sweet potato (or other seasonal root veggie), chopped

1 cup / 200g brown rice

½ cup / 110g mung beans or brown lentils

1 tsp. fine grain sea salt

1 cup / 140g green peas, frozen or fresh

4 cups / 1L water (or more, as needed)

a couple handfuls finely chopped cilantro

lemon to garnish

Directions:

If possible, soak the rice and pulses together overnight, or for 8-12 hours. Drain and rinse very well.

Melt the oil in a large stockpot. Add the cumin and mustard seed and fry just until the mustard seeds start to pop. Add the remaining spices, stir and then add the tomato and ginger (if you’re opting out of the tomato, simply use a few splashes of water). Fry for a couple minutes until fragrant.

Add the onion, carrots, sweet potato, brown rice, mung beans, salt, and water. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer and cook for about 45 minutes, until the rice and beans are soft. About five minutes before serving, add the peas whether fresh or frozen, and cook until they are warm. Add more water for a stew-y consistency, or if the pot becomes dry while cooking.

Serve kichadi hot, garnished with cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Give thanks and enjoy.

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Diets and Weight Loss, Foods, Uncategorized

Whole Wheat Ginger Pancakes

February 2, 2018 healthandwellnessassociates

wholewheatgingerpancakes

Whole Wheat Gingerbread Pancakes

INGREDIENTS

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/4 teaspoon cloves

1 tablespoon molasses

1 egg

1 tablespoon sunflower oil (or melted butter)

3/4-1 cup milk

DIRECTIONS

Preheat your oven to 200˚ and place an oven-safe plate inside for keeping pancakes warm.

In a medium bowl, combine all dry ingredients and give a good stir. In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients and pour over dry ingredients, stir just until combined.

Heat a skillet over medium heat. When skillet is hot, take about 1/4 cup of batter and pour onto skillet. Let cook for 1-2 minutes (until the pancakes begins to bubble slightly. Flip and let cook for another 1-2 minutes until pancake is cooked through.

Place in oven and continue with remaining batter.

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Diets and Weight Loss, Foods, Uncategorized

Chickpea And Spinach Burger

February 2, 2018February 2, 2018 healthandwellnessassociates

Chickpea and Spinach Burgers

They are simple, delicious, and have a texture I love in veggie burgers: crunch on the outside, soft on the inside, and don’t fall apart when cooked. These burgers come together rather quick and cook up just as fast. I prefer pan frying these burgers in a bit of oil (helps the crispy outside) but you can also grill them. If you’re looking to make a big batch for use throughout the month, go through the baking process, separate them with a bit of wax paper, and store in an airtight container in the freezer.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup chickpeas (drained, if using canned)

1/4 cup red onion, diced

1 cup fresh baby spinach, packed

2 tablespoons sunflower seeds

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 large egg white

1/3 cup whole wheat bread crumbs

1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil, for frying

DIRECTIONS

Combine chickpeas and onion in a food processor, pulse a few times to break up the chickpeas. Add in spinach, sunflower seeds, olive oil, soy sauce, oregano, paprika, and salt; pulse a few more times.

Add in egg white and bread crumbs, pulsing until mixture comes together. Remove from food processor, run your hands under water, divide mixture into two balls, and shape into 1/2″ thick patties.

Heat a pan over medium-low heat. Add olive oil, followed by burgers. Fry for 5 to 7 minutes, until the burger is browning and has become crisp on the outside. Flip, cook for another 5 or so minutes until the burger is cooked through and crisp on both sides.

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Diets and Weight Loss, Foods, Uncategorized

Slow Cooker White Cheddar Broccoli Mac & Cheese Low Calorie

January 10, 2018 healthandwellnessassociates

Slow Cooker White Cheddar Broccoli Mac & Cheese

Low Calorie

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups milk

2 egg whites

2 teaspoons cornstarch or tapioca starch

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

1 cup grated white cheddar cheese

1 small head of broccoli, cut into bite-sized florets

2 cups dry, whole wheat pasta

( taste good with angel hair and bacon crumbled)

Directions

Whisk together the milk, egg whites, and cornstarch in your slow cooker insert. Be sure to whisk well.

Stir in the grated cheese, broccoli and pasta shells.

Cook on low for 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

After the first hour, stir the food on a semi-regular basis (about every 15 minutes or so). This will do two things. It will allow the pasta to cook evenly. It will also allow you to keep any eye on the pasta and see when it’s done.

Every slow cooker is different, so the timing for this recipe may be slightly different on this for you. Pasta goes from “cooked” to “mush” very quickly. So be sure to keep stirring on occasion to keep an eye on things.

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Tag: healthy foods