Diet, Diet, Diet! That’s all everyone seems to talk about these days. There’s always this new fad diet that everyone wants to try, and it seems like people are always moving on to the trendiest foods. But, if you’re working, you probably don’t have a lot of time to spend on preparing elaborate meals. And, it’s why many people develop bad eating habits. Simply because of a lack of time. To address that issue, here we look at how you can provide your body what it needs. These recipes are easy to prepare and have familiar ingredients that you’ll probably find lying around at home.
Here’s a look at a balanced meal plan.
Our bodies have daily nutrient requirements that help us function properly. Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Fats are the primary elements supported by vitamins and minerals. Most people exceed their daily needs, especially of carbohydrates and fats. The popularity of cheap junk food, full of saturated fats and sugars, only compounds our misery.
Let’s first look at carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates are good for your body. Complex carbohydrates take time to break down and are absorbed into your system slower than simple carbs. This makes them less likely to turn to fat. And, some excellent sources of complex carbs include sweet potatoes, brown bread, green vegetables, oats, and beans.
Proteins are like building blocks for your bodies muscle mass. While there is plenty of protein in a cheeseburger, there are also plenty of fats. Lean protein gives you plenty of energy and helps with your metabolism, immunity and muscle mass. Some good sources of protein are fish like tuna, chicken breast, eggs, yogurt, and cottage cheese.
Contrary to popular belief, fats are essential for your body to function normally. Just like carbohydrates, fats are essential. There are good fats and bad fats. Healthy fats can be found in fatty fish, nuts, coconuts, and cheese.
A few helpful tips:
Pick brown bread over white
Limit sugars in the second half of the day
Avoid highly processed foods
Minimize junk foods to an occasional indulgence
Stay away from sodas and other sweetened beverages
Your never too young or too old to start eating clean. Everyone from senior citizens to teenagers can eat clean.
Now that you’re aware of what food your body requires, let’s look at quick and simple healthy recipes.
1. Barbecue Chicken Wrapped Asparagus
This quick meal is healthy and easy to prepare. It is low in calories and has a high protein and low-fat content. It also tastes delicious. You will need some chicken Breasts, asparagus, and barbecue sauce. For the seasonings, you can use cumin, paprika, garlic, pepper. You can also grill some bell peppers on the side Cut the chicken breasts into thin pieces, and flatten with a mallet if needed.Season with barbecue sauce and add other seasonings to your taste. Chop the ends of the asparagus and wrap chicken breast around it. Place it on a baking tray and in an oven and set it to 405 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes. Serve with a portion of white boiled rice.
2. Two Ingredient Pancakes
This works well for any meal of the day. It is filling and nutrient rich. All you need are some eggs and bananas. This portion makes about three small pancakes. You will need one whole egg and two egg whites and a large banana. Simply mash the banana in a bowl and pour the eggs in, still until it forms a thick batter. Using a little oil, grease a pan on medium heat. Pour a little batter into the pan into the shape of a circle, flip and serve with a little pancake syrup.
3. Tasty Tuna Wraps
For this healthy meal, you will need a can of tuna, low-fat mayo, onions, a whole wheat tortilla and bell peppers. Mix the tuna with the mayo. Chop the pickled onions and bell peppers. You can swap the vegetables with anything you prefer. Mix and spread on a whole wheat tortilla. You can grill it on a pan if required.
4. Quick Stir Fry
A stir fry packs quite a nutritious punch and takes virtually no preparation. It is also versatile, if you’re a vegetarian stick to vegetables, if not, add some chopped chicken breast. In a pan add a little oil, and fry the chicken pieces. Add vegetables like peas, carrots, onions, mushrooms, bell peppers and season with pepper, salt or garlic powder.
Did you like these four simple recipe ideas? They are easy to make and will be ready in a jiffy. Don’t limit yourself to the above, being creative will help you find plenty of ways to make a quick, healthy meal. What are you waiting for?
Featured photo credit: Shutterstock via shutterstock.com
