Dining out at home: restaurant inspiration #1
12:00 AMDo you love eating out, but loathe the fact that you can’t fully control what is actually in your food, the way it’s prepared and the often-hefty amount of calories your meal contains? Well, worry no more! Here is one of three healthy restaurant-inspired dinners that you can make at home, while controlling all of these factors—and it’s all at a fraction of the cost you would pay at a restaurant.
The Italian Restaurant Meal: Pasta and Meat Sauce
This is one of the most popular dishes and, although it may not be the least-healthy item on the menu, this comfort-food dish is packed with calories and too many carbohydrates, and devoid of vegetables and fiber.
The Italian-inspired Meal: Spaghetti Squash Primavera With Ground Turkey Breast, Tomato Sauce and Parmesan Cheese
Why we love it: It’s the lightened-up, high-fiber and nutrient-rich version of your typical pasta dish, but lacks much of the calories and the loads of carbs you’d get with the same-size portion. Plus, not only is it full of veggies, but the “pasta” itself is a vegetable so it’s packed with additional nutrients, antioxidants and fiber. And for a four-ounce serving the lean ground turkey breast has about one-third the calories and nearly half the fat of ground beef.
How to make it:
Ingredients
1 medium-sized spaghetti squash
2 cloves garlic
½ chopped bell pepper
¼ cup chopped onion
1-1/2 teaspoons olive oil
1 pound lean ground turkey breast
Low-fat, low-sodium tomato sauce
Parmesan cheese
Basil leaves (optional)
Ingredients
1 medium-sized spaghetti squash
2 cloves garlic
½ chopped bell pepper
¼ cup chopped onion
1-1/2 teaspoons olive oil
1 pound lean ground turkey breast
Low-fat, low-sodium tomato sauce
Parmesan cheese
Basil leaves (optional)
Prepare a medium-sized spaghetti squash by first washing it thoroughly, then using a sharp knife make several cuts throughout the squash. The cuts you are making will enable you to put the squash in the microwave without it exploding. Heat the squash in the microwave on high for about 10 to 15 minutes or until the squash is soft to the touch; let it stand for five minutes to finish steaming. When done, cut open "at the equator" (not lengthwise) and remove the seeds and pulp using tongs and an oven mitt because the squash will be hot. Separate the strands with a fork and put on plate just like you would pasta.
While the squash is in the microwave, sauté two cloves of garlic, ½ chopped bell pepper and ¼ cup chopped onion in 1-1/2 teaspoons of olive oil until the onion is browned; add one pound ground turkey breast, stirring it and allowing it to brown. Pour your favorite low-fat, low-sodium tomato sauce into the turkey, garlic and pepper mixture and serve the sauce and ground turkey breast over the spaghetti squash. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and garnish with basil leaves, if desired.
View original post, "Ditch Dining Out: 3 Restaurant-inspired Dinner Ideas That are Actually Good for You" by The American Council on Exercise
Best Teen Diets recommends healthy well balanced eating that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein and low-fat or fat-free dairy. We offer nutrition information for teens, parents and educators that emphasizes the importance of healthy eating for teens. For more information visit www.bestteendiets.org
Best Teen Diets recommends healthy well balanced eating that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein and low-fat or fat-free dairy. We offer nutrition information for teens, parents and educators that emphasizes the importance of healthy eating for teens. For more information visit www.bestteendiets.org
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