Why healthy dinner recipes instead of frozen or take out dinners?

Well for starters, healthy dinner recipes will never add pounds of excess fat to your body. Sure you have to shop and cook, but your waistline and pocket book will love your new lifestyle.

Then there’s the mental benefit of relaxing at home with a healthy home cooked meal at the end of the day. Don’t under estimate the value of this.

But, in today's “I just don’t have the time” rushed society, healthy dinner recipes are getting pushed aside for the convenience of drive-thru or take out. And along with that convenience comes; high fat food loaded with salt, and lacking in fruits and vegetables.

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So to help you prepare healthy dinner recipes and stay away from convenience food, here’s some tips for a healthier lifestyle.

PLANNING TIP: Decide on your healthy dinner recipes a week in advance, One of the easiest ways to get healthy meals on the table is to plan for them. Check out my recipes when you get a chance, and keep coming back, I'm always adding new ones.

SHOPPING TIP: Shop smart. Have your pantry and refrigerator filled with the items you need to create a healthy dinner (you’ll be less tempted to stop on the way home for convenience foods).

Go for organic, fresh, whole fruits and vegetables when possible. Skip the frozen foods section of the market, especially the frozen or boxed dinners.

COOKING TIP: With all healthy dinner recipes, cook vegetables until crisp tender in waterless cookware or steam with a good quality stainless steel steamer. Do not boil your vegetables. You lose the most nutrients when you boil them.

Braise your meats in water or stock or bake in a covered glass baking dish at 350 degrees F. Use good quality cookware, preferably surgical stainless steel.

If you have a microwave, think about getting rid of it. Because of all the methods of cooking, micro waving results in the greatest loss of nutrients from your food. Bad mojo.

MENU TIP: Try going vegetarian 2-3 times a week. Not every healthy dinner recipe needs to include meat. Besides, working in a vegetable-based diet doesn't mean sacrificing taste (check out my recipes). You can cut fat and calories with a veggie dinner while adding protein and fiber.

PORTION TIP: Watch portion sizes. To help with this serve meals on small salad plates rather than large dinner plates. Eat slowly, take small bites, drink water…relax.

DESSERT TIP: Skip the heavy desserts (except on special occasions). Instead choose fresh fruit salads or frozen yogurts and make them the norm.

But I can hear you thinking "I don't want to cook every night."
--------So here’s 10 tips on eating a healthy dinner out.--------

1. Watch out for menu items labeled deep-fried, pan-fried, basted, batter-dipped, breaded, creamy, crispy. These dishes are usually high in calories, unhealthy fats and sodium.

2. Look for options with more vegetables and choose leaner meats. If you’re having a hamburger, try a veggie burger or tuna burger and toss the buns. Get the ketchup, mustard or mayo on the side and add it yourself, go easy.

3. Stick with water with your meal. It’s the miracle liquid, drink it like your life depended on it. Soda (diet or not) is not your friend and will just end up around your waist or on your behind.

4. Order your meal your way. Have your waiter to serve your vegetables and main dishes without the sauces. Have olive oil and vinegar for your salads and if your food is fried or cooked in oil or butter, ask to have it broiled or steamed.

Can’t hurt to ask and will save you massive calories.

5. Only eat half your meal. In most restaurants today a single serving provides enough for two meals. So take half home, split the meal with someone, or give it to a homeless guy. Just don’t eat the whole darn thing.

6. Lose the salt. Restaurant food tends to be very high in sodium (a major contributor to high blood pressure) so just leave it in the shaker, you heart will thank you with every beat.

7. Stay away from “ all you can eat buffets” even the so called healthy ones. You’ll just over eat. It’s human nature to go for it and that will just ruin your calorie count for the day.

But, if you do go, at least stick with the veggies and don’t go back for seconds.

8. Take your time eating. It takes a while for our bodies to register that we have eaten. Slow down, you won’t over eat, you’ll be more relaxed and you’ll digest your food better.

9. Look at the whole day. If you’re celebrating, or at your favorite restaurant for dinner and want to splurge, just make sure your earlier meals were a lot less calories.

10. Moderation and keeping a grip on the calories consumed through out the day is key. So plan your meals through out the day to insure this, then relax and enjoy your food.

Whether you’re cooking healthy dinner recipes at home or going out, do it the smart way, think healthy food, think healthy dinner recipes. Both your scale and wallet will thank you.

Smiles…Gigi

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