Tag Archives: lunch

Pineapple and Mango Salsa

Pineapple and Mango Salsahealth, wellness, diet, dietitian, nutrition, nutritionist, michelle moreau, chef, healthy kitchen, healthcare, medical insurance, Portsmouth, NH, seacoast, celiac, cardiac, diabetes, diet, weight loss, recipe, counseling, healthcare, gluten free,, salsa, pineapple, mango, vegetarian, vegan, dairy free, seafood

This salsa is a great accompaniment to grilled foods, including chicken, fish and tofu. Grilled bananas taste great with it too.

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup       Pineapple, diced
1 cup       Cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 cup       Mango, diced
1/3 cup    Bell pepper, orange, diced
2 medium Scallions, thinly sliced
1/8 cup    Cilantro, chopped
juice of 1 lime
1 teaspoon Tamari, gluten-free, low-sodium
1 medium   Jalapeno chile, minced

PREPARATION:
Put all ingredients into a medium sized bowl and toss to combine. Refrigerate for at least an hour to let flavors blend.

Makes 3.5 cups

health, wellness, diet, dietitian, nutrition, nutritionist, michelle moreau, chef, healthy kitchen, healthcare, medical insurance, Portsmouth, NH, seacoast, celiac, cardiac, diabetes, diet, weight loss, recipe, counseling, healthcare, gluten free, multi fruit, rainbow, salsa, seafood
Pictured: Grilled Mahi Mahi & Banana with Pineapple Mango Salsa, Sweet Mash, Rice


What is a serving size?

What exactly is a serving size?

How much is just right?  Everyone has heard by now that, whether dining out or eating at home, the average American’s plate is often filled with over-sized portions. But what exactly is a proper serving size? Here is a handy, quick guide comparing  single-sized  food portions to everyday items:

3 ounces of poultry, beef or fish ~ a deck of cards, or a checkbook

2 tablespoons peanut butter ~ a golf ball

an ounce of nuts ~ about a handful

1 cup cereal ~ a baseball

1 cup pasta ~ a tennis ball

1 dinner roll ~ a yo-yo

1 baked potato ~ a computer mouse

1 cup green salad ~ 1 baseball

1 serving of fruit (1/2 cup) ~1/2 a baseball, or a standard ice cream scoop

1 serving of vegetables (1/2 cup) ~ 1/2 a baseball, or a standard ice cream scoop

1 ounce cheese ~ a pair of dice

1 teaspoon butter ~ 1 “Scrabble” game tile

Another way to roughly estimate portion sizes is by using your hand (of course, make adjustments accordingly if you are way above or below average-sized!):

About one cup~ your fist

About 1 ounce meat or cheese~ your thumb

About 1 tablespoon ~ your thumb tip

About 1 teaspoon~ your fingertip

Make sure to take the “What to Eat: Personalized” quiz to learn exactly how many servings from each food group (Meats and Beans, Grains, Fruits, Vegetables, and Dairy) is right for you.  Knowledge is power.

Happy healthy eating!


4-3-2-1 Scallop Cheviche

4-3-2-1 Scallop Cheviche

Simple to make – Pretty to look at – Delightful to eat!

INGREDIENTS:

4 Lemons, juiced

3 Oranges, juiced

2 Limes, juiced

1 Blood Orange, peeled, sliced into thin wedges*

1.5 pounds Scallops, cleaned, sliced into thin, round discs

1/2 cup Yellow Pepper, diced

1/2 cup Orange pepper, diced

1/2 cup Red onion, diced

1/2 cup Cilantro, chopped

1/2 tsp Salt

1/4 tsp White pepper

3 small Chilies, seeded, chopped

1 small chili, chopped (seeds left in)

PREPARATION:

In a large, non-reactive bowl, gently toss ingredients to mix. Cover and refrigerate for 2-4 hours. Serve cold over a bed of greens.

For a spicier Cheviche, leave in more seeds from the chilies

Serves 6-10

*If blood oranges are unavailable, you can substitute with a regular orange or a tangelo


Veggie Quiche with Potato Crust

Veggie Quiche with Potato Crust

Veggie Quiche with Potato Crust

This dish is great for any brunch or lunch; serve it alongside a small salad of mixed greens. For a variation, substitute whatever veggies you enjoy in place of any or all of the ones suggested. It’s a great way to utilize any leftovers at the end of a week.

INGREDIENTS:

1/4 cup Sun-dried tomatoes

1/3 cup Water, warm

2 tsp Olive oil

1/2 medium Onion, peeled and chopped

1 clove Garlic, peeled and chopped

1 cup Asparagus, trimmed and chopped

1 cup Mushrooms, stems removed and sliced

1/2 cup Red Bell Pepper, seeded and minced

3/4 cup Artichoke hearts, sliced in eighths

1/8 cup Parsley, fresh, chopped

1 tb Basil, fresh, chopped

1/4 tsp Nutmeg, fresh grated

1/4 tsp Sea salt

1/8 tsp White pepper

1/8 tsp Chili flakes

2 medium Potatoes, red, washed and sliced very thin

1/3 cup Emmental Cheese, fresh grated

3 each Eggs, whole, large

5 each Eggs, large, whites only

1/2 cup Sour Cream, low-fat, organic

1 large Tomato, seeded and sliced thin

2 tb Asiago cheese, fresh grated

non-stick spray

PREPARATION:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Pour water over the sun-dried tomatoes until fully covered, and allow to soak for about 30 minutes, or until they become soft and plump. Strain liquid off , reserving a 1/4 cup of the liquid and discard the rest. Coarsely chop the tomato.

Heat olive oil in a large saute pan. Add onions and garlic and saute on medium heat until onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add asparagus, mushrooms, red pepper, artichoke hearts, parsley, basil, nutmeg, salt, chili flakes and white pepper and cook for another 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

Spray a 9-inch pie pan lightly with non-stick spray. Lay the potato slices on the bottom and sides of the pan, making sure to overlap them slightly and cover pan completely.

In a large bowl whisk together the whole eggs, egg whites  and water to combine.  Add the sun-dried tomatoes, Emmental cheese, sour cream, and whisk another 30 seconds.  Add the  sauteed vegetables and mix until everything is fully coated with the liquid egg mixture; pour into pie pan on top of arranged potato slices. Top quiche with the tomato slices; sprinkle tomato slices with the asiago cheese.

Bake quiche for one hour, or until very firm. Cover the top with aluminum foil after about 45 minutes, or once the top is browned. Rest quiche 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

YIELD: 8 SERVINGS


Southwest Chicken

So much flavor, you won’t mind a bit that it’s also lower in fat and calories than many other marinated chicken recipes.

Serve with Fresh Tomato Salsa and Traditional Guacamole or Fruity Guacamole. Fabulous with a small side salad. For a bigger meal, serve also with Spanish Rice.

INGREDIENTS:
1/3 cup Lime juice
1/8 cup Tamari (soy) sauce, low sodium, gluten-free
1/4 cup Wine, white
1 taplespoon Olive oil
1/2 teaspoon Chili powder
1/2 teaspoon Cumin, ground
1/2 teaspoon Coriander, ground
3 cloves Garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Honey
1/3 teaspoon Thyme, dried (or 1 tsp fresh, minced)
1/8 cup Cilantro, fresh, minced
6 each Chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, 4-5 ounces each

PREPARATION:
Mix lime juice, Tamari, olive oil, chili powder, cumin, coriander, garlic, honey, wine and thyme well in a large bowl. Put chicken breasts in shallow pan with marinade mix and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Reserve marinade.

Heat grill. Pour reserved marinade into small saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer a few minutes to reduce slightly and make a sauce. Grill chicken breasts, occasionally basting with some of the sauce, until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.

Add cilantro to sauce. Serve each breast with a teaspoon or two of the sauce.

Serves 6