Get Fit Quick Tip:

Weekly Meal Prep

Save time and energy by completing weekly meal prep. Choose one day each week to shop, chop, wash, prepare and cook. Healthy meals for the whole family will be at your disposal every day of the week:

Chop all veggies. Place in baggies so they are ready to go.

Wash produce. Prepare and clean produce so everyone in the family can simply grab and go!

Wash herbs. Wrap in paper towel, place in baggies and store in the fridge.

Bulk cook meats for the week. Portion out meat and store in air tight containers. All that’s needed is to heat it up.

Bulk cook entree’s to create left-overs. Cook casseroles, chili, soups and stews with a plan for left-overs. Refreshing a meal with a creative side dish or combination is a great way to minimize cooking during the week.

Healthy Meals: Week at a Glance

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Free of dairy products, wheat, yeast, corn, sugar, eggs, soy, nuts, and gluten.

2 pieces boneless, skinless, chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces
1 onion, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
1 cup carrots, chopped
1/2 red pepper, chopped
olive oil

Sauce:
1 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp arrowroot powder
1/4 cup water
1 tbsp tomato paste

In a frying pan with enough oil to cover the bottom of pan, cook chicken over low to medium heat, stirring frequently for approximately 10 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.  Saute onions for a few minutes in pan with a little more oil or some water. Add in celery, carrots and peppers and water and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes. Add in the chicken pieces. In a separate bowl mix sauce ingredients together and pour over chicken and vegetables and let simmer for a few minutes so sauce will thicken. Serve over rice and with a side salad or steamed vegetables.

Recipe by Shirley Plant- Nutritionist/ Dietary Consultant
Author of Finally… Food I Can Eat, a dietary guide and cookbook for people with food allergies, and those looking for healthy, tasty recipes. Contact Shirley for assistance with menu planning and for healthy recipes everyone loves!
info@deliciousalternatives.com. Follow her on Twitter @sherrecipes.

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe by Shirley Plant

With that in the forefront of our minds, here are a few one-dish wonders that will satisfy you and your healthy family:

Healthy Baked Chicken Marsala

Ingredients

No-stick cooking spray
4 chicken breasts
1/4 c white cooking wine
1/4 c marsala cooking wine
1 medium shallot, finely chopped
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
1 sprig fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon sea salt

Directions

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2.  Spray casserole dish with no-stick.
3.  Pour half the white and marsala wine in the casserole dish.
4.  Sprinkle half the onion, garlic, rosemary, and salt on top of wine.
5.  Place chicken breast on top.
6.  Pour the remainder of the white and marsala wine over top of
chicken.
7.  Sprinkle the remainder of the onion, garlic, rosemary, and salt on
chicken.
8.  Bake 20-25 min. or until internal temp of chicken reaches 165 degrees F.

*If you have time, allow the chicken to marinate in a Ziploc bag with all the ingredients prior to baking.

Waist Slimming Quinoa Salad

Ingredients

3 cups Quinoa, cooked
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
1/2 c seedless cucumber, diced
1 avocado, diced
1 mango, diced
1/3 c cilantro, finely chopped
1/4 cup red onion, chopped
1 lemon, juiced
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Directions

Combine all ingredients. Serve warm or cold.

~Enjoy!

Helen Agresti is a Registered Dietitian with Professional Nutrition Consulting, LLC.  She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and 5 children.  For more Nutrition advice and healthy recipes follow her on twitter @HelenAgresti and on the web www.pronutritionconsulting.com

One-Dish Wonders! By Helen Agresti, R.D.