Healthy Dinner

If you love to dine out on the weekends but are also trying to lose weight, the answer doesn't have to be depriving yourself of your favorite entree and opting for a naked salad instead. Before you order your main, here are some easy strategies to ensure you're able to enjoy your meal without wasting calories.

Eat something healthy at home: If you're going to an overindulgent dinner, do it the smart way — have a healthy snack before you go so you can enjoy your meal without stuffing yourself because you arrived famished. A cup of yogurt with berries, a handful of nuts, or fruit with a few pieces of cheese are all enough to keep you satisfied so you don't overdo it at dinner.

Nix the bread basket: Some people trying to lose weight would rather not have a mountain of empty carbs staring them in the face before the food arrives. If you're of the "out of sight, out of mind" set, nip temptation in the bud by asking the waiter to not bring the bread basket out (or grab one piece and tell them to take it away).

Drink a glass of water: Water is a great way to sate hunger for a little bit, so if you feel like your grumbling stomach is becoming part of the dinner conversation, ask your waiter to bring you a glass of water as soon as you sit down — you'll be less apt to order every appetizer on the menu if you've filled up on water.

Choose healthy: If you're ordering an appetizer, make sure you pick the best one. Go for brothy soups that fill you up without draining your calorie bank, grilled meats instead of battered and fried, or healthy salads. Making smart decisions at the start of your dinner allows you to have more wiggle room later on (like, say, when dessert time rolls around!).

Quiche is one of my go-to recipes for dinner because they're so easy to make, and since you can add just about anything, you never get bored with the flavor. Tomatoes with fresh picked basil from the garden is one of my absolute favorite treats in the Summer, and that delicious combo was the inspiration behind this fresh tasting, protein-packed quiche.

This recipe is a cinch, really, and it'll be a hit at your next dinner party for sure. Check it out when you read more

Possibly due to its status as an ancient grain, cooking quinoa can seem a bit intimidating. But after a thorough rinse, it's a cinch to cook and I have an easy, delicious recipe for you to try. Once you start cooking with quinoa, I have a feeling you'll be making it all the time. Low in both saturated fat and cholesterol, this recipe can be enjoyed as a main or side dish, and it's jam-packed with fiber and protein. This is the pared-down version of the dish, made with carrots and black beans, but you can experiment by adding other veggies like broccoli and peppers, or by using kidney or adzuki beans instead.

original recipe

Recipe For Carrot Quinoa With Beans

Ingredients

1 cup quinoa, rinsed
1 bouillon cube
1 cup raw carrots, sliced
15-ounce can of black beans, rinsed

Directions

1. Place the quinoa and two cups of water in a covered pot on high heat. Once it starts boiling, add the bouillon cube, keep covered, and lower heat to simmer.
2. After 10 minutes, add the raw carrots and cover the pot. Cook for another two to five minutes, or until the germ separates from the seed (you'll see little half-circle tails).
3. Remove from heat, stir in the black beans, and enjoy warm or cold.

Makes four servings.

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How do you cook your quinoa? Share your whole grain recipe in the Healthy Recipe Group. We're always looking for healthy new recipes try.

It's BBQ time and if you're like me, you love a good veggie burger. Since most of the ones you find in the freezer section tend to be pretty flavorless, I'm going to share with you this recipe that will knock your socks off. Seriously, this is one of the best veggie burgers I've ever had. It's a recipe created by an old friend, and now you can try it too.

These burgers are a cinch to make. Just whip up the mixture, heat up the patties, and they're great to eat right away, but you can also freeze them to heat up for later. To see the recipe read more

In the Winter I crave warm, filling foods like soups and casseroles, and in the Summer, my taste buds long for recipes made with fresh veggies. In the Spring, I'm all about dishes that combine the two, and here's one made with quinoa, tofu, and three of my favorite veggies. It's seasoned with cumin, fresh ginger, and dried apricots, so it has a sweet and savory flavor.

When I figured out the nutritional info, I was blown away by how low in calories and high in protein this tasty dish is. To see this simple recipe that will take about 30 minutes to prepare, read more