You Can Never Have Enough Chicken Recipes

Asian Chicken Salad
Everyone loves a good salad! This recipe makes a good lunch or main dish. This is a salad with great texture and a tasty sweet Asian-style dressing. The kids will love it too!
3 chicken breast halves (cooked and cut into 1/4 strips)

1 head lettuce, chopped
1 cup fresh spinach greens
1/2 cup water chestnuts, cooked **See note
1 cup bean sprouts
2 tbsp brown sugar
3 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 slice of lime

In a small bowl mix the soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, and a squeeze of the lime and mix well. This will be used for a light dressing. Next combine the lettuce, spinach greens, water chestnuts, bean sprouts, and chicken breasts pieces in a large bowl. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Pour the dressing, toss the salad, and serve.

**The best way to cook the water chestnuts is to boil for around 20 minutes before adding them to the salad.

Louisiana Chicken Gumbo
1/4 cup Flour
1 tsp Salt
1 3 lb chicken cut into 8 pieces
1/4 cup Vegetable oil
1 1/2 cup Chopped onion
1 cup Chopped celery
1 cup Chopped green onion
3 Cloves garlic; mashed
1 quart Chicken broth
2 cup Canned whole tomatoes in juice; undrained, crushed
1 Bay leaf
1 tsp TABASCO pepper sauce
1 10 oz package frozen; whole okra
3 cup Cooked rice; divided

Combine flour and salt in plastic or paper bag; dredge chicken pieces in flour mixture to coat.
In large heavy Dutch oven or saucepot, heat oil; brown chicken on all sides, remove and reserve. Add onion, celery, onion and garlic; saut, 5 minutes, stirring often.

Return chicken to pot. Stir in chicken broth, tomatoes in juice, bay leaf and Tabasco pepper sauce. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 45 minutes. Add okra; cook 10 minutes longer.
Serve each portion in bowl topped with 1/2 cup cooked rice.

Chicken Souvlaki
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into pieces
4 pieces flat bread or pitas
2 tomatoes, cut into wedges
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
3/4 cup crumbled Feta
1/4 cup kalamata olives, pitted
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 1/2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Tzatziki Sauce
Heat oven to 200° F. Wrap the bread in foil and place in oven.

In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes, onion, Feta, and olives.

In a large bowl, combine the oregano, thyme, pepper, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the vinegar, and the lemon juice. Slowly add 4 tablespoons of the oil in a steady stream, whisking constantly until incorporated. Pour 2 1/2 tablespoons of the vinaigrette over the tomato mixture, toss, and set aside. Add the chicken to the remaining vinaigrette, toss, and set aside.

Heat the remaining oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Transfer the chicken but not the liquid to the skillet and heat, turning occasionally, until cooked through, about 5 minutes.

Spread the bread with some of the Tzatziki (yogurt sauce) and top with the chicken. Add the tomato salad and fold.
 
Makes 4 servings

Chicken Fingers with Honey Sauce
I made this recipe last week for dinner and it was a hit! Its also a great healthy alternative to fried chicken.

12 ounces boneless, chicken breasts
2 beaten egg whites
1 tablespoon honey
2 cups cornflakes, crushed
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 cup honey
4 tsp mustard or dijon mustard
1/4 tsp garlic powder
4 Servings :: 15 mins prep. :: 11 mins baking

1. Rinse chicken; pat dry. Cut into strips about 3 inches long and 3/4 inch wide.

2. In a small mixing bowl combine the egg whites and the 1 tablespoon honey. In a shallow bowl combine the cornflake crumbs and pepper. Dip chicken strips into the egg white mixture, then roll in the crumb mixture to coat.

3. Place in a single layer on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake chicken in a 450 degree oven for 11 to 13 minutes or until fully cooked.

4. For the sauce, in a small bowl stir together the 1/4 cup honey, mustard, and garlic powder.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Thomas_Andrew/47367

Easy Chicken Recipes For Lunch

I definitely love chicken and I know many people love it too. We always eat it but we are tired of eating the same old chicken recipes. A perfect example would be fried chicken. It is so common, that is why it is a great idea to give it a twist instead of just frying it. Let us explore some easy chicken recipes.

Chicken teriyaki
It is a Japanese inspired dish that is very easy to prepare. All you have to do is marinate the chicken with salt, pepper, soy sauce, vinegar and sugar for 30 minutes or up to overnight. After, place it in a pan or skillet with olive oil and bring it to a boil. Cook for another 10-15 minutes or until the chicken is tender. Add teriyaki sauce and sprinkle with sesame seeds (optional) to improve the flavor. Let it stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Chicken with parmesan cheese and mayo
All you need for this recipe is the main ingredients: chicken, mayonnaise and parmesan cheese (You may add other ingredients if desired). First, preheat the oven to 350F. Mix the mayonnaise and Parmesan cheese in a small bowl. Then, rub the chicken with the mayonnaise mixture and place the chicken in a greased oven proof dish. Bake it for 15 minutes or until it is begins to brown.

Pineapple chicken
Cut the chicken as desired and sauté it in onions and garlic until the chicken starts to brown. Add enough pineapple juice (with pineapple chunks if you want) to make the chicken tender. Season with it salt Let it simmer for another 5-8 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Serve warm with rice.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/David_Jhones/918626

Food Pyramid Diet for Weight Loss

The food pyramid is a nutritional guide made by the United States Department of Agriculture that suggests just how much of a particular kind of food you should take in a day for you to remain healthy. However, the food pyramid received a lot of criticism like not being able to differentiate between whole grains and refined grains, between unsaturated fats and saturated fasts, as well as not emphasizing enough on weight control and exercise. This prompted the Harvard School of Public Health to develop the healthy eating pyramid. The healthy eating pyramid is just like the old food pyramid in that it also suggests how much of a particular food you should take in a day but it intends to provide a better guide compared to the old food pyramid. The old food pyramid also came under fire because it was not created by the Department of Health and Human Services but by the Department of Agriculture, alleged to have been influenced by the meat, dairy, and agriculture industries.

Food Pyramid Diet for Weight Loss
The food pyramid diet for weight loss functions under the same principles as the food pyramid and the healthy eating pyramid except with a few modifications. Because it is intended for weight loss, the food pyramid diet for weight loss is structured in such a way so you take in less calories. Pegged at 1200 calories, it reduces the amount of servings to what is minimally required for you to stay in good health. It is also highly advised that while under the food pyramid diet for weight loss, you should take vitamin supplements to ensure that you are getting all the nutrients you need for the day.

The Weight Loss Pyramid
The food pyramid diet for weight loss uses the weight loss pyramid. The weight loss pyramid has, from bottom going up, grains at the bottom level, fruits and vegetables on the next level, meat and dairy on the next, and fats at the top. It suggests you should only eat four ounces (four servings) of grains (preferably whole grains), two servings of fruit, three servings of vegetables, three ounces (three servings) of meat, three cups (three servings) of dairy (low-fat, fat-free), and 17 grams of fats in a day.

Grains
Serving sizes for food under grains count as one ounce is equivalent to one serving. One serving can include: half a cup of cooked rice, cereal, or pasta, an ounce of dry rice or pasta, a slice of bread, a small-sized muffin, or a cup of flake cereals, ready-to-eat.

Fruits
A serving of fruit can be a cup of chopped cooked or raw fruit, as well as a cup of fruit juice.
Vegetables
Servings for vegetables are determined as one serving is equivalent to: a cup of chopped cooked or raw vegetables, a cup of vegetable juice, or two cups of green leafy salads.

Meat
The food pyramid diet for weight loss counts a serving of meat to be an ounce each. The meat group categorizes meat, fish, poultry, beans, nuts, and eggs together. A serving can be: an ounce of lean meat, fish or poultry, an egg, a quarter cup of cooked tofu or dry beans, a tablespoon of peanut butter, or half an ounce of seeds of nuts.

Dairy
The dairy group counts these food portions as a serving each: a cup of fat-free yogurt or milk, 1.5 ounces of natural cheeses, or 2 ounces of processed cheeses.

Fats
The food pyramid diet for weight loss states that fats count for all amounts added to your food during actual processing, meal preparations, or while eating. Take note that you should maintain your intake of total fats between 20% to 35% of your total calories for the day, and most should be sourced from monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats like nuts, vegetable oils, and oily fishes.

Discipline
To make the food pyramid diet for weight loss work, you really need to put in the time and effort to follow the instructions for each serving. No cheating! You might have a hard time adjusting at first but eventually, you'll find that each serving is sufficient. Not only does it make you lose weight, but it also helps train you to eat healthier.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Phillip_England/100285

Super Foods, Vitamins, Cravings and Weight Loss

Nutrient Deficiencies Can Cause Food Cravings
We recommend certain foundational vitamins and nutritional supplements as an addition to most weight loss programs for several reasons. First, many people find that adding vitamins like the super food trio or some type of multiple vitamin and mineral help to reduce their cravings. This may be because their bodies are searching for certain missing nutrients, and this may cause you to be hungry, trying to get those nutrients for your body. This could explain some cravings for sugar for example (B vitamins and/or magnesium) or chocolate (magnesium). In addition, certain key minerals are known to help reduce sugar cravings if you correct a deficiency, such as with chromium or vanadium.

Nutrient Deficiencies Can Cause Metabolism Problems
Second, since many of us have been deficient in certain vitamins, minerals or other nutrients from years, or even decades, of eating refined foods, supplements can really help us to build back up our nutrient reserves. This will supply all sorts of nutrients that will help us to use and metabolize our food properly, such as many of the B vitamins, the C complex vitamins and minerals like chromium.

Most of Our Food Is Missing Nutrients
Third, much of our food, even when organic or whole foods are consumed, is grown in mineral-deficient soils, and transported a long distance before it gets to the store. It may have easily been picked a week before you even buy it! This means that even if you are eating a whole food, unrefined diet, your foods are in all likelihood missing minerals, and also vitamins, especially antioxidants, that are necessary to health & vitality. In addition, most of us are not eating a 100 percent whole food diet, and every time you eat some packaged foods or white flour or sugar, you are missing nutrients. When foods you consume are stripped of their vitamins and minerals, you become deficient even faster, as your body needs some of those very same nutrients to digest the food!

Chemicals in Our Environment Increase Our Body's Demand for Nutrients
In addition, our world today is full of chemicals that create free radicals. In order for our bodies to deal with these free radicals as well as to detoxify the chemicals, we use up nutrients, especially vitamins and minerals and amino acids. So even if you eat 100 percent organic foods (and very few of us do), have a good water filter and maybe even an air filter to purify the air in your home, you will still be exposed to chemicals. Even if your house is 100 percent green and non-toxic, (and most of our homes are far from it!), most of us regularly spend time outside and/or shopping and/or at a place of employment that exposes you to chemicals. In fact, our generation is exposed to far more chemicals than ever before, and far more than are naturally found in our environment. This is why we need more antioxidants and other vitamins and nutrients to help your body dispose of these toxins so you don't get sick.

Are Synthetic Vitamins the Answer?
If you are feeding your body all the nutrients it needs, often various food cravings will go away and then of course it will be much easier to lose weight. Many people think they can address the vitamin and mineral deficiencies with synthetic nutritional supplements. In fact, did you know that most of the vitamins sold today, even in health food stores, are synthetic? Synthetic vitamins may sometimes serve their purpose in increasing your intake of certain nutrients, however, studies have shown that the body can more easily assimilate vitamins and minerals that occur naturally in foods. Also, consuming nutrients in isolation can sometimes make you more deficient in other nutrients over the long run. This is why I only recommend whole food supplements over the long term, not synthetic vitamins and minerals. So look for whole food supplements and super foods from living sources, like coral calcium, greens and more.

Copyright 2008 Karen Pijuan. This article may be copied only in its entirety and only if all links, including those in the resource box or the about-the-author section, remain intact.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Karen_Pijuan/238311

Weight Loss and Cutting Out Processed Foods

Processed foods are everywhere. Adam Smith covered this in economics with the division of labour, which is what we've taken to extremes nowadays. Which includes the way our food is made and prepared.

Some of our food is produced fairly close to the way our ancestors would have made it, albeit in larger quantities. Bread - apart from some of the extra additives - has been made roughly the same way since Roman times, probably earlier. But even then, the varieties of flour have changed to allow more intensive farming.

But that's splitting hairs.
The real issue is food that our ancestors wouldn't recognise. Which means that our bodies aren't adapted to it either.

The more processed our food is, the more difficulty we have in digesting it. Which can lead to knock on effects on our weight.

It's not easy to escape all processing but it is possible to reduce it quite a bit.

The quickest way to ensure that your food is to do as much of your own cooking as possible.
Years ago, you'd have either churned your own butter or bought it from someone who did.

No-one would have dreamed of bubbling hydrogen through vegetable fat and throwing in some nickel to help the process. But that's a very quick explanation of how margarine is made. It's originally white and has yellow dye added to make it appear more appetising.

As a general rule, if you can't pronounce some of the ingredients of your food or describe how they're made, it's time to think long and hard about whether you should be eating that particular thing.
Of course, the ingredients lists are often in small print and the production process is likely only found by digging through somewhere like Wikipedia.

But the end result is the same: food that looks and tastes like food but that is actually something that's been carefully constructed in a laboratory and then a factory that only looks like a kitchen when it's domesticated for a television advert.

Our bodies cope with this. But not always well, which is why weight loss is usually easier when you keep to mainly natural foods that have had as little processing as possible.

The easiest way to check this for yourself is to forgo as much processed food as possible for the next few weeks and see how you feel.

If you're like most people, you'll feel better. Maybe slightly trimmer. Maybe a slightly lower blood pressure. And almost certainly more energy.

Which is the body's way of telling us "do more of this!"
The other benefit is that you'll probably eat less.

Even something as innocent looking as fruit juice is processed.
You'll happily quaff a glass or two of orange juice.

But you'd look at me as though I was a madman if I suggested that you ate 4 or 8 oranges right now instead of those one or two glasses of juice.

And even the most ardent sugar addict (or sweet toothed child) would be unlikely to add 12 teaspoons of sugar to a cup of tea or coffee. But that's roughly what you get in a can of fizzy pop.
So do your waistline a favour and reduce your intake of processed foods.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Trevor_Dumbleton/3657

7 Great Weight Loss Foods to Lose Weight Easily

Losing weight doesn't have to constantly leave you feeling hungry; there are some fantastic weight loss foods that believe it or not will fill you up. First, here are 3 tips to help keep the weight down:

- Don't skip breakfast! Most people trying to lose weight skip breakfast to keep their calories down. This
will backfire! Eating breakfast gets your metabolism up and going so you burn more calories throughout the day.

- Do what you can when you can. If you are watching TV and a commercial comes on, do some sit-ups or if you're hungry, grab some fruit.

- Avoid foods that have "partially hydrogenated" on the label, they contain trans fats.

Keep these tips in mind, and even if you can't pick the foods you should you'll still be on track.

Now, here are ten great weight loss foods. They all have a low Glycemic index, which means that your body processes them slowly and you'll feel full longer. It's very hard to keep eating when you feel full!

1) Asparagus - just boil some asparagus spears and shock in ice water, then cut into 1 inch pieces and drizzle with balsamic vinegar for a healthy snack

2) Cucumber - cut into 2 inch sticks and dip into yogurt if you're in a sweet mood

3) Low-fat Yogurt - keep some on hand for whenever you're in a snacking mood

4) Tomatoes - cherry tomatoes are a fantastic healthy snack if you're on the go, and they keep well

5) Cherries - not the canned kind! Fresh cherries! Yes, I know they're expensive, but they're very healthy, and spitting the pits can be good fun

6) Apples - You knew it was going to be on here somewhere. If you have to dip it in something, dip in honey. It'll be just as sweet but with way fewer calories

7) Canned Baked beans - for a very filling meal, get some turkey sausage to mix it. It'll have plenty of protein with much less fat than hot dogs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Sean_Dealan/415780

3 Super Fat Burning Weight Loss Foods

There are certain foods that can help encourage the process of losing weight. Whilst some dieters believe this strategy to by a myth, others are true believers of the following foods.

First on the list is Grapefruit. This is definitely not my food or fruit of choice. But nonetheless it has more health and fat burning benefits than some of us realize. Grapefruit is a super fat burning weight loss food as proven by recent studies. A group of contenders participated in a trial whereby they consumed a glass of grapefruit juice with each meal. No changes were made to their overall diet yet at the end of a three month period most of the them had lost an amazing 10 pounds. Imagine the results if you were to adopt a healthy eating plan.

Next on the list of super fat burning weight loss foods is celery. Yep plain old celery. It is actually apart of the foods that belong to the negative calorie group. These are typically foods that require more calories to consume than the number of calories that the food item actually contains. Celery has a calming effect on the body and it is used in aromatherapy. It is also believed to have cleansing properties to rid the body of toxins. Celery juice has been widely used as an appetite suppressant. The dieter can quite safely consume a glass of celery juice before each meal.

Finally on the list is the good old sour as dirty socks - "The Lemon". Again not one of my favorites but it does have weight loss benefits. Consuming warm lemon juice in the morning helps the body to rid itself of excess toxins. As with grapefruit and celery, Lemon has been around for many centuries as a super fat burning food. I guess one of the most popular reason for drinking lemon juice is that it helps to rejuvenate your skin from the inside out. Lemon or lemon juice can be consumed at any time of the day.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Sonja_Sinclair/12617

Fat Weight Loss Diets - Little Known Foods That Fight Fat When You Eat More

Let's thrash the confusion before doing anything else. Fat weight loss diets are not your regular weight loss foods. The more you eat them, the more are you stocked up to fight fat. Conversely, you can lose more fat than eating nothing. Although they are a tough choice, I would say "they make the corner stone to start a new lean, healthy life."

How do Fat Loss Diets Work and Keep the Promise
For one, the fat weight loss diets have less of nutritious values but more and more of fat burning matter. Low on calories, with next to nil ratios of fat & carbohydrates content and a bit of protein is the primary composition of these diets. Instead, they contain very high water percentage, carbohydrates calculatedly sufficient to prevent fatigue, and protein to feed your brain. This is the exact opposite of the normal or weight loss diet as we know. As a result, gradually this diet causes you to eat less and less as it increases the proportion of water in the food you eat.

Sometimes, this diet is marketed as negative calorie diet projecting it to be capable of boosting calorie burning process during digestion, thus increasing the overall energy spent per day. Interestingly, the negative calorie foods are nothing but the same fat weight loss diets used in volumetric diets (higher water volume, get full quick and eat less). Actually this is the fat loss diet that I am recommending. Studies show that eating two to three servings of low-fat dairy products on a daily basis, such as cottage cheese and yogurt, not only lose fat quick but also keep it at bay longer and continue to lose weight in the entire body and specifically in the mid section unlike those who are not using the water volume diets. So, there you are: eat eggs, cucumber, cabbage and the like.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Alevoor_Rajagopal/14082

Raw Food Weight Loss - How to Easily Lose 7 Pounds This Week

Raw food weight loss refers to eating ONLY raw vegetables, fruits, sprouted seeds and grains, nuts, herbs and spices - in a big diversity of salads, juices and shakes, or smoothies.

How would you feel to easily drop 7 pounds in a short week? Without experiencing food cravings, mood swings, hunger pangs or low energy.

How is this possible? Read on.
The Raw Food Weight Loss Diet works mainly because eating mostly vegetables and fruits create an alkaline body. This may be a new idea to you, but one of the biggest causes you struggle with extra weight is that your body is acidic - due to a big part of your diet consisting of cooked and processed foods.

Believe it or not, as soon as you change your body's pH from acid to alkaline, you start to lose weight, almost effortlessly. Are you feeling sluggish and sleepy in the middle of the day - on top of being frustrated with your extra weight? Consider "going raw" - you will drop pounds and get revved-up in no time.
But before, you might want to know the... Benefits of the Raw Food Weight Loss Diet:

• your metabolism is greatly accelerated naturally, through an increased enzyme production in your body
• you feel full longer due to the rich fiber content
• you have more energy from the natural vitamins and minerals
• you get well-hydrated - this accelerates all fat-burning processes in your body
• you can eat as much as you want, enjoying the convenience of not having to measure food nor count calories
• you save time, as raw foods' preparation time is less than cooking food

More than anything else you've ever experienced, the raw food diet is the best natural whole body cleanse during which you lose a great amount of fat as a result of eliminating from your body the toxins stored in your fat cells.
Here are... 10 more Reasons to Go on the Raw Food Weight Loss Diet
Besides helping you lose weight big time, raw foods make you:

1. feel energized
2. lower cholesterol
3. stabilize blood sugar
4. get clear, radiant skin
5. eliminate food cravings
6. eliminate flues and colds
7. normalize blood pressure
8. look and feel 10 years younger
9. feel rested and refreshed with less sleep
10. eliminate muscle spasms, joint aches and pains

You'll be amazed at how much weight you lose easily and how good you feel when you switch to simple raw food recipes! So much so that - after you lose all your extra weight - you might even decide to become a "raw foodist", incorporating raw animal products like, cheese, fish, eggs, even meat - aged, cold smoked, carpaccio, steak tartare, or filet Americain.

You should also know that the much-talked about, highly controversial Negative Calorie diet is also based on the remarkable raw food weight loss effect.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Alex_Ragner/175432

Two Easy Chicken Recipes You Can Prepare At Home

Kids and adults alike love chicken. It is very delicious and low in fat so health-conscious individuals have no problem eating it. Depending on the recipe, chicken can also be very cheap and quick to cook.
Here are some great chicken recipes you might want to experiment with in your kitchen:

Baked Chicken Parmesan
For this one, you will need 8 thin chicken cutlets, black pepper, kosher salt,1/4 cup of all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese, 2/3 cup of bread crumbs, a couple of beaten eggs, 3 tablespoons of olive oil, 24 ounces of marinara sauce, and a pound of sliced mozzarella.

To begin with, turn the oven to 400º F. Put the pepper and salt to the chicken. After that, mix the eggs and flour in a separate bowl. On another bowl, mix the bread crumbs and Parmesan.

Coat the chicken with the flour mixture first and then use the bread crumb mixture next. Heat some oil on a skillet and then cook the chicken for at least 2 minutes for each side or until they are already golden brown.
Next, place the marinara sauce in a baking dish and then put the chicken and mozzarella. Bake it around 20 to 25 minutes and you'll be done. This recipe makes 4 servings and takes at least 40 minutes to prepare.

Buttermilk Chicken Tenders
The needed ingredients for Buttermilk Chicken Tenders include half cup of buttermilk, 3/4 teaspoon of Tabasco sauce, 1 and 1/3 pounds of chicken tenders, 3/4 cup of all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons of kosher salt, 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, 3/4 cup of vegetable oil, 2 cups of bread crumbs, 2 tablespoons of water, and 2 eggs.

To proceed, mix the Tabasco sauce and buttermilk and store it in a resealable plastic bag. Shortly thereafter, add the chicken tenders. Marinate it for at least an hour or an entire day, depending on your preference.
Once you're done with that, heat the oven at about 225°F. On a dish, mix the salt, cayenne pepper, and flour altogether. On a separate bowl, beat the eggs and add the water. The bread crumbs should also be placed on a different dish.

Get the chicken tenders and mix it in the flour mixture. Coat the chicken with bread crumbs and place it on a baking sheet. The final step should be to cook the chicken using vegetable oil for around 4 minutes or until they are golden brown.

These delicious recipes are very simple to do and they can be cooked by anyone.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Stephen_G_John/1361639

Flat Stomach - List of Belly Fat Burning Foods

If you are looking for advice on how to lose belly fat and get a flat stomach then this article well help you. I will show you a list of best belly fat burning foods that will help you lose weight and burn belly fat fast.

There are a lot of diet foods that can speed up your metabolism and help you burn fat fast - these foods are so-called fat burning foods. Combined with regular exercise, adding these foods to your daily diet will help you lose weight and get a flat stomach fast.

Here's a list of healthy foods that are rich sources of protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals that can help you lose weight and burn fat fast

1. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a super fat burner, it's full of fiber that keeps you feel full for a long time. Studies have shown that oatmeal reduces bad cholesterol (LDL) levels and maintains blood sugar levels.
It is good to start your day with a bowl of oatmeal

2. Dairy (milk, cheese and yogurt)
Dairy Foods make it easier to lose weight and burn fat, dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt are packed with essential nutrients that make you healthier; they are rich in calcium, vitamin D and protein as well.

Researchers found that calcium, vitamin D, and protein found in dairy products help you lose weight and burn fat.

3. Raw Nuts
Raw Nuts are good for weight loss, they are rich sources of fiber that keeps you feel full for a long time, fiber can speed up your metabolism and helps you burn fat fast.

4. Olive oil
Olive oil is considered to be one of healthiest fat that your body requires, it contains monounsaturated fat which has many health benefits.

Olive oil can lower the bad cholesterol levels in the blood and helps to boost your immune system. Start adding a bit of raw olive oil to your salads everyday.

5. Whole grain cereals
Whole grains prevent your body from storing fat.
Whole grains contain the highest amounts of insoluble fiber, they contain protein, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin E, calcium and magnesium.

6. Beans and Other Legumes
Beans and Other Legumes have a high fiber content and they are low in fat, so they keep you feel fuller for a long time.

They can help you burn fat, build muscle, regulates digestion, maintain healthy blood pressure,lower the risk of heart disease and colon cancer.

Adding the above mentioned fat burning foods to your daily diet combined with regular workout routine will help you burn belly fat, lose weight and get a flat stomach.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Leen_Joseph/1318324

Foods To Eat In Order To Lose Belly Fat Fast

We all know that excess fat is a serious health hazard but did you know that carrying excess belly fat is such a serious health hazard that it increases heart failure risk by up to 15%? It does this by increasing vascular inflammation, insulin resistance as well as lowering the level of good cholesterol found in the body. This makes it very important to lose stomach fat and to start you on this healthy journey, here are some foods to help you lose belly fat quickly.

Foods To Lose Belly Fat
1. Almonds
Almonds and various other nuts and seeds are extremely healthy as they include a high amount of monounsaturated fats which improve heart health as they increase the amount of good fats in the body. They contain high amounts of protein which helps to make you feel fuller faster which will help to trim your belly and your figure by not allowing you to eat more than you should.

One important feature of protein is that it helps you build lean muscle if you incorporate resistance training into your exercises. When you build lean muscle, it will increase the results you are able to achieve through exercise. More muscle leads to more fat burning by the body. More fat burning means less belly fat which means that almonds and other nuts are some of the best foods to lose belly fat. Eat them raw or dry roasted and avoid smoked or salted nuts. Good choices besides almonds include sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, etc.

2. Eggs
Eggs are a great source of protein which makes them one of the best foods to lose belly fat as protein helps build lean muscle which helps to burn fat.

Some studies have also shown that those who consume eggs at the start of the day consume less calories later in the day than those who start off the day without an egg. Consuming fewer calories a day means a leaner body so have an egg for breakfast.

3. Lean Meat Like Turkey
Turkey and many other lean meats are also a great source of protein which is essential for fat and calorie burning through the creation of lean muscle. Eating more protein has been shown to reduce the amount of fat around your midsection and foods containing great amounts of protein are some of the best foods to lose belly fat. In addition to turkey, try lean steak, fish, chicken, Canadian bacon, shellfish, etc, while avoiding bacon, rib eye, T-bone steak, sausage, etc.

4. Peanut Butter
The all natural and sugar free type of peanut butter is another of the best foods to lose belly fat as it is loaded with healthy fats that are extremely beneficial for fat burning as well as to keep you feeling fuller for longer periods of time, to clean out your arteries and to increase the amount of good cholesterol. Other butters that are good for you include cashew butter and almond butter.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Wendy_Stanton/665379

The Weight Loss Secret: Whole Foods

So you want to know the secret to weight loss. Listen closely. Here it is - whole foods! Sounds simple right? That's because it is! There are many weight loss diet plans out there that will tell you a million and one different things that you need to eat and do if you want to lose weight. The truth? There is only one thing that you need to do if you want to lose weight - build and maintain a healthy whole foods diet plan.

What are whole foods? Whole foods are foods which are extremely healthy to us and that should be included within our everyday diets. These foods include fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Let's take a look at some of the whole foods that will prove to be most beneficial to your weight loss goals, beginning with certain types of fruits.

Fruits can be extremely beneficial to anyone who is intending to lose weight. How? Many fruits contain Pectin, an ingredient that helps to restrict the amount of fat that our cells can absorb by forcing our cells to discharge fatty deposits. By helping to detoxify your body, fruits can help to boost your metabolism and help your body burn fat. Which fruits are the best for weight loss? Apples, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, and red currants are all excellent sources that help to aide in natural weight loss solutions.
As we all know, all vegetables are healthy for us. But which ones are the best for losing weight? When it comes to weight loss, you want to look for vegetables that are high in Vitamin C and rich in calcium. Vegetables that are high in Vitamin C, such as broccoli and cabbage, help to liquefy fats, making them easier to flush out of our system. Vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage are also rich in calcium, a component that also helps to aid in weight loss by speeding up the process of fat breakdown.

What about whole grains? All whole grain foods are helpful in losing weight. Why? Whole grain foods contain large amounts of fiber, a food component that is known for controlling hunger. When we eat foods that are rich in fiber, the fiber enters our system and combines with water. When this happens, the fiber expands in our stomachs. This gives us a 'full' feeling. Foods that are high in fiber, therefore give us the 'full' feeling quicker than foods that are not high in fiber, allowing us to eat smaller portions, and intake less calories.

As one can see, losing weight does not require starvation techniques or excessive exercise. It simply requires one small lifestyle change. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains all contain the vitamins and nutrients that are necessary for your health, while at the same time providing you with everything that you need to lose weight. To learn more about whole foods and how they can benefit you in your weight loss goals, continue searching the internet. There are many resources out there that can help you to plan your whole foods diet so that you can begin to lose weight today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Becki_Andrus/166100

The Weight Issue and Quick Methods of Weight Loss - Unusual Weight Loss Foods That Really Work

In the modern era of today, losing weight becomes an important priority as our society is increasingly becoming more obese. In many cases, as statistics are showing, globally, there is a need to lose weight fast. Some obvious causes related to that is fast food is very easy to obtain. With the fast pace of life, convenience has become more of the goal these days instead of healthy eating habits. By eating fast foods faster (pardon the pun), we are putting more unnecessary junk in our bodies, resulting in very fast weight gain. Fast foods are the type of foods should be eaten sparingly, especially if you are on a fat loss diet program. It is common sense.

So, after reading this, you may wonder what foods are the best to eat to lose fat. Let's go through what types of food you can eat to diet and help weight loss, and some of the secrets that diet companies just don't want you to know about.

Cabbage Soup. Yuck? Think again! Although this particular soup can be a bit smelly, it is particularly effective when it comes to rapid weight loss. Cabbage soup with regular use, will be in a short period of time a fat burning strategy. In addition, a bowl of cabbage soup is usually a pretty cheap alternative to other costly weight loss programs. I am not saying it's the nirvana to rapid weight loss, it is simply just one of the options to explore on your journey. By all means though some more research on the net and see how you can spice it up, because it could get just that tad boring.

Another type of food you can use in your fat loss diet is lemonade. Fortunately, the lemonade diet doesn't have as strong smell as the cabbage soup. Again more research is required to see how and if this will be a correct fit for you. However, the lemonade is not recommended for use over a long period of time as it does have some side effects. It has been known to cause mood swings. It's best to use the lemonade diet over a shorter bursts of time.

Last but not least, raw foods are also excellent for a weight loss diet program. That's why citizens of Korea and Japan take the lead when it comes to lower rates of obesity. They simply eat raw foods.
These are just 3 ideas for you, there are many, many more. What I would suggest is take your time, do some research, and don't panic. Do yourself a favour and take the time to check out some more diet strategies, and find some reliable sources to glean more information from about foods for weight loss for your particular needs.

Just be aware that many diet companies have secrets that they just don't want you to know about.
Let me throw something else at you; do you need to diet at all, are you not already beautiful inside and out? I am not saying not to go on a weight loss program, but just to sit down and evaluate why you are wanting to diet! The reasons why maybe just what you want and to need to hear.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Mark_Rolands/952735

Feeling Plump? Here Are Ways To Create Food Plans For Weight Loss That Truly Works

Let us admit, crafting food plans for weight loss is sometimes monotonous and dull. But if you truly want to lose weight and get into clothes that you have always been wanting to wear and be attractive, you will make sacrifices.

If you have been suffering from some kind of health issues that being overweight carries like, sleep apnea,asthma, acid reflux, migraine, hypertension, unstable blood sugar level etc. You will find that losing some weight even twenty percent of your body weight will do wonders for your health.

Importance of preparing food plans for weight loss
Spend one hour every week to write a list of healthy foods to buy in the grocery store. Block one to two hours in your day off, just to prepare and cook all the healthy foods that you just bought. You can put them on individual plastic containers, resealable plastic bags, pack them and off you go to the office, gym, in the car etc.

This way, you guard yourself against high stress situations that makes you want to head on to the vending machine and grab a doughnut or sugared soda and sabotage your lose weight efforts. So it is best to surround yourself with healthy and nutritious foods that you have prepared from your own well-thought out food plans for weight loss program.

Remember that you need these three major macro-nutrients: carbohydrates (for energy and fuel), protein (for growth and tissue repair) and fat (for absorption of vitamins and organ function) to have a healthy and fit body. Amid all the media hype of cutting out too much calories in your daily food intake to lose weight, will only make you feel hungry, deprived, irritable and lethargic. Truth be told, you don't have to leave out one or two of these food groups in order to have a balance and healthy eating plan especially if your goal is to lose weight.

No pills or prepackaged food will give you enough supply of B vitamins, potassium, magnesium, beta carotene and phytochemicals than an organically grown potatoes, bananas, apples, grains and milk products can.

Gradually Stock Your Pantry
Slowly fill your pantry with healthy foods like whole grain or whole wheat pasta, whole grain bread, brown rice, couscous, sweet potatoes, fruits, veggies and rolled oats.

These foods are also high in fiber which will make your stomach feel fuller, gives you stable energy throughout the day. Thus aiding you in your weight loss goals.

No more buying food made of white flour like cakes, cookies and pies. Remember to eat foods in their almost natural state not the refined or processed ones.

For protein,stock up on peanut butter,almonds,walnuts cheese whether sliced or stringed, egg whites, white beans, black beans chicken, turkey and wild caught fish.

You can have a variety of healthy snacks if you can be selective and well-prepared. Buy air-popped corn, no salt or butter. You can have the option of sprinkling with it cinnamon and vanilla if you like. Low fat frozen yoghurt, dry-roasted edamame, baby carrots with hummus, pre-made fruit salad, dried fruit etc.

Remember just to be constantly aware of what you are putting in your mouth. Say no to mindless snacking.

Four- pronged approach
1. Eating healthy according to your food plans for weight loss program.
2. Exercising daily.
3. Developing a strong mind to manage stress and binge eating.
4. Connecting with people who share the same goals and struggles as you.

These are sure-fire ways to achieve a successful and life-long weight loss program. If you stay committed with your weight loss goals, one of these days you will wake up with a wonderful body, more energy, a happier disposition and ready to tackle the daily grind with utter confidence. And this is possible, because you followed your food plans for weight loss to a tee.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Karen_Mardones/970583

Weight Loss Foods: The Incredible Health Benefits Of The Capsicum

Capsicum, chili or red pepper has been cultivated for thousands of years, and comes in a variety of colours such as red, yellow and green. The Capsicum may also be known as the bell pepper, jalapeno, cayenne, paprika and chili to name but a few of the many varieties available.

This very versatile food, is a very popular way to add that extra kick of flavour and colour to your favourite dishes, but it is also a highly effective food to help you lose weight.

Until recently, it has not been possible to take the capsicum in a supplement form, but now for the very first time, the technology is available for us to take the capsicum in a high dose supplement form, to bring about incredible weight loss!

Rich in vitamins and unique compounds, the capsicum is a highly effective weight loss food, and also benefits our health in many other ways.

Weight Loss
The capsicum speeds up your metabolism, burns fat and also suppresses your appetite. This is really one powerful weight loss food!

During a recent study, it was proven that the spice of the pepper increases thermogenesis which helps us to oxidise or burn fat we have eaten in a meal. Other research concluded that if 6 to 10gms of red pepper was added to a meal, it would help to suppress the appetite.

Additional studies showed that when a small 3gm of red chili sauce and mustard sauce was added to food, the metabolic rate increased up to 25%.

With results like this, it was only going to be a period of time, before products were in place for us to be able to take Capsicum in a supplement form, which would not aggravate the digestive system. This has been achieved in the last year, with the launch of several highly effective and highly potent chili weight loss products. In fast, the bestselling chili weight loss supplement, sold out in 3 days flat when it was launched last summer and has been a bestseller for the Pharmaceutical company who developed it ever since!
Aside from the weight loss benefits of capsicum, there are also many other health benefits we can gain from the humble chili.

Digestion
The capsicum supports the production of gastric juices, which are vital for a healthy and fully functioning metabolism. It also leads to the secretion of digestive juices and prevents indigestion.

Circulation
The capsicum is also known to regulate blood pressure, and lower cholesterol and triglyceride (the chemical form in which most fat exists in food as well as in the body) levels.

Cold and Flu Protection
The chili is packed with vitamins such Vitamin C and Vitamin A, which have a high concentration of carotenoids, antioxidants and flavonoids, including beta-carotene.

The heat of the pepper also opens and drains congested nasal passages, which is why if we have a cold people often suggest a hot curry or another spicy dish.

Pain Reduction
Interestingly, the chili is also known to be helpful in treating pain-related diseases. The Capsaicin in the capsicum, which is the component that gives the chili its heat, blocks the transmission of pain from the skin to the spinal cord and prevents the sensation of pain.

It will be interesting to see if this finding is research and developed further for future analgesic products, such has been the case for the weight loss arena.

Hair
chili extract is effective at boosting hair growth. It also prevents hair loss and helps you maintain thicker and fuller hair.

Eyes and Skin
Eating or taking the capsicum in a supplement form, can also help to keep the skin clear, and prevents rashes, spots and pimples. It contains vitamin A, which is good for eyes and helps prevent eye diseases.

Anti-carcinogenic
The Capsaicin, the compounds that gives chili its heat, also prevents carcinogens from binding with DNA and may provide some protection from cancer.

This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what the chili can do for us, and there really is no end to the talent of the humble little chili!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Estelle_Coughlan/1002507

Weight Loss Foods - The 8 Best Fat Burning Foods

Weight loss foods come in many colors, shapes and forms, but which is best to lose that extra 8 pounds of fat? This is probably not the first time you read an article on this subject, and the foods we are about to discuss will not surprise you, since you already eat some of them. We eat these foods sometimes daily, but do we know what they can do for us and how they work? Let's find out.

1. Tomatoes
Tomatoes provide numerous benefits, besides the taste. They do the body good. Tomatoes are actually a fruit, and they are best for weight loss when used in Mediterranean cooking. They are low GI foods and help prevent heart disease, prostate cancer and help with liver cleansing.

2. Broccoli
Another fantastic super food is Broccoli. Broccoli is very high in fibrous fibre and antioxidants, and is also a very effective liver cleanser. It is so good at cleansing the liver that it is known as an extreme cleanser, not to mention the fact that it prevents the body from storing poisons and fats and helps prevent the formation of cancer cells. The best way to prepare Broccoli is to steam them. Steaming Broccoli gives them a great taste without the loss of nutrients and vitamins.

3. Watercress
Watercress is mainly used as a weight loss food, simply because it is very high in vitamins and very low on calories. It has an important role on weight loss as it improves metabolism and has a positive effect on your digestive tract, which in turn makes it a lot easier for your body to get rid of fat. Watercress also strengthens the immune system and helps the body fight diseases and infections.

4. Celery
Celery contains properties, which help in cleansing the kidneys and liver. Another great reason to include Celery in your diet is its ability to reduce stress levels and reduce body weight.

5. Oats
This is probably one of the best weight loss foods out there. Oats contain a lot of soluble fibre, which is great for lowering LDL or bad cholesterol. LDL is the main cause of high blood pressure and heart disease. Not only will you lose weight, but you will also feel healthier.

6. Lentils
They are high in protein and improves your metabolism and energy levels. With the high fiber content in lentils, you can be sure that you are getting all the fibre your body needs. Some studies have also proven Lentils to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.

7. Seeds
The benefits with seeds are endless. Seeds such as sesame seeds and sunflower seeds contain healthy fats that strengthen the heart and improve cholesterol and blood pressure. You can also purchase healthy fats in liquid and gel cap forms from most drug stores. You can easily get enough healthy fat by snacking on 8 to 12 almonds.

8. Fruit Juice
Fruit juices are mainly used to detoxify the body, and for this reason it is great for weight loss. Juices contain a lot of anti-oxidants and vitamins vital for fat loss, but a person should be aware not to consume too much, as juice also has a high fructose content.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Etienne_Stols/810903

The Benefits Of Keeping a Diary of Weight Loss Foods

Keeping a daily diary of weight loss foods is one of the best ways to keep ourselves on track to achieve our weight loss goals. Why is this so effective and how do we go about keeping a weight loss diary?
Below are 4 helpful tips that explain the importance of a diary, and why it works so effectively with any dieting programmes

Weight Loss Food Diary Tip #1 - A Detailed Account
A weight loss food diary gives us a detailed account of everything we have been doing since we began our dieting programme such as what we have been eating and drinking. We can either use an actual diary or even a simple note-book.

To begin with, we should write down our starting weight, our goal weight and our bust, hip, thigh, calves and upper arm measurements. Next we should write a detailed daily plan to follow. We should list which foods we will eat, how many calories we will consume and how much time we will dedicate to exercise each day.
Every day we should list everything that we eat and drink, keeping a running total for the day to ensure that we remain firmly within our daily calorie allowance. We should also write down any exercise sessions that we perform each day, how much and for how long.

If we do this we have the information at hand so that we can look back at any time to see how we are progressing.

Weight Loss Food Diary Tip #2 - Keeping On Track
It is easy to see how keeping our diary will keep us on track. If we know that we have to list everything that we eat and drink, there is less chance of us mindlessly going back to eating sweets and junk food and jeopardising our dieting goals.

If we keep a food and exercise diary it will prevent us from convincing ourselves that we are sticking to our weight loss programme, even if we know that we are not. Once we have it written in black and white, we cannot dispute the truth.

Weight Loss Food Diary Tip #3 - Promoting Motivation
As we keep a detailed record of our progress in our diary, we will notice a motivation boost. We will begin to see a distinct connection between what we eat, how much we exercise and the numbers on the scales. We should also keep re-measuring our body every month or two and record these too. It is so encouraging when we see the inches melting away, which inspires more motivation. If we start to feel frustrated or impatient about our progress, we can look back through our diary and make ourselves feel better when we see how well we have done so far.

Weight Loss Food Diary Tip #4 - An Emotional Release
Finally, we can use our diet food diary as a release mechanism for any turbulent emotions. Anytime we are feeling frustrated, angry, upset or anxious and are tempted to eat something fattening to soothe these emotions, we should use writing in our diary as a release instead. Make a note of what caused the turmoil and what effect it has had on the way we feel. We should keep writing until we have purged all the negative emotions and we feel calmer and in control, and we will also notice that our food cravings will have subsided too.

A dieting food diary can be a useful tool while we are losing weight. It can help to keep us motivated, cheer us when we are down and give us a visible record of progress and help us to think positively if we find that we are struggling.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Dave_Townley/515757

Crockpot High Protein Recipe

We hear it everyday from our Personal Trainers or workout buddies... "eat more protein!" But it's not always that easy to come up with original high protein recipes. If you're a cardio fanatic focused on weight loss and losing some belly fat, or a serious gym rat looking to pack on slabs of muscle this is sound advice! Meal bar replacements and protein shakes are great quick fixes but they don't take the place of a hardly, nutritional meal... enter your crockpot!

After a hard day's work who want's to come home and think of a good high protein recipe to whip up from scratch... I don't! And as much as we may like to, we don't always have time to prepare meals in advance. So pull out that big bulky crockpot your mom got you for Christmas that one year and start experimenting!
Let's paint the picture. You wake up in the morning, grab your cup of coffee and maybe a quick and healthy bit to eat in the car ride to work. But what about dinner? No time to think of that in the morning? Wrong!
In the time it takes you to stumble out of bed, shower and get on your way you have throw together a quick crockpot recipe that will be ready to eat when you get home!

1. Grab that crockpot and dust it off. It's gonna be your new best friend!

2. No need to thaw a bag or frozen chicken breasts... just rinse them off and toss em in.

3. Celery, carrots and onions are an easy rough chop, and they're next to hit the pot.

4. You should already have some low sodium chicken broth in the pantry. Pour about 2-3 cups of that over the chicken and veggies.

5. Add a dash or two of salt and pepper, cover and set to low and be on your way.
The chicken absorbs most of the liquid. Within 6-7 hours you'll have a hot meal waiting for you when you get home. Depending how long the slow cooker will be left stewing away, you may need to add a bit more liquid when you get back home. I like to tear up the chicken with a big fork while it's still in the pot for a "shredded chicken" mixture. You can eat right out of the bowl or put on top of brown rice or quinoa.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Riley_Daye/1320093

Kenyan Chicken In Coconut Curry

Chicken Coconut Curry
This dish is indigenous on Kenyan Indian Ocean coastline, areas like Lamu, Malindi, and Mombasa. Also known as "Kuku Paka" in Swahili. It consists of chicken in spicy coconut sauce. Best served with coconut rice or chapatis. Recipe for the coconut rice available too.

Let's make our mouth-watering dish!
Ingredients
8 Pieces skinless chicken thighs
2 Teaspoon freshly minced ginger
3 Teaspoon freshly minced garlic
2 Fresh tomatoes purée
1 Teaspoon tomato paste
2 Medium sized finely chopped onions
1 Teaspoon fresh rosemary herb
1 Teaspoon turmeric powder
3 Green chillies, finely chopped, reduce number for mild flavour.
1 Teaspoon cumin seeds
2 small fresh lime.
4 Tablespoon Vegetable oil (I use Sunflower oil)
2 Cups coconut milk
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup Fresh coriander (dhania) for garnish
3 large potatoes halved (optional)
3 hard-boiled eggs or more (optional)

Marination
This is done 3 hours before cooking or overnight.

• Place the skinless chicken thighs in a plastic freezer bag or a bowl with juice from the lime above, half of the ginger, garlic rosemary, chillies, little salt, and one tablespoon of cooking oil.
• Mix them well, put in a refrigerator and let marinate for 2 to 4 hours or even overnight.

Preparation

• Grill the marinated chicken in the oven for about 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can sear chicken in a pan till it's crispy and brown.
• In a separate large pan, sauté the remaining oil and onions till light brown.
• Add the tomato purée, the tomato paste,the rest of the garlic, ginger, rosemary and chillies and stir. After a minute or two add cumin seeds and turmeric. keep stirring over low heat for another 5 minutes.
• Pour in the coconut milk and stir to combine. Taste for seasoning and add more salt if needed. Lower the heat and let simmer till the sauce is thick.
• Add the chicken pieces, mix well, cover and let simmer till the chicken is tender about for thirty minutes
• Garnish with coriander. Serve with basmati rice or chapatis

Coconut Rice Recipe
Coconut rice also known as 'Wali Wa Nazi' in Swahili.
Ingredients

• 3 cups basmati rice
• 2 cups coconut milk
• 2 cups water
• Little salt to taste

Preparation

• Wash the rice thoroughly in a bowl and put in a strainer to remove any remaining water, set aside.
• Bring coconut milk and water to a boil in a pan over medium-high heat
• Add the rice and salt mix well and let boil. Keep stirring for about 5 minutes or when the water reduces to rice level.
• Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let simmer. The rice is cooked when it becomes fluffy and dry.
• Serve the coconut chicken curry over rice while still hot.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Eunice_Chege/2198864

Chicken and Broccoli Casserole and Black Bean Salsa

Have you ever had the desire for the best, quick meal? Have your taste buds been craving something great tasting for lunch or dinner? How about something to snack on while watching television or a card game.

What would be great to take to the beach or lake? Well, don't worry any more. Here are two great recipes are for you. You will certainly satisfy your family and friend's taste with these. The first one is for a great chicken and broccoli casserole and the second is for a superb black bean salsa. One of the best things about these two recipes is that they both keep really well. Try them out before too long and surprise every member of your family. 

CHICKEN AND BROCCOLI CASSEROLE
2 10oz. packs frozen broccoli
3 chicken breasts, boiled, boned, and shredded
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 cup of mayo
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1 cup shredded medium cheddar cheese
1 cup Pepperidge Farm stuffing mix
3 Ts. margarine, melted

Cook broccoli by package directions and drain. Arrange broccoli in a 9x13 casserole dish and top with chicken. In a separate bowl, combine soup, mayo, lemon juice and curry powder. Spread on top of chicken. Sprinkle with cheese and bread crumbs. Drizzle melted butter all over. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes or until golden brown. Serve when cooled.

Easy, quick and just great!
BLACK BEAN SALSA
1 can black beans
1 can whole kernel corn
1 can black eyed peas
1 can Rotel tomatoes w/ lime and cilantro
1 green bell pepper diced
6 Roma tomatoes, diced
1 bunch green onions, diced
1 8oz. bottle Zesty Italian dressing

1 tsp. sugar
Rinse and drain the black beans, corn, and black eyed peas. Combine all ingredients. Refrigerate at least 4 hours. Serve with corn chips suitable for dipping such as "Scoopables". This recipe keeps really well. You'll get hooked on it once you try this recipe. Present as a quick snack for a home viewing of ball game, picnic or other outing, or to take to the lake or beach. It won't be wasted!
Be sure and check all my recipes on my site:

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Dorne_Sandifer/118087

Easy and Delicious Homemade Roasted Whole Chicken

Here's a quick recipe for you today, and one that I cook all the time. To many people, a big roast can be a little daunting. However, it really isn't that hard and buying a whole chicken can save you lots of money and feed you for days. Even before we had children, my wife and I would buy a whole chicken and eat for a week for the price on days meal! Leftovers are delicious! The secret to cooking a good roast chicken is to make sure the chicken doesn't dry out, so we'll be stuffing butter under the skin and drizzling a little olive oil on top to achieve this. This is really the secret, nothing more complicated than that. Along with this you're going to add some lovely flavour, like garlic and rosemary, and hey presto - you have a perfectly sublime roast chicken.

Ingredients:
- 1 whole chicken (3 lbs)
- Basil
- 2 or 3 cloves of garlic
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 1 sprig of aromatic herbs, rosemary would be good
- Potatoes - Carrots
- 1 or 2 onions
- Salt
- Pepper
Preparation:

Start by cleaning out the chicken if it isn't already. Thoroughly wash the inside. Preheat the oven and prepare your baking dish with some foil too.

Cut the butter into small nobs, and leave to one side. To prepare the chicken, you're basically going to make a small cut (big enough to get your fingers into) into the highest point of the chicken. Don't cut into the meat, just the skin. You should then be able to get your fingers in there and prise the skin off without filly taking it off. Next, stuff the butter, garlic, basil and herbs in there. When the chicken heats up in the oven, the butter should melt and stay there on the top sizzling and drip down inside the skin.

That's it for the chicken. If you've chosen to use rosemary, you might also like to put a half cut of lemon INSIDE the chicken, as the flavours work really well together.

Place the chicken on your baking dish, then proceed to cut up the potatoes and onions and other vegetables. Put these in the baking dish around the chicken.

The cooking time will depend on the size of chicken, but will generally take an hour and a half or more on low-medium heat. When there's about half hour left, pour a glass over the top and baste it with the juice after another 15 minutes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/James_A_Bruce/810505

3 Chicken Dinner Recipes That Are Low Calorie and Tasty

Check out the below listed recipes:
Yummy aspagarus with chicken
Chicken is a superb dish, which adds variety and always tastes out of the world, no matter how you prepare it. In order to prepare this; you will need to garner some locally available ingredients like cumin seed, fennel seeds, onions sliced, garlic, ginger, chili, coconut milk, cilantro, asparagus, canola oil, asparagus, chicken, cilantro as required and salt to taste.

Procedure to prepare:
First, you should heat the pan and put required oil followed by the cumin and fennel seeds. Make sure to sauté these for two minutes. Then you can add the chicken and cook it at a medium flame. Cook it at a stretch unless and until it turns brown, but make sure to stir it nicely till it becomes tender.

Next, you should add all the spices including the onion, ginger, garlic paste and stir with the chicken. Make sure to sprinkle the asparagus and blend it well with the rest items. Now it is time to add the coconut milk along with the required salt. Simply mix it nicely unless both the asparagus and chicken are tender. Lastly, once cooked just spread the cilantro on top of the prepared dish.

Sour lemon chicken
Lemon has its own flavour, and definitely, when you add with any item no doubt it tastes mind blowing. Now it is time to collect the ingredients. You should add take two lemons, cornstarch, chicken bouillon, boneless chicken, apple juice and cooking spray.

Preparation:
First, you have to mix the cornstarch, apple juice, lemon juice, and chicken bouillon, make sure that it becomes a smooth paste. In addition, cut the chicken into small pieces.

Secondly, you should heat the pan on a medium flame and sauté the chicken for about ten minutes unless the colour changes to pink. Next, you should put the smooth sauce on the oil and stir it on a medium flame. Once done with these, add the chicken pieces in to the apple juice and blend it well for about 5 to 7 minutes.
Over all, it will take twenty-five minutes to prepare the tasty delightful dish.

Chicken risotto grilled
Chicken risotto when served on your dinner plate obviously adds a flavour, now time to check out the ingredients. You should collect the boneless chicken, make sure that should be without skin, and then take zucchini that should be sliced, creamy risotto, sliced tomato

Process to prepare:
Firstly, you have to prepare the risotto as directed. Then you should prepare the zucchini for grilling at the same time, put oil in the chicken.

Secondly, you should cook the chicken for twelve minutes on the heat pan and grill the zucchini on the griller unless and until both of these are soft.

Thirdly, once you are done, simply place the cooked chicken and the zucchini from the pan and slice them into teeth -cutting pieces. In the meantime, you have to make a paste of tomato and peas, simply dip the chicken and Zucchini into the mixture.

Hope you will love to have these entire low calorie recipes, which will not affect your health. In fact, it would give you the best of both worlds, in terms of taste as well as keep a check on your health.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Rashmi_Chatterjee/1287340

Easy Mexican Chicken Recipes With Herbs

Beginners to the world of Mexican cuisine will enjoy learning some easy Mexican recipes featuring fresh or dried herbs. Chicken is a great ingredient to use for these because it is economical, easy to work with and versatile.

Some recipes call for an entire chicken, usually chopped into pieces, and others will suggest you use thighs or breast. Breasts are good for poaching or slow cooking but they can dry out in the oven unless you watch them closely. Thighs take longer to cook but the meat is richer in flavor and a lot of people prefer thighs.
There are various herbs you can work with. Cilantro is a popular herb because it goes so well with the flavor found in many traditional Mexican foods but mint, parsley, and thyme are also used frequently.

Mint Chicken
One of the simplest Mexican chicken recipes you can make is mint chicken. You will need half a cup of mint leaves to make this. Chop them up and let them soak in a cup of orange juice with a tablespoon of orange zest and quarter of a cup of white sugar added to it.

Cut a whole bird into pieces and wash them with running water. Pat the poultry dry. Salt them and then fry them until they are golden. Drain off the grease.

Boil five tablespoons of vinegar for half a minute, then add the orange juice and mint mixture. Pour this sauce over the bird and cook it until it is tender. Serve this delicious meal hot.

Thyme Chicken
Another simple idea is poultry cooked in its own juice. You will need a whole bird for this one too. Cut the bird into pieces and wash them. Pat them dry and sprinkle salt over them. Saute the poultry in hot oil, then take them out and fry four sliced onions in the same oil.

Put the poultry back in the pot and add a pinch of thyme, four tablespoons of vinegar, and a pinch of salt. Cover the pot and let the bird cook until it is tender, then serve it with cooked vegetables or a green salad.

Parsley Chicken
This tasty meal serves four people and it is great for busy weeknights. You will need four boneless, skinless breasts for this, weighing about five ounces each.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F and spray nonstick cooking spray over a shallow baking pan. Lay the breasts in the baking tray and squeeze the juice from one lime over them. You can use a lemon instead of a lime if you prefer.

Sprinkle quarter of a cup of freshly chopped parsley on top, as well as the grated zest from the lime and a pinch of black pepper. Bake the breasts for twenty minutes or until they are 165 degrees F inside and cooked through without any traces of pink inside.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Christine_Szalay_Kudra/73485

Three Best Fat Burning Foods For Any Weight Loss Diet

When you're on a weight loss diet it sometimes seems that all the best foods are packed with fat and sugar - and likely to cause you to gain weight rather than lose it! While here are three great foods to put into your diet that will help you burn fat rather than gain it.

Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a great source of slow release carbohydrates, combined with some protein and some good fats. This is the best combination when you're trying to lose weight. The best sort of oatmeal is those old-fashioned oats, such as those sold by Quaker. You could also try Quick Oats. However don't get those flavored sweetened oatmeal packets, there is too much sugar in them and the oats have already been broken down so they release their carbs a lot quicker.

A good fat burning food breakfast would be: old fashioned oatmeal sweetened with natural or sugar free applesauce and a pinch of cinnamon. Or how about oatmeal with a handful of nuts and seeds.

Sweet Potatoes and Yams
These are a top choice for people who are looking to lose weight, get fit or generally stay healthy. Yams and sweet potatoes are a type of fat burning foods that are a great slow release carbohydrate. They are also filled with nutrients that you need, vitamins, minerals, and beta-carotene a great antioxidant. To make an almost perfect fat burning meal, have some sweet potatoes or yams, a large serving of vegetables and a small serving of lean meat. That meal will help you to burn fat, build muscle and boost your metabolism. Just what you want when you're on a weight loss program.

Whole Grains
Weight loss dieters who are looking for fat burning foods are often advised to avoid things like rice, bread and potatoes. There are two main reasons for that, the first is that most people eat highly processed rice, bread and potatoes which are digested quickly - which means you feel hungry sooner, and the sugars are released straight into your blood. The second reason is that most rice, bread and potatoes are served with added fats. Think of fried rice, buttered bread, and fried potatoes!

But if you can resist the temptation to add fat, and you eat brown rice, whole wheat bread, and plain baked potato (especially if you eat the skin) than these foods can be good for burning fat. They will boost your metabolism and help your diet.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Obediah_Marsh/197273

Weight Loss Foods - Making Weight Loss Foods Taste Better

When you start up on a weight loss diet, one of the first things many people begin to worry about is finding weight loss foods that taste good. This is often what will deter people from sticking with a diet program. It may not be that they don't have the time to plan or cook their meals, or that they are skipping their fat loss workouts in the gym. Rather, it's that the food they're eating tastes so bland that they start experiencing cravings through the roof.

With a little creativity though, you can dramatically improve the taste of many foods without adding a lot of calories, carbohydrates, or fat.
Here are some ideas.

Use More Spices
There is a wide variety of spices you can use to season your foods - and if salt is a concern for you, that's no longer a problem with the Mrs. Dash spices available now.

Spices can virtually be added to anything - from seasoning your chicken breasts with them, throwing cinnamon into your oatmeal, adding it to your cooked whole wheat pasta, or tossing the spice over steamed vegetables.

Since many of them also contain herbs, it can have other positive health benefits.

Consider Sugar-Free Syrups
For those of you who enjoy your fancy coffee's or other sweet-tasting desserts, look into the many flavors of sugar-free syrups that are now available on the market.

These can be added to coffees, teas, in yogurt, cottage cheese, in oatmeal, over cooked sweet potatoes, in protein shakes, and so on.

Use Low-Sodium Broths
To add more flavor to your stir-fries, rather than using oil or other high calorie sauces, consider using low-sodium broths to keep the dish moist while it cooks.

You can also use low-sodium broths as bases for soups (which are great when dieting because they are naturally lower in calories), and in replacement for butter when preparing mashed potatoes.
Low sodium broths also make a good base for many sauces such as teriyaki sauce, sweet and sour sauce, or a garlic-herb broth.

Use Salsa, Soy Sauce, Low-Sugar Ketchup, or Mustard
Finally, keep in mind that there are many condiments out there that would be considered 'free' because of the fact they contain so few calories.

Such examples would be salsa, soy sauce, low-sugar ketchup, mustard, balsamic vinegars, and so on.
You can use these at your preference to help make the foods you're eating taste more palatable and increase the likelihood that you stay with your diet.

So, be sure you keep these points in mind. With some extra creativity, it can be a lot easier to stick with your diet and enjoy the foods you're eating at the same time.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Shannon_Clark/125749