Easy Ways to Steer Clear of Your Favorite Fast Foods
By Sandy Schroeder
If you often look the other way as you hurry past your favorite fast food place, you may have health issues with some of your favorite foods. My downfall shows up in the form of french fries, fried zucchini, and jalapenos stuffed with melted cheese. They all come loaded with calories and unhealthy fats that undermine my best attempts at a healthy diet.
If you can relate, you may like the ehow.com take on oven-baked veggie fries, and Allspice.com’s recipe for stuffed jalapenos. These were recently successfully tested at my house, earning a solid round of approval from some pretty tough critics.
Using the oven in place of a skillet, and healthy oils such as olive oil in place of saturated fats or transfats, create veggie fries from potatoes, zucchini, green beans or sweet potatoes. Or try stuffed jalapenos. Pair all of them off with a healthy creamy Greek yogurt dip.
Zucchini Fries
Recipes from ehow.com
Ingredients
- 2 medium zucchini
- One half teaspoon salt
- One quarter teaspoon pepper
- One teaspoon dried oregano
- One half cup breadcrumbs
- One egg, beaten
Slice zucchini into long thin wedges. Mix seasoning with breadcrumbs. Dip wedges in beaten egg and breadcrumb mix to fully coat. Bake at 425 degrees Farenheit on top rack for 15 minutes until golden brown.
Creamy Greek Yogurt Dip
- One cup whole Greek yogurt
- One quarter cup fresh lime juice
- One half teaspoon salt
- One quarter teaspoon pepper
- Two teaspoons fresh chopped parsley
Baked Stuffed Jalapenos
Recipe from Allspice
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C)
Spray baking sheet with cooking spray
Fill each jalapeno pepper half with low fat cream cheese, Cheddar, and bread crumbs, and arrange peppers on baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven about 20 minutes until jalapenos are tender and cheese melts.
More Homemade Treats
If homemade works as a better choice than fast food at your house, you may want to look for more healthy vegetable recipes on Epicurious.com. I try to keep olive oil, and lower fat cheeses such as parmesan, or cottage cheese on hand with lots of seasonings to keep food interesting minus unhealthy fats.
Start with the veggies that your family likes and keep right on going. You might bake a zucchini nut loaf for snacks, or serve a veggie lasagna or calzone for dinner.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Valencia, Calif.