5 Recipes for Weight Loss

 5 Recipes for Weight Loss

If you want to lose weight and keep it off, you really need to take healthy eating seriously.

And that means cooking healthy meals at home! In order to make healthy eating part of your lifestyle, cooking with whole foods and real ingredients is a must.

Of course eating healthy also requires sufficient amounts of protein, fiber, and vitamin-rich vegetables, in addition to cutting back on fats and simple carbohydrates. So in order to help you eat better and healthier, I'm offering up 5 recipes for weight loss. You can't go wrong with these delicious meal ideas!

5 Tasty Recipes for Weight Loss

1. Crispy Chicken Quesadillas

Ingredients: ½ Tbsp canola oil, 1 large skinless/boneless chicken breast, 1 red onion sliced, 4 oz mushrooms sliced, 1 poblana pepper seeded and sliced, 1 ½ cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese, 4 medium whole grain tortillas, guacamole.

Directions: Heat a large sauté pan to medium heat. Add the oil and chicken breast (diced into small pieces) and cook until just done. Add onion, pepper, and mushroom and sauté until vegetables brown (approx. 5 minutes). Top 2 tortillas with cheese and sautéed chicken/vegetables, and cover with remaining tortillas. For that extra crispy texture, cook each quesadilla in a clean frying pan with a bit of oil.

2. Chinese Chicken Salad

Ingredients: 1 head of red cabbage, ½ Tbsp sugar, 2 cups chopped cooked chicken, 1/3 cup Asian vinaigrette, 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves, ¼ cup sliced roasted almonds, 1 cup mandarin oranges.

Directions: Slice the cabbage into thin strips and toss with sugar in large bowl. Heat chicken to desired temperature, and add to cabbage. Then top with cilantro, mandarins, almond slices, and vinaigrette. Toss and serve.

3. Green Chile Cheeseburger

Ingredients: 1 pound ground lean beef, salt and pepper, 1 can roasted green chilies chopped, 4 slices Swiss cheese, 4 tomato slices, 4 red onion slices, 4 whole grain buns.

Directions: Heat a grill pan or iron skillet. Season beef with salt and pepper and form into 4 patties. Add burgers to hot pan and cook for 3-5 minutes, then flip and top with chilies and slice of cheese. Cook for another 3-5 minutes depending on preference. Toast bun, add burger, and top with onions and tomatoes.

4. Grilled Pork with Peaches

Ingredients: 4 bone-in pork chops (thick cut), olive oil, salt and pepper, 2 firm peaches pitted and halved, 2 Tbsp roasted pine nuts, 1 red onion sliced thinly, ½ cup blue cheese crumbled, 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar.

Directions: Brush pork with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, then grill on medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes per side. Brush peach halves with oil and grill for 5 minutes while pork chops are cooking. Remove pork chops and top with peach slices, pine nuts, onions, blue cheese, and drizzle with balsamic vinegar.

5. Balsamic Strawberry Shortcake

Ingredients: 2 cups sliced strawberries, ¼ cup balsamic vinegar, black pepper, 1 Tbsp butter (optional), 4 wedges of angel food cake, whipped cream.

Directions: Mix strawberries, vinegar, and pinch of pepper and marinate for 15 minutes. Cook cake slices in a buttered or nonstick pan until caramelized and toasted. Plate cake slices and top with strawberries and vinegar. Add whipped cream as desired. The balsamic vinegar in this one will help give you metabolism a boost!

Sam

Sam Omidi is the founder of Weight Loss and Training and is accredited with a Bachelors in Kinesiology as well as certification in Nutritional Sciences, Personal Training and Advanced Exercise Nutrition. Follow Sam via Twitter @samomidi