Healthy Snacking

Recipes

Written by 5TJT Staff

Thursday, 06 January 2011 12:58

A mom is a wonder woman, a multitasker able to be everything to everyone all at once. Sheâ€™s up in the morning getting the kids ready for school, making lunches, taking car pool, keeping the house in order, doing the errands, getting dinner on the table . . . whew! Just listing all these responsibilities is tiring!

Finding time to take care of yourself and prepare healthy snacks usually falls at the bottom of the list. Itâ€™s much easier to just nibble on the kidsâ€™ leftovers, but those calories can really add up. Helping your kids clean their plates will come to bite you later, when you are trying to watch what you eat and cut down on the calories.

When you are serving your kids dinner or prepping lunches for the next day, itâ€™s very easy to sneak in unwanted calories without even realizing it. Try these strategies to help overcome temptation around your kids and stay on track:

Write things down. Every time you take a bite off your childâ€™s pizza crust or a lick of their ice cream (because you didnâ€™t want it to drip, of course), write it down. These little nibbles might not seem like a big deal, but that is how the calories add up. Keep a little notebook or food journal with you to jot down a note whenever you take a bite. Keeping yourself accountable will help make you aware of what you are eating.

Keep gum on hand. Whenever you are faced with temptation in between mealtimes, pop in a piece of sugar-free gum. Chewing on gum will help curb the cravings and help satisfy your impulse to eat something when youâ€™re not hungry.

Be prepared with snacks. The worst choices are made when you are hungry. Keep healthy, low-calorie snacks in your bag so you can reach for a healthy alternative to tempting unhealthy foods.

Eat meals together. If you sit down and eat with your kids, you will be less likely to pick off their plates and eat twice. Sitting down to a meal is a better way to control your portions and monitor what you consume.

Brush your teeth. When the kids go to bed at night, itâ€™s a great time to pack up their lunch boxes for the next day. To help prevent nighttime snacking during this time, brush your teeth with strong mint-flavored toothpaste before you head to the kitchen. The taste of toothpaste will help remind you that you are done eating for the day.

Grilled Chicken Sandwiches With Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Ingredients:
8 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, well trimmed
2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar or red-wine vinegar
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp. minced fresh rosemary
2 red onions, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
8 large french bread rolls (about 4 inches long), cut in half
1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
whole-grain Dijon mustard (or any mustard you prefer)
2 bunches arugula

Directions:
Place chicken in medium bowl. Add vinegar, olive oil, garlic, and rosemary. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Prepare barbecue or grill pan to medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Grill chicken and onions until chicken is just cooked through and onions are golden brown, turning occasionally, about 10 minutes.

Grill cut sides of rolls until golden brown. Spread bottom halves of rolls with chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Top with chicken breast and some grilled onions and arugula. Spread mustard on other halves of roll, place on top, and serve.

Eating quality, delicious meals is easy when all the work is done for you. Hire a personal chef to prepare your dinners, Shabbos meals, or small parties. For more information, contact Take Home Chef personal chef services by calling 516-508-3663, writing to elke@TakeHomeChef.net, or visiting www.TakeHomeChef.net.