What Next?

Just learn to use spices... onions, garlic... and all kinds of other flavorful things. You can add salsa to a ton of things.. it's low calorie and low fat.

My favorite quick and easy healthy meal is simply tossing some fresh veggies (squash, broccoli, mushrooms.. or anything you like) in olive oil, and garlic, brushing a chicken breast down with the same... and topping it off with mozzerella.

Also... when you want to make tacos... use turkey meat instead of beef. With the seasoning you can't tell any difference... and it's much better for you. A few little changes like that made a big difference in our house.

Good Luck!

I think it's impossible... like people saying that once you start working out you CRAVE working out (poppy cock!) I just don't see that as possible!!!

So good luck... it's next to impossible... especially to cut down on the grains and add more vegetables... lower, lean portions of beef -- BUT it IS summertime... throw on some S&P and a little EVOO on your veggies and just GRILL the heck out of everything!! :)

I like making healthy fajitas and quesadillas. I buy the "carb balance" tortillas or the 94% fat free tortillas....the fajita (smaller) size --- not the burrito size.

I buy: fat free shredded cheddar cheese,

salsa [[or you can make your own: blend one big can of tomatoes, one chopped onion, 1 or 2 jalapenos (depending on how hot you like -- with or without seeds), chopped cilantro, cumin seasoning to taste. homemade salsa is only fresh for one week in the fridge, but oooh so good. with no presevatives or chemicals.]]

I also buy chicken breast, onion, green bellpepper. And I have fajita meat seasoning (they sell bigger size of this in the Mexican food aisle). And black beans (canned) as a side item. If you like, buy fat free sour cream (we don't use it though...the fajita is good without it.)

I cut up raw chicken breast into small fajita strip sizes, sprinkle the fajita seasoning on them.....cook in skillet with Pam spray on the pan only --- no cooking oil or butter needed. Pam is non-fat.
I sautee the cut long strips of onion and bellpepper in a Pam-sprayed big skillet. I sprinkle the fajita seasoning on the veggies too. I cook until very tender.
I also warm/toast the tortillas on a small skillet....this really makes them tasty! If the kids like butter on tortillas (like most kids do)....use the I Can't Believe It's Not Butter SPRAY...it's healthier than any other butter/margarine...virtually no calories/fat.
A variation of this.....brown ground white turkey breast in skillet with fajita seasoning....with a can of Rotel. Serve this in warm/toasted tortilla, topped with Fat Free shedd cheese, Roll up like a burrito. Serve warm black beans as a side.

If I make quesadillas....i only use the spray butter on each side of the tortilla (carb balance or 94% FF kind)....with Fat free shredd cheddar cheese....I add white chicken meat and onions. Sometimes I cut up raw chicken breast into small bite size pieces, and cook it in a skillet (with PAM - no oil!)...and I add a can of Rotel.....once hot....add this (without juices) to each quesadilla. Roast each quesadilla on a skillet on each side.

I also like to make my Mexican chicken. In a casserole dish...I spray PAM on the bottom, add chicken breast, add Rotel can(s), sprinkle is Mexican seasonings (cumin, or fajita seasoning), add fresh herbs if desired (cilantro); cover with foil and bake for 30 mins. at 350 degrees until done.
I serve each chicken breast over steamed rice (brown or white) -- small amnt on each plate like 1/2 cup or 3/4 cup. I serve a steam small corn on the cob niblet with each serving.

I also like making quesadillas. I buy low-cholesterol flour tortillas, and monterrey jack cheese 2%. Boiling beans and then putting them in the blender with a bit of salt -without the whole frying has just as good results. Have you tried making tamales? They are sooooo good for any meal of the day and if you use the right ingredients they can be low fat. Or how about arroz con leche (rice with milk), you use fat free or 1% milk and boil it with rice, add splenda and cinammon for flavor, kids love it. Or corn tacos with Taco Bell meat seasoning on extra lean ground beef, and lettuce. Never forget the salsa, boil 6-7 jalapenos, put it in the blender add a can of tomato sauce and salt, it's fast and easy.

If you love Mexican food, I have a dinner for you. I like eating healthy, but my husband is not a big fan. Men! My boys will actually eat this too.

Meal:
Laura's lean (4% fat) ground beef (cooked for tacos w/ garlic, onion powder, ground red pepper and regular pepper)
Package of tortillas (I buy the whole wheat/low carb kind)
Taco toppings (low-fat cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, etc.)
Spanish rice (there is a package that is whole grain and really easy to make, I believe it is Rice-a-Roni?)
Black beans

This meal is low fat, has tons of protein and fiber. It's one of my easy, go-to meals when I want to make something healthy and that everyone will actually eat! ;-)

Good luck!

I buy Schwann's salmon (which is a great price) and I broil it in the oven and I smother it with remoulade--which gives it a great spicey flavor. Serve it with rice and a veggie and you've got a great meal...by the way, it takes 10 minutes to prepare the salmon!!