By choosing low calorie ingredients and simple meal ideas, you can cook a healthy dinner in no time. If you keep many low calorie ingredients in the refrigerator, preparing dinner is just a matter of assembling everything. Healthier meals should not be less tasty than higher calorie alternatives. There are plenty of tasty and quick meals that can be made without adding fat or high calorie ingredients.
Chicken Dinner Ideas
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are low in calories and quick to cook. They are also extremely versatile--they are used in all kinds of international cuisines and have a mild flavor, therefore complementing many other ingredients. They can be sauteed, grilled, broiled, poached or roasted without the need to add much oil, and sliced chicken breast cooks in a matter of minutes. If you keep grilled chicken breasts in the refrigerator, it takes very little time to prepare a chicken sandwich, salad, pasta dish or any number of meals. A grilled boneless chicken breast makes a much lower calorie alternative to a hamburger, and the flavor can be enhanced with marinades or sauces.
Salads
Salads can be boring and leave you unsatisfied, but when you prepare your own and add lots of different ingredients they are quick, delicious and low in calories. If you keep lots of salad components handy in the refrigerator, you can quickly assemble them in a bowl for dinner. In addition to lettuce, use generous amounts of healthy foods like tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, chicken breast, canned tuna, corn and baby corn, mushrooms, hard boiled eggs and marinated artichokes. Avoid higher calorie ingredients like bacon and cheese, and also stay away from creamy dressings. Low calorie dressings are widely available in grocery stores, but you could also make your own vinaigrette using olive oil and vinegar. If you toss the salad in dressing adding a little at a time rather than pouring it over the salad, you will find that you need a lot less of it to coat all the ingredients.
Soups
Clear vegetable-based soups are a quick and easy dinner option that fill you up without many calories. Homemade soup is a much healthier option than canned soup, which often contains lots of hidden fat, salt and chemical preservatives. A homemade soup can be made in about half an hour, and if made in advance it can be heated up for dinner in a matter of minutes. The basic method for making soup is to chop vegetables of your choice, cover them with broth and simmer until the vegetables are soft. This method gives a virtually infinite variety of possibilities. If you like creamy soups, include potatoes, sweet potatoes or other root vegetables, then blend the cooked soup in a food processor for a creamy texture without the need for cream. To add bulk without adding lots of extra fat or calories, cook small pasta shapes, rice, lentils or drained canned beans with the other ingredients. You can serve a roll or small sandwich with the soup to make more of a meal.
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