The Best Foods for Your Brain (And Why We Might Owe Fat an Apology) You Might Like 9 Excuses for Eating Avocado Toast Every Single Day READ Fat: What was once the ugly stepchild of the dietary world is now being heralded as the savior of humankind. OK maybe that’s taking things a little too far. But fat does offer great benefits for our bodies—and our minds. Read on to learn how to make fat work for your brain. Is Fat Really Good for My Brain? Yes. Good nutrition in general is key to maintaining a healthy brain (and keeping the rest of you healthy!). Top 3 Dietary Fats for Your Mind and Body 1. Polyunsaturated fats contain the essential fatty acids (EFAs) omega-3 and omega-6. An omega-3 fatty acid, DHA has been shown to help brain functions like memory, speaking ability, and motor skills. 3. Saturated fat is actually one of the main components of brain cells, and is therefore necessary for healthy brain function. 6 Foods Packed With Healthy Fats 1. 2. Salmon contains high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. 3. 4. 5. 6. The Takeaway: Making Fat Work for You
Homemade Cheesy Chili Dip Waell, looks like we’re going to have to stuff our faces with favorite game day foods two posts in a row. Hmm. Darn. When it comes to party food game food snack food etc, I have a deep and borderline inappropriate love for cheesy dips bubbling away inside of little mini Crockpots. So enter Homemade Cheesy Chili Dip: it starts with a made-from-scratch super quick chili with spicy sausage and black beans that is so deliciously Tex-Mex flavored because I must have all the spice in my mouth right now, and it’s stirred all up to the happy place of dip land with a creamy *real food* cheese sauce involving butter, flour, milk, and cheese AS CHEESE SAUCE SHOULD. I had actually not really wanted to post this recipe today (too much game food all at once = annoying) but I’ve been really trying to make some awesome desserty-type things this week and the bottom line is that they have not been awesome and therefore they cannot be posted today. For example. So, uh…. are you mad at me? I knew you would.
40 Easy Casserole Recipes That Are Actually Healthy If only there were a dish so versatile and easy to prepare that you could toss together almost any combination of protein and veggies, tweak it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and have lasting leftovers that don’t get old—when it comes to taste, anyway. Wait! What about that casserole thing? You know, that dish made popular in the 1950s—the one that (unfortunately) took a turn for the worse when processed foods started popping up in the 1970s. Ah, yes, that casserole. Well, times have changed. Breakfast Photo: Minimailist Baker 1. 2. 3. 4. Photo: Eat Yourself Skinny 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Light Lunch Photo: The Local Kitchener 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. Photo: Homemade Levity 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. Hearty Dinner Photo: Smitten Kitchen 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. Photo: The Kitchen is My Playground 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. Photo: Girl Makes Food 36.
Bacon and Apple Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Grilled cheese sandwiches are packed full of delicious flavor: sweet crisp apples, savory bacon and sharp white cheddar cheese. Top with a light honey mustard and you've got the perfect lunch! Well, because I posted tomato soup yesterday, I only felt it necessary to post grilled cheese today. It’s been all about the easy recipes this week. Wait … it is my job … But anyway, it’s all about keeping recipes quick and easy as we prepare for Thanksgiving, and you don’t get much easier than soup and sandwiches. Grilled cheese is one of those recipes that I love to put my mark on. The apples send this bacon and apple grilled cheese sandwich over the top. Recipe and beer pairing is below! Don’t miss a post! Bacon and Apple Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Ingredients 8 slices artisan bread 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature 1/4 cup honey mustard 8 slices sharp white cheddar cheese 8 slices fully-cooked bacon, crisp 2 apples, sliced thin Instructions
50 Awesome Pre- and Post-Workout Snacks You might also like: 88 Unexpected Snacks Under 100 Calories Read More Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for some, but for those who manage to squeeze some gym time into their routine, pre- and post-workout foods can be just as huge. While everyone’s nutritional requirements are different depending on their goals and activities, these snacks can offer the right balance of carbohydrates, fats, and protein to satisfy hunger, fuel workouts, and aid in recovery. Read on for Greatist’s 50 favorite pre- and post-workout snacks, including some go-to recipes from our trusted health and fitness pros. Pre-Workout Snacks The body works to build muscle and recover 24 hours a day, not just during that one-hour session at the gym. 1. Feeling fancy, huh? 2. Put a twist on the classic kids’ treat by blending 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder, 1 cup orange juice, and 1 cup ice. 3. Infuse 1 scoop chocolate whey protein with 2 teaspoons of extra virgin coconut oil. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
Creamy Tomato & Spinach Pasta - Budget Bytes Easy wins again! I’m on day 6 of an 8 day work week, so that means two things: I’m tired and I’m hungry. Quick skillet pasta dishes like this Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta are perfect for such an occasion. They require only a few ingredients, cook up super fast, and leave me feeling full and happy! This version uses just a touch of cream cheese and Parmesan to make a regular tomato sauce ultra rich and creamy. Anyway, tomorrow is Monday (again) and the week will be long, so I hope this recipe helps make dinner time a little faster, easier, and more enjoyable for you this week! Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta (Photos updated 4/25/16) Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta Total Cost: $3.72 Cost Per Serving: $0.93 Serves: 4 Ingredients Instructions Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Step by Step Photos Start by bringing a large pot of water to a boil so that the pasta can cook while you prepare the sauce. I have to pause for a second to tell you a crazy story. Add the fresh spinach…
88 Unexpected Snacks Under 100 Calories We’ve all been there: hunger striking before dinnertime, a sudden craving for something sweet, the need for a quick energy boost before working out. The solution? A small and satisfying snack that won't tip that calorie count over the edge—after all, a quick nibble can easily turn into the calorie equivalent of a full-blown meal. These flavorful, low-calorie treats can please any palate while still leaving room for dinner. Sweet Snacks 1. 1/2 frozen banana dipped in 2 teaspoons dark chocolate chips, melted 2. 28 grapes (about 1 scant cup), placed in the freezer for 2+ hours 3. 1/2 cup nonfat Greek yogurt with 1 dash cinnamon and 1 teaspoon honey 4. 1 Fig Newton with 1 teaspoon peanut butter 5. 1 medium orange, sprinkled with cinnamon 6. 2 1/4-inch thick pineapple rounds (3 1/2-inch diameter), grilled (or sautéed) for 2 minutes or until golden 7. 1 cup blueberries with 2 tablespoons whipped topping 8. 3 small dried figs stuffed with 1 tablespoon part-skim ricotta and sprinkled with cinnamon 9.
Top 10 Recipes for College Students It’s that time again! Time to settle in for the semester and really hit the books… But don’t let food take the back burner. You need to keep yourself nourished and full of energy to make it through those classes, study sessions, and probably a part-time job, too. I know it’s easier to just stop and grab some fast food, or how when you’re totally stressed nothing sounds better than take-out pizza, but I promise you, a home cooked meal will take you much further. I know what it’s like to be a busy, stressed, and BROKE college student. So… Here are my picks for the top ten recipes for students. Dragon Noodles – Because, they’re Dragon Noodles. Curried Chickpeas with Spinach – When the autumn nights start to get a chilly bite, warm up with a hot bowl of these hearty curried chickpeas with spinach. Spinach Feta Grilled Cheese – Grilled cheese is the ultimate study/comfort food. Easy Oven Fajitas – These fajitas are perfect for when you need to feed a crowd (hello, hungry study group?).
52 Healthier Alternatives to Late-Night Snacks We've all been there: It's late, we're hungry, and the drive-through window is beckoning. But before you grab the keys (or call for delivery) check out this list of less food-coma inducing late-night fare. It may require a little more work than swinging through a fast food joint, but the payoff is the seriously delicious satisfaction of knowing you're feeding yourself well (and making healthy leftovers for tomorrow). Savory Fare Instead of a fast-food burger, make: 1. 2. Instead of a diner omelet, make: 3. 4. Instead of French fries, make: 5. 6. Instead of delivery or frozen pizza, make: 7. 8. Instead of a drive-through breakfast sandwich, make: 9. 10. Instead of drive-through quesadillas, tacos, and burritos, make: Photo: Kelli Dunn 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. Instead of store-bought grilled cheese, make: 17. 18. Instead of potato chips and French onion dip, make: 19. 20. 21. 22. Instead of the Chinese buffet, make: 23. 24. 25. Instead of mac ‘n cheese from a box, make: 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32.
Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Taquitos These freezer-friendly taquitos are filled with BBQ chicken and pineapple goodness, making them perfect as a light meal or game day snack! I’m a bit obsessed with anything involving pineapple and BBQ sauce so with much brainstorming (more like dreaming and then waking up to be completely inspired), I decided to make these baked chicken taquitos. They’re slathered on with my favorite BBQ sauce, loaded with caramelized red onions and freshly cut pineapple with melted sharp cheddar goodness throughout a crispy, yet tender tortilla. It was quite an amazing lunch as I gobbled these babies up with an extra drizzle of BBQ sauce, and they tasted just as good when they were frozen and reheated for a busy, effortless weeknight meal later on in the week. But now I have these loaded taquitos for any day of the week. Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Taquitos These freezer-friendly taquitos are filled with BBQ chicken and pineapple goodness, making them perfect as a light meal or game day snack! Ingredients
17 Surprising Mid-Run Snacks to Improve Your Marathon The feeling of a long run is primal and transcendent, but so is that all-consuming, knee-trembling feeling of hunger and nausea that makes you desperate for food—while also questioning your ability to keep it down. This is the challenge of the mid-workout meal: It needs to be full of energy and easy to digest. In fact, in the middle of a long run, many conventional dietary rules go out the window. Rather than protein and healthy fats, the body needs fast-absorbing carbohydrates—food that will spike insulin and send sugars rushing through the bloodstream to fuel the muscles that need them . "It's even a good idea to avoid more fibrous food, like sweet potatoes," says Greatist expert Jason Fitzgerald. "The fiber can exacerbate stomach cramps." Mid-run snacking isn’t really necessary unless you’re exercising for more than hour. Drinks Okay, so they’re not normally considered a snack, but fluids can be a great way to quickly inject nutrients into the bloodstream. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Actual Food
Avocado, Mozzarella and Tomato Grilled Cheese I wish I had everything I needed to make this sandwich for lunch today, cause looking at it again really makes me want it. I don't even have tomato for a grilled cheese and 'mater sandwich. Tomorrow's grocery shopping day...guess I'll have to wait until then. Ok well, sorry to just post and run, but I've got a doctors appointment in about 45 minutes and bunch of stuff to do after that. I have a very busy morning and early afternoon tomorrow, so I won't be around, but I'll see you guys on Friday! 'Avocado, Mozzarella and Tomato Grilled Cheese' Source: Adapted from Pinterest, but the pin led to no link...just a photo Ingredients Bread of choice 1 avocado, sliced 2 pieces of Mozzarella cheese slices 1 tomato, sliced olive oil salt butter Directions 1. 2. 3. 4. All Images Copyrighted © 2013 The Kitchen Life of a Navy Wife
Healthy Snacks In addition, here are some suggested healthy snacks and lunches that our district Health Committee has developed. You may find these suggestions helpful for birthday parties and holiday parties when you are planning a treat. Simple Peach Iced Tea Though I used to despise peaches as a child, I’m quite fond of them now. All it took was one good peach milkshake and my mind was changed. Ice cream has undeniable power over me. This peach iced really is perfect. I hate to compare it to Sonic’s, because that would mean I would have to admit I go there. It starts with peach simple syrup, which has the most insanely gorgeous pink hue. Once your simple syrup is made, all that’s left to do is brew up your favorite black tea. This peach iced tea is summer perfection. Perfectly sweet Mega peachy So refreshing Ice cold Simple to make And perfect for hot summer days & BBQs The beautiful thing is, you can brew the iced tea and keep the simple syrup on hand so each person can decide how much they want to add. Perfect Peach Iced Tea 3-ingredient peach iced tea that's perfectly sweet and mega peachy. Author: Minimalist Baker Recipe type: Beverage Cuisine: American Serves: 10 Ingredients Instructions