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| Healthy Diet Plans >> What to eat >> What to eat for dinner |
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What to eat for dinner People have finally begun to understand the importance of a healthy and balanced diet. Today there is a wide availability of healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner recipes on the internet and in books. Just as breakfast serves as the most important meal of the day and lunch helps to give the body an energy-fix in the middle of the day, dinner too is an essential meal. It is necessary to eat healthy dinner so that the body gets its daily requirement of vitamins and minerals. Working professionals may find takeaway meals or fast foods more convenient. Preparing healthy dinners begins with having the proper ingredients handy. There are some healthy items that should always be stocked in the pantry or refrigerator. The must-have ingredients for your pantry should include whole grain pasta, canned beans, non-fatty pasta sauces, canned tuna in water, canned vegetables, canned fruits, rice, cereal, low-fat sodium soup, whole grain bread, nuts, pancake mix and peanut butter. Your refrigerator should always have prewashed vegetables and fruits, carrots, tomatoes, salad greens, low fat milk, cheese, eggs, low fat salad dressings and yogurt. Fruits, vegetables, poultry and seafood can also be stored in the freezer. Turkey and chicken serve as healthy dinner foods once you get rid of the skin and visible fat. Poultry also cooks very quickly and the flavor is not dominating. It can be served with a wide variety of sauces and dressings. One of the most popular chicken dinner recipes is roast chicken. Simply combine some ginger juice, soy sauce and white and brown sugar. Pour the mixture over the chicken and allow it to marinate for some time. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees, place the chicken on a greased baking dish and bake for one hour. Serve hot or cold. Salads are a must-have dinner food. These are easy to prepare and can be made with a variety of vegetables and dressings. A simple salad recipe involves combining slices of tomato, cucumber, shredded cabbage and carrots. Add some salt and low-fat salad oil and toss well. Mixed fruits salads are also nutritious and delicious dinner time foods. You can use fresh seasonal fruits for added nutrition. Sandwiches also make for tasty and quick dinners. Use whole wheat breads with stuffing made from tuna, lean meats or assorted vegetables. Soup is also a good option for dinner. Low sodium broths are easily available at grocery stores today. These also come in different flavors. Add some finely chopped vegetables to the soup and simmer for about half an hour. Season with dill, thyme or basil and blend everything together. Soup can also be frozen and stored for later use. If you have to eat out, ensure that you eat mindfully. Pay attention to the portion sizes and order those dishes that constitute a balanced meal. Avoid buffets as these are likely to lead to overeating. Watch your salt intake as fast foods restaurants are likely to offer foods that high in salt. Also avoid sugary or caffeinated drinks as these can increase the calorie intake and also keep you up at night. It is best to drink only plain water or unsweetened iced tea. |
| Submitted on January 16, 2014 |