News: Living Better During COVID - Activity Guide PART TWO - Food

PART TWO - FOOD

Holiday time and COVID - 19 make for a very challenging season. The weather has changed. It is cold outside, and we are stuck at home. The traditional gatherings and ways we enjoyed the Holiday Season are not safe this year. Sometimes binging TV shows and eating seems like our only outlet.

There are some things you can do to help yourself. We want to remind you that eating healthy now is more important then ever. A healthy diet is important for good energy level and a stable mood. A diet full of junk food, snacks, and empty calories gives us temporary pleasure now, and then guilt over the bad choices we made. It also leaves you feeling more sluggish and fatigued. Alcohol is the same as the empty calories. A little too much now gives you a temporary pleasure, but it is often followed by regret.

We do not expect you to be perfect at Holiday time, but we wanted to offer some helpful suggestions. We have included a few recipes that are both healthy and tasty. Our Dietitian, Sheryl Gray, found a couple recipes that we wanted to share with you. There is a healthier main course option, and we did have to offer a dessert option too.

We hope you will enjoy these recipes and special time with your family in what will surely be a unique

Holiday Season for all of us. Bon Appetite!

Spicy Chicken Stew – a wonderful, healthy winter dish from “Cooking Light”

 2 baking potatoes (about 1.5 lbs.) peeled and cut into chunks (3.3 C)

1 (10 oz.) package frozen whole-kernel corn

2 celery stalks chopped

2 carrots peeled and cut into chunks (1 C)

1 onion cut not ½ in. thick slices

2 garlic cloves minced

1 C bottled salsa

1.5 tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. chili powder

½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breast

4 skinless, boneless chicken thighs (about 10.5 oz)

2.5 C fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth

4 (6-in.) fresh corn tortillas, cut into strips

Chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Preparation – Place first 6 ingredients in an electric slow cooker.  Stir in salsa and next 3 ingredients (through pepper).  Place chicken on top of vegetables and add broth.  Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours.  Remove chicken from slow cooker; shred with 2 forks. Return chicken to slow cooker.  Stir tortilla strips into stew.  Garnish with parsley, if desired.

Gingery Oat and Molasses Cookies – as healthy as a cookie can be from “Diabetic Living”

1 C all-purpose flour

¾ C whole wheat flour

½ C old-fashioned oats

1.5 tsp. baking powder

1.5 tsp. ground ginger

1 tsp. Baking soda

½ tsp. ground cinnamon

¼ tsp. salt

¾ C sugar

½ C (1 stick) unsalted butter softened

1 egg

¼ C molasses

¼ tsp. vanilla

1 C chopped crystallized ginger

½ C chopped walnuts

Preparation – Combine all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, oats, baking powder, ground ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in medium bowl; mix well.  Beat sugar and butter in large bowl with electric mixer at high speed until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg, molasses, and vanilla.  Gradually beat in flour mixture.  Stir in crystallized ginger and walnuts.  Shape dough into 2 (8 to 10 in) logs.  Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate 1 to 3 hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray cook sheets with nonstick cooking spray.  Cut logs into 1/3 in. slices; place 1.5 inches apart on a prepared cookie sheet.  Bake 12-14 minutes or until set.  Cool on cookie sheets 5 minutes.  Remove to wire rack and cool completely.

December 20, 2020