Chic-Shuk Secrets

All peppers are rich in vitamins A, C, and K, but Red Peppers are simply bursting with them plus considered to be a great source of Vitamin B6. This very nutritious vegetable and the antioxidants it contain help preventing cell damage, cancer, and diseases related to aging. Further more, Red Pepper support the immune function, can reduce inflammation like that found in arthritis and asthma, promotes proper blood clotting and strengthens bones.

With all of these great health benefits and nutrition values, I love cooking this Moroccan-style healthy veggie meal since satisfy as steak and tasteful as a gourmet dish:  With 302 calories, 9 grams of protein,  8 grams of fat and 4 grams of fibre per serving, you cannot go wrong with this MUST TRY RECIPE !!!

Couscous-Stuffed Red Pepper W/Yogurt:

Ingrediants:

85 grams of whole wheat Couscous
2 tbsp Raisins
50 ml hot vegetable stock
1 tsp clear honey
1 large lemon- squeez for juice
2 garlic cloves
small bunch flat-leaf parsley
150 ml tub non-fat natural yogurt
2 tomatoes , roughly chopped
2 red peppers , halved, cores removed
1 tbsp olive oil

How to make:

• Pre-heat oven to 400* degrees.

• Place couscous and raisins in a heatproof bowl. Stir stock, honey and lemon juice, then pour over the couscous. Cover and leave to absorb for 5 mins.

• Place the lemon zest, garlic and parsley in a mini food processor and whizz until everything is well chopped.

• Stir 1 tbsp of this mixture into the yogurt, then set aside. Stir the remaining mixture into the couscous with the tomatoes and some seasoning.

• Spoon the couscous mixture into each pepper half, then sit them in a small roasting tin. Drizzle with oil, then bake for 40 mins until peppers are tender.

• Serve with the yogurt and a simple green salad on the side, and- ENJOY!!! 

Admitting I am totally addicted tvito French Fries, I must say it was kinda hard reducing the amount I used to eat ever since keeping a healthy weight watchers lifestyle and dieting routing. However, I have recently discovered there is a much healthier and even tastier way to enjoy the sense of eating fries! since I love sweets, I really enjoy the flavor you get from Sweet Potatoes. More then that- they are so nutritious, which makes it a smart, healthy choice to make! Sweet Potatoes contain many health benefits such as Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Both are powerful antioxidants, which may help prevent cancer, and not only they taste like a dessert they are considered very good food for diabetics since help in stabilize blood sugar levels. In addition, Sweet Potatoes are rich in minerals like Calcium, Iron and Potassium. Be sure to add these wonderful naturally sweet vegetables to your meals throughout the year! and not only as fries, since they are some of the most nutritious vegetables around!

Check these nutrition facts for these baked, throw into the oven for 20 min Sweet Potatos Fries, from Trader Joe`s , my favorit brand:  Only 190 calories, 9 grams of fat and 26 grams of carbs and 0 cholesterol!!!  SWEET!!!

I have recently discovered Chex Mix Chocolate Bars product while shopping for groceries. I was right near the cereal section, when could not avoid hearing a young lady taking to her friend while pointing on the shelve, saying “Those Chex Mix bars are impossible to resist…” I had to look at the nutrition facts at the back of the pack, and was absolutely amazed! These chocolate chunks, wheat pretzels and corn cereal bars contain only 140 calories, 3 grams of fat, 26 grams of carbs and more important- 8 grams of whole grains and fiber per serving! I felt like I have just found my ultimate new chocolate craving healthy weight watching solution!!! Got home, tried it and guess what- It DOES AMAZINGLY taste like REAL chocolate! and its healthy! very nice. I was extremely satisfied, considering the fact I used to be addicted to “Snickers” Chocolate Bars, which contains 280 Calories, 14 GRAMS OF FAT (yes ladies and gentlemen! 14 grams of fat in ONE (1) BAR!!!!!!  Hello!!! my `Lean Cuisine` yummy Lunch box does not contain THAT MUCH FAT!!!
 

Awareness, people. That’s all I`m saying. Don’t count calories, but DO check the nutrition facts of those foods you eat! That’s how you can watch your weight and keep a healthy lifestyle!

The good, the bad and what is recommended-

There are many myths regarding coffee beans and drinking coffee habits. However, recent Japanese reserches found that having a cup of coffee a few times a week, thanks to the Antioxidants coffee contain, may lower not only the risk of mouth AND throat cancers by up to %50 percent, but link coffee to lowering the risk of breast and ovarian cancers as well! 

Now, since caffeine raises blood pressure, if you enjoy drinking a lot of coffee, you may wanna choose decaf. It has the same healthy benefits as regular coffee.

What can I say, it makes me feel much better now, recommending drinking coffee with my favorite low fat soy based creamer:

Coffee Mate makes drinking coffee more “sophisticated”! It is a great healthy choice for your healthy lifestyle, and there are so many different flavours to choose from so then you never get board with the same old taste! This product works great for someone like my mom, which is lactose intolerant lack enough of an enzyme called lactate, and aren’t able to completely digest the natural sugar found in milk which calls lactose. All COFFEE-MATE coffee whiteners are lactose free, low fat and low calories, with few sugar-free versions available as well, which makes adding only 2 spoons of it to your cup of coffee makes it unnecessary to add any kind of sugar or other sweetener!
I like several flavors coffee-mate offers and it is very much fun finding new flavour on the market shelves every time I shop for groceries! I like the `Irish Cream` the most…

 My top list of  Antioxidants-Rich Foods Healthy Choice:

1) Berries (Especially Blueberries)

Berries

2) Artichoke: 

Artichoke

3) Corn:

Corn

4) Broad Green Beans

5) Almonds:

Almonds

6) Apricot:

Apricot

7) Broccoli:

Broccoli

8) Lemon:

9) Dated:

Dated

10) Chiles:

Chiles

11) Garlic:

Garlic

12) Grapes:

13) Mango:

Mango

14) Squash:

Squash

15) Peppers (Especially Red Ones):

Peppers

16) Spinach:

Spinach

17) Carrots:

Carrots

18) Tomatoes:

Tomatoes

19) Green Tea:

Green Tea

20) Pineapple:

Pineapple

21) Red Beets:

Red Beets

22) Pinto Beans:

Pinto Beans

23) Pomegranates:

Pomegranates

24) Sweet Potatoes:

Sweet Potatoes

25) Whole Grain Brown Rice:

Brown Rice

26) Raw Nuts & Seeds

Raw Nuts & Seeds

27) Olive Oil:

Olive Oil

28) Red Wine:

Red Wine

29) Dark Chocolate:

Dark Chocolate

 30) Coffee:

Cup Of Coffee