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!!!

Some say you never know until you try. So true when it comes to trying new foods. When I first tried Tofu, I said to myself while still chowing the first bite- “Ow… This is actually sooo good! how come I have never tried it before?! The soft consistency of tofu makes it easy to chew and digest, plus its mild taste makes it a perfect food for anybody! True, I am not a vegetarian, however substituting meat with Tofu every once in a while has powerful, healthy benefits! 

So what exactly is Tofu and why should we eat more of it as part of our weight watching healthy diet rutine, and substitute it with meat once in a while?! Tofu may looks like feta cheese, however it is non-diery and is made by curdling fresh hot soy-milk with a coagulant. Tofu is rich in high-quality protein, a good source of B-vitamins and iron and is rich in Calcium. It is low in saturated fat and contains no cholesterol! Generally, the softer the tofu, the lower the fat content. Tofu is also very low in sodium, making it a perfect food for people on sodium-restricted diets.

In recipes, tofu acts like a sponge and has the miraculous ability to soak up any flavor that is added to it. Crumble it into a pot of spicy chili sauce and it tastes like chili. Blend it with cocoa and sweetener and it becomes a double for chocolate cream pie filling. Cubes of firm tofu can be added to any casserole or soup.

It is hard to believe something so delicious that taste so rich and creamy is actually a fruit! The amazingly nature`s creation called- Avocado, contribute nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and beneficial plant compounds.  

Now, it is very much true that even though guacamole is really nutritious, it is still loaded with calories and fat, comparing to most other fruits, however, that is the healthy, mono-unsaturated fat, therefore it can contribute to the nutrient quality of your diet!

 For all of you smart choices makers out there, who are addicted to this delightful fruit, though trying to watch your weight like I do, try this amazing Low Calorie Guacamole Salad Recipe! The key to this much loved dip salad is to bulk it up with other low calorie ingredients, and my secret one is simple hard-boiled eggs!  You can even use the egg-white only if you wish, you will get a great flavour and lower the calories and fat per servings!  I always get compliments on this So simple-to-make dish, and the hottest new thing is serving it with Baked Pita Chips!  

Best, Any-Occasion Low Calories Guacamole Salad:

Ingredients:  (3-4 Servings)

2 large `Hass` Avocados- mashed (Their skin turns from green to purplish-black when it becomes ripe and they are available all year round)

 3 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and chopped.

½ medium size red onion, chopped.

1 table spoon fresh lemon juice.

Salt, as desired.

Preparation:

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl, and serve with Baked whole grain Pita Chips (from Trader Joe`s) and sliced Tomatoes!

Enjoy!

Boost of Healthy Energy!

Banana is full of fiber, vitamins, proteins and minerals. It is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes and you could benefit from it in so many ways, since it contains all of these great nutrition:

• Three natural sugars combined with fiber- boost of energy.

• Type of protein that the body converts into Serotonin- for relaxation and good mood.

• The vitamin B6 regulates blood glucose levels- help reduce PMS (Premenstrual syndrome)

• High in Iron which can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood- help in preventing anemia.

• B12 vitamin, the potassium and the magnesium this great gift of nature contain, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal- if you are trying to give up smoking.

• A mineral called- Potassium, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body’s water balance.

Research published in “The New England Journal of Medicine,” concluded that eating bananas as part of a regular diet reduced the risk of death by strokes as much as 40%!
Some cultures see bananas as a “cooling” fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.