Inspiration Sunday: Be Healthy!

Let's do a complete 180 from last Sunday, and try to be healthy, getting all of our vitamins!

We all have our comfort foods, our cooking staples, and the things we know we shouldn't eat as much of, but we do anyways. Though these things aren't horrible for you, they could be better. And here is how to make them a little bit better for you and your family.

Whole Wheat, Rice, and TriColor Pasta
I am so guilty of over-indulging on pasta. I could (and have) eaten pasta for every meal of the day. So here is something to think of the next time you cook pasta. Don't opt for the regular, try a whole wheat pasta (for tons more fiber) or even a rice pasta (less calories, more protein). My favorite way to sneak some veggies in is using a TriColor pasta (like rotini, or macaroni). This pasta will add tomatoes and spinach, so you don't have to worry (too much) if you skip your green veggie side dish.

Veggie Pasta Sauce
Whether you make your pasta sauce at home, or you buy jarred sauce, you can easily sneak some healthy into your pasta! Using a food processor or blender, blend down some veggies until they are pretty smooth and mix it in with your pasta sauce. Carrotts, zucchini, red bell peppers, squash, and broccoli all make great additions. This works for tomato sauces and cheese sauces, so just experiment and find the combinations you like!This is perfect for kids who refuse to eat there veggies too.

"Bread" Crumbs
If you are making meatballs or meatloaf, try using oat bran instead of your normal breadcrumbs. It adds more wholesome goodness, and holds a little more moisture. So if you are doing a baked chicken breast, this may not be ideal, but if you are mixing it in with something, this can be a big plus because it can help keep the things you eat from drying out while baking.

Remember to Add Fruit
You can jazz up a simple grilled cheese sandwich or quesadilla with some fruit. I have read (but yet to try) that adding some tropical fruits (think Mangoes and Pineapples) to quesadilla can give it a sweet kick and makes it a great treat for kids and adults! Tomato is a fruit too and a slice or three is always welcome on a grilled cheese sandwich (heirloom tomatoes are the best). Apples and pears (I have heard) taste great on a grilled cheese too.

Turkey, Turkey, Turkey
I cannot stress enough how much healthier white meat Turkey is than beef. I know that Turkey is no where near as delicious to the red-meat lover like myself, BUT if you substitute one red-meat meal a week with turkey you can save that much fat.

Share your easy ways to make your food a little more healthy! Leave a comment below :)