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5 Realistic Resolutions for a Healthy New Year, New You

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It’s a story we all know too well. New Year’s rolls around and, feeling the effects of holiday overindulgence and inspired by the promise of a fresh start, we rattle off a handful of “get healthy” resolutions for the upcoming year. This year, l’ll stay away from sweets—period. I’ll stop snacking between meals. I’ll finally run that marathon, no excuses.

The problem is, while these “New Year, New Me” goals are undoubtedly admirable, they’re often unrealistic. We start off full steam ahead in January, but start feeling burnt by the time February rolls around, and by March, we’re back to our old, unhealthy habits.

The key to long-term success is setting obtainable, sustainable goals that easily fit into your current routine. Here are Libby’s wholesome eating tips and recipe ideas that prove you don’t need to take extreme measures to lead a healthy lifestyle. All you need is an appetite!

1.       Control snacking with bite-sized portions

 

Nibbling between meals is not bad for you. In fact, it can help manage hunger and reduce over-eating at mealtime. The key is to consume satiating, good-for-you snacks in moderate portions. These Mini Cheese Quiches with Corn & Chives make the job easy: they’re filled with Libby’s® Whole Kernel Sweet Corn, packed with protein and sized appropriately. 

 2.       Rethink the role of veggies

 

Yes, you CAN have vegetables for breakfast, and yes you CAN enjoy it. Starting your morning with a wholesome meal sets the tone for a healthy day ahead. This recipe for Scrambled Eggs with Peppers & Peas delivers two servings of veggies (including Libby’s® Sweet Peas) and is packed with protein, which helps fight pre-lunch hunger. Repeat with us now: veggies are not just for dinner.

3.       Lighten up old favorites

 

Cleaning up your diet doesn’t mean you must bid adieu to beloved comfort foods. Small swaps — like subbing skim milk for whole or trading butter for Greek yogurt — can improve the nutrition profile of a dish without sacrificing flavor. This recipe for Turkey Bolognese with Peas and Carrots offers a nutritious take on a traditional sloppy joe. Lean turkey stands in for ground beef, and Libby’s® Sweet Peas and Libby’s® Diced Carrots add bonus nutrients.

4.       Dress up salads

 

Salads needn’t be your nemesis. Make your bowl of leafy greens more palatable by adding a tasty topping (think: dried or fresh fruits, nuts or seeds). Need inspiration? Try this simple recipe for Peas, Carrots & Candied Walnut Salad. Bibb lettuce and Libby’s® Peas & Carrots are jazzed up with a sprinkling of goat cheese and cinnamon-flavored nuts.

5.       Prioritize family mealtime

 

Taking the time to enjoy a homemade, sit-down meal with the whole clan — even if it’s just once a week — can improve everyone’s health. Since you’re in charge of the menu, it’s easier to keep calories, fat and sodium levels in check. Plus, the health benefits extend beyond nutrition: regular family dinners have been linked to better academic performance, higher self-esteem and lower rates of depression. Kick off your healthier lifestyle this year by getting your family back to the table. 

For more healthy mealtime inspiration, check out Libby’s Digital Recipe Box.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo

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With the arrival of May, calendars start to fill with impromptu gatherings and parties at every turn. Kicking off entertainment season is Cinco de Mayo – a holiday to celebrate with great food and drink. Whether you’re feeding a party or your usual crew, celebrate today with delicious dishes that embrace Mexican culture and heritage.

 

 

Mexican Lasagna 

Lasagna is always good to feed a crowd, so try this Mexican Lasagna that’s perfect for Cinco! Whip up this delicious meal including Libby’s® Organic Black Beans and hamburger or turkey as your meat of choice. You’ll have your family on their feet dancing for a second helping!

Looking for a kid-friendly favorite with a bit of gourmet flair? Lime and Cumin Chicken Tenders with Fiesta Rice is an easy way to give your kids flavor-bursting chicken and vegetables they’ll love. With fiesta in the name, you can rest assured this meal is Cinco de Mayo ready! 

Mexican Salsa Veggie Burgers

Mexican Salsa Veggie Burgers are meatless, hearty and reminiscent of restaurant-style refried beans – especially if served alongside brown rice. Libby’s® Organic Pinto Beans and Sweet Corn combine forces to give you a burger perfect for the occasion. If you like spicy, mix a pinch of cayenne pepper into the burgers or add diced jalapeno pepper to the salsa.

Eating O’ the Greens

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By Deanna Segrave-Daly, RD

 

When March rolls around, I’m thinking GREEN. There’s St. Patrick’s Day, of course, but it’s the first day of spring that has me anticipating green buds on the trees, green grass on the ground and all the green edibles that will be soon popping up.

 

Dark leafy greens and green veggies are nutrient powerhouses that we all should be eating more of. Here are my top 5 favorite ways to get more flavorful greens into your every day diet (beyond the iceberg salad): 

  1. Veggie Roast – Roasting any vegetable brings out a natural sweetness and can make bitter tasting ones taste better. Toss chopped broccoli, Libby’s® Cut Green Beans or Brussels sprouts with olive oil, minced garlic and black pepper. Roast in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, stirring every 5 minutes until vegetables are tender.
     
  2. Dynamite Dips & Spreads – Puree cooked greens with Libby’s® Garbanzo Beans and seasonings in a blender (add a little water if too thick). Or make this Sweet Pea Dip with fresh mint. Serve as a dip with whole grain crackers or use as a sandwich spread.
     
  3. Stellar Soup & Stews – Simmer chopped Swiss chard, broccoli rabe or collards in any soup – from chicken noodle to your favorite chili – to add extra nutrients and flavor. Mix greens into cheese and broccoli soup and puree for extra creaminess without a lot of extra calories. Or try this Spicy Sweet Pea Bisque.
     
  4. Buddha Power Bowls – The latest trend in bowl cuisine features noodles or whole grains paired with eggs, beans or tofu and chopped veggies. Add in chopped, sautéed leafy greens, like kale and spinach or try this Lean Green Warm Barley Salad.
     
  5. Punched Up Pesto – Traditional pesto mixes basil with pine nuts but you can blend almost any green veggie, herb and nut with olive oil and parmesan cheese for delicious results. Swap in arugula with pistachios or mint with almonds for a super quick pasta sauce.

 Here’s wishing you a green filled week!

Summer Salads for Every Occasion

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‘Tis the season for light, fresh meals full of flavorful veggies. We all have our go-to salads we make over and over again, but here’s some inspiration to pull you out of your salad rut to create delicious combinations the whole family will enjoy.

Super Food Salad

Dinner salads are a smart way to work in a variety of nutritious ingredients into one meal. Start with a leafy green such as romaine lettuce or spinach, add a colorful assortment of your favorite veggies and top it off with a protein source like hardboiled eggs, grilled chicken, beans, or canned fish.  For added flavor, incorporate fresh herbs such as dill, basil and parsley.  Beware of creamy dressings that can negate the healthy properties of your salad and instead opt for vinaigrette which is easy to make with a few staple pantry ingredients. We like this Salmon & Dill Green Bean salad as a complete meal in a bowl.

Salad for Picky Eaters

While it may seem that salads and kids don’t mix, sometimes picky eaters may be sensitive to particular textures or temperatures.  Mellowing out the intense textures in a salad could help.  For instance, if raw carrots are too rough or crunchy, try using Libby’s® Sliced Carrots and Sliced Beets over a bed of soft spring mix.  Our Beet & Carrot Salad is a great salad to start with.

Appetizer Salad for Backyard Barbecues

Complement your grilled burgers or chicken skewers with a tangy Easy Three Bean Salad instead of a high-calorie potato or macaroni salad.  This versatile salad can be served as a topping with tortilla chips or French bread, a top a bed of lettuce or simply on its own.

Salads in a Snap

With a well-stocked pantry, you can create a fantastic salad in minutes. Keep on hand canned veggies like Libby’s® Whole Kernel Sweet Corn and Libby’s® Sweet Peas plus nuts, seeds, beans, canned fish and dried cranberries. In the fridge, store bagged lettuce and, if you have time, precooked quinoa and precut veggies. With all the ingredients right at your fingertips, a healthy, yummy salad is easy to throw together!

Score a Touchdown at Your Big Game Party

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In two weeks, families all across America will gather around television sets for the most watched sporting event of the year. While two teams of professional athletes anticipate the biggest game of their lives, you can prepare a big game party worthy of your own victory dance. Sketch a Game Plan While the pros diagram plays down in New Orleans, where this year’s game will be held, make your own game plan for a touchdown-worthy celebration. Send invitations, by traditional mail or email, with enough time for guests to respond. Tackle your menu plan ahead of time and create a timetable for the day so all your food is ready by the time the guests arrive. Map out a space big enough for all your guests to have a clear view of the game and easy access to the food. Avoid a Food Fumble Your snacks will take center stage during commercial breaks and halftime. While the big game is the main focus of the gathering, we suggest creating a buffet table so guests can grab food whenever they like. Score an extra point with your guests by preparing fun party dishes like Libby’s Corn and Mac Casserole and Southwestern Chicken Quesadillas. Fill the Viewing Arena with Team Spirit Even though your camp will be watching the big game from the comfort of your home, you can still amplify the spirit and excitement as if you were viewing it live from the stadium. Construct easy and fun centerpieces, like football floral arrangements, and hand out pom-poms in your team’s colors to create an electrifying atmosphere. Practice Good Sportsmanship Sometimes we forget that major sporting events are held to bring groups of people together, foster tradition, and entertain. As the party host, it is up to you to create an atmosphere that promotes good sportsmanship, no matter the outcome of the game. Offer prizes for all your party attendees, not only those rooting for the winning team, and make sure each of your guests leaves full and happy!

Veg Out

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Let’s face it. Whether we’re facing picky eaters or we’re in a salad rut, most of us could use a boost when it comes to enjoying more vegetables.

When serving veggies to kids, it’s very important to avoid setting veggies up as undesirable– as in “eat two more bites of broccoli and then you can have dessert.” Rather, serve them and then let the kids decide how much they want (you can suggest a “try it” bite.) And remember, they need to see you eating your veggies, too. Here are some ideas on how to do just that:

Serve Them For Breakfast
Vegetables are a morning staple for many cultures around the globe. A few basic ideas to start your day with a veggie serving:

  • Cook up a mini-omelet with eggs, chopped spinach or mixed veggies. Layer with cheese on a small bagel.
  • Grab a piece of leftover vegetable pizza
  • Sauté chopped onions, bell peppers and sweet peas with scrambled eggs. Wrap into whole wheat tortilla.
  • Pair raw, crunchy veggies with a peanut butter and lowfat vanilla yogurt dip.

Make Them Sweet With Heat
Roasting veggies brings out a natural sweetness – my go-to recipe is toss raw or canned veggies with a few tablespoons of olive oil, minced garlic, dash of salt & pepper. Herbs and spices also bring out the best in veggies. Some combos for the oven:

  • Carrots + cinnamon + nutmeg
  • Green beans + ginger + sesame seeds
  • Broccoli + tarragon + garlic
  • Cauliflower + cumin + lemon zest

Give Them a Whirl
While I’m not a big fan of hiding veggies in food (again, implies veggies are the bad guys,) pureeing cooked veggies can enhance a recipe both in taste and nutrition. It’s up to you whether or not you tell the family what’s in the dish!

  • Mix pureed butternut squash or pumpkin into homemade mac & cheese
  • Puree onions and carrots into tomato sauce for pasta or pizza
  • Blend root veggies like turnips or parsnips with potatoes for a rich, creamy soup base.
  • If you’re feeling adventurous, blend spinach or kale into a fruit smoothie.