Tips and Recipes

Happy New Year! Let’s make 2020 a great year!

We all know the new year is a great time to think about making changes. Don’t let your motivation fizzle out this year! Set goals for the week, month, and year. If we make our goals too big they may seem impossible and giving up seems easier. Starting with smaller goals can help you to achieve your long term goal.

Not sure where to begin with your goal? Check out these ideas to get inspired!

• Prepare more meals at home 

Start by making a meal plan for the week. Plan at least two meals at home each week. Once you are able to accomplish this you can increase the number of meals you eat at home each week. Eventually, you can build a habit of preparing most of your meals at home! 

• Move More 

No matter how active you currently are, you can set goals to reach the activity level you need to be healthy! Set a goal for the number of times you are active each week. Try to increase the number of days first, then focus on increasing the length of time you are active each day. Be creative! If you don’t enjoy a particular exercise try a new one that you might enjoy more.

• Mindful eating

Mindful eating does not have to be anything fancy, just simply thinking about what you eat and enjoying it. Before you eat, ask yourself how much is a serving of that food? Are you taking more than a serving? If so, why? If you are hungry, think is this the only food that will satisfy my hunger? Try eating just one serving and pairing it with something else that will nourish your body and fill you up! If you see something left out in the break room or at an event stop and ask yourself if you are hungry or just eating because it is there? Being mindful of how much and what you are eating can help you to reach your health goals. 

-Megan 

Healthy Eggnog

Eggnog is a classic holiday drink enjoyed by many. However, it has never been known as a healthy choice.
If you don’t want to miss out on a flavorful tradition, try this healthy eggnog recipe instead!

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Makes 2 servings | Serving size: 1 glass

Ingredients

• ½ cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 banana (sliced and frozen)
• ½ cup milk, skim or 1%

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients except the nutmeg.
2. Blend until smooth.
3. Serve in a glass and sprinkle with nutmeg.

Nutrition Information Per Serving: 320 calories, total fat 10 g, saturated fat 2 g,
protein 26 g, total carbohydrate 34 g, dietary fiber 5 g, sodium 200 mg.
Excellent source of vitamins A and C. Good source of calcium and iron.

Have Yourself a Food Safe Holiday

Taking Control with Portion Sizes This Holiday Season

The holiday season is quickly approaching! Gatherings with family and friends are often filled with laughter, games, happy memories…and casseroles and desserts served with a side of guilt. 

Portion Control and Overeating

We all overeat from time to time, and during the holidays it can feel more difficult to break the habit. Another piece of Aunt Betty’s coconut cake or that third helping of Grandma’s turkey- it’s hard to resist. We tend to eat more than we need for many reasons – not wanting to waste, getting our money’s worth, feeling bored, happy, sad, or just eating out of habit.

But did you know that people who usually overeat are more likely to be overweight? The cycle of overeating and weight gain can increase the risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, trouble sleeping, difficulty breathing, and heart disease. This holiday season, it’s time to take control. You can have your cake (and eat it too!) by paying attention to portion sizes. 

MyPlate: Healthy Portions for Beginners 

Portion control includes the amount and types of foods we eat. MyPlate.gov was created by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)  and has easy to follow tips for a healthy diet. For a well-balanced meal, MyPlate recommends:

• Two sections (or ½ of the plate) fruits and vegetables, 
• One section of lean proteins (such as meat, poultry, fish, or beans)
• One section of grains (focus on whole grains!)
• Be sure to include a serving of dairy such as low-fat or non-fat milk, yogurt, or cheese. 

Each section of the plate is important to keep our weight balanced, muscles fueled, and our bodies healthy.

 Help Yourself to Some Practical Tips!

In addition to MyPlate, there are a lot of easy ways you can help yourself and your family to be smarter about portion sizes!

• Use a smaller plate: we normally eat what we see. Using a smaller plate can “trick” your mind into feeling full without overeating.
• Watch serving sizes: serving sizes are listed on packages and can help us avoid eating extra calories, sugar, salt, and saturated fat.
• Portion out leftovers: make it easy to eat the right amount
• Don’t clean the plate: encourage kids to eat until they are full – not until their plate is clean. Teaching children portion control early will help them control their weight throughout life.
• Avoid eating out of the bag: take out just one serving to avoid eating too much
• Leave the dish on the counter: reaching for seconds at the dinner table is easy when the dish is beside you. 

Watching what you eat doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on the holiday season, it just means you get to be smarter about it! Go ahead and enjoy a piece of cake or dig into that pie, just be mindful of your portion sizes.

Happy Eating!

Logan

EFNEP student employee

Bean & Butternut Squash Chili

Chili is a classic meal as the weather starts to cool down. This time of year butternut squash is in season. Add squash to chili for a hearty and healthy dish this fall!

Red Bean & Butternut Squash Chili 

INGREDIENTS

• Non-stick cooking spray 
• 2 cups diced butternut squash (about ½ of a medium squash)
• 1 medium onion
• 1/2 pound extra-lean ground beef 
• 1 cup or 1 (15-ounce) cans red kidney beans 
• 1 cup or 1 (15-ounce) can black beans
• 3 cups or 1 (28-ounce) can chopped tomatoes 
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder 
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
• 1 small bunch cilantro, leaves and stems separated
• Shredded cheese and non-fat sour cream for topping (if desired)

DIRECTIONS

1. Spray Dutch oven or large pot with non-stick cooking spray. 
2. Peel and chop butternut squash into a medium dice (discard the skin and seeds) and set aside. 
3. Peel and dice onion. 
4. Place chopped onion and pepper in skillet. 
5. Cook ground beef and onion over medium heat in a non-stick skillet until meat is browned and onion is soft (about 5 minutes). Drain. 
6. Add butternut squash, undrained red kidney beans, undrained black beans, tomatoes, garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, onion powder, red chili flakes, and chopped cilantro stems to cooked ground beef and onions. Stir to mix well.
7. Bring to a boil and cook slowly for 10-15 minutes. Stir several times to be sure chili is not sticking to the pot. (Temperature should reach 160°F.)
8. Top with cheese and non-fat sour cream if desired. Garnish with cilantro leaves.