Summer Salad – Berry and Kale Slaw

Image via: Marzetti Kitchens 

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Ingredients

¼ tsp of hot sauce

½ tsp of Worcestershire sauce

½ tsp of kosher salt

½ tsp of sugar

½ tsp of black pepper (freshly ground)

½ apple (grated)

½ red cabbage (shredded)

1 cup of buttermilk

1 garlic clove (minced)

1 bunch of kale (thinly sliced)

1 cup of fresh raspberries

1 cup of fresh blueberries

2 tbsp of grated onion

2 tbsp of fresh tarragon (freshly chopped)

4 medium carrots (cut into thin strips)

6 tbsp of mayonnaise

6 tbsp of apple cider vinegar

6 tbsp of sour cream

6 radishes (thinly sliced)

Instructions

1. Mix the hot sauce, garlic clove, apple, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and onion in a jar with a tight lid. Leave for 5 minutes.
2. Add the buttermilk, mayonnaise, sour cream, and chopped tarragon. Cover the container with the lid and shake forcefully until everything is fully blended.
3. In a large bowl, mix the radishes, carrots, kale, cabbage, raspberries, and blueberries. Add sugar, salt, and pepper to taste. Serve with the dressing.

Image via: The Bikini Chef

By incorporating a host of ingredients, salads are nutritional powerhouses. They are the perfect thing to eat this summer. Besides offering a myriad of health benefits, they are packed with flavor and are extremely easy to make. Thanks to creative minds, you don’t have to eat lettuce with every meal. You can make a different salad every day. If you are making this summer salad for a party, be sure to keep it cold. The sweltering temperatures can affect the dish and make it too warm.

Which is your favorite summer salad?

Healthy Meals: Brown Rice & Salmon Salad Recipe

Image Via: BBC Good-food

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Ingredients

200 g brown basmati rice

2 salmon fillets

200 g frozen soybeans, defrosted

1/4 cup frozen peas, defrosted

5 small spring onions, diced

4 tbsp fresh coriander, chopped

1 lime, juice and zest

1 red chili, chopped

1-1/2 tbsp light soy sauce

1 small cucumber, diced

Olive Oil for cooking

Salt as per taste

Directions

Image Via: CBC

1. Wash the brown rice 3 to 4 times under fresh running water. Soak the rice in 500 ml water for about 2 hours.
2. Transfer the rice along with the water in a deep pan. Add 1 tbsp olive oil to it and a pinch of salt.
3. Cover it with a lid and cook on low heat.
4. After 10 minutes add the soybeans and peas quickly and cover the pan with the lid again.
5. The rice will give a cooked smell after some time. Check after 5 to 10 minutes, the rice should be cooked by now.
6. Remove from heat but keep the rice covered. After about 5 minutes uncover the rice and mix. Turn the rice from the outside to the inside using a flattish ladle.
7. Keep them uncovered now.
8. Whilst the rice were cooking you can cook the salmon in a microwave. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes on high.
9. Let the salmon cool. Now deskin and flake it.
10. Now very gently fold in the salmon, coriander, cucumber and onions into the rice.
11. In a separate glass bowl mix soy, chilies, lime juice and zest.
12. Pour over the rice salad.
13. Serve!

Salads are usually served cold and you can do that with this one too. For me, I like to keep the rice warm and the cucumber and spring onions cold. It just brings out the best flavors in everything. You can replace the salmon with stir-fried prawns and season the prawns with salt and pepper before stirring them in with the rice. You can also top the salad with stir fried asparagus and salmon flakes. I would love to hear of any interesting twists that you can think of!

Click here for more Salad Recipes!

Healthy Dinner: Winter Fruit Salad Recipe

Image Via: Betty Crocker

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Ingredients

1 pear, peeled, deseeded and cubed

1 apple, peeled, deseeded and cubed

1/4 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup cashew

1 cup lettuce cut into bite size chunks

1/2 cup shredded low fat cheese

1 tbsp poppy seeds

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup lemon juice

2 tsp diced onion

1 tsp Dijon mustard

Olive Oil

Salt to taste

Image Via: A Hint Of Honey

Directions

1. In a blender, blend lemon juice, sugar, mustard, onion and salt.
2. Add 2 tbsp olive oil to the mixture in the blender. Blend well.
3. Now add poppy seeds to the blender and mix well again.
4. In a large glass serving bowl add lettuce, cashews, cheese, cranberries, apple and pears.
5. Just before you wish to serve, pour the dressing that you just prepared in the blender.
6. Toss well so that the entire dressing coats the contents of the salad.
7. Serve for dinner:)

A little trick that I use, is to pan fry the cashews in some oil. You can even use pre-roasted cashews that are readily available in any grocery store. You can also replace the cashews with any other dry fruit that you like, for instance almonds. Another thing that I do often is to leave the fruits unpeeled as it brings more color and interest to the recipe. One last tip, use fresh lemon juice. Do share your thoughts on this healthy dinner recipe.

Click here for more Healthy Dinner Meal Recipes!

]]> https://stagetecture.com/healthy-dinner-winter-fruit-salad-recipe/feed/ 1 74178 https://stagetecture.com/choose-fun-healthy-foods-kids/ https://stagetecture.com/choose-fun-healthy-foods-kids/#respond Thu, 18 Sep 2014 09:13:47 +0000 https://stagetecture.com/?p=61699 Is your child a picky eater? Would he rather play than eat at all? It doesn’t have to be this way. The secret to curbing these two habits is by making his meals fun. There are many visual tools you can utilize to make nutritious foods pleasant and exciting for him. Get rid of the junk food and make his mealtimes fun again with these healthy foods for kids. He’ll look forward to his mealtimes and you’ll be happy with the transformation.

How to Choose Fun and Healthy Foods for Kids

Image by: Being Fab at 40

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Flaxseed

This nutritious food is filled with Omega-3 fatty acids essential for optimal brain development. Flaxseed comes in two versions: whole and ground. However, studies show that the ground version is absorbed better by the body. When serving your young one cereal, sprinkle some flaxseed inside. Replace ¼ cup of flour with flaxseed when making his favorite pancake, bread, or muffin to add a healthy boost.

Image by: Foodie Style

Sweet Potatoes

These are among the most nutritious vegetables around. They are rich in Vitamin A which acts like an antioxidant and keeps eyes healthy. Use a baked sweet potato as a side dish the next time you want to make your child a healthy meal. Bake it for 45 minutes at 375 degrees or until it is tender. Afterwards, top it with vanilla yogurt and cinnamon sugar and serve it like a baked potato. You can also use maple syrup or apple sauce as toppings.

Yogurt

Yogurt is an excellent source of good bacteria (probiotics) which helps keep children in good health. When buying yogurt, avoid sugary versions which are low in good bacteria and proteins. Go for low-fat and non-fat versions and dress them up with some fresh fruit and a little honey.

Image by: Chowstalker

Frozen Fruits

A lot of fruits freeze well. Mix orange juice with any fruit and pour the mixture into muffin tins. Leave to freeze for approximately 3 hours. Afterwards, take them out and let them soften for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Frozen fruits are a great alternative to ice cream and other cold treats filled with fat and sugar.

While buying and preparing healthy food for kids is easy, getting them to eat it can be very difficult. The above tips will help you to avoid frustrating mealtimes and ensure your child gets all the proper nutrients. In addition, you’ll have fun preparing the meals as they are easy to make. If you are tired of talking until you’re hoarse every mealtime, try one of the above foods. Your little one will be so delighted he won’t know what hit him.

What are your favorite healthy foods for kids?

Healthy Recipe: Strawberry Spinach Salad

Image via: Smart Blanace

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Ingredients

2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1/4 – 1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon minced onion
10 ounces fresh spinach – rinsed, dried and torn into bite-size pieces
1 quart strawberries – cleaned, hulled and sliced
1/4 cup almonds, blanched and slivered

Image via: Foodess

Directions

1. To make this easy salad, whisk together the sesame seeds, poppy seeds, sugar, olive oil, paprika, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and the onion. You could also use a blender to blend them as an alternative. Take the dressing and cover it, then chill for about an hour.
2. Combine the spinach, almonds and strawberries in a large bowl. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss it, so the dressing can cover all the other ingredients. Put the salad in the refrigerator for about 10 to 15 minutes before serving it.

Image via: Zestycook

This salad can be prepared in various ways and using other ingredients. Try other fruits, like blueberries, oranges, apples or pineapple. Use balsamic vinegar for a refined taste. Add bacon bits for a heartier outcome. Also, adding cheeses, like feta, would be a great addition. Supplementing the almonds with other dried nuts is also a great way to alter this delicious and healthy salad. Enjoy!

For more healthy salad recipes on Stagetecture, click here.

There is nothing like a big hearty bowl of soup to warm up your winter home and family. If your kids don’t like soup we think this creamy winter broccoli soup recipe will change their mind! In fact, soups are a great way to get your kids accustomed to vegetables. Soothing, satisfying, and comforting this broccoli soup is sure to be a hit with kids.

Creamy Winter Broccoli Soup

Image via: learningandyearning.com

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Total Time: 60 minutes

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil or butter

1 medium sliced onion

1 smashed garlic clove

1 large potato, diced and peeled

Few dried thyme leaves

½-teaspoon salt

4 cups chicken broth

16 ounces frozen broccoli

2-4 tablespoons fresh cream

Pinch of ground black pepper

Image via: Silk.com

Directions:

1. In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and onion until translucent. Now add the potato, thyme, broth, and salt and bring to boil. Cook uncovered on low heat for 10 minutes or until the potato is tender. Further, add broccoli and simmer for 3-5 minutes.

2. Puree the soup in batches using a hand blender. Return it to the pot and add cream. Bring to simmer, and season with salt and pepper.

3. Serve with bacon crumbles on top, optional.

On cold winter nights, warm up in front of television with a big hearty bowl of this broccoli soup. We bet your kids will love it too!

For more easy meals on Stagetecture, click here.