Tag: healthy foods

Recipes

Quorn ‘chicken’ catchyuppy!

Dr Nancy P

This is an adaptation of an old favourite of mine. It’s actually a cacciatore but I always used to call it catchyuppy as a child so the band has stuck! I used to use left over roast chicken for this (and you obviously can too) but this version is vegetarian and lower in calories, but still just as yummy and filling! It’s also quick and easy to make.

I like to use the quorn chicken fajita strips in this but you can use any of the chicken pieces if you prefer. You can use any veg you like and if you’re short on time you can use the frozen packs of roasted veg (they usually contain courgette, pepper, onion, aubergine). Also it’s worth noting that Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce contains anchovies so if you’re vegetarian then double check – Biona and other companies make one without the use of animal products and it’s widely available.

This serves 4 at about 270 cals per portion.

You will need:

Approx 300g quorn chicken (2 packs of fajita strips)

400g passata

300g mixed vegetables (either a pack or 1 onion, 1 pepper, 1 courgette, 1 small aubergine)

1/2 tsp Paprika

1 tsp mixed herbs

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

1 vegetable stock cube

1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)

1/2 tbsp Balsamic vinegar

1/2 tsp of sugar

Salt and pepper

If using fresh veg then prepare it and chop it up. Heat a little oil in a pan, add the onions and pepper first, allow to soften then add the courgette and aubergine (if using a pack then just throw it all in at once). Add the quorn chicken and allow to brown a little.

Cook for a couple of mins and then add the passata. Stir well and bring to a slow simmer. Add the stock cube, all the spices, balsamic vinegar and Worcestershire sauce and stir well. Add the sugar (this brings out a richer tomato flavour).

Bring to a simmer and allow to cook through for about 10-15 mins.

Serve with green veg and grains.

enjoy 🙂

Xx

Recipes

Quick Healthy Banana Pancakes

Dr Nancy P

Another one of my faves! These work great as a breakfast, or light lunch or afternoon snack! They’re quick and easy to make and taste amazing! If you want something more substantial you can add some protein powder in to the mix but I tend not to bother. This makes two small pancakes, enough for one person, and comes in at approx 200 calories, plus the fruit.

You will need:

1 banana

1 egg

2 tbsp flour (any flour you like)

Cinnamon (optional)

Fruit of your choice

Mash the banana with a fork in bowl, add the egg and mix well.

The mixture will vary in consistency depending on your banana size and ripeness, and egg size – it really doesn’t matter though. Add the flour and cinnamon and mix well.

The batter will be lumpy – that’s fine too! Heat a little oil in a pan and then add the batter. Leave to cook on one side, then flip.

Serve with fruit (if you need it you can also add some maple syrup or other liquid sweetener but I find the fruit is sweet enough)

Enjoy 🙂

xx

Recipes

Spicy Peanut Quorn ‘Chicken’

Dr Nancy P

This is one of our current favourite dinners. It’s quick and easy to make and tastes amazing! You could of course use chicken instead of quorn but even if you’re not veggie I’d definitely recommend the quorn (saves calories too!). This makes 4 servings at 312 cals per serving.

You will need:

350g Quorn “chicken” (1 pack)
1 onion
1/2 pepper
100g peanut butter
400g chopped tomatoes (and some water to rinse out the can)
1/4 tsp chili powder
2 tsp curry powder
1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp cayenne
2 tbsp soya sauce

Dice the onion and peppers. Add a little olive oil in a non-stick wok or frying pan and pop the onions and peppers in to soften. Add the quorn and allow to brown.

Add all your spices and stir well (if you’re not sure how spicy you want it then just add a little chilli here and save the rest to add later). Add the peanut butter and stir.

Then add the chopped tomatoes and use some water to rinse the can out and add that too. Finally add the soya sauce. Mix really well and allow to simmer.

Taste it and add more chilli if required. Allow to simmer for approx 5 – 10 mins. Serve with your grains of choice, or cauliflower rice.

Enjoy 🙂

Xx

Recipes

Easy healthy stir fried rice

Dr Nancy P

This is a great, quick, healthy lunch or dinner. I often whip it up after class if I’m in a rush and it’s surprisingly filling.

I use Quorn sausages but you could use normal sausages if you want (though it will take the calories up quite a lot so worth trying quorn if you can). I also often use a pouch of cooked rice for speed but if you have the time use normal rice. This makes 4 small portions (but plenty for a meal) at approx 275 cals per portion.

You will need :

4 Quorn sausages (or other veggie sausage)

250g (cooked weight) of Brown or Wild rice

1 Onion

1 Pepper

Good handful or two of frozen petit pois

Good handful or two of frozen or fresh sweetcorn

1/2 tsp paprika

Little oil to cook

Chop the onion and pepper. Using a large wok or frying pan heat a little oil and then add the onions and brown gently, add in the peppers. Slice the sausages and then add in and brown off too. Once browned add the rice and paprika and mix well. Cook for a minute and then throw the petit pois and sweetcorn in. Stir well and keep cooking for a couple of minutes until everything is cooked through. Serve!

Tuesday Tip

Tuesday Tip: Lunchtime mistakes

Dr Nancy P

Tuesday Tip: Lunchtime mistakes 🥪

Lunch is one of the meals I’m definitely worst at and many of my clients are the same. Here are some of the biggest lunchtime mistakes that can derail your weight loss journey and how to prevent them.

#1 Eating out every day

Do you just end up buying lunch instead of bringing it? If you’re making yourself dinner each night then there’s no excuse for not making a bit extra for lunch too. Obviously there are good options you can buy but if you’re finding yourself only buying junk, or have limited options, then take lunch instead. Save calories and money!

#2 Eating too fast

I get it, you’re racing around, back to back meetings, no time to stop…. stuffing your lunch in on the go… but this is when we tend to forget about portions and over eating. A recent study in the Journal of Nutrition and Diatetics found a direct relationship between faster eating and weigh gain. Try to take at least 20 mins over your lunch.

#3 Eating too little

I often hear clients saying they only have a small salad for lunch.. and they wonder why they end up craving snacks at 4pm or tucking in to the biscuits late at night. Salad is a great lunch but it needs to be more than just leaves and a bit of cucumber. Use some dark leafy greens as a base (e.g. spinach), add veg (carrots, pepper, cucumber etc), then a protein (chicken, egg, feta, chickpeas, tofu etc) and then add some complex carbs (quinoa, brown rice, beans etc).

#4 Choice of drink

Going for a juice or soft drink at lunch in your meal deal is just extra empty calories. Ditch it and go for water (add lemon, cucumber or zero cal squash for flavour if you need) and save the calories for your food.

#5 You’re too hungry

You rush to work, skipping breakfast and by lunchtime you’re so hungry you end up making bad choices. Avoid this by either having breakfast or having a 100 – 200 cal mid morning snack (yoghurt and berries, apple and nut butter etc). This will help you make better choices at lunch.

Happy lunching! 🤗

xx