Are the dinners that you cook healthy? Think so, but not sure?

If your weight loss has slowed, or even stopped, then there are improvements to be made in your dinner routine.

I’ve made 5 guidelines so that you’ll know if your meals are healthy and fitness friendly. And as a result you’ll experience healthy weight loss.

Check out these 5 Easy Steps to Guilt-Free Dinner...

Step #1: Choose Quality Ingredients

These are the building blocks to a healthy meal. While you certainly don’t need to dine in gourmet restaurants in order to ensure quality ingredients, you should pay attention to the quality of the foods you eat.

Choose foods that are:

• Fresh and organic
• Pronounceable ingredients
• Whole foods

Step #2: Use Healthy Cooking Methods

The way a meal is cooked determines how many calories, how much added fat, and the number of nutrients that survive. This simple factor will make or break your weight loss goal.

Avoid foods prepared like this:

• Fried and battered
• Processed and packaged
• Doused with cream sauce
• Sautéed

Choose foods that are prepared like this:

• Grilled
• Baked
• Broiled
• Steamed

Step #3: Eat Mostly Protein

The bulk of your calories should be coming from a quality source of protein. With the first 2 guidelines in mind, these will be high quality, healthfully prepared.

Good choices of protein include:

• Fish
• Chicken
• Turkey
• Egg
• Lean red meat
• Beans

Step #4: Include Lots of Fiber

Fiber is a huge part of eating healthy and being lean. Fibrous foods will fill you up while delivering vitamins and nutrients in low-calorie packages. Fill at least two thirds of your plate with fibrous vegetables.

Try these forms of fiber:

• Salad
• Seasonal vegetables
• Fruit
• Legumes

Step #5: Reduce Starches

Here’s where many well-meaning dieters lose it. The facts are simple, in order to maintain the low-carb, high protein diet required for healthy weight loss, there is no room for starchy foods.

Starches to Avoid:

• Potatoes
• Pasta
• Rice and cereal
• Bread and crackers

For the most effective results, pair your clean eating with a challenging exercise routine. That’s where I come into the equation!

Call or email today and I’ll get you started on an exercise program that will transform your body once and for all.

Forget the Extras: Ask for the bread basket or chip basket to be removed from your table and stick to eating only what you ordered.

Don’t Drink Calories: Stick with water or unsweetened ice tea in order to avoid a few hundred extra calories.

Get Dressing On the Side: Ask for sauces and dressings on the side to cut down calories.

Order Healthier Sides: Just because the grilled fish comes with a side of potatoes doesn’t mean you have to get it that way. Ask for a side of steamed veggies instead.

This recipe meets all 5 of the steps to a healthy dinner. By baking the chicken and using cauliflower for rice, this recipe has half of the calories and 80% less fat than a traditional stir fried chicken meal.

Courtesy of RealHealthyRecipes.com

What you need
Servings: 4

1 head cauliflower
¼ cup coconut aminos
¼ cup mirin (sweet rice wine)
1 Tablespoon coconut nectar
1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 Tablespoons organic chicken broth
3 teaspoons sesame oil, divided
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts
8 ounces snow peas, halved lengthwise diagonally
1 bunch green onions, cut into 1-inch pieces

Instructions

1. Wash cauliflower, discard the leaves, and chop into small pieces. Grate the pieces with a food processor. In a large skillet heat the coconut oil over medium. Add the shredded cauliflower. Sauté for about 5 minutes, until tender. Season with salt and pepper. Serve as you would traditional rice.

2. Combine coconut aminos, mirin, coconut nectar, apple cider vinegar and chicken broth in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

3. Heat a large nonstick skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add chicken breasts to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side or until browned. Transfer to a cutting board; cool slightly. Cut into 1-inch slices.

4. Return pan to medium-high heat; add remaining 1teaspoon toasted sesame oil to pan. Add snow peas and onions; sauté 2 minutes. Add coconut amino mixture and chicken to pan; cook 2 minutes or until liquid is syrupy and chicken is thoroughly heated, stirring frequently. Place 1 cup rice in each of 4 shallow bowls; top each serving with 1 cup chicken mixture.

Nutrition
One serving equals: 256 calories, 6g fat, 621mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate, 6g fiber, and 28g protein.