Healthy Eating…How to eat great tasty food and lose weight…

 

Summertime and the living is easy by Ella Fitzgerald or a little more upbeat… In the Summertime by Mungo Jerry…

I love those songs they both epitomise sunny days. leisurely eating with friends and family… What are your favourite summer songs??

It also means enjoyable food and drinks…Food and drinks which are tasty and fun to eat… which when you have eaten leaves you pleasantly full but still able to play ball…stroll around the park in the sun or just be…

I love a nice iced tea…Green tea with a splash of fresh orange or lime juice, muddle some mint sprigs add some ice and top with sparkling water… Refreshing and healthy…

iced green tea

Or cucumber and mint is a lovely combo with sparkling water …

Fresh Coconut juice…One of my favourites… there are so many lovely drinks which are so easy to make either for one or make a jug full… Play with your flavours …Freeze some orange, pomelo, lemon or lime slices and just drop in your sparkling water…

Puree some lovely fresh ripe mango, pineapple, papaya and top up with ice and sparkling water with some lime juice anything goes …Have fun and create…

Not sweet enough add a little honey…

Now to food...What to eat… Take some lovely zucchini noodles…

zucchini- noodles

Stick some chicken fillets on the BBQ or under the grill and add some pesto …quick, easy, tasty and healthy…Below are my recipes for a green or pesto and some lovely light dishes using fresh herbs…

One of my favourite things is roasted lemons… the taste is sublime and cannot be beaten for me anyway it just sings of sunny days…

Roasted lemon and tomato salad

lemon-1187658_1920

Ingredients:

  • 1 lemon, halved lengthwise, thinly sliced, seeds removed
  • 1 tbsp thinly sliced fresh sage leaves
  • ½ tsp sugar
  • 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
  • 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses
  • ½ tsp ground allspice
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1½ pounds mixed small tomatoes halved
  • 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves with tender stems
  • ¼ cup fresh mint leaves

Let’s Cook!

Pre-heat the oven 325F 160C

Add the lemon slices to a saucepan of boiling water and blanch for 2 mins…This removes the bitterness…Remove from the heat and pat dry.

Gently toss the lemon slices with the sage, sugar and 1 tbsp of olive oil then spread out on a baking tray lined with parchment and bake until lemons are dry and lightly coloured about 15-20 mins then set to one side to cool.

In a large bowl whisk the pomegranate molasses, allspice and 1 tbsp of olive oil season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Add the lemons, onion, tomatoes, parsley and mint..if the mint leaves are large then tear and toss gently to combine…

Taste to check to season and add more salt and pepper if required.

Enjoy!

Stuck for a tasty dressing this one is quick, easy and delicious…

  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp Apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp chopped mint
  • 3 tbsp chopped basil
  • 1/2 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp capers.

Lets mix!

Measure all your ingredients into a bowl and gently muddle the herbs and capers to release the flavours…Season with freshly ground black peppers and use to season your favourite salad…

Lovely over a salad topped with some grilled sliced chicken or sliced grilled steak…

grilled chicken

This is such a brilliant way of tracking weight loss and no I haven’t seen it before ( I DON’T GET OUT MUCH) although I am sure some of you have…I just loved it!

https://tuesdayswithlaurie.com/2018/07/17/losing-your-marbles/

I hope this has given some ideas for some lovely fresh summer eating…What are your favourite summer recipes ??? Please tell me in the comments I love to hear from you.

Now…let’s not forget our friends whose temperatures are slightly cooler or heading that way …the tune that springs to mind is “Oh the weather outside is frightful. But the fire is so delightful. And since we’ve got no place to go. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…

When the weather turns cold we want soups and jacket potatoes, stews and warming curries and chilli con Carne…

Let’s make them just that little healthier but we won’t skimp on the taste…

Baked potatoes are the ultimate comfort food—starchy, warm and filling, they’re the perfect antidote to a chilly autumn night. It’s amazing how something so wholesome, so available and inexpensive could be so delicious too. But it’s true. And baked potatoes are also healthy…yes they are its what we load them with that may not be…

Swap your sour cream for Greek Yoghurt my choice anytime as I just love greek yoghurt…and not the low fat I go for the full-fat greek yoghurt,,, the difference per 100gms low-fat (59) calories and full-fat (95)calories…

Soup…when it’s cold outside there is nothing like a bowl of hot warming and tasty soup…personally although I eat meat I have never even as a child liked meaty soups I just love vegetable soups with my all-time favourite being a bowl of tomato soup…you can use any vegetables you like add some stock and to thicken your soup just take some of the vegetables out and give them a blitz and then add the mix back to your soup and viola you have a thicker soup if you make a batch and keep some in the fridge it will last for at least 5 days then whenever you are peckish or cold just make a cup of soup…

I love soup, most soups but my all-time favourite is tomato soup... Preferably made with fresh tomatoes but I also and this is a hankering back to my childhood love canned tomato soup and very occasionally I treat myself to a can of tomato soup…

Ingredients:

  • 8 or 9 tomatoes, cored and quartered
  • 3 red bell peppers, seeded and quartered
  • 2 small yellow onions, cut into wedges
  • 6 cloves garlic, unpeeled
  • 5 cups homemade vegetable broth
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
  • olive oil

Let’s Cook!

Tomato and Red Pepper Soup.

Preheat the oven to 375F/190C

Grease two baking sheets and place tomatoes skin side down on one, then lightly coat the peppers and onions in olive oil and place on the other baking tray also throw the unpeeled garlic into the tray…Pop it in your preheated oven for about 45 minutes.

When the tomatoes and peppers are roasted heat your vegetable stock in a pan big enough to take the tomatoes and peppers. Add your roasted tomatoes and peppers to the vegetable stock and simmer for 15 minutes.

tomato-soup-482403_640

Allow your soup to cool slightly and then either using a stick blender or your liquidiser blend to your desired consistency… I prefer mine a little chunky. Taste and season.

Serve with a swirl of cream or natural yoghurt if liked…

 

Enjoy your week, and be happy and mindful xx

37 thoughts on “Healthy Eating…How to eat great tasty food and lose weight…”

  2. OIKOS™- Art, Books & more

    Those are great recipes, Carol! But don’t forget, you are living under a little different weather conditions. Here is more the Chili Con Carne area, save the future will become so hot like last summer. xx Michael

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  8. jjspina

    Thank you for sharing, Carol! I have the most beautiful mint plant and haven’t used it. I think I will get a nice glass of water with a sprig of mint in it. Refreshing! hugs xx

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Carol Post author

      You are very welcome I love mint and muddled in a drink so refreshing …I love it in salads as well especially Thai ones 🙂 xx Enjoy your drink 🙂 x

      Liked by 1 person

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  12. D. Wallace Peach

    Everything looks and sounds so good, Carol. That iced tea is fabulous. I don’t have all the ingredients but I’m going to make this as close as I can get it tonight. Thanks for the great ideas. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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      1. stevetanham

        And the ‘mango fandango’ salad was served in the rooftop restaurant of Tommy Bahamas stores along the West Coast of America. Thank you, Carol. I’m hungry again now!

        Liked by 1 person

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