Happy New Year! Now is the time that many people reflect back on the previous year and look forward to a new year with a fresh start. Morning news segments, talk shows, and advertisements are all about giving advice to help you set your new year's resolutions. You'll hear about foods that you should eat, foods that you shouldn't eat, vitamins, herbal supplements, diet pills, exercises that work, exercises that don't work, BPA-free water bottles and high-SPF sunscreen. It's not only hard to separate the good advice from the bad advice, but it's overwhelming just looking at the list of things we supposedly need in order to live a healthy and wonderful life.
Ok. Sure. I give what you might call health "advice" in this blog, which may just add to your feelings of defeat. But hopefully, it inspires or at least motivates you to try something new, understand the health benefits of a well-balanced diet, or learn how to put together a quick, easy, and healthy meal for the whole family to enjoy.
Try not to be too overwhelmed with all the recommendations you hear. You are an individual, not a group statistic, and you have your own needs and desires in life; ones that may not be the same as everyone else. Take time to evaluate yourself and learn what is most important to YOU. Then, pick one or two of these important things and focus on how you plan to do better. Be specific! For instance, maybe spending more quality family time is something that is very important to you. How are you going to do better at this? 1. I will only take work home once a month. 2. I will turn the time that I currently spend on electronics at night into family time (board game night, movie night, spending more time helping with homework, etc.) 3. I will ask my family questions at the dinner table and will include everyone's input.
What are the most important things in your life that you want to change or improve on?
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 teaspoons chopped garlic
1 teaspoon dried oregano, or 3 teaspoons fresh
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
1 1/2 pounds ground turkey
1 cup bread, cubed
1 egg
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup non-fat milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Preheat the oven to 425°F. In a skillet, cook onion in olive oil for 5 minutes. Add garlic and oregano; cook 2 minutes; set aside to cool. Stir together the tomatoes, turkey, bread, egg, parsley, milk, salt, pepper and onion mixture. Form into a loaf on a lightly greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with cheese and bake for 30 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Yield: 8 servings
Nutrient analysis per serving: 230 calories, 10 grams fat, 2.5 grams saturated fat, 75 milligrams cholesterol, 370 milligrams sodium, 14 grams carbohydrate, 2 grams dietary fiber, 22 grams protein (1 Carb serving)