Chocolate Raspberry Slice
We got the recipe for this slice from the Heart Foundation of New Zealand. They called it a brownie but we think it has more of a cake like consistency when cooked, so we renamed it Chocolate Raspberry Slice.
It becomes moister as the days go on so if you have any spare after a day or two, it may be best to pop it in the freezer. Most cakes, cookies and slices freeze well for a couple of months if you put them in an airtight container or plastic bag.
Yogurt Dijon Dressing
We make this dressing with low fat yogurt for a delicious fresh taste without the fat. Tastes great with lots of different salads, including coleslaw, Waldorf, pasta and roast vegetable salad.
So give it a try, there is no need to dress salads with fatty egg yolk dressings that leave you feeling sluggish. In fact plain yogurt is so delicious for dressings, and you will find the slightly tart taste will help change your pallet and cravings for sweet dressings.
Muesli
A great way to get some fibre into your day is to have a small serving of Muesli in the mornings. Teamed with milk, yogurt and some fresh fruit, it is one of the best ways we know to start your day.
It is important to use whole grain oats – the type that have not be overly processed. These are called steel cut oats or whole grain oats usually, so look for them in your supermarket or whole food store. Keep your oats in a cool dark place and store them in an airtight glass jar.
Roast Vegetable Salad
This roast vegetable salad can be served hot or warm in so many ways. Try it with a summer BBQ or even with roast meat in the winter. It is so much better than roasting your root vegetables in saturated fat.
Alternatively toss the warm roast vegetables through salad greens for a delicious lunch or light dinner. We find the addition of water at the start takes away that oily taste that some roast vegetable salads have. It is almost giving the vegetables a par boil prior to cooking. The yams we refer to are small nobly root vegetables about the size of your thumb or larger, rather than the orange sweet potato. The recipe makes 6-8 servings
Chili Prawn Noodle Stir-Fry
Stir-frys are such a time saver to prepare – they just take minutes. So when you come home from work , are tired and hungry, make yourself (and the family) a quick and healthy stir-fry.
As always with our recipes, use whatever vegetables you have on hand but make sure to include water rich greens. This method may not be an authentic Asian way of making a stir-fry, but it tastes good all the same and is such a quick and easy meal. The recipe makes 2 servings and the recipe can be easily doubled or tripled if need be.
Hummus
Have you tried using hummus as a substitute for butter and margarine? Even though it has tahini in the recipe which has a high fat content, the fat is of the vegetable kind so it is a great replacement for saturated fat.
We think our hummus tastes great, however if you have time to prepare the chickpeas from scratch all the better. Just follow the directions on the pack remembering to take time to soak them first.
Broccoli Soup
Homemade soup is the best winter food for a cosy lunch or perfect if you are wanting a light dinner. Soup is so easy to make and usually freezes well so this makes it a good option for a workday lunch.
Heat it in the microwave just before you are ready to eat, or take it already hot in a Thermos. If you want your green vegetables to stay full of color, simmer them with the lid off. Try to use a chicken stock that you have made yourself or purchase a brand you trust. Of course vegetable stock works just as well if you prefer to use it.
You will find soup so satisifing, it will keep you feeling full for hours after eating it, so when you feel those hunger pains comming on, reach for a bowl of soup.
Sweet Potato and Lentil Curry
At DietDitch we love light curries – the type you may enjoy on a cold winter evening. Sweet and not too spicy and somehow so satisfying.
We like to use brown rice as a rule however sometimes a curry is just so much better with white rice in which case basmati rice has the most nutrients.
Curries keep well in the fridge for a few days and often taste better when left overnight.
Baked Potatoes
What better way to warm up in winter than with some of natures comfort food. These baked potatoes are just the thing. Little note: baking a potato is a bit like drying fruit – it takes much of the moisture out and in turn any sugars are intensified so watch your portion control.
If you stick to a spud the size of your fist, your serving size will be perfect. It is easy to choose a much larger size without really thinking about the fact that this can double the calorie count, so stick to the DietDitch serving measure. This recipe is for 4 servings.
Bran Muffins
Sometimes you just feel like something else – just a little baked treat to have with coffee and share with friends. We enjoy these Bran Muffin, they are full of fibre but light on fat and sugar.
Keep these muffins in the freezer in case you need a snack. This also makes them slightly less accessible, remember muffins are an occasional food. If you have some fresh walnuts they are delicious in this recipe – 1/2 to 1 cup would be about right. Just fold then into the batter at the end of mixing taking care not to over mix.
