Fact: almost everyone loves chicken. This lean, high protein and low-fat meat is also known to improve heart and bone health -- and besides, we all know chicken noodle soup is good for you when you're sick. One hundred grams of chicken has about 219 calories, 166 grams of potassium and 25 grams of protein. But while most chicken dishes are healthy, deep-fried fast food burgers and chicken dipped into fatty, salty or sugary sauces doesn't make it particularly nutritious.
The chicken recipes below are probably best served as full meals for lunch or dinner, but we love the idea of using leftovers or smaller portion sizes as snacks at the office or at home.
And in case you missed it, last week we packed healthy Greek recipes.
Here's what you need to buy this week, while the other necessary ingredients (like pepper, salt and oils) are likely already in your kitchen.
- Chicken (and chicken breasts)
- Garlic
- Parmesan cheese
- Asparagus
- Tomatoes
- Onions
- Zucchinis
- Squash
- Hummus
- Yogurt
- Cucumbers
- Whole wheat pitas
- Beans
- Carrots
- Spouts
- Lettuce
- Miso Gravy
- Low-fat peanut butter
5 Healthy Chicken Recipes
In our new weekly feature Pack It, we offer readers five tasty, healthy and inexpensive snacks for the office, your commute or just those days when you feel like trying something new. Each week on Friday, we'll provide you with a shopping list, along with five recipes you can prep on the weekend, and take along from Monday to Friday.
Monday: Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Cooked chicken wrapped with sprouts, carrots and a dash of peanut miso sauce. Get the full recipe here.
Tuesday: Moroccan Chicken Stew
Infused with beans, tomatoes, and zucchinis, this hearty stew is perfect for those cold winter days. Get the full recipe here.
Wednesday: Indian-Spiced Chicken Pita Wraps
After grilling or pan-frying your chicken breast slices with spices, stuff them in a whole wheat pita with an Indian-inspired yogurt sauce. Get the full recipe here.
Thursday: Hummus Crusted Chicken
Hummus and chicken? Yes. This recipe involves seasoning your chicken slice with salt and pepper and covering it with hummus before baking. Get the full recipe here.
Friday: Chicken And Asparagus Rolls
Made with chicken cutlets or breasts, this recipe is the ideal option for someone who loves their veggies as well. Get the full recipe here.
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