Chicken is widely available, so it’s easy to get or find on sale, and can be prepared in so many ways, it’s a culinary dream. It’s an all season protein perfect for salads, sandwiches, crockpot, oven, and skillet meals galore! You can even make several different meals from one full-sized cooked chicken, so that’s something to get excited about when you’re busy.
It has less saturated fat than most red meats and supplies an excellent amount of low-fat protein per serving. Likewise, chicken’s got various necessary vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, vitamin B-6, folate, vitamin B-12, and many more. All of which healp create and maintain a healthy body.
What’s more, chicken helps dieters lose weight, and there have been reports that it helps control blood pressure and cholesterol, and even possibly reduces the risk of cancer. Fresh or frozen doesn’t matter and while we’ve been told for years that you shouldn’t eat the skin, even that’s been refuted.
While the USDA controls inspection and regulation of chicken brought to market and assures us that there are no growth hormones used and the antibiotics used during their growth have cleared their system before the chicken hits the table, if you’re worried about what’s in your chicken, you can raise your own in the backyard or locate a free-range, organic farm nearby and purchase your meat directly from them in bulk and freeze it.
But if you have no worries about the brand, then go get yourself some chicken tonight. There are healthy chicken recipes everywhere, but here are a few to get you started:
Skip the Chinese takeout and make this Chicken and Cashews recipe at home.
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/chicken-cashews
“Top tender chicken with an inspired Asian sauce loaded with cashews, ginger, honey, and sesame oil. Pair this entrée with a simple rice pilaf.”
Check out this Cooking Light video on how to make the perfect chicken salad.
http://www.cookinglight.com/cooking-101/techniques/how-to-make-chicken-salad
“Learn our unconventional cooking technique for tender, pull-apart chicken breasts and get the recipe for our go-to chicken salad.”
For a family favorite, try these homemade chicken strips.
http://www.cookinglight.com/food/quick-healthy/easy-chicken-recipes/healthy-chicken-strips-with-blue-cheese-dressing-recipes
“We’ve made over a family favorite without losing crunch, flavor, or fun. Omit the hot sauce for a kid-friendly version and serve with mustard instead of blue cheese dressing. Pair with cool, crunchy carrot and celery sticks.”
Go retro with this oven-baked hot chicken and chips recipe.
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/hot-chicken-chips-retro-10000000780397
“This recipe has a nostalgic appeal that harks back to the 1950s and ’60s.”
