Archive for the ‘Holiday’ Category
Happy New Year!
January 02 2017
Wishing you all a new year full of good health and happiness from MealEasy!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
December 24 2016
May your holidays be filled with happiness, joy, good food and health!
Best wishes,
From MealEasy
Easy Father’s Day BBQ Ideas
June 12 2013
MealEasy’s Chef Paul recommends this fabulous heart-healthy meal for Father’s Day:
Grilled Pork Chops with Feta & Tomatoes
Grilled Sweet Potato & Asparagus
Fresh Fruit with Vanilla Sour Cream
It’s Father’s Day this Sunday and what better way to show dad you love him than by letting him relax so you can take over the grill!
Here’s your chance to show dad that the grill can cook more then steaks, burgers and sausages. Yes, you can even grill heart-healthy vegetables!
We’ve assembled a super easy and supremely tasty barbecue feast fit for the King of the household. With a yummy grilled pork chop featuring Mediterranean flavors, grilled asparagus and grilled sweet potato with a dessert featuring fresh fruit. Dad won’t even notice that it’s fewer than 15g of fat!! That’s less than a tablespoon including the desert! Taking care of dad’s heart on Father’s Day – what says I Love You better than that?!
So grab those BBQ tongs and get grillin’! And the best part about grilling – there’s no pots and pans to clean up afterwards!
Enjoy!
Download your own Father’s Day Menu Now
Download Father’s Day Menu Grocery List
Memorial Day Menu
May 24 2013
For many in the United States, Memorial Day is the first long weekend of summer and it’s time to get the barbecue going! Chef Paul created a fabulous menu to give you an eat-in or take-out picnic lunch.
Give it a try and post pictures of your meal on the MealEasy Facebook page.
Print Grocery List for this meal (pdf)>>>Â Download
Print Memorial Day Menu (pdf) >>> Download
Tips to Prevent Holiday Excess
December 13 2012
Attending lots of holiday parties this season?
Here are some helpful tips to prevent overeating this time of year.
The holidays bring to mind parties and large, festive meals full of delicious food. It can be easy to overeat during the holiday season, but there are ways to avoid overindulging while still enjoying yourself. Changing certain eating habits can make a big difference in calorie consumption without dampening the holiday spirit.
Step 1
Have a plan to avoid overindulging in holiday goodies. Bring healthy, low-calorie snacks like fruit to work to avoid snacking on high-fat snacks that coworkers bring in. If you fill up on low-calorie foods, you are less likely to overeat or eat large portions of high-calorie foods. Before attending a party where you know food (and fatty food, especially) will be in abundance, eat some nutritious snacks.
Step 2
Drink a glass of water before a holiday party or meal; this will help you feel full and reduce overeating. Drinking water throughout the day will also help keep you feeling full, making it less likely you will reach for excess goodies. Keeping a water bottle nearby is a good reminder to keep drinking water. And while at the party, instead of drinking soda or eggnog, ask for a glass of water. Sip on it constantly throughout the party so your stomach is always slightly full. In addition, it will save you the extra calories since carbonated beverages like soda and holiday drinks like eggnog are full of empty calories.
Step 3
Choose moderate portions of only the foods you like best during a meal, and only eat dessert if it is one you really like. Do not worry about hurting anyone’s feelings if you do not eat her food; if you really feel bad about not eating something; place a small portion of it on your plate. Reach for a small sized plate for your potluck or buffet dinner. By filling up the smaller plate, you will feel as if you are eating much more than you actually are.
Step 4
Eat slowly during meals. It takes time for your body to signal that it is full, and eating too quickly can lead to overeating. Being mindful of what you are eating allows you to slow down and savor the food. The slower you eat, the more time your brain has to trigger the feeling of being full. You can easily overeat if you eat an entire plate of food in just a few minutes. If you take 30 minutes or longer to eat the same amount of food, your brain will signal the full reflex before you have a chance to overeat.
Step 5
Donât skip meals. As tempting as it can be to skip a meal or two before the large Christmas meal, this is a bad idea. Waiting to eat will trigger the starving reflex in your body, causing you to want to overeat. If you eat healthy, regular meals throughout the day, you are much less likely to overeat at the Christmas meal. Snacks throughout the day, such as vegetables and healthy nuts, will also help prevent overeating at mealtime.
Step 6
Focus on the reason for the gathering. Start up conversations with loved ones or friends and take the time to be present and engaged. The holidays are all about sharing good times with others; taking the focus off the food can discourage eating when you are not really hungry anymore.
Happy Thanksgiving – Let’s Talk Turkey
November 22 2012
For many cooks, turkey dinner can be fraught with peril and the added pressure of family expectations.
Whether youâre a seasoned Thanksgiving chef, or a newbie in the kitchen, these tips can help eliminate the stress associated with prepping your mealâs centerpiece.
Get it Right
Allot 1 to 1.5 lbs of turkey per person. Make sure your turkey is big enough for leftovers! Thereâs nothing more satisfying than a turkey sandwich for lunch the next day.
Ready your bird for the oven by following the National Turkey Federation guideline on thawing: for every 4 1/2 pounds of frozen turkey, thaw for 24-hours in the refrigerator.
Prepare Ahead
Get busy and brine your bird! Brining adds so much flavor and texture to the meat. Prepare as much as you can ahead of time. Some side dishes can be made a couple of days ahead and reheated for dinner. Donât be afraid to ask a guest to bring a dish to your dinner, it will save you time and make your guest feel great for bringing a family favorite. Remember, thereâs only so much space in an oven, so schedule cooking accordingly to ensure everything is ready at mealtime.
Work Smart
Keep a clean work area and make sure your knives are sharp. There are two chefâs adages that come to mind: âyou are more likely to cut yourself with a dull knife than a sharp knifeâ; and, âIf your work area is a mess, youâll create a messâ.
You donât need to be Julia Child to master the art of turkey. By maintaining your kitchen tools and preparing ahead, you can make Turkey Day successful and stress-free.