Singaporebrides | Beauty

August 2015

Healthy Recipes to Prepare You for Your Wedding Day

By Tara Molloy

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Diets and weight loss are on almost every bride’s mind when she’s preparing for her wedding day. Losing weight fast with extreme dieting may seem tempting, but gradual weight loss through a proper meal plan of healthy recipes is the wholesome way to go. To kickstart your healthy diet, here are some easy and quick recipes you can whip up at home!

The stress of wedding planning—and life in general—can sometimes lead to brides-to-be not making the best eating choices before the big day. Making your own meals can seem daunting, but don’t stress—eating well doesn’t have to be a hassle. Whether you’re looking to lose serious weight, or just want to eat a little bit better, these healthy recipes are guaranteed to leave you feeling lighter and healthier.

Healthy Recipes for Breakfast

Eating a wholesome, satisfying breakfast that keeps you full all morning helps curb cravings for junk food later in the day. But who has time to whip up a healthy recipe first thing in the AM? Try one of these simple breakfast ideas, and your day will be off to an excellent start.

Green Goddess Smoothie

Greens are an essential part of a healthy diet, and this Green Goddess Smoothie makes it easy to enjoy a couple of servings first thing in the morning. Putting spinach in a smoothie may sound a bit strange, but we swear you won’t even taste it!

Ingredients:
1 ½ cups raw baby spinach
1 banana, sliced
½ cup almond milk (can substitute rice or soy milk)
2 tablespoons plain yoghurt
1 tablespoon raw, natural peanut butter
A handful of ice

Directions:
Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth.

Time-Saving Tip: Save time in the morning by making and freezing “smoothie packs” ahead of time. Simply add whatever fruits or vegetables you want to use in your smoothies to a small plastic bag, and freeze. When you’re ready to blend up your smoothie in the morning, grab your pack out of the freezer and blend it up for a healthy recipe that requires almost no effort!

Carrot-Ginger Smoothie

Get your day started right with this beta carotene-packed smoothie, which will have your skin glowing from the inside out.

Ingredients:
1 large carrot, peeled and finely chopped
1 banana, sliced
2 teaspoons ginger, peeled and chopped
½ cup plain yoghurt
A splash of orange juice

Directions:
Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth.

Healthy Recipes for Lunch

Do you ever find yourself feeling sluggish after lunch? Beat the bloat with these healthy recipes that will leave you feeling light and ready to take on your busy afternoon.

Avocado Toast

Don’t fear the fat! Avocado is filled with healthy fats that will not only keep you full throughout the afternoon, but will also make your hair and nails extra shiny.

Ingredients:
2 slices of whole grain bread, toasted
½ avocado, pitted
Salt + pepper

Directions:
Mash avocado onto toasted bread, and season with salt and pepper. For extra staying power, top toast with sprouts, sliced strawberries, or toasted almonds.

Packed Lunch Tip: Taking this one to the office? Pack the toast and avocado separately and assemble at lunchtime to avoid sogginess.

Spicy Black Bean Wrap

Black beans are an excellent source of vegetarian protein, while spicy foods (like the kick of cayenne here) are known metabolism-boosters. The best part? This healthy recipe can be prepped on Sunday night and enjoyed all week long.

Ingredients:

Spicy Black Bean Spread:
2 cups black beans (if using dried beans, be sure to soak overnight)
2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons coriander
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoons cayenne pepper

Spicy Black Bean Wrap:
½ cup Spicy Black Bean Spread
1 whole wheat tortilla
½ red capsicum, seeded and thinly sliced
1 small tomato, seeded and sliced

Directions:
1. Add all black bean spread ingredients to food processor. Process until smooth, scraping down sides as necessary. Can be stored to an airtight container for up to a week.
2. To make wraps, spread ½ cup bean spread onto tortilla. Top with capsicum and tomato, and roll up tightly. Wrap in aluminium foil and refrigerate until ready to eat.

Snack Tip: This Spicy Black Bean Spread is also a great dip for sliced veggies, like carrots, capsicum, or broccoli.

Healthy Recipes for Dinner

After a long day at work, it can be all too easy to turn to takeout for a quick, no-fuss meal. Don’t let fatigue derail your diet—these healthy recipes are designed to make nutritious eating effortless.

Easy Veggie Rice

This Easy Veggie Rice is a simple, satisfying, and healthy recipe that can be modified in tons of different ways. Use whatever vegetables you have on hand to create this flavourful meal.

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, plus 1 teaspoon
½ onion, chopped
½ red capsicum, seeded and chopped
½ carrot, peeled and finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 teaspoons ginger, peeled and minced
1 egg
½ cup rice or quinoa, cooked and cooled
Reduced sodium soy sauce, to taste
Salt + pepper
Chopped coriander, for garnish

Directions:
1. In a large skillet or wok, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat.
2. Add onion, capsicum, and carrot to skillet, tossing in oil to coat. Season with salt and pepper, and sauté until soft, about 8 minutes.
3. Add garlic and ginger, and cook for an additional minute.
4. Remove vegetables to bowl and set aside.
5. Add remaining olive oil to skillet and reduce heat to medium-low.
6. Crack eggs into skillet, quickly mixing together to scramble. Once eggs are done, remove to bowl with vegetables.
7. Raise heat to medium-high, and add cold rice to skillet. Let sit undisturbed for one minute, then stir.
8. Add cooked vegetables and eggs back to skillet with rice, and drizzle in soy sauce to taste. Stir to combine.
9. Divide stir fry between two plates and garnish with coriander.

Time-Saving Tip: Make a big batch of grains, like brown rice or quinoa, in the beginning of the week to save time when cooking healthy recipes throughout the week.

Red Curry Chicken

Lean protein is one of the best foods for weight loss, because it promotes fullness and lessens your chances of overeating later. This healthy recipe for Red Curry Chicken is a fresh, flavourful way to incorporate lean protein into your diet—and it makes two servings, so you can enjoy one for dinner and one for lunch the next day.

Ingredients:
½ cup coconut milk
1 tablespoon red curry paste
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
8 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 2 pieces
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

Directions:
1. In a bowl, combine coconut milk, red curry paste, salt, and pepper.
2. Add chicken to bowl, turning to coat evenly. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
3. In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat.
4. Remove chicken from bowl and place in skillet. Cook for about 5 minutes per side, or until done.
5. Serve over steamed vegetables, such as broccoli or snap peas.

These healthy recipes, along with a regular fitness routine and plenty of water, are sure to have you looking and feeling your best on your wedding day. You owe it to yourself to make these changes—and these healthy recipes will taste just as delicious after the honeymoon!

Credits: Feature image by Stiftelsen Elektronikkbransjen licensed under CC BY 2.0.

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