A fresh start is always a good thing! Whether it is a new year, week or day starting off refreshed with a healthy diet is a perfect way to start. My Asian Coconut Sesame Chicken Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette is the perfect balanced light meal packed full of healthy nutrients.

What I enjoyed about this new recipe I put together was its simplicity all while experimenting with new ingredients such as pureed ginger and lemongrass paste. It was so convenient shopping at Safeway where I found EVERYTHING I needed for my Asian Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette.

Ingredients

Salad:

• head of iceberg lettuce
• coleslaw mix
• sweet baby bell peppers diced
• handful slivered almonds and handful of wonton strips for garnishing
• a few pinches of diced cilantro for garnishing

Coconut Sesame Chicken:

• 6-8 oz chicken tenderloin pieces
• 1-2 eggs for dipping
• breading (1/2 cup panko breading, 1/4 cup coconut, 1/8-1/4 cup sesame seeds)

Citrus Vinaigrette:

• 1/4 cup Simply Orange Juice
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar, may add a little more to your taste
• 1/4 cup light olive oil
• 1 pea size drop of lemongrass paste
• 1 Tbsp ginger paste
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 2 Tbsp honey
• 1Tbsp diced cilantro
• dash of salt and pepper
• 1 full lime squeezed for juice
• 1-2 Tbsp soy sauce

Directions

Coconut Sesame Chicken:

1. Mix panko, coconut and sesame seeds in a bowl. Set aside.
2. Beat eggs and leave in separate bowl for dipping.
3. Dip defrosted chicken in beaten raw eggs and then dip and coat with breading mix from step 1.
4. Place on non-stick baking sheet and bake at 425 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until coating is golden brown and internal temp is at least 165 degrees.
5. Once cooked set aside to cool briefly until you can handle them to slice them.

Salad:

1. Toss all ingredients in bowl in exception to garnishings.
2. Set aside.

Citrus vinaigrette:

1. Whisk all ingredients listed in mixing bowl.
2. Add more vinegar, salt, pepper or honey to your taste as you are making it.

WATCH THE VIDEO below to see a quick tutorial on the cooking process! Place your salad mix in a bowl, top with sliced breaded chicken, top with slivered almonds, wonton strips and citrus vinaigrette and enjoy!

There you have it friends, a delicious and light meal to refresh and start new any day, moment or meal of the week!

This meal was perfect with the fresh cut fruit I bought at Safeway and a cup of my Simply Orange juice.

You can find the Simply Orange juice in the juice cooler section. The fresh cut fruit is in the produce section and if you are looking for a great beverage to enjoy during the day such as vitaminwater or something to power an intense workout such as POWERADE, those can be found in the cooler/ beverage aisle in your local Safeway. I found my grocery stop so convenient as the one-stop-shop for everything I needed.

A great offer I must mention! Right now if you buy $15 worth of participating items you will get $4 off your Fresh Cut Fruit via Catalina. You will find the $4 off on your receipt as a coupon/credit for your next purchase of Fresh Cut Fruit!

I hope you enjoy my Asian Coconut Sesame Chicken Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette ! What is great is by make a bit larger batch as this recipe describes, leftovers can be used as an easy lunch the next day. You could eat it as a salad or place it in a wrap for something new. You may also like my Strawberry Spinach Salad or BBQ Chicken Salad as well.

Cheers to fresh starts every day with nutrition that nourishes the body from the inside out! Dovidenia. Xo

The post Asian Coconut Sesame Chicken Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette appeared first on Simple Acres Blog.

The stomping of snowy feet and the cries for hot cocoa have been my daily life lately. Busy days scheduled with last minute doctor appointments, Christmas recitals, meal preparation and planning for the holidays, traditions and more are just a few of the many to-do’s on our plate. Staying energized in a busy life is something essential in life. As a Registered Dietitian, I would like to share my tips for staying healthy and energized.

Do you ever find yourself juggling some of the very same things on your plate? It all can be a lot sometimes. The busyness of life can make choosing nutritious foods and habits that energize a challenge. Here is a story of how a simple Nut Butter Filled Bar can help.

I have been thinking a lot lately of how important finding your “why” to life and the way a person lives it is so important! Our “why” is that internal drive that motivates your goals, lifestyle and self care choices. (More to come on this in the new year as we make new goals for change.)

My “why” is driven from my deep love for my family and especially my children. On the topic of health and self care, living a life that nourishes me and keeps me energized to be the best mom I can be is essential. A healthy diet and active lifestyle are key. What drives you to choose behaviors that encourage health for you and your family?

Our life becomes a mirror for our children. Often what we value reflects upon them. I hope my passion, resilience, value of health and willingness to work hard for my family are characteristics they pick up someday. Right now they are young and one of the simplest things to model is good habits when it comes to nutrition and fitness.

Let me share some of my tips to Stay Energized in a Busy Life.

How to Stay Energized in a Busy Life

1. Get adequate rest. Know how much sleep you and your loved ones need and honor a sleep regimen. Did you know there are even foods that help encourage healthy sleep? My ultimate guide to sleep is a great reference.
2. Move your body. Activity helps childhood development and focus while it is a tool for disease prevention and increased energy for adults especially. My kids see me get active often whether it is on the farm with their dad or doing one of my favorite exercises, bleachers!
3. Nourish your body optimally. I saved the best for last. I am clearly bias. We can do the two things mentioned above but if we don’t put foods in our body that offer the nutrients to energize our cells we will fall short in health. There are so many nutrition questions people have. I will start addressing them in the months to come but today we will address a common nutrition question.

People often ask, “Does GMO matter?”. My answer is simple, YES. Let me explain.

I am joining Kate Geagan, another Registered Dietitian, in helping to educate others on the topic of GMO foods. Kate is an award-winning dietitian and “America’s Green Nutritionist,” who has helped millions fall in love with food that powers a vibrant, high energy life. She is an internationally known author, speaker, consultant and nutrition communications expert, as well as a spokesperson for several global brands in the organic and natural space.

Here are some basic points to help you make an informed decision when you buy foods for your family.

• GMO foods are plant or animal products that have been altered by scientists in their DNA to achieve desired results. This experiment of sorts which created its first commercial sale of food in 1994 is one I do not wish to be a part of. With your knowledge on the topic now you can feel informed whether you want to be part of the “GMO experiment” as well.
• About 26 countries in the world have totally or partially banned GMO foods.
• Non-GMO and organic foods helps you know you are eating foods that have not been altered in a lab, or were produced with synthetic fertilizer, toxic pesticides or antibiotics.
• Studies show that GMO crops lead to the increased use of toxic chemicals, herbicides and pesticides in conventional farming, elevating the risk of toxin exposure to the general public and especially farming communities.4 Toxic pesticides and chemicals have been linked to birth defects, nerve damage and cancer, with children and pregnant women most at risk. 5 Toxic chemicals also pollute our waterways, oceans and air.

Want to learn more about Non GMO?

Use the image below to further learn on the topic and importance of eating non-GMO.

Organic Clif bars are GMO free energy bars that are balanced and crafted with nutritious ingredients. They are:

• USDA Organic
• Non-GMO
• Made with delicious, creamy peanut, hazelnut or almond butters
• 7 grams (9% DV) of plant-based protein
• Low glycemic

My family LOVES Clif Bar. It is a nutrient dense bar that offers optimal energy for the hard work and “country hiking”, as I like to call it, when we are working hard with our cattle on our acreage. Ten acres of running and hustling cows makes for a great workout at times.

Leading an active lifestyle is our secret to having the increased energy we do. Whether you are chasing after busy kids, herding cattle and practicing “country crossfit” bailing hay and feeding cows or just hitting some bleachers to stay fit Clif Bar is a perfect high energy food that will support the activity and lifestyle you love. 

We are setting all types of health focused goals at Simple Acres this year, from improving my failing one armed push-up to improving our nutrition as a family with foods that meet our active lifestyle like Clif Bar!

I encourage you all to enjoy this time of year and all of life while maintaining the energy to do so in health. Cheers to rest, activity and delicious, nutritious food that provides the nutrients needed to achieve your daily goals with success. Dovidenia. Xo

Sources

1. www.centerforfoodsafety.org/issues/311/ge-foods/about-ge-foods
2. www.thenation.com/blog/176863/twenty-six-countries-ban-gmos-why-wont-us
3. gmoinside.org/64-countries-around-the-world-label-ge-food/
4. http://earthopensource.org/2012/06/17/why-genetically-engineered-food-is-dangerous-new-report-by-genetic-engineers/
5. www.epa.gov/pesticides/food/risks.htm

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