The post Stephanie Melchione Will Change the Way You Look at Pasta Salad appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.
]]>Greek Pasta Salad
Inspired by Greek cuisine, this pasta salad will win you over with the combo of fresh vegetables, feta cheese, olives, parsley, and Greek salad dressing.
Italian Pasta Salad
Melchione paid homage to Italian cuisine with this delicious pasta salad, made with mozzarella, Parmesan, salami, pepperoni, olives, tomatoes, and bell peppers.
Tortellini Pasta Salad
This pasta salad shares many of its ingredients with the previous recipes, but it wouldn’t be the same without cheese-filled tortellini and homemade Balsamic dressing.
BLT Pasta Salad
Inspired by the beloved BLT sandwich, this pasta salad owes its irresistible flavor to the combination of bacon strips, romaine lettuce, and cherry tomatoes.
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Caesar salad is never going out of style, and Melchione came up with a way to put a twist on the classic recipe. She added some pasta to the mix while also making sure to use all the must-have ingredients, including chicken breast, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, croutons, and homemade Caesar dressing.
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]]>The post 5 Tips & Tricks That Can Help You Cut Down on Sugar appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.
]]>Avoid Sugary Drinks
From soda and ice tea to sports and energy drinks, many beverages are packed with tons of added sugar, so they’re best avoided. The same rule applies to many store-bought fruit juices and smoothies.
Check Food Labels
Sugar often hides in unexpected places, so it’s a good idea to check the labels whenever you’re buying anything from sauces to granola to make sure they’re not packed with sugar.
Sugary Sauces
Speaking of unexpected foods packed with sugar, it’s a good idea to avoid sauces such as ketchup, barbecue sauce, and spaghetti sauce because they contain a pretty high amount of sugar.
Healthier Desserts
If you have a habit of eating sugary desserts, consider replacing them with healthier alternatives that can satisfy your sweet tooth, such as fresh fruits, Greek yogurt, and dark chocolate.
Shop Carefully
You’ll be more prone to eating sugary foods if you already have them at home. That’s why it’s a good idea to limit items with high sugar content in your house and fill your fridge and pantry with healthy whole foods.
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]]>The post 4 Reasons Why You Should Try Making Homemade Hummus appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.
]]>Healthy Ingredients
Store-bought hummus can contain many unhealthy ingredients, including added oils, preservatives, or excess salt. You won’t have to worry about them when making your own hummus because you can use the healthiest ingredients possible.
Keep it Fresh
Being in control of the ingredients you’re using will also allow you to keep them as fresh as possible. Your hummus will have a fresh and irresistible flavor when there are no added preservatives involved, and you can experiment with new seasonal veggies every time you make it.
Flavor Combos
Speaking of experimenting, making your own hummus will inspire you to try delicious new flavor combinations. The sky is your limit since you can add new ingredients to the mix and adjust the flavor to your liking.
Quick & Easy
You don’t have to be a cooking pro to make delicious homemade hummus. It’s a quick and easy process that will yield great results, especially since you can store your homemade hummus for later use.
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]]>The post 5 Foods That Can Help You Keep Your Selenium Intake on a Healthy Side appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.
]]>Brazil Nuts
You can easily up your selenium intake by eating Brazil nuts since a single one contains approximately 96 mcg of selenium, which is almost twice your daily requirement.
Fish & Seafood
Different types of fish and seafood are also rich in selenium, starting with tuna and sardines. You can also up your selenium intake by eating shrimp, halibut, cod, and salmon.
Eggs
In addition to being one of the best sources of protein, eggs can help you reach your daily requirement of selenium since one large hard-boiled egg contains approximately 15 mcg of this nutrient.
Turkey & Chicken
Speaking of protein, chicken and turkey are great sources of lean protein that also happen to be rich in selenium. Chicken meat contains around 22 mcg of selenium per 3-oz portion, while the same portion of boneless turkey can increase your selenium intake by 26 mcg.
Roasted Ham
Roasted ham can also help you take your selenium intake to new heights since it contains around 42 mcg of this nutrient per 3-oz portion.
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]]>The post 5 Ways to Make Sure You’re Eating Healthy Peanut Butter appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.
]]>Check the Label
Never buy a new brand of peanut butter before checking a label. It will give you all the information you’re looking for, including the calorie count and the list of questionable ingredients it might contain.
Natural Ingredients
Always look for peanut butter made with natural ingredients, and try to avoid ones packed with unhealthy additives, such as excess sugar, oils, and preservatives.
Creamy or Crunchy
If you’re struggling to choose between buying creamy and crunchy peanut butter, go with your gut since there’s not much difference between their nutritional values.
Moderation is Key
Peanut butter won’t do your health any favors if you eat it in excess. Despite being packed with healthy fats, its fat content is still extremely high, so remember to eat it in smaller doses.
Make Your Own
Making homemade peanut butter is the best way to ensure it’s as healthy as it gets because you’ll be in control of all the ingredients.
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]]>The post 5 Unhealthy Properties of Instant Noodles You Should Know About appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.
]]>Sodium Content
One of the biggest downsides of instant noodles is their high sodium content. Just like many other packaged foods, they contain more salt than they should so they’re best eaten in moderation.
Artificial Flavorings
In addition to containing excess salt, instant noodles are often packed with artificial flavorings and preservatives, such as monosodium glutamate aka MSG.
Nutritional Content
Foods rich in vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber should be an essential part of your diet, but instant noodles don’t fall under this category and have a pretty low nutritional content.
High in Fat
Instant noodles are usually fried in unhealthy oils, and this can lead to their high fat content.
Bad Habits
There’s nothing bad about eating instant noodles from time to time but think twice before making them a regular part of your diet. According to several studies, regular consumption is linked to a poor overall diet, so it’s best to avoid eating them on a regular basis.
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]]>The post 5 Best Ways to Make Your Soup As Healthy As It Gets appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.
]]>Use Less Salt
If you have a habit of using a lot of salt to boost the taste of your soup, it’s time to stop. You can achieve the same result with herbs and spices without upping the soup’s sodium content too much.
No Heavy Thickeners
Full-fat milk, heavy cream, and butter are some of the thickeners that can make your soup extra creamy, but keep in mind they have a pretty high calorie and fat content.
Use Fewer Carbs
Pasta, rice, or potatoes can do wonders for the taste of your soup, but you should probably use them in moderation because they’re packed with carbs and calories.
Skip Bread & Croutons
Croutons and bread are a popular addition to creamy soups, but they’re also only adding empty calories to your dish.
No Instant Soups
Many people turn to instant soups when looking for a quick meal, but salt, preservatives, and highly processed ingredients they contain make them pretty unhealthy.
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]]>The post Rachel Conners’ Healthy Soups Are Just the Thing You Need This Winter appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.
]]>Vegan Kale & White Bean Soup
Kale has the power to make pretty much any meal healthier in an instant, and it will do wonders for your soup, especially when mixed with some tasty white beans.
Roasted Tomato & Chickpea Soup
Chickpeas are one of the ultimate superfoods, and adding them to your soup is always a good idea. Conners mixed them up with her roasted tomato soup and created a healthy dish that’s the best of both worlds.
Vegan Red Lentil Soup
Conners loves adding lentils to her soups to make them truly pop, and she opted for red lentils this time around, along with a delicious mix of spices that includes ginger, garlic, turmeric, and cumin.
Mushroom Wild Rice Soup
Cream of mushroom soup is never going out of style, and Conners will help you make it better than ever. Mushrooms and wild rice are the main ingredients in this soup, along with shallots, onions, celery, and carrots.
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]]>The post 3 Things to Remember About Protein Bars appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.
]]>Fat Content
Most people buy this snack to up their protein intake, but protein is usually not the only thing that they’re high in. Many protein bars also have a high-fat content that comes from highly processed plant oils, but you shouldn’t stress too much if it’s replaced with healthier fat sources, including nuts and seeds.
Sugar Overload
If you’re replacing chocolate bars with protein bars in the hope you’ll reduce your sugar intake, think again. Many of them contain added sweeteners and artificial flavorings, and that’s why it’s important to check the labels before buying them or simply make your own.
Nutrition Needs
Calling protein bars unhealthy would be wrong, especially when you compare them with alternatives, but it’s important to check the label before buying them. By doing so, you’re making sure that you’re picking protein bars that fit your nutrition needs and contain the ingredients that you actually want in your diet.
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]]>The post 4 Green Superfoods for Ultimate Health appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.
]]>Spinach – Popeye Was Right!
This is a nutrient-rich leafy green, is loaded with iron, vitamins A and C, and is a great antioxidant. It supports immune function, and bone health, and provides a natural energy boost.
Kale – The Cruciferous King
Kale is one of the many nutritious cruciferous vegetables. Packed with vitamins K, A, and C, along with potent antioxidants, kale is amazing for heart health and is known to have anti-inflammatory properties. Kale smoothies, salads, or chips are just a few examples of healthy treats.
Avocado – Deliciously Creamy and Healthy for the Heart
Avocados are full of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and they boost heart-health. They also have a healthy amount of potassium, vitamins E, C, B6, and folate. This delicious fruit lowers the risk of heart disease and heart attack risk. Avocados are great in salads, sandwiches, or in dips like guacamole.
Broccoli – Nature’s Detoxifier
Broccoli is also a cruciferous that is great for detox. Super abundant in fiber, vitamin C, and folate, broccoli helps with digestion and promotes a healthy immune system. You can steam it, roast it, or throw it in a stir-fry and taste the benefits.
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