Cuisine for Kids, a “day of food and fundraising” is a benefit for the Child Advocacy Center. Thirty-three restaurants are participating all day on January 10, all have agreed to donate a portion of their proceeds to help victims of Child Abuse. The participating restaurants range from fast food (Popeye’s, Steak & Shake), delis (Chat-a-way, Atlanta Bread Company), casual (Callahan’s, Picklefish, Wintzell’s) to 615, La Pizzeria and Felix’s Fish Camp. Call 432-1101 for more information and a listing of all thirty-three restaurants.

Time to take it off

By now most readers have tired of holiday eating and have committed to eat better and/or lose weight in the New Year. It is also time to work on getting into that tight long dress or your set of tails for Mardi Gras. Can you eat better? With discipline and a focus on healthy eating and exercise, you can be full and loose a few pounds, too. Always consult with your health professional before beginning any weight loss or making new food choices.

First of all, fad diets do not work in the long run. I know so many people who have begun Sugarbusters, South Beach, Atkins or the cabbage soup diet, then fall off and on and end up gaining the weight back and more in the end. Healthy eating that contains foods from all groups is what works.

Eat less, exercise more. A recent study of holiday weight gain found those who do not exercise tend to gain three to five pounds over the holiday, and are unable, in the long run, to lose and keep off these pounds when beginning an exercise program. This is because it took most of them a year to do so when they kept up, but most fell off the wagon as fall turned into the next winter. For active exercisers, they gained about 1.7 pounds that was hard to get back off and stay off. A bit alarming, but with a commitment it can be overcome.

For almost four years now I have eaten less, and healthier, even while eating out once a week, where I have to sample everything. I have lost a considerable amount of weight and kept it off. Eating three meals with two snacks in between is the key for me. I balance out my proteins, carbs, fats and fruits and vegetables. I exercise six days a week.

I still gained about two pounds during the holidays through bad eating. It is not hard to eat right and lose when you combine fruits and carbs with good fats (lowfat cheeses, almonds for example). Eat more green vegetables and legumes not cooked in salt and fat. Chicken broth is a great flavoring without adding unnecessary fats. Do not eat processed foods — cook a bit. It does not have to be more work to cook healthy as shown by some of the simple to prepare recipes below.

Quick Chicken Lasagna

“Trim and Terrific”

Holly Clegg

Serves Eight

Holly Clegg is a well-known Louisiana cookbook author and advocate of healthier eating. I have had her first cookbook, Louisiana Light and Lean for many years and cook from it frequently.

1 rotisserie chicken, skin removed and chicken torn into pieces (3 cups)

2, 26 ounce jars pasta sauce

2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

2, 10 ounce packages chopped spinach, thawed and drained

1, 4 ounce package crumbled goat cheese

1, 8 ounce package no-boil lasagna noodles

Preheat oven to 350. Cut chicken into small pieces and mix with sauce. In an oblong dish spread a thin layer of chicken mixture. Top with layer of noodles, chicken, mozzarella cheese, half the spinach and goat cheese. Repeat layering. Bake covered for 50 minutes. Uncover and bake 5 minutes or longer until bubbly.

Roasted Asparagus

Serves Six

We make this all the time at home — even those who are wary of asparagus love this. When roasted they turn crisp and crunchy. It you like, you can add a little fresh Parmesan (the canned kind does not work, and you should never use this anyway)

1 bundle fresh asparagus

1 tablespoon olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Heat oven to 375 – 400. Toss all together on a baking sheet, roast until desired level of doneness.

Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wraps

Foodfit.com

Serves Four

Check out this website for a complete listing of just about every healthy recipe out there – most very easy to make.

For the chicken:

2 teaspoons olive oil

4 small skinless, boneless chicken breasts

Salt and pepper

One-quarter cup jerk sauce (can be found in most local grocery stores)

For the wraps:

One-half cup fat-free, whipped cream cheese

2 tablespoons minced sweet onion

4 large flour tortillas

4 large lettuce leaves (green leaf, bibb, and romaine) shredded

4 large slices of ripe tomato, sliced thin

Cooking instructions:

Preheat grill to medium high. Brush chicken with olive oil and season. Cook on grill until done. Time will depend on thickness of chicken breasts. During the last two minutes of cooking, brush with jerk sauce. Cut chicken into small pieces after resting for five minutes (the chicken, not you).

In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, onions and season. Divide mixture between the tortillas, top with slices of chicken and tomato. Roll the tortilla tightly ending with the seam down.

Kinnon Phillips is Lagniappe cuisine editor. Contact him at kphillips@lagniappemobile.com.

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