fbpx
972-355-2639

Zoodles?  What are they?  They are noodles made out of zucchini and they are a delicious low-carb swap for regular pasta. If you haven’t tried them, this week’s recipes are your chance!  You can make zucchini noodles with a spiralizer, vegetable peeler, julienne peeler, or buy them spiralized in some grocery stores’ produce section. They are loaded with flavor, vitamins/minerals, and fiber and low in calories and carbohydrates so they are great for dinner especially when eating for weight loss goals!  Enjoy!

Zucchini Noodles with Avocado Pesto and Chicken

INGREDIENTS

  • 3 large zucchini, spiralized (or buy spiralized zucchini noodles)
  • 2 ripe avocados
  • juice from ½ lemon
  • ¼ cup raw cashews
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 cup fresh basil
  • 3-4 cloves garlic
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 pound chicken thighs, chopped into bite-size pieces
  • 1 tbsp olive oil [to cook chicken]

DIRECTIONS

  1. Using a spiralizer or mandolin, spiralize your zucchini. Set aside.
  2. For the sauce: in a food processor add avocados, lemon juice, cashews, basil, garlic, sea salt and pepper. Run the food processor until all ingredients are combined and the mixture is finely chopped.
  3. Next, while the food processor is running, add in ¼ cup olive oil and run until your pesto is thick and creamy. You may need to stop the food processor and wipe down the sides with a spatula to make sure all ingredients are well combined.
  4. For the chicken: add 1 tbsp olive oil to skillet on medium heat. Add chicken and season with sea salt and pepper. Cook until chicken is no longer pink and is cooked through.
  5. To combine dish, add zucchini noodles and pesto to skillet with chicken and stir to combine all ingredients and heat the dish through [this should only take a minute or 2]. Be sure not to cook the zucchini noodles too long or they will become mushy.

From nutritiouslyrooted.com

 

4 ingredient Garlic Chicken Zoodles

Ingredients
-2 medium chicken breasts cut into 1/2 inch pieces
-2 tablespoons olive oil
-4 cloves garlic minced or crushed
-3 zucchini spiralized
-1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
-salt & pepper to taste

Instructions
1. Heat a large heavy-duty pan to medium/high heat. Add olive oil and minced garlic. Cook garlic for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
2. Add chicken, red pepper flakes and salt & pepper. Cook chicken for 5-6 minutes or until golden and cooked through.
3. Toss in spiralized zoodles and cook for 1 minute then turn off heat. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese if desired.

From gimmedelicious.com

 

Challenge of the Week:  Cardio change-up! This week try a new form of cardio.  Swap out your treadmill for a group class at your gym or video/show on your home tv or youtube.  Grab a jump, visit a nearby track, or go for a bike ride with a friend instead of your class. Do something different to challenge your brain and body differently!

 

Kay Simms, MS, HFI, CSCS