Answer Fitness®: Practical Fitness Advice for Everyone

Mexican Cheese Dip Recipe | Healthy Recipes

Try this healthy low-fat version of Mexican Cheese Dip for an amazing high-protein, low-calorie snack. And it doubles as a healthy enchilada filling! 

Who doesn’t love a restaurant-style Mexican cheese dip? Cool, creamy and spicy all at the same time, there’s nothing quite like the combination of cheese dip, tortillas and a side of salsa to kick off Mexican fiesta.

Of course, most Mexican cheese dips - especially the restaurant variety — are loaded with sour cream and full-fat cheese. Not a great combination if you’re counting calories, trying to lose that gut or keep your summer abs nice and defined.

This version of Mexican Cheese Dip has been lightened up (it comes in at around 80 calories per 1/2 cup serving,) without losing one iota of flavor. Trust me, it’s that good.

One of the great things about Mexican food is that the predominance of highly-flavorful spices and ingredients like cumin, coriander, garlic, onion and chiles allows you to create healthy versions of most Mexican dishes without losing the flavors you’ve come to love.

Continue reading Mexican Cheese Dip Recipe | Healthy Recipes…

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Popularity: 10% [?]

Five Low Fat, Great Tasting, Mexican Food Toppings: Healthy Food of The Day

Try one or all of these tasty low-fat, low-calorie toppings on your next taco or burrito

So you think eating clean and healthy means you can’t enjoy Mexican food? Think again. These five toppings for Mexican food not only taste great, but they’re also excellent, nutrient-packed additions to any healthy diet.

Salsa

What’s a taco or burrito without a generous helping of salsa on top? The good news is this delicious mix of onions, tomato, garlic, chilies and lime juice is not only low in calories and fat, but also a nutritional powerhouse, combining four of the most antioxidant-rich foods available in one dish.  Salsa has actually surpassed catsup as America’s favorite condiment. In 2007, salsa outsold catsup by $175 million dollars according to research firm ACNielsen.

Fresh salsa or pico de gallo is your best bet since it tends to be lower in sodium than canned or bottled versions, and it adds a fresh twist to your Mexican food.  But in a pinch, the jarred versions will work just fine. Salsa is the ultimate convenience condiment, but remember you can also make your own salsa at home with just a few ingredients. It’s almost always superior to the pre-prepared store-bought salsa in taste and nutritional value.

Two tablespoons of ready-to-serve, store-bought salsa contains 9 calories, 0 fat, 0 cholesterol, 198 milligrams of sodium, 2.1 grams of carbs, 0.5 grams of protein and 98 mg of potassium. Fresh salsa or pico de gallo will generally have less sodium. (Source: Calorie King.com)

Continue reading Five Low Fat, Great Tasting, Mexican Food Toppings: Healthy Food of The Day…

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Popularity: 4% [?]

Low Fat Ranch Dip | Healthy Recipes and Snacks

Try this low-fat, high-protein ranch dip recipe to help you get your daily vegetables

Eating your five servings of vegetables each day is easier when you have a great, low-fat dip recipe. This recipe is even better because it contains only two ingredients and can be prepared in less than 2 minutes start-to-finish.  The best part, however, is the taste.

Low Fat Ranch Dip 

Ingredients
1 16 oz container of Quark (or substitute low-fat Greek Yogurt or a similar strained yogurt product)
1 packet Hidden Valley® Ranch Dip Mix (or Fiesta Ranch Dip Mix)

Directions
1.  Mix the Hidden Valley® Ranch Dip Mix and quark or greek yogurt in a medium sized bowl. For best results, let chill for 1 hour prior to serving.  Serves eight.  Serving size is 1/4 cup of dip. Use as a dip for broccoli, carrots, celery sticks, and cauliflower.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Popularity: 5% [?]

Quark, The Perfect Sour Cream Substitute | Healthy Food of the Day

Quark cheese is a healthy substitute for sour cream that’s low in fat, high in protein and tastes great! 

Love sour cream heaped on baked potatoes, nachos or even in your favorite veggie dip but hate the high fat and high calories?

It’s time for you to discover the wonders of Quark, a thick yogurt-type cheese. Quark is a great, healthy substitute for sour cream in terms of both flavor and consistency, and blows it out of the water on the nutritional front. 

Okay, so it has a funny name. But once you get past that, Quark deserves a spot in the refrigerator of anyone who is interested in healthy eating.

So what is Quark and why should I make it a regular part of my daily diet?

Traditional Quark is a fresh cheese from Central Europe.  It can be solid (but soft), or thick and creamy (like sour cream.) Historically, it’s been made with whole milk, which of course means it has full-fat as well. However, a number of companies have recently introduced Quark made from low-fat or fat-free milk, which makes it a very healthy alternative to things like sour cream and even cream cheese.  It’s similar to yogurt cheese or Greek strained yogurt, but a bit thicker and richer in taste. This makes it perfect as a sour cream substitute.

Continue reading Quark, The Perfect Sour Cream Substitute | Healthy Food of the Day…

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Popularity: 5% [?]