Healthy Living
It is well known that the key to a healthy lifestyle is balance.
We should all aim to take part in regular physical activity, maintain a healthy weight, and have a balanced diet that includes lots of fruits, salads and vegetables and wholegrain starchy foods such as breads, rice or pasta, alongside main meals and as snacks.
Chicken can make a great contribution to a healthy, balanced diet, and can form the basis of light meals such as sandwiches or soups, and main meals such as casseroles or stir-fries.
When served without the skin, chicken is low in fat, and most of the fat is the healthier type (monounsaturates, along with some polyunsaturates).
Look for the Tegel Lean & Lite range of low-fat, skinless, boneless cuts for a nutritious and healthy choice. Chicken mince, schnitzel, tenderloins, breast and thigh fillets and stir-fry all now display the Heart Foundation Tick.
When preparing, cooking and serving chicken-based dishes, remember to keep high-fat and high-salt ingredients to a minimum and add in plenty of vegetables for a healthy meal.
If you're short on time then boneless, skinless chicken is a quick and easy option, and has the added bonus of no waste.
Keeping Healthy This Winter
Exercise regularly.
It is important to exercise regularly, even if only for 15 minutes a day! Get out and take a short walk and enjoy the cooler weather. Regular exercise helps to control your weight, boost your immune system and is a good way to break the tension that can build if the family is constantly cooped up inside the house.
Eat more fruit and vegetables
When it's cold and dark outside it can be tempting to fill up on unhealthy comfort food, but it's important to ensure that you still keep your diet healthy and include five portions of fruit and veg a day. If you find yourself craving a sugary treat, try a juicy mandarin instead, or sweet dried fruits such as dates or raisins. Winter vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, swede and turnips can be mashed or made into soup for a comforting winter meal for the whole family and are also the perfect accompaniments for your favourite roast chicken meal!
