Grilled Bananas

Sounds gross, doesn't it? Yeah it did to me too at first. Check out this ridiculously simple recipe for a healthy summer dessert. If you're cooking out on the grill this weekend, put this one together!

Slice bananas length-wise and place on a sheet of aluminum foil.

Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon and brown sugar.

Fold over the top so it is secure and place on the grill until the banana is soft and warm and brown sugar is carmelized.

For the best timing, throw the aluminum bananas on the grill right about the time you start serving dinner. Not using a grill? Gong camping instead? Place the packets on the warm embers of the bonfire and retrieve safely with tongs.

Spicy Cocoa Sloppy Joes

I know this might not be the healthiest thing we've posted on here, but it might be one of the best tasting ones. In all actuality, it's probably not that bad for you if you have it in a moderate portion. Once you look over the ingredients you'll probably agree. The great thing about this is that it is an official recipe from Hershey. Those guys can rarely do anything wrong in my opinion.

In the end, I would probably substitute the bun with a tortilla or pita. Both come in a variety of flavors that may only enhance the taste. I want to try this one out as soon as possible. Let us know how yours turns out if you make it.

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 pounds lean ground beef
• 1 to 1-1/4 cups chopped onion
• 1 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons HERSHEY'S Cocoa
• 1-1/2 tablespoons yellow mustard
• 2-1/2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 1-1/4 teaspoons salt

Directions:
1. Cook ground beef and onion in large skillet on medium heat until beef is browned and onion is tender. Drain excess fat.

2. Stir in ketchup, cocoa, mustard, chili powder, pepper and salt. Heat 10 to 15 minutes on low heat or until hot. Serve in buns. Cover; refrigerate leftovers. About 4-1/2 cups sandwich filling.

Italian Crusted Chicken

by Jamie Hunter

This recipe is a household favorite and is sure to please most eaters!

Serves: 2 People

Prep Time: 6 hours

- 2 Whole Chicken Breasts (fat trimmed)

- 1 Cup of fat free Italian salad dressing

- 1 Tablespoon of Italian seasoning

- 2 Cups of bread crumbs

2 Sandwich bags

Be sure to trim the fat off your chicken breasts. Tenderize your chicken breasts using a meat tenderizer until flat. Take two sandwich bags and place a chicken breast into each one. Next pour half of the salad dressing into each bag, seal with a twist tie or rubber band and place in the refrigerator for 2 or more hours. It's even better if they can soak overnight.

Now take the bread crumbs and combine them with the Italian seasoning.

Pre-heat your oven to 250 degrees.

Take out your chicken breasts and coat them with the bread crumb mixture. I use a bowl with a lid and shake them until they are evenly covered.

Place them in an oven safe pan, cover with foil then place in the oven for 45 minutes. After 45 minutes has expired remove the foil and continue to cook for an additional 30 minutes or until done. Use a meat thermometer to make sure it is thoroughly cooked. Poultry should reach an internal temperature of 180 degrees before eaten.

Serve with rice and steamed vegetables for a really healthy and tasty meal.

Mandarin Chicken/Tuna Salad

Here's a great idea for a quick salad that's low in fat and calories. The chicken can be subsituted for Tuna.

- 1 small can of tuna

- 1 cup of baby spinach leaves

- 1 mandarin orange or clementine

- 1 tablespoon of chopped walnuts (optional)

- 1 half cup of sliced tomatoes

Non fat Caesar Salad dressing.

Drain your tuna before adding it to the rest of your ingredients. Mix together your baby spinach, tuna or cubed chicken breast, tomatoes and orange slices. Add your chopped walnuts to last to maintain their crunchy texture, and finally add your salad dressing to taste.

This is a really fast meal that you can enjoy at home or at work. I find that "eating right" requires that you experiment and treat yourself to different textures and flavors to keep from getting bored with same old food day in and day out. Give it a try. You just might like it!

Jamie Hunter

Like Milkshakes? Try this!

Spring is here and it's time to continue a close watch on our weight and health. I know when the temperature starts to rise, I like to enjoy a cool shake! Don't deny your cravings, just do it right.

A couple tips. Use frozen fruit and skim milk for a great strawberry, blackberry, banana, or your favorite fruit shake. The frozen fruit gives the consistency of the hard ice cream. The skim milk keeps it fat free! You can also use a little vanilla extract for added flavor.

Here's a recipe for one of my healthy faves:
Choco-Peanut Butter-Banana Shake
1 cup skim milk
2 tbs chocolate Ovaltine
2 tbs Jif creamy peanut butter
2 ripe bananas-if not ripe, they won't give the desired flavor
1 tsp vanilla extract
5-6 ice cubes

Two More Records

This is the 4th straight day for me to set a personal high on the treadmill. New high for mileage and calories. I am at 4.33 miles in an hour now. This is 1.10 miles better than when I started only three weeks ago. I should definitely be able to get to 4.5 by the end of this month! I don't know what it is, but each day when I get done, I feel like I could have done just a tad more. Somewhere around 45 minutes in, I start to get in a groove and any cramping I have seems to die down.

How have I been eating? In a word, decent. Lately, I have been eating slightly less during the day. I have snacked on lighter things, like Jello and apples. For dinner, I've had salad three nights in a row with dinner. I had pasta last night. My wife makes a mean sauce. It's impossible to resist. I eat smaller portions for dinner than I was a few months back. Small steps. I keep telling myself that I am going in the right direction. As long as I'm running or getting exercise in some form, eat less, I feel like I am doing the right thing. Once I am getting five miles a day in on the treadmill, then I will focus on my core with crunches and sit-ups.

Last night's salad was a new concoction. If you're curious, this is what was in it:

• Romaine lettuce
• White onion
• Chopped Granny Smith apple
• A few dashes of red wine vinegar
• A small sprinkling of Cajun crunchy stuff (peanuts, corn nuts, sesame stick, etc)
• Ranch dressing

Tangy, zesty, crunchy, and nice robust flavor. Easy to make. You can substitute things in place of the Cajun stuff with things like onion straws, croutons, etc. If you want a nice additive to salad, try broken pieces of Doritos. Any flavor.