“Mom, what is this? This tastes really good” Who does not want to hear this at dinnertime? Well it happened at the Gallo house last night and I served lentils, who knew??
Lentils are a legume, a bean, a powerhouse of nutrients! I knew that, but what I did not know is that they are something that my kids and husband actually like and want to eat!
LENTILS
Find out what's happening in Windhamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
1) Low in calories – 230 per cup
2) High in soluble fiber. Beneficial in lowering cholesterol, stabilizing blood sugar, maintaining digestive health and very filling so help with weight loss
Find out what's happening in Windhamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
3) High in both folate and magnesium, two nutrients associated with a healthy heart.
4) Great vegetarian source of protein – 26% of lentils calories are from protein
5) Beneficial in maintaining high energy levels throughout the day – Slow burning energy due to their fiber and complex carbohydrate content.
6) Good source of iron.
OK, back to last night. I had a ton of veggies in the produce drawer and some leftover brown rice that I wanted to clear out. This is what I tossed together and they LOVED IT!
CLEAN OUT THE FRIDGE LENTIL STIR FRY
Stir fry a variety of veggies on 3 tbls olive oil. I used chopped peppers, onions, Trader Joes frozen roasted corn, peas and chopped broccoli (until cooked but still firm)
Toss in 1 package of Trader Joes ready to serve steamed lentils. These are so easy! If you don’t have the ready to serve variety, you can rinse and drain 2 cans of lentils or steam some up yourself. Personally, I make sure to buy several boxes every time I go to Trader Joes and keep them in the freezer. Quick, easy and contain no “junk”
Cook over low heat until completely heated. I needed to add some water to keep the stir-fry from sticking to the pan. You could also add some chicken or veggie broth for additional flavor.
Right before you serve, toss in about 2 cups of brown rice and heat Season as you like. I added pepper, garlic and everyday spice mix from Trader Joes (really, I should work for them)
Son number 3 added parmesan cheese to his meal and had three helpings. My husband worked late and was a little disappointed there as only one serving left for him. Oh well, with 4 boys, he should have known better!
Give it a try! Lentils, Who Knew??
To your health – Noreen Gallo MSRD www.yourforeverdiet.com
