Cookerati

The Biggest Loser has started up again, have you been watching?  Jennie-O, the sponsor of The Biggest Loser wants to help us keep on track with our healthy eating plans.

JENNIE-O TURKEY STORE® partnered with Chef Devin Alexander, author of “The Biggest Loser Cookbook” and “The Most Decadent Diet Ever!” .

Here are some tips from Chef Devin Alexander to help us keep on track with our New Years Resolutions, and healthy eating.

SET REALISTIC GOALS -When it comes to exercise, be sure to set realistic goals for yourself and remember that even the smallest incremental step is an improvement. For example, don’t require yourself to begin jogging five miles every morning right away, especially if you’ve been pretty sedentary until now. Instead, start out with simple steps like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking at the far end of the lot, and spending at least 10 minutes of your lunch hour taking a brisk walk instead of surfing the Internet. (Diana -  I walk at work in my building with a friend, we start at the bottom floor and work our way to the top, walking each floor and set of steps in between.)

GET ENOUGH REST – Commit to getting better sleep by giving up just one half hour of television a night. Instead of staying up for late shows, hit the sack 30 minutes earlier and you’ll be amazed at how much better you’ll feel in a short time. Realize that managing stress is also an important part of your overall health goals. Explore techniques that have proven to work for others – from yoga to running to reading – and find what’s right for you. Engage in some stress-relieving activity every day, even if it’s something as simple as walking your dog or playing with the cat. (Diana – I have a difficult time with this one.  I know that the more tired I am, the more likely I am to grab junk to eat.)

REPLACE HIGHER FAT MEATS WITH TURKEY - But without improving your diet as well, any resolution to improve your health will fall short of success. When it comes to eating better, replacing higher fat meats like beef with lean protein like turkey is an easy, flavorful way to improve your diet without making yourself feel deprived. “Ground turkey is especially versatile and, with a few simple tweaks, can replace higher fat ground beef in virtually any recipe,” notes Devin Alexander, host of Discovery Health’s program “Healthy Decadence with Devin Alexander,” and author of “The Biggest Loser Cookbook.” “Turkey is a lean protein that easily replaces beef to create fulfilling, full flavor dishes. Adding turkey to your diet can help you reduce fat without feeling like you’re giving anything up. You can still have that burger with all the fixins – just make it a turkey burger!” ( Diana – I like a variety of different meats, but I try to offset the higher fat ones one day with a lower fat another day.)

For those watching what they eat, turkey is a satisfying, lighter dish. In fact, 40 percent of those polled in a recent Kelton Research survey say turkey is a lean meat that has helped them with their weight-loss efforts.

Advantages of cooking with ground turkey include:

* Turkey is naturally leaner than beef while still packing in the protein.
* The delicate flavor of turkey will not overpower any dish you use it in.
* Turkey can be a more satisfying alternative than non-meat protein substitutes like tofu.
* In many cases, turkey products cost less than other proteins.

Jennie-O Turkey Store has partnered with Chef Alexander to share special, signature recipes that help you create lean, healthy meals that are full of flavor. These nutritious recipes are part of Jennie-O Turkey Store’s “30 Days/30 Ways” program, which offers hundreds of recipes with turkey that will help improve your diet.