Healthy Home Cooking

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Lemon Pecan Chicken

Serves 4

Ingredients:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 cup chopped parsley

½ cup grated parmesan cheese

½ cup chopped pecans

1 Tbsp. chopped garlic

1 Tbsp. dried basil

3 Tbsp. lemon juice

¼ cup peanut oil

¼ tsp. salt and ¼ tsp. pepper

Lay chicken in glass baking dish or other ovenproof container. Combine all other ingredients and pour over chicken. Bake in 350 f. oven for approx. 30 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 170 f.

Serve this healthy entrée with brown rice or other healthy grain along with a vegetable and a salad for a balanced, protein and fiber-rich meal.

We’re excited to debut a new column for Pulse featuring Kroger’s Chef John: Healthy Home Cooking. Each month, we’ll focus on ideas and practical advice on healthy eating, along with a delicious recipe – maybe one of your own! See below for more information on how you can submit a recipe.

Kroger’s Chef John offers tips for healthy, delicious eating

When you’re constantly on the go, eating balanced meals can be a challenge, and eating fast food and sweets may be tempting. Kroger Chef John Szymanski offers advice for how busy health care professionals can maintain healthy eating habits.

Q: What’s the key to healthy eating?

A: Plan, plan, plan. The easiest way to develop good eating habits is to begin using a shopping list. When you preplan and purchase items for a healthy lifestyle, you’ll be less inclined to reach for the unhealthy alternatives. Make your meals and snacks ahead of time. Bring them with you in an insulated lunchbox, so they are always there when you need them. Keep small bags of nuts, granola or dried fruits and vegetables close by.

Q: Is healthy eating a realistic goal for someone in a fast-paced industry like healthcare?

A: Absolutely! Don’t be tempted by the donuts and sweet treats in the break room. Instead, opt for fresh fruits, yogurt, granola, nuts and other quick and easy foods that will give you energy and satisfy a craving. Bring a large bowl of grapes to share with your co-workers. Encourage each other to turn to the healthy alternatives and make changes easier for all.

Q: What’s the best way to prepare for a hectic week?

A: Read the ads from your weekly Kroger ad, or get the Kroger app. It will show you the fruits, vegetables and lean proteins that are on sale and fresh weekly. Plan your meals for the week, write down ingredients needed, shop and prepare. There are many recipes on the Kroger website, as well as the Simple Truth website. Simple Truth items are available exclusively at Kroger. Simply put, Simple Truth provides an easy, uncomplicated and trustworthy solution to the challenge of simply better living through food.

Q: Does healthy food cost more?

A: Eating healthy doesn’t need to cost a lot of money. Buy larger pack sizes of proteins, split them up in portions to suit your family, marinate, then seal in plastic bags and freeze them. At the beginning of the week, take out what you are going to prepare and it will be ready to grill, broil or bake.

Q: What are some of your favorite healthy ingredients to use at home?

A: At our house we always have fresh fruit, vegetables, and lean proteins on hand. I use garlic in just about everything. Roasted garlic spread on Whole Grain Artisan Bread is a great snack and very healthy due to all the fiber.

Find out more at:

http://www.simpletruth.com