These days, there are plenty of people suffering from obesity and heart disease. Due mainly to poor food choices and an imbalanced diet, more and more people are now living unhealthy lives. This comes at no surprise though, given the number of fatty, salty and other junk foods on the shelves in many stores all over. This is especially true during the Holidays, when salty food like ham, meat, and other products are in high demand.


Image: flickr.com/photos/webb-zahn

Another reason for why people opt for unhealthy eating habits is the misconception that eating healthy is a drain on your wallet. More often than not, eating healthy can cut your grocery bill in half, leaving you more to add to your savings. That is, if you know how to do it right.

Here are 8 healthy recipes that should be on your list if you want to try for a healthier lifestyle today. So make sure you grab these items the next time you hit the grocery store:


1. Creamy Pasta with Asparagus & Peas

If you’re into pastas, there’s a healthier version than the red sauce and meatballs version that you usually go for. This creamy pasta with asparagus and peas will satisfy your pasta craving and save you from noshing on those fatty, greasy ground pork bits and pieces.

Ingredients:

250g pasta

300g asparagus (with woody ends removed, cut into lengths)

175g frozen peas

Zest and juiced ½ lemon

100g soft cheese with chives

Method:

Two minutes before the pasta of your choice comes to boil, add the asparagus and peas. Boil them together for that last two minutes. While boiling, scoop out a cup of cooking liquid from the pan before draining your pasta with vegetables.

After draining, return the pasta and ingredients to a pan. Add the lemon zest, soft cheese and seasoning. Mix together with the cooking liquid you got earlier to loosen the sauce. Wait until you hit just the taste and firmness that’s right for you.


2. Chicken Katsu

Love your weekly Pork Tonkatsu? Well, this is the chicken version of that dish and it’s definitely a healthier alternative. You can cook it in the oven or on your pan.

Ingredients:

4 skinless chicken breasts

1 large egg, beaten

1 tablespoon of soy sauce

2 tablespoon of honey

2 tablespoon of corn flour

8 tablespoon of finely crushed corn flake crumbs

Method:

Dip the chicken in the egg, and then coat it in cornflakes or crumbs. Cook for 15-20 minutes until the meat is done thoroughly and evenly. Put the remaining ingredients in the pan plus 500mL of water. Stir until it boils and thickened. Cover and leave the dish to simmer for 5 minutes. When cooked, slice the chicken breasts and plunge in!


3. Thai Prawn Fried Rice

Rice is a staple food in many Asian cuisines. Also, variations on the many ways to cook and prepare it include frying it with more ingredients like pork, chicken, vegetables and sea food. Thai Prawn Fried Rice is one of the healthier versions of fried rice, as opposed to usual combinations that have pork or beef.

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon of vegetable oil

2 eggs, beaten

1-2 tablespoons of red Thai curry paste

1 juiced lime, plus wedges

800g leftover cooked rice

300g frozen peeled prawns, defrosted

Shredded cucumber, sliced red chili and coriander leaves

Method:

Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan on a medium heat. Pour the beaten egg, while tilting the pan so it forms a thin omelet. Cook for about a minute until set. Tip out into a chopping board, roll and slice into ribbons. Set aside.

Heat the paste with water until hot. Tip the rice, constantly stir and toss to coat. Add all other ingredients and heat through. Serve the fried rice in bowls with


4. Fajita-Styled Quesadillas

Have a fondness for Mexican food? Quesadillas is the way to go. Fill it with veggies for a healthier snack to nosh on.

Ingredients:

½ medium red and green sweet peppers

½ medium onion, halved and thinly sliced

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

6-ince white corn tortillas

½ shredded cheese

Method:

Cook the sweet pepper, onion, and Serrano pepper in a large skillet over medium heat and oil for 3 to 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Lightly coat one side of the tortilla with cooking spray. On the uncoated side, divide half of the cheese. Top with onion, tomato slices and the remaining cheese. Top the remaining tortillas and coat the sides up.

Over medium heat, set up a very large skillet and griddle your quesadillas for 4 to 5 minutes per side or until cheese melts or tortilla is lightly brown.


5. Hazelnut Gelato with Rich Chocolate Sauce

You can still indulge in your love for sweets with this hazelnut gelato in chocolate. It’s healthy and delicious at the same time so you won’t feel the least bit guilty for giving in.

Ingredients:

175g hazelnuts

300ml pot double cream

300ml milk

100g muscovado sugar

3 egg yolks

150ml pot double cream

1 teaspoon instant coffee

100g plain chocolate, chopped

Method:

Toast the nuts in a dry pan for 5 minutes until golden. Set aside a roughly chopped nut (the same). Light boil the cream, milk and sugar in a pan. Then, beat together the eggs yolks in a small bowl. Pour a little of the hot cream on the eggs and beat together. Put the mix to the pan and cook for about 10 minutes until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

Prepare a medium-sized bowl over another bowl of iced water. When the custard has thickened, strain into the bowl and then stir through the 150g hazelnuts. Leave to cool a little, then pour the mixture into a blender and whizz until smooth. Freeze.

For the chocolate sauce, heat the cream with the coffee in a pan. Take off the heat, stir the chocolate until melted. Serve scoops of ice cream in bowls with some sauce drizzled on top and the reserved chopped nuts scattered.


6. Tuna Pizza

Pizzas are also a healthy option. Just remember to use tuna and olive oil so you won’t have to deal with the unhealthy kind of grease.

Ingredients:

145 pizza base mix

2 tablespoon of tomato puree

185g can tuna in oil, drained, reserved oil.

Plain flour for dusting

125g mozzarella

10 black kalamata olives

1 small red onion, halved and sliced

Method:

Tip the pizza mix into a bowl and follow the makeup pack instructions. Cover the bowl with a cloth and leave for a few minutes. Mix the tomato purée with 4 tablespoons of water and 1 tablespoon of oil from the tuna and some seasoning.

Massage the dough for a few minutes on a floured surface, then halve and put each piece, spaced apart, on a large oiled tray. Press with an oiled hand to make thin flat pizzas

Spread with the tomato purée mixture, top with the tuna, capers, cheese and olives and other added ingredients. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

So here are a few simple recipes you could experiment with to get you started on a healthier lifestyle. Since nearly all the ingredients you’ll need aren’t on the pricey side, you won’t have to worry that shopping for these groceries will drain your savings dry.