What do you consider to be a healthy dinner?

[lovetoscrap]

That Inside Out Eggroll sounds wonderful!

I consider healthy to be a lean protein prepared in a way that doesn't add lots of fat (no frying!), fresh veggies prepared with only minimal fat if needed (sauteed in olive oil, or steamed with no fat), and a small serving of whole grain starch if necessary. I do like to make sauces for our meat but I make it pretty low fat, using a lot of chicken broth and wine and herbs and serve it thin so it has minimal thickener.

We try to follow a South Beach approach--I use a lot of South Beach recipes for our entrees, but we do add in more starch than it would allow. I try to substitue beans for the starch when I can, but the family doesn't love them. I love sweet potatos (no sugar--just a little butter and salt) which are healthier than white, but I haven't got the family to switch. I did sneak Faux Mashed Potatos past DH (mashed cauliflower) and he agreed it wasn't bad. The kids weren't convinced though! They are pretty good eaters and love many veggies though so I don't worry to much.

I also prefer to avoid the artificial sweeteners and lo cal, low fat stuff. I would rather use the regular stuff in moderation than use yechy tasting chemicaly enhanced stuff. Prepared foods are not all that healthy either, but sometimes a Lean Cuisine is better than a fast food meal!

PP, ramen noodles are very high in sodium (and maybe fat? can't remember) so are really not all that healthy. We do use them but often without the seasoning pack that comes with it, or using only a small amount.

I always try to "overcook" so that I have leftovers. I don't really care for sandwiches and other typical lunch food. I would rather reheat something or use it to make another meal. One of my favorites is leftover grilled steak/beef on a salad, or making chicken salad with leftover chicken (minimal mayo, lots of veggies in a ww pita).

 

[Darcy03231]

Grilled boneless skinless chicken
steamed broccoli
1/2 cup steamed brown rice
salad

 

[NHdisneylover]

It varies so greatly. I try to stick with minimal processing/chemicals, lean cuts of meat (mostly skinless chicken) or fish, only server meat 3-4 times per week, lots of produce and a whole grain. But, I have growign kids and have to remember to incorporate calcium--even if it adds fat sometimes, and DD needs iron so I do make sure she gets beef at least once a week. I try to keep sodium and fat levels low and sugar reasonable (but I will go for sweet over salty or fat to add taste). As others have said--moderation and variety are key.
I do know peopel have a hard time making a drastic change in diet so some "mediocre" meals may be a good start for your coworker. Homemade so-so meal with white pasta and some lots of veggies but in cream sauce may still be better than McDOnalds and more likely to keep them in the habit of eating at home--then they can gradually shift to more and more healthy meals.

Tonight we had: spinach tortellini tossed with sauteed onions, carrots, peppers, garlic and olive oil with homemade bruchetta (yep, white bread--but lots of fresh tomotoes went into the kids too!) and a fruit salad. It is not super healthy but it is pretty good.

 

[DisneyBeagle]

Here are a few of the suggestions that she has received so far:

-Order meat lover's pizza (the extra protein from all the meat is good for you when you are trying to lose weight)
-Macaroni and cheese with sliced hot dogs
-Chicken fried steak
-Hamburger Helper
-Tator Tot Casserole (it has veggies, meat and dairy all in one)

Keep in mind that she has received ideas such as baked chicken, steamed veggies, etc.

 

[nd5056]

You're kidding, right? Sherbert is not bad but ramen noodles are just very high empty calories. The sodium and fat content is horrendous considering that one package is actually two servings.

I’m afraid not…

Whoever it is, is very serious about what goes into the post, just like this one HERE:


.

 

[NMAmy]

Here are a few of the suggestions that she has received so far:

-Order meat lover's pizza (the extra protein from all the meat is good for you when you are trying to lose weight)
-Macaroni and cheese with sliced hot dogs
-Chicken fried steak
-Hamburger Helper
-Tator Tot Casserole (it has veggies, meat and dairy all in one)

Keep in mind that she has received ideas such as baked chicken, steamed veggies, etc.

I particularly love the meat lover's pizza suggestion.

We eat pretty healthily--lean cuts of meat (very little red meat), fish either baked or poached, brown rice, whole wheat pastas, whole wheat bread lots of veggies. I do admit that I refuse to give up my potatoes but prepare them without a lot of additives (mashed potatoes only made with low fat milk and no butter, for example.) Nothing out of a box or ready made. Of course, every once in a while we go crazy and have chili cheese dogs or something but we don't pretend it's healthy just because I put it together at home.

I think it works--my doctor is amazed that at 46, my cholesterol is "perfect."

 

[Tina]

I remember going to lunch with my grandmother one time after being told by her doctor that she needed to eat healthier and lower her cholesterol. She proceeded to order a cheeseburger and onion rings.

I said "Gram! You're supposed to be cutting back and eating healthier!" She then explained to me how healthy her meal really was! She had her meat (protein!), her bun (grains!), her cheese (dairy!) and her onion rings (veggies!). So I said, "But Gram, the "veggies" are deep fried!"

She responded with, "Yes, but they're only in their for a minute or two!"

I gave up and we ate our lunch.

 

[DisneyBeagle]

I remember going to lunch with my grandmother one time after being told by her doctor that she needed to eat healthier and lower her cholesterol. She proceeded to order a cheeseburger and onion rings.

I said "Gram! You're supposed to be cutting back and eating healthier!" She then explained to me how healthy her meal really was! She had her meat (protein!), her bun (grains!), her cheese (dairy!) and her onion rings (veggies!). So I said, "But Gram, the "veggies" are deep fried!"

She responded with, "Yes, but they're only in their for a minute or two!"

I gave up and we ate our lunch.

I wonder if your grandmother works in my office.

 

[FireDancer]

If you are talking about generalities I would say fresh, unprocessed food is the best choice. I am also a fan or raw vegetables. If they have to be cooked I do so in the lowest heat or minimal amount of time to preserver the ingredients. I try to avoid added sugar as much as possible and this includes any sort of artificial sweeteners (including suralose which is often sold as Splenda).

Another often overlooked part of healthy eating is portion size and toppings. A healthy meal can quickly turn unhealthy if you have 4 portions by accident or add a cup of mayonnaise.

If I were to make a specific dish it would be the following:

Main: Grilled or broiled wild salmon made with a dry rub of star anise, cardamon, allspice, and cumin (very little cumin)

Side: Quinoa made with diced tomatoes and cucumbers (seeds removed), sage, and basil

Vegitables: Raw or lightly steamed whole green beans topped with fresh squeezed lime juice and pepper.

Drink: Water or unsweetened tea

 

[HeatherC]

Well this is what we're having for dinner that I would consider pretty healthy.

Grilled Salmon Filet
Couscous
Spinach Salad
Fruit Salad...grapes, canatloupe, watermelon, pineapple.

So easy and quick. Dinner on the table in under 10 minutes!!

 

[NHdisneylover]

Here are a few of the suggestions that she has received so far:

-Order meat lover's pizza (the extra protein from all the meat is good for you when you are trying to lose weight)
-Macaroni and cheese with sliced hot dogs
-Chicken fried steak
-Hamburger Helper
-Tator Tot Casserole (it has veggies, meat and dairy all in one)

Keep in mind that she has received ideas such as baked chicken, steamed veggies, etc.

Those are pretty awful

 

[Christine]

Here are a few of the suggestions that she has received so far:

-Order meat lover's pizza (the extra protein from all the meat is good for you when you are trying to lose weight)
-Macaroni and cheese with sliced hot dogs
-Chicken fried steak
-Hamburger Helper
-Tator Tot Casserole (it has veggies, meat and dairy all in one)

Keep in mind that she has received ideas such as baked chicken, steamed veggies, etc.

Oh my...

I think a lot of people truly don't know healthy food/meals because they do not know how to cook nor do they probably sit down and eat a real meal for dinner. I would venture to say that us "older" folks on the board probably at least grew up with family meals but I think many of younger generations did not. So they really don't have a clue. If they did actually have a meal that someone actually managed to throw together on the run or if they attempted to cook, it was probably something like the mac and cheese with sliced hot dogs or the wonder Tater Tot casserole. I do know people where their "BIG" night cooking is Hamburger Helper.

I never even heard about Tater Tot Casserole until a few years ago on the DIS and I was sort of shocked that people considered this a decent meal. But I try to think that so many people really just haven't been taught what balanced eating is.

I'm certainly no perfectionist in the food arena and I tend to agree that, healthy for me, is just staying away from overly processed food even if that food includes cheeses or pasta.

The tuna casserole guy is actually a decent cook and makes some good food but he really, truly still believes that tuna casserole is a well-balanced, good for you meal. I don't think it's the worst thing you can eat but I would never label it a healthy meal.

 

[disfan07]

We eat pretty healthy most of the time. For us that usually means all meals are either chicken, ground turkey and fish.
We always have salad with dinner as well as fruit.
But, we don't worry if we have a few bad meals here an there.

For example, yesterday I had:
And eggless waffle with 2 lite sausage
Chefs salad (salad w/ fat free cheese and lean meats) and a plum
Grilled chicken w/ roasted potatoes carrots and fruit
Thats a usual day of meals for me

We do a lot of grilled chicken and fish. broiled fish. Turkey meatsauce with wheat pasta. Always with fruit AND vegetables.

Recently we have been doing:
Grilled chicken sandwiches with homemade baked sweet potato fries
Grilled chicken fajitas (grill chicken, peppers onions) w/ fat free sour cream and salsa
Turkey tacos (turkey meat, lettuce, tomato, fat free cheese, fat free sour cream and salsa)
Grilled salmon w/ vegetables
Turkey meatsauce with peppers, and onions W/ whole weat pasta
Homemade whole wheat veggie pizza

 

[Minnesota!]

Oh my...

I think a lot of people truly don't know healthy food/meals because they do not know how to cook nor do they probably sit down and eat a real meal for dinner. I would venture to say that us "older" folks on the board probably at least grew up with family meals but I think many of younger generations did not. So they really don't have a clue. If they did actually have a meal that someone actually managed to throw together on the run or if they attempted to cook, it was probably something like the mac and cheese with sliced hot dogs or the wonder Tater Tot casserole. I do know people where their "BIG" night cooking is Hamburger Helper.

I never even heard about Tater Tot Casserole until a few years ago on the DIS and I was sort of shocked that people considered this a decent meal. But I try to think that so many people really just haven't been taught what balanced eating is.

I'm certainly no perfectionist in the food arena and I tend to agree that, healthy for me, is just staying away from overly processed food even if that food includes cheeses or pasta.

The tuna casserole guy is actually a decent cook and makes some good food but he really, truly still believes that tuna casserole is a well-balanced, good for you meal. I don't think it's the worst thing you can eat but I would never label it a healthy meal.

This made me laugh! Yesterday we were driving home and I asked DH if he would stop by school so I could pick something up. He says "What will you give me in return?" (in a joking manner...and we ALL know what he was implying... ). Well, I said...."I will make Tater Tot HotDish!!!" (I haven't made it in probably 4 years). He says "THAT'S EVEN BETTER THEN I IMAGINED!!".

He is all about hot dishes as those are what he grew up with (and Hamburger Helper..his mom was a young widow with 4 young kids and she worked 2 jobs just to survive....it wasn't out of laziness that they ate the way they did..).

So you should see how HAPPY he gets when I DO get lazy and give them Hamburger Helper (well, my version of it), or mac-n-cheese and hot dogs, etc. It's like I am the coolest person on earth

 

[Christine]

This made me laugh! Yesterday we were driving home and I asked DH if he would stop by school so I could pick something up. He says "What will you give me in return?" (in a joking manner...and we ALL know what he was implying... ). Well, I said...."I will make Tater Tot HotDish!!!" (I haven't made it in probably 4 years). He says "THAT'S EVEN BETTER THEN I IMAGINED!!".

He is all about hot dishes as those are what he grew up with (and Hamburger Helper..his mom was a young widow with 4 young kids and she worked 2 jobs just to survive....it wasn't out of laziness that they ate the way they did..).

So you should see how HAPPY he gets when I DO get lazy and give them Hamburger Helper (well, my version of it), or mac-n-cheese and hot dogs, etc. It's like I am the coolest person on earth

Yep, I totally *get* that these meals are comfort food for people.

I happened to grow up with parents who went on Weight Watchers starting about the time I was 12 years old and all through my teen years. Of course, that was the 70s version of Weight Watchers which didn't rely on any convenience foods. The closest I got to comfort food was homemade spaghetti sauce and chicken fricassee. I never even had tuna casserole until I made it a few years ago just to get some food on the table quickly. I confess to even trying the Tater Tot casserole but I just did not like it, nor did anyone in the family.

 

[TMB1203]

I remember going to lunch with my grandmother one time after being told by her doctor that she needed to eat healthier and lower her cholesterol. She proceeded to order a cheeseburger and onion rings.

I said "Gram! You're supposed to be cutting back and eating healthier!" She then explained to me how healthy her meal really was! She had her meat (protein!), her bun (grains!), her cheese (dairy!) and her onion rings (veggies!). So I said, "But Gram, the "veggies" are deep fried!"

She responded with, "Yes, but they're only in their for a minute or two!"

I gave up and we ate our lunch.

Awww..that sounds like something my grandmother would have said.
Love the logic behind it...just wish it were true.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

This made me laugh! Yesterday we were driving home and I asked DH if he would stop by school so I could pick something up. He says "What will you give me in return?" (in a joking manner...and we ALL know what he was implying... ). Well, I said...."I will make Tater Tot HotDish!!!" (I haven't made it in probably 4 years). He says "THAT'S EVEN BETTER THEN I IMAGINED!!".

THIS made me laugh so hard! Men! Got to love them

 

[DisneyBeagle]

Oh my...

I think a lot of people truly don't know healthy food/meals because they do not know how to cook nor do they probably sit down and eat a real meal for dinner. I would venture to say that us "older" folks on the board probably at least grew up with family meals but I think many of younger generations did not. So they really don't have a clue. If they did actually have a meal that someone actually managed to throw together on the run or if they attempted to cook, it was probably something like the mac and cheese with sliced hot dogs or the wonder Tater Tot casserole. I do know people where their "BIG" night cooking is Hamburger Helper.

I never even heard about Tater Tot Casserole until a few years ago on the DIS and I was sort of shocked that people considered this a decent meal. But I try to think that so many people really just haven't been taught what balanced eating is.

I'm certainly no perfectionist in the food arena and I tend to agree that, healthy for me, is just staying away from overly processed food even if that food includes cheeses or pasta.

The tuna casserole guy is actually a decent cook and makes some good food but he really, truly still believes that tuna casserole is a well-balanced, good for you meal. I don't think it's the worst thing you can eat but I would never label it a healthy meal.

My experience has been that the older folks (age 70ish and older) are some of the worst offenders. They tend to eat the meals full of chicken friend steak, fried chicken and everything is covered in gravy. Every meal usually ends with a dessert. My mother-in-law doesn't think she has eaten a complete meal unless she uses a stick of butter.

Then there is the convenience food generation (I would say they range from teenagers to mid twenties in age). They aren't aware than you can even cook a meal without it being prepackaged.

The people who fall in between these two age groups tend to be the healthier eaters.

I'm not saying that this applies to everyone.

 

[Christine]

My experience has been that the older folks (age 70ish and older) are some of the worst offenders. They tend to eat the meals full of chicken friend steak, fried chicken and everything is covered in gravy. Every meal usually ends with a dessert. My mother-in-law doesn't think she has eaten a complete meal unless she uses a stick of butter.

Then there is the convenience food generation (I would say they range from teenagers to mid twenties in age). They aren't aware than you can even cook a meal without it being prepackaged.

The people who fall in between these two age groups tend to be the healthier eaters.

I'm not saying that this applies to everyone.

I agree with you on this. I do think the 70 and older crowd came of age in a time where no food was considered unhealthy. Also, many of them performed "active" jobs that required large, full meals to compensate for the calories they expended.

 

[LisaR]

Healthy is subjective but there are obvious things even a small child can recognize as unhealthy. The girl cutting my hair a few weeks ago told me she is starting to lose weight finally since she switched over to healthier eating. She was drinking a diet pop and they had ordered out from a pizza joint for lunch. I can't imagine what she used to eat before her "healthy eating habits" kicked in!

Look at chicken. Some people never eat red meat and feel all chicken is fine. Others feel like only the white meat is healthy. Many feel like skinless is the best while others might feel as long as it isn't fried or smothered with cheese it is healthy. I am considered an extremist with the way I eat but I am okay with that. I feel you have to go with what works for you.