Whenever we thumb through recipes in a cookbook or magazine, we tend to run through the same mental routine, which looks something like this:
Will chowing down on this little number provide immense joy? Likely.
Is it worth the breakout that'll most definitely result from indulging? Hmmm.
Will it take all night to prepare, only to be consumed in less than six minutes of our favorite television programming? Quick, go get the stack of takeout menus and call "Hurry Curry."
Unfortunately, since we aren't preparing that seemingly healthy veggie stir-fry dish or any other "convenient" meal, we have no idea what's going into our bodies. That means we're most likely consuming loads of salt, sugars, and fats without even knowing. These ingredients, among others, cause all sorts of problems -- from wrinkles and bloating to cellulite and zits.
Truthfully, you'll be hard-pressed to find foods that are good for the skin and the waistline that come with a fortune cookie. But there is good news: We've been on the hunt for the most delicious recipes (seriously, they are "wow"-worthy) that are super easy to make, take little to no time to prepare, and are good for your skin and health. We found these gems in Anna Getty's "Easy Green Organic," and vetted them with Andrea N. Giancoli, MPH, RD, and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. This way you no longer have any excuses not to eat delicious, fast, and healthy food for your skin.
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Skin superfoods: eggs and curry powder
The skin health benefits: Eggs are a lean source of protein, says Giancoli, and protein is one of the most important nutrients for skin health. Our skin is made up of protein, so if you aren't getting enough you will be affecting its integrity. It's also important to remember that skin cells are continually turning over, so we constantly have to be feeding our bodies the protein it so desperately needs to perform this task, she says.
As for curry powder, it contains curcumin, which has been found to kill and stop the growth of melanoma in skin cancer cells.
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Recipe: Curried Deviled Eggs
SERVES 6
Ingredients:
6 large eggs
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
Salt to taste
Paprika for garnish
Chopped fresh chives for garnish
Freshly cracked black pepper for garnish
1. Put the eggs in a medium pot and add enough water to cover. Bring the water to a boil over high heat and cook for 13 minutes. Drain the eggs and rinse with cold water.
2. Peel the eggs and cut them in half. Gently remove the yolks and put them
in a medium bowl.
3. Mash the egg yolks and add the mayonnaise, mustard, and curry powder. Mix well and season with salt.
4. Fill a reusable pastry bag with the yolk mixture and use it to fill the egg white halves. (Alternatively, use a small spoon.)
5. Garnish each egg half with a sprinkling of paprika, chopped chive flowers, and freshly cracked pepper.
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Skin superfoods: halibut and tomatoes
The skin health benefits: The omega-3 fatty acids found in halibut help maintain elasticity in your skin, and may help protect it from UV radiation, says Giancoli. Also, tomatoes are chockfull of collagen-building vitamin C.
Think taking your fish oil supplement and multi-vitamin will do the trick? Think again, says Giancoli. It's way better to eat these foods than take supplements in pill form. "Nutrients work synergistically," she says, meaning they work best when they are coming from combinations of foods. So if you're just popping pills, you might not be getting the full benefits of the nutrients, she says.
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Recipe: Steamed Halibut with Greek Salad Salsa
SERVES 6
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups seeded and finely chopped tomatoes (about 3 plum tomatoes)
2 tablespoons capers, drained and coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
3/4 cup cubed feta cheese (1/4-inch cubes)
12 Greek olives, pitted and finely chopped
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Six 8-ounce halibut fillets
1 cup white wine
10 whole peppercorns
6 whole fresh basil leaves, plus 4 leaves, thinly sliced, for garnish
1. Make the salsa. In a medium bowl, mix together the tomatoes, capers,
onion, cheese, olives, thyme, olive oil, and salt and pepper. Set aside.
2. Spray a collapsible steaming rack with cooking spray and place 2 halibut fillets on the rack, skin-side down. Sprinkle the fillets with salt and pepper.
3. In a medium pot, bring the wine, peppercorns, whole basil leaves, and
1 cup of water to a boil. Lay the rack with the fillets in the pot, cover,
and steam the fish for 9 to 10 minutes. Gently transfer the steamed halibut
fillets to a plate and cover with a domed lid to keep warm. Repeat the
process 2 more times to cook the remaining fillets.
4. Serve the steamed halibut on individual plates with Greek salsa on top or
on the side. Garnish with the ribbons of basil.
Whenever we thumb through recipes in a cookbook or magazine, we tend to run through the same mental routine, which looks something like this:
Will chowing down on this little number provide immense joy? Likely.
Is it worth the breakout that'll most definitely result from indulging? Hmmm.
Will it take all night to prepare, only to be consumed in less than six minutes of our favorite television programming? Quick, go get the stack of takeout menus and call "Hurry Curry."
Unfortunately, since we aren't preparing that seemingly healthy veggie stir-fry dish or any other "convenient" meal, we have no idea what's going into our bodies. That means we're most likely consuming loads of salt, sugars, and fats without even knowing. These ingredients, among others, cause all sorts of problems -- from wrinkles and bloating to cellulite and zits.
Truthfully, you'll be hard-pressed to find foods that are good for the skin and the waistline that come with a fortune cookie. But there is good news: We've been on the hunt for the most delicious recipes (seriously, they are "wow"-worthy) that are super easy to make, take little to no time to prepare, and are good for your skin and health. We found these gems in Anna Getty's "Easy Green Organic," and vetted them with Andrea N. Giancoli, MPH, RD, and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. This way you no longer have any excuses not to eat delicious, fast, and healthy food for your skin.
