Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Midweek Healthy Eats: Quick, Healthy and Cheap!

When it comes to eating healthy, there always some excuse. "It's more expensive"... "It takes too much time to prepare".... "I'm too tired after work to come home and find something healthy to eat". The list of excuses can go on and I've  been guilty of it too. The reality is, you can eat healthy and you can do it quickly and for a reasonable cost. To prove it, I'm going to walk you through a yummy recipe and break down the cost and time...


Chicken Fajita Tacos in 30 minutes or less for $15 or less:



First let's start with your grocery list:


Organic Chicken breast- $5.99/lb
Bell Pepper- $.50
Onion- $1.99/lb= aprox. $0.50 for 1
Tomatoes- $2.75/lb= aprox.$1.38 for 2-4
Cilantro- $0.50
Jalapeno- $0.79/lb aprox $0.20 for 1
Lime- $0.50
Garlic- $0.69
Sour Cream- $1.49
Tortillas- $2.59

Total price:  $14.28 (with tax)
Total price per serving: $2.38 (based on 6 servings)
*In case you were wondering: what is a serving?? 1 taco=1 serving*
Now image what the cost would be if you went out to eat instead?? 
One of the great things about cooking about home is not only do you control the cost, but you also control what goes into your food. At a restaurant, chances are they are not using organic chicken or produce, they are using the cheapest thing available, which usually isn't the best for you.


Now that you have all your groceries, it's time to get cooking.


Makes 4-6 servings

Step 1: (0-10 minutes) First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Start with making the my famous salsa so that it will have some time to marinate in the refrigerator while you prepare everything else. Find the printable recipe here: Tomato Salsa
Step 2: (10-14 minutes) Pull the chicken out of the pack, rinse and pat dry. Cut in to bite size pieces about 1 inch. Season with White Spice and set to the side.
Step 3: (14-17 minutes) Slice bell pepper and onion and set to the side.
Step 4: (17-27 minutes) Drizzle about 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a saute pan over medium high heat. Add diced chicken to the pan and cook for a few minutes. Add sliced vegetables in and cook until onions are translucent and chicken is cooked.
Step 5: (27-29 minutes) Add 1-2 tablespoons of  Homemade Taco Seasoning and 1/2 cup of water to the chicken fajita mixture. Stir to incorporate and let simmer for 1-2 minutes.
Step 6: (29-30 minutes) Place tortillas in preheated oven for about 30-45 seconds to warm. While those are warming, pull the salsa and sour cream out of the refrigerator. Finally build your Chicken Fajita Taco and Enjoy!


I hope you enjoy this healthy, quick and cheap meal! This is a great one to add to your arsenal of go to dishes for those nights when you don't have a whole lot of time (or money) but still want to enjoy something delicious and healthy.  

Check back here next Wednesday for a another edition of Midweek Healthy Eats!

Thanks for reading!

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