Guest Chef Time!

by

(Im so appreciative to the people who have emailed me about Guest Chef’ing as we all know my skillz are in other areas. Wanna throw your chef’s hat in the ring? Email your recipe, food insights, or grocery ramblings here.)

This following is from JoLynn Braley of The Fit Shack please to stop by The Shack and say HEY!

I eat a good deal of protein each day per my healthy eating and exercise plan, the 6-Week Body Makeover Plan by Michael Thurmond. You might remember Michael as the pro-trainer on ABC’s Extreme Makeover.

Well, before I got with the program on the 6-Week Body Makeover back in 2004 and lost 43.5lbs (kept it off over a year), I didn’t know how to cook. My daily diet consisted of packaged, boxed, pre-made “foods” like spaghetti, mac & cheese, frozen dinners, food that I call “dead food” – you know, all of that processed stuff on the grocery store shelves. So, when it came to cooking real food, I didn’t know a whole lot – that’s why I need to follow recipes. 😉

Since I’m not a chef and I do follow recipes, some of my own favorite “recipes” are the simplest things you will come upon; in fact they really aren’t so much recipes, because they only have one ingredient!

Here’s my favorite recipe for some clean protein – cold chicken breast cubes. Sounds bland? To me they’re not, they’re wonderful with the char-grilled flavor, but if you wanted to you could throw some spices on, as long as they don’t include any salt or sugar. 😉

My Super Simple Recipe

All I do is fire up the gas grill, preheat, and put the clean chicken breasts on. By the way, to do things right per the 6WBMO, I buy only fresh chicken breasts, the kind that do not contain any extras – you’ll notice that frozen chicken breasts contain added broth, and that contains sodium – a surefire way to stall your weight loss!

I put the breasts on the grill, turning them after 7 minutes until done. I do like mine a little crispy, and your timing may be different depending on your grill. That’s it! I bring them inside, let them cool, and cut them in cubes.

How ‘Bout the Broiler?

Another way I make these is with my oven’s broiler, which gives a different flavor (they’re actually more tender using the broiler) and works well when the weather isn’t cooperating. In the broiler though, I cut the breasts into tenders and grill them like that. Here’s a picture of some super simple turkey tenders I made with a Thai spice on the broiler. Although this is turkey instead of chicken and it does have spice on it, I broil the chicken tenders the same way.

I love eating the chicken cubes cold – to me they taste better than warming them up. These make for super simple protein portions to put in Ziploc Baggies and pack in my little soft-sided cooler for work or errands. Now I don’t eat protein alone, I always include fresh fruit, whole carbs, or veggies – this is a healthy weight loss plan, not some quickie no carb diet. 😉

If These Chix Cubes Are So Good, Why Didn’t I Keep the Weight Off?

By the way, I mentioned that I lost 43.5 pounds eating and exercising per the 6WBMO and kept it off over a year. Problem was I never really solved the bottom-line reasons I overate in the first place, which is why I regained approx. 35 of those pounds. I’m currently working on healing the root cause of my overeating, while also losing weight (3lbs since Monday!) with the 6WBMO plan.

I get to eat a lot of food (you must eat to lose weight, and eat often to keep your metabolism up!) and clean protein (like these super simple chicken cubes) at each meal. Personally, I love how I feel eating this way – I’m eating clean, whole foods, I’m off the sugar (I’m addicted to sugar and white flour), and I get the side benefit of weight loss. Who could ask for more?


POSTS BY EMAIL

Never miss a post. Enter your email to get my latest posts delivered to your inbox.

Comments

  1. Wow, JoLynn, what a great and honest piece! Your sincerity (probably more than the idea of cold chicken cubes) is what will make me try this strategy.

    Thank you!

    And thanks for inviting her to be the guest chef, MizFit!

  2. Great idea–protein is one nutritional area I really need to work on. I don’t really like meat very much, so it’s a struggle to get enough. I eat a lot of soy and beans, but I could probably stand to find a protein supplement.

    And I checked out the Fit Shack, and I love it!

  3. Okay, I’m glad I’m not the only one who likes cold grilled chicken! Great tips for helping us to get our protein in. I know I need to increase my own intake.

  4. “you must eat to lose weight”. thank you for reminding us! I love this post, and I don’t even eat chicken. but I do eat all those other “whole foods” you talk about (kinda like jen, beans and rice are my thing, speaking of of complete proteins). I bet a similar cooking technique could be used with tofu or tempeh.

  7. Hi everyone, thanks for all of your positive feedback, and it’s great to meet each of you! 🙂

    @Shelley, thanks! 🙂 Yeah, I won’t recommed anything (like the 6WBMO) that I don’t honestly believe in, and hey, you really can’t go wrong with this grilling method (and the cold cubes taste so good).

    @Jen, I feel so much better when I’m eating my portions of protein regularly – really evens out my blood sugar (I don’t eat complex carbs or fruit without protein first). And thanks for your compliments, hope to see ya around at The Fit Shack! 🙂

    @Gena, nope, you’re not the only one, and these cold cubes are so easy to travel with, too. 😉

    @Monica, I have heard of some folks grilling their tofu. I haven’t tried that (can’t remember when I’ve had tofu – I tried it once a long time ago). You know what might work better for tofu grilling would be a George Forman Grill. 😉

    @Bag Lady, yes yes, white balsamic vinegar with some spices, absolutely. 🙂 One of my favorite grilling mixes is super simple, too – Mrs. Dash table blend.

  8. Great post! I am infatuated with the George Foreman Grill; it’s such an easy way to cook up a piece of chicken. Cold chunks of chicken is very tasty! (It’s nice to see these kinds of “recipes” for all of us who have difficulties in the kitchen).

  9. I echo you sagan.

    In my love of the George (seriously. Id marry my foreman if it were legal and we’re still considering a civil ceremony) and ADORATION of the simple food stuffs.

    Ive been known to eat cold grilled chicken (out of a wrapped piece of foil. a chickensicle if you will) for breakfast.

    Thanks again JoLynn.

    M.

  10. @Sagan, yeah, the George Foreman is pretty cool – I don’t like it for my chicken breasts though, it doesn’t give them the crispyness that I get on the gas grill – and actually, I prefer charcoal but don’t use it very often now that I have the gas (grill that is, lol). 🙂

    @M, sure, what fun, and thank you! 🙂

  11. great post, thanks JoLynn! I really lack protein in my diet, so i need all the tips I can get! Has anyone tried the chicken breast in the ziplock steam bag yet? I did it last night and it came out resembling shoe leather/road kill.

    Next time, they are going on the grill. 🙂

  12. W.O.Mommy?

    Im quite familiar with the rubbery chicken of which you speak 🙂

    though that said Im now thinking yours became DRIED OUT (Im a smart one. my shoe leather is certainly not rubbery…)?

    Mine was a tad more gelatinous.

    I snipped into chunks with scissors, threw on top of some brown rice, spritzed with Bragg Liquid Aminos and it was surprisingly great!

    M.

  13. YES! It reminded me of a rubber chicken–why is that? I will have to try your tip. Sadly, I tossed it because it frightened me and there was no way boy toddler was going to go near it.

  14. great guest chef this week!
    i can totally relate. i am a big emotional/stress eater. i am going through a stressful time right now so it is great to be reminded that simple can be quick, satisfying and so much healthier than the drive thru!

  15. @WM, I haven’t tried steaming chicken breast in a ziploc and I don’t think I’d like it because I don’t like plain, boiled chicken either. 🙂 I do boil chicken breasts for one of my favorite recipes, but it gets a lot of spice and sauce in the end.

    @mama, I hope you get through your stressful time without turning to food too much. I know exactly how that feels though, I wish you the best with it! 🙂

    Thanks for both of your compliments, you’ve brightened my evening! 🙂

  21. Sign: wdpad Hello!!! yxctr and 6318frscrneuvx and 8582 : I love your site. 🙂 Love design!!! I just came across your blog and wanted to say that Ive really enjoyed browsing your blog posts.

  22. Sign: zdbrw Hello!!! fkfyw and 8012scrgdwzhhp and 5841 : I love your site. 🙂 Love design!!! I just came across your blog and wanted to say that Ive really enjoyed browsing your blog posts.

Trackbacks

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This