Quick and Easy Healthy Thai Recipes for Weight Loss

Not only is it a start of a new year, it is the start of a new century. Here are some quick and easy healthy Thai recipes to help you lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.

Thai food uses natural wholesome ingredients that your body metabolizes quickly while maintaining blood sugar for lasting energy. With these creative ingredients your weight loss goals will be attainable. Most of these dishes are meatless or contain fish, utilizing tasty spices and sauces instead of sugar, salt, or butter that is ubiquitous to the American diet.

For a heart-conscious consumer, Olive oil is a flavorful, healthy substitute for butter or margarine that is known to balance cholesterol. Add to lemon or lime juice and drizzle on the keep the fish on the fish before baking in a conventional or toaster oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. The lemon will soften the fish and the olive oil will keep it from drying out.

Thai style fish with cashews over pan fried noodles:

Any kind of fish can be used depending on the locale in which you live, and it is rich in Omega 3. Tilapia, Haddock, Flounder, Cod or Chilean Sea Bass can be substituted depending on taste and budget.

For extra flavor without added calories, fish can be marinated in a variety of marinades for extra flavor and essential nutrients. Fry the noodles in a medium sized skillet with olive oil and lemon juice ; olive oil is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids and cashews are high in protein. Both are essential to keep your brain active and will help keep carbohydrate and sugar cravings at bay.
Cook in aluminum foil in a conventional or toaster oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove from heat; let stand 5 minutes before removing foil and fluff with fork. Add unsalted cashews before serving.

****allergic warning: contains nuts*****

Homemade Peanut Sauce for Stir-Fry

3/4 cup smooth peanut butter

¼ cup chicken broth

½ cup green pepper

½ cup vinegar

1 garlic clove, chopped

puree until the sauce is smooth, not watery.

Add to pan while stir-frying vegetables or noodles for an authentic asian influence.

*****allergic warning: contains peanuts*****

Chilean Sea Bass with Jasmine Rice

Jasmine rice has a flowery aftertaste that is pleasing to the palate; it is a white rice that is not bleached and a healthy alternative to white bread; whole grain brown rice contains fiber and has a better texture than 7 or 12 grain bread. It is quick and easy to make; bring 2 cups water to a rolling boil , add 1 tsp of salt before adding rice. Reduce heat and cook until rice is tender. Remove any remaining water before serving.
Fish: Season fish with salt, lime and coconut juice. Cook in foil in conventional oven at 350 degrees.
Cut the fillets into thick pieces and serve over pan fried noodles, adding a generous spoonful of peanut sauce or pineapple and coconut.

Cold Thai Salad

One area where diets can go awry is in the workplace or at a potluck dinner.

Cold Thai style salads can be used in place of mayonnaise infused pasta salads. Try a dressing infused with olive oil, honey, lime juice, and 2 tsp of pineapple. Toss cut raw veggies with dressing and store in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving.

For a quick snack at the office sure to abate the inevitable afternoon slump, try:

Thai style yogurt:

Peel and slice 1 Mango, 2 kiwi, ½ cup pineapple 1 cup plain yogurt

Season with fresh lime, coconut and a ½ tsp of red pepper.

These are just a few suggestions to get you started eating and cooking healthy Thai recipes. Enjoy!