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New beginnings: a healthier approach

Posted by Orry at March 6, 2011 in Healthy eating

By: Rita from Spoon Fork and Chopsticks

We are now into another new year and this is the time when people make pledges of all sorts of lifestyle-altering decisions. While self-motivated change for the better is a healthy thing, we all know that it doesn’t occur suddenly nor magically when the year clocks over to being a new one.

Small, gradual changes are easiest to stick with and smarter choices with food can have quite an impact on our diets considering most of us eat several meals a day. Bread is an easy and easily transportable option for work and school lunches, as well as for entertaining and outdoor events in this summer weather. Consider substituting your usual bread choices with any of the Bakers Delight options such as Hi-Fibre Lo-GI, Cape Seed, Chia or Wholemeal Country Grain varieties for a healthier approach that may amount to a significant change.

Here are some ideas to get you thinking.

Mini-Quiches (makes 12)
• 12 slices of Hi-Fibre Lo-GI bread, crusts removed* and flattened with a rolling pin
• 4 eggs beaten together with 5tbs light milk and salt and pepper to taste
• choice of chopped fillings: ham, mushrooms, peas, sundried tomato, etc
• small handful of reduced-fat mozzarella

Preheat oven to 200°C and lightly grease a 12-hole muffin pan with cooking spray. Press a slice of bread into each cavity and place in the oven for around 5 minutes or until just starting to brown around the edges. Remove from oven and divide fillings between each bread case. Top with egg mixture and sprinkle some cheese on each. Bake for around 10 minutes until the filling is set and cheese is melted.

*Reserved bread crusts can be run through a food processor to make bread crumbs and stored in the freezer for when needed, or used to accompany dips as follows.

Bread crusts with dip
For an alternative to chips or crackers, place sliced-off bread crusts and loaf-ends sliced into fingers on an oven tray under a preheated 200°C grill until browned. Serve with your choice of dip.

Pizzettas (makes 6)
• 6 slices of bread
• 6tbs tomato passata
• choice of toppings: ham, pepperoni, mushrooms, tomato, olives, etc
• a few small handful of reduced-fat mozzarella

Preheat oven to 200°C and line an oven-proof tray with foil or baking paper. Place bread in the oven for about 5 minutes to toast a little, turning over halfway. Spread one side of each slice with tomato passata and season with salt and pepper. Divide toppings across each bread slice and top with some cheese. Return to the oven for around 5 minutes until cheese is melted and starting to brown. To serve cut in half on the diagonal.

Posted by Orry at March 6, 2011 in Healthy eating

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