Better Eat Those Brussels Sprouts

Wow, I just realized how stereotypical, “dietitian-y” tonight’s dinner looks.  But it was healthy, easy to prepare, what I was craving and tasted great… so what’s not to love!

Multiply this serving of chickpeas + brussels x3 (I was too hungry to wait fo take a picture )

On the dinner menu:

Simple lean, skinless, boneless chicken breast (~4 oz.) marinated in olive oil, thyme, salt + pepper and baked at 325F for 20-25 minutes.

Complimented by a recipe I’ve been wanting to try fooorever- MamaPea’s Pumpkin Spice Roasted Chickpeas.

Followed her recipe to a “T” using a can of rinsed chickpeas, maple syrup, canola oil, apple cider vinegar, salt, nutmeg, ginger and cinnamon baked for 20 minutes.

Loooved ‘em! This marinade was delicious. I will be keeping this recipe for future dishes.  I think it would taste great on a ton of other foods too (possibly tofu, chicken, veggies…??) Head on over to MamaPea’s for the exact measurements (and tons of other great recipes)!

And last, but definitely not least…the real star of dinner were these INCREDIBLE Brussels sprouts.

Bread n’ Bake Brussels Sprouts with Parmesan

Ingredients

Serves 4 (or 1 girl who really loves her brussels sprouts…woops )

• 1/2 pound Brussels sprouts
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ¼ cup whole wheat bread crumbs
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• Salt+pepper to taste
• Non-stick cooking spray (I use Emeril’s Fat-free Creamery Butter spray)

Directions

1. Wash brussels sprouts
2. With a knife, cut of the stems and make a small “X’ on the bottom of each sprout(Great little trick I use to make sure they cook evenly)
3. On the stovetop, place brussels sprouts covered in water into medium-sized pot and bring to boil.
4. Once boiled, reduce to simmer and cover.  Allow to cook for 5-7 minutes.  Drain and dry.       
5. Place sprouts in a small casserole dish.
6. In a separate bowl, combine cheese, bread crumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper
7. Spray sprouts with cooking spray and dip each individually into bowl to coat fully (This picture seemed to magically disappear from my camera…but you get the idea)

8. Sprinkle remaining crumbs into casserole dish.

9. Heat sprouts under broiler for 3-5 minutes until slightly brown. Serve warm and enjoy!

A serving of these guys is only 80 calories and 6 grams of protein. These veggies are an excellent source of vitamin C and K, as well as a number of other essential nutrients vitamin A, manganese, dietary fiber, potassium, vitamin B6. B1, etc.

This recipe is a great example of finding ways to make veggies taste good, so I’m posing a challenge:  If you or someone you know have always thought of brussels sprouts as “gag-worthy” then give this recipe a shot and tell me if you’ve had a change of heart.

I have a sneaky feeling you might

Do you like brussels sprouts? I know I used to hate ‘em growing up even I’d never even eaten them before!  Now they’re one of the favorite veggies.

Off to Zumba and then to the movies to see “It’s Complicated” with my girlfriends!  Have a great night, everyone!

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