Salmon Avocado Salsa: A hearty, healthy recipe
As unique as one person is from another, one thing they all have in common – they all need to eat.
But when you’re dealing with heart-related health issues or a host of other challenges, what you eat becomes even more important. The key is to find a variety of healthy foods that taste amazing, and do so proactively before your body manifests a problem.
“Some people get really caught up in the idea of ’superfoods,’ but really, the most important foods are often the ones we devote the least time to, like fruits and vegetables,” said Lucy Sorenson, registered nutritionist at the LiVe Fountain Center in St. George. “The best thing you can do is make your daily lifestyle more consistent, rather than placing so much emphasis on one particular food.”
Still, there are some foods that have been shown to be important when it comes to heart health.
“When you’re talking about heart health, try to find things that are lower in fat and things that have some good omega-3s, like fish,” Sorenson said.
But omega-3 fatty acids alone can’t do the job. Sorenson reminds clients that everything in the body is interconnected, which means it’s important to focus on a diet low in saturated fats and trans fats while keeping an eye on sodium and processed carbs, processed foods and reducing processed sugars as much as possible can have a negative impact on a person’s triglycerides.
“It’s really a total lifestyle diet approach,” Sorenson said. “You need to look at the big picture, which includes what you eat each day, your activity level and how you take care of yourself.”
The key for Sorenson is helping people find foods that taste good, are accessible, and leave the person feeling full without all the things the body doesn’t need.
Two examples are Grilled Salmon with Avocado Salsa and Chicken and Feta Tabbouleh (recipes are below). Eating this way, especially proactively, can really improve a person’s overall health.
“Prevention will always be the best strategy,” Sorenson said. “We should all be vigilant before it becomes a problem.”
The Live a good lifeColumn represents the collaboration between healthcare professionals from the medical staff at our non-profit Intermountain Health hospitals and The Spectrum & Daily News.
Grilled salmon with avocado salsa
From Rookie the Cookie:
Servings: 4
INGREDIENTS
- 2 lbs. Salmon cut into 4 pieces
- 1 teaspoon. olive oil
- 1 teaspoon. Salt
- 1 teaspoon. ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon. paprika
- 1 teaspoon. onion powder
- ½ tsp. chili powder
- 1 teaspoon. black pepper
- Avocado Sauce
- 1 avocado, sliced
- ½ small red onion, sliced
- Juice of 2 limes
- 1-2 tbsp. finely chopped coriander
- Salt to taste
PREPARATION
- Mix together salt, chili powder, cumin, paprika, onion and black pepper. Rub the salmon fillets with olive oil and then with the spices.
- Refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat the grill.
- Place the avocado, onion, cilantro, lime juice, and salt in a bowl and mix well. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Grill the salmon to taste (5 mins)
- Top with avocado salsa and enjoy.
NUTRITIONAL FACTS
- Total calories: 300
- Total fat: 10.9 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Total carbohydrates 9.4 g
Chicken and feta tabbouleh
Servings 4 (serving size 1 ½ cups)
INGREDIENTS
- ¾ c. uncooked bulgur
- 1 c. boiling water
- 2 c. Chopped skinless and boneless roast chicken breasts
- 1 c. chopped plum tomato
- 1 c. chopped english cucumber
- ¾ c. chopped fresh parsley
- ½ c. crumbled feta cheese
- 1/3 c. finely chopped spring onions
- 2 TBSP. chopped fresh mint
- 2 TBSP. fresh lemon juice
- 1 TBSP. Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon. chopped garlic
- ¼ tsp. Salt
- ¼ tsp. ground cumin
- ¼ tsp. black pepper
PREPARATION
- Place bulgur in a medium bowl; cover with 1 cup boiling water. Leave for 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
- Mix the chicken with the remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Add bulgur to the chicken mixture; Swirl gently to combine.
- Serve with whole wheat flatbread, fries or naan
NUTRITIONAL FACTS
- Total calories: 296
- Total fat: 9.5 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Total carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 6.4 g