Chicken W Sauteed Asian Veggies- Post Gym Meal

After a hectic start to the year (with little time for following through on New Year's Resolutions) I've decided that as life has started to settle down, now is the perfect time for a mid-March "resolution". My resolutions: post more recipes and get back to a 5 day a week gym schedule.

In keeping with this, below is an awesome post-gym Chicken w/ Sautéed Asian Veggies recipe to replenish you and get you fueled up to get after it again tomorrow. Why is this so good post workout?

1. Protein: Your muscles get torn up while you're working out (don't worry it's tiny, little tears) eating a protein rich food (I recommend chicken with this dish) post workout helps repair the damage and fuel you up for tomorrow's workout.


2. Carbs: Glycogen, a form of carbohydrate, essentially acts as fuel for your muscles while you workout. You literally need to replenish your glycogen levels to aid proteins in the rebuilding process. I like to include carb rich veggies like carrots and also add a little brown rice or quinoa (which offers both carbs and about 5 g protein per serving).
   

Chicken W/ Sauteed Asian Veggies:

2 Chicken Breasts (Cooked fully per chef's taste, I recommend this marinade recipe)
1 1/2 Tbsp Peanut Oil (Can use Olive Oil)
1 Tbsp Minced Ginger
1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
1 Extra Large Carrot (peeled into thin strips)
1 Zucchini (thinly sliced)
1/2 Vadalia Onion (thinly sliced
Handful Snow Peas
1/4 c Reduced-Sodium Soy Sauce (or more to taste)
Red Pepper Flakes to taste

Coat non-stick pan w/ oil and bring to med-high heat. Add ginger and garlic and sauté for 1-2 mins. Add onion and continue to sauté for approx 5 mins. Add carrots, and zucchini and splash with soy sauce and continue to sauté until onions are transparent and zucchini and carrots are fork-tender. (Cook longer for softer veggies). Pour the remaining soy sauce and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes on and toss to coat. Plate alongside chicken and rice and enjoy :)

This Recipe is very much cook to taste so have fun with it and play-up the flavors you love and play-down what you can live without. Feel free to post comments below on what did and didn't work for you :

http://www.ihavenet.com/recipes/3-Perfect-Post-workout-Recipes-RCG.html

Awesome Korean Chicken with Cucumbers

This is one of my all-time favorite recipes. It's a total crowd pleaser and the ingredients are super simple and light. I love making this for dinner then keeping extras on hand as an energizing lunch that pumps me up for the rest of the day.

Cucmbers: Cucumbers are packed with nutrients and vitamins including Vitamins C & A, Potassium, Folate, Manganese, Fiber & Magnesium. They help keep your skin looking radient. How so? Vitamin C & caffeic acid help soothe skin irritations and reduce swelling. On top of this, cucumbers contain silica which is a necessary component for healthy connective tissue.

More so, cucumbers are a natural diuretic. Point blank, that means they help you eliminate toxins through urination. I dont care if you think that's gross- free radicals and toxins are gross and are going to build up in your body no matter how healthy a lifestyle you lead. Your liver works hard to process and eliminate these, so help your body out and try the below recipe.


Korean Chicken with Cucumbers:

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (I like thinly sliced)
1/2 cup soy sauce
4 tablespoons dark sesame oil
2 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
2 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 garlic cloves thinly sliced
Cooking spray (for pan)
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
4 teaspoons sesame seeds, toasted

Whisk soy sauce and next five ingredients together in a bowl. Place the chicken inside a heavy duty plastic bag then pour half the soy mixture over, making sure to coat the chicken, and seal bag.

Refrigerate and let marinate for the next 30 mins (or longer for a bigger flavor punch). While chicken marinates cut cucumbers into thin slices and pour 1/2 the remaining marinade over these (You'll save the other half to pour over the chicken once it's cooked, if desired.)

After 30 mins, take chicken out and saute till desired degree of doneness. Place cooked chicken and cucumbers on a plate and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds and enjoy!

Source: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=42