Trading Up Downtown

I love making homemade tacos for dinner. They’re fast and easy and make a nutritious option for a meal if you know what ingredients to add. Check out the trade-ups below for some ways to increase the nutrition of your tacos.

Homemade tacos made with steak (NuVal score: 34)

Homemade tacos made with chicken breast (NuVal score: 39)

Homemade tacos made with shrimp (NuVal score: 75)

Homemade tacos made with Goya black beans (NuVal score: 91)

Trading Up Downtown Giveaway

Tell me what your favorite taco ingredients are and you could win a 5 piece serving set, which includes 4 square freezer bowls and 1 square tray!

Designed with non-toxic freezer gel, these sleek and stylish bowls keep your food cold and fresh for longer. Just place the bowls in the freezer for a few hours and they’ll keep your food nice and cold. Aren’t these perfect for make-your-own taco ingredients?!

To enter: Leave a comment on this post about your favorite taco ingredient(s). Feel free to include NuVal scores! I’ll randomly pick a winner on Monday morning. Good luck!

With the summer coming to an end, I’m trying to take advantage of every barbeque that comes my way. I mean, who can resist good friends, good times, and good food?! But sometimes these get-togethers make it difficult to eat healthy, especially when it comes to the grill. Of course, grilled vegetables are a nutritious option, but what if you crave a juicy cheeseburger? You can enjoy the real thing in a nutritious way by keeping in mind these easy tips.

Not all cheese is created equal: A slice of Kraft Fat-Free American cheese only scores a 26 on the NuVal scale. A more nutritious option is adding Galaxy Veggies Slices Cheddar (NuVal score: 82) to your patty for some cheesy flavor.

Watch your buns: Most commercially-produced hamburger buns are highly refined and baked with less-than-nutritious ingredients. Before you purchase your next package, check the list of ingredients to see if they include whole wheat or whole grains. Try Arnold 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Thins (NuVal score: 37) or Martin’s Potato Dinner Rolls (NuVal score: 27).

Try ground turkey: Lean ground turkey scores a 33 on the NuVal scale while lean ground beef only scores a 30. It’s a small difference, but the turkey is clearly a more nutritious option. Plus, ground turkey tastes just as good, if not better, than ground beef in hamburger!

Eat it open-faced: Instantly increase the nutrition of your burger by replacing half of your bun with a large slice of spinach (NuVal score: 100). It might take a little coordination to eat, but you probably won’t even miss the other half. Plus, you’re adding more nutrients to your burger!

Load-up the produce: Instead of the usual lettuce and tomato, pack your hamburger patty with a variety of fresh produce. Try red bell peppers (NuVal score: 96), cucumbers (NuVal score: 93), onions (NuVal score: 96), mushrooms (NuVal score: 96), and shredded carrots (NuVal score: 99). Fruit, such as pineapple (NuVal score: 99) or sliced apples (NuVal score: 96), are also a delicious way to add nutritients to your burger.

A homemade smoothie can cover a multitude of your nutritional needs for the day. Try bananas, frozen berries, low-fat yogurt, soy milk, or Greek yogurt in your smoothies. And, if you’re feeling adventurous, try sweet potato!

One of my favorite smoothies involves mashed sweet potato. Yep, you heard right: sweet potato. Sweet potatoes get a 96 on the NuVal scale, but would they taste good in a smoothie? Well, yes, they do! (Trust me on this one! )

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup mashed sweet potato (NuVal score: 96)

• 1 ripe banana (NuVal score: 91)

• 1/4 cup non-fat plain Chobani Greek yogurt (NuVal score: 94)

• 1/4 cup Vanilla Light Silk Soymilk (NuVal score: 82)

• 1 tbsp agave nectar

• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

• 1/2 cup ice

• Dash of nutmeg

Directions: Combine all ingredients in blender until smooth.

Makes 1 smoothie

Don’t think you have time to make a smoothie in the morning? Throw all of the smoothie ingredients in your blender and store it in the refrigerator overnight.  The next morning, just blend and go!