In this demonstration cooking class, we'll use several tricks and tips for lightening up our Mexican dinners so that we can trick our stomachs into thinking we've just enjoyed a more decadent meal!
This is often the secret to consuming fewer calories each day.
The series will continue with a future class on lighter Asian meals.
Mexican food is tasty and flavorful, and often a crowd-pleasing dinner. But we’re going to focus on ways to lighten things up a bit by adding unexpected ingredients so that our meal offers more variety, is less calorie-dense, and yet remains appealing to even the pickiest palates.
Mexican meals can also be a terrific way of introducing our family members to healthier choices that they may normally be passing on. When all of the ingredients are tucked into a wrapper, and surrounded by lots of flavor, we tend to be a bit more adventurous.
These recipes are family-friendly and use few ingredients so that we can get dinner on the dinner table as quickly as possible.
Class Format: We’ll be running through several recipes so that you can watch the preparation and familiarize yourself with the various ingredients. After the demonstration, we will send you the recipes and a list of each of the products used and where you can shop for them locally. Our goal is for you to want to run out to the grocery store and recreate these meals for your family this winter.
Here's what we're making:
Family Tacos Three Ways (shrimp, chicken and veggie - tempeh and cauliflower)
We'll be employing a few shortcuts so that they’re on the table in a snap. To finish off our tacos, we'll whip up a three-ingredient sauce that transforms our simple family Mexican meal into more of a gourmet feast!
Crispy and Addictive Gluten-Free Quesadillas
These Quesadillas pair well with a simple salad for a quick and tasty weeknight lunch or dinner, or they work equally as well as a crowd-pleasing appetizer.
Mexican Five-Can Soup
This is the "weight-loss soup" that has been such a client favorite through the years. We're going to use a simple core recipe, and then have the option of jazzing it up with additional ingredients.
Dessert: Chocolate Frosty
Why not satisfy our chocolate craving with a guilt-free frozen treat that's infused with healing raw cacao and superfoods.
We'll also be touching on the following topics:
Ideal tortillas and wraps for our Mexican meals
Tasty sides that reduce the calorie density of our meal, and make it extra delicious and interesting!
The go-to grocery store ingredients for adding a gourmet flair and flavor infusion to our simple meal.
The most ideal tortillas, tacos, and other wrappers
Terrific ways to trick your family into a meatless Mexican night :)
My favorite stir-fried black beans
A terrific go-to Mexican cheese
Addictive hot sauce - we order it by the case :)
Satisfying veggie-forward sides – lime infused brown rice, lemon and garlic black beans, roasted veggies, pickled cabbage slaw, chipotle sauce
About the Series + The Instructor
Michele Brown, a certified nutrition counselor, enjoys teaching others how to make the transition towards lighter fare without sacrificing on flavor, and without spending a lot of time in the kitchen. She shares how even the healthy meals that promote weight loss and wellness can in fact be “crave-worthy”, and something that everyone looks forward to on a regular basis. She is not a vegetarian or vegan, but has an enormous bent toward a lot less meat! Over time, most everyone finds that these lighter dinner choices actually feel good in the belly, leave them feeling energized rather than fatigued, and become more of a daily preference. Michele’s goal is to shift the palate permanently, as once this happens, we’re on our way to achieving the health goals we so desperately want, whether it’s shedding unwanted pounds or reversing chronic medical issues.
