An entire month has gone by since I last wrote about my goals to be healthier this year. So how am I doing, you ask? Pretty good, now that I figured out some dishes that were more exciting than chicken and grilled vegetables. I find that eating healthy can be difficult to stick with if you’re eating boring or bland foods.  I like to find things that are low in calories and fat but still add good flavor so that I feel fulfilled.

I have been scouring sites for low-calorie recipes that fit within the calorie budget that I have set for myself. I find myself altering a lot of the dishes that I find to cut out some of the calories. I have also found that introducing a variety of herbs into my proteins allows me to change the flavor of my dishes dramatically while eliminating salts and fats such as oils. Marinating my proteins in a variety of dressings also allows me more variety in the flavors I am eating.  And despite the colder temperatures, my favorite way to prepare beef or poultry is on the grill. It allows me to keep my meats tender and juicy without added fats. Once of my favorite dishes lately is chicken souvlaki.  Greek dishes in general are very appealing to me because of the flavors they deliver.  Pairing the grilled chicken with the cool tzatziki sauce makes me want to go back for seconds and thirds.  I wanted to make this dish more bite-sized so I paired it down with some mini pitas that I found at my grocery store.  I also decided to change up the sauce on my pizzas by mixing together OPA Feta Dill and a bit of reduced fat cream cheese.  These bite-sized pita pizzas are great for a snack, party appetizer or a fresh lunch.

 Chicken Souvlaki Mini Pita Pizza Ingredients

So here are some of the tips that I have been sticking to so that I feel fulfilled while eating less:

• Pair different herbs and spices together to alter the flavors of your dishes and create new combinations. Beware of added salts in some spice blends.
• Grilling your proteins helps eliminate additional fats used in stove-top or oven cooking.
• Stay fresh by using seasonal produce and frozen vegetables.

  What are some of the creative ways that you are cooking healthier in 2014?