The start of a new year can be a great opportunity to assess and improve our diet. Smart eating has come a long way, and healthy swaps are readily available for most foods, adding delicious flavors and loads of nutrition. Thankfully, incorporating these ingredients can be simple with a few pointers, and Donna Johnikin and Brittany Carroll of Cloverleaf Catering have made it easier than ever by offering a custom meal service that takes the shopping, prep, and cooking out of the equation. They even deliver!
For those of us ready to try our hand at these healthy swaps, Donna has shared some of her go-to substitutes. Coconut and almond flour can be used as a delicious, low-carb and gluten-free substitute for wheat flour. For those looking to cut sugar, Swerve sweetener is an easy substitute, and a rather inventive and keto-friendly swap is crushed pork rinds, which can replace bread crumbs, as can parmesan cheese. And just as zoodles replace classic pasta noodles, cauliflower is a nutrient-dense substitute for rice, mashed potatoes, and macaroni. Not only are these ingredients all locally available, they make healthy swapping easy.
Cilantro Lime Grilled Chicken w/ Mango Avocado Salsa
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Marinade
1 cup orange juice (½ cup plus 1 tbsp zest for keto/low carb)
½ cup olive oil
¼ cup fresh lime juice
1 tsp lime zest
1 tbsp brown sugar or Swerve
1 tsp Cumin
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tsp minced garlic
½ cup coarsely chopped cilantro
Mango Avocado Salsa
1 ripe mango (1 cup berries for keto/low carb)
1 ripe avocado
¼ cup finely diced red onion
¼ cup finely chopped red pepper
1 tbsp finely chopped jalapeno
1 tbsp orange juice
1 tsp lime juice + ½ tsp lime zest
2 tbsp chopped cilantro
Sea salt & pepper to taste
Whisk ingredients together. Marinate 4 chicken breasts in refrigerator for 2 to 8 hours. Grill marinated chicken to an internal temperature of 165◦F. Slice chicken, garnish with sliced avocado and chopped cilantro, and place a scoop of salsa on the side. Try cilantro lime cauliflower rice as a carb conscious and delicious substitute.
Contact Cloverleaf Catering at 706.860.1601 or kitchen@cloverleafcatering.net