It’s barbecue season. Do you crave that smoky flavour, but want to maintain a healthy diet?
You can have both with our grilled broccoli recipe. Crunchy, delicious, grilled to perfection… you’ve never had veggies like these before!
And broccoli is high in calcium, too. Eating broccoli is an excellent way to prevent osteoporosis in men, a disease that affects bone density and increases the risk of fractures. Maintaining a healthy diet as a young adult helps reduce the risk of developing problems related to osteoporosis later in life.
Want to avoid fractures? To the grill, fellas!
You will need:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil + extra for the grill
2 large broccoli heads (1 cm trimmed off the end and stem peeled)
1/4 cup grilled peanuts, coarsely chopped
A handful of fresh basil, chopped
Pinch of salt
Seasoning Sauce:
1/4 cup fish sauce (available in grocery stores)
2 tablespoons brown sugar (light or dark)
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Instructions:
Preheat your gas or charcoal grill. Using tongs and an oil-soaked cloth, wipe the grill with oil to prevent food from sticking.
Combine fish sauce, brown sugar and lime juice in a bowl and blend or whisk until sugar is dissolved.
Cut broccoli heads into 8 cm florets, leaving stems long. In a large bowl, toss broccoli and oil. Add a pinch of salt. Toss again.
Cook broccoli on the hottest section of the grill. Turn over occasionally until tips are blackened and florets are al dente (which means cooked and firm – still has some crunch). Remove from heat and transfer to a serving dish.
Pour seasoning over the broccoli. Garnish with chopped peanuts and basil. Add salt to taste.
Maple is truly the pride of Canadians; its leaf is our emblem, and its syrup delights our taste buds.
Canada is the world’s main maple syrup producer, accounting for over 70% of the market. Maple products are even offered as diplomatic gifts to foreign dignitaries. It’s not for nothing that we say “as Canadian as maple syrup”!
But apart from maple syrup’s smooth taste and its undeniable contribution to the Canadian economy… did you know that maple also has incredible health benefits?
Maple syrup has a lower glycemic index than sugar. That means that it increases your blood glucose level less than refined sugar or corn syrup does. If you replace sugar with maple syrup, your pancreas won’t have to work as hard and will therefore tire less. Ultimately, this may reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Maple syrup and maple water contain polyphenols. These antioxidants help reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and help prevent obesity.
Quebecol, a molecule that is only found in maple syrup, was named for Quebec – the Canadian province that produces the most maple syrup – and has anti-inflammatory properties. Discovered in 2011, researchers are still investigating this molecule, but in the long term, it could be used to counter joint pain. Why not have a sweet taste of syrup and a big glass of maple water to help with back pain?
Provided that you stocked up in spring during your visit to the sugar shack, now is the time to make yourself some healthy treats using maple syrup. Here is a super easy recipe for banana crepes that you can cover with golden nectar.
It’s always good advice to wrap it up, especially if you’re talking about lunch! Get your mind out of the gutter, guys.
Wraps are the easiest way to pack in a whole bunch of healthy food into a quick few bites. So if you’re a man with a plan, get these hunger-slaying wraps into your lunchbox and ditch the fried fast food. Your afternoon stomach will thank you.
Ingredients:
1 whole-wheat tortilla
Sliced turkey
½ cup of rice (brown rice for extra points)
A few spoonfuls of hummus
1 avocado
Spinach
Directions
Spread the hummus on the tortilla
Cut the avocado in half, then spread it along the tortilla
Breakfast been lacking lately? Getting mid-morning snack cravings? Kick up your breakfast with this BAM! Burrito and heat up the kitchen Emeril – Style.
Ingredients:
1 tomato
Handful of chopped onion
1 pepper (any type, even add a jalapeno)
Garlic
Eggs, 2
Whole wheat tortilla
Cheese (optional)
Instructions:
Chop the veggies and garlic to small pieces and toss in a bowl. BAM! a pinch of salt and pepper.
Heat up a frying pan with some olive oil.
Crack eggs into a small bowl and just beat it. Pour the eggs into the frying pan and cook.
Lay the tortilla on a plate and place the eggs on ¾ of the tortilla. Add a handful of cheese and top with your veg.
Fold up the bottom, then the sides to roll into a burrito and chow down.
Play around with different flavours or add last night’s leftovers and have yourself a BAM! worthy breakfast.
