Note from Tiffany: Jen is our new health and fitness contributor. You will be seeing a few posts a month from her and I’m so excited to have her! Hope you enjoy her posts as much as I do!
With summer right around the corner and vacations / weddings / reunions / BBQs coming up, it seems like everyone is on a quest to get healthy to look FAB at the next event! But why is it so hard to find healthy food that’s YUMMY too? I’ve found that with a little effort and lots of trial + error, it IS possible to enjoy your favorite foods but modified to make them easier on the waistline!
Cauliflower has been around forever but how many times have you gone through the produce department without even looking at the white flowery veggie? In the past few years, cauliflower has gained popularity by those that are looking for a low carb, high fiber diet (think Paleo, Keto, Atkins, etc.). The great thing about this unassuming veggie is that it is so versatile! It takes on the flavor of anything you cook it with and can be transformed to take on the look of some of my favorite bar foods (think Happy Hour). If you haven’t jumped on the cauliflower bandwagon yet, now’s your chance! I’ve rounded up my Top 5 Favorite Cauliflower Recipes for a Low Carb Diet!
Tater tots are one of those things that takes me back to my childhood. I didn’t buy school lunch very often but when I did, I LOVED these little bite sized snacks! I would always check the menu to see when they were serving them so I could ask to buy lunch that day! But as an adult, these starchy snacks are high in carbs + fat (especially if they’re fried) which means no bueno when working on your summer goals! These Cauliflower Tots are perfect! They are reminiscent of your childhood tater tot but high in fiber and WAY less fat! Try them at your next BBQ!
One of my FAVORITE Happy Hour foods…BUFFALO WINGS. I love spice and wings have just the right amount of kick to them! But being fried (I actually didn’t know that wings were fried!), they are not the healthiest choice on the HH menu. Enter Cauliflower Buffalo Wings. If you ever wondered how you’re supposed to host a football party (tailgating? Superbowl?) while trying to stick to your nutrition plan, try making these for your next get together. No, they’re not chicken, but if you’re looking for that same spice and a Happy Hour regular, try out these Cauliflower Buffalo Wings!
How many times have you been to a restaurant and ordered your food, only to fill up on the free bread that comes beforehand and been too full (not that it stops me) for your actual entree? If you’re entertaining and looking for an appetizer that won’t make your guests too full for the main dish, try these cauliflower breadsticks! They’re buttery, cheesy and garlicky and your guests (and kids) won’t believe they’re made out of veggies!
I’m not gonna lie – this is not the deep dish crust from Pizza Hut but if you thought you had to give up pizza altogether, think again! I made this for my husband who’s a total skeptic but even he liked it! Top with whatever toppings you want to make a margherita, meat lovers or even a breakfast pizza (eggs + turkey bacon anyone?)! The possibilities are endless!
Being Korean, I grew up on rice. I’m sure for my mom, making fried rice was a way to get rid of leftover ingredients but for me, I loved it and it was definitely a treat from the normal plain rice we got. When I started a healthy eating plan, I cut out white rice and replaced it with brown rice or quinoa. But when I came across this cauliflower fried rice recipe, I did a little happy dance because that meant I could save my carbs for something else (like, ahem…red wine!). This recipe is SUPER easy to make and most grocery stores even sell riced cauliflower! Make it even easier by getting a rotisserie chicken to debone and use mixed frozen veggies and this is a quick dish to make when you’re in a pinch!
So there you have it! My Top 5 Favorite Cauliflower Recipes for a Low Carb Diet! Which one is your fave? I’d love to hear in the comments below!
