Healthy Weight Loss Tip - Try This Recipe

Sometimes when we are trying to lose weight we forget to look of the whole picture. Weight loss and dieting should also include looking good, feeling good and trying to be the best we can possibly be.

We should learn to enjoy food and eating should be an enjoyable experience. We need to try different recipes and experiment. One of the most overlooked food is pulses. There are many different varieties including, pinto beans, red kidney beans, haricot beans, butter beans etc.

Pulses (including lentils) are virtually fat free and full of protein. They provide good quantities of unrefined carbohydrates and because they are rich in dietary fibre they are also very filling. Another reason to try cooking with pulses is because they are very cheap to buy, unlike meat nowdays!

One of my favourite recipes is called Dutch Bean Stamppot. It is made with pinto beans and is a bit like shepherds pie but without the meat.

Ingredients:

6oz (175g) pinto beans
1 tbsp (15ml) sunflower oil
1 onion, peeled and finely chopped
4 sticks celery, trimmed and diced
8oz (250g) carrots, scrubbed and diced
14oz (400g) can tomatoes, pureed
1 tsp (5ml) dried thyme
2 tsp (30ml) finely chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp (5ml) yeast extract
12oz (375g) potatoes, mashed

Method:

1. Drain the beans. Boil fast in fresh water for 10 minutes. Cover and simmer for 30-40 minutes. Drain and reserve the stock.
   
   
2. Heat the oil and gently fry the onion for 3-4 minutes or until soft. Add the celery, carrots and cooked beans and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, a bay leaf, thyme and parsley.
   
   
3. Dissolve the yeast extract in a little hot bean stock and stir in. Bring to the boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Season to taste.
   
   
4. Place the stamppot in a lightly greased ovenproof dish, cover with mashed potatoes and bake in a preheated oven at Gas Mark 4, 350F, 180C for 15 to 20 minutes.

Eat and enjoy!