This happens a lot around my house. I’ll work all day long, maybe run an errand or two after work and then head to a soccer game. By the time I get home, I am completely wiped out and the last thing I want to do is cook. I will admit that as recently as last year, I would very likely get pizza or hamburgers on the way home and call that dinner. But this year, I made a resolution that I’ve managed to stick to: no eating at restaurants, and that includes takeout.
To be completely honest, I made that resolution in an attempt to save some cash. After all, when I go out to eat, I have to purchase four meals since I’m feeding my three teenagers and myself. Even a trip to a hamburger joint can cost $30 easily. Avoiding restaurants has been good for my wallet, but it’s been even better for my waistline and my health.
Chicken is full of vitamins, important cancer-fighting minerals like selenium, and the brain-boosting nutrient choline, which is a great help for my kids in school. Plus, I read that researchers at NYU discovered the dark meat in chicken and turkey has taurine, which lowers risk for heart disease. [1] What could be better than that?
I also like chicken because I can take a boneless skinless chicken breast and prepare it in a variety of ways that fit into just about any kind of cuisine my kids and I could ever want to eat.
So on evenings when I don’t get home until really late or I’m simply too tired to spend time cooking, I sautée chicken for a quick, healthy and tasty meal. My daughter and I usually just put it on top of some salad greens and drizzle a bit of Greek salad dressing over the top. My sons like to slice French bread, smear it with spreadable brie and put the sliced chicken on top. Of course, the way my daughter and I eat it is healthier. But the great thing about sautéed chicken is that it is versatile. Do with it what you like.
Sautéed chicken
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 6 ounces each)
- Sea salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Sprinkle sea salt and pepper on both sides of the chicken breasts.
- Add the chicken to the pan and cook for 4 minutes on each side or until golden brown and cooked through.
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[1] “Nutrient found in dark meat of poultry, some seafood, may have cardiovascular benefits.” Science Daily. www.sciencedaily.com. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
