Sensible Celebrations
Second Cookbook Promotes Healthy Game Plan
By Amy Morgan
Whether your goal is to prevent illness and injury or improve recovery, make a New Year’s resolution to create a plan that fosters good overall health. Get game day ready with wise choices that set your family’s health up for a win.
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This delicious slow cooker white chicken chili offers you a nutritious option for gatherings that won’t bust your calorie budget. It’s just one of the recipes in the second cookbook created for the community by Jennifer Meachum, R.D.N., L.D., Physicians Premier SA Regional Marketing Manager. Last year Physicians Premier enlisted Jennifer to draw upon her nutrition background to develop a cookbook with healthy, easy-to-prepare recipes. Now she is back with a second edition, HealthiER Occasions, which is filled with recipes for celebrations from Valentine’s Day to Thanksgiving — and everything in between.
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Drop by Physicians Premier, located west of Highway 281
on Highway 46 near the HEB Plus, to pick up your free
copy of the cookbook. Or email marketing @mdpremier.
com, and Jennifer will be happy to mail you one.
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“We tend to think of the traditional holiday season as
a time that can derail us from our health goals, but I
realized when I was thinking about this cookbook that
special occasions happen all year round,” Jennifer said.
She wanted to offer a healthy option for any event, as
she’s personally experienced the difference small changes
can make. More than 20 years ago, Jennifer’s New Year’s
resolution led to her losing 100 pounds and turned her life
in a new direction, including a career path as a dietitian.
You, too, can make a healthy game plan. If you should experience any type of emergency or health crisis, the professionals at Physicians Premier free-standing emergency room stand ready to help. One of Physician Premier’s doctors, Aaron Terry, M.D., is an avid runner. But you don’t have to try to beat Dr. Terry to the finish line — walking is enough to reap health benefits. He recommends just starting to move for 30 minutes, five days a week. And make sure you are getting enough sleep. Sleep remains extremely important to overall wellness, as it is our body’s opportunity to restore, build muscle, and break down unwanted fat.
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Follow Jennifer’s tips on your wellness journey.
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Set small measurable goals.
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Aim for 25-35 grams of fiber daily from whole grains, nuts, legumes, beans, fruits, and vegetables.
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Prepare more meals at home - grilling, broiling, air frying, and roasting add fewer calories.
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Swap out high calorie drinks with water or unsweetened beverages.
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Track your food intake with an app.
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Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
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1 cup low sodium chicken broth
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1 cup onion, chopped
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2 TBSP all-purpose flour
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2 tsp chili powder
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1 tsp ground cumin
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½ tsp salt
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1/8 tsp black pepper
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1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into ½ inch pieces
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2 cans cannellini or Great Northern beans, rinsed & drained
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1 can no-salt added whole-kernel corn, drained
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1 (4.5 oz) can chopped green chiles
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2 garlic cloves, minced
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½ cup shredded reduced fat Mexican blend or cheddar cheese
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½ cup light sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
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2 TBSP cilantro, chopped fresh
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1 small avocado, peeled, seed removed, and diced
Directions:
Combine chicken broth, onion, flour, chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, chicken, beans, corn, green chiles, and garlic in an electric slow cooker.
Cover and cook on high 1 hour. Reduce heat to low and cook 4 hours. Serve chili topped with cheese, sour cream, cilantro, and avocado.