G&T on Insta!

Gym & Tonic is finally on Instagram! I'm posting everyday things from my new maintenance lifestyle - quick recipes, meal ideas, smoothies, and some fitspiration. 

Insta handle: @gym.and.tonic.blog

Recipe: Lighter Chicken Stroganoff

Looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal? Try this delicious creamy stroganoff (minus all the wine and sour cream)

Lighter Chicken Stroganoff 
Serves 2 

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp olive oil
• 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs*
• 1/2 small onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 punnet button mushrooms, quartered
• 2 garlic gloves, crushed
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 2 tbs yogurt
• 1 tsp worcester sauce
• 1 tsp dijon mustard
• 1 tsp tomato paste
• Cayenne pepper or paprika 
• Salt and pepper

For serving:

• lemon wedge
• fresh parsley, chopped

Method:

1. Place the oil in a saucepan on medium heat. Once the pan is hot, add the chicken and brown for 2 minutes on each side.
2. Remove chicken from the pan and set aside. Add the onion to the pan and cook until translucent in colour.
3. Add the mushrooms and garlic and cook for another 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper as you go.
4. Add the chicken stock to the pan and bring to the boil. 
5. Once boiling, add the mustard, worcester, and tomato paste. Put your chicken back in the pan and bring down to a simmer. 
6. Cook for 8 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or paprika for extra heat if desired.
7. Take the pan off the heat and stir in the yogurt.
8. Serve with zoodles or brown rice. Top with a squeeze of lemon juice and fresh parsley.

Notes:
* You could use 2 chicken breasts instead - I just happened to have these on hand

Frankenstein food

Today is a public holiday and I'm currently sitting at the office, working on projects due tomorrow. In what could only have been a self-loathing, self-pitying fury, I ate an entire large packet of chips. They're called Chipi Multigrain Chips (basically a rip-off of Pringles) and they are - what Weight Watchers would call - my frankenstein food. 

Frankenstein foods are those terrible snacky-type foods that are impossible to stop eating at just one. We all have a particular weakness... and mine happens to be bizarre discount chips from Dischem.

Needless to say... I feel quite ill now.

Soy Milk and Whole Wheat Pasta

Last week I made a creamy mushroom pasta with...

Soy milk
Whole wheat pasta
NO butter

Who am I even?!

I never ever thought I'd be that person. I used to love that incredible velvety richness of full fat cream. Recently I've noticed that dairy products aren't agreeing with my body. Maybe they never did. Maybe I'm only noticing now because I'm more aware of what I put in my body.

When I first tasted whole wheat pasta, I loooaaathed the taste. In my eyes, nothing could replace that soft, delicate white linguine. However, in an effort to eat cleaner this year, I decided to ween myself off the white stuff. When I made pasta, I mixed a little whole wheat in with the white noodles. Each time, I added more and more whole wheat... and now I barely notice the difference. For anyone trying to get more fibre in your diet, this is the way to do it. Don't go cold turkey - make the change slowly and it'll stick.

I've never been a fan of brown rice either... challenge accepted :)