If part of your New Years' resolution was to eat healthier, then you can appreciate just how hard it is to keep this up. Staying away from temptation is one of the hardest things I've personally had to do. I mean, just going by that McDs and the smells wafting past me........ excuse me while I wipe away the drool. 

Luckily, there's Fresh Canteen. Fresh Canteen sends you fresh, healthy ingredients and amazing recipes to go along with them weekly. So instead of finding dinner at your local fried chicken joint, you're finding it in your own fridge and you know that it'll do your body good. Fresh Canteen kindly let us test drive one of their delish meal creations; Sweet Chili Salmon with Peruvian Style Quinoa & Black Beans. We were quite pleased with just how tasty and flavourful "healthy" could be. 

If you're on your own path to better eating, why not try it out for yourself? Here's how to make this super yummy salmon tonight: 

Ingredients: 
 

Salmon Fillets
1 Garlic clove, minced
1/2-3/4 c medium diced Carrot
1/2 c diced Zucchini
1/4 c chopped Onion
Tomatoes
1 Lime
1 can Black beans
Cilantro for garnish
1/2 c Quinoa
3 1/2 Tbsp Vegetable oil (pantry)
1/4 c Lime juice
2 Tbsp Sweet chili sauce
1/2 c Corn
1 tsp ground Coriander
1 tsp ground Cumin
1/4-1/2 tsp Chili flakes 

The Prep: 
 

- Pat dry the fillets, season with salt & pepper
- Mince the garlic
- Peel & medium dice the carrot, zucchini & onion
- Cut each tomato in 4 or 6 pieces
- Cut the lime in wedges
- Open, drain & rinse the black beans
- Chop the cilantro for garnish

#1 Quinoa 

Rinse the quinoa under cold water, place in a medium sized pot with 1 c of water, bring to a boil, cover & simmer for 15 minutes, fluff when done. In a small bowl combine 2 Tbsp vegetable oil, 3 Tbsp lime juice & 1/2 tsp salt. In another small bowl mix the 2 Tbsp sweet chili sauce, 1 tsp lime juice, 1/2 tsp veg oil.

#2 Veggies 


In a medium sized fry pan, heat 1/2 Tbsp vegetable oil till shimmering, once hot add the onions & cook stirring until onions start to soften. Add the carrots & zucchini, cook for another 3-4 minutes, stirring regularly. Add the corn, coriander, garlic, cumin, & chili flakes, stir well & cook until vegetables are tender. 

Add the cooked vegetables to the quinoa, mix in 1 c of black beans & the tomatoes. Stir in the dressing to your taste, season with salt & pepper (add 1/2 the dressing taste & add more to your taste). Set aside for the flavours to blend, this is best at room temperature or even a bit cold.

#3 Fish

Turn the broiler on to high, make sure your oven rack is in the top 3rd of the oven. For easy clean up, place a small piece of parchment paper or tinfoil on an ovenproof pan to cook the fish. 

Brush the fish with the sweet chili glaze. Once the broiler has heated, place the fillets under the broiler for 4-6 minutes and cook until fish flakes. Finish with a squirt of lime.
 
Lastly...


Give the quinoa a mix & taste for seasoning, garnish with some chopped cilantro. Serve each plate with fish some quinoa & a slice of lime. Enjoy!

Remember, healthy eating isn't something you can start overnight and then be done with. It takes work and practice to get into the habit. Here are a few tips and tricks from Fresh Canteen to help you along your journey:
 
1. Plan your meals in advance: There is nothing worse than getting home from a long day of work and realizing that you don't have anything to eat in your fridge, only to resort to oily greasy takeout. A service like Fresh Canteen can greatly help with meal planning, and still leaves you with free nights to experiment in the kitchen or grab dinner with friends and family!

2. Don't be afraid to try new things: Cooking should be fun! Take on a new cooking challenge and make something out of your comfort zone. Did you try a great Indian recipe at a restaurant with a friend? Invite that friend over and tackle that recipe yourself! It is a great feeling to make a meal entirely from scratch, and is probably a lot less tricky than you think!

3. Take responsibility for your diet: Educate yourself on how to read nutrition labels, and know what is going into your meals. Make healthy substitutions whenever possible, and take the time to properly shop for fresh groceries. 80% of salt in a modern diet comes from processed food. You will cook healthier food on your own at home instead of ordering in, taking out, or buying processed food almost 100% of the time.

Got any healthy eating tips?