It’s crazy how normal it has become to eat foods without much nutritious value, yet take supplements and medicines to try to make up for it. It’s like we’re trying to find an easy way out without having to change our habits. But if you think about it, what really makes the difference is going to where the problem begins.
The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest her or his patients in the care of the human frame, in a proper diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease. -Thomas Edison
I love this quote, because I feel like half the time when I go to the doctor for a problem, I leave with a prescription and don’t actually know how to prevent my problem from recurring in the future—which is half the reason I’m seeking help in the first place.
I do my best to eat a nutritious diet and maintain an active lifestyle so I can keep my body as healthy as I can. As I’ve started exercising more, I’ve become much more aware of what I’m putting into my body. The fact that I’m beyond cheap has almost helped me eat better in a way. It has motivated me to buy more basic ingredients that aren’t filled with extra sugars, oils, preserveratives, and so on. I love having that peace of mind that I know exactly what I’m consuming—no hidden ingredients.
In the end, it’s so much better to try to prevent health problems if you can, such as by adopting a healthy lifestyle. By doing so, you’re ultimately making your food your medicine (at least to a degree). This brings me to today’s recipe: Jerk Chicken.
One of my favorite ways to make the most of mealtime is to incorporate protein-dense foods, like chicken breasts. Unfortunately, chicken tends to be pretty dull. The first time I made this recipe, I was shocked at how juicy and flavorful it was. I ended up eating it without any extra sauce (which is unheard of for me), so I thought it was worth sharing!
The magic is in the jerk marinade. SO many flavors marrying together to create an amazing blend. It’s got cloves, cinnamon, thyme, garlic, onion, vinegar, soy sauce, and a whole bunch of other stuff.
This recipe just goes to show how marinating chicken can add a ridiculous amount of flavor—yummm.
For the record, this is by no means an authentic dish you’d get in Jamaica, but every time I make it, it never disappoints! So it’s just a more manageable and easy recipe that anyone can do. It’s even better when grilled, but since I don’t own a grill at this point, I always just bake it, which is still quite tasty.
(Adapted from this recipe.)
Ingredients:
- 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1 Tbs dried thyme
- 1 Tbs brown sugar
- 3/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 3/4 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1/2 small white onion, roughly chopped
- 5 garlic cloves, crushed
Instructions:
- To make the marinade, combine all the spices in a large bowl. Whisk in the vinegar, orange juice, olive oil, soy sauce, and lime juice. Mix in the onions and garlic; then add the chicken, turning until coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour or up to overnight.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with non-stick spray.
- Lay the chicken breasts on the greased baking sheet and bake until no longer pink in the middle (usually 20-30 minutes). Serve with your favorite sauce and a couple lime wedges on the side.
It has a long ingredient list, but it’s so worth the effort! Plus, you just combine them all, marinate the chicken, and bake it. Not too labor intensive after all! Enjoy. 🙂
very informative post and lots of important points! for me, like u, it’s the running that makes me focused on really wanting to fuel my body right. i don’t follow a special diet really, but i’m not a big meat eater, so i get my protein from eggs and seafood…oh how i luv shrimp! 🙂
I’m the same! I don’t really care if I eat meat, but I could never give up milk and eggs. They’re too wonderful. Shrimp I don’t eat too often, but I agree that it’s quite tasty. 🙂