Guest Post: Spring Clean Your Diet with Slender Seven

Nikki Azzara of Slender Seven shares two fabulous recipes that will help you spring clean your diet this season -- Citrus Chicken Salad and Fruit Pizza!

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I have had the opportunity to meet some amazing bloggers through Taste As You Go, some in real life and some online. In an attempt to introduce my readers to some bloggers they may not know about, I'll be featuring guest posts here from time to time.

Today's Guest Post was written by Nikki Azzara, a new blogging friend and fellow Chi Omega Sister with whom I connected after reading a profile about her in the most recent issue of our sorority's magazine. When you're finished reading Nikki's Guest Post, you should check out her blog for some more healthy recipes. I guarantee you'll enjoy what you see!

Take it away, Nikki!

Hello, springtime! Thank you for finally gracing us with your presence after a grueling winter. And thank you to Michelle for inviting me to post on Taste as You Go! My name is Nikki Azzara, I am the founder of Slender Seven, providing healthy recipes that use 7 ingredients or less. I am a 2014 graduate of Wake Forest University, a gluten-free foodie, a health enthusiast and an avid runner. I started Slender Seven in order to promote a happy, healthy lifestyle by creating recipes that contain minimal, wholesome ingredients. Cook simply, eat healthy and feel happy - that’s what Slender Seven is all about!

I created two healthy recipes to share with you, with the hope of giving you a taste of Slender Seven and springtime! It's the perfect season to spring clean your diet, change up your routine or find new recipes to fit your healthy lifestyle. Spend less time planning and making meals and more time enjoying outdoor activities and all that spring has to offer!

My first recipe is a Citrus Chicken Salad, packed with fresh vegetables, lean protein and healthy fats. The key to this recipe is to massage the kale with a homemade citrus dressing. Massage the kale? Yes, massage the kale with your hands for about 3-4 minutes. I didn’t start loving kale until I learned this cooking tip. And now I LOVE kale. Doing this will reduce the bitterness and slightly wilt the kale, allowing it to absorb the sweet and tangy citrus dressing. Once the kale is broken down, you will be able to toss your delicious greens with the warm chicken breast slices, chopped asparagus, sliced radish and avocado.

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Citrus Chicken Salad

Citrus Chicken Salad

INGREDIENTS
  • 1 navel orange
  • 1/2 cup white balsamic vinegar
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 4 cups kale, chopped
  • 4 6-ounce skinless, boneless chicken breasts
  • 1 bunch asparagus, chopped
  • 1 bunch radish, chopped
  • 1 avocado, sliced

INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Use a grater to zest the orange peel, then set aside. 
  2. Discard the remaining peel, then add the orange to a blender with the balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper and pulse to combine. 
  3. Pour mixture over the chopped kale and use your hands to massage. Set aside in the refrigerator. 
  4. To prepare the chicken, pound the breasts until evenly flattened. Heat a nonstick skillet to medium heat. Lightly coat the bottom with nonstick cooking spray. 
  5. Add the chicken breasts and cook on medium heat for 8-10 minutes. Flip the chicken breasts, turn the heat to low and cover the skillet. Cook for another 8-10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through the center. Set aside for 5 minutes, then slice into strips. 
  6. Toss the chicken with the dressed kale, chopped asparagus, sliced radish and sliced avocado. Top with the orange zest. 
  7. Serve into 4 salad bowls.
[Per serving: 310 calories, 8g fat, 20g carbs, 7g fiber, 10g sugar, 42g protein]

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Citrus Chicken Salad

Next up, I've created a Fruit "Pizza" that can be enjoyed for breakfast, brunch or dessert. My goal with dessert recipe development is to create healthier alternatives to sweets by using ingredients that add nutritional value to your diet…meaning you can enjoy these “desserts” at any time of day. Normal fruit pizza recipes call for white flour, sugar, cream cheese and butter, while this Slender Seven recipe uses better-for-you ingredients, such as almond and coconut flours, coconut oil and Greek yogurt. We suggest topping this pizza with berries, but you can add any of your favorite fruits.

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Fruit Pizza

Fruit Pizza
Yield: 16 slices

INGREDIENTS
  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 1 cup coconut flour
  • 2/3 cup coconut oil
  • Ice cold water
  • 2 cups 0% plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 cup agave (optional)
  • 1 cup berries

INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 
  2. Combine the almond flour, coconut flour and coconut oil in the food processor. 
  3. Gradually pour in the ice cold water until the dough cleans the sides of the bowl and forms a ball. 
  4. Transfer the dough to a spring form pan (or pie dish) lightly greased with nonstick cooking spray. Gently press to the bottom of the pan. Bake for 20 minutes, then set aside to cool completely. 
  5. Prepare the “frosting” by combining the Greek yogurt and agave until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use. 
  6. Make the pizza by pouring the yogurt frosting over the crust, then top with the fresh berries.
[Per serving: 200 calories, 15g fat, 13g carbs, 3g fiber, 8g sugar, 6g protein]

Fruit-Pizza-slenderseven.com
Fruit Pizza

I hope you enjoy these Slender Seven recipes! For more healthy recipes that use 7 ingredients or less, visit slenderseven.com or check out our Slender Seven recipe app in the Apple App Store.

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