Healthy, Low-Calorie Dinner that will Satisfy

Bathing suit season is officially here with the annual opening of the pools on Memorial Day. I dread it every year. I am a mom. I have very little time to work out, no time to tan in any form  (including but not limited to tanning booths, spray tan, airbrushing or lounging by the pool) and very little energy left to watch what I am eating, control portion sizes and insure that it is organic, fresh and healthy.

What does that leave? Me, with a lot of good intentions and most definitely not looking forward to seeing myself poured into some Lycra/spandex body hugging bathing suit.

Quick side note: DO NOT under any circumstances try to buy a larger than needed size bathing suit in hopes that it will not be as clingy. It will be loose, but as soon as you get it wet, it will be HUGE and look awful.

So here’s a better option. Let’s try to start using a few of all of those great healthy recipes we find and write down, clip out and save. Good intentions will not get us into those bikinis and eating cardboard will not help us stay away from the saucy McSauces, Frenchie fries or hot and fast pizza.

Here is a super tasty alternative recipe that I found in Real Simple magazine.

Herb-rubbed pork tenderloin with potatoes and lemony asparagus

Hands-on time: 35 minutes/ Total time:40 Minutes/ Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pounds of new potatoes (about 15) halved, or quartered if large
• 3 tablespoons of olive oil
• Kosher salt and black pepper
• 1 pork tenderloin (about 1 1/4 pounds)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
• 1 bunch asparagus (about 1 pound), trimmed
• 1 lemon, sliced

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 450° F. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the potatoes with 1 tablespoon of the oil and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Roast, tossing once, until tender and browned, 20 to 24 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, rub the pork with the parsley, thyme, and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. After the potatoes have cooked for 10 minutes, heat 1 tablespoon of the remaining oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pork and cook, turning occasionally, until browned, 8 to 10 minutes.
3. Add the asparagus and lemon to the skillet and drizzle with the remaining tablespoon of oil. Transfer the skillet to oven and cook until the pork is cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Let the pork rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Serve with the potatoes, asparagus, and lemon.

Now, get yourself to the bathing suit store and get yourself something cute!

You deserve it.

Photo Image and Recipe: Real Simple

Tagged as: low-calorie meals, real simple