Women’s Health: Healthy Recipes Using Store Packaged Foods (Access Hollywood Live)

Grocery stores are full of unhealthy options, but believe it or not, there are plenty of healthy packaged choices!

To help us sort through them all, Women’s Health has put out their annual Best Supermarket Stars awards, and this year, asked readers to send in their best recipes.

Women’s Health editor in chief Michelle Promaulayko visited Access Hollywood Live to share some of the tasty dishes using packaged foods.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

• 1-4 8oz container Mexican Broth
• 1 can diced tomatoes with green chilis,
• 1 can of no salt added diced tomatoes,
• 1 small can of corn
• 1 chopped onion,
• 1 can (reduced sodium_ black beans
• 2 diced fresh jalapeños,
• 2 minced garlic cloves,
• 1-2 packages of pre-cooked chicken—slices or cut up (approx. 1lb)
• Tortilla chips to top the soup with for crunch

Put all ingredients into the broth and simmer on low for 30 min. Optional: Top with shredded cheddar, sour cream, cilantro, avocado — or anything that may be around the house. Serve with cornbread (they have great easy box mixes too!)

Fruit and Veggie Zen Salad

• 2 cups salad—you can find bag and packaged pre-washed salads at any grocery store that keep well and are easy have on hand. (A little trick is to put a piece of a paper towel in the bag to keep the lettuce fresh longer after you open the bag—it soaks up all the condensation to keep it crisp!)
• 1/2 cup Sugar Snap Peas—also great are pre-packaged snap peas. Good to just munch on too.
• 1 small can of sliced mandarin oranges
• 1 package of pre-cooked packaged chicken slices
• 1/3 cup sliced strawberries (or whatever berries you have in the fridge)
• 1/4 cup Whole Almonds.—you can chop these too.

Toss all ingredients in a bowl with a drizzle of the reserved pear juice and a tablespoon of (or any balsamic dressing)

Brussels Sprouts with Turkey Bacon and Raisins

• 4 slices of turkey bacon (you can even use ham cold cuts if you don’t have any turkey bacon)
• Brussels Sprouts (1 bag—which is already cleaned and cut for you for easy cooking)
• 1 small box of raisins—like those that you would put in your kids lunches
• Salt & Pepper (to taste)
• 1-2 TBL spoons of olive oil

Heat oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add bacon and cook, turning occasionally, until crisp, about 5 minutes. Using tongs, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. Let cool. Coarsely crumble. (Make sure crumbled bacon is unreachable by children, or it will disappear before you need it again.)

Cut brussels sprouts in half and add a skillet; season with salt and pepper and add a little olive oil. Cook, stirring often, until well browned in spots and beginning to soften, 5–7 minutes. Reduce heat to low and add raisins (and a tsp butter optional); cook, stirring often, about 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and and stir in crumbled bacon. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Fruit & Nut Yogurt Parfait

• Any Greek yogurt/fruit flavor
• Any granola
• Chopped nuts (walnuts or almonds)
• Optional: canned fruit

Layer 1/3 cup yogurt into the bottom each glass. Then add granola, fruit, yogurt and top with nuts and a cherry for presentation! Serve parfaits immediately to keep granola crunchy.

Quinoa with Mustard Greens

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups water
• Pinch of Kosher Salt
• Black Pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup mustard green mix
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• 2 tablespoon chia seeds
• 3 tablespoon walnut pieces

Rinse quinoa with cold water thoroughly Heat water in small pan over high heat. As soon as bubbles start to form in water, add rinsed quinoa and pinch of kosher salt. Lower heat to simmer and cover pan. Cook for 20 minutes Remove from heat, add pepper and olive oil and mustard greens. Stir and cover for several minutes until greens wilt. Add lemon juice, chia seeds and walnut pieces Stir and serve. Notes If greens do not wilt put back on stove over low simmer for a minute or two.

For a full grocery list of the winning Supermarket Stars, pick up an issue of Women’s Health Magazine on stands now.