Chicken with Black Beans Taco Salad

Even though our family has changed our lifestyle to become more healthy and fit, we are not missing out on eating good food. Our daily caloric intake is approximately 1500 to 1600 calories over the course of three meals and two snacks. After almost two weeks of monitoring our caloric intake, combined with weekly cardio exercise, we are seeing results in weight loss and overall health.

One of our favorite family meals is fiesta style. Typically, we have chicken and black beans served as a taco salad, soft tacos, or as a tostada. In order to reduce the calorie count on this meal, I do not make Spanish rice and we left out the sour cream. Even so, it is a very filling meal and tastes nothing like bland "diet food."

A Healthy Fiesta!

 Chicken with Black Beans Taco Salad
Ingredients:
1 package boneless skinless chicken breast (4-5 ounce per person)
1 can of low-sodium black beans
3 roma tomatoes
1 avocado, diced
1 handful of fresh cilantro
1 bag of romaine veggie salad
1/4 cup shredded cheese of choice
1 onion, diced
1 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon paprika 
1 bag of baked tortilla chips (approximately 11 chips per person)
1 bottle of dressing of choice (We love the Bolthouse 45 calorie dressings.)

Yummy Veggies!

Directions:

• Take the chicken breast and rub with cumin, black pepper, paprika, and sea salt. 
• Drizzle your saute pan with a very light bit of olive oil and heat to a sizzle. 
• Add the chicken breast to the pan and cook fully. 
• After cooking, set the chicken breast on a cutting board to rest. 
• Heat the black beans in the saute pan for a few minutes until fully heated. 
• Slice the chicken breast into thin strips.
• Assemble the fresh veggies in bowls for serving. 
• Each person can create their favorite taco salad.
• Enjoy!

A Filling Meal

In order to keep this in a healthy calorie range, you will want to fill up on 2 cups of romaine salad, use 5 ounces (or less) of chicken breast per person, only use 1 tablespoon of shredded cheese, and measure your serving of dressing of choice. With a fiesta meal, you also want to look out for calorie counts on the baked tortilla chips. Usually a serving size of chips is approximately 11 chips.

Our family is tracking our daily calorie intake and weight loss using the My Fitness Pal mobile apps, and so calorie counting is very easy! You can also use this via your computer web browser.

Many blessings!