SPONSORED CONTENT -- (StatePoint) Eating healthier in the New Year doesn’t have to be boring, according to chefs, fitness experts and dietitians. Here’s how to unleash your creativity to ensure your meals and snacks satisfy your cravings:
Go bold: Don’t equate healthy eating with blandness. Instead, add big, bold flavor to meals using herbs, spices, and tangy add-ins, such as vinegar and citrus. Not only will doing so help keep you satisfied, some of these ingredients even have powerful health benefits.
Be willing to learn: If culinary experimentation intimidates you, consider taking a cooking class to gain confidence in the kitchen. Classes are offered at every level and focus on different cuisines and techniques, making it possible to find a course that suits your needs and interests. If you can’t find the right in-person class or your time or budget are tight, check out the wealth of free cooking instruction available online and on social media channels like YouTube and Instagram.
Focus on protein: Make sure all of your meals and snacks are rich in lean protein. This macronutrient is an essential component of a healthy body and can help you feel full for longer. Fortunately, there are flavorful protein options that are also convenient and practical, such as StarKist’s Creations Protein Pouches. From tangy and sweet to spicy and savory, these pouches include Tuna Creations, Chicken Creations, Salmon Creations and the newly launched Beef Creations, and are the ultimate canvas for flavor experimentation. Each fully-cooked, ready-to-eat pouch packs 8-17 grams of protein per serving and comes in over 20 unique flavors, including favorites like Honey BBQ, Bacon Ranch, Hot Buffalo, Thai Chili Style and Zesty Lemon Pepper and more.
Mix it up: Avoid dietary ruts. To keep things interesting try new recipes using different ingredients and flavor combinations. Here to encourage you to think bold and go big in the kitchen in 2025 is StarKist. The StarKist Mashup is open for entries from Jan. 22 to Feb. 18. The challenge invites you to:
1. Create an original recipe using two or more StarKist Creations Pouches and at least one additional ingredient.
2. Name the dish to capture its unique fusion of flavors.
3. Share the name of the dish, specifying which StarKist Creations Pouch flavors were used, with a photo, drawing, painting or video on Instagram, tagging @StarKistCharlie and using the hashtag #StarKistMashupContest.
Every mashup you make is another chance to win the grand prize: a round trip for two to the 2025 Austin Food & Wine Festival or other cash prizes. The top 10 finalist recipes will be showcased on the StarKist Mashup Challenge website, where fans can vote for their favorites between Feb. 26 and Mar. 13. Every vote enters fans for a chance to win $1,000 and a year’s supply of StarKist Creations Pouches. For official rules, visit StarKistMashupChallenge.com. For more nutritious, protein-rich recipes and products, visit StarKist.com.
You don’t have to be a top chef to create dishes that are anything but ordinary. This new year, step outside your comfort zone, experiment, and have a blast discovering new possibilities in the kitchen.
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