Recipe: Baked Squash with Grilled Chicken Salad

Simple, quick, and fresh! Squash is a great addition to your diet. It’s very affordable and keeps for weeks (unlike most other produce), and there are many types of squash to choose from. Winter squash is a staple in my kitchen; it's low in calories, high in beta carotene and vitamin C, and known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Choose organic squash whenever possible.

Baked Squash with Grilled Chicken Salad

Serves 1 (500 calories)

Ingredients

• 1 medium acorn squash
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 3 ounces chicken breast, cut into strips
• blackening spice mix to taste (see recipe below)
• 4 cups baby spinach
• 1/2 cup broccoli, steamed or raw, chopped
• 1/2 cup beets, shredded (a food processor makes this simple) 
• 1/4 cup peppers, chopped 
• 1/2 medium zucchini, chopped 
• 1/4 cup drained chickpeas, drained 
• 1 tablespoon croutons 
• 1 tablespoon olive oil 
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cut the squash in half, scoop out the seeds, and place on baking sheet. Drizzle each half with maple syrup and bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes. Alternatively, you can microwave the squash for 7-10 minutes or even peel, cube, and steam it for 7-10 minutes, drizzling with maple syrup after steaming.

Blacken chicken with spice mixture and place in a saucepan over medium heat; cook until done. Set aside.

Mix spinach, broccoli, peppers, zucchini, chickpeas, and croutons. Add chicken and toss with balsamic vinegar and oil (or other dressing of your choice), salt, and pepper.

Enjoy!

Blackening Spice Rub for Chicken

1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (omit for less heat or substitute chili powder)
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon cumin

Mix all ingredients and use as desired.


This recipe is part of our four-week Power to Performance meal plan. Check out all our pre-made nutrition plans or contact us to find out how we can provide nutrition assistance customized specifically to your needs and goals. The next level awaits!

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Anne Guzman is a PCG nutritionist, a registered holistic nutritionist, and a sports nutrition consultant with a degree in kinesiology. Her passion lies in sports nutrition for endurance athletes, as well as general health and wellness. Anne raced full time on the women’s professional circuit in North America with some bouts in Europe from 2008 until 2011, and before cycling was a provincial and CIAU champion and national bronze medalist as a Varsity Freestyle Wrestler. Currently Anne works with athletes to help them reach their potential by combining their own training plans with her nutrition plans. Anne believes that many athletes undermine their intense detailed training regimes by not backing them with sound nutrition. Her personal experience as a cyclist and athlete is a great asset to her business as she understands the needs and nuances that come with the sport. Anne can be contacted through PeaksCoachingGroup.com or at info@peakscoachinggroup.com. Read more nutrition advice on her blog.

Photo credit: TheNaptimeChef.com