Thursday, November 6, 2014

Gluten Free Chicken Fingers

These Chicken Fingers are gluten-free, healthy, and have the perfect mix of sweet and salty. They are baked, but still have the crispy coating as though they were fried. These chicken fingers make the perfect comfort meal, or appetizer for a party!

Every year time changes and I feel like I could sleep for a week. We get an extra hour of sleep for one night, and daylight begins earlier. However, I still struggle to function for the first few days. This week is about getting back into a daily routine! As the days get shorter it become easier to let routine slip away. Because of a few rough weeks my routine is long gone and I feel awful about it. When I have a normal routine I am more productive in school, I feel better about myself, and I am a genuinely happier person. Now that midterms are over I am taking some days to refresh and relax with my Mom before I have to worry about final exams and the term papers that are looming over my head. It is the perfect time to get back on schedule and to start living a healthy life once again! I am going to find the balance of school, healthy eating, working out, and studying that I had, but lost.

My favourite part about getting into a routine is getting my day planner organized. I need to know exactly where I have to be when, and when deadlines are coming up. I need to see where I have time to go to yoga, the gym, or take a nap. I need to-do lists, and organization. I thrive on organization, it is a calming experience to see how much control I have over my life when so many things seem out of control this time of year. Every aspect of my life is categorized and given a colour in my day planner. This way nothing gets forgotten and I can visually process what is a priority and what is not.

Before getting back into routine in full force I granted myself a grace period to eat the things I crave and catch up on my sleep. This time of year makes me want to curl up on my couch and relax with a cup of earl grey while the fireplace roars. My favourite thing about fall is comfort food! I find myself craving all my favourites from childhood, but this week my weakness was chicken fingers! It took me awhile to decide how I was going to tackle breading the chicken, but I managed to find a way that had flavour and made these chicken fingers as healthy as possible and gluten free!

Gluten Free Chicken Fingers




1/4 Cup Gluten Free Flour
1 Large Egg
2 Cups Gluten Free Honey Chex Cereal (Crushed)
1 Tbsp Parmesean Cheese
1 Tsp Oregano
1/2 Tsp Cayenne Pepper
10 Ounces Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (Approx. 2)






Preheat oven to 425 Degrees. In one bowl beat the egg, place flour in another bowl, in a third bowl combine the crushed Chex cereal, cheese, and spices. Cut each chicken breast in 4 pieces. Dip the pieces in the flour, then the egg, and then the Chex, and place on a cookie sheet. Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes, flipping half way. Each chicken finger is 2 weight watchers points plus and pairs perfectly with mustard! 





Cooking gluten free does not have to be difficult. You just have to experiment with the items that you have in the kitchen. It involves thinking outside the box. Cooking regular foods comes more naturally because it becomes a habit, you know what you need and what conventionally goes into what. You cannot think conventionally when you are cooking gluten free, you have to start combing the foods that you enjoy and be creative! I realize that not everyone enjoys cooking, or is creative in the kitchen, but do not let that discourage you from trying new things!

Remember that things happen and it can be difficult to stick with a routine. Life gets busy, people get sick, and sometimes you just cannot keep up. Try not to be to hard on yourself, and keep pushing along. When life calms down you will be able to develop a routine again. Just try to maintain a balance that keeps you healthy during the rough times, so you can thrive in the good times!

Enjoy the rest of your week!
K.

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