Quick and Healthy Chicken Pita Pockets with Strawberry Corn Salsa and Tyson® Foods "Countdown to a Better You" Program!

Yesterday I spoke with you about how my eating habits tend to change a bit once the warmer weather starts rolling around. I mentioned how last summer I had been on a healthy eating journey and lost quite a bit of weight. Unfortunately I had a few hiccups in the process, including a mysterious arm injury that left me with very minimal movement for months. Then the weather got colder and I started craving more comfort foods that wouldn’t be considered low calorie. Recently, I stepped back on the scale and couldn’t help but feel disappointed in myself. All that hard work I’d done and all the weight I’d lost, and I’ve gained over half of it back! I felt sorry for myself for about a day, until I decided to make a plan and stick to it. It can be difficult with a food blog to eat healthy, all my favorite recipes are loaded with flavor, salt, fat, and carbs!

Right in the middle of feeling sorry for myself and trying to come up with a plan to get myself back to healthy, I discovered the line of Tyson® Grilled & Ready® products. These products are fully cooked, can be found in the freezer aisle of your local supermarket and are packaged in resealable bags to create a healthy, delicious meal in just minutes!

The Tyson® Grilled & Ready® chicken is all white meat, fully cooked, 98% fat free, and has no preservatives! That’s my kind of product! They also have a line of beef products that are also fully cooked, carved from real steak, and also contain no preservatives. These products are nutritious and delicious! I love the fact that the products are fully cooked, so you can prepare a quick meal in just minutes! I decided to try them out and get out of my funk to take that first step back to where I was, and I’m so glad I did!

I chose the chicken strips, and decided to add just a few key ingredients. I wanted to really test how good the chicken was on it’s own, and highlight the grilled taste. So I decided to stick with my theme of pita pockets from yesterday, and make a grilled chicken pita and create a delicious salsa that would compliment the chicken without overpowering the taste. Of course, summertime comes to mind when I think of grilled chicken, so I wanted a distinctly summer inspired flavor. I decided on a mild salsa with strawberry, corn, cilantro and lime flavors. For an added kick, jalapeno and red pepper flakes. It was so good, and the flavors definitely complimented each other well! The grilled chicken pita pockets and strawberry salsa added to just 308 calories, and if you add my crock-pot refried beans and a sprinkle of low fat shredded cheddar cheese it add to a total of just 358 calories in one dinner! The total fat in this meal was just 7 grams, total carbs (counting the pita bread) was just 44 grams and the total protein was 48 grams! We were all full and satisfied afterward our meal.

By the way, the chicken was tender and juicy, it did not taste like a lot of prepackaged foods at all! This meal was complete in well under 30 minutes, the most time going into making the salsa and cutting the onion. Perfect for a quick weeknight meal for my big family! This will definitely go into our regular rotation, well into summertime.

Strawberry Corn Salsa Ingredients:

• 2 medium roma tomatoes, chopped, seeds removed
• 3/4 cup corn (if using canned use one labeled no salt, drain and rinse)
• 1 cup ripe strawberries, chopped
• 1 green onion, chopped
• 1 medium jalapeno, chopped (seeds removed)
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/3 cup lime juice
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

• 4 pita pockets (preferably whole wheat)
• green leaf lettuce, trimmed, stems removed

Directions:

Combine all salsa ingredients. Stir until  well combined. Set aside to let flavors combine while you prepare the chicken.

Empty the bag of chicken in a large skillet over medium heat. Since the chicken is fully cooked, all you have to do is cook it in a skillet for 3-5 minutes and it done!

I added just a few ingredients, so before the chicken is thawed out, add the lemon juice and lemon pepper to the chicken. Stir it around, then add in the onions.

Saute until chicken is warmed through and onions are soft. That’s it!

Warm up your pita pocket either in the microwave or lightly toast it in the oven or toaster oven. Add a few pieces of green leaf lettuce, then spoon the chicken and onions into the pita. (Yum, see the steam?!)

Add about two tablespoons of the strawberry corn salsa on top, and serve with my crockpot refried beans and a sprinkle of low fat shredded cheddar cheese. So satisfying!

When I discovered the Tyson® Grilled & Ready® products, I also found out that they are promoting a new program called “Countdown to a Better You,” and the timing couldn’t be more perfect! 

Now what is this “Countdown to a Better You” program, you ask? The “Countdown to a Better You” program kicked off on March 14, 2013 and it runs for 100 days, ending June 21, 2013 (the first day of summer – timing couldn’t be more perfect, right?!). The goal of the program is to help consumers look and feel their best in time for summer. It’s an interactive program with prizes, how fun!

Check out the infographic on the right which shows the results from a national study Tyson® Foods conducted on behalf of the Tyson® Grilled & Ready® products. This graphic shows why these products are a perfect solution for smart eating.

A few key things that I take from this graphic are that 79% of people surveyed are planning to eat healthier. To accomplish that goal, 41% are calorie counting, 36% plan to eat 98% fat free meals, and 1/3 are opting for pre-prepared meals.

This survey also uncovered what type of foods that Americans are eating to make these changes. 74% plan to eat more grilled chicken, along with fruits, veggies, and whole grains. 66% of women and 61% of men admit to cooking most often with chicken.

Now, about the “Countdown to a Better You” program. This program helps to motivate you to eat smarter by encouraging you to create good-for-you recipes (like mine above) with a variety of chicken and beef products. To reward you for eating better – the more products you buy, the better the price!

Head on over to facebook.com/GrilledAndReady for more recipe ideas and tips to stay on track until your goals are reached. You can also register at the “Countdown to a Better You” Facebook tab to register and start celebrating your best summer yet!

This program is designed to help you feel and look your best just in time for summer, and the more bags of eligible Tyson® Grilled & Ready® products you purchase, the more opportunities you have to win exciting gift codes to top online fitness and cooking retailers!

The cool thing is, you are in control of the amount and the type of gift code you choose! By collecting six, nine, or twelve UPC codes from eligible products, you can redeem for a $10, $25, or $50 gift code to REI, Giaim, Spa Finder, iTunes, or Cooking.com!

There are two ways to participate!

Simply head to Facebook.com/GrilledandReady and click on the “Countdown to a Better You”
tab. Then, register for the program. Start purchasing Tyson® Grilled & Ready® products – you only need six bags to be eligible for the first prize level.

Or, as an added bonus, you can also enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win one of 10 grand prizes – a $500 VISA gift card.

How Do I Start Winning?
It’s as easy as 1-2-3!

1. Buy Tyson® Grilled & Ready® products
2. Save UPC codes from eligible Tyson® Grilled & Ready® products
3. Redeem by mailing in UPC codes along with the submission form available at Facebook.com/GrilledandReady to receive gift codes you can use at online retailers.

You decide the value of the gift code.
• 6 UPC codes = $10 gift code
• 9 UPC codes = $25 gift code
• 12 UPC codes = $50 gift code

To get you started, go to Tyson® Grilled & Ready® Products Coupon Page for a product coupon. You can also visit Tyson Foods on Twitter or on their Pinterest Page.

Share with me if you plan to participate in this program, what products sound the most intriguing to you, or what recipes you think you’d like to make!
Good Luck!

Disclosure: I was compensated for this post made possible by Mom Spark Media . All thoughts are my own.