New year, new you. It is 2017, so it is time to make some changes. We tell ourselves we will exercise more and eat better, but it’s hard, right? Here is a healthy recipe of Quinoa Chicken Parmesan, an easy snack idea, and tips to help you kick start better choices and an improved you.

Kaitlyn Scott, a senior outdoor recreation and tourism major with a minor in nutrition, shared one of her favorite recipes, but she does put her own spin on it. She suggests substituting einkorn flour or gluten-free flour instead of all-purpose flour to make your dish even better.
Quinoa Chicken Parmesan
Ingredients:

• 1 cup of quinoa
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut crosswise in half
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup marinara sauce, homemade or storebought
• 1/4 cup basil leaves, shredded

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly oil a baking sheet or coat with nonstick spray.
2. In a large saucepan with 1 1/2 cups water, cook quinoa according to package instructions. Stir in Italian seasoning.
3. Season chicken with salt and pepper, to taste.
4. Working in batches, dredge chicken in flour, dip into eggs, then dredge in quinoa mixture, pressing to coat.
5. Place chicken onto the prepared baking sheet. Place into oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown. Top with cheeses and marinara. Place into oven and bake until cheeses have melted, about 5 more minutes.
6. Serve immediately, garnished with basil, if desired.
   

Recipe and photo courtesy of Damn Delicious.
Rebecca Larson, clinical instructor of nutrition and food science at Georgia Southern, shared her advice for healthy eating. Larson’s favorite snacks are walnuts and dried apricots because “they’re really portable, and for students, it’s easy to bring to campus.”
Larson said that one of the biggest problems she sees as a nutrition teacher is last minute planning. “If you’re just trying to do it last minute, then of course, you’re never going to keep those New Year’s resolutions because convenience is really important for students,” she said. She suggests planning meals ahead of time and bringing them on campus.
“As far as New Year’s resolutions go, another thing is it’s easy to get sidetracked when you’re hungry,” Larson said. If you plan meals out on a Sunday and go ahead and cook them, it will be easier to resist the temptation of takeout or a frozen TV dinner.
Alison Young, a freshman exercise science major, also offers some advice about keeping your resolutions. “I would say don’t make any huge changes right off the bat, make small attainable changes,” Young said.
Don’t work yourself too hard, or you will get burned out. Set realistic goals for yourself, and don’t forget to “treat yo self” occasionally. You got this!