Chicken tenders is a quick and easy meal. They are a win-win for any family, especially those with children. The premade chicken fingers are costly and not as tasty as the one you make yourself.
My Grandmother, Arizona Henry, was not a fan of spending money at the grocery store on premade items. She told me that it is always best to save your money and your health by cooking food yourself. Her favorite saying was, “don’t let them in your pocketbook.”
Grandma had chickens, which she butchered. Since I am not a fan of killing my own chickens, I will skip that part. I remember plucking feathers as a kid, and it horrified me. However, I am glad for the experience and knowledge that grandma passed down about where our food really comes from, how it is processed, and, most importantly, how to cook and eat it.
As grocery store prices continue to increase, it is important to save money by buying sale and bulk items when you can. Chicken is a great source of protein and it is low in carbohydrates. It contains vitamin B12, tryptophan, choline, zinc, iron, and copper.
Remember to take that fifteen-minute walk after you eat. My patients ask me when is the best time to exercise, and my response is that there is never a bad time to exercise. However, the best time to exercise is after eating your meal. A fifteen-minute walk after any meal will help you use up the glucose naturally. Warmer weather is a good time to start moving your body by taking a short walk after your meals.
Homemade Chicken Tenders
2 chicken breasts
¾ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
1 tsp paprika
¼ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
¼ tsp red pepper flakes
1 cup flour
1/4 cup butter
Oil for frying
- Cut chicken breast into strips.
- Place and mix in a bowl the spices and flour.
- Melt butter and dip chicken strips in butter and then flour mixture until coated.
- Heat one-inch vegetable oil to about 350 degrees in a pan over medium-high heat.
- Cook chicken strips for about 2 minutes on each side or until the chicken has an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
Stacy Schultz is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, a former Morgan County Commissioner and is the author of “It’s Stacy’s Grandma ‘Zona’s recipes” and “Great Grandma Zona’s Wisdom & recipes: Comfort food made easy.” She has been in healthcare for 35 years at War Memorial Hospital.
