Roasted Parmesan Broccoli
Are you a fan of veggies? Even if you aren't, this roasted parmesan broccoli will tickle your tastebuds in the best way! 😉
“Healthi formerly iTrackbites is an alternative to Weight Watchers. “
Roasted Parmesan Broccoli is a delicious and healthy side
This is a fantastic side to add to any dish to get those oh so important veggies in. Let's check out some of the health benefits of eating broccoli.
Health benefits of eating broccoli, even when it's roasted broccoli with parmesan
Broccoli is PACKED with vitamins, minerals and bioactive compounds. It has carbs, protein, fiber, vitamins C, A, K, B9, potassium, phosphorus and selenium. All of these help keep you healthy.
You can enjoy broccoli raw or cooked (and I say you because I personally will only eat it cooked), but it will change the nutrition profile a bit. Cooking broccoli by boiling, microwaving, stir-frying and steaming do alter the nutrient content. Steaming appears to have the least effect. No matter how you get broccoli in, half a cup has 84% of the reference daily intake of vitamin C, more than half an orange! Who knew!
In addition, antioxidants and fiber may help in controlling blood sugar. If you are diabetic, eating broccoli may support better blood sugar control. Broccoli is also a good source of fiber, which is also associated with lower blood sugar and improved diabetic control. Fiber is also important for regularity and to help you feel fuller faster. And eating fiber-rich foods can also reduce heart disease.
Speaking of regularity and fiber, broccoli's rich fiber and antioxidant content both have been shown to support healthy bowel function and digestive health. A happy gut makes it so much easier to lose and maintain weight loss. While regularity is something most of us don't particularly like to talk about, it's so important and so uncomfortable if it's not happening.
Broccoli has been shown in some studies to help lower the “bad” cholesterol. It has also been shown to have some benefits in slowing mental decline, as well as supporting healthy brain function.
To read more about the awesome benefits of broccoli, check out this healthline article.
How to lower the points in roasted parmesan broccoli
This recipe has three points on all the plans because of the olive oil. If you are short on points, or simply want to shave some off to bank them, you can substitute olive oil for an olive oil spray. You can use something that you buy in a can at the store that's pure olive oil, or you can purchase a sprayer like this from Amazon. Personally, I prefer this as I can control the quality of the olive oil, it's cheaper in the long run and it's better for the environment.
Trees or stems for your roasted parmesan broccoli
As far as broccoli goes, many people are rather passionate about the trees vs stems debate. This recipe does call for the stems, but there's no reason you couldn't use the stems and trees or just the trees. It's really a personal preference.
Man cannot live by roasted parmesan broccoli alone
This is a wonderful side, but what should you pair it with? Glad you asked! Our instant pot pork chops, herb-roasted chicken, or BBQ chicken strips. are all solid choices.
All of those choices also fit in beautifully in the Healthi formerly iTrackbites plan. This plan has been helping me tremendously to stay on track and eat healthy, even during the holidays.
- cost: Healthi formerly iTrackBites costs $36 for the year (using this link for 40% off makes it $36 – use COACH_SMILEY to save!!), WW is $20+ for the month, and it's the same formula and less options
- choices: I can choose PointsPlus, Freestyle, or any other plan I want with Healthi formerly iTrackBites. Even with the new WW changes, they only offer 3 plan options (not PointsPlus).
- logs: You can export your tracker data by the week, month, or quarter with Healthi formerly iTrackBites. WW does not give you access to quarterly data.
- accuracy: I've found inaccurate info in the WW app due to members submitting and not paying attention to the right numbers. With Healthi formerly iTrackBites, I know if I see the green check, it's been verified as accurate. This puts my mind at ease!
BLUE PLAN: 3 Points
GREEN PLAN: 3 Points
PURPLE PLAN: 3 Points
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Roasted Parmesan Broccoli
Ingredients
4 cups Broccoli Stems, sliced
2 T Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/3 cup Fresh Parmesan Cheese, grated
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Instructions
1) Preheat oven to 425° and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
2) Add sliced broccoli stems, extra virgin olive oil, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper to a large mixing bowl. Use tongs to toss together, so that the cheese, oil, salt and pepper are evenly distributed.
3) Arrange the mixture evenly on the parchment paper covered baking sheet.
4) Roast in preheated oven for about 15 minutes, so that the broccoli is tender and golden brown.
5) Remove from oven and add more salt and pepper, if needed. Serve immediately.
