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Enjoying Healthier Food On The Go

I travel constantly for work, which hasn't been great for my waistline. After eating in all of the best restaurants in the world for a few years, I realized that I had gained around 30 pounds. Fortunately, I was able to work with a health coach who taught me some valuable skills for my way of life. She taught me how to recognize unhealthy foods and swap them out for better options--even in foreign hotels. The results were incredible. I was able to lose weight while enjoying my travel adventures. My blog is for anyone out there who wants to enjoy healthier food on the go.

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Enjoying Healthier Food On The Go

A Simple Guide To Choosing And Preparing Shrimp

by Margie Harris

Whether you prefer them scampi style or fried, fresh shrimp are nothing short of delicious. While preparation is important, starting off with the right shrimp is just as important when it comes to enjoying your dish – you want to choose wisely and cook wisely. Knowing what to look for when buying fresh shrimp and how to prepare them can make a world of difference. Here are some tips to get your started.

Count

When purchasing shrimp pay more attention to count than you do size. Words like "extra-large" and "jumbo" can be fairly generic and vary depending on who you ask so stick with the numbers. Shrimp count refers to the number of shrimp it takes to reach a pound. The larger the shrimp, the lower the count.

The reason count is important is because it can serve as somewhat of a preparation guide. Take fried shrimp, for example. When you fry shrimp, they naturally constrict. Unless you want to have something reminiscent of a tiny ball of shrimp batter, don't choose a shrimp with too high a count as they are likely very small. Instead, choose a lower count of shrimp per pound to accommodate for the natural shrinking process.

Peeling

Make sure you understand that peeling your shrimp is not always necessary. When purchasing shrimp, if you don't know exactly how you will prepare them yet, try to avoid choosing an option that has already been peeled for you. For the most part, it's only necessary to remove the outer shell if the shrimp will be served in some type of hot liquid, such as an Alfredo sauce.

However, when it comes to preparation methods like grilling, keeping the shell on the shrimp can help retain moisture and protect the meat from drying out. In terms of frying shrimp, the shell can help keep the batter on the shrimp during the frying process.

Preparation

Shrimp are considered a delicacy, so make sure you are treating them as such. First, make sure you aren't overcooking. Overcooked shrimp will be like chewing on a dried out piece of rubber. Compared to other food options, shrimp only takes a short period of time to cook. Once you start to see the shrimp turn from brown or pink to an opaque color, you know they are done.

As a helpful guide, remember that, steam, sautéed and boiled shrimp are considered done when they curl like the letter C. A shrimp is overcooked when it curls to form the letter O.

In order to get the most out of your shrimp dishes, make sure you are choosing and preparing your shrimp the right way. For more information on fresh seafood, contact a place like Gulf Shores Steamer.

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