People are always looking for new ideas when it comes to grilling chicken and CFC has some great instructional videos to help you on your way to becoming a BBQ pro.

These easy-to-follow how-to videos are under a minute and a half long and show you how to prepare BBQ sauce, rubs and beer can chicken. It’s time to fire up the grill and impress your friends!

BBQ Sauce

It may seem easier to just pick-up a bottle of BBQ sauce at your local grocery store but this recipe can be doubled and stores well in the freezer.

BBQ Rub

BBQ rubs are simple and add a ton of flavour. Make extra and keep it in a tightly sealed plastic container and you can enjoy delicious chicken all summer long.

Beer Can Chicken

This has become a favourite BBQ recipe in North America. If you prefer, you can substitute the beer with a can apple juice or lemonade infused with herbs.

Are you a BBQ pro? Share your tips in the comments below.

Our goal is to live longer with vitality and avoid as many health problems as possible. Seniors, many of whom are parents and grandparents, understand this message very well. They are a generation of active living people; feeling great and living life with vitality, energy and health.

New census data shows Canada now has a higher proportion of seniors than ever before. This is a result of a growing number of people who are living longer well into their golden years. Today, life expectancy for women is into their late eighties and for men, into their mid-eighties. This is great news for all of us, as there are steps we can take to stay healthier, including getting regular checkups, eating right and making exercise a part of our life.   

Just in time for Seniors Month, CFC has an online resource to help adults over 50 compare their eating and physical activity habits with daily recommended nutrient and exercise requirements. Download “Welcome to the era of feeling young and looking younger: Baby Boomers and Zoomers” on CFC’s new Health Portal. Not 50 plus? Browse the portal for the nutrition and health information you seek to live life to its fullest.

Happy Seniors Month!

1st $10,000 Pesto Chicken Philly melt – Hon. Vic Toews, MB - This winning chicken take on the classic Philly cheese steak sandwich will be served to the thousands of patriotic crowds at Major’s Hill Park on Canada Day. It won’t disappoint!

2nd $5,000 Chow-Style BBQ sandwich – Olivia Chow, ON – Another winner that is a must try! The combination of Indian and Asian flavours are a true representation of Canada’s rich multicultural blend.

3rd $2,500 Poulet BBQ canadien – Sylvain Chicoine, QC – This chicken sandwich is a true original BBQ sandwich that is perfect served with a good Canadian ice cold beer.

Click here to see a list of all of our chicken sandwich recipes.

“The judges have spoken and the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, has won the 2012 Everyone Wins With Canadian Chicken contest with his "Pesto Chicken Philly Melt" sandwich recipe.

Over the past month, an impressive 72 MPs submitted fantastic, innovative and creative recipes, which all had distinct touches that made them their own. With all the great choices, the deliberations were difficult and came right down to the wire.

Minister Toews won $10,000 for a food bank in his riding. The other finalists, Olivia Chow and Sylvain Chicoine also won $5,000 and $2,500 donations.

Chicken Farmers of Canada is excited about the choice of the winning recipe, which will now be the recipe served to 10,000 hungry people in Major's Hill Park in Ottawa on Canada Day.

Chicken Farmer of Canada thanks fellow sponsor, Maple Leaf Foods, who will be providing the Maple Leaf Prime Chicken for the Canada Day BBQ and for their sizable contribution to the MP prizing.

This campaign resulted in over $25,000 being donated from coast-to-coast-to-coast to help food banks deliver services to those less fortunate - a compelling and necessary task. Chicken Farmers of Canada is a proud partner and supporter of food banks in Canada.

"We would like to thank contest partners Food Banks Canada, and fellow sponsors, Maple Leaf Foods and The Hill Times, along with all 72 MP participants in this campaign, for helping us do our part in the fight against hunger and in raising hunger awareness," said Dave Janzen, Chair of Chicken Farmers of Canada”

The winning recipe will be available on our web site in the upcoming weeks and all 72 MP chicken sandwich recipes will be rolled into a digital cookbook. Click here for a list of the 72 MPs who entered our contest. http://chicken.ca/cooking-tips/tips_techniques/everyone-won-with-canadian-chicken

Here are just a few of the Canada Day sandwiches we served in the past

A Taste of Summer Chicken Sandwich

Spencer’s Favourite Chicken Sandwich

The “So Canadian” Chicken Sandwich

Preston Street Chicken Sandwich

It’s BBQ season and as Canadians, this is a chance to enjoy the outdoors before the next long winter stretch. Most of us will be BBQing a plenty so why not keep it healthy and look lean in that new bathing suit you’ve been meaning to show off?

These diet friendly and healthy BBQ chicken recipes are perfect for the calorie conscious who want to enjoy a lean summer.

Caribbean Chicken - 219 calories per serving

By removing the skin from these chicken legs, you are saving yourself some fat and calories. The accompanying mango salsa provides fibre which is important in maintaining a healthy weight.

Chicken Kefta Kabobs with Salad Greens and Lemon Walnut Yogurt – 310 calories per serving

Lean ground chicken can take on a whole lot of flavour as you’ll find in this recipe. The dipping sauce is made light by using low-fat yogurt.

Grilled Drumstick with Onion Marmalade – 332 calories per serving

Craving something sweet? These drumsticks are paired with a sweet marmalade sauce which should kick that craving into shape and keep your feeling satisfied.

Molasses BBQ Chicken drumsticks with Sweet Potato Wedges – 310 calories per serving

You’ll want to get some wet naps out to enjoy these saucy drumsticks. In this recipe, we’ve shaved back the calories by substituting your usual fries with healthy sweet potato wedges.

Jerk Chicken Quinoa Burgers with Jerk BBQ Sauce – 400 calories per serving

These healthy and easy to prepare chicken burgers pack a ton of protein by combining lean ground chicken and quinoa and are served with a spicy jerk sauce. You’d be a jerk not to try these……

Chicken Yakitori with Warm Carrot Salad – 370 calories per serving

Forget take-out and make this popular Japanese dish at home. You’ll save yourself some money and some added inches to your waist.

BBQed Chicken Thighs au Vin – 240 calories per serving

This classic French recipe can be quite time consuming to prepare. In this much easier version, you’ll save yourself some time and calories.

BBQ Chili Drumsticks with Avocado Tomato Salsa – 278 calories per serving

Craving some Tex-Mex? Try this simple yet flavourful recipe that is packed with the healthy oils of avocado and high vitamin C tomatoes.

Easy BBQ Chicken and Bean Burgers – 280 calories per serving

These juicy burgers are made with lean ground chicken, beans and oats which makes them a great source of fibre.

Garlicky Greek Chicken – 360 calories per serving

This recipe is a crowd pleaser and your guest will be even more impressed when they find out that it’s low in calories!

Grilled Tuscan Chicken Breast – 380 calories per serving

With just nine ingredients, you can create a succulent Tuscan meal that is also kind to your waist.

Ginger Lime Grilled Chicken – 232 calories per serving

With just four easy steps and seven ingredients, you can have a gourmet BBQ meal that is sure to become a family favourite.

Patio season is upon us and as Canadians, we love the great outdoors. The smell of grass, trees, barbecued chicken, fresh lemonade, bug spray and citronella are all smells that can evoke strong and oh so patriotic memories, especially the biggies like Victoria Day, Canada Day and Labour Day. Why wait for a long weekend though? You could plan your patio party for any “normal” weekend. After all, a well-planned and accessorized party will be the talk of your friends and family for the rest of the summer!

Step 1 Pick a theme — make it date specific (such as a festival) or something completely esoteric, it’s your choice. The last day of school, first day of summer (June 21st is on a Sunday this year) and July 4th are all examples of other dates that can help break up your routine.

Step 2 How to serve — once you’ve picked your theme and date start thinking about how to entertain your guests. Do you want everyone to mingle on the lawn? Hover around the BBQ? Lounge around the deck or patio? Pick one and make it your focal point for decor and seating, but don’t expect all your guests to stay in one place. A bunch will eventually make it to the kitchen, so make sure it’s in shape too. Buffet-style food service is the best way to accommodate both small and larger groups and can be effective when you have food items that need to be kept at a specific temperature.

Step 3 Mood and atmosphere — if you’ve chosen a popular theme for your patio party there may already be decorations available for you. Check party supplies stores and dollar stores for innovative ideas or for materials to make your own decorations. If you are doing something a little different – pick some colours and try to carry the theme through to your lighting, napkins, invitations, table cloths, etc. It doesn’t have to be glamorous, just coordinated. At this point you should also consider paper plates that can be recycled to cut down on waste (and dishes).

A fun idea for some ambient lighting in the evening is to put a cup of sand and a tea light in the bottom of paper lunch bags. Place them strategically around your gathering or along the path to guide your guests to the party. If used with a wooden railing, throw a staple or two through the bottom of the bag to keep it stable. Make sure to keep an eye on them so they don’t become a hazard. You can also buy fireproof bags – make sure you’re in compliance with your municipal by-laws, though!

Step 4 The invitation — make a list of friends and family that you’d like invite and create a simple invitation to announce the time and date of your party. If your list is manageable, handmade invites are very classy, but you can also find pre-printed invitations or stationery at most office supplies stores. Keep it on theme by using similar materials, colours or images. You can also try using e-invites!

Step 5 The menu — grilled anything works. After all, people will be standing around (or milling about downwind) while the food is being cooked and what better way to get the digestive juices flowing? Make sure there are some finger foods, potato chips or chopped vegetables handy to keep the hungry mob at bay. There are several great recipes that can be made for parties on the CFC website. For cooking times and temperatures click here. If you decide to pre-cook anything for the event, make sure it is fully cooked – you should never half-cook your food, it’s not safe. Basically, follow the golden rule: Keep Hot Things Hot and Cold Things Cold.

Step 6 Dessert — after working hard in the kitchen and attending to the the grill all day, don’t feel guilty about offering store-bought squares, cakes or pies – that is, unless your family reputation is at stake! Dessert is an ideal time to continue your theme and pick the colours in your décor.

Step 7 The drinks — depending on the size of your gathering, and the temperature outside – you may want to make sure your guests stay hydrated with a big batch of iced drinks. Mojitos, margaritas and sangria can all be made in batches ahead of time and go great with grilled foods like chicken. A large cooler is a good place to keep drinks and any food that needs to be stored cool. Always make sure to offer non-alcoholic drinks like creative lemonades with lavender, cherry, blueberry, mint —and iced teas. Sunstroke or heatstroke are not the memories you want people to take home with them. Also, ensure that there are designated drivers, or that you have enough room for folks to crash.

Step 8 Pest control — last but not least, make sure you have supplies for handling mosquitoes, flies, wasps or ants. Nothing ruins a good outdoor party like being swarmed. If you opt for big citronella torches, make sure they are not too close to the food, as they can be a bit overpowering. Mosquito coils can have a strong chemical smell, but are very effective at ankle protection when placed under a table or bench. Click here to visit the recipe section of the chicken site for great appetizers, grilling or celebration ideas that you can use or adapt to your patio party.

Canadians observe Father’s Day on the third Sunday in June, and it’s an important day in the year when many of us plan something very special to show our appreciation for dads and father figures (grandpas, step-fathers, guardians, family friends, etc.).  

If you haven’t decided what you or the kids are going to do for Father’s Day yet, here are a few suggestions:

Participate in an event, such as a marathon, to raise money for the prevention and treatment of health conditions most common or specific to men (heart health, prostate and colon cancer).

• Donate to a charity in dad’s name. This month, more than two dozen Canadian cities from Newfoundland to British Columbia will be participating in the Motorcycle Ride for Dad. Proceeds for this event will go to The Prostate Cancer Fight Foundation in order to support research and awareness for prostate cancer.  If you would like to find a Motorcycle Ride for Dad event in your region, go to http://www.pcff.ca/events.
• Buying dad a gift? Why not purchase something special from a registered charity? When you purchase a gift from a charitable organization, not only does dad get a present, but you also contribute to a worth-while cause. Common items sold by charities include books, ties, arts & crafts, and funky T-shirts.
• Accessories and gadgets are great gifts dads enjoy. Look for an unusual gift that goes beyond the norm. I found for purchase online a retro LEGO 2x2 tile silver-plated cufflinks – a cute keepsake from a child.
• Make a collage card or poster out of family photos to highlight events from dad’s life. Put dad’s age under each photo with a heart-warming or funny headline about the event. He’ll appreciate this home-made gift.
• If food is the way to dad’s heart, gather up the kids and head to the kitchen with these kid-friendly recipes:

Recipe of the Week – Almond-Crusted Chicken Fingers with Sweet Potato “Plum” Sauce

These chicken fingers are pan-fried and a healthy alternative to processed, frozen chicken fingers. Pair these with dad’s favourite salad and you will have a quick-n-easy lunch.

Easy Chicken Stuffed Peppers

This simple recipe is packed with flavour. Using peppers as a serving vessel makes for fun stuffing and easy cleanup. Be sure to impress dad by arranging on a platter a rainbow of green, red, yellow and orange peppers.

Chicken Pesto Pizza

This pizza is so easy to put together, but contains such gourmet flavours! Basil, feta, olives, and sun-dried tomato pesto make a savoury, Greek-inspired pizza that’s perfect for Father’s Day.

Italian Chicken Burgers

These chicken burgers are delicious and out-of-the-ordinary. Served on crusty garlic bread, the aroma will make his mouth water.

Layered Mexican Chicken Salad

A simple make-ahead recipe that is both attractive and delicious. Let your kids do the layering. Dad will think they spent hours preparing the dish. This hearty and stunning salad is delicious scooped onto baked tortilla chips or served wrapped in a soft tortilla.

Happy Father’s Day to all of our favourite men!

This Father’s Day, instead of buying Dad the same old gift why not give him something he really wants like a hearty “man meal”? Nothing pleases men more than a full belly, especially when it’s full of BBQed meat. In fact, I think Father’s Day is purposely celebrated in June (aka BBQ season).

Dad's Favourite Chicken Sandwich

You’ll find all of Dad’s favourites lumped into one delicious BBQ chicken sandwich. Favourites like beer, hot sauce, cheese, horseradish, mayo and all the fixins’! Don’t forget to serve this one with an ice cold beer.

Cajun Drums

These Cajun Drums are hot, spicy and sticky and can be eaten with your hands. All Dad will need to cool some of the heat down is a nice cold beer (I see a theme happening here). Oh, and lots of napkins!

Saucy Mozzarella Chicken Burgers

Give any man a burger bursting with flavour and gooey melted cheese and he’ll be a happy camper. This one will definitely be a hit with Dad!

For more BBQ chicken recipes, click here http://chicken.ca/recipes/category/bbq/

Happy Father’s Day to all of you rocking Canadian Dads!

As the goal of equality between men and women advances a little with each generation, we should not lose sight of our important differences. None of us would argue the fact that men and women are physically different. Our physical differences are rather obvious; it’s in our size, weight, shape & anatomy. Our psychological differences, on the other hand, are not so obvious and can be difficult to examine or describe, because they are hard-wired into the way we think.

This is particularly true when we consider the way men and women reflect upon the status of their health and what they do to improve it. Almost every woman with a man in her life knows, for example, how difficult it is for her guy to make an annual physical checkup a priority. Many men will simply avoid visiting a doctor, unless they have had a serious injury or feel that their current ailment has become an acute matter.  

While men and women do share the same goal to be healthy, their approach to the challenges for achieving good health can be quite different. Women, for example, tend to have a better understanding of what foods their bodies need in order to boost their energy, manage their weight, and prevent or treat disease. They actively seek nutrition information to better manage their health. Men, on the other hand, tend to be less proactive in seeking health information, particularly about how their daily diet impacts the way they look and feel, and shapes their future.  

With weight-related diseases affecting both men and women, and all ages in between, we should all be concerned about nutrition and the foods we eat.

Men, though, may have an extra reason to be concerned. They tend to gain weight around the waist. Added weight around the waist – the beer belly – can predispose men to diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, sleep apnea, and certain cancers. It can even make your hubby snore!

It’s not just the men folk who need to pay attention here

If you’re a woman with a special guy in her life, get him started on the road to better health. Ask him (rather convince him) to read these weight management tips.

If you’re the man doing the reading, get ready, get hyped! She’ll thank you for it.

Doesn’t matter if you’re a guy or a gal - you may not only shed unwanted pounds, you’ll be taking an effortless path to looking and feeling great.    

1. Remember this golden rule - do not starve thy body. Many diets do not satisfy us, leaving us feeling hungry and frustrated. We need the right combination of foods; adequate protein, whole grain starch, and colorful vegetables and fruits.
2. Get the right amount of protein. Men and women need the same amount of protein (a minimum of 60 grams per day). Studies show that eating adequate protein at all meals will help with weight loss and keep you satisfied longer! Examples of good protein sources:

• Lean chicken (90 g or 3 ounces) = 30 g
• Eggs (2) = 12 g
• Beans, peas, lentils (125 mL or ½ cup) = 10 g
• Nuts (almonds) (36 g or 60 mL) = 8 g
• Low fat milk (250 mL or 1 cup) = 10 g
• Greek yogurt (200 mL or ¾ cup) = 18 g
• Mozzarella cheese, 15-20% milk fat (60 g or 2 ounces) = 16 g

1. Stick to whole wheat, whole-grain ingredients found in breads, pastas, cereal or rice. Be label savvy and choose 4 grams of fibre or more per serving. Eating whole-grain, high fibre foods will help stave off hunger pains.
2. Have breakfast and make it a priority! Research has shown that people who eat breakfast have more success in maintaining their weight. Including a protein with fruit and a whole-grain, whole wheat starch will keep you from craving unhealthy snacks.
3. Having a snack attack? Two to three snacks per day can be good for you, as long as you’re making smart choices. Your snack should ideally combine a protein source with a fruit, vegetable or a grain. Aiming to have your snack within 90 minutes of your next meal will help you be less hungry at meal times, and allow you to choose healthier options throughout the day.
4. Load up on fruits and vegetables. Choose a wide variety of colours to maximize your vitamins. When serving yourself meals, cover half of your plate with vegetables and then move on to the protein. When you get to the starchy, higher calorie foods, you’ll have just enough room for a small portion.
5. Watch your beverages! Remember that alcoholic beverages and speciality coffees are high in calories, while water with a twist of lemon is calorie-free. Try to limit diet sodas, as they are not the healthiest choice and can actually make you hungrier!
6. Get moving! Ask your sweetheart to go for an evening power walk. Try to reach 150 minutes per week. Not enough time during the week? Be a “weekend warrior”! Do one hour on Saturday, one hour on Sunday and leave the remaining 30 minutes for your mid-week lunch break.

If you would like more information to maintain a healthy weight, achieve good cardiovascular health, prevent hypertension or treat diabetes, download our nutrition factsheet series at this link.  

Stay tuned next week when Chicken Farmers of Canada brings to you quick-n-easy/lean-n-mean grilling ideas. You will not want the BBQ King or Queen in your house to miss out on these recipes!

We try to keep up with as many Canadian food bloggers as we can, and these are just a few of the mouth-watering posts we came across this month. Enjoy!

Seven Spoons– Tara O’Brady, a food blogger from Southern Ontario is quite the photographer as you will notice when browsing through her delicious recipes. This recipe for Asian Chicken Corn Soup is simple to make and is the perfect soup if you like a kick of heat. 

Sweet Sugar Bean– Renee Kohlman is a chef from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Her background in Fine Arts shines through in her recipes like this one for Chicken Stuffed with Cherries and Caramelized Onions. Yum!

Family Feed Bag– This self-taught home cook from Victoria, B.C. is a mother of two young boys and found much of her inspiration from cookbooks and chefs like Michael Smith and Jamie Oliver, to name a few. Her recipe index is full of lip-smacking chicken recipes like this one for Sweet Chili BBQ Chicken.

Which Canadian food bloggers do you follow? Let us know in the comments.

CFC has freshened-up the look of its patient resources! The new and more visually pleasing nutrition fact sheets still provide all of the important health and nutrition information to help Canadians lead a healthier lifestyle.

Although our fact sheets are most widely used by Canadian dietitians, they are a great tool that anyone can use. You can track your daily food intake by using our Weekly Food Journals, or learn how to maintain a healthy weight with factsheet #6 Managing Your Weigh. Here’s a brief summary of what each nutrition fact sheet contains.

Factsheet #1) Your Health is For Life: Putting It All Together

Diabetes and heart disease are hot topics today. Their prevention and treatment is in your hands. Learn about the right foods to choose for health and disease management.

Factsheet #2) Healthy Living for Women: It’s in Your Hands

Women know that the path to improving their health is not solely based upon medical treatment or the knowledge that they are disease-free. Looking for a holistic approach to optimize your health? Read these tips to jump start your exercise regime, eat right, sleep well, and manage stress. 

Factsheet #3) Diabetes: Making the Right Food Choices

Are you confused about what approach to take for your own diabetes care and management? Diabetes is a lifelong, manageable disease. Medication, exercise and your food choices have a significant impact on your blood sugar control. If you are looking for ways to manage your health, try these steps along with consultations with a dietitian and your doctor.

Factsheet #4) Love That Healthy Heart

Your heart is the most functional organ in your body. Keeping your heart healthy should be a priority for all Canadians. Learn how to help reduce your cholesterol levels through diet and exercise.

Factsheet #5) Protect Your Health – Get Salt Savvy!

Sodium (salt contains sodium) is the ingredient responsible for increasing blood pressure. One-in-five Canadians has high blood pressure, which is a significant risk factor for stroke, heart attack and kidney disease. Keep your blood pressure in check by learning how to reduce your daily intake of sodium.

Factsheet #6) Managing Your Weight

If you are looking to shed some pounds to improve your health and feel great, get hyped to try these steps. Eating well and being active contribute to long-term health benefits and can lower your risk of many chronic diseases including hypertension, heart disease and diabetes.

Factsheet #7) Baby Boomers and Zoomers

Baby Boomers are a generation of active living people. Today, life expectancy for women is into their late eighties and for men, into their mid-eighties. Your goal is to live longer with vitality. Learn about the health benefits of exercise and getting the proper nutrients at 50 plus.

Factsheet #8) Screen or Scream – Are Your Kids Spending Too Much Time With the Tube?

Recent studies have determined a positive correlation between increased sedentary time (not moving much) with increased obesity in all age groups, including children and youth. Find out what you can do to get your kids moving and eating healthier.

Factsheet #9) Snack Attack! Keep it Healthy!

Snacking is on the rise, with structured meals on the decline. Canadians love their snacking more than Americans. If we’re not careful, snack foods can be calorie-dense and nutrient poor. Learn how to make your snacks healthier. Here are some ideas for work, home and play.

Our fact sheets are free and easily accessible through our Health Portal at http://chicken.ca/health/patient_resources

So what are you waiting for?

If you read our blog then you already know that during the week of January 23, 2012, I was off-site with the team at In Motion filming our new series of 15 how-to videos.

The videos are seasonal so we are not releasing them all at once. In April, we released two videos and if you missed them, here they are.

How-to make chicken breast in parchment

How-to make Thai chicken burgers

Today, we are releasing two more videos that are perfect if you are looking for fresh summer recipes.

Greek Salad and Chicken

The warm weather is here to stay and that means people are on the look-out for some refreshing meals. This Greek salad is perfect served in the summer when tomatoes and produce are at their peak freshness.

Chicken Nori Rolls

If you’re squeamish at the thought of raw fish, try this sushi plate that uses cooked chicken in its place. This easy and flavourful recipe is the perfect light lunch on a hot summer day.

Still to come:

How-To Make Chicken Pad Thai

How-To Make Stuffed Peppers

How-To Make Chicken Pot Pie

How-To Make Chicken Meatloaf

How-To Make Fried Chicken

How-To Make Chicken Paella

How-To Make Butter Chicken

How-To Make Sloppy Joes

How-To Make Quick Chicken Paprikash

How-To Chicken Curry

How-To Make Jambalaya

Have you tried making a recipe that you learned from one of our how-to videos? If so, which one and how did it turn out? We’d love to hear from you!