Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

Ever feel bloated and lethargic after you eat? It's really a terrible feeling that somehow seems to translate into not wanting to do anything productive. All I personally want to do when I experience the dreaded "food coma" is park myself on the sofa and watch Criminal Minds (my show!). This is exactly how I feel when I have a heavy meal during the holidays.

Why waste the rest of your day and do nothing if you can have a meal that's tasty AND gives you energy? On a weekend getaway with my girlfriends to Rehoboth, I decided to cook up a delicious lunch for us. It's clean and doesn't make you feel like lounging around after eating. You feel energized and ready to walk on the boardwalk, which is exactly what we did! 

Roasted Chicken and Vegetables (serves 4)

* One whole chicken

* 2 cups of brussels sprouts

* 2 cups of butternut squash

* 2 cups of cauliflower

* Fresh thyme

* Fresh rosemary

* Olive oil

* Salt

* Black pepper

These are the ingredients I used but you can throw in as much or as little of anything as you want. Adding sweet potatoes or onions is a good choice too. All of the flavors remind you of the holidays and make you feel warm and fuzzy inside. The best part of this meal is that you can still go out and even get in a productive work out! Your body is an amazing machine, so let's fuel it with clean food.

All you need is a deep pan in which to stuff in as many veggies as you want. Throw in olive oil, salt, pepper, rosemary and thyme and toss thoroughly with the veggies. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees and cook for about 15 minutes. While the veggies cook, cut up your chicken and trim any excess fat. I cut my chicken in half and kept some of the skin on because it gets a nice crispy brown color. Yum! Pat the chicken dry with a towel and start to coat it up with all the same ingredients you put into your veggies. Simple! Once your veggies come out, take a large spoon and mix the veggies around. Place the chicken directly on top of your veggies. Then put it back into the oven for another 30-40 minutes (the exact time will depend on the oven). Just be sure to check it. If you have a thermometer it should read 160 degrees. So easy! I hope you guys enjoy this savory dish as much I did.