There’s a reason our weight loss doctor recommends a diet that incorporates lean protein—it fills us up and helps increase our lean muscle mass. When you build more lean muscle mass, your increase the number of calories burned on a daily basis. Chicken is an excellent protein source but what sets it apart from other foods is that it’s one of the few that is considered a complete protein. This means it’s chock full of the nine essential amino acids your body needs to function at its best. One of those amino acids is tryptophan, which boosts serotonin and improves your mood. Chicken is also a good source of vitamin K and dietary fiber, which is very filling and promotes healthy digestion.

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Ingredients

4 lean chicken breasts, skinless
4 chipotles in adobo sauce, diced
2 tbsp Manuka honey
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp cinnamon
4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Kosher sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions

Whisk together the Manuka honey, extra virgin olive oil, cinnamon, apple cider vinegar, garlic and chipotles in a bowl. Marinade the chicken in this mixture in either a sealable plastic container or Ziploc bag.

Remove the chicken and season with Kosher sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Either bake in the oven at 400 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or cook on a grill over medium-high heat for seven minutes per side.

Makes four servings.