Is it hard to give up the all that bad food? Yes!!! Who doesn't loved fried chicken wings, washed down with fries and a big Pepsi?Or a bacon cheeseburger? Or home made chocolate chip cookies and shortbread? After all they''re tastier than all that healthy stuff, right? Maybe not. Fruits and veggies can be just as tantalizing and as yummy.
I recently had to change my own eating habits. I am a foodie, loving every aspect of food from crunchy fried snacks to icing drenched cupcakes. However I had to give up all that white flour, dairy,processed meats for healthier and just picked fare. I thought for sure I am going to hate this. My second thought how can I create healthy meals? Surprisingly both are easy. I have always loved fruit and veggies and sadly got away from them. I love the fresh field taste of kale and spinach. I'm now in love with lentils sprinkled with a good dose of tumeric. Even water - something I've just avoided is now my drink of choice along with freshly made juice. I still drink tea but eschew hot cocoa and coffee. Do I miss all that junk? Not really. I consider it poison to my system and I wish others would too.
What about cooking? Again there are some great all natural recipes that are tasty. Those lentils, that I previously hated are good cooked with brown rice. I also enjoy them reheated in the microwave with olive oil and again tumeric. Salads are easy to make and also fun. This is one dish where there is so many varieties that the dish never grows old or stale. I can add grilled chicken or fish, create a tasty vinaigrette with the addition of crushed blueberries or blackberries, mix in different veggies every night. As far as with cooked dishes. there is turkey meat loaf, or turkey meat balls with whole wheat pasta. As for something to drink with it, I have my new Juiceman juicer.I can create more flavor combos than there are bottled drinks out there. Dessert is fruit. There's nothing like pineapple, blackberries or blueberries as a nice ender. Snacks are whole wheat Triscuits or even a scoop or Peanut butter (anjd sometimes cheating with Cheerios)
Eating healthy is not as scary or as boring as people think. Fruits and veggies are better tasting than than all those cupcakes and chips. Water is just as refreshing as any soda or sweetened tea. It's easy to change habits when there's a whole cornucopia of good things out there.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Saturday, March 10, 2012
The Amazing Lentil Bean
Lentils have always gotten a bad rap. They're not as cool as garbanzo or mainstream as kidney and pinto.Yet they're one of the healthiest and surprisingly tastiest beans out there. They're also as versatile as their bean cousins and can be made into several different dishes. Try them anyway and be hooked.
Lentils have been around for millenia , feeding only the poor in times when they couldn't afford meat. In fact for most of history , the rich have scoffed at these nutritional wonders.Its' name come from the Latin word lens culinaris esculenta and our modern word lens comes from it because of the lentil''s convex shape. The bean was found both in archaeological sites dating back 8000 years and pharaohs tombs from 6000BCE. Lentils also figured in Bible stories as well.\, especially the one where Jacob feeds Esau a a meal of bread and lentils. Lentils are from the pulse family and originated mostly like in India and Pakistan where it's still referred to as daal or dal (which is also the name for a spicy lentil soup).It comes in in red, green and yellow and there are two lentil peas to every pod.Lentils are high in proteins, folic acid and Vitamin B along with fiber and two essential amino acids,methionine and cysteine.
There are many recipes for lentils, the most common being lentil soup. This is a an easy to make bean soup that's chock full of good veggies and herbs. It's a good homey dish for a Saturday night supper.If you want to make something more exotic, then try South Indian sambar which is a tasty and spicy curry.It not only has lentils but also pumpkin and chicken for added flavor along with curries and dried chilis. Another lentil dish from the Subcontinent is Indian spiced rice that incorporates basmati rice, the legumes and a dash of cinnamon.Lentils can also be made into a hummus too.If your family has qualms there are some good lentil meat loaf recipes out there that can be subbed in for the more exotic fare.
Lentils are a great legume .Not only do they taste yummy but they have a lot of good stuff going for them. Have them in a spicy traditional dish or create your own to enjoy their rich nutty flavor.
Lentils have been around for millenia , feeding only the poor in times when they couldn't afford meat. In fact for most of history , the rich have scoffed at these nutritional wonders.Its' name come from the Latin word lens culinaris esculenta and our modern word lens comes from it because of the lentil''s convex shape. The bean was found both in archaeological sites dating back 8000 years and pharaohs tombs from 6000BCE. Lentils also figured in Bible stories as well.\, especially the one where Jacob feeds Esau a a meal of bread and lentils. Lentils are from the pulse family and originated mostly like in India and Pakistan where it's still referred to as daal or dal (which is also the name for a spicy lentil soup).It comes in in red, green and yellow and there are two lentil peas to every pod.Lentils are high in proteins, folic acid and Vitamin B along with fiber and two essential amino acids,methionine and cysteine.
There are many recipes for lentils, the most common being lentil soup. This is a an easy to make bean soup that's chock full of good veggies and herbs. It's a good homey dish for a Saturday night supper.If you want to make something more exotic, then try South Indian sambar which is a tasty and spicy curry.It not only has lentils but also pumpkin and chicken for added flavor along with curries and dried chilis. Another lentil dish from the Subcontinent is Indian spiced rice that incorporates basmati rice, the legumes and a dash of cinnamon.Lentils can also be made into a hummus too.If your family has qualms there are some good lentil meat loaf recipes out there that can be subbed in for the more exotic fare.
Lentils are a great legume .Not only do they taste yummy but they have a lot of good stuff going for them. Have them in a spicy traditional dish or create your own to enjoy their rich nutty flavor.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Juiced Up
Nothing beats a glass of freshly made juice. It's not only delicious but good for you.It's full of vitamins and antioxidants and devoid of preservatives. Best of all you can get your daily requirement of both fruits and veggies in just one serving.
I just came into juicing thanks to buying the Juiceman juicer yesterday. Excitedly, after I purchased it I went into my local grocery store and went wild in the produce section. I bought kale, carrots and a a ton of strawberries and blueberries.Assembling the machine took some doing and time but once I had all the parts in place there was no stopping me. I made a strawberry blueberry combo with a touch of kale and carrot.It was really delicious and fresh tasting. Even better was freezing the leftover mash to make an all natural Italian ice.Some of the nutritional value does go a day later however this is the healthiest and best dessert I've ever had.I plan on filling up my Popsicle molds with future fruit mashes for a better tasting, less sugar riddled frozen fruit bar.
There was an accompanying recipe book that is amazing too. There are so many recipes to try from berry and apple blends to fresh citrus squeezes. Juiceman comes with a special citrus squeezer and pit displacer , I would love to make my own limeade and lemonade as well as trying the different fruit and veggie combos the book suggested. Juiceman 's website also has recipes too and again there are a few that look tasty enough to try. They also suggest using the leftover veggie mash for sauces and the leftover fruit pulp for puddings and cakes along with different desserts.(although I think turning it into a healthy ice is a juicer's best bet)!
For all those health conscious foodies out there, get a juicer.It will be the best thing that happened to your health and your body! Your diet will be much improved by adding all natural juice combos to it. Better yet, you'll just love creating your own blends and mixes.
I just came into juicing thanks to buying the Juiceman juicer yesterday. Excitedly, after I purchased it I went into my local grocery store and went wild in the produce section. I bought kale, carrots and a a ton of strawberries and blueberries.Assembling the machine took some doing and time but once I had all the parts in place there was no stopping me. I made a strawberry blueberry combo with a touch of kale and carrot.It was really delicious and fresh tasting. Even better was freezing the leftover mash to make an all natural Italian ice.Some of the nutritional value does go a day later however this is the healthiest and best dessert I've ever had.I plan on filling up my Popsicle molds with future fruit mashes for a better tasting, less sugar riddled frozen fruit bar.
There was an accompanying recipe book that is amazing too. There are so many recipes to try from berry and apple blends to fresh citrus squeezes. Juiceman comes with a special citrus squeezer and pit displacer , I would love to make my own limeade and lemonade as well as trying the different fruit and veggie combos the book suggested. Juiceman 's website also has recipes too and again there are a few that look tasty enough to try. They also suggest using the leftover veggie mash for sauces and the leftover fruit pulp for puddings and cakes along with different desserts.(although I think turning it into a healthy ice is a juicer's best bet)!
For all those health conscious foodies out there, get a juicer.It will be the best thing that happened to your health and your body! Your diet will be much improved by adding all natural juice combos to it. Better yet, you'll just love creating your own blends and mixes.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Odd Bedfellows
Mushroom and barley? OK, Prunes and pork - maybe not so usual. These combos made yesterday's new York Times Dining section's columns A Good Appetite and City Kitchen respectively. To some they're not unusual , to rather staid foodies, they're worth trying.
Melissa Clark did not put her mushroom and barley into the usual. soup. Instead she skewed them into a salad, adding celery and celery root too. The mushrooms were not the typical soup kind but a mix of cremini , oyster and hedgehog cut into bite sized pieces.They were also browned and crispy adding crunch to the mix. Ms,Clark cooked the barley as she would have pasta so that it wouldn't clump and ruin the salad. A homemade scallion vinaigrette that had celery leaves added was poured over it for a light refreshing onion-y taste.
The second pairing that Dave Tanis of City Kitchen created, prunes and pork may seem odd however it's part of some French and German provincial dishes. In fact the dish featured was French , porc aux pruneaux .It's just simply a pork roast with red wine doused prunes. This is a cozy kind of bistro dish that also has berries and peppercorns that Mr. Tanis added for spice and sweet. While the meat is roasting the prunes are simmering with port or even Madeira along with butter and shallots.It's a simple enough dish yet perfect for a Saturday night dinner party.
Mushroom and barley salad? A bistro like creation featuring pork and prunes?.At first glance they may not go, however they are perfect complements to each other's tastes and textures.
Melissa Clark did not put her mushroom and barley into the usual. soup. Instead she skewed them into a salad, adding celery and celery root too. The mushrooms were not the typical soup kind but a mix of cremini , oyster and hedgehog cut into bite sized pieces.They were also browned and crispy adding crunch to the mix. Ms,Clark cooked the barley as she would have pasta so that it wouldn't clump and ruin the salad. A homemade scallion vinaigrette that had celery leaves added was poured over it for a light refreshing onion-y taste.
The second pairing that Dave Tanis of City Kitchen created, prunes and pork may seem odd however it's part of some French and German provincial dishes. In fact the dish featured was French , porc aux pruneaux .It's just simply a pork roast with red wine doused prunes. This is a cozy kind of bistro dish that also has berries and peppercorns that Mr. Tanis added for spice and sweet. While the meat is roasting the prunes are simmering with port or even Madeira along with butter and shallots.It's a simple enough dish yet perfect for a Saturday night dinner party.
Mushroom and barley salad? A bistro like creation featuring pork and prunes?.At first glance they may not go, however they are perfect complements to each other's tastes and textures.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Homemade Hostess Treats
Now with the Hostess company bankrupt there's going to be a gap in where to get these treats. Fans could swiitchc over to other brands - but they lose the taste. Another idea is to make them yourself. They, along with some other snacks, are pretty easy to recreate.In fact the taste could even be better.Another plus is that there are no preservatives.
This was the topic of an article in today's New York Times Dining section. The nostalgic piece , written by Jennifer Steinhauer, tells about how anyone can create the classic squiggle cupcake or Twinkie. She also throws in Oreos and Fritos(don't worry, they 're not going anywhere) All the treats are relatively easy to make, maybe just the stuffing of both the Twinkies and cupcakes could be a bit troublesome for the novice baker.People may be surprised at what the sweets actually are. Twinkies is nothing more than a sponge cake with a marshmallow fluff filling and the cupcakes are just regular chocolate piped with the same fluff.The tastes are more or less similar however the textures aren't quite as springy as the original.bakers have to watch how they copy the treats. Give Hostess credit for this,
Ms. Steinhauer also recreates the classic Oreo and Frito corn chips. Recreating the Oreos was a bit hard to make and they had to be redone a few times. She had trouble with both the rich brown coloring as well as the taste. Roll the dough in cocoa powder for extra color and add some coffee to it for the slightly bitter taste. For the Fritos corn chips., she just fried squares of cornmeal in veggie oil. Her Super Bowl guests liked them but preferred the original. She did get some advice from the companies kitchens on how to create all the treats. However people will always prefer the real deal.
Give Hostess, along with Nabisco and Frito Lay credit. They took easy and simple recipes and turned them into billion dollar treats. Fans,m however can recreate these fun treats on their own.
This was the topic of an article in today's New York Times Dining section. The nostalgic piece , written by Jennifer Steinhauer, tells about how anyone can create the classic squiggle cupcake or Twinkie. She also throws in Oreos and Fritos(don't worry, they 're not going anywhere) All the treats are relatively easy to make, maybe just the stuffing of both the Twinkies and cupcakes could be a bit troublesome for the novice baker.People may be surprised at what the sweets actually are. Twinkies is nothing more than a sponge cake with a marshmallow fluff filling and the cupcakes are just regular chocolate piped with the same fluff.The tastes are more or less similar however the textures aren't quite as springy as the original.bakers have to watch how they copy the treats. Give Hostess credit for this,
Ms. Steinhauer also recreates the classic Oreo and Frito corn chips. Recreating the Oreos was a bit hard to make and they had to be redone a few times. She had trouble with both the rich brown coloring as well as the taste. Roll the dough in cocoa powder for extra color and add some coffee to it for the slightly bitter taste. For the Fritos corn chips., she just fried squares of cornmeal in veggie oil. Her Super Bowl guests liked them but preferred the original. She did get some advice from the companies kitchens on how to create all the treats. However people will always prefer the real deal.
Give Hostess, along with Nabisco and Frito Lay credit. They took easy and simple recipes and turned them into billion dollar treats. Fans,m however can recreate these fun treats on their own.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
All Natural Drinks
The US is a country dependant on soda.Since Coke was invented 125 years ago people have been guzzling any sweet drink with their lunch and dinners, along with snacks and even breakfasts!Even two year olds crave any sweet liquid, from apple juice to malteds.This results in all sorts of horrors from tooth decay to diabetes . What to do ? Make your own.
The first step is to get a good juicer , or blender. The first can be used to create all sorts of fresh juice and mixed all natural drinks. I have one student who makes his own all natural, healthy drinks using all organic fruits and veggies. It pays off .he seems healthier and automatically turns to his own creations as opposed to anything factory made. Blenders also help in creating homemade juices as well as smoothies. The second step is catering to yourself or your family. Yes they love sweet sugary drinks however don'tgive in by adding white sugar! Add in all natural sweeteners like cinnamon and ginger.
Another drink idea to consider is a home carbonation system, This is not only healthier than buying those weekly bottles and six packs of soda,it's also cheaper. You can buy chargers that allow you to turn ordinary tap water into sparkling drinks.Add homemade orange juice and it's an all natural Orangina. Put in plums and it's kind of like Dr.Pepper. It can also be served with just a slice of lime or lemon.Homemade natural teas (which can be bought even at the grocery store) are also a good sub in for sugary drinks. try as lemon or a refreshing mint or something exotic with different spices.
A sweet drink is always tasty. However an all natural one is not only delicious, it ;s also good for you. The best bet is making your own, whether it's juice, tea or even a kitchen made soda.! Even just one glass is not only yummy but healthy too.
The first step is to get a good juicer , or blender. The first can be used to create all sorts of fresh juice and mixed all natural drinks. I have one student who makes his own all natural, healthy drinks using all organic fruits and veggies. It pays off .he seems healthier and automatically turns to his own creations as opposed to anything factory made. Blenders also help in creating homemade juices as well as smoothies. The second step is catering to yourself or your family. Yes they love sweet sugary drinks however don'tgive in by adding white sugar! Add in all natural sweeteners like cinnamon and ginger.
Another drink idea to consider is a home carbonation system, This is not only healthier than buying those weekly bottles and six packs of soda,it's also cheaper. You can buy chargers that allow you to turn ordinary tap water into sparkling drinks.Add homemade orange juice and it's an all natural Orangina. Put in plums and it's kind of like Dr.Pepper. It can also be served with just a slice of lime or lemon.Homemade natural teas (which can be bought even at the grocery store) are also a good sub in for sugary drinks. try as lemon or a refreshing mint or something exotic with different spices.
A sweet drink is always tasty. However an all natural one is not only delicious, it ;s also good for you. The best bet is making your own, whether it's juice, tea or even a kitchen made soda.! Even just one glass is not only yummy but healthy too.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Start "THem Off Right Healthy & Easy Eating
Any parent knows how to feed their kids. Theytry to give them the best available for the first few years.They want to get th e best baby foods and toddler grub and then follow that intot heir school years.Yet something happens, Those happy ,healthy little ones are growing into morbidly obese kids with all sort of adult health problems. WHy is this happening? Maybe it's not enough really good food.
No matter what we give kids , they still want the fun stuff. Luckily fast food places such as Wendy's and Mc Donalds are offering healthy and even fun choices with thier kiddie meals. They are giving kids the choice between fries and apple slices along milk or soda. Unfortunately most kids usually reach for the fries and soda .Mc Donald's also offers a similar menu with fat free chocolate milk. Still both introduce kids to grilled meats and fried foods which are not a good. What's your best bet? Limit the fast food places to when they get good grades (It worked for our First Lady and her brother) .Make at home dinners fun too whether with a toy on their plate or a free pass to whatever.
Getting kids to eat healthy at home is easy.Introduce them to flax seeds that super food that will reduce all sorts fo health risks. They may like the slightly nutty taste because it'll remind. them of peanut butter. Sprinkle the ground flax seed on veggies and even pasta. Use it as a topping for ice cream or mixed with syrup for a kind of nocciola (or Nutella) taste. Another introduction is the juicer. Let them create their own homemade smoothies and juices for better immunity. Have them go with you when you buy it so they have a say.Once you buy the juicer everyone agrees upon then let them pick out the orgnaic fruits and veggies that they want. As with treats, keep kids away from candy with fresh fruits and homemade whole wheat treats. Tell them that anything made with white isn't right and that brown is better.
Trying to get kids to eat can be a chore. Trying to get them eat better is even worse.Yet if you're show them good foods from the very start, they'll be more apt to pick what's right over what's wrong. .It'll make for a better lifestyle later on. They may not thank you for it now but they will when they're grown up and healthy.
No matter what we give kids , they still want the fun stuff. Luckily fast food places such as Wendy's and Mc Donalds are offering healthy and even fun choices with thier kiddie meals. They are giving kids the choice between fries and apple slices along milk or soda. Unfortunately most kids usually reach for the fries and soda .Mc Donald's also offers a similar menu with fat free chocolate milk. Still both introduce kids to grilled meats and fried foods which are not a good. What's your best bet? Limit the fast food places to when they get good grades (It worked for our First Lady and her brother) .Make at home dinners fun too whether with a toy on their plate or a free pass to whatever.
Getting kids to eat healthy at home is easy.Introduce them to flax seeds that super food that will reduce all sorts fo health risks. They may like the slightly nutty taste because it'll remind. them of peanut butter. Sprinkle the ground flax seed on veggies and even pasta. Use it as a topping for ice cream or mixed with syrup for a kind of nocciola (or Nutella) taste. Another introduction is the juicer. Let them create their own homemade smoothies and juices for better immunity. Have them go with you when you buy it so they have a say.Once you buy the juicer everyone agrees upon then let them pick out the orgnaic fruits and veggies that they want. As with treats, keep kids away from candy with fresh fruits and homemade whole wheat treats. Tell them that anything made with white isn't right and that brown is better.
Trying to get kids to eat can be a chore. Trying to get them eat better is even worse.Yet if you're show them good foods from the very start, they'll be more apt to pick what's right over what's wrong. .It'll make for a better lifestyle later on. They may not thank you for it now but they will when they're grown up and healthy.
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