Archive for category Nutrition

Mario Does Veg

I have to admit I was a little surprised to read celeb chef Mario Batali was in the process of writing a vegetarian cookbook. I absolutely love watching the Food Network but often had to change the channel if too much meat was being flung around. Now while Mario did introduce me to a side of Italian eating I hadn’t seen before, I just couldn’t handle the odd cuts of meat (cheek, tail etc). I realize they are delicacies and all that, and I’m not one to push my beliefs on anyone….HOWEVER…I chose to not watch. An article in the New York Daily News reads he has confirmed he is writing it and also that he has cut down his meat consumption to five days a week. I don’t care what a person cuts their meat intake to, just the fact they are cutting it makes all the difference. It tells me they are aware, they are willing to make a change…and who knows, five days may go to three and so on and so on….

Little steps…

So yay I say to Mario for penning a vegetarian book! Stay tuned for the info.

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Is Gluten-Free the way to go?

Maybe it’s because I’m going through some digestive health issues, but it seems to me that ALOT of women I know are experiencing varying degrees of medical problems involving digestion and intestinal upset. Right now, I know of 6 women personally who are going through *something* that is equally frustrating and disheartening. They’ve all struggled through their doctors testing and re-testing…of living with some kind of pain…and of experimenting what they can and cannot eat successfully. I don’t know if it’s my little world, or is this a sign of something bigger?

Personally speaking, I don’t do alot of dairy. This isn’t because I’m a vegetarian (if I was a Vegan I would abstain from eating dairy) but rather because I feel my body can’t handle it properly and it just causes me too much discomfort in the end. I love my cereal but have found a soy milk I love (Silk) and eat cheese in moderation…

My next avenue to explore is a gluten-free diet. Gluten seems to be a major player in abdominal pain and in the 6 women I know of with issues, 3 are in some stage of attempting to go gluten free. It’s like a last ditch attempt at a pain free and uplifting day…

So what’s a person to do? Go gluten free? Go Veg? I firmly believe everything we put into our bodies must be something we are ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE is the right thing for us. We need to make conscious decisions and eat right….eat for LIFE.

In my research I’ve found some really great gluten free blogs and sites I wanted to share for those of you who may be looking down this avenue…

I’m really impressed with this site, Gluten Free Girl because it’s colorful, fun and the recipes are REAL. By that, I mean not frou-frou recipes that you have to hunt all over the city for a few weird ingredients that NOBODY in their right mind keeps in the kitchen. I’ve told a few people already about this blog and they love it….

A Gluten Free Day is another great blog mainly because the variety is really amazing….(plus the desserts!).

Stop over at I Am Gluten Free for one bloggers take on living gluten free and check out the yummy looking recipes!

All you have to do is Google “gluten free” for a wealth of information. This is definitely a road I’m considering taking, I’m just not 100% sure yet…I’m taking one day at a time and making sure I give my body the absolute best…

I’d love to hear YOUR story.

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Antioxi-what?

Antioxidants. What are they really? Sure we hear ALOT about them and how great they are for us, but do you really know why? Wikepedia describes antioxidants as ” a molecule capable of inhibiting the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons from a substance to an oxidizing agent. Oxidation can produce free radicals….in turn these free radicals can start chain reactions that damage cells…”

Phew. OK so the main thing here in this scientific gibberish is “damage cells”. That can’t be good. Antioxidants are ‘free radical scavengers’ and could prevent damage from heart disease or cancer.

Research is ongoing in this field but it can’t be denied that antioxidants are something we should try to get enough of because simply put, it can’t hurt. Right? Vitamin E, C and A are all rich sources of antioxidants…as are dried beans…

Of course fruits and veggies are loaded with these hero scavengers (do you really need another reason to eat MORE healthy?). Blueberries, raspberries and blackberries lead the Berries in antioxidants and since it’s summer now, what better time to dig in?

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Are you eating right?

I know you’ve all been there….come home from work and open the fridge and stare blankly inside. Then you shuffle over to the cupboards, open those too and stand there, unblinking and gazing at the contents. But those contents never look appetizing do they? Meal time can be a seriously stressful affair that if you’re not prepared for; it can lead you down a scary path of cereal for dinner…night after night. (OK I am a a cereal addict but I do feel like I have it under control. Really.)

I already blogged about the wonder of the Burrito. How you can make up an assembly line of wraps one weekend day and add some spicy beans, cheese and grilled veggies, roll up and pop in the freezer. Take these out the night before and chuck in your lunch bag, or the fridge for a fast snack. I’m also a fan of a pot of rice and beans in the fridge to make up wraps with. Now I vary my combinations to keep it lively; Spanish rice and black beans or Greek rice and pinto beans…it’s your choice!

Use a lazy Sunday to whip up a huge batch of homemade pasta sauce and freeze it in portions- this way you ALWAYS have a filling and nutritious pasta sauce waiting and you didn’t just crack open the lid on a jar of Ragu; you actually MADE IT! While you’re cooking that up, make up a pan of lasagna or a big pot ‘o chili and again, portion it out and freeze. Meal times are so much easier when you know you’ve got it covered and let’s face it, don’t you feel great when your tummy is satisfied?

GO NUTS. Keep nuts on hand for a quick handful as a snack or to throw on top of salads and a stir-fry!

Choose yogurt for a sweet treat after dinner, rather than fat-laden ice cream. Have you checked out all the amazing fruit flavor combo’s in the yogurt section of your supermarket lately?

Thirsty? Have water first…I had an acupuncture appointment last Thursday and what did the Acupuncturist tell me? Water is life. She seemed so shocked when I told her I didn’t drink enough water as I suspected I should…she asked me why. I replied, “Well, because I don’t really like the taste…” To which she looked at me sadly and said “Learn to love it. Water is life.” So true. I’m wondering how many times I need to be hit over the head with this snippet of valuable information before I learn to follow it.

It’s summer time (finally) and personally for me, it’s time to embrace the local fruit and veggies this amazing province I live in produces. Last week I feasted on fresh cherries and blueberries…this week it will be strawberries from the Island and new potatoes. Support the local farmers markets that are in abundance this time of year and relish in the feeling of spending next to nothing for several bags bursting full of FRESH and locally grown jewels.

Until next time, eat well and live happy.

Namaste.

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Time to Give Thanks and Rant about Fiber. Again.

Getting enough fiber in my diet is going to get the best of me! I swear. This is a full time job! OK, all kidding aside I made a list of fruits that offer the MOST fiber per serving…

- Apple (with skin of course)

- Bananas

- Berries (any and all)

- Pear (apparently this is the BIG TICKET winner at 5-6 grams per fruit)

- Kiwi

- Fresh figs

- Oranges

Of course there are more but this is a pretty good start. It’s amazing to me to find out how many women I know who are having serious digestive issues. This can encompass everything from lactose intolerance to gluten allergies to constipation. I don’t know if we’re all just talking about it more, or is this a sign of how we’re living now? Are we all sacrificing our health for convenience maybe? I’ve said it before in my blogs, I can be a little lazy when it comes to fruit. I love the stuff, don’t get me wrong, I just find it high maintenance at times. If someone were to prepare me a fruit plate I’d be all over it…but alas, nobody does that for me. Yet. I’m sure if I asked My Guy he would do this…he’s nice like that…but I digress.

I have some serious things I need to change in my life and eating better, more consistently must be a top priority. I’ve let things slide this year- 2010. I can’t say why exactly, what changed and what made me become just a tad less conscious about how much fresh fruit and veg I’m really eating. Whatever it is, it has to change. All these recent trips to the doctor, and my always churning tummy causing me pain, has made me stop and think- and be a little scared too.

We’ve got one body. One. This is it and it has to last us well into our ‘golden years’. It makes sense we look after it, no?

So I need to give some thanks to the universe for putting me where I am today…a HUGE thank you to Melissa over at Sugar Filled Emotions because she is faithfully writing the little things she is thankful for and it’s keeping me grounded. Big hug to you!

I’m thankful the sun came out finally and I can bask in it’s glory and smell the flowers…I’m thankful My Guy walks beside me each day proving harmony can exist between two people…I’m thankful my mom has fiddle camp with the girls to keep her happy…I’m thankful I can afford to eat good fresh food and my water is clean…I’m thankful finally for having free health care because I know it’s a luxury many people don’t have.

Love Chere Michelle

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Making Fiber First…

I’ve got a confession to make. Some recent visits to my doctor have made me realize I don’t get enough FIBER and I need to change this pronto. We all know fiber keeps things moving along, right? It’s good to be regular but sometimes we associate fiber with scary foods like *shudder* those dry bran muffins always sitting in the day old section in the cafeteria. Who ever buys those??

While fiber isn’t the answer to all my digestive issues and abdominal pain….it’s a good place to start. Of course fruits and veggies are an excellent source of fiber- but we all know that. Don’t we? If you’re not already cooking with whole wheat pasta and/or brown rice, this is yet another good reason to make the switch. I think these alternatives are much more filling than their white counterparts, and no, you DON’T sacrifice taste at all! When foods are processed, such as white pasta and white bread, the fiber is removed.

And since I’m praising the Quinoa Plant, I might as well put in yet another plug for this little pseudo-grain; yup, full of fiber!

Don’t forget nuts. I love to snack on raw almonds, pecans and walnuts, as well as sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Just make sure you enjoy nuts in moderation since they do have some fat…but it’s a good fat, really. Throw some on top of salads, put some into 100 calorie baggies and throw in your purse for a mid-morning snack.

Beans, beans and beans. I love my legumes. I’m a Veggie so getting my beans in is easy…but even my meat-eating friends incorporate beans into their meals. A friend of mine actually purees beans into all her pasta sauces and her kids are none the wiser! To them it’s “spaghetti and red sauce” and to Mom it’s fiber and protein!

I have been playing around with a bran muffin recipe I found awhile back and have now got it where I want it. Since applesauce is used in place of fat (butter, oil etc) these muffins are practically fat free! The recipe calls for whole wheat flour and yes, some white flour but I’ve found with ALL whole wheat, the muffins just don’t rise enough and are too dense. I throw in whatever I’ve got in my house; fruit, nuts, coconut, raisins, cranberries and/or chocolate chips (for a little bit of indulgence). I hope you like them as much as me!

1 1/2 cups bran (I’ve found works equally well with oat or wheat bran)

1 cup milk

1/2 cups applesauce (prefer unsweetened)

1 egg

2/3 packed brown sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup whole wheat flour,  1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Mix the bran and milk together in a small bowl and let sit for about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile mix the applesauce, egg, brown sugar and vanilla in a seperate bowl. Stir in the bran mixture until smooth.

In another bowl mix together the dry ingredients.

Stir in the wet bran mixture into the dry, careful not to over mix here.

Fold in whatever goodies you want to add and spoon into lightly oiled muffin tins. I found they stick to paper muffin liners so I spray my tins with Lite Pam.

Cook for 15-20 minutes…I check mine at 16 minutes!

ENJOY!

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A New Chocolatey Snack…100 calories….really.

So I have a co-worker to thank for introducing me to VitaTops; an amazing 100 calorie cake-like muffin “top” that is actually NOT full of crap.

I didn’t believe her when she raved about it. I thought something has to give – they must be tasteless or a weird consistency….something! I tried one today and it was so rich and chocolatey, a moist cake-like texture, dotted with a few chocolate chips. I kept looking at the package to be sure I was reading right:

- 7 grams fibre

- 1.5 grams fat

- 4 grams protein

- 28% of your DV of Calcium

- 100 calories

I am always looking for new 100 calorie snack ideas. It’s a great number of calories for a snack and people are often amazed at what I can pack into 100 calories. If it was up to me, my snacks would be so much bigger and sweeter but I have to be smart and sensible…and this is why I’m really excited with the VitaTops.

They’re a Canadian Company and I went to the website to see what else they had. Imagine my excitement when I saw you can order online AND they have 12 packs for some ridiculously crazy cheap price. So I was happily  punching in my info to see what the shipping would be and can you believe it- from Ontario to Vancouver from a CANADIAN company it was $25! I figured whatever I would have saved in their low prices was obviously over run by the unbelievable shipping cost.

I did pick some up at Superstore; they’re in the frozen dessert section and average to less than $1 per top. Not bad! I found myself very satisfied and the Chocolate Beast within me settled down to a quiet slumber once I was done (and was licking the wrapper clean!)

Go ahead and experiment with making up your own 100 calorie snacks and take them to work or school…remember fruit is always a great snack of course!

If you have any snacks you swear by, let me know- I’d love to hear it!

Snack well and live happy.

Chere Michelle

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Quinoa- What took me so long to blog about this wonder food?

I’m a great procrastinator. In all things. This is no exception because I’ve been meaning to sing the praises of quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) for some time now. I’m sure you’ve heard of it, it was all over the news last year as a great new food to use in place of rice…well, let me tell you- it’s SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

This little gem is actually NOT a grain like many people assume. It’s not part of the grass family and has an unusually high protein content for a plant based food. This is what makes it truly unique and an absolute must for any Vegan or Vegetarian lifestyle.

Let’s take a look at 1 CUP of quinoa (or 3.5 oz) and some key facts:
** 16% of your daily value for Protein!
** Fat is 3.6 grams of 5% of daily value
** Packed with all the B Vitamins, particularly high in Folate at 19%, followed by Thiamin at 13%
** Iron is good at 15% of daily value
(REMEMBER THIS IS ALL IN 1 LITTLE CUP!)

There’s something different about the taste too; quinoa should have a little bite to it and not be all mushy. I get a bit of a nutty taste personally, NOTHING like rice…I love it in stir fry because it doesn’t soak up the sauce. I love using my leftover quinoa and making a salad; add veggies and seasoning, dressing and it holds up so well. All day.

There is a downside to all this…the price. Quinoa isn’t as affordable as I’d like but you know what? I’m going to keep stocking it because as a Veg, I need to look at alternate protein sources and I’m willing to spend a little more to get a quality food for my body.

If you haven’t tried quinoa yet, I urge you to do so. I cook it using 1 cup of quinoa (rinsed well) to 1 3/4 cup water….simmer for about 12-14 minutes UNCOVERED and stir every once in awhile. Once mine is cooked I throw in chopped green onions and some S & P…and go crazy.

Happy Eating….
Love Chere Michelle

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The Bean of my Dreams

Edamame.

“Eda-what?” OK, they’re really just baby soybeans but I’ve been in love with this little hairy bean for years…(hey only the pod is slightly hairy!).

In just one serving of edamame, there are 9 grams of protein alone! Seriously, that is equivalent to 4 slices of whole wheat bread and if you stick with the bean, you’re not getting all those extra carbs. Plus, one serving has about 10% of your daily value for iron- not too shabby for a plant now is it?

The most common way to eat edamame is boiled in the pod and tossed with salt. Personally I prefer a coarse sea salt over your average table kind but have been known to put too far too much on…You can also buy the beans already shelled and those I keep in my freezer to toss in salads.

I must admit I’ve neglected the soybean for about 2 months and as I was cleaning out the freezer tonight I came across a hard, icy bag. My heart fell to the floor. How could I be so callous and careless with my love? I vowed to bring edamame back into my life and bring it back with GUSTO.

How can anyone NOT like this super star legume? It’s salty…it’s fun to eat…it’s packed full of good stuff our bodies need and crave.

Wait- some of you might be thinking, “What about the fact soy is all over the news and supposedly bad for us?”. Know what? I’m waiting for MORE research and MORE facts on this; all the studies I’ve read are too small and too inconclusive. My personal experience shows me the benefits of soy outweigh any rumours…if I was to dissect any food out there, I’m sure I could come up with reasons to not eat any of it!

I go with my gut and what my body craves and I do it in moderation.

Now go out in search of the soybean and enjoy!

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Take your time and READ the labels

I wanted to explore nutrition labels a bit more since I touched upon it in my last post about grocery shopping. I really want to drill it into your head to take the time when shopping, to read the nutrition labels on the container. Check out the serving size and daily value % of the various vitamins and minerals. Let’s talk cereal…”breakfast” cereals. I’m an addict and I freely admit it. Perhaps there is just something comforting about making a bowl of cereal, pouring the milk in and settling down to eat it. It reminds me of being a kid. I choose my cereals wisely though and stay away from gimmicky, high sugar and high fat cereals like Fruit Loops, Corn Pops or Apple Jacks. These are NOT cereal…I don’t believe children or adults should start the day with these because they are really no more than empty calories with a hollow promise of whole grain nutrition.

Some of my favorites are:

Kashi Go Lean Crunch: This stuff packs a punch! I copied this direct from the website- “Crunchy clusters made from Kashi Seven Whole Grains and sesame. They’re naturally sweetened with a touch of honey and cinnamon and then toasted to perfection for a hearty crunch.” I honestly love this cereal with milk, or even just to grab a few clusters out of the box a snack. This will not go soggy but then again, I never have it in the bowl long enough…Nutrition info per serving 9 g protein, 8 g fibre and made with 16 whole grains such as barely, wheat and corn to name a few.
Hero

Quaker Corn Bran Squares: If you’re looking for HIGH fibre cereal that has a sweet crunch, this cereal is awesome! At a 3/4 cup serving with skim milk, you’re looking at 30% of your daily fibre requirement! (20 g). There are no trans fats; which by the way YOU DO NOT WANT IN YOUR CEREAL- OR YOUR BODY REALLY…

Quaker Life: Yup, Mikey is still right. Since 1961 this cereal has been on kitchen tables all over the world and for good reason. It’s chock full of B Vitamins for one (great for converting food to energy) and at 8 g of fibre per serving, it more than meets my requirements! I have never tired of Life…

Okay these are only 3 cereals in a list of several other NUTRITIOUS varieties. The key to picking out cereal for you and your kids is read, read, read the labels. Ideally, the first ingredient should be a whole grain…and if you see the words “partially hydrogenated” put the cereal back on the shelf and step back. Check fat content and fibre content, calories per serving…you’ll get the hang of it once you really start analyzing those labels.

Don’t start your day by fueling your body with sugar and fat….

Live Well. Eat Well.

Chere Michelle

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