The Champion Chia Seed
Chia seeds are the same seeds used to grow Chia pets, but they have recently been rediscovered as a nutritional powerhouse (especially by those selling it) with the added benefit of outstanding culinary capabilities. Native to Mexico and Guatemala, one handful of this seed was used to sustain an Aztec warrior for 24 hours.
Bok Choy: Winter Wonder Food
In addition to its delicious taste, bok choy (sometimes referred to as white cabbage or Chinese cabbage) has terrific health benefits with almost no calories. It's great stir-fried with garlic and olive oil. Start strengthening your bones with this calcium-rich vegetable!
Beans and Lentils: Nutritional Powerhouse
Beans and lentils, also known as legumes, are edible plant seeds and nutritional powerhouses. They are a nutritionist's dream food: they help regulate blood sugar, they satisfy the appetite with fewer calories, they're rich in nutrients and phytochemicals that help prevent cancer and heart disease, and they provide high amounts of protein.
Precious Pears
In-season primarily during fall and winter, there are thousands of varieties of pears. They differ in size, shape, color, taste, and storage requirements, but the Comice, Bosc, Bartlett, and Anjou pears are the most commonly available types in the United States.
Go Nuts This Holiday!
Make this December a healthier holiday month. Instead of eating goodies full of non-nutritious calories, opt for a handful of nuts and give your body the gift of a nutritious snack!It's true that nuts are relatively high in calories, but those calories are chock-full of nutrients like magnesium, manganese, protein, fiber, zinc, vitamin E, folic acid, copper, phosphorus, beneficial monounsaturated fat, and antioxidant phytonutrients.
Quality Quinoa
Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) is a superfood from the Andes region of South America. Eaten by nursing mothers of the Inca Indians to improve their milk quality, and fed to their warriors to increase stamina, the Incas venerated this crop. While thought of as a grain, it is really the seed of a leafy plant, related to spinach. It's loaded with nutrients and, unlike other grains, contains a complete protein with a quality similar to that of milk. One cup of cooked quinoa contains 8 grams of complete protein, nearly twice the amount of incomplete protein found in other grains.
Sweet Potato Sensation
It seems that people either love sweet potatoes or they don’t. Given their sensational nutritional value, those who don’t immediately love them may want to give them another try. They can be kid-friendly and delicious if cooked correctly, and they are terrific roasted or baked because they begin to caramelize while cooking.
Greek Yogurt Packs More Protein
I'm always trying to find healthy, tasty ways to increase the protein in my teenage daughter's diet since she declared herself a vegetarian (but not vegan) about three years ago. Greek yogurt contains almost twice as much protein as regular yogurt, with less sodium and sugar, so it's a great way to help her get enough.
Super Spinach
Spinach is packed full of healthy nutrients! In fact, green leafy vegetables like spinach provide more nutrition per calorie than any other food.