Simplified Stir-Fry Formula
Stir-fry is a tasty way to eat more vegetables, but I am often asked how to make the stir-fry sauce. The trick is knowing a few key sauce ingredients, and then learning how to tweak the basic recipe to make your favorite type of stir-fry sauce like sesame, sweet & sour, or my favorite, lemon. Then you have the flexibility to combine your sauce with a variety of vegetables and protein choices. You make it easily, because I've broken it down into a few simple formulas.
Turmeric: The Spice of Life
My brother, Bill, has been urging me for some time to choose spices for my monthly challenges. I have decided that it is time! I talk about all the phytonutrients in food, so it's only fair that I point out the powerful boost that spices can give to our health. A half a teaspoon of ground cloves, for instance, contains similar amounts of phytonutrients as half a cup of blueberries, and a teaspoon of dried oregano as one cup of sweet potatoes.
Water: New Science for Weight Loss
I attended a session at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Food & Nutrition Conference this past fall in Atlanta, which honestly made me giddy with excitement. This session, presented by leading researchers in the field, shed new light on the role of water intake and weight loss...
Oil Confusion: Healthiest Oils & Their Heat Limits
Choosing which oils to use for your sautéing, grilling, roasting, and in your salad dressings can be confusing, but your choices matter! Oils have different smoke points where they start to break down and eliminate healthy components, and start to burn, releasing carcinogenic compounds. Check out which oils are best for high-heat use!
Pomegranates: The Crown Jewel of Superfoods
Pomegranates are a part of many cultures around the world and are often symbolic of good fortune, abundance, and as in Persian wedding ceremonies, a joyous future. That seems fitting, since they contain so many powerful nutrients that improve health for a happier future.
Romanesco: The Art & Science Vegetable
Romanesco is as tasty as it is beautiful. It's excellent both raw or cooked. It's crunchier and more flavorful than cauliflower, but the flavor is not overpowering. Romanesco is becoming more and more widely available. Now I even see it grown locally and sold in my favorite stores. Take November's Healthy Challenge and eat Romanesco! We all need to eat more vegetables. Maybe an intriguing vegetable like this is just the trick.
Edamame: Whole Food Fun
Edamame, as a whole food without processing, is the best choice to take advantage of soy's large amount of quality, plant-based protein. It's also loaded with nutrition from vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytonutrients, all of which boost our health. It’s a nearly perfect food and an excellent way to start moving to a more plant-based diet. Any past fears about soy's effects have now been eliminated with further research.
Don't Miss a Beet!
Beets are the one root you can't beat! They are full of excellent nutrients and can improve liver health, blood pressure, and mental health. Try them roasted today!
Raspberries: Anthocyanin Power
Take advantage of the delicious fresh raspberries in season now, but don't hesitate to use frozen raspberries all year long, as they are frozen within just hours of being picked. Take July's Healthy Challenge and eat lots of nutrient-rich raspberries to improve your health!
Watermelon Wellness
Summer can be both fun and nutritious! True to it's name, watermelon is about 90% water – it's nature’s gift to beat summer thirst. But along with the water and fruit comes powerful nutrients!
Spring Radishes
I'll admit that until recently, I've ignored radishes. I'm putting that behind me and moving my cuisine to a new level by adding these powerful detoxifiers and cancer-fighting vegetables into my culinary routine.
Kiwi is King
Eat kiwi to sleep better and look better, while also protecting yourself against heart disease, high blood pressure, muscle loss, and even constipation. A lot of nutrition is packed into this little green fruit, making kiwi one of the most nutrient-dense fruits available.
Hail King Kale: Super Nutrient Dense
Kale is arguably one of the healthiest vegetables available – so many nutrients packed in one food! Kale is in season during the cold months, so improve your health this month with this amazing superfood!
