Oatmeal is one of America’s favorite breakfast foods, and National Oatmeal Day is celebrated on October 29, each year. It is a themed celebration and, to a moderate extent, under the radar. Oats are fiber-rich whole grains and an excellent source of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Oatmeal is made of ground … Read more
A vegetarian diet consists mainly of plant-based foods that include not only fruits and vegetables but also nuts, seeds, legumes, grains, oils, etc. There are different levels of vegetarianism; many people primarily avoid the use of meats along with other animal products. There are misconceptions regarding a vegetarian diet. Most people think … Read more
Almonds are the edible seeds from almond trees, namely Prunusdulcis. They are among the world’s most popular dry fruits. Almonds are native to the Middle East, dominantly Iran and surrounding countries, but they are widely cultivated in the United States. Many people consider almonds a nut, but they are seeds. The almonds … Read more
General Mills announced recently that it has filed a patent on a technique to pelletize fiber and calcium for use in ready-to-eat (RTE) breakfast cereals. The process will use a gelatinized starch to coalesce calcium and fiber for the purpose of supplementing processed cereals. Mmmm… Is this a big deal? Well…General Mills … Read more
Cutting carbs with cauliflower is a great way to enjoy your favorite foods at a fraction of the calories. Carb lovers can cut calories by adding creamed cauliflower to mashed potatoes, and even riced cauliflower to flour for baking. But pizza crust? I had heard about cauliflower’s extender power when it came … Read more
Ancient grains are having their day in the sun…and rightly so: grains like quinoa, buckwheat, amaranth, and spelt are being “rediscovered” and lauded for their nutrition benefits and whole grain attributes. In their pure form, these whole grains are good sources of fiber, B vitamins and other minerals and nutrients. But as … Read more
Hot on the tail of news showing that Americans are living longer but not necessarily better lives, comes a large study from Sweden linking fruit and vegetable intake with overall mortality. The study, published in the August edition of the Journal of Clinical Nutrition followed over 71,000 Swedish adults for a period … Read more
A vegetarian diet may be good for your longevity. Or so says a new study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine. The study looked at over 70,000 Seventh-Day Adventists over a period of 6 years and found that vegetarians (who ate seafood, dairy, and eggs) had a 12% lower chance of … Read more
Dietary fibers are an incredibly essential part of our diet, which are of two types: soluble and insoluble fibers. They offer a wide range of health benefits. It is mostly left undigested in the stomach and is transferred to the colon, where it acts as a prebiotic, promoting the growth of healthy gut … Read more
Sweet potato fries tend to come with a health halo: because they’re made with sweet potatoes, people automatically think they’re healthier than white fried potatoes. With most sweet potato fries, that’s not the case. Deep frying any product, and then salting the heck out of it quickly reduces the food’s nutritional benefits. … Read more
Even whole-grain gurus have a tough time deciphering front of package whole-grain claims. With 34,000 new whole grain products introduced in 2012 (compared to just 264 in 2001), it has become increasingly difficult to determine just how different “made with whole grain” really is from “100% whole grain”. Now, from the Harvard … Read more
Craving for the crunch of sweet potato chips but prefer them with no oil? Try making your own microwave sweet potato chips! It’s simple to make, yet deliciously impressive. Your family and friends won’t believe that you made it at home. It’s also a healthier alternative to those greasy potato chips you … Read more
For centuries, fiber has been considered an important substance found in fruits and vegetables. To begin with, our digestive system relies on fibers to keep it running normally and prevent problems such as constipation. Once consumed, the fibers help the gut with bowel and stool movements. However, amongst the many benefits, it … Read more
Apples top the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) ninth annual “Dirty Dozen” list of the top 12 fruits and vegetables that show the highest levels of pesticides for 2013. It is EWG’s recommendation, that when possible, you should avoid conventionally (non-organic) versions of the dirty dozen, instead purchasing and consuming their organic counterparts. … Read more
Doctor Kracker is at it again. Hot on the tails of their delicious high-fiber crispbreads (featured in a previous post here) comes a smaller, bite-sized snack, the Doctor Kracker Culinary Crisps. If you like Asiago cheese, you’ll love these! A 10-cracker serving gets you: 130 calories 2.5 g fat (0.5 g saturated) … Read more
Hot on the heels of Taco Bell pulling their ad chastising veggie-toting football-watching fans comes the Wall Street Journal’s 22 Super Bowl Party Rules. Rule 7. A good Super Bowl prank is to show up with big bowl of kale salad and yell, ‘WHO’S READY FOR SOME KALE SALAAAADDD!!!” Now, what’s ironic … Read more