Most of us have meals or recipes that we consider traditions, but what we forget is that they don't have to be difficult and time consuming. The best sprinkled-with-good-nutrition traditions are ones that can be repeated and enjoyed. So, please keep it simple. Making time to cook isn't always easy so do your best to choose a tradition that's meaningful and also quick to fix. Will something below be your 'spark' to a delicious, new food tradition? I hope so. Quick-to-Fix Breakfast Traditions The morning meal is wide open for creative and satisfying nibbles. Here are a few new ideas … [Read more...] about Mealtime Traditions Sprinkled with Good Nutrition
7 Ways to Enjoy Apples and Pears in Healthy Meals
Is there anything nicer about late summer and fall than new-season apples and pears? I don't think so. Most people know that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But, did you know that a pear a day can do the same? Apples and pears share a nutritional benefit called fiber which is especially important to digestive health, nutrient absorption, and appetite control. In fact, if you eat a medium sized apple or pear, you'll consume 5-6 grams of fiber along with about 100 calories. Also, there are plant-based phytochemicals in apples and pears and research shows that they can protect us … [Read more...] about 7 Ways to Enjoy Apples and Pears in Healthy Meals
Cool Foods Make Summer Better and 5 Options to Try
One important food lesson I learned while living in Spain last year was that cool foods like soup can make a hot day much better. Cool Tomatoes In Spain, one of the universally favorite foods to enjoy during summer and early fall is soup and it's refreshingly cool. Being in Spain was wonderful (pre-novel corona virus) and taste testing cool tomato soup was even better. My favorite, cool tomato soup is called Salmorejo and it's a specialty of Cordoba in the southern part of Spain where the summer heat is basically unbearable. Guess what? Sipping cool tomato soup makes everything … [Read more...] about Cool Foods Make Summer Better and 5 Options to Try
Simple Ingredients Make Great Flavors in Tomato and Basil Soup
If you think seriously about flavor, there are certain food pairs that work together in perfect harmony. For example, tomatoes and basil. There are many Mediterranean recipes that combine tomatoes with basil - and, almost always there's some extra virgin olive oil included, too. Here's an easy-to-make soup that works all year round, hot or cold. Out of fresh tomato season (fall, winter, spring,) use canned tomatoes for the best results and dried basil. In fresh tomato season (summer) get the best flavor by using both canned tomatoes and fresh ones, along with a big handful of fresh basil … [Read more...] about Simple Ingredients Make Great Flavors in Tomato and Basil Soup
Breads, Cookies and Muffins with Quality Nutrition and 3 Recipes
Baked goods with carefully chosen ingredients can fit everyone's good nutrition plan if you keep an open mind. Baking Best Practices There are a few best practices to rely on when you want to bake a healthy loaf of bread, a dozen muffins or a batch of cookies. Taking time to work these out will give you a perfect starting point for better nutrition. Why? Because you'll have new items for your grocery list and other items you may take off your grocery list or buy less often. It's always smart to plan ahead. Here are my favorite best practices: Keep it simple Make substitutions … [Read more...] about Breads, Cookies and Muffins with Quality Nutrition and 3 Recipes
Cinnamon Mandarinas with Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a Recipe from Spain
Here's a dessert recipe that will tickle your taste buds as it protects your body and brain from oxidative stress, inflammation, and aging. These sound like impossible claims, right? In fact, by combining the nutrition of a sweet, juicy, high fiber tangerine-mandarina (or orange) with the nutrition of delicious extra virgin olive oil, the health benefits are amazing. Vitamin C in the citrus fruit is a powerful antioxidant that can reduce oxidative stress and inflammation throughout the body. High quality, fresh extra virgin olive oil is a superhero of the Mediterranean-DASH Diet meal pattern … [Read more...] about Cinnamon Mandarinas with Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a Recipe from Spain