Monday, June 7, 2010

Eat food. mostly plants. Not too much


I've read The Omnivores Dilemma by Michael Pollan. Now he has an eater's manual...rules and tips to follow to "simplify your eating life". The book is divided into 3 sections, what should i eat, what kind of food , and how much. I like his tips which are brief and to the point.....

Don't eat anything your great grandmother wouldn't recognize as food...

Check out the ingredient list and think of grandma, or yourself atre these ingredients ones that you have never heard of.... don't stick them in your mouth!!

Can you guess the food from the ingredient list?

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Grateful for...

I have been working on thinking what i am grateful for everyday... i try to remind my co workers too. Today i decided i am grateful for air conditioning! iT WAS HOT

What i made today!

I know its summer but i like soup. I have been thinking about this soup since we had a carrot ginger soup at the Bellagio in Vegas last month. Its from the Moosewood Kitchen cookbook. Is sounds like a weird combo but the flavors join well.... I only modified a little and halfed it----

Spicy Carrot Peanut Soup

In the cuisines of Africa and Southeast Asia, peanuts and peanut butter are a staple ingredient in sauces and condiments. Here, peanut butter is the background that offsets the spices, garlic, and sour and salty flavors in this rich and aromatic soup. Use any gourmet or commercial peanut butter or roast and grind our own peanuts into a paste.

Serves 6 to 8
Yields about 8 cups
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 35 minutes

1 tablespoon canola or other vegetable oil
1 large onion, thickly sliced (about 2 cups)
2 pounds carrots, peeled and thinly sliced (about 6 cups)
1 celery stalk, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Chinese chili paste*
6 cups water
2 tablespoons peanut butter (see Note)
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
a few fresh lime wedges

*Or use a fresh stemmed and chopped fresh chile and 2 minced garlic cloves.

In a soup pot on medium heat, warm the oil and add the onions, carrots, celery, salt, and chili paste. Sauté on high heat for 5 minutes, stirring often. Add the water, cover, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer until the carrots are soft, about 25 minutes.

Stir in the peanut butter, soy sauce, and lime juice. In a blender, purée the soup in batches. Reheat, if necessary.


I used the chile and garlic variation and used PB2 (powdered PB) in the recipe. Enjoys!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Supplements


I've been known to be a sucker for supplements from time to time. But all of the research shows that food is the best way to get all macro and micro nutrients. I typically take a multi vitamin. The one recommended to me recently was one with iron. Currently using Rainbow Light Complete Iron System. I also take B12 shots and occasionally a supplement due to chronicly low deficiency (thanks to Matt at the next desk who loves to inject me). I get curious about the benefits from other supplements and if they are needed. Berkley has a newsletter monthly that showcases a nutritional supplement. This month is Zinc. Taken from the website


Zinc

An essential mineral found in almost every cell, zinc is needed for the enzymes that regulate cell division, growth, wound healing, and proper functioning of the immune system. Zinc also plays a role in acuity of taste and smell, and it supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence. Zinc is plentiful in foods. Meats, seafood (especially oysters), and liver are the richest sources of zinc; brewer’s yeast, milk and other dairy products, beans, and wheat germ also supply some zinc. Water contains small amounts of zinc, too. Severe zinc deficiency is most often found in the developing world, but mild zinc deficiencies may occur elsewhere in undernourished people and those on strict vegetarian diets, which may not contain much zinc.

Claims, purported benefits: Cures or shortens colds, relieves prostate symptoms, prevents prostate cancer, enhances sexual performance, prevents or retards age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Bottom line: Don’t take zinc supplements, but do eat foods rich in zinc. There is no convincing evidence that zinc supplements can shorten or prevent colds, cure prostate problems, or enhance sexual performance. Zinc supplements do increase blood levels of testosterone, which may promote prostate cancer. Large doses of zinc (50 milligrams or more) can also interfere with the body’s absorption of copper, another mineral essential to immune function. Supplementary zinc may help protect against AMD, or at least retard it in those who already have the disease—but talk to your doctor first. Unless you have AMD, there is no reason to exceed the RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) for zinc (the amount in most multi vitamin-and-mineral supplements): 11 milligrams a day for men, 8 milligrams for women.

2010 Xtreme Eating Awards

If you have never heard of the Center for Science in the Public Intrest you have to look them up and read what they have to write. They write and report on the nutition, food safety and health. There is a montly news letter in both US and Canada.

IMO fast food is disguisting, but.... well no buts- its gross. Many restuarant options aren't much better. In the honor of awards and cermonies they have written a list of the worst restaurant meals in America. Check out the link for details:

Benefits of Flaxseed


6 reasons to eat flaxseeds

1.Walnuts and fish are excellent sources of omega-3s, but so are flaxseeds. The recommended daily intake (RDI) of omega-3s is 1.1 grams a day, and one tablespoon of flaxseed offers 1.8 grams.

2.The omega-3s in flaxseed can help reduce the inflammation that leads to conditions such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine headaches, and osteoporosis.

3.Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is one kind of omega-3s that is found in flaxseeds, and this fat helps promote bone health.

4.Flaxseed is known to lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels, and it may lower blood pressure — all essential elements to having a healthy heart.

5.Whole flaxseeds are great sources of fiber. One tablespoon contains three grams of fiber, so they can help prevent constipation.

6.Lignans, the fibers found in flaxseed, promote regular digestion and are thought to have a role in breast cancer prevention.

How you say?!? They must be ground-- Buy whole and ground them yourself in a coffee/spice grinder. Your body can not breakdown whole and you will not get the glorious benefits!

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Daily Mantra

"we don't get to choose how we die, we only get to choose how we live"

Trying to live with this as my mantra for the day. Obsessing over food, exercise, dieting, perfection, health, organic, toxins........ It will make someone go crazy. We all die, but how we choose to live and enjoy life is the opposite spectrum. Enjoy life..