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Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe

2011-03-16T16:15:00.000-07:00

When we hear "St Patrick's Day recipes" most of us immediately think of corned beef and cabbage. As any good Irishman (or woman) will tell you, however, corned beef is not a traditional dish back in the Old Country.

The closest traditional Irish dish would have to be bacon and cabbage--not the kind of bacon you eat with breakfast, but "back bacon" which we here in the States know better as center-cut pork loin, brined, cured, boiled or smoked. Corned beef only entered the picture when Irish immigrants came to America, as a more readily-available substitute.

Nowadays, corned beef and cabbage has become the most well-recognized Irish-American meal, and thus is extremely popular with people of all backgrounds every time St. Patty's Day rolls around. A good corned beef and cabbage recipe is not to be underestimated. You can make it in a slow-cooker or on the stove top, add potatoes or other vegetables to taste, or even make more modern variations like corned beef-stuffed cabbage rolls! So what if it's really a New England style dinner? It's delicious, and I for one take any excuse to eat it!

Healthy Thanksgiving Desserts Recipes

2010-11-24T13:56:00.000-08:00

When planning your healthy Thanksgiving dinner menu, you may find that finding low-fat Thanksgiving desserts is the most daunting task. Here are some suggestions that are easy to whip up last-minute, but won't break the bank or clog your arteries:

Pie - Pumpkin pie is the most traditional Thanksgiving dessert, but don't feel limited. On this low-fat pie page, you'll find an apple pie recipe, pecan pie recipe, and sweet potato pie recipe as well as a classic pumpkin pie recipe... all trimmed of excess fat to give you the healthiest holiday dessert possible.

Cake - A low fat pumpkin spice cake recipe is what you need if you prefer cake to pie, or just want to try something new. Top it with cream cheese frosting, and it tastes like pumpkin cheesecake (with a very different texture, of course).

Bars - If you're entertaining a large group, or going to a potluck, try making some low-fat pumpkin bars to serve up. They're quick and easy to make, and full of good fiber to boot, though your guests would never know it by biting into them.

Cookies - Another great Thanksgiving dessert for a party or bigger gathering is oatmeal cookies. Use this great pumpkin raisin cookie recipe to get the traditional taste of Thanksgiving in a bite-size treat!

Bread - When I think of autumn, I think of fruit and nut breads. Banana bread isn't traditional at Thanksgiving, but it sure is delicious! (Throw in some chocolate chips to make it more kid-friendly.) Further down the page is a pumpkin raisin bread recipe that would be more traditional, flavor-wise. If there's any leftovers, it's great for breakfast too!

So don't sweat Thanksgiving dessert. There are plenty of delicious, healthy options for you and your family to share!

Roasted Pumpkin Seed Recipe

2010-10-24T17:23:00.000-07:00

Halloween is just a few days away, and it's time to carve your jack o' lantern! But what do you do with all those seeds that you've scraped out of the inside of your pumpkin? Toasted pumpkin seeds are a classic autumn snack, and are very good for you when prepared correctly, but many people do not know how to roast pumpkin seeds. It's easier than you think! Try this healthy easy roasted pumpkin seeds recipe:

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups raw pumpkin seeds

6 cups water

3 Tbsp salt

1 to 2 Tbsp olive oil

Instructions

Rinse pumpkin seeds to remove pumpkin pulp and place in saucepan with water and salt. Bring water to a boil and maintain at a boil for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Drain seeds and spread in a single layer on cookie sheets or jelly roll pans, and leave overnight to dry. (If you need to, you can skip this step and simply roast your seeds longer, but I do recommend it if you have time.)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Toss seeds with enough olive oil to coat. Roast 30-50 minutes until golden brown (30 minutes for dried seeds, 45-50 minutes for "wet").

And that's it! Now that you see how to cook pumpkin seeds in the oven, you can do it every year. Sprinkle with extra salt if you like, or with a little bit of sugar and cinnamon. Serve as a snack or as a garnish with a healthy pumpkin dessert recipe!

Healthy Halloween Dessert Recipes

2010-10-12T17:42:00.000-07:00

Halloween is a holiday completely centered around eating candy, so it's understandable to have mixed feelings when the end of October rolls around. Luckily, whether you're looking for easy Halloween recipes for kids to help out with, or a quick dessert recipe for your Halloween party, you do have healthy options.

Halloween cakes are an easy way to go. One thing that many people are searching for as All Hallow's Eve approaches is Halloween cake decorating ideas. One of the easiest Halloween cake decorations is to make a jack o' lantern with a bundt cake. You can use the recipe linked above or your own easy bundt cake recipe. Simply make a double-batch and bake two cakes in bundt pans or tube pans. Then use orange-colored frosting to stack the cakes, one upside down under the other, and cover them completely. Encourage your kids to draw the eyes and mouth on the "pumpkin" cake with black icing. You can even put an upside-down cupcake on the top for a stem! If you prefer, you can make a true pumpkin cake recipe and decorate the same way.

If you don't want to deal with cake decorating (and don't have a kid to help you), there are lots of other fun Halloween dessert recipes such as witch hat cookies, jack o lantern cookies, or rice crispy Halloween treats. Whatever you choose to make, there's no reason to sacrifice flavor or fun when you have healthy Halloween recipes!

Alpha Lipoic Acid for Weight Loss

2010-03-26T11:23:00.000-07:00

Alpha lipoic acid is a one of the natural weight loss supplements you can use to compliment your dietary changes, as part of a healthy lifestyle.

ALA (as alpha lipoic acid is often abbreviated) is a natural antioxidant. It can help with detoxification of the blood, lower cholesterol, improve circulation, and increase carbohydrate metabolism. It is also sometimes used in the treatement of diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Unless you have a thiamine deficieny, it is very safe and rarely has side effects.

Lipoic acid is found naturally in almost all foods, but has an especially high concentration in kidney, heart, liver, spinach, and broccoli. If you're like me, you're not exactly thrilled about the idea of eating offal, and you can only eat so many green vegetables. The good news is, unlike hoodia diet pills, it's easy to obtain genuine, potent alpha lipoic acid supplements. The alpha lipoic acid in these pills is actually more available to your body than that from food sources, in most cases. Pick them up at your local drugstore or GNC, or buy buy Alpha Lipoic Acid online.

Corn Beef And Cabbage Recipe

2010-03-17T13:11:00.000-07:00

Today is St Patrick's Day! In Ireland, March 17 is a public holiday to celebrate the country's patron saint. Here in the United States, we may not get the day off, but we still celebrate in fine fashion. One of my favorite Saint Paddy's traditions is Corned Beef and Cabbage. It's easy to make, delicious to eat, and is a nice hearty meal without added fat.

While many people are currently frantically searching the web for a last-minute "corn beef and cabbage recipe," it bears mentioning that they're mistaken in the name. Corned beef is so called because of the grains of course salt in the pickling brine used to prepare it. Also, corned beef does not come from Ireland, and contrary to what some might believe, the Irish themselves do not consider this a traditional holiday food, but for Irish-Americans and in Canada, it's become a key part of Saint Patrick's celebrations.

These common mistakes aside, everyone should get to enjoy some corned beef and cabbage, and a cold pint of Guinness tonight. A happy St Paddy's to you!

National Cupcake Day 2010

2010-03-03T14:35:00.000-08:00

There seems to be some confusion in the blogosphere about National Cupcake Day 2010. Several bloggers announced today, March 3, as National Cupcake Day, but I can't find for the life of me where this false rumor is coming from!

National Cupcake Day is December 15th -- It's been that way as long as I've been aware of this random food holiday, and I haven't received any indication that there's been some sort of cupcake revolution that would merit changing it.

There are a few more specific cupcake holidays, which sometimes create misunderstandings. Let me spell it out for you:

National Chocolate Cupcake Day - Oct 18th
National Vanilla Cupcake Day - Nov 10th
National Cupcake Day - Dec 15th

As you see, we've got quite a few months to go. But don't let that stop you from indulging today. These healthy cupcake recipes should tide you over until the real National Cupcake Day rolls around.

Healthy Super Bowl Food Recipes

2010-02-04T12:36:00.000-08:00

With only a few days to the big game, everyone is searching for good Super Bowl food recipes. But what if you're a health-conscious eater? You still want to be able to enjoy satisfying snacks while cheering on your favorite team.

If you're going to a potluck, you want to be sure there's something there you feel comfortable eating. And if you're in charge of feeding a crowd of family and friends, you want to present something that's going to be tasty as well as good for them. It's not an impossible task. Making a few easy substitutions, you can serve great superbowl food that will keep everyone happy.

Pizza delivery joints make a killing during the Superbowl. But you can get those classic flavors and better nourish your body by cooking a healthy homemade lasagna instead.

Instead of buffalo wings or fried chicken from a fast-food restaurant, serve marinated grilled chicken or "oven-fried" chicken fingers.

Another classic tailgate food is chili. You can save yourself time and energy by making crockpot chili with lean beef ahead of time and letting it cook while you prepare the other snacks and sides.

To snack on, get tortilla chips or baked potato chips rather than the regular ones. You can use fat-free salad dressing as dip, or make your own fat-free dip.

To satisfy the sweet tooth, make a few batches of fat-free cookies, or a low-fat pie.

Drink light beer, or mix your hard liquor with diet sodas or selzer water instead of sugar-filled soft drinks.

By using these Super Bowl food ideas, and making small changes in the way you prepare and eat your food, you can enjoy game day festivities, while striking a balance between taste and health.

National Cupcake Day the Healthy Way!

2009-12-15T13:16:00.000-08:00

National Cupcake Day is a national food holiday you don't have to miss out on just because you're watching your fat or sugar intake. Cooking with applesauce instead of oil or butter, evaporated fat-free milk instead of cream, and egg whites instead of whole eggs, really cut down on the fat content of your baked goods. Using splenda, agave, or stevia will eliminate the processed sugars. If you're not comfortable experimenting on your own with baking substitutions, try one of the recipes below.

The classics: try some good old-fashioned chocolate, vanilla, lemon or red velvet low-fat cupcake recipes. The texture may be a little bit different than what you're used to, depending on the recipe, but they are still delicious and satisfy that craving!

Make some low-fat carrot cake muffins and eat them with a low-fat cream cheese frosting. Pumpkin muffins are a great healthy subsitute as well, with a fluffy cupcake-like texture. They're also great with cream-cheese frosting, which give them a more decadent feel.

Be adventurous and try green tea cupcakes. The health benefits of green tea and its fresh taste are a great constrast to traditional butter- and sugar-laden concoctions.

Whatever recipe you choose to follow, just because you've got special dietary concerns, there's no reason you shouldn't get to enjoy National Cupcake Day like everyone else!

Healthy Thanksgiving Dinner Menu

2009-11-22T19:17:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving has become a holiday centered around food... lots and lots of food. If you want to feed your family well without clogging their (and your) arteries, you've come to the right place. Below is a sample Thanksgiving Dinner menu with links to healthy versions of the traditional classics.

Turkey - No Thanksgiving spread is complete without a turkey. Start things off right by roasting your turkey, stuffed with herbs and lemon halves, according to this healthy Thanksgiving turkey recipe.

Stuffing - Use a low-fat stuffing recipe and bake your stuffing separately, instead of inside the turkey, to avoid soaking up the fat in the meat. It's also a nice gesture in case there are any vegetarians in the group... Just because you don't eat meat doesn't mean you shouldn't get to enjoy the stuffing!

Mashed potatoes - Make your mashed potatoes with unsweetened evaporated skim milk for a creamy texture without the fat, and try adding a little bit of nonfat sour cream to replace the butter. Season them up with plenty of garlic and salt, and you'll never miss the cream!

Gravy - Instead of using turkey drippings (pure animal fat) to make your gravy, use a low-fat gravy recipe with fat-free broth and poultry seasoning.
Sweet potato casserole - Traditional sweet potato casseroles are packed with butter, but if you're watching your saturated fat intake, try the low-fat sweet potato casserole recipe at that page.

Pumpkin pie - The ultimate autumn dessert, this is a must-have on your Thanksgiving dinner menu. So make it the healthy way with a low-fat pumpkin pie recipe. (Also on that page: low-fat apple pie, sweet potato pie, and pecan pie recipes, in case you're feeling ambitious.)

Spiced cider - Warm your guests (21 and over) with the sweet taste of this spiced apple cider recipe or another one of the other traditional hot winter drinks listed. For the kids, set aside a portion of the cider before you add the brandy, and everyone's happy.

Preparing a Thanksgiving spread is daunting enough without the added worry of the dietary restrictions of yourself and your family and friends. Cut that stress out of the picture by using the tips and recipes above, and have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Is the HCG Diet a Scam?

2009-11-20T11:15:00.000-08:00

What is the HCG Diet?

The HCG Diet, originated by British doctor A.T.W. Simeons in the 1930's, calls for eating only 500 calories a day while taking daily injections of HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone excreted by the placenta during pregnancy. HCG was purported to keep patients from feeling woozy or weak while maintaining a starvation diet.

Already you can see the problem. Extreme low-calorie diets are unhealthy and dangerous, no matter what you are taking to alleviate the symptoms of starvation. But on top of that, it turned out in the end that, in several independent studies which compared a control group taking saline injections on a starvation diet, to a group taking HCG injections on the same diet, both groups lost weight at the same rate, and both had the same physical complaints of constipation, hunger, and weakness.

In the 90's, a team of Dutch researchers examined all the major studies done on HCG and weight loss, and concluded that only 12 of them had been correctly constructed (in such a way as to provide accurate scientific conclusions), and out of those 12, 11 indicated that HCG is useless in weight loss.

So, given all this scientific evidence against the effectiveness of HCG in losing weight, why is the HCG Diet still around? It's thanks to Kevin Trudeau, scam artist and convicted criminal, who wrote "The Weight Loss Cure They Don't Want You To Know About" in 2007. How many times do doctors, nutritionists, and the FDA have to say it? There is no magic bullet for weight loss. And even if there is, HCG clearly isn't it.

Is a Calorie Restriction Diet Healthy?

2009-07-09T13:55:00.000-07:00

Many diet plans are centered around one idea -- to lose weight, you must take in less calories, burn more calories, or both. This is the premise of a calorie-restricted diet. Studies have shown that calorie restriction can lower bad cholesterol and blood pressure, increase longevity, and decrease body fat. In our image-obsessed culture, however, the last of those seems to carry the most weight (forgive the pun).

The general wisdom seems to run that the less you eat and the more you exercise, the better, but this is not actually the case. In fact, if you think that way, I suggest you get screened for an eating disorder. Extreme calorie restriction for the purpose of weight loss is called anorexia, and 1 out of 4 cases of this serious mental illness ends in death.

There is merit in the idea (recently given a lot of attention by Oprah's Dr. Oz) that feeding your body more efficiently allows it to work more efficiently, resulting in better health and longer life. However, looking at this as a calorie issue alone is a mistake. All calories are not created equal. If you eat only 1200 calories a day, but they are mostly saturated fat and refined sugars, you may lose weight (because your body is starving), but you will not reap the healthy benefits of a balanced diet. Also, counting calories can be stressful and time consuming. Food should add to your quality of life, not detract from it.

Concentrating on eating a variety of lean proteins, fiber in the form of whole grains and fresh fruits and veggies, and unsaturated fats, and practicing portion control (everything in moderation) is a much more practical, mentally healthy, and sustainable lifestyle choice.

Healthy 4th of July Recipes

2009-06-30T13:12:00.000-07:00

This Independence Day, celebrate your liberation from high-fat foods by cooking with low-fat 4th of July recipes. There's no need to sacrifice tradition to keep yourself and your family healthy. Whether you're hosting a barbeque, attending a potluck, or having a picnic, here are some great low-fat recipe ideas for your 4th of July festivities!

The calories and fat in condiments can really creep up on you. Make your own low-fat or fat-free dip to have with chips, and low-fat salad dressing to have with fresh greens. Tasty low-fat dips will inspire you to eat more veggies before the meal begins, leaving you less hungry for other higher-calorie dishes.

For main dishes, try a low fat casserole, or low fat mac and cheese, which can be made ahead of time to save yourself stress--especially if you're having guests. Go for a lean protein like fish or chicken. Fried chicken is a classic food often found at 4th of July gatherings, but you can make a baked breaded chicken recipe for a fraction of the fat, but all that American flavor, or grill some marinated chicken on the barbeque. Leftovers will make great sandwiches or chicken salads.

A great 4th of July dessert recipes will impress your guests and your taste buds alike! Using fresh fruit (in reds, whites, and blues), along with low-fat pudding or ice cream will cut the heat and bring the meal to a healthy close. After cooking all day, you may want to capitalize on a quick, easy fat free dessert, but if you're feeling more ambitious, nothing beats a low-fat fruit pie.

As always, no matter what you're eating, the key is to be mindful of your portions, and be sure you're covering all the food groups. Remember, holidays should be a time for fun and family, not for stress and obsession. Enjoy your 4th of July!

Oprah Diet Recommendations

2009-06-26T10:42:00.000-07:00

We all know that Oprah Winfrey has had a career-long--if not lifelong--battle with her weight. We've watched her gain and lose, gain and lose, for years. With access to all the diet advice and weight loss products money can buy, she's had the unique opportunity to try as many different plans and programs as she wants without breaking the bank. Whether or not that's been healthy for her body (or would be healthy for yours) is an entirely separate issue, but the fact remains that she's been at a distinct advantage in the battle of the bulge.

Two of Oprah's diet plans that have gotten the most attention are the Dr. Oz Diet and, more recently, the Best Life Diet by her trainer Bob Greene. Both plans generally follow a common-sense approach to weight loss: watch portions, choose foods that are nutritious and filling, and get more exercise. Both advise you to avoid processed grains (such as white bread), trans fats, and alcohol, and concentrate on eating a lot of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. The Dr. Oz Diet is a little more restrictive, but the Best Life Diet is more structured, with three distinct phases. Both of them emphasize gradual weight loss and longterm lifestyle changes. Sounds sensible enough, right?

So why does Oprah's weight keep fluctuating? I don't know her personally, and I'm not her doctor, but I do know that she has called herself an emotional eater. While I'm not in a position to say whether or not her thoughts and behaviors constitute an eating disorder, if she actually has one, dieting will only treat the symptoms, not the cause. If you suffer from compulsive overeating, it's equally if not more important to treat the causes of the behavior as it is to curb the behavior itself, or lose the extra weight you may have gained. Make sure, if this is something that you struggle with, that you cultivate a healthy body image as well as a healthy body.

What Is a Healthy Diet Plan?

2009-06-25T20:57:00.000-07:00

Let's face it, there are a ton of unhealthy--even dangerous--diet plans out there. Many people get caught up in a good commercial and neglect to do their research before buying into it. You may have been a victim of a manipulative marketing campaign yourself.

I hear about a lot of diets. I research a lot of diets. I write a lot of diet reviews, and I tend to be pretty tough on weight loss plans. I know that there are plenty of people out there that need to lose weight for health reasons, but I believe that it's not worth practicing unhealthy behaviors to do it. If the goal is health, the journey there should be healthy. Besides, there is a mountain of evidence demonstrating that crash diets don't work, and are bad for both your mental and physical health.

So what does a healthy diet consist of? I look for several criteria before giving any diet plan a thumbs-up.

Is it balanced? Does the diet include the necessary food groups, and emphasize consuming them all in moderation? Is activity encouraged?

Is it sustainable? Can the plan be followed safely for an extended period of time? Will dieters "burn out" on this program?

Is it practical? Can the average person, with a full life, easily implement the program in his or her daily life? Is the cost reasonable?

Is it effective? Does it actually result in long-term weight loss, or is there a weight gain rebound?

There are other considerations, of course. Each diet plan brings up its own concerns and questions. But the checklist above is a good place to start in considering whether or not to embark upon a weight loss plan.

Look for specific diet reviews, coming soon. If there's a particular diet you're wondering about, please put in a request in the comments below!