Posts Tagged food

Eating Healthy on the Road

It’s always a bit of a challenge to eat healthy when traveling. Sure there are plenty of guides pointing out edible food spots at a few airports and train stations, but what about those who take the roads? Plenty of reports indicate that the car vacationer is operating at full speed. No shortage of fast food stops along the Interstates, but what about the healthy options? The vegan, the Gluten-Free, and the basic eater who wants the best of what’s local should start stressing right about now.

Why stop along the road if you are stressing about the options? Roadsides are littered with multiple fast food options with a sprinkling of signs pointing to a diner which at least lets you believe the food is being prepared individually for you. Then, the options stop. This is especially true when you leave the Interstate for the scenic bypass routes. Leaving the road and exploring a small town can often yield little. Traveling into a larger town offers the best little secret: Try the local grocery store. You can at least find something that borders healthy, even if it’s not your favorite market, farm stand, or Whole Foods.

As the Interstates reveal, people are traveling again and judging by the numbers at picnic tables, frugality still dominates many of our dining decisions. Matching our budgets and desire to eat healthy poses numerous challenges which need great will power.

It can be done, but after your first opening of the Coleman, you might need to get creative.coleman

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Grill ‘Em

It’s that curious time of the year when weeks get shortened into weekends and traffic is always on escape mode. Welcome to the upcoming weekend, the Fourth of July, which seems to begin this year on the 1st and conclude on the 6th! Party.

According to the Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue Association, the Fourth of July grabs the top spot as America’s single biggest day to grill outdoors with 80% of respondents planning to keep with tradition this year. Burgers top the list of most commonly grilled foods with ketchup repeating as the number one condiment. Probably should begin with a refresher course on food safety as many of us partake in our food ventures off premise as in picnic spots, tailgating, or camping. As always food handling should top the list of concerns and include the magic food safety words: Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill. No matter the menu, the rules apply and make everyone safer for the experience.

For so many of us, keeping the charcoal lit and hot proves to be directly proportional to how much lighter fluid we have on hand. I know you’ll miss the smell of the endless squirting of fluid, but here’s a fun gadget that takes the guesswork out of the operation and more insures the possibility of success: The Looftlighter. (Makes me imagine an air-lifting experience that transforms an ordinary pile of coals into a full-blown campsite)! OK, I admit it looks a little like a hair straightener, but this product seems to have little difficulty starting a fire. Also great for hardwood chunks added to the grill to infuse different flavors. Such love of grilling does not come inexpensively, but the neighbors and the environment thank you!

I know you’ll miss the lighter fluid taste, but some sacrifices need to be made! What if you’re planning a road trip and still want to grill, then there are full range of portable grills to make this a possibility. Since I’m such a coffee person, I was interested in seeing what the Bodum folks (known for their full line of coffee makers and accessories) came up with. Don’t worry, they are serious BBQ players with a full line of what they call “Toys for Grown Ups.” Am sure that phrase is debatable, but they have a nifty portable grill and all the necessary tools to make the outing a true holiday. You’ll have fun with the Ikea-like names as the FYRKAT, a picnic charcoal grill, solves the grill-on-the-go experience. Anyway the palette of fun colors makes this an uplifting purchase.Web_PictMedium_10630-106bodum

When you’re thinking about what to grill, take a moment and think about the foods you purchase and consider the humane farm animal care program. The website can direct you to purveyors and farms that are part of the certified humane movement. You’ll find no shortage of selections and at the same time know that your food has been handled better and will often prove tastier.

Let’s begin the long weekend!

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The Eyes Have It: A Winning Diet

We’ve spent a lot of time singing the praises of resveratrol for the heart-healthy benefits from consuming red wine and grapes. Now a new study from vision researchers at the medical school at Washington University in St. Louis uncovered additional foods that can demonstrate their health-worthiness from properties found in resveratrol. Add blueberries and peanuts to the list. Perfect timing since blueberry season is just at the beginning of what promises to be a fruitful month or so!peanut

This time the beneficial focus rests with the eyes in preserving vision (even in instances where there has already been some deterioration). This made sense to the researchers who cited the anti-aging properties of the compound so eye degeneration issues formed a natural fit. Let’s see if I have this right: Eat and drink some of these special foods and beverages and your heart and eyes benefit from the consumption. Nothing too difficult about this concept.

Wait, there’s more. Another study also just released addressed the obesity-fighting properties of resveratrol. This quickly brings to mind the French Paradox: A phrase employed with the earliest resveratrol studies that questioned how the French can remain so thin while they consume such large quantities of wine. As Yogi would say, deja vu all over again.

Nothing wrong with either of these studies. They point us in the right nutritional direction, and they have the seasonal advantage of information. Peanuts for the baseball game; grapes and blueberries as new seasonally ripe fruits, and wine anytime.

This makes sense to me!

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Let Dad Decide: Happy Father’s Day

So many options for Father’s Day.  After an email from every restaurant with a special Sunday brunch, dinner, or an offer to feed the kids for free, I’ve decided to share a few suggestions of my own.

Giving Dad something for the grill is like giving Mom (on Mother’s Day) a new kitchen tool or a handy cooking device. Another day. Sure he loves to grill and everyone likes the post-grill kitchen clean-up, but another spatula, another day.

Taking Dad out to eat on Father’s Day just means lots of people, lots of lines, and potentially less than stellar service. Make it yourself: That’ll be a better treat. Go ahead, you pop it on the grill! Remember, clean-up’s easy.

Dad might prefer a trip to a winery: Every state now produces wine. Lots of ‘em figured out how to make it a family affair so Dad gets to do what he wants, and the family is occupied with arts ‘n crafts, food vendors, and activities for the underage set. Check out your neighboring vineyards.images

Maybe he could catch a ballgame in person or via television. Sorry, Strasburg fans, he’s not pitching today.

Repeat the Mantra: Give Dad a break; let him decide his Day.

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A Month of Flavor: June

I always enjoy looking forward into a new month of food holidays. They seem to range from the sublime to the ridiculous as if someone needs to tell us to eat our fruit and vegetables or remember to have dairy products. These are great promotional ploys that are fun to list and contemplate.

Before the enumeration, here are a few special days to note–they come with goodies:

–June 4, National Doughnut Day, a holiday established initially by the Salvation Army to help those in need. Check out Krispy Kreme and Dunkin’ Donuts for their free offers. (Note that the offers are not identical). Get in line for a sweet Friday.

–June 5, Friendly’s is giving away free ice cream cones.

More of these special freebies as the month progresses.

Combine these single events with month-long celebrations:

National Candy Month. The 16th is Fudge Day! This is from an association that has figured out how to celebrate different candies for each month of the year! They know about our collective sweet tooth!candy

National Dairy Month. Easy to celebrate milk and all the other dairy foods as prices have remained fairly constant making dairy a consistently important, good purchase. FYI, vanilla is still the most requested ice cream flavor!

National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month. Seriously, this needs little introduction. We know what we are supposed to eat and how many helpings. Slice up that organic celery now!

National Iced Tea Month. It’s hot and as many people get into the iced cube part of life, tea does not want to be ignored. A vendor at The World’s Fair in St. Louis (1904) took credit for starting this beverage sensation. Why not have it on ice!

National Turkey Lovers’ Month. This concept appeals to those looking for protein substitutes and the Association has been trying to get consumers to consider the product a year-round food, not just one celebrated in November. Lots of recipes and nutritional information on the site including a meal update calculator that helps us be more creative in our menu-planning.

Put them all together and what do you get: Many foods that we enjoy every month of the year!

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Staying in Shape

As you’re getting your body ready for summer activities, it’s time to turn to Men’s Health Magazine and look at some of the Superfoods they identify that help reduce the effects of aging. If your body stays younger, you can be more active: Simple math.

Here are some interesting ones to add to your shopping outing:

Avocados. This vegetable gets a lot of confusing press for its high fat content. Stop: It’s the good fat, the one that reduces the bad (LDL) cholesterol. Take it in. Most guacamole experts prefer the Mexican avocado splashed with a healthy dose of lime juice. Or just slice an avocado onto a salad or top your scrambled eggs (egg whites) with this colorful, soothingly sweet taste.

Black Beans. With all the talk about BPA and can-leeching, find a market that offers dried beans and avoid the canned variety all together. Studies indicate that black beans have a special property in being able to boost your brain function. Grab a 3-ounce serving, your pen, and the New York Times Crossword Puzzle. See how effective this strategy is!

Sounds like we are solely advocating a Latin American-influenced diet, but the next flavor may move you around the globe.

Turmeric. This bright colored, yellow spice gives flavor to many Indian dishes. Try it on chicken or use it with rice to benefit from its special properties that help lessen the possibilities from Alzheimer’s.turmeric

Don’t forget almonds and walnuts and last week’s nutty examination. Then move over to the dried fruit aisle for dried plums and figs, both of which have numerous health benefits. Figs for their lowering of blood-sugar and plums for their overall effect on lessening aging’s impact. Of course, fresh figs should not be overlooked when they are in season as they pair wonderfully with so many foods (cheeses) and turn an ordinary salad into a special treat. Add a little Balsamic, a ripe tomato, and you’ve got a beautiful plate.

Never too young to consider these foods and the longer list of possibilities. Time to start your weekend shopping.

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Draw a Circle: Lower your Calories

Some studies are just more fun to read than others. I can’t hide that fact! Take the French Fry discussion. According to the Journal of Food Science, if you cut potatoes into strips and want them to become French Fries, you’ll need more oil and, they’ll need to cook longer. Translation: They will not be considered a healthy food.potato

Yet, if you make circle fries out of your potatoes, you’ll shorten the cooking time, i.e. reduce the oil you’ll need and still come up with a similar tasting product, albeit healthier.

This all rests on the premise if you believe potatoes are healthy to start with! I confess: I’m a potato person and like the nutritional benefits from this food!

My prediction: More circle potato products with fun-sounding recipe names!

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Weekend Cooks

It’s appropriate this month to think about the grill and new recipes during National Barbecue Month. Few people will argue with the outdoor plan after a particularly odd winter weather pattern that seemed to extend into spring. Maybe this weekend, the month’s midpoint, will cooperate for home chefs to fire up the grill. Here are some interesting grill factoids from a poll conducted by the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association:

–65% like “to dress it up” when it comes to grilling. Translation: sauce, marinade, or seasoning while 21 % “strip it down”, grilled food au naturel!

–More men than women prefer to add a spicy sauce.

–As for toppings, more grillers use ketchup on burgers or other grilled meats; mustard comes in a very close 2nd.

–Cheese is a frequent topping (over 60%), and over 70% of respondents say they want a bun for their sandwich, a traditional bun.

As for grilling’s popularity, the largest number of respondents said they like the way grilled food tastes.

No matter how you vote or what you like to grill, it is obvious that the outdoor cooking method makes kitchen clean-up an effortless process.fancygrill

If you’re stuck without a clue how to get that perfect flavor or what to do with veggies on the grill, for instance, check out the Association’s website. BTW, if you don’t have a grill, but are thinking about buying one, they have advice and guidelines to streamline the process and help you decide whether to get charcoal, gas, or electric: All good options.

So many choices. So easy and delicious.

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Happy Mother’s Day, All Day: ENJOY

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The Big Day

Although we have acknowledged the interest in an Earth Week focus, the single day, the 40th anniversary of Earth Day is today, April 22.ed2010logo_blue We have come a long way in many of our steps to save the planet, change the world, and adhere to smart environmental and ecological principles. Many businesses are in the mood to reward customers today so you’ll be surprised by the various promotions all over town, every town.

It was not that many years ago when the concept of a reusable bag was left to a small part of our population. No more. You see people everywhere holding their bags for any type of shopping excursion. Some stores trade your smaller bags for their larger ones; smart marketing and advertising on their part as long as they don’t throw away the bags!

Target has a plastic bag promotion: They want you to turn in your plastic bags by submitting them to TerraCycle, and they’ll give you a coupon to use for one of their reusable bags. Following the lead of Whole Foods Markets and others, Target recently added recycling bins near the checkout area. That’s a boost to one-stop shopping and avoidance of extra mileage trips. Starbucks hopes this Earth Day helps people understand about bringing their own tumblers for coffee so the company can lessen its use of paper cups. They’ll reward you.

Numerous grocers, restaurants, and other merchants want to be heard during this day. Get out and celebrate and make changes in your everyday routines.

Our work has just begun. We’ve learned. We still have so much to learn. It’s our only Earth.

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