You are here: Home / Archives for Food

Did You Know These Foods Are Rich in Antioxidants?

March 17, 2016 by

You’ve likely heard about the health benefits of antioxidants, but do you know where they come from? If you’re one of the many people who would say that they aren’t entirely sure how to get that daily dose of antioxidants, these antioxidant-rich foods are great places to start.

  • Raisins. Dried fruits, like raisins, contain well over 2,000 total antioxidants per serving.
  • Blueberries. These sweet, plump berries have more antioxidants than a whopping 40 other types of fruits.
  • Strawberries. One of the next best berries is the delicious strawberry, which helps to protect your body’s cells.
  • Plums. Plums contain more than 4,800 antioxidants per serving, and dried versions offer even more.
  • Oranges. Oranges are rich in the antioxidant beta-cryptoxanthin. It helps to lower your risk for arthritis.
  • Spinach. That’s right—some veggies contain antioxidants, too. Spinach is packed with the types that promote healthy eyes and prevent blindness.
  • Brussels sprouts. This tasty vegetable is becoming increasingly popular, which is a great thing because it is packed with isothiocyanates antioxidants that help to prevent cancer.
  • Beets. Pink beets not only look pretty on top of a salad, they also deliver a hearty dose of antioxidants.
  • Eggplant. Eat eggplant to take in the antioxidants that protect against plaque buildup in the arteries and prevent cancer.

20 Common Foods With the Most Antioxidants [WebMD]
Which Antioxidant-Rich Fruits and Vegetables Should You Be Eating? [Reader’s Digest]
8 Foods Rich in Antioxidants [FitDay]
10 Antioxidant-Rich Foods [Food Network]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Find Food Co-Ops Near You With Help From These Two Websites

July 23, 2015 by

Shopping at a food co-op in your area is one of the best ways to obtain healthy, fresh foods and support your area’s local farmers and purveyors. Many people in small towns assume that they don’t have a food co-op in their areas, but they are actually more common than you might think. Here are two online tools to help you find co-ops near your home.

Co-Op Directory
This expansive website enables you to search by state in order to find the closest food co-ops. Each listing includes an address, phone number and links to the store’s website for additional information. Co-Op Directory also provides a short description of many of its stores, including the types of food that each store sells, its mission statement and other details.

Local Harvest
Local Harvest is one of the most popular websites for all types of fresh, local and organic foods, and it also offers a large directory of food co-ops in every state. You can search for your area by using the site’s interactive map, which offers pinpoints for each store. Once you find a co-op near you, Local Harvest provides all of the necessary driving directions, phone numbers and more.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , ,

Stealthy Meets Healthy: How to Sneak More Fruits and Veggies Into Your Child’s Diet

May 21, 2015 by

Many parents worry about whether or not their child is getting the proper vitamins and nutrients. Until your picky eaters are old enough to fully understand the benefits of healthy eating, you may need to adopt a tactical approach to their meal prep — one that involves sneaking in some fruits and veggies! These recipes are so tasty, they’ll be none the wiser!

  1. Make your own ice pops. Instead of giving your kids sugar-laden, store-bought ice pops, replace them with homemade versions that are just as delicious. Make your own using 100 percent fruit juice and frozen berries in an ice pop mold.
  2. Stir spinach into your pasta. If you make a family-sized pot of pasta for a weeknight dinner, stir spinach into the sauce for a full serving of veggies that the kids likely won’t even notice. You can even add the mild tasting green to macaroni and cheese!
  3. Make a cauliflower pizza crust. If your kids refuse to eat pizza topped with vegetables, cut calories and incorporate a sneaky serving of veggies by using a recipe for cauliflower crust.
  4. Top burgers with fresh veggies. For children who are less squeamish about veggies, make treat meals like cheeseburgers a bit healthier by topping with fresh vegetables. Add fresh spinach, sliced tomatoes, and even onions in addition to the burger patty and melted cheese.

Cooking Tips [Fruits & Veggies More Matters]
5 Ways to Sneak Veggies into Family Meals [Eating Well]
Sneak Vegetables Into Your Kids' Food With These Tasty Recipes [All You]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

How to Brew the Perfect Cup of Tea

April 2, 2015 by

If you’ve ever made a cup of tea that was too weak or too strong, you know how difficult it can be to create the perfect cuppa. Follow these five expert steps to properly brew tea at home, whether you prefer relaxing oolong or stimulating black tea.

  1. Using a teapot, bring very cold tap water to a boil. It’s important to bring your water to a boil before adding a tea bag to ensure that it brews fully. Add one tea bag per one cup of water.
  2. If you’re brewing black tea, pour boiling water directly on top of the tea bag and let it steep for three to five minutes.
  3. For green teas, remove the pot from the stove and let it cool for 10 minutes. Next, pour the water over the tea bag and let it steep for just one minute.
  4. For delicate oolong teas or white teas, heat your water only to 190 degrees Fahrenheit. Pour it over the tea, letting oolong steep for five to seven minutes and white teas for only three to four minutes.
  5. If you want to make iced tea, simply brew your tea as instructed and let it cool for a few minutes. Then, just pour over ice and enjoy.

Make a Perfect Brew [UK Tea & Infusions Association]
The Tea Experience: Home Brewing for the Best [The Tea Association of the U.S.A.]
Brew a Perfect Cup in 3 Easy Steps [Teavana]
How to Brew Hot Tea [The Republic of Tea]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Three Cooking Substitutes for When You’re in a Pinch

March 19, 2015 by

Any seasoned cook knows that sometimes you have to get creative when sticking to a recipe, especially if you're short on some of the ingredients. The good news is that with a few easy swaps, you can make any recipe, even if you don't have the traditional ingredients on-hand. Here are three cooking substitutes for when you’re in a pinch:

  1. If you're missing brown sugar: Your craving for homemade cookies won't wait until you can get to the store for all the ingredients. If you’re short on one cup of brown sugar, you can substitute it one cup of white sugar combined with 1/4 cup of molasses.
  2. If you're missing butter: While no kitchen should ever be without this important ingredient, it tends to happen if you cook a lot. You can replace one cup of butter with one cup of margarine or vegetable shortening. If the recipe calls for melted butter, you can use the same amount of oil.
  3. If you're missing half and half: If your carton is empty, you can easily recreate this essential ingredient with 1/2 a cup of partly skimmed milk and 1/2 a cup of heavy whipping cream.

Top 3 Ingredient Substitutions [All Recipes]
Ingredient Substitutions [University of Nebraska]
Baking Ingredient Substitution Table [Joys of Baking]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Overslept? Try These Five Easy On-the-Go Breakfast Ideas

February 19, 2015 by

When you sleep past your alarm and don’t even have time to shower, it can be tempting to skip breakfast. Even if you don’t have time for your usual eggs and toast, these quick, healthy breakfast ideas will help you get a nutritious morning meal that you can eat while running out the door.

  1. Yogurt Parfait. Though it sounds complicated, all it takes to create a nutritious yogurt parfait is an individual-sized plain yogurt and a few toppings. Sprinkle fresh fruit, nuts, or granola on top for a quick breakfast that you can eat with just a spoon.
  2. Breakfast Smoothie. Fruit smoothies are very healthy, but they’re not as filling as your usual breakfast. Make your smoothie as hearty as a meal by adding oats or nuts to the mix.
  3. Homemade Granola Bars. If you’re always running late in the morning, bake your own homemade granola bars and keep them on hand to eat on your commute.
  4. Tortilla Wrap. When you have just enough time to toss something together for breakfast, a tortilla wrap is an easy, handheld option. Simply put scrambled eggs, grilled peppers, and a sprinkle of cheese inside of a whole wheat tortilla shell.
  5. Avocado on Toast. If you love avocado with lunch and dinner, try it out for breakfast by eating it on toast. Just mash half of an avocado and spread it on a piece of toast, then add a bit of salt and pepper to taste. For an extra boost of nutrients, top with tomato slices, too.

9 Fast, Healthy Breakfast Ideas [Real Simple]
23 On-the-Go Breakfasts [Buzzfeed]
15 On-the-Go Breakfast Recipes [Parenting]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Memorize This Must-Know Kitchen Terminlogy

November 20, 2014 by

If you’ve ever encountered a cooking term that you didn’t understand in a new recipe, you know how confusing it can be. From julienne to mince, there’s a whole slew of complicated terminology that seems foreign to the amateur chef. Here are a few simple definitions that will help you with your next adventure in the kitchen.

  1. Braise. Braising involves browning meat or vegetables in a bit of hot fat before cooking them slowly in a shallow pool of liquid. This is a great technique to soften less tender cuts of meat or veggies.
  2. Devil. To devil something, such as an egg, you simply coat it with a hot seasoning like hot sauce or mustard.
  3. Dredge. Dredging means to coat something like meat or vegetables with flour, breadcrumbs, or cornmeal.
  4. Flambe. This term is usually found in more gourmet recipes. It involves sprinkling a food with a liqueur and lighting it on fire before serving.

Glossary of Basic Cooking Terms [Les Petites Gourmettes]
Cooking Terms [Recipe Goldmine]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [UMN]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [Better Homes & Gardens]
Culinary Terms [About.com]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

How to Get More Vitamin A in Your Diet

October 16, 2014 by

Vitamin A provides a number of wonderful eye health benefits, from minimizing dry eyes to helping to absorb light in the retinal receptors. In addition to improving your eye health, it also supports cell growth and improves the health of the kidneys, heart, and other essential organs. Here are just a few surprising food sources for beneficial Vitamin A.

  1. Sweet Potatoes. Sweet potatoes are some of the best sources of Vitamin A out of any food, offering a staggering 561% of the recommended daily amount in just one whole potato. Better yet, the delicious sweet potato offers all of its priceless nutrients while adding only 103 calories to your diet. Simply bake one in the oven for a healthy side dish that’s absolutely packed full of A vitamins.
  2. Carrots. This other favorite orange food is equally as rich with Vitamin A. The carrot has been known for its eye health benefits for quite some time, though many people don’t realize that it’s because of the numerous A vitamins inside. One medium carrot offers a full 200% of the recommended daily intake, and it’s a great source of the Vitamins C, K, and B that your body also needs.

Top 10 Foods Highest in Vitamin A [Healthaliciousness]
Vitamin A [NIH]
26 Foods High in Vitamin A for Healthy Eyes [Bembu]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

How to Ensure You’re Safely Serving and Preparing Eggs

September 4, 2014 by

Eggs are essential ingredients in a number of dishes, but they can also be dangerous to your health if handled incorrectly. To reduce your risk of salmonella and other diseases that come from eggs, follow these important guidelines.

  1. Shop smart. The first step toward healthy egg care is inspecting your eggs in the grocery store for cracks or dirty appearance. Also be sure to only purchase eggs that are stored in a refrigerated case.
  2. Store them properly. Eggs should be stored in a clean spot in the refrigerator at 40° F or lower.
  3. Cook them thoroughly. If you’re preparing scrambled eggs or another egg dish, be sure that both the yolk and white are firm and that the egg reaches a temperature of 160°F. Never eat batter or dough containing raw eggs before it's cooked or baked.
  4. Store egg dishes properly. Dishes made of only eggs cannot be stored, so be sure to eat them immediately after cooking. If you prepare something else that contains eggs, always keep it refrigerated.
  5. Keep it clean. Even if you use the utmost care when handling eggs, it’s essential to wash your hands, cooking and prep surfaces, and any utensils thoroughly to remove any traces of eggs. Wash hands and utensils with hot, soapy water, and scrub kitchen countertops with bleach or another germ-killing product.

Playing It Safe With Eggs [FDA]
Eggs & Food Safety [Incredible Egg]
Tips to Reduce Your Risk of Salmonella from Eggs [CDC]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Find Healthy Recipe Guides on this NIH Website

January 22, 2014 by

Grilled chicken and steamed vegetables are great, but eating the same meal every day can get boring pretty quickly. If you want to eat healthy meals without constantly making the same few dishes, these creative recipe guides from the NIH might just give you some new ideas:

Fun Family Recipes
Download convenient recipe cards to make planning healthy meals for the whole family easier than ever before. These fun recipes include things like Oatmeal Pecan Waffles and a Quinoa and Black Bean Salad that will keep even your pickiest eaters feeling full and energized.

Keep the Beat Deliciously Healthy Family Meals
This colorful online cookbook contains healthy family breakfasts, lunches and dinners that are simple and delicious. It even includes high-quality photos to help you get a better idea of what each dish should look like.

Visit the NIH website to discover even more healthy recipes!

Public Domain/Public Domain
Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,
Next Page »

Pin It on Pinterest