December 26, 2012

Healthy Recipe Substitutions




Healthy Recipe Substitutions

We all have our favorite family recipes that we love to make and eat. Then you hear the news from your physician that you need to eat healthier, lose weight, and/or cut down on fat, sugar, and salt intake. So how do you still enjoy your favorite recipes, while taking care of your health. Below are some healthy ingredient substitutions for your favorite dishes without losing the great taste you want.
These are ideas that everyone will enjoy.

Substitution List for your favorite recipes
Instead of cream in a recipe: Use fat free half-and-half, evaporated milk
Instead of one egg:  Use 2 egg whites or 1/4 cup egg substitute
Instead of regular mayonnaise:  Use low-fat mayonnaise
Instead of whole milk:  Use 1% fat or skim milk
Instead of sugar:  Reduce the sugar in the recipe in ½, or use 1/2 sugar and 1/2 Splenda, or add cinnamon, nutmeg, or vanilla extract
Instead of fruit canned in heavy syrup: Use canned fruit  in its own juices, fresh fruit, or frozen fruit
Instead of sour cream: Use reduced fat sour cream or low-fat plain yogurt
Instead of cream cheese: Use reduced fat cream cheese or nonfat ricotta cheese
Instead of vegetable oil in dessert recipes: Use less oil than what the recipe calls for, or replace half of the oil with unsweetened applesauce, or use half unsweetened applesauce and half plain low-fat yogurt
Instead of butter, margarine, shortening or oil to prevent sticking in a pan: Use cooking spray or use a non-stick cooking pan.
Instead of bacon: Use Canadian bacon, turkey bacon, smoked turkey or lean prosciutto (Italian ham)
Instead of dry bread crumbs: Use Rolled oats or crushed high fiber cereal
Instead of Pasta, enriched (white): Use whole wheat pasta
Instead of recommended amount of cheese in a recipe: Cut the amount in half



December 10, 2012

Super Cinnamon

Super Cinnamon

    There's nothing quite like the sweet, savory warmth of cinnamon, especially this time of year. Cinnamon is a spice that comes from the inner bark of several trees from Southeast Asia, and it is used in both sweet and savory foods. Whether it's simmering on your stove to scent the entire kitchen or spicing up your apple cider, there are countless ways to incorporate the enticing joys of cinnamon into your diet. Furthermore, research suggests that there are reasons far beyond taste to add more of this sultry spice to your food.

Several studies have shown improvements in blood sugars and cholesterol levels with as little as ½ teaspoon per day of ground cinnamon. This can be especially good news for people with diabetes, but it is also good to know for the general population. Although the effects may be small and more research is necessary, it's a great excuse to sprinkle it on more foods, more often. Note, however, that consuming more cinnamon does not mean that you should change your diabetes or cholesterol medication (if you are currently on medication). It merely provides inspiration to enjoy this super spice in ways you might have not previously considered, and to feel good about it! Some ideas for getting more cinnamon into your diet include:

  1. Sprinkle on sliced apples. Bake or eat raw.
  2. Add cinnamon to your ground coffee before brewing, or sprinkle on top of your morning brew.

  3. Add a generous sprinkle to your oatmeal or other cereal
  4. Sprinkle on yogurt or cottage cheese, and top with fruit
  5. Top off your whole grain toast with some peanut butter and cinnamon for a tasty, quick breakfast or snack.
  6. Toss it into chili for an exciting kick.
  7. Dust raw almonds, cashews, or pistachios with cinnamon and cayenne pepper for a spicy snack.
  8. Sprinkle on baked sweet potatoes or roasted butternut squash.
  9. Dust over halved pears and top with toasted walnuts.
  10. Spice up your cider or herbal tea with a dash of cinnamon.


     

Most people don't need any excuses to add more of this spectacular spice to their diets, but knowing that it may offer some health benefits should encourage you to think of cinnamon more often. Also, just because it suits the season doesn't mean you can't enjoy cinnamon throughout the year. It's a tasty, inexpensive, calorie-free way to add a kick to your diet while doing something good for your health, too.

Spice it up!

Sources:
Baker, W.L., G. Gutierrez-Williams, C.M. White, J. Kluger, C.I. Coleman. 2008. Effect of Cinnamon on Glucose Control and Lipid Parameters. Diabetes Care 31: 41–43.

Khan A, Safdar M, Ali Khan MM, Khattak KN, Anderson RA. Cinnamon improves glucose and lipids of people with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 26.12 (2003): 3215-3218.

Verspohl EJ, Bauer K, Neddermann E. Antidiabetic effect of Cinnamomum cassia and Cinnamomum zeylanicum in vivo and in vitro. Phytotherapy Research. 19.3 (2005): 203-206.

December 5, 2012

Nutrition program tonight



The holiday season is here, which means good food and fun times with family and  friends.  With all of the celebrating, it is also is the time of year when we find it harder to stay with a healthy eating plan.

At Family Medical Associates of Raleigh and Family Health and Wellness, we would like to help you to reach your health and weight goals.

Please join us on December 5th from 6-7pm for a free nutrition discussion
“How is it going – staying motivated to eat healthy over the holidays”.

We hope you can join us for this program.

Please call 919-232-9436 to sign up.