Showing Results for: “carrots”

Health Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables Let’s look at just some of the health benefits of fruit and vegetables. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables has nutrients like potassium that may reduce risk for stroke, other cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and type 2 diabetes. Fruits and vegetables contain folate, which helps the body form red blood cells, as well as health-promoting phytochemicals, including antioxidants, that maintain optimum health. Both fruits and vegetables have concentrations of vitamins, such as C and A, and minerals. And, of course, they’re full of dietary fiber, which helps

Probiotics are live organisms that provide health benefits when consumed or applied topically. What Do Probiotics Do? The primary reason people consume probiotics, whether as a supplement or in probiotic-rich foods, is to improve gut health. Research is ongoing, however, the potential benefits of probiotics including treating gum disease, inflammation, and even high blood pressure. Probiotics work by filling the gut with “good” bacteria and helping maintain a healthy balance of microorganisms in what is called the gut microbiome or microflora. This microbiome is made up of trillions of

How to Stretch Your Food Instead of coming up with and shopping for different recipes for every single meal over the course of a week, try planning two or three main ones , which will lead to other options throughout the week. For instance, you could roast a chicken (or, if it helps, buy one already cooked) for a meal. Serve it with cooked farro, roasted butternut squash, and a green salad. Make enough to have leftovers for day two and use whole wheat tortillas and make chicken tacos. Add some of the salad and your favorite salsa you have in the fridge. To make a salad, use the leftover salad

Every March is National Nutrition Month®. It’s about taking the time to appreciate the social experiences that food and nutrition can add to our lives. For many people, that means a simple dinner shared with a partner or spouse, family or friends. Is time one of your biggest challenges? Set yourself up for success with strategies and stress-free meal ideas to get dinner on the table quickly with these three tips. Put quick-meal staples on your grocery list. Stock items in the kitchen that make it easy to put together dinner when time is tight. When you shop, think about the basic foods you

You can buy whole chickens at the store fresh or frozen. They are usually about 3-5 pounds in size. If you purchase a frozen chicken, be sure to thaw it before roasting. The safest way to thaw a whole chicken is in the refrigerator. Plan ahead! Thawing a whole chicken usually takes at least 24 hours. Directions Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Coat a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray. Remove giblet and neck from chicken cavity. You can discard these, or save them for making chicken broth. Pat the skin dry with a paper towel. Place chicken breast-side up into the pan and lightly spray the skin

But even as you eat less of these fatty, salty foods, there’s good news. Changing your diet doesn’t have to lead to a crunch-less snack time. Here are some suggestions for great substitutions: Popcorn. Who doesn’t love popcorn? Surprise, it’s actually healthy for you (whole grain and all) and it’s a good source of fiber. Because of the volume, it’s also low in carbs. Just 15 grams in three cups. Choose air-popped popcorn to avoid the fat and limit fatty, salty toppings. Enjoy, but avoid excessive portion sizes. And try some non-fat toppings, like chili powder, cinnamon, curry powder, or dried

What is Fiber? Often called “roughage” or “bulk”, fiber is a plant-based nutrient that is a type of indigestible carbohydrate, that cannot be broken down into sugar molecules in the blood. This is crucial for people living with diabetes; fiber makes one feel fuller, but the carbohydrates it’s made up of will not affect blood sugar levels, with fiber passing through the digestive system relatively intact. Two Kinds of Fiber Fiber is commonly classified as soluble, which dissolves in water, or insoluble, which doesn’t dissolve. Soluble fiber: This type of fiber dissolves in water to form a gel

Why You Should Eat Parsley Fresh parsley is low in calories, yet high in vitamins such as A, K, and C. Vitamin A and C are essential for eye and skin health, as well as boosting the immune system. Vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant, helping to reduce inflammation in the body. Vitamin K is necessary for proper blood clotting and supports bone and heart health. Types of Parsley There are two types of parsley commonly found in grocery stores and farmers markets: curly leaf and flat leaf (also referred to as Italian parsley). Curly leaf parsley is mostly used for garnishes that add a nice

D-I-Why? Not only can you build your own flavor with homemade stock, you also have control over how much salt is added. Store bought stocks are often very high in sodium. While the reduced sodium varieties are a better option if you’re watching your salt intake, even those can still have a lot of sodium. When you make your own stock, you can leave out the salt, and wait to add seasonings to the final dish. And let’s not forget about the cost savings: homemade stock costs $0.00 when you make it from scraps that are destined for the trash! In my house, we eat roast chicken at least once a week