Grace O

October 23, 2024

Published by Grace O

We’re Falling for Seasonal Breads with Benefits

Let’s be honest. Nobody really needs more bread recipes. We all struggle to cut down on carbs and empty calories. But what if we make breads with benefits by including the nutrients of FoodTrients? You can always add ingredients that bring nutritional value such as wheat germ, nuts, whole wheat flour, etc. These bread recipes are forgiving, so you can customize them a bit. The recipes really celebrate the season while providing more wholesome nutrition than those seductive breads with lots of sugar and saturated fat. So let’s get baking! Health Nut Zucchini Bread You can use half a cup […]

October 17, 2024

Published by Grace O

Easy Slow Cooker Bone Broth

Crock pots are an amazing tool! Prep everything in the morning; turn on the pot and your meal (or soup or bone broth) will be ready by dinnertime. This recipe is the ultimate hands-off meal-prep tool to relieve stress while eating healthfully. Benefits Chicken contains protein and collagen for strength and beauty, vitamin B12 to support cellular energy in the body, and selenium for supporting the body’s natural detoxification systems. Onions contain an immune-supporting phytochemical, quercetin. There’s nothing better for soothing the digestive system than bone broth so be sure to sip on this delicious recipe if you’re working on […]

October 17, 2024

Published by Grace O

Sautéed Dandelion Greens with Eggs

Long the scourge of suburban lawns, dandelions are one of the most nutrient-dense foods you can eat. These sautéed dandelion greens with leeks, eggs, and feta cheese showcase this often underappreciated leafy green. To help reduce bitterness, the dandelion greens are quickly blanched in salted boiling water. This is a protein-packed brunch or supper between the eggs and the cheese. Benefits Dandelion leaves can help control blood sugar, manage blood pressure, and reduce systemic inflammation. They are also loaded with antioxidants that can protect cells from stress and keep your immune system strong. At just 25 calories per cup, raw […]

October 8, 2024

Published by Grace O

Pasture Prime: The Benefits of Grass-Fed Beef

I love good-quality beef, particularly grass-fed beef. In fact, when I think of typical American food, I think of steaks, hamburgers, roast beef and more. In the Philippines, where diets consist mostly of fish, pork and chicken, I was lucky enough to grow up in a household where we had access to beef. As a child, hamburgers and steaks were among my favorite foods. As I got older, I began to limit how much and how often I ate beef. Today, I restrict my meat eating to grass-fed, organic beef. Besides being delicious and versatile, beef is a powerhouse of […]

October 8, 2024

Published by Grace O

Steakhouse Potatoes Help Build and Repair Muscle

American Steakhouse Potatoes with Caramelized Onions This recipe is a nod to the classic American custom of eating steaks with baked potatoes. But here you eat less protein and forgo the calorie-rich butter and sour cream that usually dresses them. My Caramelized Onions top this dish. Benefits Potatoes contain vitamin B6, potassium, and fiber for gut health. The protein in steak helps build and repair muscles, hair, nails, skin, bone, and cartilage. Mushrooms contain selenium, which helps protect the heart and regulate blood clotting. Serves 2–4 Ingredients 2 large Russet potatoes, skin on 1 lb. sirloin steak tips, in small, […]

October 8, 2024

Published by Grace O

Arugula Salad with Feta, Pine Nuts, and Berries

The feta cheese in the salad provides protein and calcium. Hint: if you can buy the feta in bulk from a Greek, Persian, or other Middle Eastern deli, do it! Packaged feta will do, but feta from the deli case tastes better. Pine nuts are a good source of B vitamins, folate, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, and manganese. You can buy pine nuts pre-toasted. Leafy green arugula and extra virgin olive oil provide anti-inflammatory properties as do the berries. The salty feta and the sweet berries play beautifully together! Serves 4 Ingredients 1 cup Greek feta cheese, cubed ½ cup extra […]

October 8, 2024

Published by Grace O

Flavorful Flatbreads Get Worldly Makeover

It’s very tempting to call the topic of this blog “pizza” but, instead, I am referring to these endlessly delicious and versatile dishes as “flatbreads” because it suggests so much more than a round baked pie of tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. Almost every culture around the world uses some version of flatbread and, even among those that don’t have a traditional version, you can create one with any cuisine in the world. Some of the characteristics that make flatbreads so appealing are that they are usually presented thin, a little crispy (as opposed to fluffy and doughy), and they […]

October 8, 2024

Published by Grace O

Heart-Healthy Green Tea Noodles Ramp Up the Flavor

Green Tea Noodles with Edamame Green tea, with its powerful theaflavins, is a strong antioxidant with vigorous anti-inflammatory properties, a heart-healthy addition to anyone’s diet. Green tea is wonderful to drink on its own, but it also can be incorporated into recipes. I use an old Asian trick for mixing more green tea into your diet with my Green Tea Noodles with Edamame. It’s an easy and budget-friendly recipe. Just boil soba, udon, or ramen noodles in green tea instead of water. Green tea has far more age-fighting power than water. If you want to eat these noodles cold, rinse […]

September 24, 2024

Published by Grace O

Salt – The Good, the Bad, the Benefits!

Salt has been one of the most vilified substances in the world of food. Too much of it can contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. There is way too much of it in processed foods. It can cause water retention and bloating. These things can be true, but there can be an even greater danger in not getting enough salt. Salt is also an important seasoning tool that puts the finishing touch on most dishes. I need to watch how much salt I put in my food so I try to boost flavors with other spices, but […]