Grace O

June 4, 2018

Published by Grace O

What Foods Help You Live Longer?

The most beautiful people I know are not model perfect. They are people who wear a gorgeous smile along with their glowing skin, bright eyes, healthy body and positive energy. They look good because they feel good, and they know the foods that can help them look and feel younger. But eating well doesn’t mean sacrificing the foods you love or giving up satisfying, great-tasting meals. My new book, The AGE BEAUTIFULLY Cookbook, is filled with delicious foods that also deliver the benefits of health, well-being and longevity. It’s not a diet program or a meal plan, but a way […]

May 29, 2018

Published by Grace O

What’s for Breakfast? A Special Meal for Mom

Surprise mom with a beautiful breakfast! Three amazing dishes that can be served for breakfast or brunch that she will absolutely love! For those of us who grew up in Southeast Asia, big, savory breakfasts were the norm. A popular breakfast staple was smoked fish with scrambled eggs and tomato salad. Fried rice, fried eggs, sausages called longaniza (a bit like Spanish chorizo), and rice porridge with fish or meatballs were also regularly on the menu in most homes, but not in mine. My father, who was a physician and very health-conscious, always ate plain oatmeal, and he insisted we eat it, […]

May 14, 2018

Published by Grace O

Let’s Eat Better! Foods That Fight Cancer

Cancer is responsible for 1 out of every 4 deaths in the U.S.A. In 1880, when record-keeping began, 1 in 35 people developed cancer in their lifetime. That figure has grown to 1 in every 2 men and 1 in every 3 women. Since the occurrence of cancer increases as we age, most cases affect adults middle-aged or older. One of the best cancer-prevention tools for health is eating the right foods, but finding the motivation to eat right sometimes alludes us until we, or someone we love, is faced with a deadly disease. When this happened to someone dear […]

May 1, 2018

Published by Grace O

Almond Milk Is Perfect for Parfaits

While I was growing up, my father made sure that I didn’t eat too many dairy products. He was a doctor and he felt that the saturated fats in animal products were best enjoyed in moderation. To this day, I don’t really drink milk. Lately, I’m not alone. Many people have come to question the wisdom of drinking cow’s milk every day because of its saturated fat content and possible hormone content. Also, vegans and those who are lactose-intolerant need a dairy-free substitute for milk. Luckily, there are a lot of milk alternatives out there for drinking, pouring over breakfast […]

April 24, 2018

Published by Grace O

Cherimoya’s Health Benefits Are a Beauty to Behold

If you’ve never tried cherimoya, you are in for a real treat. Also known as a “custard apple,” one juicy bite and you’ll know why. The taste is the best qualities of mango, banana, papaya, and vanilla flavors and the flesh itself is creamy smooth. Cherimoyas are native to South America, but I have several of the small, bushy trees growing on my ranch near San Diego where they produce fruit from March through May. You can smash cherimoyas and use the pulp in smoothies or as a sauce for ice cream, but I love to cut them in half […]

April 23, 2018

Published by Grace O

Antioxidants Kick Butt When It Comes To Aging

Antioxidants are one of the 8 age-defying benefits we look for in the foods we highlight in my cookbooks and on FoodTrients. My goal is to create delicious dishes packed with the nutrients that help us look and feel younger, and antioxidants are an important part of many of my recipes. So what exactly are antioxidants? Virtually every fruit and vegetable contains antioxidants, and antioxidants are powerful phytonutrients that help our bodies fight free radicals. Free radicals damage the body’s cells and are a major contributor to loss of cognitive function and the diseases of aging. When we eat antioxidant-rich […]

April 16, 2018

Published by Grace O

What’s New, Delicious, and Coming To a Store Near You?

March marks the last gasp of winter months and the long-awaited annual Natural Products Expo West, the “coming out” party for new products. So once again, the tireless FoodTrients team made its way up and down the miles of aisles at California’s Anaheim Convention Center. The Expo was held from March 8-11 and we were there to discover (and taste) new natural products and uncover the latest food trends. This event showcases over 3,500 exhibitors, of which 600 were there for the first time, hoping to sell their products into stores across the country. These consist of manufacturers, marketers, and […]

March 13, 2018

Published by Grace O

It Was a Special Brunch for President and Mrs. Carter

Rosalynn Carter is a truly unforgettable American hero who inspires everyone she meets. Recently, she arrived in Los Angeles to be honored as one of the most accomplished and important First Ladies in United States history. She is a woman I greatly admire, and whom I met for the first time last August when I traveled from Los Angeles to Plains, Georgia with a delegation from St. Genevieve School in Panorama City, CA. The school’s president and principal, Dan Horn, traveled to Plains with the St. Genevieve Jazz Band and conductor Carlos Dominguez, where they celebrated Mrs. Carter’s 90th birthday […]

February 27, 2018

Published by Grace O

Anti-Inflammatories Are the Secret Ingredients To Longevity

We hear about inflammation a lot, but what does it really mean? Put very simply, inflammation is our body’s immune system response when something is wrong, whether it’s infection, stress, or injury. Unfortunately, more studies are showing that inflammation plays a significant role in most of the diseases plaguing our society, including arthritis, heart disease, irritable bowel disorders, Alzheimer’s, Type 2 diabetes and even cancer. So what can we do to fight it? The good news is that there are many foods that calm inflammation in a variety of ways. They’re anti-inflammatories and they keep our arteries young and less […]