Age GracefullyThe First Taste of Fall: Apples & Pears
There’s always a moment when I realize fall has arrived. Here in Southern California, it isn’t necessarily because the temperature has dropped or the leaves have started changing. Sometimes, it’s simply walking through the market and seeing beautiful displays of crisp apples and ripe pears. To me, apples and pears are some of the first tastes of fall. I love them because they’re delicious just as they are, but they’re also incredibly versatile in the kitchen. Slice them into a salad, pair them with nuts and cheese, cook them alongside a savory meal, or bake them with cinnamon and warm […]READ MORE
March 27, 2024
Published by Grace O
Everyone loves chicken! That’s because it’s so versatile and takes on whatever flavors it’s cooked with. Chickens, as a source of high-quality protein, can be raised in small spaces and require relatively modest amounts of feed to grow rather quickly. Every culture in the world has a national version of a chicken recipe. Traveling the world and growing up in the Philippines, where the cuisine is influenced by so many cultures – Spanish, Asian, Indian, Polynesian, and American – I have been exposed to delicious dishes from around the globe. That’s why at FoodTrients we love exploring international flavors. What […]
March 27, 2024
Published by Grace O
Inflammation can wreak havoc on your health. It’s the body’s natural reaction to a stressor, which can be an injury, illness, infection or even a tough workout. Acute inflammation is a good thing, as long as it resolves the effects of stress on the body in the short term. But when it is chronic, occurring at high levels over a period of time due to a lack of sleep, poor diet, repeated infections, or other health conditions, it can lead to digestive problems, reduce the body’s ability to heal and lower immunity, leading to inflammatory diseases such as cancer, diabetes, […]
March 12, 2024
Published by Grace O
My fans have let me know how much they enjoy crockpot cooking, so I love including slow cooker recipes on the website and in my cookbooks. Slow cookers allow busy families the chance to come home to long-simmered soups, sauces, stews and other comforting meals that warm the soul. The trick to developing or converting recipes for slow cookers is to correctly estimate the liquid needed. Figure that about 2 cups of liquid will be evaporated during the cooking process over six to eight hours, so plan accordingly. For instance, if you want to make chicken soup or minestrone soup […]
March 12, 2024
Published by Grace O
I have written about Mediterranean superfoods and the huge benefits of this mostly plant-based diet which also includes small amounts of extra-virgin olive oil as the most common fat and plenty of seafood, whole grains, modest amounts of lean meats and chicken. In fact, according to Bloomberg, the healthiest countries in Europe (and in fact most of the world) are Italy, Spain, Greece, Iceland and Switzerland. The first three are, of course, Mediterranean countries, but who’d have thought that the Icelandic population would be fueled by superfoods? Then there’s the French food paradox: French cuisine features lots of delicious bread, […]
February 26, 2024
Published by Grace O
Even though the calendar (and the groundhog) says we’re less than six weeks from spring, we’re still in the middle of cold, flu, and Covid season. It’s important to boost your immune system to help ward off these nagging afflictions. It’s much easier to keep them at bay than to fight them off once they’ve settled in. If you haven’t already, you should read the article by our contributing writer and nutritionist Ginger Hultin. It provides in-depth descriptions of foods that contain vitamins, minerals, and compounds that help your body fight diseases. These FoodTrients can be found in delicious recipes […]
February 15, 2024
Published by Grace O
These days chocolate comes in exciting flavor combinations that make it an adventure. I’ve seen many of these gourmet versions in stores such as Whole Foods and upscale supermarkets. I’ve also had the opportunity to sample many unusual forms of chocolate at the Natural Products Expo, which takes place in Anaheim, CA each March. By now, we all know that dark chocolate is truly FoodTrient-worthy. It’s loaded with vitamins, antioxidants and even some fiber. The flavor, texture and nuances of dark chocolate, like fine wine, are determined by where the beans are grown and how they’re processed. A 100 gram […]
February 13, 2024
Published by Grace O
Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, is a very important holiday for me. Although I was born and raised in Southeast Asia, my father was three-quarters Chinese and my mother was half Chinese. We always celebrated the lunar new year by making special meals full of symbolism. For instance, we made a sweet sticky rice cake called tikoy because it symbolizes unity and togetherness and good luck that is supposed to stick to you all year long. We also cleaned the house and bought new clothes to wear on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. And […]
February 13, 2024
Published by Grace O
We’re well into the new year, so it’s time to think about cleaning out our systems and starting fresh. However, I’m not going to suggest a juice cleanse or an exotic tea. You can try these from time to time for a short while, but you can also detox in other ways. Why not enjoy delicious foods that support the body’s natural detoxification systems, including that vital organ/filter, the liver? What exactly is “detoxification?” It’s the processing and removal of compounds in the body that cause damage to tissues. We often associate detoxing with expensive specialty products, vitamins/minerals, herbal extracts/teas, or other […]
January 29, 2024
Published by Grace O
It’s that time of year when the sun sinks too early and you’re ready to light a fire, or at least scented candles. While we might think longingly back on summer and its exuberant offerings of fresh tomatoes, luscious stone fruit and tender baby greens, it’s time to relish in the bounty of winter vegetables. The winter months give us a number of hearty veggies that provide comfort and superb nutrition, not to mention versatility and great taste. I make sure to include a lot of these delicious foods on my winter menus. Here are some of the most FoodTrient-packed […]
January 29, 2024
Published by Grace O
Feeling frisky and ready for romance? Well, I have a few good suggestions for foods that are not only good for you but also tasty treats that will enhance any night (or day) of romance. In my observation, there are several categories of foods that qualify as “romantic,” or enhance a romantic moment. First, and obviously, are the ones that resemble parts of the anatomy associated with sex and love like bananas, asparagus, and avocados (think about it). Or moist, voluptuous foods like oysters and figs. Then there are the foods that provide so much nutrition and feeling of well-being […]
January 29, 2024
Published by Grace O
Here in Southern California, just about every yard and neighborhood has citrus trees heavy with fruit. I have a number of fruit trees myself and always marvel at how plentiful and tasty the oranges, lemons and limes are this time of year. Just about any variety of citrus is at its best in the winter months, but there are some new and unusual varieties that are pretty spectacular. Along with great taste, all citrus are high in vitamins A and C and fiber, while naturally low in calories. Grapefruit Red grapefruit varieties such as Flame, Ruby, Rio Red and Star […]
January 16, 2024
Published by Grace O
If you’re like me, you’re interested in foods that can give you high-density nutrition, protect you from chronic disease, help reverse disease, and even defy the aging process. And what better time to focus your attention on these important qualities of food than the New Year! Every New Year, I resolve to expand my knowledge of healthy, anti-aging foods and create new, easy, and delicious recipes to share with my family and friends. This year, a few unique and promising foods have already piqued my interest: goji berries, camu camu, spirulina, and mangosteen. All of them contain FoodTrients—my word for nutrients […]
December 5, 2023
Published by Grace O
I love turkey. My mother always prepared it for holidays. Most of my friends and family like turkey, too, so they’re happy with the big roasted bird. But I know a number of people who don’t want or need to cook a whole bird. So, if you’re looking for ideas for less turkey and more flavor, I’ve got some tasty turkey recipes for you that will make this Thanksgiving extra special. Like most Americans, Thanksgiving is one of my most favorite holidays. As much as I adore Christmas, you don’t have the pressure of finding perfect gifts or getting to […]