Showing posts with label nutrition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nutrition. Show all posts

12.15.2013

Meatless Monday: Guacamole Stuffed Tomato Poppers by the Nutrition Twins


Happy Holidays and Meatless Monday! Join me in welcoming Tammy Lakatos Shames and Lyssie Lakatos, The Nutrition Twins®, twin sisters and nationally recognized registered dietitians and personal trainers and authors of The Nutrition Twins’ Veggie Cure. These health-wise women are here to share a snack-happy, party-perfect vegan recipe and amazing nutrition tips from their new book, which debuts in January 2014. Would you believe there's a food fix for puffy eyes??? Be sure to visit their website for details. You're gonna bookmark and share this sumptuous, smart post! :-) - Belinda


Guacamole Stuffed Tomato Poppers

Photo and recipe from The Nutrition Twins’ Veggie Cure

These vegan poppers are the perfect party pleasers and make great appetizers.  They’ll fill you up with their nutrients and fiber so you won’t be ravenous and overdo it on the not-so-healthy party items.   They are so much fun to eat and when you pop one in your mouth a creamy flavorful burst explodes.  It’s hard to believe you get 6 grams of fiber from a serving of these creamy babies; yep, they’ll help to stabilize blood sugar and prevent energy crashes.  And the fat is coming from the “good for you fats” in the avocado. 

Prep: 15 minutes

Ingredients

1 mashed garlic clove
20 cherry tomatoes
1 mashed avocado
1 juice of a lime
1 Tablespoon chopped cilantro (optional)
1 small diced mango

Directions

1.      Crush garlic and set aside for 5 minutes to release its healthy boosting effect.
2.      Wash cherry tomatoes and cut tops off. Carefully cut a sliver off the bottom to help them stand up. Be careful not to cut too deep to make an opening on the bottom. Using a melon baller or knife, scoop out the insides until hollow.
3.      In a bowl, mix together mashed avocado, lime juice, garlic and cilantro.
4.      Cut mango into tiny cubes so they will fit nicely in the cherry tomatoes.
5.      Gently stuff tomatoes with guacamole and serve as a healthy appetizer!

Did you know that one serving of mangos provides 100% of your daily vitamin C and 35% of your vitamin A, both important antioxidant nutrients? Vitamin C promotes healthy immune function and collagen formation. Vitamin A is important for vision and bone growth.

Serves: 4 (5 tomatoes per serving) 
Per serving: Calories 186; total fat 8 g; saturated fat 1 g; cholesterol 0 mg; sodium 17 mg; carbohydrates 30 g; dietary fiber 6 g; sugars 11 g; protein 4 g

Percent Daily Value:

Vitamin A: 28%      Vitamin C: 78% 

Iron: 7%                   Calcium: 9%


The Nutrition Twins’ Veggie Cure and Guacamole Stuffed Tomato Poppers
We’d love for you to think of Veggie Cure as your go-to bible to help you get what you want in life when it comes to health, energy, or beauty! We’ve done all the scientific research work for you. We’ve purposefully laid out the book so you can easily zip on over to the chapter which addresses your specific goal. In each chapter you'll find our recommended veggie prescription— a discerning list of the most potent vegetables to give you what you want! Plus we clearly explain why those vegetables work their magic.

Each chapter also highlights several vegetable superstars – alongside delicious recipes which correspond to your veggie prescription. For example, if you frequently feel bloated and want to flush all of that puffiness that your body is holding, you’ll turn to “Beat the Bloat and Clean the Pipes.” When you get there you’ll discover which vegetables help you get rid of those swollen fingers and belly – and why. (Pssssst…. Two of our favorite anti-bloat veggies are fennel and artichoke!)  Next up, we’ll share temptilicious recipes to make with these veggies.   You’ll see options like Fennel Stuffed Potatoes, Golden Gazpacho in Petite Cucumber Cradles, Roasted Fennel, Rockin’ Ratatouille, Tomato Artichoke Pasta Bake, Artichoke Hummus, and Parmesan Baked Artichoke and their complete recipes in the back of the book. Choose a recipe, give it a try, and you’ll be well on your way to a flat stomach and puff-free eyes.

Regardless of your goal –or which chapter you turn to first—this  book takes you by the hand, guiding you step by step to a better, happier, healthier you.

What would you most like to add to your guacamole?
 
 
 
 
  
pollcode.com free polls 
Tammy Lakatos Shames and Lyssie Lakatos, The Nutrition Twins®, are twin sisters and nationally recognized registered dietitians and personal trainers and authors of The Nutrition Twins’ Veggie Cure, Fire Up Your Metabolism and The Secret To Skinny. They are media go-to’s and have been featured as experts on major TV shows/ networks and popular press ranging from The Doctors, Good Morning America Health, Fox and Friends and Discovery Health to USA Today, Health Magazine and Vogue.  www.NutritionTwins.com

10.21.2013

Meatless Monday: Cookbook Review, Free Recipe & Giveaway



10.27.13 UPDATE: 
Congratulations to the five lucky winners of the free cookbook giveaway:
Janice Crespo
Bree Stegman
Ionut Leonard Taranu
C. Daisy Hollett
Kim Propp
Thank you all for participating! Many blessings to you. :-) 
- Belinda

On this Meatless Monday, I’m proud to announce that Confessions of a Red Hot Veggie Lover 2: Lacto Ovo Vegetarian Recipes is finally published.  In honor of the new release, I’m posting cookbook reviews, a free vegetarian recipe and a cookbook giveaway! But first, a little about the new ebook.

About the Cookbook

It features three wonderful new Meatless Monday recipes, including Dreamy Jambalaya, which you’ll find below. Most of the recipes have a fun hint as to their ingredients’ nutritional value under their title. There’s also a Resources page, with links to my favorite vegetarian foods. Some of these companies have vegetarian coupons and more products on their sites, so they’re worth a peek.

Confessions of a RedHot Veggie Lover 2: Lacto Ovo Vegetarian Recipes is available as an ebook only at Amazon for $2.99. Borrow it FREE on Kindles with Amazon Prime!


Where do you get vegetarian/vegan groceries?
  
pollcode.com free polls 

Nutrition

The healthy recipes cover biscuits, omelettes, oatmeal, beans, pasta, potatoes, rice, sandwiches and desserts/snacks. Some are ideal for empowering your kids to eat healthier and become more self sufficient in the kitchen. For instance, Fruity Patooty Burrito is a quick and easy after-school snack your kids can assemble themselves from pre-chopped ingredients and seasonings kept within easy reach. Many recipes are suitable for women experiencing the ups and downs of menopause. The very first recipe, Kiss Your Brain Biscuits, features soy flour. According to WebMD, soy, which contains phytoestrogens, has been shown to ease the discomfort of hot flashes and restore cognitive functions in many menopausal women under the age of 65.

Last, but not at all least, this vegetarian cookbook holds within its pages valuable vegetarian nutrition tips and vegan quotes from my team of international experts: Rebecca Subbiah, RDN (UK & USA), EmmaCarder, RD (UK), Lauren O’Connor, RD (USA), Cynthia Strawson, MSc, Nutrition & Metabolism (Canada), Dan Hanley of The Gay Vegans blog (USA) and Andrea Zeichner of Cook Easy Vegan blog (USA).


Cookbook Reviews

You do not have to be a vegetarian to enjoy these easy to make recipes. In fact, the meals taste so good that you forget you're eating totally healthy! My favorite dish that I can't get enough of is the 'One Bowl Fritatta,’ an awesome omelet like you've never eaten before. – Lori Bourgeois, La-La’s Home Daycare


My hubby loved the omelettes and usually he only wants an omelet with sausage or bacon in it! With these recipes, you really don't know there isn't any meat in them unless you prepared the meal or unless you were told.  There are great recipes for your children to help you prepare, and I promise it will help you get your little ones eating more veggies!  I have 7- and 3-year-olds. Sometimes it is difficult getting them to try new things, but I didn't have trouble with these! – Jenni Blizzard Moye, Southern Mom of 4

Free Recipe

“Eating more vegetables and less meat is a life saver - the science is irrefutable.” – Cynthia Strawson, MSc, Nutrition & Metabolism


Dreamy Jambalaya
Balance your blood sugar and smooth your skin.
                                                                               
1 box Zatarain’s® Jambalaya with Cheese® mix
1 can Trappey’s® Okra with Tomatoes, do NOT drain

Pour jambalaya mix rice and seasoning into large bowl.  Add water and follow microwave directions.  Stir well to break up any caked seasoning mix.  Add okra and tomatoes.  Stir and microwave 1 minute on HIGH or until desired consistency. 

TIP: If you're concerned about salt, simply substitute the Zatarain’s® Jambalaya with Reduced Sodium, vegan cheese and Reduced Sodium Cajun Seasoning.


Giveaway

Don't you just love cookbook giveaways? This is my first time to host one. Five lucky readers will each win a free copy of Confessions of a Red Hot Veggie Lover 2: Lacto Ovo Recipes in PDF format. Just follow the directions in the Rafflecopter box. Winners will be chosen Sunday, 10/27/2013 and announced here. Good luck, y’all!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bloggers: You can also share the giveaway widget on your site so your readers can enter to win. It all goes into the same hat. Grab the code:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/Y2NhZWFiYjYzOTlmMzE3MjVkMjEyNjk1NTk4N2I3OjA=/

5.08.2013

Gluten Free Vegan Potato Recipes and Potassium Tips


Think you don’t have time to cook potatoes? These flavorful gluten free vegan potato recipes will make you think again. Potatoes are a tasty source of amazing amounts of nutrition and outrank bananas, broccoli and spinach in potassium content. Potassium is crucial in balancing water, sodium and other minerals and most people don’t get enough in their diet. Potatoes are an easily accessible and highly desirable source of potassium, which is helpful in addressing high blood pressure, kidney disorders and cardiovascular disease. Just ask your doctor. Then take two bites or more of these gluten free vegan potato recipes and call us in the morning.

People living with celiac disease are at particular risk for potassium deficiency, due to losses from celiac disease related symptoms, which keep you busy in the bathroom awhile and leave you dehydrated. Potatoes are a big help in this case, as they pack a whopping 845mg of potassium per medium potato.

Kids can be picky eaters and kids with autism can strongly prefer certain foods over variety. This leaves both groups in a situation common to most adult Americans – taking in too much sodium and not enough potassium, a situation which can contribute to health risks. It also leaves many parents deeply concerned and puzzled about nutrition and how to balance it, given their children’s tendencies. Potassium supplements can lead to very bad problems, but potatoes generally do not. Check out these gluten free vegan potato recipes for options to fit your family.

To get more potatoes in your family’s diet, especially picky children, try starting off with the No Oil Potato Chips below. Do your kids already like apples and potatoes? Let them taste Potato & Apple Gratin and give you their opinions. Bring crowd pleasing Creamy Avocado Potato Salad or Carrot Vichyssoise (pronounced vee-she-swah, French for cold potato soup) to your next adult barbecue or picnic. No one will guess that they’re gluten free vegan potato recipes and you might even rack up a few compliments for flavor.   


Carrot Vichyssoise (DF, GF, SF, K, V, VG) VeggieTable
 
Creamy Avocado Potato Salad (DF, GF, SF, K, V, VG) Post Punk Kitchen
Potato & Apple Gratin (DF, GF, SF, K, V, VG) Pledging for Change
 
Potato Curry (DF, GF, SF, K, V, VG) AllRecipes
No Oil Potato Chips (DF, GF, SF, K, V, VG) Vegan-Food.net
Be sure to visit our Recipe Index for more gluten free vegan recipes. Bon appotato!
 
Potato and Potassium Resources:
 
WebMD "Diet for Autism: What Works?"
 
 
 
 

3.31.2013

Meatless Monday: Vegan Potato Recipes

Looking for delicious, nutritious vegan potato recipes for Meatless Monday? Get ready to rock, because I found some super spud flavors in this week’s blast through the blogosphere. First, let’s take a moment to honor this truly amazing vegetable that has given us so much and asks so little in return.

The nutritional powerhouse we think of as a side dish has been and continues to be a key to human survival. For the mountain-dwelling Incas in 200 BC, potatoes survived the harsh climate better than wheat, rice or corn. Sailors stocked them in their berths for hundreds of years as a preventive for their occupational hazard of scurvy, caused by a lack of Vitamin C. Alaskan miners used their precious gold to pay for them back in 1897.

In today’s economy, fresh potatoes prepared at home have the power to sustain families struggling to make ends meet. Potatoes can feed 10 people per crop acre. Despite their water content, they consume less water than corn, rice or wheat. That's good news in times of increasingly severe droughts. In 1995, NASA proved potatoes even grow well in zero gravity conditions in outer space.

Just one medium baked or boiled potato provides half the RDA of Vitamin C and significant amounts of numerous other vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber found in the skin.
 
The Vitamin C content in potatoes alone is critical. It strengthens cell and blood vessel walls, boosts immunity, converts stored fat into energy and contributes to the health of teeth and gums, just for starters. But you don’t really taste it in potatoes. Nor would you guess that they’re 80% water, which, along with the beneficial carbohydrates and fiber in the skin, gives you that full, satisfied feeling.
 
So grab a sack of potatoes and let’s get cooking with these Meatless Monday Vegan Potato Recipes!
Indian Potato Cakes (DF, SF, K, V, VG) India Snacks
Cilantro Red Potato Salad Wrap (*A, DF, GF, SF, K, V, VG) Kathy Patalsky/Babble
*Contains alcohol via the wine in Dijon mustard. Read labels carefully and make substitutions as needed. Remember that Honey Mustard is not vegan.
BBQ Potatoes (DF, GF, SF, K, V, VG) Vegan Cooking
Potatoes “Au Gratin” Casserole (DF, SF, K, V, VG) Jolinda Hackett & Lorena Novak Bull, Net Places Vegan Recipes
Potato Gatto (DF, GF, SF, K, V, VG) Fat Free Vegan
Remember to visit our Recipe Index for more Meatless Monday vegan potato recipes. Bon appetit!
 
 
 
Potato Information Resources: