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Blogs
February 22, 2010 – Tomatoes: Should You Ban the Can? Canned tomatoes have long been one of my go-to pantry staples. I use them in everything from sauces to soups, they make for effortless rush-hour meals and they are loaded with nutrients. So when I read some rumblings about the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) in canned tomatoes, I had to get to the bottom of it. BPA is a chemical used in many plastics and in the resins that line metal cans. In light of new research the FDA recently changed its position on BPA and now concedes that exposure may have health risks, especially for pregnant women and young children. But, they say, more research needs to be done to get a clear understanding of the issue. Some reports suggest that almost all Americans have BPA in their system, but at a very low level, much lower than the FDA’s current safe level. Obviously, this touches on some serious stuff and consumer pressure has lead many manufacturers of baby bottles, and water bottles to reformulate and remove BPA. So where do tomatoes come into the mix? BPA is in almost all canned food linings but it is especially likely to leach into acidic products- like tomatoes. Other acidic foods like soup and juice are also a concern. So what to do? At this point, I am not going to stop using canned tomatoes. There doesn’t seem to be enough research to justify that and they have so many other plusses that the benefits seem to outweigh any risk. I will, however continue to focus primarily on fresh foods, including fresh tomatoes, and look for alternatives to BPA cans. There are a few boxed and BPA-free canned products out there already and I will be keeping my eye out for more. I will also be on the look out for any new research developments. So stay tuned.
January 6, 2010- Top Ten Diet Mistakes I kicked off the New Year this week on “LIVE! with Regis and Kelly” where I revealed my Top 10 Diet Mistakes… and how to avoid them, of course. Chances are you’ve run into these pitfalls before, but don’t worry; just being aware of them makes them easier to get around.
MISTAKE # 10- Setting Unreasonable Goals
Don’t set yourself up for failure and discouragement by aiming to look like you did at high school graduation. I mean, you wouldn’t want your high school hairstyle back, would you? Instead choose a goal that is do-able but is a bit of a reach. Honestly ask yourself, at what weight do you feel most comfortable and what is realistically sustainable? MISTAKE # 9- Going to Extremes
It's inevitable: deprivation leads to over-indulging. Instead of cutting out indulgent favorites completely try a more balanced, live-able plan. I look at foods as Usually, Sometimes and Rarely… there is no such thing as never. If you fill your day with vegetables, fruit, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy… a little cheese or a piece of chocolate won’t derail you. MISTAKE # 8- Skipping Breakfast
People skip breakfast thinking they're cutting calories, but they inevitably make up those calories later…and then some, with less healthy food at that. Breakfast skippers are more vulnerable to impulsive eating (hello vending machine) and do more poorly on cognitive tests. For a tasty way to start the day off right, try my Vanilla Spiced Oatmeal.
MISTAKE #- 7 Having No Food at Home
Eating well starts at the grocery store. If you have great food at your fingertips then you will eat well instead of grabbing salty, high fat take out. Stock up on staples that make meal prep easy and healthy. Check out my Seven So Easy Staples video to see some of my go-to pantry items.
MISTAKE #6- Shopping Without a List
Grocery stores are designed to make you buy impulsively. And many of those impulsive purchases are unhealthy snack foods you really don’t need around the house calling your name. So shop with a list and stick to it! My So Easy Pantry List is a great place to start and you’ll be prepared to whip up delicious meals in minutes like my Garlic-Basil Shrimp.
MISTAKE #5- Drinking your Calories You can easily down hundreds of calories on sodas, lemonade, sweet teas, coffee drinks, wine, cocktails, and even juices without realizing it. These calories add up but they don’t make you feel full. Instead, choose beverages that refresh and hydrate you like herbal iced tea, club soda with a splash of cranberry and lime, or my favorite, “spa water” (water with slices of orange and cucumber.)
MISTAKE # 4- Picking
You can eat hundreds of calories mindlessly by picking throughout the day….the crusts from your child’s sandwich, a handful of M&Ms, a corner of a donut at the office….Stop picking. If you are hungry, actually grab a plate and sit down to eat.
MISTAKE # 3- Going it Alone
You have a much better chance of success if you get friends and family on board with your plan. It doesn’t mean they have to do what you are doing, but letting them know your goals and how can support you will make it that much easier to stay on track.
MISTAKE #2- Taking off weekends
You are “perfect” all week and then the weekend is a haze of chicken wings, pizza, ice cream and oversized margaritas. Monday starts the cycle all over again and you never lose an ounce even though you feel like you are always eating carefully. Remember weekends count. After all, counting Fridays they comprise more than a third of our lives. Allow yourself a couple of indulgences (even a margarita) but don’t let the weekend be a blow-out.
MISTAKE #1- Going on a Diet!
The number one diet mistake is going on a diet in the first place. A diet is inherently a short term commitment to - something you go on, and then go off, which puts you on an unhealthy roller coaster. Instead of going on a “diet” rethink your plan so you are making changes you can live with. Now is the perfect time to start; happy and healthy 2010!
December 17, 2009- Give the Gift of Healthy IndulgenceHolidays are about celebrating what’s most important in life, and at the top of my list is the health and happiness of my friends and family. I always treat them to good-for-you gifts that also feel decedent and indulgent. Here are a few of my favorite healthy, holiday gift baskets that are sure to get raves:
Healthy Indulgences Put together a collection of luscious treats packed with nutritious perks. My favorites:
Tea for two
A cup of hot tea is one of life's simple pleasures, and to top it off you get a healthy dose of antioxidants. For a simple but thoughtful gift, gather an assortment of tasty teas that will help your loved ones stay warm and relax this holiday season. My personal favorites are black teas infused with fruit and herbs, especially blackberry and sage. If you want to get fancy, try:
Or if you’re not the Do It Yourself type, you can also find a wide selection of tea gifts in stores and online.
Easy Morning
One of the things I enjoy the most about holidays is having the time to lounge around in the morning with my family relaxing in our PJ’s. This basket is a great way to share some of the things that help make those mornings so special. Try:
Here’s to a happy and healthy holiday season! Enjoy!
November 16, 2009 - So Easy Book Tour: Culinary Highlights
Besides getting to meet and greet all the wonderful folks who inspire my cooking and writing, when I am on book tour I also get to experience a taste of every city I visit. Here are some culinary highlights of my journey so far: Starting out in Austin, Texas on Halloween night, it was delightful to wander around downtown checking out all the costumed revelers. I found my way to the Cantina Laredo where I celebrated my kick off with a top notch frozen margarita and a small plate of perfectly seasoned tacos carnitas served on soft corn tortillas with a generous sprinkle of chopped fresh cilantro and onion. The next morning, after an early TV appearance, I stopped at a funky dive called Star Seeds for a filling breakfast of Migas, a traditional Mexican dish of eggs scrambled with corn tortillas, tomatoes and jalapenos. Not exactly a light start but I was really hungry and it totally hit the spot. As I was leaving the waiter casually mentioned “You look even prettier in person.” I am definitely going back there! Next stop, Houston, where I hit two hot spots: at Hugos I devoured an extraordinary salad of shaved fennel, tender greens, beets and chayote with thin ribbons of citrus zest, and then Reef where I met up with some friends and shared the house specialty crab lollipops (crab legs with a plump bite of lump meat still attached at the base) and bacon-smoked tuna slices served with paper thin slices of green apple and radish. Back up North in Boston I connected with my college housemate and her husband for a fun dinner at Sel de la Terre, where I had to be practically held back from eating the entire plate of rosemary French fries we ordered. In Vegas, I dined al fresco with dear friends at the wonderful Beard award winning Bartolotta. Unlike most big name restaurants in Vegas, Paul Bartolotta is actually there greeting customers and making magic in the kitchen. The restaurant specializes in Mediterranean fish which they fly in daily. I had the Triglia (red mullet) which was absolutely wonderful- a tender white fillet, cooked to perfection with briney capers and olives and sweet roasted red peppers in an ideal balance. Nocca is definitely a find in Phoenix, its unintriguing location in a little strip mall is quickly erased from my mind as I enter and the modern, warm, artisanal vibe of the place draws me right in. I am both relaxed and energized watching the chefs in the open kitchen. I started with a roasted beet salad with micro greens blue cheese pistachio and pomagrante and then had Tazmanian Sea Trout (never heard of it before-it is very much like salmon) with Brussels sprouts, polenta and leeks. A perfect- quite intriguing- fall supper. Then off to Seattle where I lunched with the talented people from Amazon who have been so supportive of the book. They arranged for one of their favorite home-town chefs, Tom Douglas, to cook up a meal using recipes from So Easy. What an honor it was to have Tom and his dream team make my food! It was only natural for me to want to try his. The only problem was choosing between the many of his fabulous restaurants. I landed at Dahlia for its relaxing yet energetic atmosphere where I indulged in Tom’s deservedly famous Dungenous crab cake and topped it off with a piece of his triple coconut cream pie. Luckily, I shared the pie because after just a few bites I was already in heaven. Rounding off this leg of the tour back in Flemington, NJ, I had a late night meal after my signing at a cute little BYO place in the center of town called 55 Main. I particularly enjoyed my spinach salad there which was topped with warm grilled zucchini in a parmesan dressing. What a culinary adventure it has been so far! I look forward to more when I am back on the road in January. November 5, 2009 - So Easy Gets Raves
My new book So Easy: Luscious Healthy Meals for Every Day of the Week came out this week and I am thrilled about the rave reviews it has been receiving. It was selected by the New York Times as one of the season’s most interesting cookbooks. It has been featured on Barnes and Noble “Tagged!” and chosen as one of Amazon’s Hot New Releases in their Fall Into Cooking lineup. I am in the midst of a 19 city national book tour, and I would love to meet you in person so check my upcoming events to see if I will be in your area.
It awe-inspiring for me to prep food in the White House kitchen with chefs Cris Comerford and Sam Kass, and to formally meet and be photographed with Michelle Obama in the room next to where Roosevelt had his fireside chats. My husband Thom and daughter Isabella got to come along for the full experience too. Mrs. Obama organized this day of fun and good food to drive home her commitment to improving the nutrition and fitness habits of our children and encourage schools to take the Healthier US Schools Challenge a program designed inspire schools to provide fruits, vegetables and whole grains along with nutrition and physical education. We have a long way to go, there are lots of things about the system that are broken, but getting schools involved at this grass roots level certainly is a big first step in the right direction. It is so heartening to me to have a leader in the White House who believes in the long term benefits of a healthy lifestyle and who so clearly lives that way herself. I hope to be able to do more to help her in this cause.
October 15, 2009 - Burger Bash with a Side of Fries
I had a great time hanging out with Melissa d'Arabian, Duff and his team, and AaronMcCargo, Jr. Bobby Flay couldn't take time out for a photo because he was busy serving what turned out to be my favorite burgers---topped with crunchy potato chips and some watercress---along with bourbon spiked icy cold milk shakes. Well worth the indulgence. I was doing some serving there myself, of crispy, golden French Fries. Yes, I was passing out that potato-licious classic burger accompaniment, but of course mine were healthy too. I was serving these fries to show off an innovative new healthy cooking appliance that I am helping launch, called Actifry. It makes a whole batch of incredible fries with just a tablespoon of oil. It also makes stir-fries, risotto, roasted vegetables, desserts and even granola. I contributed many recipes to the cookbook that comes with the appliance. The Actifry, by T-Fal has been selling well in Europe for years and I am excited to be part of bringing it to the US. Check it out at www.t-falusa.com
September 15, 2009 - New Way RA
RA is not the creaky-bones kind of arthritis that comes with old age. It is an autoimmune disease that leads to inflammation which ultimately can cause debilitating joint destruction. It tends to be diagnosed in people in their prime of life, ages 30-50. Overall it affects more than a million Americans, 70% of them women. Deborah knows about RA first hand as her mother suffered from it and ultimately died from complications from of the condition at a relatively young age. In the talk show, she shares her story, and goes on to interview various experts about how you can live better with RA. There is a top physician, relationship coach, exercise specialist, career coach, and yours truly, showing you how you can eat to reduce inflammation and stay well. It is a real whole-life approach designed for those with RA and their loved ones. And it is totally free. Just go to www.NewWayRA.com to log on and see clips from the show. If you register you can watch the whole program on-line at your leisure or request a free DVD to be mailed to you.
August 5, 2009 – A Few of My Favorite Things One of the perks of my job is that companies send me different foods to sample– everything from exotic spices to dried fruits to chicken stock. It is fun to have a mystery box waiting for me at the office and taste what is inside. I admit I have gotten some real clunkers- including more than half a dozen different horrible energy bars-but there are there are a few gems that really stand out. These are three of my most recent favs:
Honibe Honey Drops This one gets filed in the “why didn’t I think of that” category. Honey drops are exactly what they sound like: a teaspoon of 100% pure honey all wrapped up in one neat and tidy dried honey drop. All natural, pure honey without the sticky mess. No more goopy spoons to wash, perfect for taking on the road and they even make for a great sucking candy. Check out Honibe’s website and see if there is a place to pick up Honey Drops near you, or, order online at www.honibe.com.
V-Fusion Juice While I prefer (and encourage people) to consume whole fruits and vegetables, including some juice is fine too as long as you choose one that is loaded with nutrition. V8’s 100% juice V-Fusion packs a whole serving of fruit AND vegetables into one single yummy, thirst quenching 8 oz glass. It’s an especially good solution for people who think they don’t like veggies. The flavors, like Peach Mango and Pomegranate Blueberry, are unique and delicious. Just ask my husband Thom. Thanks to him and Bella I can’t seem to keep enough of the stuff in the house!
Green and Black’s Chocolate As a congrats for winning the James Beard award which they sponsor, Green and Black’s sent me a wonderfully unexpected gift basket filled with their entire line of incredible, top quality organic chocolate bars. I am still conducting extensive “research” to identify my favorite. So far, the Maya Gold is the frontrunner – a rich, dark chocolate with hints of orange, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. Or, is it the dark chocolate with cherries? I may have to go try another bite……
July 7, 2009 - What's Up at Starbucks
I took a little field trip last week to Seattle to hear, see and taste what the folks at Starbucks headquarters are up to. I got to visit the Coffee Education room and learn the professional technique for tasting coffees and teas. (It’s called cupping). I tasted the new and improved baked goods, salads, smoothies and sandwiches, toured the facility and met the people behind the development of all these foods and drinks.
I have to say, I was very impressed. I walked away with a clear notion that the people at Starbucks genuinely care about the quality of what they serve and the impact they have on the health and well being of their customers and the earth at large.
Big changes they have made recently reflect this commitment. Starting last week, all of their baked goods are free of trans-fat, artificial dyes and flavors and high fructose corn syrup. Each piece of their banana bread now has 1/3 cup of actually banana instead of banana flavoring! (I laugh that is really is a brave new world when banana bread that actually has banana in it is newsworthy!). They are moving in this “100% real ingredient” direction with all their drinks as well.
And they are offering a whole lot more healthy options, which make it easier to eat well on the run. One I have to highlight is their Vivanno smoothies. They are made with pure ingredients like whole fruit and milk, they are frothy and absolutely delicious. They are as close to one of my homemade smoothies I have seen. Unlike many store bought smoothies they aren’t just full of sugar- they have protein and fiber and come in at under 300 calories.
I applaud Starbucks for making such healthful changes. They serve 50 million people every week so they can have a huge impact on making America healthier. Case in point: when they switched their standard milk from whole to 2% they saved customers 7 billion calories and nearly 5 million pounds of fat that year! Thanks Starbucks for helping making it a easier to eat better.
June 16, 2009 - Wild and Local Dinner Party This past Saturday evening, my husband Thom and I had the immense pleasure of hosting a 5 course “Wild and Local” dinner party at our home as a fundraiser for our daughter’s school. All our guests were friends from the school community and every ingredient, from the sugar snap peas for the appetizer to the whipped cream on the dessert, was locally grown and produced. We chose to host this event not only to highlight the delicious flavors and nutritional benefits that can be found in local and sustainable ingredients, but to remind ourselves that the roots of a strong community can be formed, fortified and sustained over good food, good wine and great company. Thom, an avid fisherman and bow hunter, brought in the “Wild” element with the wild steelhead trout he caught and venison he hunted. He also handpicked, from Central Park, the mulberrys we used in the dessert. I cannot believe how sweet those berries are! I brought in the “Local” element by being a native New Yorker myself, and by procuring nearly all the rest of the ingredients from the Union Square Market, a mecca of locally produced goodies. Check out the entire delicious menu... My trusty neighborhood wine merchant, Costas from Gotham Wines, helped me pair each course with wines from various New York State prod |
Where else but the Wine and Food Festival Burger Bash can you taste a whopping 15 different kinds of burgers made by celebrity chefs and mingle with your favorite Food Network friends? Well that is where I was last weekend, and boy was it a blast!