The “What do you do?” question
As a dietitian I’ve given many presentations about food and nutrition. There’s one question I recall clearly and consistently over the years and that question is the reason for this blog. So, what is it the audience always wants to know? It’s….. “What do YOU do, Donna?” [Read on...]
Foodie Brain Teazers
This blog needs some action! I will be doing more news and views on current hot topics. In the mean time, here is something to chew on as I do a bit of blog work. Feel free to post your answers, and to challenge any responses! Have fun….
Q1. What fruit has its seeds on the outside?
Q2. Of all vegetables, only two continue to produce on their own for several growing seasons. All other vegetables must be replanted every year. What are the only two perennial vegetables?
Q3. At holiday time you can buy pear brandy with a real pear inside the bottle. The pear is whole and ripe, and the bottle is genuine; it hasn’t been cut in any way. How did the pear get inside the bottle?
Q4. Name the only vegetable or fruit that is never sold frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form except fresh.
Smoothie Breakfast…yummm!
The scale is telling me I must curtail my intake so I can be ready for the next round of holiday feasting. So….I’ve changed my breakfast routine from cereals to home-made smoothies. I find smoothies refreshing and filling, keeping me away from the carbs I crave at lunch. My readings verify that whey protein does indeed effect how full you feel, plus it has a beneficial effect on blood glucose and insulin response. My smoothie delivers about 10 gm protein, not the 40 gm shown to have the strongest effects. Regardless, it does the trick and I find them delicious.
This morning’s smoothie was made with skim milk and low fat yogurt, frozen fruits I have stashed in my freezer, [Read on...]
I love popcorn as a snack.
What can be better than a crunchy snack and lots of it….not to overlook the low calories and high fibre. I stopped buying microwave popcorn because of its historic use of trans and/or saturated fats. I pop from scratch.
But imagine my surprise when I gave a gift of gourmet kernels only to learn the recipients didn’t have a clue how to make stovetop popcorn. I won’t take time to detail the age-old method, check out YouTube instead. Just remember to start with a healthy oil like canola, and you don’t need a lot of it – one tablespoon or less per 2 quart pot is adequate. Toss in 5 kernels and wait (lid on) until they have popped to know the oil is hot enough to add your portion (about one third cup). Kernels should be in a single layer and keep shaking!!
Buying Calcium and Vitamin D
At Loblaw’s Superstore today, I was looking for a good price on calcium supplements. Jamieson’s was a good deal but the calcium tablets were combined with vitamin D. I already have vitamin D tablets, so I nearly passed up the sale priced combo tablets. Then a light bulb went off, and I bought them.
Here’s what i thought…..I have 1000 IU Vit. D tabs which I can score and cut in half. So I take one calcium tab plus half Vitamin D tab to deliver 700 IU Vit. D and 650 mg Calcium, a perfect compliment to my dietary intake. It’s important to take the Vitamin D together with calcium to maximize absorption into your system.
I have been diagnosed with osteopenia and aim for a daily intake of 1000 IU Vit D plus 1500 mg Calcium.
Psyllium substitute for high priced bran buds
The thing that makes bran buds so good for reducing cholesterol is the soluble fibre they contain – in the form of psyllium. Since a box of bran buds cost about 6 dollars now, I just bought some powdered psyllium. We’ll sprinkle 1 tablespoon on our cereal until the bran bud company (there’s really only one brand) returns to sanity.