 |
|
|
||||
|
Healthy recipes and cooking tips for balance in life
Each month, the author Kusum Gupta shares her favorite recipes, tips, and cooking secrets. Whether you want to make your own bread, indulge in comfort foods, celebrate spring, enjoy family, or entertain friends, she'll show you how to have a balanced approach to life and also have delicious food.
Are you getting tired of all the advice about eating this and not eating that? Some of the advice is conflicting and many times not practical. The list of “good” foods and “bad” foods changes so often that it becomes confusing. All media – television, magazines, and newspapers are focusing on healthy food. Our local newspaper ‘Poughkeepsie Journal’ has started a special section ‘Healthy Living – Body, Mind, Spirit’ every Sunday.
Let’s understand there is no one–size–fits–all diet or fitness regimen. A blanket reduction of carbs (or fats) is an oversimplification, going from one extreme to another. We have to understand our body and style of life and adopt the food and exercise habits suitable to us. Some of the headlines that have caught my attention and make some sense include:
Fight illnesses with right foods – Eating plant–based diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes, with a reduced emphasis on meat and fat can reduce risks of diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Take milk and yogurt that provide calcium and protein for prevention of osteoporosis.
Boost your health with exercise– Start slowly; increase your exercise regimen as you build up your stamina. The general recommendation is 30–60 minutes of regular exercise five or more times a week.
Watch your dieting choices – When talking about low–carb and low–fat diets, the purpose is to cut out the refined or simple carbs found in sugar and white flour; and to omit the saturated fats found mostly in butter and fatty meats and also the trans fats contained in thousands of processed foods. The monounsaturated fat in nuts, olive oil and avocados, is preferable. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and watch your total calorie intake. Make a simple start by cutting 100 calories a day.
Recipe of the Month: Broccoli Soup Broccoli is considered one of the super foods in terms of nutrition as well as taste. This creamy soup is made with milk, not cream. Make it in advance and refrigerate or freeze. Serve with bread and desired topping such as yogurt cheese or sour cream. See recipe
|
We want to hear from you. Contact us with ideas, comments, questions.
Register for Cooking Classes
A mainstay of the vegetarian diet, lentils are amazing, full of soluble fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals that strike down cholesterol, help fight against cancer, and let the body use insulin more effectively.
|
