Impress friends at your next backyard barbecue with these ultrasimple crostini that marry creamy hummus, sweet sun-dried tomatoes, and crisp pea shoots for a Spring-centric touch. Whether vegan or omnivore, you and your guests will be clamoring for seconds, so be sure to make extra. Watch the video to learn the easy steps to assembling these tantalizing toasts, then print out the recipe.
If you're obsessed with reading labels, then you've probably come across the ingredient maltodextrin. Sounds like some type of sugar, but is it safe to eat? It'll settle your mind to know that this common additive is an easily digestible carbohydrate made from rice, corn, or potato starch (celiacs beware — it can also be derived from barley or wheat). It's made by cooking down the starch, and then acid and/or enzymes break the starch down even further.
Maltodextrin is a white powder often used in processed foods as a thickener or a filler since it's fairly inexpensive, as well as in pharmaceuticals as a binding agent. You'll find it in canned fruits, snacks, cereal, desserts, instant pudding, sauces, and salad dressings. Since it contains fewer calories than sugar, it's also found in sugar substitutes, such as Splenda or Equal.
Maltodextrin is usually used in such small amounts that it doesn't have a significant impact in terms of the amount of protein, fat, carbohydrate, or fiber it adds to foods. Although maltodextrin is processed and it's not the healthiest thing to put in our bodies, at least we know it's made from real food, not some nasty chemicals.
Chock-full of protein, eggs are a quick and easy way to get protein any time of the day. From omelets in the morning to quiche at night, you may be shying away from the yolks to save calories and cholesterol. The yolk may contain all the fat, but it also contains most of the vitamins and nutrients. Take a look at the comparison below to see what you may be missing when you hold the yolks.
| 1 egg white | 1 egg yolk | |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 16 | 54 |
| Total fat (g) | 0 | 5 |
| Saturated fat (g) | 0 | 2 |
| Cholesterol (mg) | 0 | 210 |
| Sodium (mg) | 55 | 8 |
| Carbs (g) | 0 | 1 |
| Fiber (g) | 0 | 0 |
| Sugars (g) | 0 | 0 |
| Protein (g) | 4 | 3 |
| Vitamin A (IU) | 0 | 245 |
| Vitamin B12 (mcg) | 0 | 0.3 |
| Vitamin D (IU) | 0 | 18.2 |
| Calcium (mg) | 2.3 | 21.9 |
| Folate (mcg) | 1.3 | 24.8 |
| Potassium (g) | 53.8 | 18.5 |
| Selenium (mcg) | 6.6 | 9.5 |
| Omega-3s (mg) | 0 | 38.8 |
The yolks are where it's at if you're looking to up your intake of vitamins A, B12, and D, as well as your daily calcium, folate, and omega-3s. If it's cholesterol you're worried about, the recommended limit is about 300 mg a day. That means you could enjoy an egg a day if you wanted to, but it's important to be mindful about how much meat, cheese, and other dairy products you eat during the rest of the day.
Heading out of town for vacation is no excuse to ditch your exercise routine. Try these easy tips to stay in shape the next time you travel.
A grain-free life does not have to be free of comfort food! When you're craving a big bowl of garlicky pasta, cook up these zucchini noodles aglio et olio (garlic and oil) instead. The real comfort here, other than that fragrant garlic, comes from "breadcrumbs" created from toasted almond meal; I was truly surprised by how much I enjoyed their flavor and texture.
Keep reading for this protein-packed, Paleo-friendly recipe for pasta.
Angelina Jolie's cancer scare and decision to have a preventive double mastectomy has started a nationwide discussion about the importance of women's health care and cancer prevention. Watch this video to find out what Angelina's genetic mutation means, if you're a candidate for genetic testing, and steps you can take to reduce your risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
If you've had BluePrint Juice's refreshing concoction of pineapple, green apple, and mint (P.A.M.) and thought to yourself how good it would be in a cocktail, you definitely have the makings of a bartender in you! BluePrint's P.A.M. has everything you want in a great Summer cocktail — a balanced flavor profile of sweet and tart with just a little something extra from the fresh mint. All it takes is one sip to be transported to a tropical beachside destination. Adding to its taste appeal are of course P.A.M.'s many nutritional benefits: made from raw, live juice, pineapple and mint are both known for their detoxing and debloating benefits.
First we set out to hack BluePrint's P.A.M. recipe for ourselves, which was a success in its own right. But after mixing it up with a little rum, we may have even improved on the original.
Fans of the mojito, learn how to make your new favorite Summer cocktail after the break!
If Friday night means heading to the nearest pub for a beer and a burger, you probably don't want to know that your simple order of a burger and fries can run you over 1,400 calories. That's a day's worth of calories in one meal, not even counting the added calories of a beer or dessert. You don't have to give up on your burger entirely — just follow these calorie-saving tips.
Make it a veggie patty (100) instead of beef (306):
Calories saved: 206
If going veggie doesn't do it for you, eat half the beef patty instead of the whole (306):
Calories saved: 153
Skip the cheese:
Calories saved: about 100 per slice
Can't enjoy your burger without cheese? Add a slice of provolone (98) instead of cheddar (113):
Calories saved: 15
Side salad with dressing (140) instead of fries (395) with ketchup (20):
Calories saved: 275 calories
Only eat half the bun instead of the whole (160):
Calories saved: 80
Two tomato slices (7) and mustard (5) instead of ketchup (20) and mayo (90):
Calories saved: 98
Whether you go to the gym before work or fit in a workout during lunchtime, cutting the time you spend in the locker room can help. Throw these 10 gym essentials into your bag before you go; each will help you save minutes, from pre-workout prep to post-workout primping.
At the mere mention the word "picnic," my ears perk up. So when I was flipping through Heather Christo's Generous Table and came across a menu plan for a lakeshore picnic, I knew I'd have to make at least one recipe from her spread. Add an early and bountiful cherry season to the mix — my local farmers market suddenly became overrun with them last week — and it was settled. Quinoa salad with cherries and feta would make it to my table, and soon.
Thankfully, Christo's palate is spot-on. Juicy cherries play off salty feta like old friends. Add grassy parsley, sharp minced shallot, and nutty toasted almonds to the mix, and the result is a hearty grain-based salad perfect for picnics, brown-bag lunches, or just because. As long as cherries keep finding their way into my farmers market tote, this delightful dish will be on my table.
