FitSugar

Healthy Cooking Tip: Slow Cooker and Steaming

FitSugar — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 08:00:00 PST

To me, falling temperatures at sunset mean cooked veggies for dinner. Raw carrots just don't cut it when it is sweater weather inside my house. But don't just boil your vegetables, because how you prepare your produce affects its nutritional quality. Two simple methods help preserve vital nutrients: steaming and slow cooking.

Steaming helps veggies retain nutrients better than other methods, especially when compared to boiling. The vitamins and minerals are leached out into the hot water when you throw your veggies into boiling water, but steaming preserves more of the nutrients. The slow cooker is not only convenient, but cooking foods at lower temperatures may help preserve nutrients that can be lost when food is cooked rapidly at high heat, like grilling. Plus it is great to load the slow cooker with a bunch of veggies and lean protein.

This reminds me, I need to find some new recipes for my slow cooker. Got any you want to share?

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Cool Healthy Gadget: Ziploc Zip'n Steam Bags

FitSugar — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 11:45:00 PDT

I am always looking for new ways to cook healthfully and so when a new product comes along to make it that much easier, I love to share it with you guys.

I've been hearing a lot about these new Ziploc Zip'n Steam Bags and while I have not yet been able to get my hands on them, I am liking the idea especially since it puts your microwave to use in a healthy way. Here is how it works: Each bag has patented vents that allow food to be steamed under pressure so that it is cooked thoroughly and evenly for healthy meals in minutes. You can steam anything from fresh veggies to fish, just throw on some seasoning and pop the bag full of goodies in the microwave. No need for oils or fats - healthy cooking doesn't really get any easier than that.

I do believe that getting a reusable steamer would be much better for the long run and for the environment, but if you have yet to purchase one, these are a good way to meet your steaming needs temporarily. If anyone has tried them, let me know what you think. If not, you should be able to find them at supermarkets nationwide.

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Smarter Eats: Mix Veggies You Hate With Ones You Love

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 03 May 2012 11:02:48 PDT

Even the most healthy of eaters can't love every single veggie. You could cover the broccoli you despise with melted cheese to make those florets more palatable, but of course that's not a superhealthy option. Here's a healthy trick to help those unfavorite veggies go down: mix them with veggies you love.

If it's mashed potatoes you crave, add chopped kale to your bowl, or grill peppers or zucchini with your beloved onions. If you're a huge pasta fan, toss mushrooms into the tomato sauce, or mix steamed carrots with cubes of sweet potato. When you eat veggies you don't care for with ones you can't live without, you can just focus on the flavors you love while still reaping the nutritional benefits from those unwanted veggies.

Source: Flickr User VirtualErn

5 Things I Wish I Registered For (and 5 I Wish I Hadn't!)

Sara Yoo — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 05:15:01 PDT

Though we may be loathe to admit it, one of the most exciting - and frenzied - moments of wedding planning is setting up a registry. While deep down I knew that marrying the man of my dreams was the best present of all, other visions, like that of a perfectly appointed home, turned me into Dirty Harry with the scanner gun. A fondue set? I'll take two. The enormous countertop convection oven? We'll make room. Salt and pepper shakers shaped like mated doves? You get the picture.

It's easy to go crazy when registering for wedding gifts, but ending up with a pile of things you'll never use results in annoying trips back to the store for returns or very full storage closets. Eight years after my perfect wedding, I can't help but think that I should have provided my generous guests with better direction as I watch the dust collect on the paella pan I've never used. Every bride's needs are different, but I've come up with a list of five items from my registry that are highly underutilized and five items for which that money would have been better spent. Tell us: what are your must-have registry items, and what do you wish you left off your list?

Five Things I Could Have Done Without

Preassembled cookware sets. Those 10- or 12-piece cookware sets may seem like a great deal with many stores advertising "deep" discounts vs. buying individual pieces, but I found that I ended up with pots and pans in sizes I've never used. Take the time to register for individual pieces (you may even find that you like pieces from a few different cookware lines) in standard sizes that make sense for your frying, sautéing, and simmering needs.
Cooking utensils. Basic utensils like rubber spatulas and wooden spoons are a wedding-registry must have. But I've found that many of the specialized tools I thought I would need have gone untouched. There are so many variations of potato mashers, strainers, ladles, and whisks that you ought to take your time finding the perfect one for you.
High-ticket single-use tools. Cookware companies would love to sell you pasta cookers, egg poachers, asparagus pots, and butter warmers, often at a few hundred dollars a pop. My pasta pot rarely sees the light of day, because I opt instead for a standard stockpot and colander (which drains much better, IMO). By investing in the right standard pots and pans, you still can cook any of these items and save room in your kitchen cabinets while you're at it.

For the rest of the list as well as a list of items I'd register for instead, just keep reading.

For Better Asparagus, Ditch the Water

Mandy Harris — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:42:10 PDT

Ever noticed how asparagus has a more robust, nutty flavor when you roast it in the oven with olive oil than when you blanch or steam it? I'd always assumed that was just because, well, roasting makes everything taste better, but it turns out there's actually a scientific explanation behind the difference.

According to Fat Duck chef Heston Blumenthal, the flavor molecules in asparagus are water soluble. When you blanch the spears in boiling water, the flavor "leaks" out of the asparagus and into the water. When you cook it in fat, the molecules remain intact and stay where you want them - in your asparagus. So, instead of blanching your next batch of asparagus, cook it in a little olive oil or butter for a more flavorful result.

Since learning this fun fact from Blumenthal's The Fat Duck Cookbook, I haven't cooked asparagus any other way, and he's right! The flavor and texture are miles better. But don't get too carried away with this technique: although veggies like asparagus and carrots have water-soluble flavor molecules, the molecules in others, like broccoli and green beans, are oil-soluble and should be cooked in water for optimal flavor.

Have you ever tried this method of cooking asparagus?

Source: Flickr User bongo vongo

Taste the Rainbow: Green

Camilla Salem — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:30:12 PDT

Crisp green produce just looks like it's good for you, doesn't it? Out of all of the colors of the rainbow, I tend to prefer green veggies the most. While there are countless fresh and tasty options, I was drawn in particular to avocados, artichokes, english peas, and lettuce. Find out what we like to do with these bright green ingredients when you keep reading.

In Season: Asparagus

Sara Yoo — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:55:12 PDT

Spring's a season of abundance, and if there's one vegetable you should eat now by the bushel, it's asparagus. At its peak from March through May, asparagus is a flash in the pan compared to other vegetables, so grab it while you can. This young Spring stalk is as lovely steamed or grilled as it is baked into a frittata or blended into a smooth soup, thanks to its distinct flavor which complements virtually any dish. Ready to learn more about buying, storing, and preparing this versatile veggie? Just read on.

3 Reasons to Love Leafy Greens

Leta Shy — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 13:31:29 PDT

You've probably been told since you were a kid to eat your veggies, and perhaps none are as important as those leafy greens. And for good reason. Here are three important reasons to get more leafy greens in your diet.

They're packed with nutrition: Leafy greens pack a lot of nutrients in just one serving. For example, a cup of raw spinach gives you more than your daily recommended daily intake of vitamin A, which is crucial for healthy skin, eyes, and teeth (if you think that's impressive, check out the rest of this chart - a cup of romaine lettuce gives you twice the amount of vitamin A!). Other important nutrients you can find in greens include magnesium (an essential mineral that helps keep your body and mind feeling alert, relaxed, and functioning properly), iron, vitamin C, and cancer-preventing phytonutrients. Not only that but greens like spinach, kale, and bok choy give your body a healthy dose of calcium.

They're versatile: You don't have to chow down on a salad every day; leafy greens can be added to any number of meals. Sauté leafy greens in a bit of olive oil and seasoning for a healthy warm side, or steam the leaves for a few minutes to maintain even more of the nutrients. You can even sneak raw leaves into a juice or smoothie to get much-needed nutrients without having to go the salad route. For an indulgent way to sneak leafy greens into your diet, try making these vegan brownies with spinach baked right in!

They help you detox: The nutritious benefits of leafy greens don't stop at disease-fighting vitamins and minerals. Leafy greens like kale, spinach, and chicory contain high levels of chlorophyll, which help your body detox and alkalize. Cabbage and other cruciferous veggies like broccoli, kale, and turnips help detox your body by promoting better liver function.

Have we convinced you? Try these five fast and easy ways to sneak veggies into your diet.

Alicia Silverstone Feeds Her Son Already Chewed Food, Do You?

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 09:42:08 PDT

Sometimes chewing your food is just a lot of work, right? Alicia Silverstone seems to think so. The actress, mama to baby Bear, 11 months, and vegan lifestyle expert recently shared a video of her son eating some chewed up food right out of her mouth - and it wasn't a onetime thing. On her Kind Life blog, she explained:

I just had a delicious breakfast of miso soup, collards and radish steamed and drizzled with flax oil, cast iron mochi with nori wrapped outside, and some grated daikon. Yum! I fed Bear the mochi and a tiny bit of veggies from the soup . . . from my mouth to his. It's his favorite . . . and mine. He literally crawls across the room to attack my mouth if I'm eating. This video was taken about a month or two ago when he was a bit wobbly. Now he is grabbing my mouth to get the food!

We've come to expect the unexpected from the Clueless star who wrote about her orgasmic birth experience last year, but her latest post has us scratching our heads. What do you think?

Spring Clean Your Body With These Seasonal Detoxing Veggies

Michele Foley — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:35:49 PDT

Spring's arrival this week means that the farmers market is getting a brand-new makeover in the form of produce. While fresh veggies are the cornerstone to any clean diet, there are a few Spring foods with the added benefit of having natural detoxing properties.

Besides being an antioxidant powerhouse, asparagus provides digestive support to the body. Like chicory root, asparagus contains inulin, a type of prebiotic that encourages colon health while also stimulating the growth of probiotics (good bacteria) in the body. All in all, this is a major win for your digestive system! Enjoy asparagus roasted with a little olive oil, or maximize Spring's bounty by making this recipe for fava beans and asparagus with polenta.

The positive effects that artichokes have on the digestive system are many: studies show that the leafy veggie promotes healthy liver and gallbladder function because they are loaded with cynarin, which helps increase bile production (helping to get nasty stuff out of the body!), protects against indigestion, and stimulates healthy digestion. We can't think of a better way to enjoy this Spring vegetable than YumSugar's recipe for simply, steamed artichokes.

Keep reading to see what other Spring vegetable can help detox you this season.