Personal Nutrition INK
October 2007 Newsletter
In this issue |
Confessions of a Dietitian
Sometimes I think we have forgotten how to enjoy food. We have been convinced to eliminate so called "forbidden foods" and to follow the latest food trends, eating only "good" foods. We spend so much time thinking about what to choose that once we do finally sit down to a meal, we swallow it without even really tasting it. The "good food/bad food" battle is a frustrating one. What constitutes a "good" food anyway? The easiest answer I can give you is to choose most of your foods in their simplest form, and STOP putting so many food restrictions on yourself. Labeling a food as "bad" only makes you want it more. Remember that habitual choices are more important than single food choices. Eating fast food for lunch 5 days a week has more of an effect on your health than the small piece of chocolate pie you ate for dessert at Grandma's house this weekend. Take time to enjoy eating the foods you choose. Choose foods that you really enjoy, and savor every bite.Recipe Center
Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce - the use what you have version:
Peel several apples (McIntosh are my favorite), cut them into chunks, and place them in a pot. Add enough water to cover the apples and bring the contents to a boil. Continue to simmer apples until they are soft. Using a hand potato masher, stir and mash the apples into the consistency you desire (chunky or smooth depending on your preference). Add sugar and cinnamon to taste (note: this will require taste testing.
Kitchen Solutions
Why do bright green vegetables turn dull after cooking?
The natural acidic properties of many vegetables have a tendency to turn a brownish dull color after cooking. You may have read that you can add baking soda to cooking water to prevent this process. While that technique does work to maintain the vibrant color of the vegetables, you will actually destroy many nutrients (vitamin C & thiamin namely) by doing so. Try cooking your vegetables "al dente," leaving them a little crunchy for the best color and most nutrients.
Rants & Raves
Hyde Park Bar & Grill Restaurant Review
Though it looked like a typical beer-and-burger joint from the outside, this neighborhood eatery was full of surprises. Once inside the 'former house, now restaurant', I immediately felt welcome. Servers were dressed in black and white, linen napkins adorned the tables, and even the customary glass of ice water was accompanied by both a lemon AND a lime slice.
Boldly proclaiming that only "trans fat free oils" are used, the menu included many healthy items such as garden burgers, grilled salmon, and steamed vegetables. The task at hand was to put together a meal that was nutritious, delicious and affordable. I started with a cup of sherried salmon bisque ($2.95), which was paired with a package of wheat crackers. It was the perfect beginning to lunch with large pieces of salmon and mushrooms. Next, the chicken salad sandwich ($5.95) was filled with chunks of delightful chicken, peas, black olives, red onions and walnuts, and was served on whole wheat bread. The hibiscus mint tea ($1.95) was refreshing, but not earth shattering. Overall, the meal was a bargain. For $11.75, I was able to enjoy a great meal that included a wide variety of nutrients, flavors and textures.
I was impressed, for the most part, with the efforts to provide nutritious options. My only disappointment was the typically mundane kid's menu, which consisted of only eight items. I'm sure this is because children have conditioned us to believe these are the only things they will eat, but shouldn't we at least make healthier choices available?
The food was delicious and the service was wonderful. Hyde Park Bar & Grill was more than I expected it would be!
4206 Duval St.
Austin, TX 78751
11am - Midnight
512-458-3168
www.hydeparkbarandgrill.com
Top 10 Reasons To See a Registered Dietitian
If you've been thinking about making some positive changes with your eating habits, you should consider making an appointment with a registered dietitian (RD).
- You want to eat smarter
- You need to gain or lose weight
- You have diabetes
- You have heart disease
- You have digestive problems
- You are thinking of having or have had gastric bypass surgery
- You are pregnant or trying to get pregnant
- You need guidance for breastfeeding your baby
- Your teenager has issues with food and eating healthfully
- You're caring for an aging parent
Book Review - The Color Code
James A. Joseph, Ph.D, Daniel A. Nadeau, M.D., and Anne Underwood
This book outlines the art of "defensive eating." There is a reason we should be eating a variety of brightly colored fruits and vegetables, and this book does a great job of explaining why. The Color Code does a great job of looking closely at the chemical composition in plant foods and the health benefits that go along with them.
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