Banana Bread with Half the Fat

Eat, Pray, Love

Food rule #2 is absolutely my favorite, and I think it is the way everyone should look at food. This may even be the solution to solving family problems and the obesity epidemic.

So, without further ado: Rule #2

"You don't get fat on food you pray over.

This is from a friend who points out that meals prepared at home, served at the table and given thanks for are more appreciated and more healthful than food eaten on the run."

-Carol Jackson

AMEN! I take for granted that I am blessed with the luxury of knowing I will have 3 meals a day. I admit it. I think if we sit down to every meal with an attitude of thankfulness, it will change not only how we eat, but also how we conduct the rest of our days. 

Although I'm still in college and don't have a family of my own, I hope to conduct family meals in this way. I want to teach my future children not only that God provides for us, but that we should enjoy His blessings (including the food in front of us AND time spent with one another). 

Michael Pollan's Food Rules

*Image and inspiration from Rules to Eat By

Michael Pollan, NY Times author of In Defense of Food, posted a request asking for people's rules about eating well. The 20 rules he highlighted will start a series of posts about a healthy eating lifestyle. Some have to do with the nutritional value of food, while others with the social or holistic values.

I like this, because although it is a list of rules it is not a "diet." When looking at these rules, I am also going to take the Harvard food pyramid (not the U.S. government's) into consideration.

So what does a healthy eating lifestyle look like?

Rule #1: From Marta Larusso:

"My parents are both form Italy, and one of our family rules was that you could not leave the table until you had finished your fruit: "Non si puo lasciare la tavola fino che hai finito la frutta." It was a great way to incorporate fruit into our diets and also helped satiate our sweet tooths, keeping us away from less healthful sweets."

The pyramid recommends 2-3 servings a day. Some fruits that fall under the "super foods" category for great health benefits include:

• Cranberries: Contain compounds that block bacteria that cause urinary tract infection, ulcers, and even gum disease
  
• Blackberries: Full of antioxidants (including Vitamin C and E)
• Strawberries: Have more Vitamin C than any berry
• Raspberries: High in antioxidants
• Blueberries: Highest level of antioxidants and high in fiber
• Oranges: Full of Vitamin C (helpful for healing wounds and brain function, as well as staving off colds)
• Cantaloupe: High in beta-carotene (converted to Vitamin A in the body)
  

Birthday Dinner Party

The idea of sharing a meal together just makes me happy. And so naturally I show love by cooking for friends! It was my roommates' (twins) 21st birthday last week, and I couldn't celebrate until today. So I had to make it good :)

I wanted to create a menu just for them, so I hoped they enjoyed it! I know they both have a bit of a sweet tooth and their birthday is at the beginning of fall (although in Florida it's more like summer weather). My key flavors were honey and warm spices. Their mom provided a delish organic wine, a Pinot Gris, when she visited this weekend (she also brought cakes!).

Below is the menu:

• For the appetizer I whipped up a roasted red pepper bruschetta. I sauteed chopped red pepper, red onion (which was so strong I was crying while I chopped!), oregano, and lots of fresh minced garlic in olive oil.When it was soft and aromatic I scooped it on slices of a French baguette and topped it with Parm, then popped it in the oven. I was in such a rush, I forgot to add tomatoes at the end! Oh well.

• Apricot-Dijon Glazed Chicken was the main dish (thank you Martha Stewart). I used skinless chicken thighs to cut down on the fat. (See Martha's picture on the left).
  

• For the side dish I sauteed julienne-sliced carrots in butter, olive oil, honey, cinnamon and ginger until the carrots were tender. Total comfort food :)

• The other side dish was a cranberry curry rice pilaf. This is one of the best smelling dished known to mankind-- it could be made into a candle. You begin by sauteeing chopped celery and sweet onions in olive oil. Once the onions are almost translucent, you add the desired amount of rice. I used instant brown, but anything goes! Then you add chicken broth and bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer. Add a big handful of dried cranberries (I like Craisins), a teaspoon of curry powder, a 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder, and a dash of cinnamon and ginger. Simmer until the liquid is soaked up.

Welcome to Eater's Digest!

Food is something everyone relates to, yet hardly anyone understands. We are bombarded daily by health and food related advertising, news stories, Oprah specials, cooking shows, and diet books. So why is it so difficult to decide what to eat?

What foods will prevent disease? Are carbs bad? Should I use Splenda or sugar? Should I splurge for organic milk? Is it true that dark chocolate and red wine are good for us? Where does my food come from? I want to know what I'm putting in my body, so I am attempting to sift through the barrage of books and media stories to find out.

But I'm no nutritionist, just a student at the University of Florida who enjoys health, fitness, nutrition, cooking and FOOD. That's right, I said it. I enjoy health and food. I think that food brings communities together. Ask a person what their favorite meal is and you'll likely get a snapshot of their upbringing and personality!

In addition to food, I also enjoy politics and blog for a conservative woman's organization. This week I talked about how obesity is a result of cultural American ethics: Have It Your Way?


Get ready to chat about nutrition, recipes, gardening, groceries, farmer's markets and dinner parties!

Bon Appetit!