Two Healthy Desserts

First, you can make a version of Bananas Foster that has fewer calories than the real version. Basically, just microwaving a banana for about 30 seconds with a sprinkle of cinnamon and the slightest bit of syrup tastes delicious. I also indulge in a touch of low-fat or low-calorie whipped cream. Some people measure calories down to the tenths but if it's less than 30 I won't stress about it. It's delicious and feels like you're cheating.

The second dessert I like is a fake Sweet Potato Pie that tastes like pumpkin pie. Cut up a sweet potato and boil it until it's very soft. Mash the potatoes with a touch of rice/soy/coconut milk, nutmeg, cinnamon, and a packet of stevia sweetener. Put it into single serve dishes and then bake it before serving for about 45 minutes. This makes the sweet potatoes really creamy and blends the spices together well. A touch of whipped cream on this one doesn't undo all of the health benefits of the sweet potato. Enjoy!

All about color

Here are two simple tricks to determining whether or not the foods you are putting in your body are good for you. 1) how close to it's original state is the food? 2) what color is it? In fruits and vegetables, their original state of raw is the state in which you capture all of the nutrients the produce has to offer. Steam it, and you retain a lot of the benefit. If you over-boil it or cook it out of a can...not so much. And pay attention to color. A general rule is that the more colorful the food, the healthier it is (usually). For example, dark lettuce varieties are healthier than light green iceburg. Many eating plans talk about avoiding the white stuff (sugar, white bread, salt, white rice, white pasta). Switching to other alternatives is definitely a plus. We will talk about this later when we discuss food absorption, but here are your better options:  whole grain bread, brown rice, whole grain pasta and as little sugar as possible.

Food for thought, food forethought...

We all think about food. Most of us even have emotional experience relating to liking food, disliking food, craving food, loving food. At some point as an adult, we start to think about food based upon how it makes us feel after we've eaten it. When dieting, we obsess about everything that's on the "don't eat" list. What do you think happens when one tells herself "I can't have cheesecake, I can't have cheesecake, I can't have cheesecake" incessantly? You will likely give your right arm at the end of the day for a piece of cheesecake. The aftermath of guilt and digestive agony is a recurring nightmare.

Here's our plan: let's think about food, what we CAN eat, before we eat it. Food is so much fun! If you look at what the earth provides us, rich in color and nutrition and taste, it's amazing. We want to take a look at healthy and flavorful recipe options that will change your mind, and change your health.

Here's the interesting part (and the disclaimer): the contributors of this site are not physicians, not nutritionists, and not culinary experts. We are parents, spouses, full-time office workers, neighbors, and friends. We are on this journey with you, adapting common comfort foods for a healthier life.

As we get to know each other, we will share our secrets and successes and we encourage you to share yours too. Thanks for joining us!