Surviving Thanksgiving!

Part of the fun of Thanksgiving is stuffing yourself a little. However, some of us merely begin stuffing ourselves on Thanksgiving....and continue to do so through New Years when we finally make a resolution to deprive ourselves of yummy food. So instead, here's what I recommend: enjoy Thanksgiving food to whatever degree you want to, just make sure you

1) EXERCISE before you dig in. Do an intense cardio workout if you can, for at least 45 minutes. If this isn't in the cards, go for a long brisk walk. Exercising before you eat will make you more likely to eat reasonably, and will counteract some of the calories you take in during the day.

2) Drink plenty of water. If you're dehydrated while you're eating, you're likely to overeat even more than normal. And if you'll be drinking alcohol on the holiday, drink extra water.

3) Exercise AGAIN after you eat. You'll be full, so just get up & move around a bit...a walk is usually a good call for post-Thanksgiving feasts. Then on Friday, get moving again with a really good workout.

4) DO NOT let Thanksgiving be the first day of a 30 day binge. Instead, wake up on Friday and get back to normal. There will be plenty of times to indulge this holiday season, so insert as many healthy days as you can between now & January. This way, you won't have to set some horrible resolution because you won't have gained any weight!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

CA Proposition 2

I won't make a habit of posting political propaganda, but because this coming election includes a proposition relevant to food & nutrition, I feel I must make my opinion known...and that is,

I'm voting YES ON PROPOSITION 2!!

More and more, farm animals are being raised in conditions that would horrify even the most ardent carnivore: Egg-laying chickens spending their only 1-2 years of life in small cages with 12 other chickens; calves living in stalls where they have no room to turn around or even shift their weight; pigs living in stalls where they have no access to the outdoors -- just to name a few.

Prop 2 is a small step in the direction of a more sustainable food system, because it sets limits on the harm big factory farms can impose on animals just to guarantee the lowest price for consumers. It is a sign that Californians want to move toward sustainable farming, where family farms who treat their animals well are the norm, rather than the exception. Prop 2 would make it harder for new factory farms to emerge, which has a positive effect not only on animals (and the consumers who eat these animals), but also on farm employees and neighboring communities who will experience a better quality of life.

For more information, visit: http://www.yesonprop2.com/index.php

If you don't live in California, you won't be voting on Prop 2, but you can still make a difference by encouraging your friends and family members who are CA residents to vote yes on this important piece of legislation.

Email me with any specific questions, I'd be happy to tell you more about this important legislation!

Superfood or Monster From the Deep?

Can fortifying everyday foods with other nutrients really help improve our health status? Would you want to eat a chocolate bar that's been fortified with omega-3 fatty acids from sardines? Here is an interesting NY Times article on this issue:

By JULIA MOSKIN

Published: September 16, 2008

OFF the coast of Peru swim billions of sardines and anchovies: oily, smelly little fish, rich in nutritious omega-3 fatty acids. Their spot on the food chain is low; many will be caught, ground up, and fed as fishmeal to bigger animals

MIXING IT UP Food companies have been extracting nutrients from one food (like tomatoes, broccoli, green tea, pomegranates) and processing them into other foods (like breakfast cereal, chocolate, coffee and ginger ale).

But a few have a more exalted destiny: to be transported, purified and served at North American breakfast tables in the form of Tropicana Healthy Heart orange juice and Wonder Headstart bread. These new products promise to deliver the health benefits of fish oil without the smell and the taste — without, in fact, the fish.

The possible benefits of eating omega-3s include cardiovascular protection and improved neural development in children.

However, “People just aren’t eating salmon or sardines twice a day,” said Ellie Halevy, director for marketing of Tropicana, which is owned by PepsiCo. “But they will drink two glasses of orange juice, if it has no fishy taste and all the benefits.”..............

For the full article, click on the link below:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/17/dining/17nutrients.html?_r=1&8dpc&oref=slogin

An amazing salad

At the beginning of this summer, I had one of the best salads of my life at American Flatbread in Los Alamos, CA.

It was an heirloom tomato salad with freshly shelled fava beans, baby lettuces, burrata cheese, and some flavorful herb oil. It is something I will forever try to recreate!

Make a simpler, yet similar, salad at home this summer using heirloom tomatoes, sliced fresh mozzarella & fresh basil leaves, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and good quality balsamic vinegar. Finish off with some freshly ground black pepper. YUM.

Summertime Snacks

When most of us think of snacks, we think of chips, cookies, crackers, and other processed foods. But fruits & vegetables can make delicious snacks as well, and especially in the summer there are endless options. One of my favorites is blueberries, which you can pop in your mouth like M&M's minus the guilt. Blueberries are among the most low-calorie & high-fiber fruits....and they are jam packed with beneficial nutrients. So next time you have a snack attack, reach for some locally grown blueberries, which are in peak season this month. Yum!