June 2009 « askGeorgie.com

Do I need to watch sodium in foods?

Georgie- If I have healthy blood pressure, do I need to worry about how muck salt is in food? I’ve been reading labels, and some foods I like have a LOT of sodium.
Thanks,
Eric

Thanks for the question! Sounds like you already know that one of the most basic strategies for controlling hypertension (high blood pressure) is to [...]

Do you have a backup plan?

How familiar do these scenarios sound: You come back from vacation to an empty fridge, and now in addition to attending to the backup of work and chores waiting, you are stuck for what to feed your hungry family. Or this: You come down with the flu, and going to the grocery store is impossible. [...]

Protein Pancakes, Perfected

Ah pancakes. Nothing says weekend like fluffy blueberry pancakes, drizzled with maple syrup. Unfortunately, nothing says glycemic coma quite like pancakes either… What are most pancakes made of? Refined flour, sugar, and … not much else! Swapping your syrup for a Light or Sugar Free version is a step in the right direction, but when you’re [...]

Seafood Paella

I’m so backlogged with recipes to post – they’ll be coming rapid fire for a while so stay tuned!

Paella is a traditional rice-based dish from Spain, which can include about any kind of seafood, shellfish, chicken, or chorizo (sausage) depending on the region. For this version I planned to use a dozen mussels and a dozen [...]

Better than a Reese’s

Quite possibly the best little snack ever!

1. Take a tablespoon (the measuring kind) – ensures portion control!
2. Scoop 1/2 a Tablespoon of peanut butter out of the jar.
3. Using a knife, fill the rest of the spoon with chocolate soynut butter.
In my opinion, this beats the pants off a 100 calorie pack of fake cookie wafer [...]

Clues to living longer

Have you heard of the Mediterranean diet? No, it’s not a “diet” like the South Beach Diet or Ornish diet, but a general eating pattern common to people who live near the Mediterranean Sea. Italy, Greece and the neighboring nations have been studied for decades because their diets seem to protect against cardiovascular disease and improve [...]

Try A New Food!

I do my best to keep the recipes on here free of hard-to-find or strange ingredients. I know how I am when I read a recipe, if there’s 40 ingredients or several I’ve never heard of and have no idea where to get, I move on. Thus, with some basic staples, you can cook almost [...]

Got some tips for feeding a toddler?

Dear Georgie,

My two year old is on a hunger strike, which is not uncommon for stubborn toddlers. She is already underweight so we are concerned that she is not getting enough calories. Do you know what is the recommended daily caloric intake for toddlers? What are some nutritious and calorically dense foods we can feed [...]

Pizza x 2 (mine vs. Kashi)

Another presto dinner… it was so good, and I was very hungry and I ate it in a flash, basil garnish and all. You’re lucky it even got photographed! Who says healthy cooking has to be complicated or bland? Next time I have some turkey pepperoni hanging around, you can bet it’s going in one of these! I [...]

Corn Salad And Bean Quesadillas

One of the best things about summer is the abundance of produce in season. Of course, you can buy corn and strawberries year round if you want….but once you become used to tasting them fresh and at their peak, you may not want to.
Corn is also a nutritious addition to your summer menu. It’s very rich [...]

Are some protein bars better than others?

“On the subject of so called protein bars that everyone on the planet makes now. I have heard a few things I was wondering if you could clarify. I was speaking to a guy who told me that brands like powerbar which is a Nestle (food company) product and other bars made by food companies are created using food grade ingredients. Where [...]

Eggplant and Portobello Saute

Japanese eggplants have thin skins and a sweeter flavor, but don’t be afraid to substitute any other kind of eggplant in this easy side dish. Bear in mind though, Japanese eggplants are smaller than the typical American ones, averaging about a third of a pound each, so if you use a larger variety of eggplant, adjust [...]

Salad, AGAIN??

Well it’s no secret, if you’ve read this blog for more than about a day you know that lots of many of my lunches/dinners begin with a handful of greens on a plate. While I realize that eating salad on a daily basis sounds like the definition of hell to some people, I love it. Salads are quick to put [...]

Natures’ Promise Soynut Butters

I love peanut butter. And love is not a word I throw around. Rarely a day passes without peanut butter in my life. A tablespoon or two of gooey peanut bliss is the perfect travel-ready sandwich filling, or instant appetite taming snack, thanks to heart-healthy fat and ample protein. While I occasionally enjoy almond butter as [...]