Fibre: The Key to Eating Well and Feeling Well!

Want to be healthy and maintain a healthy body weight while enjoying delicious foods? Sounds impossible, right? Well, good news, it’s far from impossible if you include plenty of fibre in your diet! A diet rich in fibre from fruits, vegetables, legumes, and complex carbohydrates like whole grains is of immense importance, and should definitely be favored over whatever low-carb diet fad is currently making its rounds through the popular press.

Don’t get us wrong, some of the popular diets out there do have their merits. That said, diets that do little more than restrict carbohydrates are missing out on the bigger picture. The war on carbohydrates may stem from our overdependence (and overindulgence) on sugar. Researchers and dieticians have long been warning of the dangers of excess sugar consumption, although those warnings have long been downplayed by major producers of sugary foods. Sugars are simple carbohydrates, not to be confused with the complex carbohydrates found in whole grains and some leafy greens, which are rich in fibre.

The benefits of fibre are numerous: not only is fibre an important source of fuel for the body, it also helps the body absorb nutrients. Fibre also contributes to good heart health, and helps cut the chances of heart disease and early death from heart disease. As if that weren’t enough, fibre also helps prevent the development of type 2 diabetes, and of course, it keeps us regular. So when planning for your next week’s meals, it may well be worth finding a way to include more fibre!

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Amazing Uses for Apples

Pie? You’ve had plenty. Juice? Just enough. As is? You’ve done that as well. You’ve likely had plenty of experience with the conventional uses for apples already, you’re looking for something new. Well good news! We’ve got three amazing uses for apples that you may not have thought of.

Apple, carrot, & raisin coleslaw. Coleslaw is a staple of any BBQ and one of the quintessential summertimes dishes, but nobody said you can’t tweak it a little bit and add your own twist. When you’ve had your fill of cabbage you can always make a sweet substitute for the traditional coleslaw with shredded carrots, apples, and raisins. Not a raisin fan? Try dried cranberries instead for a bit of tartness.

Apple grilled cheese. A few slices of apple make a perfect addition to grilled cheese, and you can mix and match varieties for any number of flavor variations. Aged cheddar and Granny Smith make for a pretty timeless classic, but try brie and russets for something a bit sweeter. Want a little something more? Throw in some bacon too!

Apple stuffing. That’s right, gone are the days of nearly flavorless stuffing, when it’s next time for turkey, or even for whole chicken, add some apple to your stuffing recipe and make it more than just filler. If you’re feeling adventurous, some apple slices under the skin packed with plenty of butter will help keep your bird moist and flavorful.

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Beyond the Pickle

There’s nothing quite like a dill pickle fresh from the fridge! Crunchy, juicy, refreshing, the perfect snack or addition to your sandwich or salad. Not only are dill pickles delicious, but they’re also quite easy to make at home and a perfect way to stock up on preserves for the winter. But why stop at pickles? Here are six of the many vegetables that are just perfect for pickling.

Carrots. A perfect addition to salads and coleslaws and great on their own for snacking or as part of a party platter, carrots can be sliced or diced for the perfect pickling vegetables.

Beets. Ideal when you’re looking to add color to a wide variety of dishes and a great way to enjoy the amazing health benefits of beets.

 Radishes. Tacos, anyone? Toss pickled radishes into your tortilla for a great addition to Mexican night! Also great for adding some crunch to your favorite salad or sandwich without overpowering other flavors.

Asparagus. Give your Bloody Mary a stir! Pickled asparagus is not just for drinks, salads and sandwiches can greatly benefit from their taste and texture.

Red onions. Sometimes adding raw onions to a dish can prove to be a bit too harsh. Pickled onions have less of a bite but plenty of taste, a spectacular substitute.

Jalapenos. When you’re looking for some spice, jalapenos are quite nice! Pickled for a bit less of a punch, they’re great for garnish.

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In Praise of Slow (The Slow Cooker, That is)

It may seem like a bit of a paradox, we live busy lives that by all accounts are fast paced, how can something called a slow cooker make our lives any easier? Well, yes, the appliances are aptly named as a slow cooker is just that: Slow. But oh what a wonderful world of possibilities they open up. Here are three reason why a slow cooker is perfect for your busy life.

Set it and forget it. Not many of us remember Ron Popeil’s infomercial for his "Showtime Rotisserie," but the phrase lives on in kitchens throughout the globe thanks to slow cookers. It really is that simple, you set your meal to start cooking in the morning, forget about it as you go about your day, and when you get home? Bam! A piping hot home cooked meal ready to serve.

Batch cooking for your busy week. Batch cooking is one of the many perks of the usually amply sized slow cooker. Rather than slave over the stove to cook a single meal you can spend the same amount of time on prep and have meals for the rest of the week. Pretty much a no brainer.

Batch prepping is a thing too. If you’re willing to devote a day to chopping, why not prepare several batch meals in advance? Ingredients can be stored in a ziplock in the freezer and pretty much cooked from frozen in most cases. Just imagine, a month’s worth of food prepared in a single day!

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The Benefits of Eating Eggs

Eggs! They’re not just delicious, they’re also good for you, and eating eggs on a regular basis comes with a load of benefits. Here are just five of the many benefits of eating eggs.

They’re quick, easy, and versatile. Cooking an egg is quite literally a matter of minutes, and few other cooked foods are quite as easy. To top it all off, eggs are incredibly versatile and can not only be cooked a number of different ways, they can also be incorporated into a wide variety of dishes.

They’re loaded with vitamins. A single egg contains vitamins A, B5, B2, B6, B12, D, E, calcium, zinc, phosphorous, selenium, and folate. Need we say more?

They’re packed with protein. Eggs are an excellent source of complete proteins, containing all nine amino acids that the body can’t synthesize naturally, and help promote muscle recovery and development.

They’re good for your health. Eggs raise HDL (good) cholesterol and help make LDL (bad) cholesterol less harmful. They also help manage weight, contribute to better eye health and mental acuity, and may help reduce the risk of stroke.

They’re portable and make great snacks. Rather than spending extra money on vending machine snacks that are full of salt and sugar, hard boiled eggs can help satisfy those mid-day craving and make for a much healthier alternative!

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Easy Dinner Ideas for Those Lazy Nights

You may have had a busy day, or a busy week, or maybe you’re just tired from a long night, but whatever the reason once in a while you just don’t feel like cooking an elaborate meal, and it’s totally understandable. It may be tempting to order in, but a healthier alternative (not to mention a way to prevent overeating) would be something quick and easy. Here are three quick and easy dinner ideas you can make tonight.

One pot beef and broccoli. A little bit of beef, a little bit of broccoli, chopped up and thrown into a single pot. What could be easier? Get the beef started a bit before the broccoli as it will take just a little longer to cook, and season with your favorite sauce and spices, or just a bit of salt and pepper if you’re craving something simple.

Roasted veggies and sausage. All it takes is a bit of chopping time and a bit of patience for it to cook, but roasted veggies and sausage is otherwise effortless. Cut the veggies and sausage into equal pieces, toss in some oil, salt, and pepper, and pop it in the oven until done. A delicious and hearty meal that isn’t too much work.

Savoury salsa omelette. If you’re all about no fuss, look no further than a tasty omelette! Beat a couple of eggs and get them cooking, then throw in some salsa, sliced olives, grated cheese, and any other nacho fixings you have in the house. Top with more grated cheese and a dollop of sour cream, et voila!

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The Joys of Cooking With Cast Iron

It’s time to cook dinner, and when getting started there’s any number of different tools at your disposal for your favorite dish, especially when it comes to cookware. From aluminum and non-stick to copper, enamel, and stainless steel, the choices can be dizzying. But tried and true, cast iron is often still king! Here are three reasons why cooking with cast iron is still the best!

Cast Iron retains its heat. Need to step away from the stove for a second? Need to swap pans or perform other complex kitchen maneuvers? Pre-heating your pan a second time around is the least of your concerns with cast iron, as it’s conductive nature keeps your pots and pans hotter for longer than most modern cookware.

You can use metal utensils without worry. Unlike Teflon or other non-stick coated cookware, your metal utensils won’t scratch up and ruin the cooking surfaces of cast iron pots and pans. Good news for anyone who’s looking to scrape the bottom of the pot when making a sauce or trying to flip a heavy roast. As an added bonus, there’s no need to worry about consuming any toxic particles from non-stick surfaces.

From stove to the oven in an easy step. Cast iron is oven safe, so as long as your pots and pans don’t have any plastic handles and parts they can go straight from the stove into the oven. Absolutely ideal for searing meats and cooking the perfect roast or for keeping your food warm once it’s done cooking.

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