Italian cuisine is light, non-fattening, contains no cholesterol, is inexpensive and provides unforgettable moments. The great Italian cuisine is deceptively simple. Achieve subtle and complex culinary feats with a few natural ingredients, fresh and without disguise. It is clean and healthy, and offers a glorified food, usually a few calories and low in cholesterol, but much more interesting than most of the procedures that doctors recommend.
A typical Italian food is completely vegetarian: a pasta sauce, fresh tomatoes and wine. Desserts may include some fresh fruit or fresh bread with a little cheese, and finally the coffee: espresso strong, prepared just before serving. Even the sauces can be simple and few calories. One of the secrets of Italian magic works wonders with a few simple ingredients, is to achieve the right combination, knowing exactly which harmonizes with that. The Italians make their meals as a painter who has the elements for a painting: with a sense of proportion and harmony.
In Italy, the common denominator is the pasta, synonymous with the food. Pasta teachers say there are over one hundred varieties. The ingredients are the same, but the forms have different taste and consistency. The variety of pasta increases considerably according to what people do with it. Can be boiled or jumping into the oven, served with a myriad of sauces, stuffed with meat or vegetables.
Fish and shellfish also in great demand. The Italians eat good seafood near the coast.
Other basic dishes that can replace the pasta are polenta and rice. Italian dishes based on meat are delicious. And what about his few but very famous cheeses Parmigiano (Parmesan), which is made from a few thousand years, also found the Gorgonzola cheese, the creamy provolone, the mozzarella, ricotta and bet paese.
Fortunately the Italian cuisine is much easier to imitate overseas than many other international cuisine. Furthermore it is one of the healthiest cuisines that can provide greater comfort and energy.
Eating healthy can be very simple if you have a good game plan, the desire to look and feel good, and a good blender! With the right amount of protein and essential nutrients, a simple shake from the blender can fill you up and keep you energized the entire day. Here are some of my favorite health-conscious ways to use the blender:
1. BlueNana
Blueberry, banana, flaxseed, plain fat-free yogurt. Don't add any preservatives, sugars, or anything else that can turn this healthy masterpiece into a fast-food, preservative-laden beverage. When this one hits your lips, you will see exactly how delicious a healthy treat can be. Say goodbye to candy bars and high-sugar protein bars- say hello to natural fruits and healthy choices!
2. Sweet Tooth
vanilla extract, peanut butter, flaxseed, plain fat-free yogurt. Even a sweet-tooth temptation can get away with a healthy blender recipe! Be sure to use low-fat peanut butter, and just a few drops of vanilla extract. The flaxseed and fat free yogurt are both icing on the cake for this sweet yet healthy blender treat.
3. Healthy Protein Blast
Strawberry, blueberry, granola, flaxseed, plain fat-free yogurt, whey protein. For those who workout intensely, lack sufficient protein from eating meats and fishes, or those who need an added spike to their day- the protein blast is a great way to get YOURS! Feel free to add or subtract fruits, but this particular combination seems to mesh together nicely.
Flaxseed, the new wonder-food is high in Omega-3, known as the good fats. It has been known to lower cholesterol, fight heart disease, and even help prevent breast cancer. Read more on WebMd about the true powers of Flaxseed:
The noon time sun shines down brightly on the school playground. Every child has a lunch, whether in a plastic bag or a tin lunchbox. Laughing and eating keeps them occupied. The lunch meal is imperative to keep a child's energy level high through the second half of the school day. This single meal is responsible for keeping the kids up and learning until the very end of their school day. The type and portions of the meal depends on the child. Most particularly, the taste of each lunch is specific to that child's preference. The most important aspect of any lunch is the taste.
Many of the following kids lunch ideas are especially engaging and filled with wonderful taste. The uniqueness of kids lunch ideas helps a child to look forward to what they will be eating come lunchtime. Many kids lunch ideas are of two types - very time consuming or very simple, with many variations in between.
Despite the time constraints of kids lunch ideas, they are always healthy and tasteful. Bright colors are a favorite among children, and brightly colored vegetables such as orange carrots, red tomatoes, and dark green broccoli truly stand out in a lunchbox. These can be paired with small included cups of ranch dressing dip or another preferred dip for a yummy treat. For those picky eaters, dressings do well to mask the unwanted flavors of vegetables.
Vegetables such as fresh spinach and romaine lettuce can be tossed together to make a mini salad. Baked croutons make any salad that much more tasty. With a dollop of dressing and a dash of grated cheese, it is hard to resist these wonderful lunches.
For more robust kids lunch ideas, leftovers such as chili or spaghetti are always a favorite with kids. Combined with fresher dipping vegetables, this lunch is one of the most balanced. A small bit of dessert helps to lessen the blow that lunch is last night's dinner.
The repeating meal is eased by this tactic. The very beloved kids lunch ideas that sandwich is forever immortalized in peanut butter and jelly. In order to bring a new zing to this classic, consider dashing on some cinnamon. A layer of sliced banana does wonders for perking up the taste of this sandwich.
Fun plastic flags through the sandwich can also be used to give it a visual kick. By using unique cookie cutters, the sandwich can be formed into different shapes. The shape alone may be enough to distract a child from the fact that the sandwich is simply humble peanut butter and jelly.
A cold rainy day is a wonderful time to cuddle up and enjoy the comfort of the home. It makes me homesick thinking of how Mom would prepare hot chicken soup, or hot pudding over a cup of chocolate and milk.
While some people say a creamy chowder soup is perfect and others find oatmeal with honey so good, still many of us find a hot cup of brewed coffee with garlic toast the best. If you're thinking of something new, one good treat for a rainy day is a good brunch. It could be so gratifying.
Since a brunch doesn't have to be elaborated to be wonderful, a simple savory dish with spring vegetables can be enough to give you a warm and delicious start of a cold, rainy day.
Savory Baked Brunch Strata
You'll need:
8-10 slices of bread, torn into bite size pieces
1/2 cup diced fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped finely
16 ounces Cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup onion, chopped finely
2 cups cooked ham, diced
8 eggs, slightly beaten
2 cups milk
Cooking Instructions:
Layer half of the torn bread pieces in a greased baking pan or casserole baking dish. Evenly sprinkle the mushrooms and green bell pepper over the bread. Divide cheese into two and sprinkle half on top of bread. Layer the remaining bread pieces on top of cheese followed with onion and ham to top the bread. Spread the other half of the cheese. Beat the eggs and milk until fluppy then pour over the baking dish covering the entire strata. Cover with aluminum foil and put inside the refrigerator. Leave overnight.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake your strata covered for 30 minutes. After the time, remove the foil and bake further for another 15 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. Serve with a cup of hot chocolate.
Note: For more convenience, prepare all the work the afternoon or night before then cook that morning.
Apple Coffee Cake for a Sweet Brunch
You'll Need:
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 cup whole milk
1 apple, peeled and sliced
Cooking Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 375A�F. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt, mix thoroughly. In a small bowl, mix cinnamon with 1/4 cup of sugar. Set aside. With a hand or electric mixer; beat butter with eggs and remaining sugar. Gradually add the flour mixture alternating with the milk, beating after each addition.
Pour half of the batter into a greased baking pan or casserole baking dish. Layer the apple slices on top of batter then sprinkle with 1/2 of the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Spread remaining batter over the apples and sprinkle the remaining cinnamon-sugar on top.
Bake for 30 minutes or until top of cake top is golden brown. Since Apple Coffee cake is something on the sweet side, its perfect when matched with a hot cup of brewed coffee.
We aren't going to be talking about trans fats and HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup) today. I figure that is getting beat into your heads enough by just about everyone these days. In case you hadn't heard yet though, please do your body a favor and stop eating and drinking things containing these so that you can get rid of that blubber.
Let's talk about a few other items that might be "secretly" packing on the fat without you even knowing it. I want to start with wheat products, yep, whole wheat products that you will find in most cereals, bread, muffins, bagels, crackers, pasta, and the list goes on.
Most people have some sort of intolerance to the gluten in wheat products and celiacs have the worst reaction to it. The problem with this is, is that the human digestive system has never adapted to the large quantities of wheat in most diets. In the 1900s is when wheat consumption really to a JUMP! This time frame of the last hundred years is pretty short and the digestive system of the early hunters and gathers that was created has never adapted since their diets typically had fresh fish and meats, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.
To get rid of the symptoms associated with a high intake of wheat products and help burn belly fat I have suggested to all my personal clients and people I do health coaching with to eliminate wheat and give sprouted grains a try. I HIGHLY recommend Ezekiel brand products. They make awesome sprouted grain cereals, pasta, bread, and tortillas. There is quite a difference in results seen when people make this switch!
The second example of fattening food is another one that is thought to be healthy but actually helps pack on and keep body fat and this is "healthy" fruit juice. The concentrate of fruit you are consuming in these healthy fruit juices is ridiculous and typically packed with very high calories and high sugar content.
When this happens you leave all the other vital nutrients from some of the fruits. I recommend sticking to avocado, tomato, lemon, lime, and grapefruit if you are going to have fruits.
If you are going to eat the rest of the fruits like apples, oranges, bananas, strawberries, etc treat them like a dessert and eat them on occasion in small amounts to save your body the trouble of breaking down excess sugar that will result in fat gain.
Orange juice and apple juice are probably two of the worst in my opinion. The bottom line here folks is that over-consumption of fruit juice WILL MAKE YOU FAT! Stick to a balanced diet of foods that are not processed, frozen, or manufactured.
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