Live Healthy NYC: xmas

Live Healthy NYC: xmas: Happy holidays! True facts to burn Christmas calories: kissing under the mistletoe, rocking around the C hristmas tree to your favorit...

xmas

Happy holidays! True facts to burn Christmas calories: kissing under the mistletoe, rocking around the Christmas tree to your favorite tunes, unwrapping Santa's gifts, and going for a holiday walk to get fresh air!
Enjoy the holiday!!!

Live Healthy NYC: Holiday!

Live Healthy NYC: Holiday!

Holiday!

Live Healthy NYC: Chanukah has always been this "potato pancake ...

Live Healthy NYC:



Chanukah has always been this "potato pancake ...: Chanukah has always been this "potato pancake holiday" in my house. No matter what I serve, my family likes simple crispy potat...

Chanukah has always been this "potato pancake holiday" in my house. No matter what I serve, my family likes simple crispy potato latkes best. Yet in this vastly changing landscape of food, I have tried all different kinds: zucchini, beet, sweet potato, and even celery root. However, the favorite is still simple potato.  

Potatoes are typically fried or drenched in fatty sauces, but a potato on its own is remarkably low in calories (at 132 per cup). This humble vegetable is also high in vitamins C and B6, providing about 25 percent of the daily requirements for each nutrient.

Did you know that potatoes have only been part of this holiday since the 18th century, when they came to Europe from the New World. The word latkes stuck, coming from "platke" in Ukrainian and potato pancakes spread throughout Europe. They came to the United States with immigrants from Eastern Europe at the end of the 19th century.

Ever since I can remember, I have celebrated Hanukkah lighting candles each night for eight nights to recall the miracle of the oil. We always have a tradional feast of slowly cooked brisket (or for the vegetarian lots of great sautéed veggies), complemented by crisp fragrant potato latkes cooked in oil (now in this healthy style, baked) and, of course, homemade applesauce. It's delicious!

  

 

Potato Latkes

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pounds Yukon Gold or Russet Potatoes
• 1 medium onion
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 egg whites
• Freshly ground black pepper

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Peel, cut and shred potatoes and onion, using either a grater or a food processor.

Place a large cookie sheet in hot oven.

Empty shredded potatoes and onion into a colander and squeeze out as much excess moisture as you can.

Transfer potato and onion mixture to a large bowl. Add flour, egg whites and black pepper, and combine well with a fork.

Remove cookie sheet from oven. Coat with nonstick cooking spray

Form 2-2 1/2-inch flattened rounds with the potato mixture and place on hot cookie sheet.

Return cookie sheet to oven and cook for 7-8 minutes each side, until crisp and golden.

Makes 12-15 latkes.

Serve with low-fat sour cream, homemade applesauce, or for a real indulgence, smoked salmon and or caviar!

Enjoy!!! Happy Chanukah!!!

For more information, contact me at rachel@livehealthynyc.com

Live Healthy NYC: sweet

Live Healthy NYC: sweet:      HOW SWEET ARE YOU?!? I was recently at a dinner party and while the appetizers and main course were delicious, when it came time for ...

sweet

    

HOW SWEET ARE YOU?!?

I was recently at a dinner party and while the appetizers and main course were delicious, when it came time for dessert, we all decided that DESSERT was the best part! There were homemade cookies, brownies, pies, cupcakes, and ice cream. As we sat around the table indulging (because it was the holiday time!), we talked about how the sugary treats should be a food group unto itself. Let's be real, most of us have a sweet tooth. However, the better part of ourselves knows that while sweets are enticing and addictive, sugar consumed in excess has been linked to weight gain, premature aging, and type 2 diabetes.
Eating this type of sugar is bad. And it's bad for your waistline!
The good news is that there are foods that are NATURALLY SWEET!

#1) Raw Honey- Did you know that honey is antimicrobial, antibacterial and antifungal (it's even used to treat wounds!). And, honey's distinctive brand of sweetness is welcome in almost any dish.

#2) Salt- This may seem a bit counterintuitive, but a tiny pinch of salt can enhance the natural sweetness in many ingredients and dishes-and especially in anything with fresh fruit. Before you add something to sweeten that next smoothie, try a little salt and taste it again. The natural sweetness will be more pronounced. 
Go easy on the shaker, though: Excess sodium harms your heart and adds bloat to your body!

#3) Organic milk or cream- Those who can't stomach the stuff know all too well that milk and cream are full of lactose. It's less well known that lactose is, in fact, a type of natural sugar that lends a gentle hint of sweetness to all kinds of recipes. Think about how a little cuts the bitterness in your coffee. It also adds a touch of sweetness to savory soups and stews. Consider the calcium you'll get as an added bonus.

#4) Grated carrots- You know how your grandmother's recipe for spaghetti sauce calls for sugar? Try grated carrots instead. Their natural sugars bring just the right amount of sweetness (and a dose of vitamin A and beta carotene)-with no added sugar.
 
#5) Beets-
Much of the refined sugar you eat comes from beets-and for good reason. They are among the sweetest plants growing. In fact, the original red velvet cakes used grated beets to achieve its earthy sweet flavor and ruddy hue. Try them in smoothies, grated into your next chocolate cake, or in soups for an unexpectedly sweet taste.

#6) Orange juice- Salad dressings are prime suspect when it comes to identifying hidden sugar in your diet. Make your own salad dressing with olive oil and lemon juice, and sweeten it slightly with a splash of vitamin-C-packed fresh-squeezed orange juice.

#7) Caramelized onions-
It sounds strange, but onions have a surprisingly high sugar content. It's just that we don't taste it in their raw state, when those harsh, sharp, eye-burning flavor compounds hog our attention. Rich in polyphenols, onions are one of the healthiest common vegetables and a nutrition-packed addition to your meals. Cooked slowly over a low heat, the sweetness comes into focus. They can replace corn-syrup-laced condiments, like ketchup, on your next burger. 

#8) Maple Syrup- This sweet stuff isn't just for pancakes. Its complex flavors bring sweetness to baked goods and is a big improvement over granulated sugar in your morning coffee. Luckily, it doesn't just taste fantastic. With slightly fewer calories and more minerals than honey, this antioxidant-rich elixir has health benefits, too.

#9) Apples- Applesauce (no added sugar, please) is a classic ingredient for cutting fat and sugar out of recipes. Grated whole apples can work this way, too. Try some in your next batch of whole-wheat pancakes and you may not even want to reach for syrup. Diced apples also make a fiber-rich sweetener for plain yogurt. Just don't peel the skin-that's where most of the disease fighting compounds are.

#10) Stevia- If none of the above solutions solves your sugar dilemma, you may want to reach for a sugar substitute. Of the currently available options, stevia, which is derived from an herb and has been used in certain parts of the world for centuries, is probably your healthiest bet. It's super sweet-many times sweeter than sugar or honey-and should be used in moderation.
 
So, while it's easy to be tempted by the cakes, candy and sugary alcoholic drinks, opt for the "real sweets"! There is always an option for fresh fruit! You will feel better (less moody and have more sustainable energy) and you will look better in your clothes (especially as you approach the holidays!).


For more information, contact me at rachel@liveheatlhynyc.com