Food & Nutrition
THE HAPPY NUT—PISTACHIOS
By Wendy Bazilian, DrPH, RD
Have you ever noticed those little green nuts smiling back at you from inside their shells? Well there’s a lot to be happy about! Not only are they a nutritious and tasty snack but the shells (and science) are literally piling up when it comes to their role in promoting good health and weight, too!
Pistachios date back over 7,000 years and have been lauded as a royal delicacy, garnering special praise, attention . . .and sometimes protection (legend has it that the Queen of Sheba reportedly hoarded them all for her personal use and forbade them from commoners) for centuries. Native to the areas in the Mediterranean, Middle East and Western Asia from Greece to Iran and parts of China, pistachios are relative newcomers to the United States, arriving during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. But since the moment they arrived, they gained our attention ...From Cherry Pie to Sports Beverage
The route to Traverse City is like a real life walk down the yellow brick road. The only thing that’s different is that instead of the flash of Emerald City, you see sparkling rubies. Driving down the windy roads through the farmlands of northwest Michigan, in the lushness of the deep greens of summertime, it’s as though your eyes are playing tricks on you as you pass orchard after orchard filled with cherries—so bright and red they really might as well be dazzling rubies.
Everyone loves a local summer festival. A coming together of community and a time to celebrate the season, local accomplishments and time to play and to eat. 2010 marks the 84th anniversary of the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, Michigan, affectionately—and deservedly—recognized as the Cherry Capital of the World. The star is the beloved cherry, featured in countless foods ...Grilled Vegetable Flatbread with Sun Dried Tomato and Greek Olive Tapenade
1 large whole wheat pita bread
2 small zucchini
2 small yellow squash
2 tsp. olive oil
dried herbs (basil, oregano, etc.)
1 roma tomato, sliced
1/2 cups baby spinach
1 tbs. + 1 tsp. kalamata olives
1 1/2 tbs. sun-dried tomatoes
1 tbs. + 1 tsp. cotija cheese, crumbled
1 tbs. parmesan cheese, shredded
1. Pre-heat oven (or toaster oven) to 400o.
2. Cut squash into planks lengthwise; toss with just enough olive oil to coat; season as desired with dried herbs (basil, oregano, marjoram etc). Place on cookie sheet in toaster oven or under oven broiler set on high. When squash begins to blister, use kitchen tongs to turn over, and repeat. Remove and allow squash to cool enough to handle. Rough chop (1" dice or so).
3. Split pita in half crosswise, using a serrated knife.
4. In blender or food processor, puree pitted olives and sun dried tomatoes into a coarse paste ...Feed Your Brain
Not only key for keeping your body healthy, a diet full of vibrant foods can help sharpen your memory and pump up your brainpower. “What we eat has a very powerful impact on our brain function and brain structure,” says Paul Nussbaum, Ph.D., neuropsychologist and author of the new book Save Your Brain: 5 Things You Must Do to Keep Your Mind Young and Sharp (McGraw-Hill). Indeed, more and more studies show that certain foods can help protect against cognitive decline as we get older, ...Green Your Diet
Plant, Shop, Clean, Eat, Compost, Store, Recycle, Repeat
Maybe you’re already eating clean and green. . .or maybe you’re a little bit overwhelmed at what that all means! Do you have to throw out all food that comes in packages? Do you really have to grow your own? Is it better to buy organic or buy local? There are so many questions to be answered and evaluated based on your own healthful lifestyle. But each of us has the responsibility to take stock on where we are today and make ...
