Category: Healthy Eating is Easy

Top 3 Meatless Meats for Meat-Lovers

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Are you digging plant grub but can’t get full on tofu? Or maybe you just don’t want to get full on tofu. YET. So until you’re there, here are 3 of the BEST plant-powered meatalicious products around. Obviously there’s nothing wrong with good ole beans and rice or pasta fagioli, but these dudes are perfect for vegetarian flirts and XL appetites.

Photo by: WhatsGoodatTraderJoes.com

1. Soy Chorizo. The package and casing scared me at first. But, once I stabbed through it, I realized the possibilities were endless. It’s spicy, has a great chewy and meaty texture, and is super filling. There are lots of brands, but the Trader Joe’s 2.5-ounce serving has 140 calories, 9 grams protein, 4 grams fiber, 8 grams carbohydrate, and just 1.5 grams saturated fat. Add it to soups, chili, nachos, potatoes, tacos, or potatoes for a hearty Mexican hash dish. Normally, I panic with processed foods and their list of 900 chemical ingredients, but the one at TJ’s tastes incredible and has just 8 completely identifiable ingredients (1 being water): textured soy protein, water, soy oil, distilled vinegar, salt, spices, red pepper, garlic. Whats Good at Trader Joe’s?–unrelated to Trader Joe’s or Bitchin’ Dietitian–has a cool review of it.

Photo by: LaziestVegans.com

2. Field Roast’s Frankfurters. These grain-based (compared to soy-based) veggie hot dogs are THE BOMB. I knew it last night when my soy dog UNenthusiastic husband had a second one. They have a mildly spicy taste, but still made it past my anti-spicy child’s taste buds. The ingredient list is longer than the chorizo’s, but contains all recognizable items: filtered water, vital wheat gluten, expeller pressed safflower oil, naturally flavored yeast extract, organic expeller pressed palm fruit oil, barley malt, natural liquid smoke, garlic, onion granules, tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, spices, paprika, sea salt. Each frank has 190 filling calories and 21 grams of protein. The rest of the nutrition info is here.

Photo by: WhatsGoodatTraderJoes.com

3. Trader Joe’s Beef-Less Ground Beef. Another wheat gluten concoction, this stuff is incredible mixed with brown rice, black beans, and salsa and then stuffed into cooked peppers. Or, add it to marinara sauce with frozen chopped spinach atop elbow macaroni for a healthy spin on Hamburger Helper. It’s basically fat-free with a 1/3-cup serving containing 60 calories, 10 grams protein, 2 grams fiber, and 0.5 grams fat. Check out another review and more ideas here.

Serve these up with gobs of veggies for maximum nutrition. Recipes here or in Skinny Dish.

Mediterranean Tofu Wraps and Lazy Lentils Save Me

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First off, THANK YOU for the Skinny Dish love this week! What a joy getting all your positive feedback and watching it top Emeril, Rachael Ray, and Jamie Oliver on Amazon, even if only for a short while!

Speaking of the week, it’s been a food tsunami… food interviews, food talks, food prep, food demonstrations, food shopping, more food planning… so bad that I’m having trouble stepping into my own gourmet kitchen. So, I wanted to share 2 Skinny Dish recipes that have kept me anchored, sane, and nourished this week. Without them and buckets of green tea, I’d have laryngitis, pimples, and an exhausted tank.

Mediterranean Tofu Wrap, Skinny Dish

Mediterranean Tofu Wrap
Makes 1 wrap
Prep time 5 minutes

This fresh and quickly-prepared wrap is a dance party of healthy flavors. Enjoy this wrap as a quick meal on its own, or with a side salad. Captain Reilly likes this one squashed and heated in a skillet or Panini maker. Hot or cold, you can’t go wrong!

1 Habanero Lime Flour Tortilla or whole grain flour tortilla
1 Tbsp hummus
1 Tbsp Olive Tapenade Spread
2.3 oz (1/3 pkg) Organic Baked Tofu, Savory Flavor, other marinated tofu
Handful baby lettuce or 1 oz (1/2 pkg) Organic Microgreens
2 Tbsp Julienne Cut Sun Dried Tomatoes, or other sliced sun dried tomatoes
4 fresh basil leaves

1 With flour tortilla open on a plate, spread hummus and then olive spread evenly over tortilla.

2 Place 4 tofu strips 2 x 2, flat down, and lengthwise. Then top with baby lettuce, sun dried tomatoes, and basil.

3 Wrap the tortilla and secure with a toothpick or foil wrap.

4 Eat within a few hours so olive spread doesn’t make the tortilla soggy.

NUTRITION SNAPSHOT
Per wrap: 358 calories, 12.5 g total fat, 1.5 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 800 mg sodium, 45 g carbohydrates, 6.5 g fiber, 6 g sugar, 17.5 g protein, 41% vitamin A, 31.5% vitamin C, 6.5% calcium, 20.5% iron

Tip: Prepare several wraps ahead of time, wrapped in foil, but omitting the olive spread until ready to eat. Store them in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Lazy Lentils, Skinny Dish

Lazy Lentils
Makes 2 servings
Prep and cooking time: 6 minutes

Fortify a can of lentil soup with extra veggies, and you’ve got a nutritionist-approved value meal in less than 8 minutes! Serve this dish with a chunk of whole grain bread or a handful of multigrain crackers. Dinner’s served!

2 (14.5-oz) cans Organic Lentil Vegetable Soup
2 cups Organic Foursome frozen vegetables, or other mixed vegetables
2 servings multigrain bread or crackers of choice (optional)

1 In a medium-sized soup pot over medium-high heat, heat soup contents and veggies, covered, until veggies are tender, about 5 minutes.

2 That’s it!

NUTRITION SNAPSHOT
Per serving: 334 calories, 7 g total fat, 1 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 1130 mg sodium, 54.5 g carbohydrates, 14.5 g fiber, 4.5 g sugar, 15 g protein, 119.5% vitamin A, 39% vitamin C, 11% calcium, 33% iron

Recipes reprinted w/ permission from Cooking with Trader Joe’s Cookbook – Skinny Dish!, by Jennifer K. Reilly, RD,
(c) 2011, Brown Bag Publishers http://www.cookTJ.com

What are YOUR nutzoid week food go-to’s?

Skinny Dish! is HERE!

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Dear Health Champions,

Today I’m proud to announce the official launch of my Trader Joe’s-inspired cookbook and nutrition guide, Cooking with Trader Joe’s Cookbook: Skinny Dish! This book will eternally set you free from lengthy meal prep and calorie-counting as you back-flip through quick, mouth-watering veggie dishes, learn “The Five Rules of Skinny,” and wow your family and friends with your new profesh chef skills… laughing all the way.

So, if you haven’t done so already, cartwheel yourself over to Amazon this week and snag a copy.  Together we can hit the bestseller lists! Here’s how else you can help:

Get it while it’s hot. Save on shipping and grab a copy for aunt Shirley, uncle Fred, and even total strangers. When to buy? This week! Oct 17-22. I’m confident that the metabolic-boosting tips, detoxing plan, and 90+ easy breezy recipes will be one of the best holiday presents you can give yourself and your posse. And, don’t feel left out if you’re not a Trader Joe’s shopper or don’t have a TJ’s nearby—the recipe ingredients can all be found at your local grocer. Extreme couponers too!

Spread the word. Share news about Skinny Dish!’s arrival on Facebook, Twitter (use #SkinnyDish and see sample tweets and status updates below), or write a review on your own site. Copy and paste this link as you share: http://tinyurl.com/SkinnyDish

DC-Area folks. Join me at Barnes & Noble in Georgetown this Friday at 7:00 PM for a recipe-tasting and book-signing extravaganza. Or, bring your copy to Capital City Cheesecakes in Takoma Park, MD on Sunday, November 6th at 1:00 PM (during the Farmers Market) for another scrumptious tasting and signing. More options? Check ‘m out here.

Thank you in advance! I hope you enjoy the full-page photos, fun side of healthy eating, and scrumptious grub as much as I do!

XOXO
Jen

Sample Tweets:

Ta da! #Skinny Dish! is finally here! Grab a copy & enjoy the road 2 simple slimdom thx 2 @DCdietitian : http://tinyurl.com/SkinnyDish

Tired of dieting & rebounding like a killer whale? Snag #Skinny Dish! by @DCdietitian & never rebound again!: http://tinyurl.com/SkinnyDish

Need simple & delish ways 2 dive into beans & veggies? Snag newly released #SkinnyDish by @DCdietitian 2day! http://tinyurl.com/SkinnyDish

Sample Status Updates:

Dietitian Jen Reilly’s “Skinny Dish” is finally out! Order your copy today and start craving veggies like a wild tiger! http://tinyurl.com/SkinnyDish

Just ordered “Cooking with Trader Joe’s Cookbook: Skinny Dish!” by nutritionist Jen Reilly. Can’t wait to try the simple, healthy masterpieces! http://tinyurl.com/SkinnyDish

Toasted Sesame Oil: Turning Tofu and Greens from Nothing to Something

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Photo by: Nicole Cho

Are you a tofu UNenthusiast or a “greens are gross” gal? Well, Toasted Sesame Oil (different from regular ole sesame oil) is about to save your day. It flavors tofu, kale, and other greens in a way that will take your breath away.

All you need to do: Add 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil plus 2 teaspoons olive oil (less expensive and higher smoke point than the sesame oil) to a skillet over medium heat. Add 1-block-worth of tofu cubes or a large bunch of dark leafy greens pieces along with a tablespoon of soy sauce. Cook for 5-10 minutes, covered, adding water 2 tablespoons at a time as needed to prevent sticking. Add more soy sauce as needed for flavor. Shepow! Delicious.

What’s your go-to tofu or greens recipe?

Meat and Dairy-Free Diet Reduces Risk of Chronic Diseases Considerably

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Chili Cook-Off by Bitchin' Dietitian

Couldn’t have said it better myself. In a report issued to all military police in the UK, physicians explain how simply ditching dairy foods and meat could drastically reduce the most serious chronic diseases. Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn who directs the cardiovascular prevention and reversal program at the Cleveland Clinic explains that on plant-based diets, patients lose weight, blood pressure normalizes, and type 2 diabetes improves or resolves, as do angina, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral vascular and carotid disease.

“We are potentially on the cusp of what could be a seismic revolution in health. This will never come about from another pill, another procedure, another operation, or construction of another cardiac cathedral. It will come about when we are able to show the public the lifestyle that will halt and eliminate 75% of these common, chronic killing diseases. The most essential component of this lifestyle is whole food plant-based nutrition.” Read more and all about it here.

Start with a few veggie-only days per week and you’ll soon see… whole wheat pancakes for breakfast, veggie chili for lunch, and a bean and rice fajita burrito for dinner isn’t so hard or bad… in fact, it’s pretty divine.

Harvard Revises USDA’s “MyPlate”

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Yay for Harvard! Noting that the USDA’s “MyPlate” is based on a mix of science and US agricultural interests (rather than just on science), the Harvard School of Public Health created a much easier to understand “Healthy Eating Plate“, which replaces dairy milk with water saying there’s little evidence that dairy protects bones, and even more evidence that dairy may be harmful to health, and also emphasizing healthier proteins and whole grains, and encouraging some healthy oils and exercise. Read more about both here.

Looks like the country is getting even closer to the plant-powered “Power Plate” created by PCRM! Go plants!

Back to School: Bag Lunches for a Dietitian’s Kindergartner

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Photo by: Ramesh NG

I have *just about* survived Week #1 of Kindergarten! My daughter is in an all-day Spanish immersion school, so not only are the all-day routines and riding the bus completely new experiences, but the whole day is in Spanish. And that’s not even the biggest deal! Eating lunch in a school cafeteria is a totally brand spankin’ new event.

Of course as the nutrition controller of the household, buying lunch at school isn’t an option despite the constant begging… “Just one day could I try the cheesy sticks, mini pizza, or milk in a cute pink carton? Pleeeeeze?”  So it took some creativity and dessert! to make the bagged lunches exciting, tasty, and healthy. Here’s what appeared in my daughter’s lunch bag this week:

MONDAY
Half a hummus and basil sandwich on whole wheat bread
1 large carrot, peeled (she prefers 1 large carrot to carrot sticks, not my idea!)
8 raspberries
6 crackers
2 chocolate-filled Oreo-type cookies
water

What still remained in the lunch bag after school: the carrot (“I didn’t see it”), crackers, and cookies. Those items became the afterschool snack. 

TUESDAY
Half a peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat bread (no jam, her preference)
Apple Carrot Crusher (from TJ’s, basically applesauce with carrots in this fun squeezy tube)
8 raspberries
5 slices orange bell pepper
6 crackers
2 chocolate-filled Oreo-type cookies
water

What still remained in the lunch bag after school: the raspberries (“I couldn’t open the container, and no one was around to help me”), crackers, and cookies. Those items were again the afterschool snack. “Mommy, you don’t need to put crackers in my lunch anymore.” Ok, I won’t!

WEDNESDAY
3 Spinach & Sweet Potato “Quiches” (eggless, made in a mini-cupcake pan, recipe coming soon!)
10 Beef-Less Strips (TJ’s, made from wheat gluten)
10 cucumber slices
Apple Carrot Crusher 
2 chocolate-filled Oreo-type cookies
water

What still remained in the lunch bag after school: 2 of the “quiches,” 3 cucumber slices, and cookies. Those items were again the afterschool snack.

THURSDAY
1 Smart Dog in a whole wheat bun (wrapped in foil, no condiments, her choice)
Apple Carrot Crusher 
4 cherry tomatoes, 4 basil leaves
2 Medjool dates
2 chocolate-filled Oreo-type cookies
water

What still remained in the lunch bag after school: dates and cookies. Afterschool snacktime!

FRIDAY
Half a chocolate peanut butter sandwich (sounds terribly unhealthy, but it’s just peanuts + a few dark choc chips ground together fresh at Whole Foods) on whole wheat bread
6 red pepper slices
10 Kalamata olives
1 chocolate chip cookie
water

Not sure what will return home today, but I suspect a couple red pepper slices and the cookie. 

You may think the daily dessert isn’t ideal, but growing up in a “Dessert-Only-Once-A-Year” household, I firmly believe that a small dessert after a nutrient-rich meal teaches healthy eating habits and moderation. Agree or disagree? For more healthy lunchbox ideas, take a gander at The Lunchbox Bunch: A team dedicated to healthy lunches!

If You Must Donut

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I scored a fantastic job one college summer in the research & development department of Rich Products Corporation, based in my home ‘hood of Buffalo, NY. In my list of duties, I was required to taste-test donuts EVERY DAY. And some days, I also taste-tested non-dairy coffee creamers and low-fat cookies. A total dream job for a college kid. Get paid to test donuts and junk? Yes please!

Well, after 2 months of heaven, a wider and squishier tush, and a newly greased nose, I finally maxed out on donuts. I didn’t think it was possible either, but I haven’t had a donut since last millennium!

Now, years later, I decided to take on a donut project: Healthy homemade donuts that look and taste like they should, but leave your tush looking like it used to. Eat donuts, but stay hot and sexy!

Inspired by and based on these mini-donuts, here’s the result:

Photo by: Bitchin' Dietitian

Donut Pop-Ems for Hot Bodies
Makes 22 donut pop-ems

Dry Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Wet Ingredients:

1/2 cup non-dairy milk (I used original flavor almond milk)
1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp flaxseed meal, soaked in 3 Tbsp warm water for 5 minutes (egg substitute)
1/4 cup Earth Balance margarine

Preheat oven to 350º F.

In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients with a whisk to mix thoroughly.

Combine wet ingredients in a small sauce pan over low heat and mix until margarine is just melted. Don’t let the mixture get too hot (you should be able to stick your finger in it without getting burned). If you burn your finger, it’s too hot for the dough.

Pour wet ingredients into the dry and stir to combine. Dough should be gooey and airy.

Scoop spoonfuls into a nonstick mini-cupcake pan (or mini-donut pan if you have it), filling cups almost completely full.

Bake for 12 minutes without letting tops get brown.

Invert hot pan upside down over a cookie sheet or cutting board and pop-ems should fall out. Allow to cool completely before glazing.

Fresh out of the oven, Pre-glaze

Sugar Glaze with Sprinkles

1 Tbsp non-dairy milk (I used original almond milk)
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/8 tsp almond extract (optional)
1/4 cup sprinkles, poured into a bowl

In a small bowl, whisk, powdered sugar, and almond extract (if using) with a fork to remove all lumps. Drop donuts into the glaze and then dip half the donut into sprinkles. Place on parchment paper until glaze dries (chill in fridge for faster solidification).

Chocolate Glaze 

3 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips (about 1/4 of a standard bag of chocolate chips)
3 Tbsp non-dairy milk

Heat in small saucepan over low heat–stirring constantly–until chips are melted. Dip and roll donuts in chocolate glaze and place on parchment paper to dry. Sprinkle with sprinkles if desired.

Nutrition info per donut pop-em (without glaze): 59 calories, 2 g fat,0 mg cholesterol, 9 g carbohydrates, 5 g sugar, 0.5 g fiber, 1 g protein.   

And the taste? INCREDIBLE! Not a complaint in the house!

Meat-Eaters May Be Short on Fiber and Cancer-Fighting Antioxidants

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Veggie Burger by: SweetOnVeg

With all the news on Clinton’s year-long vegan diet, and basically whenever someone decides to give up meat, there’s a flurry of concern the diet will be short on protein, calcium, vitamin B12, and zinc. But actually, Bill’s current tour de force not only has sufficient protein, calcium, vitamin B12, and zinc from beans, nuts, meatless burgers, fortified non-dairy milks, and fortified cereals, but it’s also skyrocketing the charts on heart-healthy and cancer-busting fiber and antioxidants. So, until Bill goes totally RAW and starts sprouting grains, avoiding all processed foods, and making almond milk from scratch (which is actually a pretty righteous nutrition situation, but does require a daily multivitamin), there is no need for panic.

But why don’t we see this headline in the news?
Meat-Eaters May Be Short on Fiber and Cancer-Fighting Antioxidants

Ironically, meat and processed-food enthusiasts should be extra careful because by skipping out on plant proteins (beans, tempeh, nuts, broccoli, quinoa) and instead downing meats and other processed foods, they’re missing out on key life force nutrients that work to prevent heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. This is why in nutrition counseling, I recommend multivitamins to meat-eaters, and not to plant food junkies.

Did you get your 9 servings of veggies and fruits today?

Do These 4 Things, and Live a Longer, Healthier Life

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Photo by: Sam Howzit

A friend of mine always joked that healthy eating didn’t help you live longer, it just seemed longer. Well, now there’s proof. This week’s American Journal of Public Health reported on the lifestyle habits of nearly 17,000 adults and their risk of dying from chronic diseases. Do these 4 things, they concluded, and enjoy life a whole lot longer:

1. Don’t Smoke.
2. Eat Healthfully.
3. Exercise Regularly.
4. Go Easy on the Alcohol.

Happy early Birthday to Besse Berry Cooper–the world’s oldest person–who turns 115 on Friday this week! How does she do it? She minds her own business and doesn’t eat junk food. See?!