Health Benefits of Using Mayonnaise in Food

People all over the world use different kinds of sauces to enhance the taste of their food. There are many kinds of sauces prepared from different items. Mayonnaise is one such sauce. Generally the sauces are prepared from the items of plant origin, for example Tomato Sauce, chili sauce or the Mustard sauce. But Mayonnaise is prepared from an animal product. Actually the Mayonnaise is prepared from egg yolk by slowly mixing oil into it and blending it with a blender or mixer, with a mortar and pestle, or even with whisk or fork. While the oil is added slowly, the yolk is whisked vigorously so as to disperse the oil. Generally in Indian preparation, a bit of mustard is also added to make the taste sharper and slightly tangy. European recipe uses olive oil with vinegar or lemon juice. Herbs and spices can also be added to this sauce.

Mayonnaise acts as a base for many other sauces as well. For example, it can be combined with Tomato Ketchup to make a new type of sauce, the Fry sauce. Mixed with mustard sauce and Tomato Ketchup, Mayonnaise can also be used as a condiment. Generally people have a misconception that Mayonnaise is an unhealthy food. But researches have shown that it has many benefits and is really good for our health. 

This sauce has been found to prevent strokes in postmenopausal women. So they are advised to add this sauce as their salad dressing on a regular basis. Also Mayonnaise is found to have a lot of Vitamin E. Actually it is this Vitamin E in the sauce that helps people protect from strokes. If a person is deficient in Vitamin E, he can very well include Mayonnaise as in his diet as this food product can resolve the deficiency very quickly. It also helps the heart and lungs to function properly and it also aids in the blood circulation. Mayonnaise has a rich content of omega -3 fatty acids which are actually good for heart.

Another health benefit of Mayonnaise is found to be on skin. Sure, it does work from within, but it can also be applied directly to the skin. This makes the skin soft and radiant. When washed, it carries off the dead skin cells with it and leaves the skin looking fresh and glowing. Thus a mayonnaise massage is always good for your face and hands. When applied directly on the skin, the ingredients penetrate the skin directly and nourish it faster and better. It can also be used as the treatment for sunburn. When applied to the affected part, it has a cool and soothing effect. Even the dry, dead skin from the elbow and flaky skin at the feet can be removed by rubbing some Mayonnaise on the problem area.

Mayonnaise can also be used as a conditioner for hair. Just take a tablespoon of Mayonnaise and massage it deep, from the scalp to the tip of the hair. After 1 hour wash with regular shampoo. It not only makes the hair soft and silky but also gives it a shine. Mayonnaise is also a good treatment for lice. Massage it over the scalp and leave for an hour, wash and the lice are drained out with the sauce. So, we see that Mayonnaise is beneficial rather than harmful for our health.

Author loves to use Mayonnaise Sauce instead of Tomato Sauce or Tomato Ketchup, as this is good for our health also.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7475887

Health Benefits of Yoga - Back Pain

Used for healing the mind, body, and consciousness, Yoga and Ayurveda are two fields that are regarded as one for many years. Yoga involves cleansing the mind and consciousness. On the other hand, Ayurveda focuses more on the physical health. However, Yoga and Ayurveda complement each other.

Contrary to what many people believe, stress is not very harmful to a person. Stress, which has an impact on the conscious mind and is kept in the subconscious mind, manifests itself through dreams. 

However, the kind of stress that is unidentified and incomprehensible goes into the unconscious mind. It can also wreak havoc to a person's mind, emotions, body, and personality.

A lot of people believe Yoga can help relieve stress and improve flexibility. However, they are doubtful if this healing system is good at improving muscle mass.

In fact, Yoga includes exercises that use weights with a series of standing posture and flow. These exercises are important in lowering the risk of osteoporosis and improving bone density. With better blood circulation, cells get adequate amounts of oxygen and red blood cells lessen clot-inducing proteins. Improved circulation also leads to more hemoglobin production.

Reports have shown that Yoga leads to a number of health benefits such as improved endurance, decreased resting heart rate, improved lymph drainage, and increased oxygen uptake. Inversions enable venous blood circulation from the pelvis and legs back to the heart. As a result, inflammation of the legs due to kidney or heart problems is lessened.

Exercise is extremely helpful for managing attention deficit disorder (ADD). Also, it is known to prevent and treat back ache through improving flexibility and strength.

A lot of people who do Yoga can prove that it can heal effectively without any side effect. The mild pressures and slow motions go deeply into the ailing joints. Aside from that, the stretching exercises coupled with deep breathing techniques reduce the tension in the muscles and joints. That said, Yoga is a form of both exercise and relaxation.

A corporate Yoga program offers many benefits even to the simplest employees. It helps an employee improve his skills in terms of stress relief, anger management, self-confidence, healthy lifestyle and diet, among many others. Thus, a corporate Yoga program is a great investment for a company's management.

Glen Wood - The Yoga Teacher. Glen is a yoga expert who loves to each you how to lose your neck, shoulder and back pain with yoga.

Dedicated to unlocking the Real Secrets of Back Pain.

Free Video Reveals No 1 Secret to Losing Your Back Pain with Yoga. Go here for more information. http://www.yogateachingwithglen.com has the tips and guides you need to be successful in losing your Back Pain today tomorrow and whenever you have the need. Our guides are methods that work and are in use by many former Back Pain Sufferers. Do you want to learn more? Join us at:-http://www.goodbyetobackpain.com/secrets

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Tilapia Recipes to Insure Health and Taste

If you love eating fish cuisines, Tilapia Recipes would definitely appeal to your taste. These dishes are prepared from the fish named Tilapia. It is a light and affordably priced species among fishes. The tastes of food delights prepared from this fish are too yummy. The best part of making Tilapia Recipes is that they have a high nutritious composition. The presence of low fat and omega 3 makes them a nice food supplement to enhance health. After adoring these dishes with nice-looking toppings their display appears great.

Tilapia is a white colored fish, it is cheaper to buy and tastier to eat. It is very easy to cook by different methods like frying, baking and broiling. Now this species is being raised in farms as a part of pisiculture. Its demand is high in countries of Asia and Africa as cheap and nutritious food options are always being sought there.

Tilapia Recipes are delicious to eat and have a unique taste. They have low fat and are really good for the heart. If you want to keep your weight in check without any compromise with taste, cook and eat Tilapia Recipes. 

You won't believe even in ancient times people preferred eating Tilapia fish. Today advanced cookery is reintroducing them for preparing mouth watering dishes. You may prepare Tilapia Recipes from various methods like baking, frying, broiling, grilling and processing with corn flakes.

They can be well decorated with attractive toppings of ingredients like Cajuns etc. They can be given a spicy taste by adding salt, pepper and lime juice. You may also add olives, dates, cheese, garlic and red onion to them. 

Dishes from Tilapia fish can be prepared by frying in peanut oil or mustard oil. Tilapia fish is also cheaper in cost; you can expect to control your budget without any compromise in taste.

Find more details on tasty famous recipes i.e Tilapia Recipes.

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Healthy Mushroom Recipe

Ever tried dishing out a mushroom recipe?

I have discovered a fabulous culinary substitute for high calorie meat - mushrooms!

Mushrooms such as Cremini, (otherwise known as the Brown Mushroom, Brown cap, Chestnut, Champignon Marron), Portabello (large Cremni, which are by far my most favourite variety of exotic mushroom), and Trumpet Royale Mushroom and Eryngii Mushroom or King Oyster Mushroom have a heavy texture and a savoury bite that is as flavoursome as meat. For meat lovers who are struggling to give up high-energy density meat in the diet, or people who are deliberating to move toward vegetarian alternatives, a low-carbohydrate mushroom recipe is definitely something worth trying. Mushrooms are low in calories (1 full cup contains only about 45 calories), low in sodium, have virtually zero fat and cholesterol. No wonder why they complement so many meat dishes and why some even consider them as the meat-eaters vegetarian choice. Thinking about it, perhaps that's why the vegetarian diet consists large quantities of mushrooms.

Not only healthier, mushrooms are also as palatable and satiable as meat, making you feel full and gratified. I believe this mushroom-eating strategy can be helpful in shedding pounds and promoting weight loss. Furthermore, mushrooms are also rich in natural glutamates, contain a host of amino acids, and have an excellent source of vitamins B and D, a nutrient very much associated with prevention against osteoporosis and colon cancer.

Ruth's Favorite Mushroom Recipe

Ingredients:

5 big leaves of lettuce 

Brown mushrooms or portabello mushrooms, cut into broad strips 

Sea salt to taste 

A dash of black pepper 

2 cloves of garlic, chopped fine 

2 teaspoon of cooking oil 

3 table spoons of balsamic vinegar 

1 tablespoon of honey

Directions:

1. To prepare fresh mushrooms, first trim off any hard bottom on the stems and knock off any sticky bits of dirt with a damp kitchen towel. Then give them a quick wash under the tap, they don't really absorb as much water and turn mushy as what many people had warned. 

2. Fry chopped garlic in oil till it's slightly brown. 

3. Add mushrooms and continue to stir-fry until they become soft. 

4. Turn off heat and add salt and pepper. 

5. Cut lettuce into thin strips. 

6. Put lettuce, mushrooms into a salad bowl and add honey and vinegar 

7. Mix and enjoy!

Article: http://www.benefits-of-honey.com/mushroom-recipe.html

Ruth Tan runs the popular website Benefits of Honey which is an immensely rich, quality resource on honey and its benefits, and a plethora of health-related issues. Discover the amazing health benefits and all the positive spin-offs super-food honey can bring to your life and the lives of your loved ones at http://www.benefits-of-honey.com

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The Fast Food Health Threat

Few dietary trends have been or are as prominent, prevalent, and influential as the movement towards dining out in general and fast food in particular. Dating back as far as the 1940s with the birth of McDonald's the fast food trend continues unabated today, despite a modern wave of so-called "health initiatives." In spite of a slew of new diets, new exercise regimens, and even new lawsuits, statistics consistently show that the United States population - along with the populations of many developed countries - is getting fatter by the year.


Causes of the Obesity Crisis

Why is fast food so harmful? The obvious and traditional answer is because of sheer caloric excess. A recent, 15-year study showed that young people between the ages of 18 and 30 who ate at least 2 fast food meals a week were, on average, 10 pounds fatter than those who did not. It's also no secret that fast foods are soaked in oil and fat, saturated with sodium and sugars, and designed with convenience and taste, rather than nutritional value, in mind. However, can this be the only reason?

With the recent trend towards (or at least, lip service towards) healthy lifestyles with managed calorie intakes, frequent exercise, and even target nutrition, one would think that the "obesity epidemic" would be feeling the effects. Statistics, however, show otherwise. While some blame (perhaps rightly) these disappointing numbers not on fat, sugars, or calories, but on the layers of artificial additives on virtually all fast food items, others researchers have begun to look at the fast food trend as part of a larger, social change. In their eyes, modern American culture makes it all but inevitable that diets will fail, people will relapse into unhealthy habits, and the obesity rate will continue to increase.


A Different Point of View
American people today live in an environment where low cost and convenient access often take precedence over nutrition. Television and radio airwaves are replete with advertisements, and billboards are covered with fast food propaganda, but the core of the issue is the public mentality. People are much more likely to dine out than ever before. A disintegrating nuclear family tradition means less gatherings around the dinner table, at least at home. A misunderstanding of what low-carb, low-fat, or low-sodium actually means leads to people rationalizing their unhealthy diets. A steady trend towards larger portion sizes has subtly influenced people to eat more without ever realizing the difference.

And fast food companies may only be partially to blame. Though it is true that fast food restaurants are a prime source for unhealthy food, in another sense these companies are only responding to the economic demands of the American public, according to Rudolph Leibel, an obesity expert from Columbia University. If the public attitude truly changes (that is, in a way more profound than simply hiding behind sham diets, rationalized food choices, fancy catchphrases, or a salad every few days), Leibel argues, the fast food menu will change along with it.

The question, then, is - how does one go about changing one's viewpoint and lifestyle? One way is by circumventing the vicious cycle of relapse and rationalization. Instead of choosing "healthy options" off the local McDonald's menu, eating true home-cooked meals is a much better and sustainable solution. Remember - the key is not how well a diet works in the short run, it's how long you can keep it up in the long run.

For home-cooked meal recipe ideas, visit http://www.cdkitchen.com

Joseph Devine

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1155012

How to Eat for Good Health on a Cruise Ship

Multiple stories of cruise ship disasters may leave you hesitant to book a cruise; however, it is still a vacation of choice for many people. If you are conscious about your health or weight, though, another cruise ship disaster might be the around the clock food that is often a featured attraction on many cruise ships. You can still eat for good health while on a cruise by following a few simple guidelines.
To be sure you eat for good health, stick to your regular routine as much as possible. Just because food is available 24/7 does not mean you have to dine at every time and place food is available. If you normally eat three meals a day, keep the same schedule while on the ship and avoid adding excess calories between meals.
Be conscious of how food is prepared. To make meals more appetizing chefs add a lot of butter, oils, salt and other things you may not use when cooking at home. To eat for good health it is best to eat dishes with as little additional preparation as possible.

Fill up on salad and soup to minimize how much of the main course you need to be satisfied. This trick only works if you choose broth soups, not creamed soups, and are careful with the high fat/high calorie salad toppings such as croutons, cheese, bacon, and salad dressings.


Stay away from the appetizers before dinner, as you can pack on hundreds of calories in a few bites of appetizers. Save your calories for something more enjoyable and filling at dinner. As the name implies, appetizers will also "whet" your appetite, causing you to eat even more at dinner than you would otherwise.
When dining at a buffet do your best to review the entire buffet offerings first to get an idea of which selections would make the healthiest menu options.

That way when you go through the buffet line you will be able to plan your meal around the best protein and complex carbohydrate selections. Don't worry; you will get plenty of fat! If they do offer any good fats such as fish, avocados or walnuts, that would be a good choice - unless the fish is fried.


Be sure to eat enough protein, as this will help fill you up and keep you satisfied until the next meal. Then, fill your plate with vegetables as close to their natural state as possible. If you are lucky enough to have raw vegetables use humus or guacamole as a dip instead of ranch dressing. You will benefit from the protein in humus and the good fat in guacamole, and the fiber in the raw vegetables.

Once you are through the buffet line, move away and eat your dinner as far away as possible from the buffet table. This will eliminate the temptation to get another helping of that oh so yummy casserole that is oozing in high fat cream sauce. And of course avoid the temptation of the dessert table!

One area to be especially aware of is hidden calories in beverages. Avoid all soda and sweetened beverages, and watch the fruit smoothies - they are loaded with sugar. Also, drinking sugary beverages actually makes you thirstier, rather than quenching your thirst. If you drink alcohol the best drinks are wine or tequila, without any mixer. Most alcohols are low in calories; it's the mixers (soda, tonic, etc) that add the sugar and calories.
In addition to being conscious of your food choices, plenty of physical activity will help to work off those extra calories that you can't avoid. Take advantage of the on ship gym or some off ship excursions to get in some exercise while having fun.

These guidelines on how to eat for good health will ensure that your health and weight will not be a cruise ship disaster. Another cause of weight gain, however, is stress, so whatever you do, remember that you are on vacation and don't stress over every calorie. If you do give in and indulge one day, just get back on track the next day and eat for good health as much as you can.

And you can get a free mini course on the top 5 lifestyle changes to improve your health at http://www.healthwellnessconnection.com, where Mary Ann MacKay shares her research promoting optimal wellness through nutrition, diet, exercise and living a healthy lifestyle.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5688661

Loving Lentils - Health Benefits and Healthy Recipes

Lentils are an excellent source of six important minerals, two B-vitamins, and protein with virtually no fat. The high folate content in lentils helps to lower the amino acid homocysteine, which is known to cause damage to artery walls and is considered a serious risk factor for heart disease. The magnesium in lentils also provide cardiovascular benefits, as magnesium improves the flow of blood, nutrients, and oxygen throughout the body. Studies show magnesium deficiencies are associated with heart attack and immediately following a heart attack, a lack of sufficient magnesium promotes free radical injury to the heart.


Lentils are rich in dietary fiber, both the soluble and insoluble type. Research studies have shown that insoluble fiber not only helps to increase stool bulk and prevent constipation, but also helps prevent digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulosis. A study involving 10,000 Americans published in the Archives of Internal Medicine confirms that eating high fiber foods, such as lentils, helps to prevent heart disease. The high fiber content in lentils keeps blood sugar levels from rising rapidly after a meal and helps to lower cholesterol. If you have insulin resistance, hypoglycemia or diabetes, legumes like lentils can really help you balance blood sugar levels while providing steady, slow-burning energy.

Lentils are also a great source of iron, which is particularly important for menstruating, pregnant, or lactating women and growing children and adolescents. Boosting iron stores with lentils is a good idea because, unlike other sources of iron such as red meat, lentils are not rich in fat and calories. 

Iron is an integral component of hemoglobin, which transports oxygen from the lungs to all body cells, and is also part of key enzyme systems for energy production and metabolism.
We can't think of any reason not to consume this super-food. Check out our favorite recipes!

Curried Lentils
1 cup brown or green lentils, washed
4 cups + 1 TBS vegetable broth
1 medium onion chopped
3 medium garlic cloves chopped
2 medium carrots, diced
2 medium celery stalks, diced
2 cups finely chopped kale
2 tsp curry powder
1 15 oz can diced tomatoes (do not drain)
3 TBS chopped fresh cilantro
Salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper to taste

Urban Clinic recommended additions:

Potato (1 large baking potato cut in small squares)
Spinach
Cauliflower

1. Rinse lentils in strainer and sort through, removing debris.

2. Chop onions and garlic and let sit for 5 minutes.

3. Heat 1 TBS broth in medium soup pot. Healthy Sauté onion in broth over medium heat for 5 minutes stirring frequently, until translucent.

4. Add garlic, carrots, and celery. Continue to sauté for another couple of minutes. Add curry powder and mix to bring out its flavor.

5. Add rinsed and drained lentils, 4 cups broth and tomatoes. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium low, and simmer uncovered until lentils and vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Add kale and simmer for another 10 minutes. Add cilantro and season with salt and pepper to taste.

This recipe is perfect for a slow cooker. Try our additions and serve over brown rice.

Lentil and Ginger Stew
1tbsp olive oil
1 leek, diced
2 carrots, diced
250g (9oz) Puy lentils
1.4 litres (2½ pints) hot vegetable stock
200g (7oz) cherry tomatoes on the vine
2 oranges
2.5cm (1in) piece fresh ginger, grated
25g (1oz) almonds, roughly chopped
100g (3½oz) spinach leaves

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan) mark 6. Heat 2tsp oil in an ovenproof pan. Add leek and carrots; fry for 6-8 mins.

2. Stir in the lentils, coating them with the mixture, then pour in the stock. Season, cover and bring to the boil, then turn down the heat.

3. Transfer to the oven for 20 mins or until lentils are just tender with a slight bite.

4. After lentils have been cooking for 10 mins, put the tomatoes into a roasting tin, drizzle with remaining oil and roast for 8-10 mins.

5. Meanwhile, remove skin from oranges with a sharp knife and cut into slices, reserving juice.

6. When lentils are cooked, add orange slices, juice and remaining ingredients. Spoon into bowls with the 

tomatoes.

Spiced Pumpkin and Lentil Salad
¾ cup French green lentils
6 cups peeled seeded sugar pumpkin or butternut squash, cut into 1-inch pieces
3 to 5 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon smoked Spanish paprika
½ teaspoon salt
4 cups baby arugula
11 ounces soft goat cheese, crumbled
¼ cup thinly sliced mint leaves
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Salt and pepper

1. Preheat oven to 375F/ 190C. 

2. Toss the pumpkin/squash with 2 tablespoons oil, the cumin, paprika, and salt until all the cubes are well-coated in the marinade. Arrange then in single layer on a baking dish and roast for 20 minutes. Turn each piece so that all the sides get the chance to turn nice and crispy, and roast for another 10 to 15 minutes until tender. Leave to cool. 

3. While the pumpkins/squash is in the oven, prepare the lentils. Soak them in cold water for about 10 minutes, then drain and boil them in salted water for about 20 to 30 minutes, until tender. Drain, rinse under cold water and drain again. 

4. To assemble the salad, combine the lentils, pumpkin/squash cubes, and oil from the baking dish with arugula, half of goat cheese, mint, vinegar, and enough oil to just coat each ingredient. Divide among plates and sprinkle the remaining goat cheese over.

Get FREE natural cures and other money-saving at-home health tips when you sign up for the Urban Clinic newsletter today at http://www.urbanclinic.net. The Urban Clinic was created to help readers treat the underlying cause of an illness, instead of just the symptoms. With public drug companies competing for profits, medications are being over prescribed and approved despite dangerous side effects causing severe unnecessary complications and weakened immune systems. With online medical resources at the click of a button, you can now gain full control of your health to narrow down the most effective health solutions. We encourage first and foremost natural techniques, vitamins, and nutritional therapy to combat illness, but we acknowledge when modern medicine is necessary. Our site is about sharing knowledge and promoting healing while minimizing time, money, and side effects.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. None of the products mentioned in this article are intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The information in this article is not intended to provide personal medical advice, which should be obtained from a medical professional. This information is made available with the understanding that the author and publisher are not providing medical, psychological, or nutritional counseling services on this site. The information in this article does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, and interactions. Liability for individual actions or omissions based upon the contents of this article is expressly disclaimed. This information has not been evaluated or approved by the U.S. FDA.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5937023

Healthy Recipe That Can Help Your Diet - Grilled Indian Chicken

This is a recipe that you should read with interest, because this food's nutrients are what you would require in your daily diet regimen, so stop, sit, and read. It will only need a little of your time to finish reading this recipe. So, make sure that when you have read this and want to try cooking it, you should entirely follow the recipe so that nothing could go wrong in your cooking. This recipe has yogurt in it; it means that it has fewer calories compared to using margarine. Here is the recipe.

Ingredients:
• 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon finely grated ginger
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 4 scallions, greens included, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• fresh ground pepper
• lemons or lime wedge, to garnish

Cooking the Food:
1. Prepare your chicken. Cut it into 1 inch pieces. When done, place it in a medium bowl. Set it aside; you will use it later after you are done mixing your marinade.

2. In another bowl, mix the yogurt, turmeric, paprika, cardamom, lemon and lime juices, olive oil, ginger, garlic, cumin, scallions, salt and pepper. Mix it well until all of the ingredients have been combined together. A well combined marinade would give your chicken an even flavour.

3. Once done, pour the marinade over the chicken and mix it well with your hands. Coat the pieces well so that the marinade will be distributed evenly on the chicken. Put the chicken in the refrigerator for 2 hours to marinate.

4. While you are waiting, you can prepare the grill and turn on to medium heat. This should be prepared for you to cook the chicken later. If you are using a common grill, it would still be okay. Just add medium sized coals and burn it up.

5. When the grill is ready, take out the marinated chicken from the fridge and you can thread the pieces of chicken onto skewers and place it on the grill. Cook for 5-7 minutes; turn the chicken skewer frequently while you are cooking it. Baste the chicken with the left-over marinade after you have turned the chicken. When the chicken is done, place it on a clean plate.
6. To serve, add with lemon or lime wedges to spice up the look. Now you are prepared to eat your own cooked food.


Now that you have read the recipe, you can try cooking it. It is really easy to cook your food once you have read the instructions carefully. This recipe has 29% calories, 13% sodium, and 110% of protein. Well, from the looks of it, this really gives your body a lot of nutrients. You can put this on your diet regimen if you want. But for now try cooking it, and taste it for yourself. It really tastes and looks delicious.

Sherry Haynie is a health and fitness enthusiast who is fond of writing about food and diet, and also topics such as grill whole chicken and grilling a steak.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4897350

Healthy Vegetarian Cake Provencal Recipe

Have you eaten a cake provencal before?
Cake provencal looks like a pound cake but it is baked with baking powder instead of yeast. Inside the cake, it contains a lot of savory ingredients - for example sauteed vegetables, olives, herbs, cheese, hams, sausages and so much more. The bread can be a dish for dinner or picnic. This cake provencal recipe is truly one of the best dessert recipes to have.

These cakes are baked like sweet cakes and instead of butter, olive oil is used in this vegetarian cake from the best dessert recipes. This recipe will be light on olive oil and a special ingredient mixed in for protein - toasted soy bean flour. It will be a vegetarian cake that can be eaten as it is, even paired with raw vegetables or salad. Not only that, it can be eaten in just any possible way. Also it can be kept refrigerated. It is something simple that taste good.

Ingredients

Vegetables mix
One small onion
Two big sweet bell peppers
Two garlic cloves
1 tablespoon of Herbes de Provence mix ( or any Italian herb mix will do)
1 Tablespoon of olive oil
Some salt and pepper

The batter:
60g toasted soy bean flour or chickpea flour
160g of all-purpose flour
One and a half tablespoon of baking powder
One tablespoon of salt
Two tablespoon of olive oil
Three large eggs
Half a cup of buttermilk or regular milk with a little vinegar added

The rest:
Four dried tomatoes, already drained and chopped roughly
70g of low fat goat cheese or feta cheese
One tablespoon of pesto from a jar
This is all the ingredients for the Cake Provencal.
First, heat up the oven in 180°C setting. Then take a parchment paper and cover the bottom of your baking pan with it. Lightly cover the parchment paper with olive oil.
Then take all the vegetables and cut them into rough pieces. After that, saute them in a pan with two tablespoons of olive oil until they become limp.

Add a dash of salt and pepper. Then add in the rest of the herbs and let it cook for a while. After that, turn off the fire and leave the vegetables to cool. They will later on be added into the cake.
While the vegetables are cooling, get a bowl and mix in the flour, baking powder and some salt. After you have mixed those, add in the olive oil, buttermilk and eggs. Beat the mixture thoroughly. While you are beating the mixture, add in small batches of the dry ingredients until all of it becomes a smooth batter. After you done that, add in the pesto, sauteed vegetables, chess and dried tomatoes into the batter and mix them up. Now you are almost done with your Cake Provencal.

After you have mixed them up properly, take out the baking pan you prepared earlier and pour the batter into it. Then put it into the oven and let it bake for about 20-25 minutes. The cake will be ready when the toothpick comes out clean from the center of the cake. Then take it out and leave it to cool. If you are not planning to finish the cake, then you can keep it in the fridge for a few day as long it is hold in an air tight container.

To learn more healthy, low fat dessert recipes, come and check out my website: Low Fat Dessert Recipes [http://lowfatdessertrecipes.org/]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4347207

Fast Healthy Recipes - Asian Green Bean Stir Fry

If you work all day, the last thing you want to do when you get home is to slave in front of a hot stove to prepare dinner. However, you don't want to fall to temptation and drive through the take out window for some sub-standard fast food. If you are trying to eat healthy and watching your weight, you want to eat foods that are nutrient rich, giving the most goody for the calories you consume.

The below recipe is great for a quick snack or as an accompaniment to a main entrée. It's a great complement to chicken, fish, pork or beef.

Asian Green Bean Stir Fry
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 pound green beans, cut 1-inch portions
Pinch of crushed red pepper
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen mixed stir-fry vegetables (thaw if frozen)
1 tablespoon black bean-garlic sauce (found in Asian food section of most large grocery stores)

Directions:
1. In large frying pan heat sesame oil over medium-high heat.
2. Add green beans and crushed red pepper.
3. Cook 2 to 3 minutes until seared, stir often.
4. Add water, cover, reduce heat to medium.
5. Cook 3-6 minutes, stir occasionally, cook longer for tender vegetables.
6. Uncover, increase heat to medium-high, add stir-fry vegetables and black bean-garlic sauce.
7. Cook until heated through, stirring often.
8. Dish is ready when the majority of the liquid has evaporated.
Serves approximately 4,1 cup servings.

Health Benefits:
Beans are rich in fiber and protein but also a great source of iron and Vitamin B6. Low in fat and calories, providing antioxidants that protect the heart.

Karen Ficarelli is the founder and CEO of Fitness4Her.com, a diet, exercise program and women's fitness blog, developed especially for women. A sports nutritionist and personal trainer, Karen has a treasure chest full of healthy recipes that will keep you eating healthy and lean.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3414551

Healthy Chicken Recipes - 4 Tips For Awesome, Flavorsome Food

As we enter the beginning of a New Year many people will have resolved to lose weight and with this in mind I am going to give you some tips to cook healthy chicken recipes that will flood your taste buds with amazing flavor but also help as part of a calorie controlled diet.

But first of all, here are a few fun facts that you may not know about the chicken.

There are more chickens on earth than there are human beings

A chicken bred with a turkey is called a "Turken" which has the head of a turkey and the body of a chicken.

The United States has 4 cities with the word "chicken" in them: Chicken Town, Pennsylvania, Chicken Bristle, Kentucky, Chicken Alaska and Chicken Bristle Illinois.

The largest amount of yolks ever found in a single chicken's egg is 9.

Anyway, enough of that and on to some tips for creating healthy chicken recipes. Chicken is a very popular meat to cook because its subtle flavors adapt well to many different dishes and methods of cooking. It is also high in protein and has less fat than red meat. Having said that, however, many Americans buy boneless, skinnned chicken breasts and cooked wrongly, these can soon end up dry and tough as old boots, which leads me into my first tip.

1. When it comes to basic cooking there are two different methods: dry heat and moist heat. Dry heat includes baking, roasting, frying and grilling and moist heat includes poaching, steaming, microwaving and slow cooking. When using dry heat for chicken breasts, use a high heat and cook for a matter of minutes. Grilled chicken cooks in about 8-10 minutes. When using moist heat to cook chicken breasts they will take longer, but only about 15 minutes (depending on the thickness of the breasts).

2. Chicken crockpot recipes are always popular especially with working moms and nothing beats the smell of slow cooked chicken as you come through the door. In order to make these recipes both healthy and tasty, I would recommend that you use chicken thighs. So many people overlook chicken thighs and choose breast, but thighs are much more flavorsome and incredibly cheap. Remove all the skin and brown them all over in a pan before removing them with a slotted spoon and adding them to your favorite crockpot recipe. They will happily cook in a crockpot, retaining both moisture and flavor. Try adding some fruit like dried apricot or prunes as these work really well with chicken and help to bulk out the dish.

3. Try getting lots of flavor into your chicken, whether it be breasts or thighs, by marinating for several hours prior to cooking. A sweet and sour marinade consisting of honey, soy sauce, olive oil, and chill works well and if you pour the entire contents into your pan to cook the chicken, you will end up with delicious, tasty, sticky chicken which works really well with stir fried vegetables or a green salad.

4. Shake and bake chicken is another great way to pep up the humble chicken and keep the fat content low. You can make your own seasoning with a basic crumb mix and what you add to this is entirely up to you, but some good combinations include lemon zest and cracked black pepper, crumbled Parmesan cheese, or even some curry powder for a taste of India. Chicken, oven baked in this way, retains the moisture inside whilst becoming nice and crunchy on the outside and is always a winner with the kids.

Use these tips and don't be afraid to get creative and experiment with marinades and seasonings. When it comes to healthy chicken recipes the only limit is your imagination.

To learn more about Healthy Chicken Recipes, download my 10 day e-learning course here: "Popular Restaurant Recipes"

Patrick Edwards is the owner of www.restaurantrecipesonline.com where he provides premium Restaurant recipes and tips.

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Favorite Healthy Recipes For Kids

Parents know that it is challenging to come up with fast and healthy recipes for kids. Kids can be very finicky eaters, especially when it comes to vegetables and grains. Moms, Dads and chefs all over the world are always swapping new ideas for meals and ways to ensure a child will eat healthy and good tasting food.

One of the biggest challenges facing parents is how to get a child to eat their vegetables. Instead of pouring fattening melted cheese all over broccoli, try hiding the unpopular green villains. Mix the veggies with chicken and a cream sauce and then roll it up in a doughy casing. Use either a tortilla (corn or flour), a crepe, or a pita pocket.

A Quiche made out of eggs, lean bacon and vegetables is both easy, quick and relatively cheap. Buy a ready-made pie crust at your local market and in a large mixing bowl, combine 5 eggs, broccoli (or any other vegetable) and cooked bacon pieces all together. Then pour the mixture into the pie crust and stick it in the oven at 425 degrees for a half hour. This is a healthy and delicious treat for the whole family.

Kids always crave certain foods such as pizza. A pizza can be made very healthy and made quickly. You can really go wild with the veggie toppings and load a ready-made pizza dough full of them. First cover the dough with a marinara sauce, sprinkle mozzarella cheese (an naturally low-fat cheese) over the sauce and then pile on the veggies. Stick the pie in the oven at 400 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes.

Chicken nuggets are also a favorite. When baked instead of fried, these are very nutritional meal items. Set your oven to 400 degrees. Take raw chicken tenders and dip them into beaten 2 or 3 egg yolks. Then take the nuggets or tenders and dip them into breadcrumbs. The breadcrumbs that are commonly sold at grocery stores work great. Place the chicken on a greased pan and set in oven for a half hour. Grilling the chicken nuggets is also a great idea. This dish goes great with rice, mashed potatoes or just a little bit of fruit as a dessert.

A popular breakfast recipe for little ones is whole grain pancakes. Kids will think you are feeding them a sweet snack instead of a healthy meal. Whole grain pancake batter is sold right along side the regular pancake batter at your local grocers. Instead of fatty maple syrup, opt for a non-preservative berry spread to top the pancakes.

For a midday snack: apple sticks, strawberries, and other sweet fruit will always win them over. Children and teens are natural fans of fruit and often don't request any additional toppings or dipping sauces. If their favorite fruit is not in season, frozen fruit is just as nutritious and delicious when thawed.

Remember that a child will crave what he or she is fed the most often. There are many healthy recipes for kids that will always be a hit. Your children will thank you for it, someday.

Get hold of lots of tasty healthy recipes for kids from healthy eating for kids.

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Looking for Healthy Easy Recipes for Dinner? Try These Spanish Meatballs

Trying to choose quick healthy easy recipes for dinner can sometimes be cumbersome, especially you're in a mad scramble to get everything prepared, cook a meal the whole family can enjoy all the while making sure it's nutritionally dense and well balanced. 

With this Spanish meatballs recipe below you can rest assured because it's a quick and healthy easy recipe for dinner that the whole family will enjoy.

Healthy Easy Recipes for Dinner: Spanish Meatballs

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 500g organic lean minced beef

• 1 large organic or free range egg

• 2 400g tins of chopped tomatoes

• 2 organic beef stock cubes

• 1 litre of boiling water

• Dried Herbs de Provence (or a good selection of dried mixed herbs)

• 1 white onion, finely sliced

• 1 garlic clove, finely sliced, extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil, salt and ground black pepper

Method:

1. Mix the mince with the egg and half the onion chopped. Season with 1 stock cube and black pepper.

2. Roll the mixture with your hands into ping pong sized balls and fry in oil until almost cooked (the meatballs can still be slightly.

3. pink in middle as they are going to simmer in the sauce). Be sure to turn them around now and again so they cook evenly.

4. Take the meatballs out and put them on a plate to rest.

5. Drain all but 1 tablespoon of oil in the pan, retaining the bits of meat that are left in the bottom of the pan.

6. Add the rest of the chopped onion and some finally chopped garlic and sauté for a further 2 minutes until golden.

7. Add the 2 tins of chopped tomatoes and a good sprinkling of mixed herbs.

8. Add in the water and crumble in the final stock cube. Season with salt and pepper if required.

9. Simmer for about 10-15 minutes until the sauce thickens a little.

10. Add the meatballs and mix them well with the tomato sauce. Let them cook for another couple of minutes.

These meatballs are delicious and can be served with some steamed greens such as broccoli, asparagus, spinach or any other of your favourite veg. If you do find yourself craving some pasta or spaghetti you can have them with some 'miracle noodles'. These little gems are low calorie and low carb which means they are perfect if you are carb conscious and looking to drop a few pounds or maybe even if you're looking to lose a stone fast. That's not to say that carbs should be avoided altogether, definitely not. I hope you enjoy this healthy recipe idea for dinner and that you give it a go. Hasta luego.

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Healthy Weight Loss Recipes: Guilt Free Burger and Chips

Fast food is a no no when you're looking to lose weight (unless you're having a cheat day that is). You are better off sticking with healthy recipes that will help your weight loss goals rather than hinder it. However that doesn't mean you can't have a 'fast food' type meal why you are dieting. Here is one of my favourite healthy weight loss recipes for burger and chips. You get the chip shop taste without the extra calories and guilt that comes with it.

The Burgers are made from extra lean beef mince or turkey mince and the chips (or wedges) are made from sweet potato - a delicious alternative to the traditional variety. Also we will be using coconut oil instead of other oils because of the amazing health benefits that coconut oil provides. It also provides a lovely aroma when cooking with it.

Healthy Recipes For Weight Loss: Guilt Free Burger and Chips

Serves 4

Ingredients for Burgers

• 500g extra lean beef mince (or turkey will work fine too)

• 1 onion, chopped finely

• 1 chilli - finely chopped

• 1 x egg

Method

1. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl, divide it into 4 portions.

Knead each portion so it all sticks together nicely, then flatten

into a burger shape.

2. Heat some coconut oil in a frying pan and shallow fry for around

4 minutes each side.

Ingredients for Wedges

• 2 large sweet potatoes

• 1/2 tsp chilli powder

• 1 tsp paprika

• 1 tbs coconut oil, melted

Method

1. Slice up the sweet potatoes so they look like wedges.

2. Toss all ingredients into large bowl then place in a large baking tray in oven at around 200-220 degrees C for 30-40 mins.

3. Serve alongside a bed of steamed greens.

This healthy recipe for weight loss is perfect for those evening or weekends when you feel like getting a 'dirty takeaway' and you don't want to undo all your hard work and diligence of following whatever program you are following. I often have this as a 'clean' cheat meal. Because you are cooking this yourself and you can monitor how much and what you use in it, you will be better aware of the foods you are eating which means you will have greater control over your results. Try it out and let me know how you get on. I'd love to hear your feedback on it and if you have suggestions to make the recipe better I'd love to hear them.

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How to Make Healthy Soup Recipes for Weight Loss: 3 Things You Must Do

This article is on how to make healthy soup recipes for weight loss. Regardless of your goal, whether you have to lose a stone, 2 stone or even just drop a few pounds, starving yourself is not the answer. You need food to function properly, food that's going to give you enough fuel, energy and has the correct balance of proteins, fat and carbs. One excellent way of doing this is from making your own homemade soup. This article will guide you through the 3 things you must do to make your soup: healthy, delicious and ensure it helps you achieve your goal not hinder you.

1. Where's the protein?

The first element of your healthy soup recipe for weight loss is to ensure that it includes a complete protein, whether this comes from lean meats like chicken, beef, turkey or from fish or shellfish like salmon, scallops or prawns. Now if you're a vegetarian don't worry I've got you covered: you can get your complete protein from the fantastic all in one super food quinoa. 

Quinoa is a type of grain and basically it's a nutritional powerhouse and is known as the grain of the Gods. It's especially delicious in healthy soup recipes for weight loss. So step 1: include some element of protein either from a meat/fish source or you can get it from quinoa. Now you can get some protein from beans, legumes and other grains but for a complete protein the only grain that has it is quinoa.

2. Include lots of fresh vegetables.

When you're making healthy soup recipes for weight loss you definitely want it to include lots of vegetables. If you can, try and use organic vegetables where possible, otherwise use lots of seasonal vegetables in your healthy soup recipes, the vegetables will be full of nutrients, vitamins and fibre all of which are excellent for weight loss.

3. Don't complicate things.

Make your life easier and keep your healthy soup recipe ideas for weight loss as simple as possible. Much like your training program you should be following, it doesn't have to be complicated. A simple broth based soup that has lots of seasonal vegetables and some protein such as a winter warmer stew with beef and lots of fresh celery, carrots, parsnip, onion, broccoli and cauliflower will be delicious and will fill you up nicely and it isn't very complicated to make.

Losing weight isn't easy but it doesn't have to be super complicated either. So remember these three tips when making healthy soup recipes for weight loss: include some complete protein, make sure it has lots of vegetables and don't over complicate things. If you come up with any healthy soup recipes that you think are especially tasty I'd love to hear from you.

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Losing Weight Made Easy With Healthy Breakfast Recipes

How many times have you heard the old adage, "breakfast is the most important meal of the day?" Odds are you have probably heard it plenty of times in your lifetime. But what does it really mean and how does it affect your weight loss goals? Most importantly what can you eat for breakfast, that is both nutritious and delicious, and still stay on track on your diet?

The reason it is so important is that it allows you to set the day right and give you the energy and mental stamina to get you through the morning. Having said that, this does not mean you can load up your breakfast plate with high fat and highly processed foods. This will only sap the energy from you and actually do the reverse of what a good breakfast should. This is why having healthy breakfast recipes in your arsenal is so important for you and your family.

 Healthy breakfast recipes will help you and the family lose weight and give you the energy you need to start the day.

Any healthy breakfast recipe should consist of all natural hearty foods that will keep your stomach full throughout the morning and give you the energy to excel throughout the day. Having an abundance of energy is a wonderful by-product of using healthy breakfast recipes in the morning.

Healthy breakfast recipes will keep you from overloading on the sugars and fats which tend to slow you down and not give you the energy boost you need and want. A personal favourite of mine is creating a whole omelet with some yellow peppers, salsa, and some low fat cheddar cheese. As a side, I like to have some fresh fruit consisting of grapes, cantaloupe, and honeydew melon. 

I also enjoy a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice with my regular cup of coffee. This healthy breakfast recipe is all natural and will surely give you the energy you require to get through the morning. A breakfast like this, first thing in the morning, will allow you to lose that weight without feeling that you are missing out anything good. This healthy breakfast recipe is chalk full of protein, natural sugars, and enough good calories to give you the strength and energy to conquer your challenges all morning.

Losing weight is a challenge and the challenge often stems from having to eat a diet consisting of too few calories or depriving oneself from tasty foods. However, there are healthy breakfast recipes that allow you to eat delicious meals with the right amount of nutritional value and caloric intake to help you not only lose weight but give you the right amount of energy required to succeed every day.

Breakfast is a very important meal in any diet plan. This is why having a selection of healthy breakfast recipes to choose from help you and your family eat healthy, lose weight, gain the daily energy required, and not get bored of eating the same food over and over again. It is these benefits that healthy breakfast recipes gives to you that makes it an essential part of your diet plan.

If losing 10% of Your Weight, in Body Fat, in the next 30 days is of any interest to you, or someone you love, then this FREE Report is a must have!

This report will help you easily lose fat and gain muscle by giving you some nutritious and delicious healthy breakfast recipes which will make losing that extra weight an enjoyable and tasty experience!

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Cooking Healthy Recipes - Tips in Healthy Cooking

Healthy cooking is in nowadays when people are becoming more and more conscious of what they eat. Of course, eating healthy is one of the important things that you have to remember always if you don't want to suffer later from diseases and other health problems.

Indeed, opting and switching into cooking healthy recipes can be of big help for your health. If you are starting to have that change in your lifestyle into a healthy one, you can actually start from small steps. Hera are simple tips that you might find useful in your quest to stay healthy with your food.

- Make sure to get fresh ingredients for your recipes. If you are looking for the healthiest, go for organic vegetables, as this would mean no pesticides or chemicals that can ruin your healthy recipes. If organic vegetables and ingredients are not available in your area, make sure to wash your vegetables thoroughly before using them to get rid of chemical residues.

- Cut down on salt. This can be one of the important tips in cooking healthy recipes. You can also increase or add more herbs to your recipe as an alternative to salt and you will be surprised that it does not show any change in flavor.

- Increase vegetables into your diet. Fruits and vegetables are great sources of nature's vitamins, minerals and many other important nutrients needed for the body. Eat in variety as you can never get most of the nutrients you want in just a single vegetable or fruit.

- Avoid fats as possible. Go for more fibrous foods. If you can't totally avoid fats, go for the unsaturated ones. If you need to use oil, use olive oil or canola oil as these are the healthier forms of oils. Check labels of processed foods as well. These are places where saturated fats may be hiding.

- Find alternatives. If you do not want to put meat on your cooking, you can also find alternatives to meat. Among the healthy alternatives to meat are soy protein, or TVP, also known as textured vegetable protein.

- Watch your process of cooking. Aside from the ingredients, you also have to take into consideration the process whereby you cook your food.
Cooking healthy recipes should not just be about ingredients but also the manner of cooking. Among the healthy ways to cook healthy food are baking, steaming, broiling, baking, grilling and braising. Although it may not be good to grill your food regularly.

- Cut down on processed foods. They are usually those that are high in sodium which is a culprit in high blood pressure and other problems as well.

- Use natural herbs and fat-free sauces to help you make a healthy recipe. Indeed, herbs can replace other processed spices in the market. Go for natural ones as well.

These are just a few on the many things you can do to practice cooking healthy recipes. Indeed, you have a choice and as soon as you have learned what to look for in your healthy cooking, you will eventually make it a habit to go for healthy ingredients, healthy recipes and healthy methods of cooking.

Carolyn Anderson loves healthy cooking. If you want to learn healthy cooking, check out Fun With GF-LG Food. Also check out Healthy Urban Kitchen, a manual that can teach you how to shop and cook healthy food.

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