Fresh Garden Veggie Rice

(Anne B.)



2 1/2 cups uncooked brown rice (1 lb)
enough veggie/chicken broth to cook the rice

Cook that up, fluff it and let it cool.

Add to it:
1 cup chopped green onion
1 cup chopped basil
2 cups tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cups pinenuts, toasted

Mix up the dressing:
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon honey
2 Tablespoon lemon juice
1 Tablespoon olive oil

Toss dressing on rice and veggies. Let sit until you’re ready to devour. Top with feta cheese, chicken, tofu, etc if desired.

Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, and Red Lentil Soup

(Anne B.)

Olive oil
2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
3 large carrots, peeled and chopped
1 apple, peeled, cored and chopped
1 onion, chopped
1/2 cup red lentils
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
4 cups vegetable broth
plain yogurt

Add olive oil to pan over medium heat. Place the chopped sweet potatoes, carrots, apple, and onion in the pot. Stir and cook the apples and vegetables until the onions are translucent, about 10 minutes.

Stir the lentils, ginger, ground black pepper, salt, cumin, chili powder, paprika, and vegetable broth into the pot with the apple and vegetable mixture. Bring the soup to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the lentils and vegetables are soft, about 30 minutes.

Pour half the soup into a blender, return the pureed soup to the cooking pot. Bring back to a simmer over medium-high heat, about 10 minutes. Add water as needed to thin the soup to your preferred consistency. Serve with yogurt for garnish.

Dangerous Diet Foods?

I'm trying to lose weight and have been eating some of the healthy frozen meals from the grocery store. Are these good for you?

The following was originally published 02/05/2004.
Many people try to lose weight by eating diet foods that claim to be prepared in a healthy fashion. Whether they are "nutritionally balanced" frozen dinners, supplement shakes or meal replacement bars, they may not be truly healthy alternatives to whole food.

Many of these prepared foods contain poor ingredients - especially unhealthy fats. Manufacturers love partially hydrogenated oils because they extend shelf life, but in my opinion they are dangerous. For one thing, these oils are sources of trans fatty acids (TFAs), which increase risks of both cardiovascular disease and cancer. TFAs are just as bad, if not worse, for the heart and arteries than saturated fats. They increase total cholesterol, raise "bad" LDL (low density lipoprotein) and lower "good" HDL (high density lipoprotein). Beyond that, TFAs may also have adverse effects on cell membranes and the immune system, and may promote inflammation and aging.

As a matter of fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently ruled that starting in 2006, food companies must list a product's amount of trans fats on its label. While other fats now are listed in the "Nutrition Facts" box, TFAs can only be found in the long list of side-panel ingredients, where they usually are listed as "partially hydrogenated vegetable oils." The amount of trans fat typically is not given, however a general rule is that the higher these oils are on the ingredient list, the more trans fat there is.

Until 2006, I suggest that you avoid TFAs altogether by checking the labels of any processed foods you buy - even those claiming to be healthy - and stay away from those containing margarine, vegetable shortening and fractionated or partially hydrogenated oils of any kind. I have no objection to frozen and other convenience foods made from healthy ingredients. Read labels!

Andrew Weil, M.D.
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA326162