Monday, February 3, 2025

Homemade Soup Day - Southwest Black Bean and Vegetable Soup



Serves: 13

Serving Size: 3/4 cups

Ingredients.
1 onion, large, chopped
1 green pepper, medium, chopped
2 garlic cloves
1 (32 ounces) low sodium chicken broth
1 (15 ounces) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 ounces) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
28 ounces diced tomatoes, unsalted
6 ounces chopped green chilies
1 (15 ounces) can corn, drained
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin

Directions.
1. In a large nonstick saucepan, sauté vegetables and
garlic until almost tender.
2. Stir in all ingredients and bring to a boil.
3. Simmer 20 minutes.
4. Soup freezes well.



Nutrition Information



Resources.
1. Wikipedia. Soups - History, Types, and Varieties
2. Food Network.  Healthy Soup Recipes
4. EatingWell. Healthy Winter Soup Recipes


Ensure accurate nutritional analysis for your recipes utilizing an extensive research database and over 30 years of experience. A valuable service for Recipe Bloggers, Media, Cookbook Publishers, Writers, Chefs, and Recipe Websites. Your readers will benefit from the Nutrition information and a Registered Dietitian. Contact: Dietitians-Online.com; Sandra Frank, Ed.D, RDN, FAND at recipenews@gmail.com  954-294-6300





Friday, January 31, 2025

February Wellness News - American Heart Month




Monthly Events

International Prenatal Infection Prevention Month
International Boost Self-esteem Month
International Expect Success Month
Library Lovers Month
National African American History Month
National Children's Dental Health Month
National Time Management Month
Spunky Old Broad Month
Youth Leadership Month
Dog Training Education Month
National Pet Dental Health Month
Responsible Pet Owners Month
Bake for Family Fun Month
Canned Food Month
Chocolate Month
February is Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month
National Grapefruit Month
Great American Pies Month
National Cherry Month
National Snack Food Month
National Wise Health Consumer Month
North Carolina Sweet Potato Month
National Hot Breakfast Month
Potato Lovers Month
Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month


February
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
          Freedom Day; National Baked Alaska Day; International Day of Black Women in The Arts; Ice Cream For Breakfast Day  2    Groundhog Day; Hedgehog Day National Tater Tot Day; Crêpe Day; Heavenly Hash Day
 National Carrot Cake Day
 
4   Homemade Soup Day; World Cancer Day; Medjoola Date Day; National Hemp Day 5 National Weatherperson Day; World Nutella Dayy; National Girls & Women in Sports Day 6   National Frozen Yogurt Day; Massachusetts 6th State Canadian Maple Syrup Day Wear Red Day; National Fettuccine Alfredo Day 8  National Molasses Bar Day  9 National Pizza Day; National Toothache Day; Cut the Cord Day; Bagel & Lox Dayy; Super Bowl; Autism Sunday; Popcorn Day
10 National Cream Cheese Brownie Day;  World Pulses Day 11   National Shut-in Visitation Day; International Day of Women and Girls in Science; National Peppermint Patty Day


12 National Plum Pudding Day;  Lincoln's Birthday 13 National Tortellini Day; National Cheddar Day; National Crab Rangoon Day; Giving Hearts Day
14 Valentines Day Ash Wednesday; Natl Donor Day; Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day;  Library Lovers Day; Oregon 33rd State; Arizona 48th State;  National Cream-Filled Chocolates Day
15   National Gumdrop Day

16  National Almond Day; National Caregivers Day; No one Eats Alone Day; National Buna Day

17   President's Day; World Human Spirit Day; National Cafe Au Lait Day; Random Act of Kindness; National Cabbage Day 18  Crab-Stuffed Flounder Day; National Drink Wine Day

 19   National Chocolate Mint Day 20    World Day of Social Justice; National Cherry Pie Day; Love Your Pet Day; National Muffin Day 21 National Sticky Bun Day; National Grain-Free Day; Caregivers Day  22 National Margarita Day; National Cook a Sweet Potato Day


23 National Banana Bread Day;  National Dog Biscuit Day; Tootsie Roll Day
24 National Tortilla Chip Day, National Dance Day, STAND UP to Bullying Day, World Bartender Day 25  National Chocolate Covered Nut Day; National Clam Chowder Day 26  World Pistachio Day; National Personal Chef Day


27 National Kahlua Day; National Strawberry Day; World NGO Day 28 National Tooth Fairy Day; National Chocolate Souffle Day    

National Hot Chocolate Day


Save Calories and Fat by using Skim (Nonfat) Milk 
instead of Whole Milk. You still receive the
benefits of calcium and vitamin D.
Skim /NonFat Milk
90 Calories
0 g Fat;
250 mg Calcium
124 IU / 3.2 mcg Vitamin D
Whole Milk
149 Calories
8 g Fat;
276 mg Calcium
124 IU / 3.2 mcg Vitamin D


The Polar Express, "Hot Chocolate Song" 









Thursday, January 30, 2025

Croissant from Dough to Joy

Croissant from Dough to Joy





Tabouli, Tomatoes, and Feta Cheese on
Mini Croissant
#NationalCroissantDay 





Croissant Sandwich with Tabouli,
Tomatoes, and Feta Cheese

Serves One

Ingredients

1 Croissant (1 ounce)
1 Tbsp Tabouli Salad
2 slices Tomatoes
1/2 oz Feta Cheese

Nutrition Information


Nutritional Analysis Services

Ensure accurate and cost-effective nutritional analysis and food nutrition facts labels for your recipes and menus utilizing an extensive research database. A great service for the Media, Cookbook Publishers, Writers, Chefs, Recipe Websites and Blogs. Your readers will enjoy and benefit from the Nutrition information.

For more information, visit Dietitians-Online Nutritional Analysis Services
contact: Sandra Frank, Ed.D, RDN, FAND recipenews@gmail.com
954-294-6300




Wednesday, January 29, 2025

A Culinary Voyage: The World's Most Famous Soups




In a world brimming with diverse cultures and traditions, nothing quite encapsulates the essence of a place like its local cuisine. Among the many culinary delights, soups stand out as a universal comfort food, transcending borders and bringing the taste of culture to our tables. Each spoonful of these simmering concoctions tells a story – a tale of heritage, geography, and the unique blend of ingredients that define a region's palate.

Join us on a gastronomic adventure, where each sip is a discovery, and every bowl is a celebration of the world's vast and vibrant culinary heritage. Embark on a journey, one spoonful at a time, to discover the stories and secrets simmering within these global soups. 



Gazpacho (Spain) is a refreshing, cold soup made from raw, blended vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers, often enjoyed in the summer.

Harira (Morocco) is a rich and hearty soup traditionally eaten during Ramadan. It is made with tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas, and lamb and flavored with a blend of fragrant spices.

Laksa (Malaysia and Singapore): A spicy noodle soup with a distinctive coconut milk base, it comes in various forms, including curry laksa and asam laksa, often served with chicken, prawn, or fish.

Minestrone (Italy): A thick Italian vegetable soup often containing beans, onions, celery, carrots, stock, and tomatoes, sometimes with pasta or rice.

Tom Yum (Thailand): A hot and sour soup known for its intense flavors, it typically includes shrimp (Tom Yum Goong), mushrooms, tomatoes, lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime leaves.

Tortilla Soup (Mexico): A hearty, flavorful soup made with chicken broth, roasted tomatoes, onion, garlic, and chilies and topped with crispy fried tortilla strips, avocado, cheese, and sour cream.

Caldo Verde (Portugal): A simple, comforting soup made with thinly sliced kale, potatoes, and chorizo sausage, often served during celebrations.

Phở (Vietnam): A Vietnamese soup known for its fragrant broth, rice noodles, herbs, and usually beef (Phở Bò) or chicken (Phở Gà).

French Onion Soup (France): A rich and savory soup based on caramelized onions and beef stock, and typically served with a crouton and melted cheese on top.

Chupe de Mariscos (Peru): A creamy seafood soup from Peru, loaded with various seafood like shrimp, crab, and fish, often enriched with potatoes, corn, and a base of aji peppers and cilantro.

New England Clam Chowder (USA): A creamy, hearty soup from the New England region, known for its chunks of clams, diced potatoes, onions, and sometimes bacon in a milk or cream base.

Borscht (Russia/Ukraine): A sour soup common in Eastern European countries, famous for its distinctive red color from beetroots, usually served with sour cream, and can contain a variety of vegetables and meat.

Ramen (Japan) is a popular Japanese soup consisting of Chinese-style wheat noodles served in a meat- or fish-based broth flavored with soy sauce or miso and topped with ingredients like sliced pork, nori, and scallions.

These soups not only offer a taste of their respective cultures but also embody the diversity and richness of global culinary traditions.


Nutrition Notes


Soup is a combination of foods with endless possibilities. It represents comfort, warmth, tradition, and nourishment.

Soups can be an economical way of meeting nutritional needs. Leftovers are perfect when preparing soups.

Soups have been known to curb the appetite and slow the eating process. Studies show slower eaters are more likely to notice signs of fullness sooner and consume fewer calories. With the extra time, enjoy the flavor, aroma, and texture of the foods.

Soups can be prepared with various healthy ingredients and traditional favorites made healthier with some substitutions.


Foods you can substitute to make heart-healthy choices.
Instead of:
 Try these heart-healthy suggestions:
whole milk or 2% milk1% milk or skim milk
whipped creamchilled evaporated skim milk, whipped
cheese (American, Cheddar, Swiss)Cheeses with 5 or less grams of fat per ounce. Terms used: reduced-fat, low-fat, or fat-free. Reduced fat is easier to substitute when cooking.
creamed cottage cheesenonfat or 1% fat cottage cheese, or farmers' cheese
cream cheeselight, fat-free products, or Neufchatel cheese
Mozzarella cheesepart-skim mozzarella cheese
Ricotta cheesenonfat, lite, or part-skim
sour cream, regularnon-fat, light, or low-fat sour cream or plain yogurt.
butterlower-calorie margarine in soft tubes, vegetable cooking sprays, or nonstick cookware.
margarine, regularlower-calorie margarine in soft tubes, vegetable cooking sprays, or nonstick cookware.
mayonnaise, regularreduced-fat, cholesterol-free, low-fat, or fat-free. If making a dip, you can substitute plain nonfat or low-fat yogurt. Reduce the amount required in the recipe.
salad dressingreduced-fat, cholesterol-free, low-fat, or fat-free dressings or lemon juice, vinegar, or mustard. Reduce the amount required in the recipe.
one whole eggequals 2 egg whites or 1/4 cup egg substitute
egg noodlesnoodles made without egg yolk
condensed cream soup99% fat-free condensed cream soup
salteliminate or reduce by 1/2; explore herbs and spices
gravygravies made with low sodium broth and thickened with flour/cornstarch
beef, pork, veal, lambchoose lean cuts trimmed of all visible fat, or substitute with chicken or turkey without the skin.
oil for sautéingwater, broth, tomato juice
fryingbroil, bake, microwave, poach, steam, grill, stir fry


Healthy Soup Additions
1. Instead of salt, add herbs and spices to enhance the flavor. Explore the many possible seasonings available.
2. Add fresh, frozen, or leftover vegetables (use fruits if making a cold soup) to increase fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Avoid canned vegetables high in sodium. Read the label. A low-sodium food contains 140 mg or less per serving of sodium.
3. Increase fiber and protein by eating foods such as beans, lentils, brown rice, whole-grain pasta, barley, and bulgur.
4. Increase calcium and protein by using skim milk, evaporated skim milk, non-fat dry milk powder, or calcium-fortified soymilk. These low-fat ingredients can replace higher-fat alternatives like whole milk or cream.

Canned and Dry Soup Mixes are known for their high sodium content. Read the label and check the serving size. Remember, a low-sodium food contains 140 mg or less per serving.


Some companies within the food industry are making great strides in lowering the sodium content in their products. At Campbell, they have more than 100 products with a healthy level of sodium, more than 200 that are low in fat and saturated fat, more than 150 products that have 100 calories or less per serving, and more than 85 products certified by the American Heart Association.


I was searching the Campbell archives when I came across a 1959 commercial. Campbell had the foresight to recognize the importance of nutrition over 50 years ago.


Campbell's Soup, 1959



Soup Tidbits
Soup is a staple in almost every American home. After NBC's "Seinfeld" show introduced the "Soup Nazi" in the United States on November 2, 1995 - Soup became a fashionable food.

The Soup Nazi - Revenge


Tuesday, January 28, 2025

A Stack of Pancakes is Not One Serving
National Blueberry Pancake Day



Oatmeal Buttermilk Blueberry Pancakes,
by Martha Rose Shulman, #NYTCooking. 




Blueberry Pancakes with Fresh Blueberries



Serves One
Ingredients
2 Blueberry Pancakes frozen
1/3 cup Fresh Blueberries

Portion Control



Nutritional Analysis Services

Ensure accurate and cost-effective nutritional analysis and food nutrition facts labels for your recipes and menus utilizing an extensive research database. A great service for the Media, Cookbook Publishers, Writers, Chefs, Recipe Websites, and Blogs. Your readers will enjoy and benefit from the Nutrition information.

For more information, visit Dietitians-Online Nutritional Analysis Services.

contact:
Sandra Frank, Ed.D, RDN, FAND

Sunday, January 26, 2025

Oats: The Versatile Grain


Introduction






Oats, a humble grain, have long been a staple in many diets around the world. Renowned for their health benefits and versatility, oats come in various forms, each with its unique texture, cooking time, and culinary uses.

Different Types of Oats and Serving Suggestions


Whole Oat Groats: These are the most unprocessed form of oats, resembling rice grains. They have a hard, chewy texture and require the longest cooking time. Use in salads or as a rice alternative.

Steel Cut/Irish Oats: These look like chopped-up grains, a bit like coarse breadcrumbs. They have a chewy, dense texture and provide a more rustic eating experience. Ideal for a hearty breakfast porridge.

Scottish Oats: They are more like a coarse meal, with a creamy and smooth texture when cooked. Perfect for a traditional, creamy oatmeal.

Rolled/Old-Fashioned Oats: These are flat and flaky, having been steamed and rolled. They're soft and cook quicker than steel-cut oats but retain a distinct texture. Versatile for baking, making granola, or as a breakfast cereal.

Quick Oats: These resemble rolled oats but are cut finer and rolled thinner, cooking even faster and offering a softer texture. Quick and convenient for a fast breakfast or for thickening soups and stews.

Instant Oats: The most processed, these oats are pre-cooked and dried, appearing as thin, soft flakes that cook in minutes. Best for an instant breakfast or as a quick thickener.

Oat Bran: This looks like fine, pale brown crumbs and is the outer husk of the oat grain, high in dietary fiber. This can be added to smoothies or yogurt or used in baking for added fiber.

Oat Flour: A fine, powdery flour that can be used in baking, offering a mild, slightly sweet flavor. 
Great for gluten-free baking, pancakes, and as a healthy flour substitute.

Benefits of Oats

Oats are highly regarded for their nutritional value and health benefits, making them a favored choice in many diets. Here are some of the key health benefits of oats:

  1. Heart Health: Oats are known for their ability to lower cholesterol levels, particularly LDL (bad) cholesterol, without affecting HDL (good) cholesterol.


  2. Blood Sugar Control: Oats have been shown to help regulate blood sugar levels, making them particularly beneficial for individuals with type 2 diabetes.


  3. Weight Management: The soluble fiber in oats can help in weight management. It increases the feeling of fullness, reduces hunger, and thereby may help in reducing overall calorie intake.


  4. Digestive Health: Oats are high in soluble and insoluble fiber, which is beneficial for digestive health. This fiber helps regulate bowel movements and is known to prevent constipation.


  5. Gluten-Free: While oats are naturally gluten-free, they are sometimes processed in facilities that handle gluten-containing grains. Pure, uncontaminated oats are a safe and nutritious option for those on a gluten-free diet.


  6. Nutrition


  7. Oats are a nutritional powerhouse. They are high in soluble fiber and a good source of essential vitamins and minerals. Their low glycemic index makes them beneficial for weight management and for those with diabetes.


Conclusion

Oats are not just a breakfast staple; their various forms lend themselves to a multitude of culinary uses. From a morning porridge to a baking ingredient, oats offer both health benefits and delicious possibilities, making them a valuable addition to any diet.


Resources and References
1. 
Different Types of Oats: Health Facts, Cooking Tips, and Recipes. Written by Lexi Cole, RD, CCMS. To Taste
2. Wikipedia: Oatmeal

 
Menu, Recipe, and Nutritional Analysis Services

Ensure accurate and cost-effective nutritional analysis and food nutrition facts labels for your recipes and menus utilizing an extensive research database. A great service for the Media, Cookbook Publishers, Writers, Chefs, Recipe Websites and Blogs. Your readers will enjoy and benefit from the Nutrition information.

For more information, visit Dietitians-Online Nutritional Analysis Services.

contact:
Sandra Frank, Ed.D, RDN, FAND
recipenews@gmail.com
954-294-6300


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