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FIRESIDE with Chef at Heart

Food for Thought

Hungry for Change?

Posted on Tuesday, June 07, 2011 12:34 PM
I spoke to a gastroenterologist yesterday who referred me to this website to do some reading on the food industry (American) and I thought I'd share the site with you.
 
If you've seen or heard of the movie Food, Inc., this is their official website. Check out the articles under About the Issues, their blog, and their suggested reading list.
 
As a chef with both a corn and wheat allergy, I found  many of the aricles very interesting, especially those on the use of high fructose corn syrup in the food industry (accessed through their blog).
 
This website has something for just about everyone. If you have food allergies/intolerances, are concerned over the increase in obesity rates, are looking for ideas for Meatless Mondays, or are just interested in learning more about the food industry and it's impact on the environment and our health, it's worth checking out.
 
 
Categories: Food for Thought
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Lighten-up the Morning Commute

Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 2:50 PM
"Can I get a large double-double with a bacon 'n egg McMuffin and a hashbrown please."
 
Sound familiar? How many of us hit the drive-thru window on our way to work for our morning coffee? How many of us just get the coffee?
 
It's part of the morning routine for thousands of us - we leave our homes and climb in the car early in the morning, hit the drive-thru window for that hot coffee and whatever goes with it, and then head down the road to work oblivious of what we're about to put in our mouths. Hey, our lives are busy and hectic so it's easy and convenient this way right? Sure, I understand. I used to do it too.
 
If you're happy not knowing what you're eating, stop reading this blog now. For those of you brave enough to find out what you're eating during your morning commute (and hopefully willing to make some changes), read on. I'm about to give you all of the nasty details.
 
So let's start with the standard: a bacon 'n egg McMuffin -
320 calories, 15g fat and 740mg of sodium
Want a hashbrown with that?
Add another 160 calories, 10g fat, and 360mg of sodium
Morning commute total: 480 calories, 25g fat and 1100mg of sodium!!
 
Oh but wait!!! How about the NEW sandwich. Yum! Tried that one yet? After all, this one was free for a couple days to help entice you to try it...
Bacon 'n Egg Biscuit Sandwich - 460 calories, 27g fat, and 960mg of sodium. That's 42% of the recommended daily value of fat, and 40% of your recommended daily value of sodium! If you get a hashbrown with it, I'll let you do the math there.
 
Think that other famous Canadian coffee stop offers anything better? Guess again! Your Timmies bacon 'n egg homestyle biscuit offers 430 calories, 24g fat, and 840mg sodium. Not much better.
 
Even a small breakfast burrito may surprise you at 300 calories, 16g fat, and 700mg of sodium. Got that - 16g of fat in that tiny little roll?! How many of you order the deal and get two of them??
 
So maybe now you're thinking 'but I only get the healthy food options'. Ok, let's take a look at the 'better' choices....
 
Fruit 'n Yogurt Parfait - a respectable 180 calories, 2g fat and 100mg sodium (not bad), but 25g OF SUGAR! Suddenly, not so healthy.
 
How about a muffin?
Fruit 'n Fibre muffin (this used to be my downfall) - 380 calories, 14g fat (in that tiny muffin!), 470mg sodium and 28g of sugar. That's about 7 teaspoons of sugar in your 'healthy' muffin.
 
and lastly, the Oatmeal Apple muffin - 420 calories, 13g fat, 440mg sodium and a staggering 36g of sugar.
 
So now that you know just some of the details, I'm hoping you're willing to take a pass on the drive-thru window at least once in a while. I'm not going to even try to break you of your coffee habit. I can't ask you to do what I haven't been able to do myself.  ; )
 
Save yourself all that fat, sugar and sodium. Stop for just a few extra minutes in the morning and grab breakfast at home. Just a few suggestions...
Pour some oatmeal into a container and mix it with hot water when you get to work. Add some frozen fruit to the mix and even better!
Do the same with cold cereal and some milk.
Take an hour out of your week to make a batch or two of your own muffins at home and freeze them. Grab one from the freezer before you dash out the door.
 
There are lots of better options than the drive-thru. You just have to be willing to make the change.
 
All nutritional information from your favourite drive-thru's can be found on:
 
 
 
 
 
Categories: Diet and Lifestyle, Food for Thought
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The Only Good Soup is a Homemade Soup

Chef at Heart: Posted on Thursday, February 10, 2011 2:51 PM
Having been ill lately, I now consider myself somewhat of a soup connoisseur and I have to say, the only good soup is a homemade soup.
 
Oh sure I already knew that but I guess I was hoping someone somewhere had created a decent soup that I could turn to when I just didn't have the energy to make my own. I was wrong.
 
Sadly, when we're ill, most of us don't feel like cooking so unless someone is doing the cooking for us, we resort to packaged foods we might not otherwise consume. Yes, even I will admit I turned to both canned and dried soup in my time of need (gasp!).
 
My big 'a-ha!' moment was when I wearily sat down to a mug of instant chicken noodle soup (just saying it now sends shivers down my spine) and within a few sips I started coughing and clearing my throat. I have a corn allergy and in my tired state I never thought to check the package ingredients for corn. I was dumbfounded when I checked the ingredients on the package and found not one, not two, but THREE various forms of corn in my little "pouch 'o soup", along with a whole whack of other ingredients I stumbled to pronounce and enough sodium to stop my heart in it's tracks. Needless to say, I tossed the soup and have vowed to never buy soup off the shelf again.
 
After this experience, I was determined to stock-up on homemade soup recipes so I'd be better prepared for my next soup emergency. Happily, after trying a few recipes and making some alterations, I now have some great recipes written down ready to draw upon at a moments notice, either for myself or for clients. Below is just one of them.
 
So the next time you're reaching for that can or box of soup on the shelf, stop yourself. Take a look at the ingredients or the amount of sodium in the soup and hopefully you'll put it back and pick up the fresh ingredients to make your own version instead.
 
CHICKEN SOUP WITH WHITE WINE
  • 2 lb whole chicken or chicken parts
  • 1 parsnip, peeled and chopped
  • 6 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 large carrots, chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, chopped
  • 9 cups chicken or vegetable broth (low sodium)
  • 1.5 cups white wine
  • 1 tbsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 med. potatoes, peeled and chopped
  • 1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed
  • salt and pepper to taste
    •  
    Cut whole chicken into parts and wrap in cheesecloth. Put chicken, parsnip, garlic, onion, carrots, celery, broth, wine, oregano and thyme in a large soup pot. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Boil 30 minutes, partially covered, then reduce heat to low and simmer another 60 minutes. Remove cheesecloth from pot and separate the chicken meat from the skin/bones. Return meat to pot. Add potatoes and sweet potatoes and continue to simmer until vegetables are tender. Season with salt and pepper and serve.
     
    *Don't be tempted to use boneless chicken - the bones add so much to the flavour of the soup! Do be tempted to try your own choice of vegetables or try a few different herbs and spices.
     
     
    Categories: Recipes, Food for Thought
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    Fast 'Food'

    Chef at Heart: Posted on Tuesday, January 18, 2011 1:17 PM
     
    "It's not food if it arrived through the window of your car."
    Michael Pollan
    Categories: Food for Thought
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