Search Results for: blog health benefits of coconut

Coconut Candy Cane Cookies and Mega Chocolate Delights

It’s the eighth of December… how’s your Christmas cookie baking coming along? My sister-in-law just called to tell me that her kitchen resembles Mrs. Field’s, but not in a good way. The countdown to Christmas is on and if you haven’t already chosen the sweet treats you plan to lovingly prepare for family and friends, then you’ve come to the right place. I’m about to share two of my all-time favorite Christmas cookie recipes. The first recipe for Coconut Candy Cane Cookies was voted best holiday treat at the TV station I used to work at. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the … Continue reading →

Desserts for Your Summer Potluck: Coconut Cream Casserole

I confess that I am known as the dessert lady. Whenever our church has a potluck–I am asked to bring dessert. That’s fine by me too–there are lots of advantages to bringing dessert. First of all, you can lick the bowl. You can’t really lick a bowl of marinade that had raw chicken in it–right? You probably wouldn’t want to lick the bowl of potato salad either (although I suppose that’s open for debate). Not only that but desserts are very forgiving as far as recipes go. If you don’t have something on hand, you can almost always substitute and … Continue reading →

Dairy-licious and Healthy?

I’m stuffed. Yesterday our playgroup attended an ice cream social at a local park (our city hosts several of these events throughout the summer). Ice cream treats for 25 cents each. Now that’s a real treat. Of course, my 3-year-old daughter wanted one of everything: Fudgesicles, Drumsticks, Creamsicles, Choco-Tacos, ice cream sandwiches… there had to have been more than a dozen types of ice cream treats there. I told her she could pick two of her favorites. Big mistake. Long story short—her eyes turned out to be bigger than her stomach and I ended up downing three ice cream treats. … Continue reading →

Is There Such A Thing As A Healthy Hamburger?

Will hamburgers be a part of your Father’s Day feast tomorrow? They will be at our home. After all, what’s better than a perfectly grilled burger on a warm summer night? What’s more, hamburgers are one of the most popular foods in America—-studies show each of us eats about 150 burgers per year. Okay, okay, it does sound as though I am trying to rationalize my uncreative menu planning for dad’s big day, but the point of this blog is not to illustrate that I’m far from a gourmet cook; rather it is simply to show that hamburgers can be … Continue reading →

Hot Dogs and Your Health

What goes better with summer’s favorite pastime than a juicy hotdog? According to the National Hotdog and Sausage Council baseball fans will eat almost 28 million hotdogs this year. Personally, I can’t stand hotdogs… and I’m not a huge fan of baseball either. (I wonder if one begets the other?) In fact, I cringe whenever I hear my young daughter tell me that she was fed a hotdog at a friend or relative’s home. Forgive me. It’s just that I have a long-standing dislike for the popular frankfurter mainly because I spent the better part of my childhood hearing about … Continue reading →

Health Benefits of Coconut

I am allergic to coconut (and pineapple and shrimp), which really is not that unusual, unless you were born and raised in Hawaii. Yes, the jokes start to fly once I tell people about my food allergies. All kidding aside, when I informed my daughter’s pediatrician about my many food allergies shortly after she was born he recommended that we not introduce shellfish or other tropical fruits into her diet until she was at least 3-years-old. My daughter turned 3 a few weeks ago. Two days ago we attended a party that featured a gigantic white coconut cake. I’m not … Continue reading →

Alternatives to Cooking with Butter

If you are like me and your best friends are fat, most notably butter and oil, you may need to make a few changes in your diet. So, can we say goodbye to our fat unhealthy friends without saying goodbye to flavor? Yes, there are healthier options that are low in fat, do not contribute to cholesterol and do not require us to live without flavor. Best of all, most of these alternatives are easy, inexpensive and products you may already have on hand. 1. “Honey, pass the honey.” Many of us start our mornings with a slice of toast … Continue reading →

Talking to Bob Harper: Trainer From “The Biggest Loser” Part 2

In my last blog I talked about the conference call I participated in with Bob Harper, trainer from the hit TV show “The Biggest Loser.” Bob is working in conjunction with Extra gum for the 3PM Snackdown Challenge. The idea behind this challenge is to put down the snack and instead, pick up a pack of Extra sugar-free gum. Replacing that craving for a sweet treat with a piece of five calorie sugar-free gum is a much healthier alternative. When you go to the website you can enter to win a free training session with Bob Harper. The winner score … Continue reading →

Teaching Your Preschooler About Good Nutrition

Talking to your preschooler about the benefits of eating a healthy diet will likely do little to change his view on broccoli and cauliflower. However, if you invite him into the kitchen and allow him to work on recipes with you that include nutritious ingredients, your point will probably be better received. Kids love rolling up their sleeves and creating yummy treats so why not take advantage of their enthusiasm? The following tasty recipes are easy to prepare and the best part—-they are incredibly healthy. ORGANIC CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER BALLS Ingredients: 1 cup organic peanut butter 1/3 cup honey 2 … Continue reading →

Is Your Preschooler Stuck in a Lunch Rut?

Do you have a picky preschooler who will only eat chicken nuggets, French fries and the occasional grilled cheese sandwich? If you answered yes, you are not alone. Millions of young children get stuck in a food rut and refuse to eat anything but the same items day in and day out. To help broaden your preschooler’s palate, experts suggest inviting your kids into the kitchen and letting them become active participants in meal preparation. By allowing your kids to have ownership in their meals you may be able to convince them that there’s life beyond peanut butter and jelly. … Continue reading →