How to make sourdough bread, the gut-healthy choice nutrition experts love

May 10, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC Generally speaking, health food experts eschew most baked goods, but there’s one healthy bread variety that still seems to get their approval: sourdough. Even food advocate Michael Pollan—who famously advises eating mostly plants—gives sourdough the thumbs up. Why? The fermented dough makes it good for your gut. “[The] tradition of fermenting flour with sourdough breaks down the peptides in gluten that give people trouble,” Pollan previously told Well+Good. He said that many people who have digestive problems after eating other glutenous foods don’t have the same troubles with sourdough. But making sourdough bread (or any kind of bread, really) can be intimidating—there’s the yeast, the mysterious “sourdough starter,” the whole having to knead it thing. Seems so complicated! To get all the facts, I took these questions (and many more) to Artisan Sourdough Made Simple author and The Clever Carrot blogger Emilie Raffa. Keep reading for everything you need to know. What to know before you start baking First of all, Raffa says that while sourdough bread-making can sound complicated, she says you absolutely shouldn’t be intimidated and even advises against doing too much research before you start. “Stop reading and comparing recipes,” she says. “There’s so much information out there with different methods and confusing terminology, it’s easy to fall down the rabbit hole and give up altogether.” Instead, she says just look for a good beginner recipe (the simpler, the better) and jump right in. “Don’t overthink it. That’s how I

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5 easy breakfast-in-bed recipes perfect for Mother’s Day (or like, any day)

May 10, 2019 at 12:29PM by CWC Nothing makes someone feel like a queen more than sleeping in and being served their first meal of the day on a fancy tray. The whole idea of hotel room service was built around very luxury of breakfast in bed. Is there anyone who deserves a decadent gesture more than mom? Every single other day of the year, moms are busy taking care of everyone else in the fam. Mornings are rushed making sure lunches are packed, everyone is dressed in weather-appropriate clothes, and everyone else has eaten. This one day of year, make sure she doesn’t have to lift a finger. Whether you’re in a relationship with a mom or you’re home visiting your own for the holiday, here are five ideas for breakfast in bed that will show how much you care. Breakfast in bed is what mom really wants for Mother’s Day Photo: Oh She Glows 1. Sun-dried tomato, mushroom, and spinach tofu quiche As far as egg-centric breakfast dishes go, a quiche is going to show mom you care a bit more than a quick plate of scrambled eggs—and the serving is big enough for the whole fam to keep nibbling at throughout the day. This one is full of veggies. Mom will be so proud! Photo: Hummusapien 2. Blueberry banana nut oatmeal A bowl of this warm, nutty oatmeal is basically a hug in food form: the epitome of pure comfort and happiness. What’s great about is that

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We asked a nutritionist to rank the 7 most popular meat substitutes

May 10, 2019 at 12:08PM by CWC There are a lot of benefits to following a plant-based diet: It’s environmentally friendly, and it’s generally better for your health. But if you love burgers, bacon, and steak, the meat substitutes for vegans and vegetarians have historically been pretty sad. Thankfully, as more and more people adopt plant-based eating at least some of the time, the alt-meat options have gotten way better—providing the texture and flavor you’re looking for without using any animal products whatsoever. That way, you can still satisfy that “meaty” craving without succumbing to a lonely life of lettuce and veggie bowls. Not sure which meat substitutes are the healthiest, or how to cook with them? Here’s what an RD has to say. Best for beginners: Tofu Protein: 10 grams per 100-gram serving Of all the alt-meats, you’re probably most familiar with tofu. It’s made from condensed soy milk that’s filtered and processed to make white blocks of varying firmness. “It’s high in protein and contains all of the essential amino acids the body needs for protein synthesis. It’s also a good source of magnesium, calcium, selenium and phosphorus,” says Maggie Michalczyk, MS, RD. It has a neutral flavor that takes on whatever you’re cooking with, which makes it super versatile. Some people are skittish about soy because of concerns that their natural phytoestrogens could negatively affect people’s hormones. But most research has debunked this. “Some studies have shown that eating soy products 1-2 a week can reduce the risk

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Here’s how to eat healthy at Taco Bell, according to nutritionists

May 10, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC Let’s be real: Even if you’re a person who eats green smoothies for breakfast and keeps a spare yoga mat in their trunk, you’re still probably going to be at a Taco Bell at some point in your life. Sometimes it’s because a Quesarito craving strikes out of nowhere. Other times, you may be looking for something a bit more health-friendly. And that’s when ordering fast food gets tricky. The key, of course, is being prepared. Knowing the healthy (or at least healthy-ish) options available before you go means less anxiety at the drive-through window. Here, two registered dietitians—Jessica Cording, RD, and Carissa Galloway, RD, give their advice on what to order if you’re vegan or vegetarian, keto, or Paleo. Keep reading for their top healthy options at Taco Bell. Vegan or vegetarian Menu picks: Vegetarian Crunchwrap Surpreme; Veggie Power Bowl What the RDs say: Both experts preferred the Veggie Power Bowl because it’s customizable. (This especially matters if you’re vegan, because popular add-ins such as sour cream and avocado ranch sauce have dairy and will need to be left off.) “I’m a huge fan of anything customizable because it puts you in control,” Galloway says. Her recs for building your bowl: take the fiber- and protein- rich black beans, add as much lettuce and pico de gallo as you can, and one sauce. “The sauces are high in sodium, so it’s best to pick one, preferably the guac,” she says. There may

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It’s rhubarb season, so take advantage of its surprising health benefits in your cooking

May 09, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC If you hear “rhubarb” and think “pie,” you’re not alone. In fact, the spring vegetable is sometimes referred to as “the pie plant,” thanks to how often it is paired with sugar, butter, flour and a flaky crust. There’s actually a lot more to rhubarb beyond desserts, including the fact that it boasts some serious nutritional benefits. (Also, it’s kind of related to buckwheat? Who knew.) Here’s everything you need to know about the vibrant vegetable and the recipe inspiration you need to put it to work in the kitchen. It’s only in season for a short period of time (April through June) so we promise to make this quick! What are main rhubarb health benefits I should know about? Before we dive in to the benefits of rhubarb, it’s worth taking a peek at its nutritional properties. Nora Minno, a registered dietitian and certified personal trainer in New York City, says one cup of the colorful vegetable contains the following: Calories: 26 Fat: Less than 1 gram Fiber: 2 grams Protein: 1 gram Carbohydrates: 6 grams Sugar: 1 gram Beyond the nutrition label-type stuff, here are a few more healthy reasons why you should make rhubarb a part of your regular diet if you can: 1. It’s a good source of fiber. Like many fruits and vegetables, rhubarb has a decent amount of fiber—about 2 grams per cup, chopped. Fiber, of course, is great for your digestive health and can help lower

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The 6 skills of everyday kitchen wizards who cook “without recipes”

May 09, 2019 at 11:56AM by CWC As the Disney movie Ratatouille illustrates in a striking allegory about a rodent, there are two types of cooks in the world. Those who eat grapes and move on with their lives, and those who bite into the juicy fruit and imagine an infinite number of flavor combinations. I’m pretty confused about food myself, so I decided to ask an expert how to cook. Or, more specifically, how to accomplish the breezy ease in the kitchen that warrants phrases like, “Oh, this? I just threw it together!” One glance at the Instagram feed of plant-based dietitian Catherine Perez, MS, RD, explains why I reached out to her for help. With an endless reel of dishes that look just as delicious as they are easy, I’m lucky she spilled all her secrets to me. “If you think of your plate like a pie, I’m generally aiming for at least half of that pie to be filled with fruits or veggies,” she tells me. “That’s trying to make sure you get your fiber and your nutrients.” Next, she adds one quarter of lean protein and another of whole grains or starch. Now that you have a general idea of how your meal might look, let’s get down to the hot tips of a dietitian who keeps her cool composure in the face of dinnertime. Here’s how to cook by just “throwing a few things together” in the kitchen   View this post on Instagram   Brown rice

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Top healthy chefs reveal how to make the gluten-free, vegan chocolate chip cookies of your dreams

May 09, 2019 at 11:00AM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_20aY1mGxg] Have you ever tried to make a better-for-you version of your favorite treat? Things can go awry even when you follow a recipe to a T, and swapping out ingredients can end in disaster. That’s why we’re launching Alt-Baking Bootcamp, Well+Good’s newest video series aiming to help you remake your favorite classic treats with a healthier spin. While the foundation of classic baking is butter, eggs, and flour, chefs Mia Rigden and Jenny Dorsey are here to prove that you can rehab most of your favorite desserts to suit your health and dietary needs—without compromising on flavor. Their first challenge? Chocolate chip cookies. “Whether you’re trying to eat a little healthier, you’re vegan, or you have some dietary restrictions this recipe is for you,” says Rigden, who is also the founder of RASA, a nutrition and lifestyle coaching brand. (And because they’re egg-free, you can eat the dough!) However, baking is a particular science—which makes swapping ingredients a bit of a challenge. Here’s how Dorsey and Rigden made a chocolate chip cookie that’s completely vegan and gluten-free: 1. Use a “flax egg” instead of actual eggs The first pillar of baking: eggs. “Eggs are used as a binding agent in cookies,” Rigden says. But obviously they’re a no-go if you’re vegan or have an egg allergy. That’s why she suggests using flax eggs instead—basically a mixture of flax seeds and water that mimics the binding properties of eggs in baked goods. One flax

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These are the very best meal kits to match your specific eating habits

May 09, 2019 at 06:41AM by CWC How do you answer the eternal question: Whats for dinner? We’re all in search of the best way to simplify our nightly routines. But if you didn’t spend your Sunday prepping meals for the week, filling Tupperware after Tupperware with protein, veggies, and grains, good luck rummaging through your fridge for something to throw together. If you seek rave reviews from everyone around the table (and consistent satisfaction at dinnertime), it’s worth exploring the wide variety of meal kits meant to save time while adding flavor to your life. These days, signing up for meal kits means you’re freed from the decision making that surrounds mealtime, and you don’t even need to go to the grocery store to get the ingredients. In the U.S., meal kit delivery services has exploded to a $10 billion industry. But the rapid growth has created a new problem. There are so many to choose from that it’s hard to make a choice. Reviewing all the different meal kits out there, it’s clear that there isn’t a singular perfect option; the “best” meal kit is the one that works best for you and your family. Is saving money on groceries the goal? Do you live in a household with one or more dietary restrictions? Or picky eaters? Is the issue a lack of time? Whatever you’re looking for, there’s a meal kit delivery service that’s right for you. Here’s how to choose the best meal kits based on

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Trust me: Healthy grits will be your new favorite summer breakfast

May 08, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC Hot take: Grits make the best breakfast, especially in the summer. They just take me back to my childhood summer vacations, when my dad would make me grits with a bit of sugar. It’s what I start to crave for breakfast as soon as the weather turns warm. If you’re over here assuming grits are just inherently unhealthy and covered with gravy…well, you’re wrong.  The southern comfort staple is similar to polenta in that it’s a type of cornmeal-based dish. Grits are just made from white corn instead of yellow and typically have a smoother texture, but the two can be substituted for each other. And grits on their own offer nearly five grams of protein and two grams of fiber per cup—slightly less but still comparable to the six grams of protein and four grams of fiber in a cup of oatmeal. Not too shabby, eh? Now that I’m grown up and making my own breakfast, I’ve swapped the sugar I used to love for honey, but otherwise, my grits are pretty simple. I’m beyond ready to level-up my morning bowl and you should join me. You won’t be sorry. Keep reading for grits for breakfast recipes that will keep you full and satisfied all morning long. Photo: Brewing Happiness 1. Smoked Salmon and Grits Brunch Bowl This dish from Brewing Happiness is vegan-friendly and packed with nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids thanks to the salmon. It pairs smoked salmon with a

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