20141218

May

2014

There is Always a Healthier Option when Ordering a Summer Treat—Choose Yay, The Healthier Way!

by: Lara Katz

How To Order Healthier Summertime Treats

Starbucks:

Make sure to order skim milk and hold the whip! Watch out for high calorie syrups that are added to drinks.

Yay Options:

Brewed coffee, brewed Tazo tea, nonfat Tazo Green Tea latte, nonfat cappuccino, nonfat caffe latte, nonfat caramel macchiato, Soy Tazo Chai Tea Latte, Nonfat Caffe Mocha—hold the whip! Skinny vanilla latte, Nonfat Vanilla Crème—hold the whip! Caffe Americano

McDonalds:

Stay away from the high caloric smoothies and iced frappes, and always order a small.

Yay Options:

Cappuccino made with 2% or skim milk, caramel cappuccinos, caramel iced coffees, caramel iced lattes with skim or 2% milk, caramel lattes with skim or 2% milk, lattes with skim or 2% milk, snack size peach smoothie with or without yogurt, iced coffees, iced lattes with skim or 2% milk, sugar-free vanilla cappuccinos with skim or 2% milk, sugar-free vanilla iced coffees or lattes, toasted marshmallow hot chocolate with skim milk in size small only, vanilla cappuccino with skim or 2% milk, vanilla iced coffee, vanilla iced latte with skim or 2% milk

Tim Hortons:

Only order these drinks in size small (286 ml), otherwise the fat and calories will be sky high!

Yay Options:

Coffee, tea, latte, flavoured latte, tea latte, cappuccino, Americano, iced cappuccino made with milk, iced cappuccino made with chocolate milk, iced coffee made with cream, iced coffee made with milk, iced coffee made with chocolate milk, flavoured iced coffee made with cream, iced latte, flavoured iced latte, iced chocolate, mocha iced coffee, mixed berry fruit smoothie made with or without yogurt, strawberry banana smoothie made with or without yogurt, frozen lemonade, espresso shot

Baskin Robbins:

Stay away from milk shakes and large smoothies made with fruit syrups. Also avoid the soft serve ice cream except the vanilla flavour, stick to small sizes when ordering.

Yay Options:

Light vanilla, light cappuccino chip, any flavour sherbet, any flavour sorbet/ice, any flavour no sugar added, any flavour yogurt

Yogurtys & Menchies:

While most of the flavours in frozen yogurt shops are low fat, no fat, or low calorie, be careful when adding toppings. What may seem like a little can really add up in calories and fat.

Yay Options:

Any flavour that is low fat, no fat, low calorie, with fresh fruit toppings.

Check out these healthy and easy weeknight meal and snack ideas, and these Ten Tips to Avoid Super-sized Portions When Eating Out.

Printer-friendly version

May

2014

this easy-to-make pizza that uses a beet puree instead of regular tomato sauce

by: Lara Katz

Impress Your Guests With This Beet Pizza Recipe

Recently I had a pizza at a restaurant that had a beet puree instead of tomato sauce and slices of melted brie and drizzled honey on top. It was one of the best pizzas I have ever had.

I think this pizza would be excellent cut up in small pieces and served as an appetizer. It would work well made with a baguette instead of pizza crust as well.

Ingredients:

3 cooked beets

2 Tbsp vegetable oil

¼ tsp salt

1 brie round, thinly sliced

honey to drizzle

2 tsp thyme, removed from stem

Preheat oven to 425.

Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a blender mix beets, vegetable oil and salt until completely pureed without any lumps.

Spread the beet puree mixture on top of pizza crust. Top with brie slices.

Bake pizza for approximately 10 minutes or until brie starts to melt and edges of pizza crust are golden.

As soon as pizza comes out of oven drizzle with honey and sprinkle with thyme.

Slice and serve.

For other beet recipes see Chopped Salad and Beets, Beet And Kale Salad with Caramelized Walnuts, Green Beans with Beets, and Beet, Orange and Feta Salad with Sunflower Seeds.

Printer-friendly version

Category:

Food - Recipes

Tags:

entertaining appetizers

May

2014

Tired of plain ol' green beans? Adding beets turns a boring side dish into a colourful dinner staple

by: Lara Katz

The Perfect Side Dish: Easy Green Beens and Beets Recipe

I love serving green beans as a side dish, crunchy and salty they are the perfect accompaniment to most meals. Adding beets to them makes them more special. Using precooked beets makes this recipe easy and fast to prepare.

Ingredients:

2 tsp vegetable oil

280 g green beans, rinsed, ends removed

3 cooked beets, sliced into thin wedges

2 tsp thyme, removed from stem

sprinkling of sea salt

Over medium high heat place vegetable oil in a medium size skillet. Add beans and cook until beans turn bright green, approximately 2-3 minutes. Add salt, mix well.

Add beets and continue to cook until beets get warmed through. Add thyme, mix lightly.

Serve on a shallow platter right away.

This dish can be prepared in advance, add the beets and warm right before serving.

(Serves 6 side portions.)

For more beet recipes see: Beet, Orange and Feta Salad with Sunflower Seeds, Beet and Kale Salad, Chopped Salad with Beets, and Beet Pizza.