Who doesn't love a BLT? The classic bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich never goes out of style and is a perennial favorite with bacon lovers. Well now's your chance to give your BLT sandwich a healthy makeover!
So, you love bacon, but you are also trying to watch your fat intake and lose weight. How can you make over your bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich?
Cut your normal portion of bacon that you would typically eat in half. Bacon is loaded with flavor. You honestly don't need much at all to get a big burst of bacon to dance on your taste buds. So instead of taking a huge bacon portion that leaves you sluggish and over-satiated, have a smaller amount of bacon and savor it slowly.
Avoid white bread; choose whole grain instead.
Everyone pictures the classic BLT on white. But it can be just as delicious eaten on whole grain bread which is much better for your digestion. Whole grain bread contains complex carbs thanks to the fiber. This means it won't send your blood sugar soaring the way that white bread does. Whole grain bread also contains vitamin B6, Magnesium, and other nutrients lost in the milling process.
Eat less bread.
There are many ways you can accomplish this. You can decide to have an open-faced sandwich on one slice of bread instead of two.
Or you can do two slices but make them thinner. There are many brands of healthy whole grain bread that are also sliced thin. This way, you're eating less carbs but still able to enjoy a sandwich that you hold in your two hands and bite into.
Go for spring greens or another type of dark green lettuce instead of the usual iceberg lettuce that you see on a BLT. Iceberg lettuce is fresh and crisp but is also devoid of nutrition. If you love the crunch of iceberg, then you can still have some on your BLT as it is more or less like crunching on water. But it's also a smart idea to add some fiber-rich, vitamin-packed green lettuce to your bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich. You can put the two distinct types of lettuce together for a good balance and flavor.
Go for quality tomatoes.
Hot house tomatoes are rushed through ripening using artificial means. This is why they look pinker or orange instead of the deep red color of homegrown tomatoes and seem flavorless. The lack of flavor also points to a lack of good nutrition from your tomatoes!
The best tomatoes have great flavor and color and are high in vitamin C and other beneficial nutrients. If you can get farm fresh or garden-grown local tomatoes that have ripened on the vine, you can ensure that your BLT sandwich will contain the most nutritionally superior tomatoes possible!
Add avocado.
Avocado and bacon make great companions. Plus, if you're eating less bacon than you normally would because you're trying to cut back on saturated fat, you should really add in a healthy fat. Avocado is ideal for this purpose. In fact, speaking of fat, mayo is a common addition to a BLT. You can cut or entirely eliminate the mayonnaise if you really want to enjoy that savory sandwich without a lot of guilt.
Want your BLT to have health-giving superpowers? Pile on some sprouts. Fresh sprouts are packed with nutrition. Take your sandwich to the next level of healthy. Add fresh sprouts to your BLT sandwich for more crunch, flavor, and some vitamins to boot.
For the final healthy addition, mix up a quick homemade vinaigrette with red wine vinegar olive oil, a little bit of salt and a shake or two of dried thyme. Top your sandwich with a few shakes of that and you have the ultimate healthy BLT!
And if you up for a real health challenge, try this vegetarian chickpea, lettuce, and tomato sandwich. Let me know what you think!
Place the chickpeas in a bowl and mash with a fork, leaving some of the chickpeas a little chunkier for added texture. Add the tahini, mustard, sriracha, maple syrup, onion and season with salt and pepper. Mix well to combine.
Toast the bread and spread the chickpea mixture onto two slices. Top the chickpea mixture with lettuce and sliced tomato. Now cover with the second slice of toasted bread and serve immediately.
There are so many awesome reasons for eating more vegetables, I hardly know where to start! And there are a great many healthy vegetables to choose from. Everyone should be able to find some they like. Below are 6 reasons you need more vegetables in your diet.
I do know that I like to be reminded of the nutritional benefits of consuming more vegetables, because I find that when I am reminded, I'm inclined to eat more of them! So, for starters we're going to look at 6 reasons you need more vegetables in your diet.
One of the reasons why variety in your diet is so important is because every unique food has something special to add. This is especially true of vegetables. In fact, I believe that's one of the main reasons God created so many different kinds of vegetables.
6 reasons you need more vegetables
Low in calories – eating more vegetables will fill you up without the overload of calories and will help with weight control
Small amounts of good carbohydrates and high in Fiber
The exception to “low carbs” being starchy vegetables (potatoes, corn, winter squash)
However, all carbohydrates in vegetables are GOOD carbohydrates, so potatoes are not a BAD vegetable. And potatoes and other starchy vegetables are excellent sources of fiber when you eat the skin.
Vegetables are low in fat.
Avocados are an exception; however, avocados are excellent sources of monounsaturated fats which are good fats.
Naturally low in sodium when fresh (or canned with no salt added)
Rich in vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, B6, potassium, manganese
Now that we've discussed 6 reasons you need more vegetables in your diet, lets discuss 6 different vegetables and how their individuality can enhance your health when you eat more of them.
The wonderful thing about tomatoes is that they are available year-round, plus they are so versatile, you can sneak these vegetables into almost any diet, no matter how “vegetable hating” the individual is.
Tomatoes have a low glycemic index, are low in sodium (fresh, no salt added canned), are low in calories, and low in fat. Tomatoes are also high in fiber.
For example, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, which is about 8-10 tomatoes, only has about 27 calories, less than half a gram of fat, only 7.5 mg sodium, 5.8 grams carbs, with 1.9 of the carbohydrates being fiber.
High in Vitamins
The same serving size of tomatoes is packed with vitamins and minerals, as the list below shows.
Vitamin A (1241 IU – 25% US RDA)
Folate (6% US RDA)
B6 – (6% US RDA)
Vitamin C (18.9 mg 32% US RDA)
Vitamin K (11.8 mcg 15% US RDA)
High in Minerals
Potassium (353 mg 10% of US RDA)
Manganese (8% of RDA)
Choline (No established RDA, but significant to persons with Diabetes)
See Below for delicious recipe that contains tomatoes.
Bell Pepper
Low in Calories, (15 calories in one small pepper), fat, sodium (similar to tomatoes), and carbs, 6.9 carbs, 2.5 fiber
One of the best sources of Vitamin C of any vegetable. One small bell pepper will provide you with 100% of your needs for the day.
Also, a significant source of vitamin B6. This is important because vitamin B6 is low in many diets. This is because of high intake of enriched breads and cereals, which have been stripped of the outer bran and endosperm.
Bell peppers are not as good a source of potassium as other vegetables, but they do have potassium. And, it all adds up, right?
Broccoli
Low in calories, sodium, fat, and carbohydrates. For example:
“Beets are highly nutritious and “cardiovascular health” friendly root vegetables. Certain unique pigment antioxidants in this root and its top greens have been found to offer protection against coronary artery disease and stroke. These antioxidants also lower cholesterol levels within the body and have anti-aging effects.”
Carrots
Like most other vegetables, carrots are low in calories, fat, carbohydrates, and excellent sources of fiber.
One thing about carrots stands out, however:
Carrots are a supersonic source of vitamin A. For example, 1 cup chopped carrots contains 12,383 IU of vitamin A (a whopping 428% of US RDA)!
In addition, 1 cup chopped carrots provides 13% of your daily needs of vitamin C, 21% of vitamin K, and 6% of folate and vitamin B6.
And carrots contain more than 400 mg of potassium per 1 cup serving.
Mushrooms
Of course, mushrooms are low in calories, fat, carbohydrates, and sodium like other vegetables. However, mushrooms are totally unique on this list.
First, mushrooms are not actually vegetables. They are technically fungus. Second, mushrooms are “the only vegetarian food” that are known to have their own vitamin D.
I always suspected this is because they naturally grow in the sun. And that's what science says.
When mushrooms are exposed to UV (sun) rays, they make their own vitamin D. This increases the vitamin D content of them for eating. I don't know about you, but that is so cool!
According to www.Berkeleywellness.com:
“Mushrooms contain a “pro-vitamin,” or precursor, called ergosterol that is converted into vitamin D when exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This is like how your skin synthesizes vitamin D in response to sun exposure. However, commercially cultivated mushrooms are almost always grown indoors in the dark. As a result, they usually have negligible amounts of vitamin D. In contrast, wild mushrooms—notably chanterelles, maitake, and morels—are usually rich in D because they get sun exposure.”
I've been hearing a lot about turmeric and curcumin the past few months. However, as a Registered Dietitian, I hold to a professional code of ethics standard. This requires that I be cautious when recommending supplements used for medicinal purposes. As a result, I ensured my own knowledge was sound before sharing with my readers. This article will discuss, “What is Turmeric Good For?” and also, “Whether it is safe for everyone.”
Last night a subscriber asked about the antioxidant effects of turmeric. Yes, indeed, turmeric has antioxidant properties. This is related to the fact that it is a plant.
Picture of Bulbs
What is Turmeric?
Turmeric is a type of root plant related to ginger. It is found in curry seasoning and is commonly used as a spice in Indian cuisine. In Asian dishes, it imparts a mustard-like, earthy aroma and pungent, slightly bitter flavor to foods.
Strictly speaking, the color comes from curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric. This root is used to dye certain fabrics in India as well as for food coloring. Examples of some foods colored using the dye from curcumin are cheese, salad dressing, butter, pickles, and mustard.
Curcumin is also responsible for the therapeutic benefits of turmeric.
Why is Turmeric Good for You?
According to WebMD, turmeric is good for hay fever, depression, high cholesterol, osteoarthritis, and itching (pruritus).
Hay Fever – Curcumin appears to reduce the symptoms of hay fever, including sneezing, runny nose, and congestion.
Depression – Curcumin has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression in persons already taking anti-depressants.
High Cholesterol – Triglycerides, a type of blood fat linked to heart disease seem to be positively affected.
Osteoarthritis – Some research shows that taking turmeric extracts may reduce pain in those with knee osteoarthritis.
Itching (Pruritus) – When taken as directed, turmeric is effective in easing itching in persons with kidney disease. Also, black pepper increases the absorption of curcumin powder. Thus, combining curcumin with black pepper helps chronic itching in persons exposed to mustard gas.
Is Turmeric Safe?
It should be noted that not every plant is safe for human consumption. However, turmeric is likely safe when taken as part of the regular food, as a food seasoning, for example.
The root is used in medicine for numerous treatments. As a result, people will sometimes think, “If a little is good, a lot is better.” This is most definitely NOT the case.
For example, WebMD states that turmeric is safe during pregnancy when ingested as part of regular food. However, it is likely NOT SAFE to ingest in medicinal amounts during pregnancy.
It is vitally important that dosage instructions, drug-nutrient interactions be considered when deciding whether to take or how much to take.
Drug Interactions
Turmeric slows blood clotting (increased blood thinning). As a result, it interacts with other blood clotting medications including aspirin, ibuprofen, Plavix, warfarin, and heparin. So, it is important to check with your health care provider if you are taking any prescription medications to make sure that it is safe to use.
For information on how to grow Turmeric for yourself, click here.
Many women don't realize that when they are pregnant they will require an extra 300 calories per day in their diet. This is really good news, especially if you're anything like me, and you like to eat! 😉
The other thing that is great about your increased need for calories is that it will make it easier for you meet your increased nutrition needs during pregnancy without fear of gaining excess weight. By the way, in case you are wondering, here is the recommended weight gain for pregnancy based on pre-pregnant weight.Note: This is NOT the time to be on a weight loss plan. And you should not worry too much if you gain a bit more or less than the recommendations here.
However, it is important to point out that if you gain an excessive amount of weight too quickly, this could be a sign of excessive water weight gain which can be a sign of a dangerous condition known as preeclampsia.
However, if you gain an excessive amount of weight and have any of the following symptoms:
Severe Headache
Changes in Vision
Upper Abdominal Pain
Nausea and Vomiting
Decreased urine (pee) output
Shortness of breath
Then You need to contact your doctor immediately!
On the other hand, if you are not gaining weight at all due to excessive morning sickness OR you are eating just fine but still not gaining weight, you also need to contact your doctor to make sure that you are not dehydrated or that something else isn't going on. Click here for symptoms of dehydration.
Most doctors will prescribe a prenatal vitamin. Prenatal vitamins are usually higher in folic acid and iron to compensate for the increased folic acid and iron needs of a pregnant woman. They also contain essential amounts of other vitamins and minerals, and many contain essential Omega-3s as well.
The 10 Best Foods to Eat When Pregnant are:
Lean Meat and Eggs – High Quality Protein and Iron
Leafy Greens including broccoli – Magnesium, folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium
Water and Lots of it! (Juice, milk, soups, shakes help to provide water as well)
Gestational Diabetes
1 in 10 pregnant women will be diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes during their pregnancy. As a result, I want to briefly discuss this disease with you.
But what exactly is Gestational Diabetes and what can you do to reduce the risks?
Many people are familiar with Diabetes in general. Just like other types of Diabetes, Gestational diabetes results in high blood sugar as the result of insufficient insulin. With type 1 Diabetes, the pancreas is not producing insulin. With Type 2 Diabetes, there is insulin resistance, usually as the result of excess body weight.
Gestational Diabetes, on the other hand, seems to result in insulin in the pregnant woman's body not being available.
The reason you end up with high blood sugar is because insulin is necessary for the sugars you get through the foods you eat to be transferred to your body to be used for energy.
Unfortunately, it is not clear what causes Gestational Diabetes. What we do know is that it does not mean you had diabetes before pregnancy. Though it does mean that you have an increased risk of being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes later in life.
According to the Mayo Clinic:
“During pregnancy, the placenta, which connects your baby to your blood supply, produces high levels of various other hormones. Almost all of them impair the action of insulin in your cells, raising your blood sugar. (Emphasis mine). Modest elevation of blood sugar after meals is normal during pregnancy.
“As your baby grows, the placenta produces more and more insulin-counteracting hormones. In gestational diabetes, the placental hormones provoke a rise in blood sugar to a level that can affect the growth and welfare of your baby. Gestational diabetes usually develops during the last half of pregnancy — sometimes as early as the 20th week, but generally not until later.”
Who is at Highest Risk for Getting Gestational Diabetes
As with any type of diabetes, diet and exercise are your friends for helping you to feel your best and minimize the risks that can be associated with Gestational Diabetes.
Risks of Having Gestational Diabetes during pregnancy
One of the risk factors of Gestational Diabetes is a super big baby (high birth weight). This can result in the need for a Caesarian section because the baby is too big to fit through the birth canal. Also, preterm birth and respiratory distress syndrome can result from Gestational Diabetes. Another risk is low blood sugar of the baby at birth. And lastly, mom has a higher risk of Type 2 Diabetes later in life.
I hope that the information on Gestational Diabetes was helpful to you and that you are also enlightened on what I believe are the 10 best foods to eat when pregnant. There are lots of healthy foods to choose from.
Of course I had to come up with some awesome Father's Day gift ideas for you to get your gift-giving creative juices flowing. And who better to help me with that than my hubby? (Post contains affiliate links).
I mean, if my husband doesn't know what a man wants for Father's Day, who does, right?
So, I put him to work…
And let me tell you, this was no small task for him. He is not, what you would call, “typewriter inclined,” if you know what I mean. He's the “hunting and pecking” kind of typist. Plus, he really had no clue how to use affiliate links before this little project. But guess what? He does now! =) LOL
So, here are some awesome gift ideas for Father's Day that any man will be happy to have.
You will notice that many of these are “cooking” connected. For example barbecue accessories and such. This is because it goes with our theme here on Homeschooling Dietitian Mom. However, my hubby couldn't resist adding a few other gadgets to his list.
In fact, he hasn't said it, but I'm pretty sure this is HIS Father's Day wish list! HA!!
Awesome Father's Day Gift Ideas
Men’s Flannel Long Sleeved Shirt– Flannel shirts come in handy on cold days. Plus, they look really nice and are versatile. For example, they can be worn alone or layered, and are great for camping in the wilderness.
Karoad Black License Plate Frames– This is what is needed to keep the license plate from curling up. Men think stuff like this is important.
Portable Outdoor Backpacking Camping Stove – My husband knows about cooking gear, so you can trust that this is a goody. It is so portable it doesn't even look like a stove. This stove would be great for a hiker or anyone else who's going to be outside for an extended period time, including fishermen. Especially, if they don't like eating cold food or they want to eat their catch right then and there.
SanDisk Ultra 200GB microSDXC UHS-I card with Adapter – This is a great way to provide extra memory for your camera. This is only one example of what's available. However, extra memory is always a good thing for the techie man.
Kacebela BBQ Grill Tools Set – This is one of the better quality Grill Tools Sets. It's made out of stainless steel, so you don't have to worry about the pieces rusting.
Grab My Book on Amazon by clicking on the book below.
I only promote products I use and love. Clicking on some of the images on this page will take you to a page of a company I am an affiliate with. If you purchase anything, I will get a small commission.
Note: This is NOT the time to be on a weight loss plan. And you should not worry too much if you gain a bit more or less than the recommendations here.
