Guiltfree Halloween Treats! Could it be...or is This a Trick?

I bought no candy for this year's Trick-or-Treaters. If I can't find anything healthy to drop into their bags I will be a bah-humbug and turn off my front porch light.

Guiltfree Halloween from allrecipes.com
startcooking.com Healthy Treats
ivillage.com healthy treats
Mother Earth News Healthy Halloween Treats


FYI: History of Pumpkin Carving

Herbs and Plants? Embrace Them, But Don't Bruise the Basil :-)

This post will act as a clearinghouse for links relating to herbs and plants used medicinally and in culinary endeavors (as in cooking).

Medicinal Uses
An Infinite Well-Being
Best Herbs For Your Health
LifeScript
How To Use Herbs and Spices in Cooking
Cooking With Herbs and Spices 101

Nutrition and Breast Health

This post features links about nutrition and breast health (and a recipe or two); readers may glean something of value as I did.
LINK: There are many foods that you may already eat that are helping your chances at preventing or at least reducing your likelihood of developing breast cancer, and there are many foods you may not have considered that you may want to add to your diet.

Nutrition for Breast Cancer Prevention
Breast Health Project
RAINBOW SUPER SLAW RECIPE

Pumpkins and Winter Squash. Yum!

PUMPKINS
Pumpkins Wikipedia
All About Pumpkins
Low Fat Pumpkin Recipes
Women's Health Pumpkin Recipes
allrecipes.com Pumpkin Recipes
Womens Health Magazine Pumpkin Recipes

allrecipes.com Pumpkin Recipes

PUMPKIN SEEDS
Pumpkin Seed Benefits
Your body needs zinc to manufacture one hundred different enzymes; it supports your sense of smell and taste as well as the immune system. (Follow the link below to learn more about zinc and the immune system.) Many foods that are rich in zinc contain saturated fat (red meat, for example), so having a zinc-rich plant source (pumpkin seeds) is a healthier alternative.
Pumpkin Seeds are Rich in Zinc

WINTER SQUASH
Types: Acorn, Butternut, Delicata, Hubbard, Turban, Spaghetti (Pictures and descriptions of each)

Choose firm squash that have no visible soft spots or blemishes.
FYI: This is very important. I chose a spaghetti squash at a reputable store. The squash had a soft spot near the stem but, since I liked the price, I ignored the blemish. I poked holes in the squash with a fork (as instructed) and placed the yellow beauty in the microwave. About three quarters of the way through the baking process, I noticed a strange smell coming from the microwave. The squash had cracked open; it was filled with moldy, black powder! Yikes!

Store in a dry, cool spot (but not the refrigerator)

Use within a month or so.

How to Cook Winter Squash
Winter Squash Recipes

Pumpkin Seeds (Refresher)

Fighting Belly Fat...Take That!

Eigth yummy foods that fight belly fat:
Avocados, Bananas, Yogurt, Berries, Chocolate Skim Milk,
Green Tea, Citrus, Whole Grains.

CBS News: The Early Show
I Live Slim
webMD

Make Your Own Protein Bars: Save Money...No Mystery Ingredients

I got to thinking about the cost of protein bars. At almost the same instant, an ad for Vista Print flashed across the television screen. I googled youbar.com (the business being featured). After reading about You Bar, I decided to link to the homemade protein bar recipes that are out there in the ether.

youbar.com:Build Your Own Bars
Albuquerque Journal (using egg white protein)
Helpful.com
 Bodybuilding
Stella's Kitchen
Fat Loss School  (by ratio rather than specific measurements)

Healthy Cheesecake?

I got to thinking about cheesecake (with all its taboo qualities) and decided to find as many 'healthy' recipes as I could, online. FYI: I haven't tried to make any of these recipes, but I think I will try some of the healthier ones. I did notice the use of Splenda and Equal in many recipes. I have included a link on Xylitol, a naturally occurring sugar substitute. A video about Xylitol.

A Few Good Links (More to come):
Mayo Clinic
Food Network (Please note the readers' comments for calorie cutting suggestions)
Cooks.com (Links to many low-fat cheesecakes)
my-cheesecake-recipes.com

Honey

My last post was about vinegar. This one is at the other end of the scale: Honey. At the moment I am watching an eye-opening film about bees (instead of finishing my taxes. Shhh, don't tell.) I will add links after I finish my taxes in the next day or two, but I wanted to get this link to everyone. I am watching on Netflix. The link is for the movie's website where you can purchase the film.
Vanishing of the Bees

Apple Cider Vinegar Pros and Cons

I am sipping an 8 oz. glass of water containing 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon honey (for my arteries). I found the recipe on the Internet. This drink doesn't taste very good and I may not finish it, but I will list some links here so you can read all about the properties of apple cider vinegar, as well as the cautions. As I read the information at the links I find that sipping this drink could harm the enamel on my teeth, could interact with the medications I'm on and might be bad for my bones. Also, another recipe says 1 teaspoon in 8 ounces of water. I have abandoned my experiment. May try again after more research and once I'm off my medications, which should be soon since I am eating so healthy. I do encourage you to read on. FYI: There are some good cleaning tips (using apple cider vinegar) at these links.


The good (and the bad):
Sarah Wilson
About.com
ehow.com
WebMD
Wikipedia
Benefits
Natures Natural Healing

All About Tempeh

Tempeh (tem-PAY) is made from soybeans; however, unlike tofu, is a whole soybean product with different nutritional and textural qualities. Tempeh is fermented. It has a higher content of protein, dietary fiber and vitamins due to its fermentation and retention of the whole bean. Tempeh has a firm texture and an earthy flavor which becomes more pronounced as the tempeh ages. (I'm thinking you might want to eat it before it gets too old. Just sayin'.) Tempeh is used worldwide in vegetarian cuisine; some consider it a meat substitute. CHOOSE ORGANIC, NON-GMO. Look on the label. I have included many links so you can learn about tempeh and incorporate it into your diet.


Food.com
The World's Healthiest Foods
About.com
tempeh.info
soyfoods.com
101 Cookbooks
Fresh, The Movie
Healthy Crush (Tempeh 101)

Can Veggies and Fruits with White Flesh Prevent Strokes?

An apple a day may keep the doctor away...No, really!

Follow the links to knowledge:
theheart.org
Natural News
Cordis News
Channel ABC Local
USA Pears
Natural News
Men's Health
Mad Mike's America

The Gift of Love

The audio relaxation link is not about food but it is about stress which impacts the body like food does. So relax, eat a carrot and listen.


The Gift of Love

Unadorned Purple Potatoes May Lower Blood Pressure

Eating two serving of steamed purple potatoes each day may help reduce high blood pressure. I have not read much on this; I am concerned about the pH factor of this suggestion. I will link all I can find on the topic. You decide.





LINKS:
Green Thumb Farms
Web MD
Rodale
Specialty Produce
Competitor
Consumer Reports