The Road to Being an RD: facts

Tuesday, 21 March 2017

Myth Busting-Dark Chocolate

Chocolate has always been known as a rich and decadent treat that we should not overly indulge in. But what if I told you that chocolate, specifically dark chocolate, has some benefits to you and your health. Here are some dark chocolate facts I bet you didn't know!

1. Dark chocolate has more cocoa and less sugar that milk chocolate and white chocolate, making it the more nutritious choice than the rest. Excess sugar in the diet can be stored as fat.

2. Dark chocolate has a large amount of antioxidants in it. Antioxidants prevent free radicals from forming in the body which can help us to prevent diseases like cancer and other cardiovascular diseases.

3. Dark chocolate is full of heart healthy fats, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which can aid in the reduction in the rish of cardiovascular disease.

4. Dark chocolate has a high amount of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. When we have an adequate amount of amino acids in our body, the easier it is for our bodies to build new muscle.

5. Dark Chocolate contains dopamine, a neurotransmitter. When dopamine reaches the brain, the pleasure centers are stimulated causing you to feel good. Thats why some people get a wash of good feelings after eating chocolate

Next time you're reaching into the pantry for chocolate, grab the dark chocolate for a tasty treat that has nutritional benefits as well. Just remember, everything in moderation! Eating a whole bag of Dark Chocolate morsels doesn't mean you will wipe out your risk of heart disease and cancer! You will probably just get a really bad stomach ache!

Tuesday, 10 January 2017

Tots with a Twist! (Picky Eater Approved)

We love tater tots in my house. We could eat a whole bag of them if we didn't care about the nutrient content of them. This recipe I found makes tater tots, with a twist! Instead of potatoes, I shredded up some zucchini. Zucchini is a very versatile vegetable. It can be fried into chips, chopped into a salad, or sauteed as a side dish. My dad actually introduced my mom to zucchini when they first got married. My mom was a very picky eater when she was younger, and it didn't help that my grandma would mostly serve meat, potatoes, and corn or peas for dinner. Mom was pleasantly surprised by this dish, and went back for seconds and thirds! You, just need 10 minutes to prep and 20 minutes to roast in the oven, and you have a tasty and easy side dish even picky eaters will love! Its really important to get as much water as possible rung out of the tots to help them crisp up.

These are the tots before they went into the oven!

The recipe was adapated from Skinny Taste

INGREDIENTS:

cooking spray
1 packed cup grated zucchini
1 large egg
1/4 medium onion, minced
1/4 cup grated reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese
1/3 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1/4 tsp kosher salt and black pepper to taste

I added a little bit of chile powder to add a little kick to these too. Instead of the salt, you can substitute it for Garic Salt which will enhance the flavor as well

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.

Grate the zucchini into a clean dish towel until you have 1 packed cup. Wring all of the excess water out of the zucchini, there will be a lot of water. In a medium bowl, combine all of the ingredients and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Spoon 1 tablespoon of mixture in your hands and roll into small ovals. Place on the cookie sheet and bake for 16 to 18 minutes, turning halfway though cooking until golden. Makes 16.