Not All Created Equal

Refusing the coup-up and having more time on my hands when shopping, what great inventions do I find but these higher protein products. Of course you can avoid them altogether to help what I call “the Covid Weight Gain”. However, I’ve also found that recipes with lots of variety and moderation does the same thing and makes life just a bit more interesting. Tired of the same old thing for breakfast?

Paired up with ghee for a higher smoke point in the pan, you’ve also added even more flavor to these blueberry cakes. If you had to add sugar to any recipe, try the new and healthier alternatives to Sucralose like unrefined moscovy sugar, or the made from sugar alcohols, Erythritol and Xylitol or the natural extract of Monkfruit. (Simply stated manufacturing details via Google.) Who is still drinking “diet” anything with killers like saccharine, sucralose, and every other “ose” in it???

I guess my lesson learned is that not all carbs and sugars are created the same.   People are not created the same, and our bodies do different things with the foods we eat.  But yes, Virginia, we do need Whole Grains. Many products SAY whole grains, but without the stamp it is not enough.  Look for the yellow Whole Grain Stamp on packaged products. It says 8g or more per serving and eat 48g or more of whole grains daily.  Why? Bob Moore (Bob’s Red Mill) spelled it out in my earlier post:  Your gut and master regulator needs whole grains to feed the good bacteria in your gut that keeps your immune system cooking and your digestion healthy. They act as nature’s own prebiotic.  Their key enemy is sugar that feeds the bad bacteria and causes many health issues. 

Foods containing sugar can be moderated using the Glycemic Index, where the sugar effect on the body varies, especially if the food (like prunes) contains a high fiber content. Lean on high fiber and protein to keep any amount of carbohydrate in balance.

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This delicious breakfast fruit bread replaces some of the flour with the fruit and keeps fiber high for good digestion:

Breakfast Fruit Loaf

Preheat oven 350º

¾ c All-Bran© cereal
1 1/3c milk
1 ½ c whole wheat self rising flour
1 tsp. baking powder
¾ c raisins
2/3 c ch. dried apricots
¼ c ch. pitted prunes
1/3 c muscovado sugar (alternate: monkfruit)
4 T pure floral honey

Pour milk over cereal in a bowl, soak for 30 mins.
Sift flour and baking powder and stir in the cereal.
Stir in dried fruit, sugar, honey and mix well.
Spoon into 2 lb loaf pan, level and bake 1-1/14 hrs
(Test with long toothpick) Allow to cool some then to
rack to cool. Will store well wrapped airtight or frozen.
170 cal.per slice, fat 1g, protein 4g, fiber 4g, sodium 207mg.

Savory No Salt Herb Mix

Select dried herbs in amounts to
your taste; store in handy jar for
use in saute’s, stew, soup, casseroles.

Onion/garlic granules, thyme, basil,
Dried parsley, oregano/marjoram,
 rosemary, ginger, dill, mustard,
black pepper, fennel, mint, etc.

Tip:  Prepare this warming spice mix and keep it handy for pancakes, waffles, muffins, cakes cookies. Top your vegetables with this or the savory herb one following. Both spices and herbs contain oils perfect for digestion, nerves and sounder sleep. Use the spice mix in warm milk those nights falling asleep is difficult or you simply need to calm down.

Warming Spice Mix

Start with ½-1 tsp ea.dried ground
cinnamon, cardamom, orange peel,
allspice, clove, nutmeg, ginger