Category Archives: Food

Healthier Social Eating: The Holidays

Posted on December 17, 2010 | 1 Comment

Follow me on Twitter or Facebook.
With so many holiday parties, gatherings, shopping, work, school and kids, eating well, resting, and working out could easily drop off your radar.Though, at this time of the year, it is really important to take care of yourself to prevent health goal relapse and catching a cold or the FLU.  Follow these simple tips for maintaining balance and prevent guilt from overeating.

This is a modified list to Healthier Social Eating: BBQ’s

1. Sleep Well and Rest Enough
If you are tired, lethargic or sleepy, you might  tend to load  up on junk food and caffeine for an energy “boost.” Loading up on empty calories and caffeine will only make you hungrier and cause you to crash after the sugar high starts to wear off. Extra caloric intake (without extra caloric output) will lead to weight gain over time leading to obesity. Sleep deprivation also lowers your immune system’s ability to fight off bacteria and viruses. Also, inadequate sleep has been linked to depression, lowered cognitive (brain) function, higher blood pressure, and irritability. Try to get at least seven hours of sleep each night for optimal health and happiness.

2. Eat Regular Meals and Have Healthy Options Available
Many people tend to skip their regular meals in favor of eating at holiday parties and gatherings. Typically, parties tend to only serve junk, cheap, or highly processed food, even if it is in a sophisticated form. A gourmet cookie is still  made of sugar, butter, and flour. And, brie is still a high, saturated fat cheese, even if it’s topped with cranberry sauce. Do not walk into a party hungry, as you will end up eating  the party food  and drinking high caloric drinks to replace dinner. Instead, fill up on healthy, satisfying food beforehand party and only eat the really amazing food at the party.  If it is a potluck party, bring healthy alternatives to desserts, crackers, and cheese. Look at everything that is offered and choose only the items you really want to eat. This way you can fill up on the healthiest foods first, without worrying about bad calories, sugar, and fat.


3. Think Before You Drink
A drink that is not a glass of water has calories and sugar. Drink at least eight ounces of water or so that your thirst is quenched and stomach already feels a little full.  You will  less likely  chug the alcoholic drink to quench your thirst. Is that chocolate martini or eggnog rum drink really worth 500-700 calories (equivalent to a meal)? Make your choices worthwhile and sip on a glass of wine or beer.


4. Mix and Mingle
Choose three or four items you really want to eat, and then step away from the food table so you’re not tempted to graze. You will be less likely to keep mindlessly refilling your plate if you are in the middle of an interesting conversation and standing on the other side of the room from the food. Being with friends and family and having a great time at  the party also contributes to overall good health. Focus on the people at the party instead of the food and drinks.

5. Make Room for Dessert
Cookies, cookies, and more cookies are on everyone’s mind during the holidays and parties are dedicated to just desserts. If you have been good about sticking to your health goal, then a cookie or piece of yule log is nothing to feel guilty about. Don’t let a relapse turn into a downward spiral. In the long run, a piece of dessert is not going to harm you if you follow a healthy, clean diet. It’s pretty clear that sugar is toxic and should be consumed as treats, not regular snacks. Instead of saying “there’s always room for dessert,” actually leave room for it. Eat a little less of everything else so you can have a piece of that cake, cookie or pie. Desserts typically take a long time to make, therefore spend time eating the dessert instead of devouring it at once!


Did you know that Club Dine In! is on Twitter and Facebook? Follow @clubdinein for daily health, fitness, and social news, recipes and delicious tips! Join the Club Dine In! community on Facebook to connect with like-minded people and find out about exclusive Club Dine! events.

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Eating Tips, Events, Food, The Sugar Series

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This Is What We Ate One Year Ago

Posted on August 8, 2010 | 2 Comments

Our 1 year wedding anniversary is this weekend, so I wanted to share the food we carefully choose for our wedding celebrations. We tried to stay true to our beliefs by having as much food as we could that was local and sustainable, while still honoring the Indian culture. Please do not take any of these photos without permission. All photos were taken by our wonderful photographer Josef Kohn of IQ Photos.

Engagement Pistachio Cake- Designed by myself and Masses Pastries

Traditional North Indian food for our engagement luncheon

Drinking Numi green tea while getting ready for the ceremony

Traditional Gujurati and South Indian food for our wedding

Organic Rava Idlies

Organic, fresh juices- Work of Art Catering

Reception

Seasonal fig bruschetta with locally sourced cheese- Work of Art Catering

Red velvet, black magic roses cake- Masses Pastries

Blackberry and Arugula salad- Work of Art Catering

Signature Cocktail: Sens, Grey Goose, Gold Flakes

Our dessert table for guests to take home- Masses Pastries

→ 2 Comments

Posted in Food, Romance

Tagged , , ,

Meatless Monday: Health Benefits

Posted on August 3, 2010 | 7 Comments

Meatless Monday (MM) is a nation-wide campaign to encourage people to give up meat one day out of the week to increase health, ecology, and economy. It’s also very achievable. You are only going one day a week without any meat. In turn, you will increase your intake of fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds.(MM does not mean substituting meat for refined carbohydrates,  large quantities of full-fat cheese and peanut butter; it will add a significant amount of fat and calories to your diet. MM also does not mean for you to increase your intake of meat for the rest of the week.)

Here are a few health benefits from a vegetarian diet:
-Vegetarian diets often contain more fiber, potassium, phytochemicals, antioxidants, and vitamins associated with reduced risks of chronic and preventable diseases (diabetes, obesity).
-Generally, vegetarians maintain a healthier body weight (that is if they make good choices).
-Diets high in fruits and vegetables may reduce cancer risk. Whereas, red and processed meat consumption are linked to colon cancer.
-Studies have shown that countries with a higher intake of fat, especially fat from animal products, such as meat and dairy products, have a higher incidence of breast cancer.
- Fiber is only found in fruit and vegetables. Fiber makes you full on fewer calories, hence less overeating and greater weight control.

These are just a few of the many health benefits of a diet focused on fresh vegetables and fruits. Adopt to MM and see the results for yourself.

Vegetable “Lasagna”

-Inspired by Giada De Laurentiis’ Vegetable Parmesan

I love this dish because it’s versatile and you can use any vegetables you have on hand. I like using “meaty” vegetables such as zucchini, squash, eggplant, and mushrooms. You can add a layer of no-boil-lasagna sheets for an extra bite and sustenance. I choose to substitute the lasagna sheets for slices of potatoes. Potatoes have fiber, vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium and manganese. What I love about this dish is that it tastes better the next day and the days after…I make extra, so I don’t have to worry about cooking so much the rest of the week.  This dish isn’t heavy, cheesy, or saucy. Rather, it’s light,  satiating, and fresh! Another great thing about this dish is that I really am not cooking- the oven does all the work! Just chop, mix, assemble on a baking dish, throw it in the oven and forget about it for the next 40 minutes!

Ingredients:

  • Butter, for greasing
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup dried basil or Herbs de Provence
  • 1/2 cup roughly chopped chard, stem discarded
  • 1 medium eggplant, cut into 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick slices
  • 1 medium zucchini, cut into thick slices
  • 1 medium potato, cut into thick slices
  • 1 large, ripe tomato, cut into thick slices
  • 1 bell pepper, sliced
  • 2 cups marinara sauce
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese or  ricotta (optional)
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
  • 1 cup plain bread crumbs

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter a 13 by 9-inch glass baking dish.

In a large bowl, mix salt, pepper and herbs. Coat the vegetables with this mixture.

Spoon 3/4 cup of the marinara sauce over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Arrange the potato slices and then the eggplant slices on top of the marinara. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese  or spoon 1/2 cup of ricotta over the eggplant. Arrange the peppers first, tomatoes second, and then the zucchini in a single layer on top.  Spoon 3/4 cup of marinara sauce over the zucchini. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella/ricotta cheese. Arrange the chard and cover with the remaining sauce. Sprinkle with Parmesan. Scatter the bread crumbs over the cheese and drizzle liberally with oil. Bake until the top is golden and forms a crust, about 45 minutes.

Use a locally grown tomatoes for ultimate flavor

Ricotta or mozarella works well.

Rainbow Chard

Enjoy natures bounty!

Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes before serving.

→ 7 Comments

Posted in Deconstructing Food, Food, Meatless Mondays, Recipes

Tagged , , , ,

Are All Sugars Equal?

Posted on July 29, 2010 | 2 Comments

If you haven’t heard it by now, you must have been living in a cave for the last few years. Sugar is bad for you. Actually, they say it’s the reason why you are obese, have diabetes, and are fueling the multi-billion dollar health industry. However, does that mean that the juicy, plump peach is the culprit? A large peach does have 15 grams of sugar per serving. Or is it the pint of ice-cream you just downed? After all, sugar is sugar, and your body breaks it down all the same- right?

Let’s logically think about this for a minute. There are different types of sugars and your body does process them differently. There are refined/artificial/processed sugars, and there are fruit sugars. And then, it’s all about how you consume the sugar.

Sugar from fruit is called fructose. It is a simple sugar that is metabolized quickly and easily by the body. Simple sugars, like fructose, are not a problem for people who are active and healthy.  Fruits are staples of a healthy lifestyle and delightful to the senses. Of all the natural foods available, fruits are the most attractive, delicious and enjoyable. Taking from “Food Rules” by Micheal Pollan, “Eat sweets as you find them in nature.” Meaning eat the fruits whole, not processed or juiced. Fruit juice is often made from concentrate with added refined sugar and does not contain any fiber, which leaves you consuming more calories and unsatiated. Whole fruit is packed with vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, fiber, and water.

 

Snacks from Nature, loaded with good nutrition

People do not become overweight or unhealthy from eating fruit. It’s the other types of sugar, found in other places that is the contributing culprit.

Table sugar (refined sugar) comes from two primary sources: sugar cane (60%) and sugar beets (40%) in form of sucrose. Sugar refining is the process of extracting out the sugar (sucrose) from the plant materials and then removing other unwanted materials from the extracted raw sugar. In the repeated processes of washing, boiling, centrifuging, filtering and drying, nearly all of the plant’s nutritional elements are lost. What remains in this so called “raw sugar” product is 95% sucrose along with nutritionally insignificant minerals. If sanitized by steaming, this “raw sugar” can be marketed as turbinado. Turbinado sugar is just a couple of steps shy of the final bleaching process. Bleaching agents such as lime and carbon dioxide are added to make white crystals known as table sugar. The table sugar is then further “purified”  and whitened by being filtered in a water-added liquid state through charcoal made from animal bones. This process removes even more minerals. “Pure” sugar refers to chemical purity, devoid of all nutritional and other elements, and not to a wholesome quality. Brown sugar is this table sugar that is turned brown by the reintroduction of molasses.

The Way We Consume Sugar

Refined sugar is in almost EVERY manufactured food product in the U.S. This sugar is, hands down, America’s number one food additive. Sugar is hidden in many of the things people buy at the supermarket. For instance, a tablespoon of ketchup contains a full teaspoon of sugar. Breads, soups, cereals, cured meats, hot dogs, lunch meat, salad dressings, spaghetti sauce, crackers, mayonnaise, peanut butter, pickles, frozen pizza, canned fruits and vegetables, tomato juice, and a host of other products all contain added sugar. Food that doesn’t even need the added refined sugar. The obvious offenders are desserts, candies, soft drinks, and ice-cream. People are consuming sugar without even knowing it! Be wise by avoiding processed food.

 

Manufactured Snacks with no nutritional value

 

When you have sweet attack, reach for that piece of fruit instead of the more processed foods high in sugars and other carbohydrates. A well rounded diet with plenty of fruit, vegetables and protein is the best bet for overall health.

Stay tuned for more on Sugar.

***I highly recommend you reading “Food Rules An Eater’s Manual” by Micheal Pollan. It will positively change your lifestyle. It’s super easy and fast to read.

→ 2 Comments

Posted in Food, Food News, Super Toxic Foods, The Sugar Series

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Meatless Monday Meal

Posted on June 29, 2010 | 2 Comments

French Green Lentils

With Sauteed Mushrooms, Leeks, Summer Squash, and Carrots

Nutrient Dense and Mouthwatering Delicious!

Heart healthy, protein rich snacks

Salad of fresh strawberries and olive oil dressing

→ 2 Comments

Posted in Food, Meatless Mondays

Tagged , ,

Super Toxic Foods

Posted on June 16, 2010 | 8 Comments

Strawberries and other berries are known as “Super Foods”, for their antioxidant properties. These nutritional powerhouse foods are loaded with crucial nutrients, which have been proven to help prevent well-known effects of aging, including cardiovascular disease, Type II Diabetes, hypertension and certain cancers.

Children are especially vulnerable.

However, if you’re eating non-organic strawberries today, you may be ingesting 54 pesticides with it, according to Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA)*. Pesticides are designed to be toxic- they kill insects and other living creatures. The alarming fact is that most of us are born with persistent pesticides and other chemicals already in our bodies, passed from mother to child during fetal development. Pesticides accumulate, build up toxicity, and remain in our bodies for years. Pesticides have been linked to cancers, developmental and neurological disorders, reproductive and hormonal system disruptions, and many more.

So, the same foods that have natural disease fighting properties are causing us to be ill due to the use of extremely toxic pesticides.

The most harmful are fruits and vegetables known as the “Dirty Dozen,” which contain 47 to 67 pesticides per serving*. These foods are believed to be most susceptible because they have soft skin that tends to absorb more pesticides. Although washing does reduce the level of pesticides found on produce, there is no level of exterior washing that can wash away all of the pesticides in the produce. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) found that even after washing, some fruits and vegetables consistently carry much higher levels of pesticide residue than others. Consumers can reduce their pesticide intake by almost 80 percent by avoiding the top twelve contaminated vegetables and fruits.  Organic foods limit or exclude the use of pesticides and other synthetic materials during production.

Since not all of us can afford to go 100% organic every time we shop, we can focus on those foods that come with the heaviest burden of pesticides, additives and hormones. In other words, eat only the organic version of the Dirty Dozen and increase your intake of the Clean Fifteen.

The Dirty Dozen

  1. Celery
  2. Peaches
  3. Strawberries
  4. Apples
  5. Blueberries
  6. Nectarines
  7. Sweet bell peppers
  8. Spinach, kale and collard greens
  9. Cherries
  10. Potatoes
  11. Grapes
  12. Lettuce

The Clean Fifteen

  1. Onions
  2. Avocado
  3. Sweet Corn
  4. Pineapple
  5. Mangos
  6. Sweet Peas
  7. Asparagus
  8. Kiwi
  9. Cabbage
  10. Eggplant
  11. Cantaloupe
  12. Watermelon
  13. Grapefruit
  14. Sweet Potato
  15. Honeydew Melon

Know the source of your food!

Soft, thin skinned fruits are laden with harmful pesticides


*PANNA- works to replace the use of hazardous pesticides with ecologically sound and socially just alternatives.
* EWG-a research and advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. Based on an analysis of more than 100,000 U.S. government pesticide test results, researchers at the Environmental Working Group (EWG) developed the “Dirty Dozen.”
*USDA- responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food.

→ 8 Comments

Posted in Farmer's Market, Food, Food News

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

BBQ Club Dine In! Style

Posted on June 3, 2010 | Leave a comment

Taking advantage of the incredible weather, a good friend (Naval) decided to host a last minute BBQ on Memorial Day Monday.  Satish and I had already planned to spend our Sunday in the quiet town of Point Reyes Station. We invited Naval and his two cousins to join us. Our first stop was Marin Sun Farms for brunch and to buy meat for the BBQ. I will have to devote a whole other post to this butcher shop/restaurant. The meat is all natural, 100% grass-fed beef, and pastured raised. And, of course, it’s local. On the day of the BBQ the thick fog rolled in and everyone decided to stay inside, instead of huddling around the grill. Everyone brought something, and it had become a true Club Dine In! feast. We had homemade organic pizzas, ribs, organic steak, grilled shrimp, organic salads and fruit, organic chicken skewers, Pao de Queijo, bruschetta, and Joli Coeur (a fancy cocktail, made out of local, organic grapes).

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Events, Food

Tagged , , ,

American Grilled Cheese Kitchen

Posted on June 2, 2010 | Leave a comment

An entire restaurant devoted to American grilled cheese sandwiches- oh my taste buds are dancing and heart fluttering! On opening day, I rushed over to South Park to find out what all the buzz was about and please my tummy. Ask Satish if you don’t believe me, but I was jumping with anticipation on my way over to the restaurant. I imagined taking one big bite of ooey, gooey cheese bliss with a sip of red wine. It was a perfect Friday afternoon in San Francisco, the wind still, the sun beaming, no clouds in the sky. I thought it would be nice for us to sit on the swings in South Park after lunch and lull.   I did some advanced research and found that they even have house made, gluten-free bread! Just the concept had me going, but then I learned that the restaurant chef/owner is a seven time winner of the Grilled Cheese Invitational. This was like having easy access to an Iron Chef. Oh, I can see Bobby Flay showing up for a throwdown.  I was only to be disappointed when I finally got there. They were SOLD OUT! Oh, my taste buds cried and I no longer cared about the swings. I will be back soon, maybe even tomorrow after my long workout.

Sold Out!

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Food, Restaurants

Tagged , , , , ,

The Perfect Cup of Chai

Posted on June 1, 2010 | 7 Comments

Truly authentic chai is hard to come by. I am so particular about the way chai tastes, that I just make it myself when I have the craving. Call me narcissistic, but they are my taste buds and memories to be pleased! Satish has coined “tea snob” for me. However, I have found some pretty good chai in the city.

Chai is a blend of spices and herbs brewed with milk, sugar, and black tea leaves.

Samovar Tea Lounge has my heart and palate won over when it comes to a great cup of chai. Just thinking about it makes me want to rush over to the closest location to indulge in a cup of their chai. They use only organic, fair-trade, whole leaf black tea and organic spices. Another key factor: they use organic, whole milk. I love Samovar so much that my girlfriends threw my bridal shower there last summer. The key to their creamy, dreamy chai is in their brewing time. In most households, chai is brewed for about 5-8 minutes over the stove then served quickly. However, Samovar brews their chai for about 30-45 minutes, strains it, and lets it simmer for another 30 minutes. Most people do not have that kind of patience for their chai. “I need my chai, and I need it NOW.” However, on this rainy day, I will let my tea brew and simmer for 90 minutes while anxiously awaiting the results. And then I will blog about it.

On a blustery day, I stepped into Kasa Indian Eatery to be comforted by spicy warmth. It was so cold out and missing my grandparents more so on this day, I decided to give their chai a try. I actually really liked it. I was transported back to 1995 in India, stopping on the roadside to have chai from a Chai Wallah. The flavor of the chai was dominated by cinnamon and cardamom. It was creamy goodness. However, this was a really sweet chai- a bit too much for my liking.

I always ask cafes and restaurants how they make their chai and the disappointing response is “syrupy concentrate”. So when Dolores Park Café said they make their chai from scratch, I had to give it a try! On another blustery day, this chai warmed up my soul. It was almost perfect. The flavors were a bit milder than what I am used too. I like my chai bold, leaving my senses in a (good) daze.

Chai at Dolores Park Cafe

I am dying to try the Chai Cart! I have heard many yummy things about this elusive Chai Cart pushed by Paawan Kothari (who also runs Green Coriander) in the Mission. Paawan steps away from the norm and concocts all sorts of flavors, such as the Lemongrass Chai. The Chai Cart has quite a following and I need to get in on this… I just may call up the Chai Walli myself for a cup of chai!

Chai is very special to me and I will share my recipe and fondest memory on June 6th.



→ 7 Comments

Posted in Deconstructing Food, Food, Restaurants

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,