Farm Fresh Chopped Salad

At a recent farm-to-table dinner in Connecticut, Chef Michel Nischan prepared "Use a Spoon" Chopped Salad using farm fresh produce.

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Enjoying the End of Summer's Bounty

Towards the end of summer, our local farmer’s markets are filled with tomatoes, corn, zucchini, peaches and other goodies at their peak sweetness and flavor.

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Thai Coconut Curry Fish: Steaming, A Healthier Way To Cook



Steamed Fish In Banana Leaf With Red Curry and Coconut

Steaming food is quick, easy and healthy.  Not only is the preparation easy, but the cleanup is quick and since no added oil is used, it's also one of the healthiest ways to cook.  The only cookware you need is a steamer basket, or a bamboo steamer (which can be purchased at an Asian grocery store, Whole Foods, or online).

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Eating Healthier On The Road

A Healthier Choice - Quinoa Salad with Teriyaki Tofu

Traveling can be really tough when you’re trying to eat healthy.  Plane food usually isn’t very palatable to begin with.  When I booked my flight online for my most recent trip, I noticed I could request a vegetarian meal on the plane, so I checked the vegetarian box for meal preference.

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Kale Avocado Salad and Simply Sauteed Leafy Green Vegetables

Kale Avocado Salad

Your mom probably told you that leafy green vegetables were good for you, but you still might not eat them that often. Studies have already shown that diets high in fruits and vegetables reduce both cancer and heart disease.  However, a recent study reveals that eating just 1.5 extra servings of leafy green vegetables a day reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes by 14%.

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Korean Spinach Salad "Banchan"

What is Banchan?  Banchan are side dishes traditionally served with a Korean meal.  

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"The Best Diet Ever" Anti-Cancer Foods

It is so refreshing whenever I hear of a medical doctor who believes in anti-cancer foods (foods that can help prevent and/or stop cancer growth).  Just a couple of months ago during a breast exam, my own doctor (at Yale Breast Center) completely rejected any connection between a healthy diet and preventing breast cancer.  Five anti-cancer foods were highlighted in a recent article on a course called "The Best Diet Ever," taught by Dr. John Farquhar of Stanford University Medical School:

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Cold Soba Noodles

There's nothing better than cold soba noodles in 90 degree weather!  Soba noodles are made from buckwheat flour, a whole grain, naturally high in fiber and protein.

Here's one of my favorite Korean recipes for soba noodles.  It's soba noodles, topped with cold cucumber salad and kimchi.

I serve it with a couple of Banchan (I'll be talking about this in my next post), the little side dishes integral to an authentic Korean meal.

Korean Spicy Soba Noodles

(adapted from Dok Suni, Recipes From My Mother's Korean Kitchen by Jenny Kwak)


1 English seedless cucumber, julienned
1 cup kimchi, chopped
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon organic sugar
3 bunches dried soba noodles (they come tied in bunches), cooked al dente, rinsed in cold water, drained
minced scallions and toasted sesame seeds for garnish

Toss all ingredients together, except soba noodles.  Put cold soba noodles in bowl half filled with ice. Top with cucumber kimchi mixture. Sprinkle with scallions and sesame seeds.

More Cold Noodle Recipes:

Just Hungry's Basic Cold Soba Noodles with Dipping Sauce

thekitchn's Cold Noodles for Hot Days - 10 recipes

Chez Pim's Cold Noodles in Sesame Sauce

Anti-Cancer Ingredients: Soba noodles (buckwheat), Kimchi (contains anti-cancer agent called isothiocyanate)

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The Beginner Green Smoothie

I have to admit that the idea of drinking something green really doesn't appeal to me.  So, when I was given a green smoothie to try for breakfast recently, I was hesitant to say the least.  Visually, I wasn't sure I could get past the idea of drinking something green.  But, my kids were with me and we all  decided to try it at the same time (it was like a "dare" or "challenge").

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Quick Healthy Snacks

With school starting soon, I'm already thinking of quick, kid-friendly, healthy snacks.  It's so easy to just buy pre-packaged snacks, but with a little planning, you can make sure your kids are getting healthy snacks during and after school.

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Coconut Water

Image by soumit via Flickr

Coconut water is all the rage recently. Not to be confused with coconut milk or cream of coconut (which comes from the "meat" of a mature coconut), coconut water is simply the clear liquid in young coconut when it is cracked open. My current favorite is Vita Coco's Coconut Water with Peach and Mango, which can be found at Whole Foods, and increasingly in supermarkets. 

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More Smoothie Recipes {Yummy Fruit Smoothie}

My kids love smoothies.  They're a great way to pack in lots of nutrients in an easy to digest form.  Smoothies are so versatile.  Basically, all you need are your favorite fruits (berries, mangoes, peaches, use your imagination!), yogurt (if you want extra protein), and a liquid (coconut water, orange juice, almond milk).  

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Child Obesity and Breast Cancer

Woke up and saw this article, Early Puberty in Girls: What Are the Social Consequences?, which says that girls are hitting puberty as early as 7!! That is scary and really worrisome, not only because early puberty onset is linked to breast cancer, but also because of all the social implications this has for girls.

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It's Bugging Me...High Fructose Corn Syrup

Image by Steven Vance via Flickr

This High Fructose Corn Syrup topic is really bugging me.  I guess it's because I never realized it was in so many consumer products until fairly recently.  


One of my kids wrote a paper this past school year suggesting a "sugar" tax on products containing high fructose corn syrup.

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Sugar Feeds Cancer!

I just read an article "Cut Fructose and Cancer Risk" highlighting the fact that sugar not only helps cancer cells survive, but can also fuel cancer cell growth (pancreatic) at a much higher rate.

By now, we have all heard that we should avoid processed foods, e.g., anything that has high fructose corn syrup, white sugar, refined white flour, artificial sweeteners, artificial colors, artificial flavors, preservatives...basically 90% of what we probably see on most supermarket shelves (other than Whole Foods or other natural foods stores)!

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More Homemade Soup Recipes {Mushroom Spinach Farro Soup and French Lentil Brown Rice Soup}

Image by MGF/Lady Disdain via Flickr

My friend "B" just got another chemo treatment today so I'm making her a couple of homemade soups and smoothies that I hope will make her feel comforted and loved. Trying to come up with something healthy and tasty...I decided to make Mushroom Soup with and Spinach and Farro, and French Lentil Brown Rice Soup.

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Easy Homemade Chicken Soup

There's nothing more comforting than a bowl of Homemade Chicken Soup.

There's nothing better than a bowl of homemade chicken soup when you're feeling sick. Got an email last night that my friend who's going through chemo for breast cancer just came down with a cold.  Poor thing.  She's supposed to get chemo again in a few days, so praying that getting plenty of rest, fluids and some good 'ol homemade chicken soup will help make her feel better quickly.

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It's Farmers Market Week!

Image by NatalieMaynor via Flickr

Visit your local farmer's market this week if you haven't already! Fresh tomatoes, corn, peppers, salad greens, peaches, and more go perfect with any summertime meal.

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