Nutritional health is achieved through the therapeutic use of whole foods, safe culinary preparation, and understanding the metabolic impacts of specific dietary frameworks and ingredients.
While some fad-diet gurus may denounce carbohydrates as the root of all edible evil, the truth is that your body needs these nutrients to function properly. If your diet lacks carbs, you could feel rundown and face a variety of health woes.
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If you're trying to lose weight, broth-based soups like tom yum are an excellent choice. The high water content makes them low in calories, yet they fill up your stomach to help keep you satisfied.
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Once relegated to specialty health-foods stores, kombucha has made its way to grocery chains across America. The fermented beverage is rich in probiotics, or friendly bacteria, and contains far fewer calories than most soft drinks and juices.
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Whether it's made from potatoes, corn or rye, vodka's calorie content depends on the alcohol level rather than the main ingredient. All vodkas are created in much the same way, by fermenting a starch and then distilling the result.
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Although tuna and whole-wheat bread are both relatively low in calories, trouble starts when you add mayonnaise to the mix. Commercially-prepared tuna sandwiches tend to be high in this fatty ingredient, and may also be served on oversized bread for a one-two calorie punch.
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Starting your day with a fruit-and-yogurt smoothie is a healthy way to greet the morning, and your drink can have enough calories for a breakfast accompaniment or a full meal, depending on the ingredients.
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If you love Asian spring or summer rolls, you're probably familiar with the delicate, starchy taste of rice paper, a thin wrapper that's relatively low in calories. However, you might not know that unlike wonton wrappers or other wheat products, you do not have to cook rice paper.
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Tom kha gai is hearty enough to make a meal of, but it's much slimmer on calories than it is on flavor. This soup, which usually contains coconut milk, mushrooms, kaffir lime leaves and chicken, is a staple at Thai restaurants and is simple enough to make at home.
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With fresh veggies, olives and a sprinkling of feta cheese, Greek salads are full of low-calorie ingredients. Omit the dressing, and your salad becomes extremely light fare. If you're watching calories but still want some zest and moisture, try dipping your fork into the dressing before spearing your vegetables.
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Made with sweetened ricotta cheese and deep-fried pastry shells, cannoli are typically high in calories. While these Italian desserts may be hard to resist, they're best left for rare occasions if you're trying to manage your weight.
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If you're watching your waistline, choosing sparkling wine or light beer could spare you a few calories over regular wine. It is best, however, to consume any type of alcohol in moderation -- at 7 calories per gram, alcohol provides zero nutrition and can lead to weight gain. "The New York Times"
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Margaritas may be a tasty accompaniment to your tacos or enchiladas, but these are among the highest-calorie alcoholic beverages you can choose. Laced with sugar and sweet liqueur, just one margarita may contain as many calories as your meal.
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Full of vegetables and aromatic spices, Indian food can make a lean and nutritious meal -- provided you choose the right dishes. If you're watching your weight, steer clear of dishes made with cream.
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Sweet chili sauce is a standard dip for Asian appetizers such as spring rolls and wontons, but the sugar content makes this condiment relatively high in calories. Calories from sugar are considered empty because they provide no vitamins, minerals or other nutrients.
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Stuffed with cabbage, mushrooms or other healthy veggies, vegetable potstickers make a light, nutritious appetizer or side dish.
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When you just can't shake the sweet tooth, reaching for a mini cupcake instead of a full-size version can help satisfy your urge without splurging on calories. The key is to stick to just one mini.
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If you're watching your waistline, sherbet may be a better dessert choice than ice cream because it usually contains fewer calories. While a 1/2-cup serving of vanilla ice cream contains 137 calories on average, the same portion of orange sherbet contains just 107 calories.
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Most macaroni and cheese dishes are calorie dense. They're also high in fat and have few nutrients, so keep the portion sizes small. If you make macaroni and cheese at home, you can lighten the calorie load by reducing the butter content and using skim milk or reduced-fat cheeses.
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Paneer is a fresh cheese used in Indian foods like saag paneer, which is a spinach dish. It is also used in malai kofta, which is a cheese and vegetable dumpling. Although paneer is somewhat lighter than many other cheeses, it's still relatively high in fat.
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Coffee-mate brand creamer comes in a wide variety of flavors, and the nutrition facts differ with each. The calorie content of Coffee-mate is typically equal to or higher than that of half-and-half cream; however, light and fat-free Coffee-mate products have fewer calories.
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