My husband I were recently discussing the fact that food has become boring, that we’re both sick of the same old stuff.

Perfect timing for me to receive a new cookbook.

Now my husband isn’t much for eating healthy, I have to trick him to get him to try new food- the last I tell him is that it’s healthy. But he loves seafood and coconut and wouldn’t you know it The Best of Clean Eating is full of recipes featuring one or the other. I’m not much for fish but I do love shrimp so there’s even recipes that both of us can enjoy. Especially the desserts.

The desserts are something hubby and I can both whole heartedly agree on - like on page 152, you get the healthy sweet snacks Power Yogurt for One and Coconut Balls- both recipes sound delicious. But it’s the real desserts that will make you crave healthy decadence. On page 232 I am seriously drooling over the Molten Lava Cakes made with cocoa powder. On page 230 I see a cake I am going to make for my chocolate and coconut loving husband- Coconut Chai Chocolate Cake. Wow it sounds so yummy my stomach is grumbling in sweet anticipation.

For those of you who love carrot cake you have to check out page 226 the recipe for Slow Cooker Carrot Cake and Cream Cheese Honey Drizzle will make non carrot cake lovers drool. Then there’s Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies and Orange Chocolate Ricotta Cheesecake…On page 214 I spy the ultimate apple pie recipe- it’s a pairing of two of my favorite things- vanilla and apples. The Vanilla Bean Spiked Autumn Apple Pie is going on my Thanksgiving menu.

After going through this cookbook you’ll never ever again think that eating healthy is eating bland.

The full color photos are enough to inspire you into exploring new culinary delights then you read through the ingredients and your mouth will start to water.

So far I’ve only spoken of sweet delights but there’s so much more in The Best of Clean Eating, for both die hard foodies and those who simply love food or are looking to try something new.

Throughout the book you’ll find a huge assortment of recipes- gingery roasted squash, roasted cauliflower leek and garlic soup, golden mashed potatoes, apple grilled cheese, yummy hummus, clean eating tortilla chips, sweet potato spread, garlic bruschetta…is your stomach growling yet? Because mine is.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, desserts…you’ll find clean eating recipes for it in this book.

My husband and I are currently marking pages and making a shopping list for all the amazing recipes we are going to try. I can’t wait- I’m actually excited about food again.

ⓒ iStockPhoto - gewitterkind

Here are some staggering statistics.  Americans spend approximately $13 billion a year on chocolate.  Moreover, Americans will purchase 58 million pounds of chocolate candy during the days leading up to Valentines Day.  This translates into $345 million dollars in sales.

Chocolate is the hallmark candy of Valentines Day.  It is revered for its wonderful rich taste along with its heart healthy benefits; however, not all chocolate is the same.  The chocolate candies that come in a red, heart-shaped box are usually full of sugar and fat and really have no nutritional value at all.  If you want to benefit from chocolate, then look for dark chocolate, with a 65% or higher cocoa content.  Studies indicate that the antioxidant flavonoids in dark chocolate have been linked to decrease of stroke and cardiovascular disease and may  also have anti-cancer benefits, as they help reduce cell damage that spur tumor growth. (continue reading…)

©iStockphoto.com - User Unknown

This past Hanukkah, I made the conscious and unpopular decision to veto sugar cookies.  Although my past efforts included a healthier non-hydrogenated margarine, I still felt uneasy giving my kids a cookie with all that concentrated fat and white flour.  The sad, puppy dog countenances along with the heart stabbing comments  such as, “But making Hanukkah cookies is our special tradition,” made me re-think my hasty decision to ban the beloved sugar cookies.  As I reflected on how my son already felt singled out due to his egg and nut allergies, I felt a surprising stab of guilt.  However, as I looked at those sticks of margarine thawing on my counter, I decided that I was going to make sugar cookie history.  Below are my results of a kinder, gentler cookie that not only tastes great, it is actually kid approved.  Enjoy. (continue reading…)

ⓒiStockPhoto - stephconnell

Thanksgiving or Christmas are occasions when family and friends are gathered around, adding fun to our lives and bringing moments of joy. These occasions may distract you from the everyday concerns and worries but, distraction from your diet- no way. On an average, a person gains 7-10 pounds between Thanksgiving and New year! Here are few steps to keep up your health throughout the holidays and add joy, not pounds.

Count the calories

The Caloric Control Council reveals the fact that an average American consumes around 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat on Thanksgiving Day alone. The fat amount equals to the fat that we should take in three days and twice as many calories which should be consumed in one day. Most of these calories come from snacking all day. So you better watch what you are snacking on and control the portion size. (continue reading…)

©iStockphoto.com - SharonDay

This combines the flavors of warm apple pie in a hearty, healthy breakfast cereal for chilly autumn mornings. Using certified gluten-free oats makes this appropriate for those on a gluten-free diet.

Rolled oats make a thicker, heartier cereal; however, quick-cooking oats cook up faster for a busy morning. Save a little morning prep time by chopping the apple the night before and sprinkling it with lemon juice to prevent browning in the fridge overnight. (continue reading…)

Bring on the tastes of fall! The winter squash and pecans pack this full of vitamins, minerals and healthy fats. These have a lengthy baking time, but the preparation is minimal.

2 acorn squash

2 large apples

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1/2 cup raisins

1 tablespoon oil (melted coconut, walnut or extra-virgin olive) (continue reading…)

ⓒ iStockPhoto - tacojim

If you planted large-seeded sunflowers like the Mammoth Russian, they provide both a lovely late summer accent in the yard and a healthy snack. Roasting your own sunflowers is easy, and a fun project with kids, though the brining and boiling will require supervision.

The sunflower seeds need to be ripe first. Wait until the sunflower head is drooping and the back is bright yellow, then cut the head and hang, out of the reach of birds and vermin, to dry. If you have the room, plant some sunflowers in a sunny spot out of view specifically for seed harvesting. When the heads droop, bag the heads in cheesecloth to keep the birds from feasting, and let the seeds mature and dry on the stalk.

(continue reading…)