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.com - Floortje

A study published in this month’s Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that only 1 in 20 adults eats the recommended three servings of whole grains daily. The USDA’s recommendations for whole grains - that half of the grain products consumed are whole grain - seriously lowballs the level for health.

Many breads, pastas and even crackers come in whole-grain versions now, but  If you’re looking to up your whole grain intake, think beyond whole wheat to these five tasty, convenient ways to sneak more whole grains into your diet. (continue reading…)

ⓒ iStockPhoto - feverpitched

When you hear the word “iron,” you probably think of a strong, hard metal used in construction and building. But when it comes to health, iron plays a major role in keeping us strong. Find out more about this important mineral, its function in our blood and bodies – and what happens when we don’t get enough.

What Is Iron and Why Do We Need It?

Iron is an important mineral, found in plants (vegetables) and meats. It’s carried by pigment called hemoglobin in our red blood cells. As blood flows through our bodies, hemoglobin delivers oxygen to organs and tissues. In order to manufacture hemoglobin, your body needs iron. Without enough iron, you can’t make enough hemoglobin, and your body won’t get the oxygen it needs. In addition, lack of iron can affect cell enzymes and processes like digestion. When we don’t take in enough iron, we start using up iron reserves stored in our bodies, a condition known as iron deficiency. This can lead to a more serious condition called anemia over time (1, 2, 3, 4). Anemia is “a condition in which your blood has a lower than normal number of red blood cells” and results in hemoglobin shortage, according to the National Heart Lung Blood Institute (NHLBI) (2).

A person can develop iron deficiency for many reasons: (continue reading…)

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To make sure you’re functioning at your best, your body must maintain proper nutrient levels. The body is able to manufacture some of these nutrients naturally on its own. However, other nutrients – such as iodine – cannot be made by our bodies, so we must take them in through other sources, such as food or supplements. Learn more about iodine – why we need this nutrient, what happens when we’re deficient in it and where we can find it.

What Is Iodine and Why Do We Need It?

Iodine is an important element that we need for many reasons, including thyroid hormone production, metabolism, brain development, reproductive development, growth and energy (1, 2, 3, 4). When our bodies lack sufficient iodine, then we are unable to produce adequate thyroid hormones. The result can be an enlarged thyroid gland, hypothyroidism or swollen growths and nodules called goiters. (continue reading…)

©iStockphoto.com - bukvalno

Whether you take part in Meatless Monday or are abstaining from meat on Fridays for Lent, meatless dinners can be more than tuna casserole or cheese pizza. If you already cook at home some, converting recipes to remove the meat, or trying intentionally meatless recipes can be simple with these four strategies.

Use Meat Substitutes in Recipes You Already Make

As a first baby step for going meatless, look for meat substitute products that you can use instead of meat in your family’s favorite recipes. Frozen soy crumbles or reconstituted textured vegetable protein (TVP) can go almost unnoticed in highly seasoned dishes using ground beef, such as tacos, sloppy joes, chili or spaghetti with meat sauce. Use cut-up soy dogs when you make franks and beans. (continue reading…)