Whole grains are not only good for you but taste great too.  I created this cereal bar with very few ingredients and they are perfect for breakfast or snacks.  These bars were created for the school lunch programs that work with Vicki and myself. We needed a bar that would be easy to prepare, hold well on the serving line, and most importantly taste great.   When looking for the cereal in the grocery aisle make sure the package says "whole grain".  Most of the cereal companies are placing "whole grain" on the front of the box big and bold. …

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If you have shopped the bread aisle in recent years, you may have seen whole wheat bread that looks like white bread. To me, whole wheat bread is brown.  I have never bought white whole wheat bread, because in my mind, if it's white, it can't have the same nutritional value. I admit I am wrong on this one.

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Rice is the one grain that is consumed all over the word.  Rice is low in cost and is versatile in breakfast foods, main entrées, or dessert. Rice can grow just about anywhere as long as the weather is warm and there is plenty of water. 

Rice comes in many varieties and the most common are long grain and short grain.  The longer grains are used primarily in main dishes and side dishes because the grain stays intact while cooking, and are less sticky. The shorter varieties are commonly used in dessert or in foods where a sticky…

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Anyone that knows me knows I love cheese so this blog's spotlight is on hard cheese.

Cheeses are divided into hard cheeses and soft cheeses.  Hard cheese sometimes gets a bad rap because many people tend to think of it in the grated form, when in fact it never started out that way.  Most hard cheese is made into 10 to 30 pound rounds.  Hard cheeses are known for their full flavors and sharpness, and in my opinion, should be placed on every cheese platter.

Unlike soft cheese which takes only months to make, hard cheeses can take years.…

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We have all heard that to help control portion size we should be using smaller plates and bowls. This works great because if you are eating less food, it will look like more food on a small plate rather than getting lost on today's oversized dinner plates.But did you know that it's not just the size of plate that cues our portion sizes, but the color of the food and plate as well?

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How many times have we lost weight only to have it find its way back and bring "friends"? I have had people tell me they are done trying to lose weight because it never stays off.  It's a fact that if you go back to your old eating habits you will regain the weight but there are people who have lost significant amounts of weight and have successfully kept it off.

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I just saw a commercial on TV for a new menu item at Taco Bell. It's called the XXL Grilled Stuffed Burrito.

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I love homemade nut butters.  Check out October 2011 Simply Smart Food Newsletter on all you need to know to make your very own nut butters. 

Below are more Ideas on nut butters not founf in the monthly newsletter.

 

These Nuts  work great when making you homemade nut butter.

Almond
Pistachio
Cashew
Walnuts
Peanuts
Macadamia
Sunflower (I know it’s a seed, but it’s so good)

Nut Butter Flavoring Ideas: Add your desired amount

Maple (I use extract or sugar free)» Read more...

Obesity rates in Canada are less than in the US, but like the US the rates continue to climb. Here is another example of how weight gain affects us all.

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I recently read a research blurb that stated TV viewing is linked to unhealthy eating. I don't think that comes as a surprise to anyone.

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