Info Diet Plan

A few weeks ago, my friend Diane at The W.H.O.L.E. (whole healthy organic living everyday) Gang had the brilliant idea to host a Gluten Free Progressive Dinner, with Thanksgiving as the theme. Im pleased to be a stop on the journey, with my Corn Bread Slow Cooker Stuffing. Its absolutely delicious, and I look forward to bringing it along to my moms house on the 26 th for our family Thanksgiving dinner. I dont write too much about gluten free stuff, because I try really hard not to let this allergy change the way we eat. I feel as if we eat a balanced diet full of lots of food and grains, we just happen to steer clear from wheat, barley, rye, and oats (unless they are certified gluten free), and read labels meticulously. Although going gluten free hasnt been too much of a strain on our own day-to-day family eating, it is hard to plan for large gatherings where other people are preparing the food, and when the food is store-bought. Most store-bought prepared party food is off-limits, an...

So many good flavors in this Thai-Inspired Ground Turkey Stir-Fry with Basil and Peppers. I've mentioned how I'm working to embrace ground turkey, after years of thinking it was rather bland in the flavor department.  And lately I'm really loving it, especially when it's in a highly-seasoned recipe like this Thai-Inspired Ground Turkey Stir-Fry with Basil and Peppers .   In this dish the oil is seasoned with onion onion and garlic, and then the cooked turkey is flavored with a stir-fry sauce that has fresh-frozen lime juice, Red Boat Fish Sauce, Sriracha Sauce, Tamari Gluten Free Soy Sauce, and just a touch of Agave Nectar.  With the addition of red bell this recipe has the sour-sweet-spicy-salty-bitter flavor notes that make Thai cooking so distinctive.   If you're new to stir-frying, you might want to read the basic rules for stir-frying that I learned many years ago when I studied Chinese cooking.  Once you've mastered those basic techniques, you can make an ...

I love all the flavors in this Slow Cooker Green Chile Shredded Beef Cabbage Bowl with Avocado Salsa. When I look back in the monthly archives on Kalyn's Kitchen, it's interesting to see that the things I'm cooking at certain times of the year have a definite pattern.  For example, I obviously like to hold on to summer as long as I can, so every September I have Zucchini Recipes and Tomato Salads posted long after many bloggers have moved on to soups and pumpkin.  I'm sure there will still be more zucchini and tomato recipes coming this year, but I hope I can get a little credit for this Slow Cooker Green Chile Shredded Beef Cabbage Bowl with Avocado Salsa as a wonderfully season-spanning dish as we move from summer to fall.  The recipe has a layer of crunchy spicy slaw and some avocado salsa for summer, topped by spicy green chile beef that cooks in the slow cooker for fall.  I really loved this dish which I thought was just spicy enough to be interesting.  The shredd...

This Grilled Fusion Chicken has a great combination of flavors. ( Grilled Fusion Chicken was updated with better photos and step-by-step instructions, July 2014.) Back in the early days of my blog I wrote about how to make juicy grilled chicken breasts that are perfect every time and I followed it up with some grilled chicken recipes.  Here's a recipe from back then that I adapted from Sunset Magazine, and really enjoyed the result.  I made this again recently with my niece Kara so we could take some new photos, and we changed the ingredients just slightly to give it even more flavor.  In the new photos I'm pairing it with a simple salad of cucumber noodles I made with my Spiralizer. Click to continue reading

Beefy and Cheesy Low-Carb Green Chile Bake is a low-carb casserole recipe the whole family will enjoy! It's Monday morning of a brand new year, and I can tell from my blog stats that lots of you are starting the year with a commitment to more carb-conscious eating!  Every year I focus on Phase One (low-carb) recipes during January, and I'm starting 2015 with this new recipe for Beefy and Cheesy Low-Carb Green Chile Bake .  This recipe was inspired by the Chile Rellenos Bake I like so much, and  it's a low carb meal your whole family will enjoy.  It seems like every January I want to lose a few pounds, although this year I was happy to discover that on New Year's Day I actually weighed almost 7 pounds less than I did on that date last year.  But that doesn't mean there's not room for improvement!  If you're looking for low-carb recipe ideas for January, signing up for blog updates by e-mail is the most reliable way to make sure you see all the recipes.  You c...

Use leftover grilled or rotisserie chicken to make this Leftover Chicken Salad with Mustard, Hearts of Palm, and Olives. When it's summer, grilled chicken breasts are always on the menu at my house.  And if I'm going to take the time to prep the chicken, marinate it, and then grill it, I'm probably going to make extra grilled chicken for leftovers.  I already have 20 Summers Salads to Make with Leftover Chicken, but that doesn't stop my brain from coming up with more ideas.  Not long ago I made Rosemary Mustard Grilled Chicken for a big family party, and with some of the leftover chicken I made this Leftover Chicken Salad with Mustard, Hearts of Palm, and Olives .  Not only was this a delicious low-carb salad, but if you choose ingredients carefully it's Paleo, Whole 30 approved, and gluten-free.  If grilled chicken isn't on the menu at your house, this would also be delicious with leftover rotisserie chicken, the ones that jump into your basket when you're ...

Use small fresh-from the garden zucchini to make Raw Zucchini Salad with Lemon, Herbs, and Goat Cheese. (For Phase One Fridays I feature Phase One Recipes from the past that have been my personal favorites.  I've been seeing small perfect zucchini at the farmer's market for the last two weeks now, so it seems like a perfect time to make this Raw Zucchini Salad with Lemon, Herbs, and Goat Cheese .) Zucchini Carpaccio is a dish I've been intrigued by since I first heard about the idea of thinly slicing zucchini and then marinating it in a dressing of olive oil and lemon juice, so I have no idea why it's taken me so long to try it. It was the Carpaccio of Raw Zucchini from Sidewalk Shoes that finally pushed this dish to the top of my list. Pam used a recipe from Tyler Florence, but I ended up making my own version, heavy on lemon and herbs, and with the addition of a little goat cheese, since I'm always in favor of goat cheese in a salad! Click to continue read...

Roasted Brussels Sprouts are a wonderful side dish, so don't save them just for Thanksgiving. (For Phase One Fridays I highlight Phase One recipes from the past that have been my personal favorites, and these Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Toasted Almonds and Parmesan are amazing.  And since today officially starts the Countdown to Thanksgiving 2013 , I'm recommending this recipe as a Thanksgiving side dish.  But don't save them just for Thanksgiving, please try these for dinner soon!) Now that roasted brussels sprouts have turned me into a brussels sprouts fan, I've been paying attention to how people cook the little guys, and lately I've noticed brussels sprouts being shredded into thin strips. When I looked for recipes, I found shredded pan-fried brussels sprouts, but not shredded and roasted ones, but since I love the leaves that fall off and get extra crispy when you're roasting brussels sprouts, I decided to try it and see how they turned out. I'...

If you're looking for Low-Carb or Gluten-Free Holiday Recipes, these are 25+ of my favorites from ten years of sharing carb-conscious recipes for the holidays! I was a little shocked when I realized that I've now been sharing Carb-Conscious Thanksgiving Recipes for ten years on this blog!  If you visit that collection you'll find a wonderful assortment of Thanksgiving treats, all of which are definitely more carb-friendly than traditional holiday foods.  But not all my favorite Thanksgiving foods are recipes that can be categorized as low-carb in the strictest sense of the word, and not all of them are gluten-free either.   When I thought about that, I decided it was time to create this collection of 25+ Deliciously Healthy Low-Carb and Gluten-Free Holiday Side Dishes, Appetizers, and Salads to make it easier for anyone who's making a low-carb or gluten-free holiday meal.  Every recipe here is a favorite I've enjoyed many times, so I know you won't feel depriv...

A delicious Chopped Chicken Salad with all the flavors that make Cafe Rio Salad so good! If there's anything I've learned about sticking to a healthy eating plan, it's that you better include a lot of your favorite flavors or the plan is doomed from the start.  I love the blend of flavors in Cafe Rio Style Creamy Tomatillo Salad Dressing, and I make it all the time, not just when I'm doing Phase One.  I used this dressing on Leftover Chicken Chopped Chicken Salad with Cafe Rio Style Creamy Tomatillo Dressing, but I thought it would be fun to come up with a salad that recreates more of the flavors in the famous Cafe Rio Salad.  This new Chopped Chicken Salad with Cafe Rio Flavors has diced chicken that gets marinated in Cafe Rio Dressing, romaine lettuce, avocado, tomatoes, black beans, and cilantro.  If you don't live where there's a Cafe Rio, or you just want to make it at home, I promise this will re-create that Cafe Rio happy mouth feeling that people in Ut...

If you have a surplus of zucchini, use some of them to make this delicious and easy Calabacitas. (Updated with better photos and step-by-step instructions, August 2014.)   Calabacitas is a traditional recipe from the American southwest, and it's a quick and easy way to use up abundant summer squash if you have them in your garden.  Traditional recipes for Calabacitas sometimes include things like corn or tomatoes, but in my version I concentrate on the flavors of the squash, onions, cheese, and green chiles.  This is definitely a recipe that should be made to individual taste, and when I first made this I thought a 4 oz. can of diced green chiles was plenty spicy, but now I'd probably use a bigger can.  Key to the flavor here is slightly browning the onions and squash as they cook; as long as you manage that you can't go wrong with this easy recipe. Click to continue reading

There's still nearly a month before the official end of summer, so here are some favorite healthy grilling recipes. I know in the U.S. most people consider Labor Day weekend to be the unofficial end of summer, but I'm sharing these Favorite Healthy Grilling Recipes to remind you that there is still nearly a month left before the official end of summer, and there'll still be quite a few warm evenings and weekend days for you to enjoy cooking on the grill.  To entice  you not to put the grill away too soon I picked out ten of my all-time favorite recipes for this grilling public service announcement, and there are lots more options on the recipe archives page for Grilling Recipes as well.  All these favorites of mine are Low-Carb , Gluten-Free , and South Beach Phase One , and most of them Can Be Paleo as well, so they should work for lots of healthy eating plans.  (For anyone without an outdoor grill, all these recipes can be cooked on a stove-top grill pan with ridges.) ...

Grilled Zucchini Pizza Slices are a healthier pizza option, which just might satisfy that pizza craving! (For Phase One Fridays I feature Phase One Recipes from the past that have been my personal favorites.  Phase One Recipes are also Low-Carb and Gluten-Free.  This recipe from 2010 has not only been hugely popular on the blog, but it's perfect to make this time of year when those giant zucchinis seem to spring up overnight in the garden.  If you don't have a huge zucchini to slice for the pizza base, you can use smaller zucchini sliced lengthwise.  This is a great way to fight that pizza craving, and using low-fat turkey pepperoni makes it a pretty diet-friendly recipe for a dish that's loaded with pepperoni and cheese.) This idea of grilled zucchini used as a base for pizza toppings is one of those cooking ideas that swirl around in my head, and sometimes I'm never sure if I thought of it or saw it somewhere else. I kept wondering how it would work to arrange a...

If you have basil in your garden, don't miss out on making this Chicken Salad with Basil and Parmesan! (Updated with better photos and step-by-step instructions, July 2014.)  This Chicken Salad with Basil and Parmesan is something you should make when you have lots of basil in your garden, because through the years I've learned you just can't put too much chopped basil in this salad.  I finally found a good sunny spot to relocate the herb pots I used on the deck last summer, and I'm happy to say I have lots of fresh basil this year, so when I cooked with my niece Kara recently we made this favorite basil-loaded chicken salad recipe to update the photos. Click to continue reading

There's nothing like fresh green beans and the World's Easiest Garlicky Green Beans Stir Fry is a great way to cook them! (For Phase One Fridays I feature Phase One Recipes from the past that have been my personal favorites. Phase One Recipes are also Low-Carb and Gluten-Free, but for this recipe be sure to use Gluten-Free Oyster Sauce if needed, as most oyster sauce has a tiny amount of wheat flour.  I first made this back in 2009 when I had green beans in my garden, but now I'd buy beans at the farmer's market to make this favorite recipe.) Beans used to be one of those plants that didn't get too much respect from me in the garden. I found them hard to keep picked, and truthfully, sometimes I ended up with overgrown beans I had to throw away.  But all my thoughts about beans changed after I made some fresh green beans into this World's Easiest Garlicky Green Beans Stir Fry .  Seriously, I could eat beans every day if they were cooked like this. Click to...

Edamame is used instead of lima beans in this simple and refreshing succotash salad. Follow Foods For Long Life on Facebook and Pinterest . Check out my eBook, Health Begins in the Kitchen , available on Amazon and iTunes . Edamame Lovers Heres a new twist on succotash that uses edamame instead of lima beans. Edamame are soybeans in their most unprocessed state. Im a soy fan but only in products like edamame, home made soy milk and tofu. I stay clear of soy protein isolates and fake foods. I have discussed the soy controversy many times but heres a short interview with Dr. Oz and dietician Kristin Kirkpatrick that will hopefully provide additional information on soy and what soy products are good for you and which should be avoided. You can find frozen edamame in most local supermarkets. Soybeans contain important plant chemicals such as: Flavonoids, Isoflavonoids, Phenolic acids, and others. 1/2 cup of edamame has 94.5 calories and provides: 4 g of dietary fiber 8.5 g of high qu...

Did you know that buckwheat noodles are gluten free? Follow Foods For Long Life on FACEBOOK . Buckwheat is Not Wheat! Although "wheat" is in the name, buckwheat is not related to wheat.  Buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentum is not part of the cereal grain family but is from a broad leaf plant in the Polygonaceae family. Soba noodles, made from 100% buckwheat, are suitable for those on a gluten-free diet as long as they havent been cross contaminated during processing. I love the chewy texture of these noodles. I prefer them over Udon noodles and always have a package of them in the pantry. Soba noodles are low in fat and high in protein and contain all the essential amino acids. They also contain thiamin, folate niacin, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus and iron. a 2 oz serving of buckwheat soba provides: 200 calories 1 g total fat zero saturated fat and cholesterol 6 g protein 3 g dietary fiber 43 g carbohydrates Time for Soup Its getting cold and although one third of my diet sti...

Vegan strawberry ice cream Cuisinart ice cream maker The ice cream is sweetened by a few dates soaked in milk. The ice cream maker is filled with the mango-peach mixture. Vegan mango peach ice cream Delicious Dairy Free Ice Cream I just bought a Cuisinart ICE-30BC 2 quart ice cream maker. I cant eat dairy so I thought Id buy some equipment to help me make some healthful, dairy free ice cream. Well, it turned out to be the best $68 I ever spent! When I looked at the recipes that came with the machine I started to wonder if it was possible to make a tasty frozen dessert without the cream and the sugar but after experimenting a bit and trying some tricks passed on to me from my friend Bernadette, I quickly came up with a few delicious recipes. Healthful Ice Cream Most ice cream is loaded with cream, sugar, corn syrup, egg yolks and some even have artificial coloring. Along with that come calories, saturated fat, cholesterol and tons of carbs. I wont try to convince you that Haagen-Dazs ...

Adding quinoa to a kale salad turns it into a meal! Follow Foods For Long Life on Facebook and Pinterest. If you enjoy my blog, youll love my eBook! on Amazon and iTunes.   Inspired at the Airport My daughter and I just spent a lovely four days in Sedona. Besides the beautiful red rocks and relaxing spa treatments, we were blown away with the food. One restaurant was better than the other. So when we got to the Phoenix airport to go home, we were kind of bummed that our last meal would probably be terrible. I mean, whens the last time you had a good meal at an airport? We were pretty shocked when we walked into Chelseas Kitchen in Terminal 4. The restaurant itself was large and beautiful and the food was definitely NOT what you would expect at an airport (unless you are in the International Terminal in SFO.) Chelseas Kitchen at the Phoenix Airport The dish that inspired me the most was their kale salad (they were kind enough to make one without the parmesan cheese). It was mix...

Raisin and cinnamon mocha by Grainaissance . Just cut, bake, fill and serve! Follow Foods For Long Life on FACEBOOK ! Mochi, a Japanese New Years Tradition Mochi is a Japanese rice cake that is made from steamed and pounded mochi rice. It is traditionally eaten during the New Year holidays to bring good luck.  The traditional way to make mochi is to steam glutinous brown rice and pound it with wooden mallets (kine) in a wooden mortar (usu). The resulting sticky mass is then formed into cakes. This process is extremely labor intensive. Raisin-Cinnamon Mochi - so easy to make! An Easier Way to Enjoy Mochi As much fun as making mochi sounds, I was quite excited to find a mochi product that was ready made.  I walked past the Grainaissance mochi packages in the market a number of times wondering what youre supposed to do with them. They look like a slab of very hard clay. Curiosity got the best of me one day and I brought home the "original" flavor which is basically unflavored b...