Tag Archives: baking

The 15 Best Healthy Pumpkin Recipes You Haven’t Tried

Matthew Kaplan is the Editor for FaveDiets.com, a free online resource featuring hundreds of free healthy recipes, healthy cooking tips and loads more. Be sure to check out FaveDiets on Facebook and on Twitter.

Oh, pumpkins – what would fall be without you? After all, from Jack-o-lanterns to pumpkin pie, it is awfully hard to avoid those seemingly ubiquitous orange orbs this time of year. Try as you might, pumpkins are always the “it” food item this time of year.

However, while pumpkins and pumpkin dishes appear everywhere, the one place where they rarely make an appearance is the average home kitchen. This is too bad, as pumpkin recipes are delicious and, when done right, highly nutritious as well. If you have seemingly banned pumpkin from your recipe repertoire, then it’s time to reconsider. (more…)

Posted on October 22, 2023 by GuestBlogger

Gluten-Free Baking Tips for Weight Loss

When you’re trying to lose weight, there are a lot of simple ingredient swaps and recipe modifications that you can make in order to remove some of the fat and calories from your favorite baked goods.

When you follow a gluten-free diet, it is even more difficult to make your favorite baked goods lower in fat and calories because you have to often substitute a variety of specialty flours in order to mimic the taste of traditional recipes.

“The main reason someone would go on a gluten-free diet is if they are diagnosed with celiac disease,” said EA Stewart, RD, nutritionist and author of The Spicy RD. “Some people may go on a gluten-free diet because they think it will help them lose weight or improve their athletic performance. It’s very important however, that celiac disease be ruled out before someone starts a gluten-free diet, as a person needs to be eating gluten for the test to be accurate.”

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Posted on October 7, 2023 by Maris

Coconut Sugar is a Nutritionally Superior Natural Sweetener

By Abra Pappa for NutritiousAmerica.com

Seems like there is a hot, new “healthy sweetener” on the market every 10 minutes and as soon as you are convinced that this is the ONE, new reports come out saying, “NO, stay away!” Frustrating, I know.

Let’s look at the star “healthy sweetener” of the moment, Coconut Palm Sugar. Is it all it’s cracked up to be?

What exactly is Coconut Sugar?

Coconut sugar is an unrefined sweetener derived from the nectar of the blossom or bud of the coconut palm tree; not the coconut itself but the bud that would form a coconut. This is important because this bud is the source of all nutrients that are being fed to the maturing coconut, kind of like the umbilical cord from mom to baby. Skilled farmers, called “tappers,” tap the bud and release the sap. The sap is then heated and crystallized. (more…)

Posted on September 30, 2023 by GuestBlogger

3 Sugar-Free Desserts to Let Go of the Guilt

By MyDailyMoment.com Editorial Team

Just because you’ve sworn off sugar doesn’t mean you can’t satisfy your sweet tooth. If you’re one of those people who can’t resist the urge for rich desserts, you can still have your cake and eat it too, especially since it’s sugar-free.

Whether you are looking to lose weight, maintain your fantastic figure, or can’t indulge because of medical reasons, you may be under the assumption that sugar-free desserts don’t cut it. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Check out these sweet treats, and you’ll quickly realize they’re even better than the real thing. (more…)

Posted on June 24, 2023 by GuestBlogger

Aces Up is the First Gluten-Free Bakery in Las Vegas

What would you do if almost every time you eat a meal, you suffered extreme abdominal pain? Dave Teator had to face this problem every day. Doctors could not explain why he would feel perfectly fine one day, and be very ill the next.

Finally, Teator took matters into his own hands and decided to try a gluten-free diet last year. And guess what, it worked!

“Going to a gluten-free diet made me feel so much better,” Teator said. “The healthier markets out there, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, dedicate gluten-free aisles, but the one thing that was missing was fresh baked [bread products].”

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Posted on January 3, 2024 by Health Buzz

Empty Calories Comic: Holiday Baking

See more Empty Calories right here in the blog each week, or receive one each month when you subscribe to our free newsletter. (more…)

Posted on December 6, 2023 by Health Buzz

Simple Fat Swaps to Better-for-You Baked Goods

If you’re like me and have a serious sweet tooth, sometimes baked goods are just too hard to resist. But with many baked goods being high in trans fats (especially the processed ones or recipes with shortening) and low in nutrition, they’re really best eaten rarely- very rarely.

There is a loophole, though — making your own! When you bake at home you know exactly what’s in your food, so you can nosh guilt-free. In fact, there are tons of tricks to turning a regular recipe into a low-fat recipe! All it takes is a little ingredient experimentation and some time in the kitchen. (more…)

Posted on October 26, 2023 by Jennipher

6 New Pumpkin Recipes for Fall

Emily Fonnesbeck is the Registered Dietitian for the Biggest Loser Resort.

I love pureed pumpkin. It is such a tasty way to sneak in a vegetable and it just screams fall. It is loaded with vitamin A, fiber, magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron, and antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which contribute to health of the eyes. At just 40 calories for 1/2 cup, pumpkin is a very nutrient dense food. Here are a few ways I like to use it:

Pumpkin Yogurt: Mix plain non-fat Greek yogurt with pumpkin (I usually do equal amounts or slightly more yogurt) and season with vanilla and cinnamon. This can be used as a dip or as a base for breakfast with the addition of fruit, oats, cereal, and/or flaxseed.

Smoothies: Add a spoonful (or more if you’re daring!) to your regular smoothies. I recommend pumpkin, almond milk, banana, milled flax seed, cinnamon, vanilla and a scoop of almond butter. Blend together and enjoy a nice refreshing drink! (more…)

Posted on October 20, 2023 by GuestBlogger

Almond Flour: The Nutritious Baking Secret

Having completed a gluten-free blog series focusing on celiac disease and gluten-free products and resources, I came across a new product that I had not tried yet. From the ingredients listed and reviews I read, I knew I had to try this one for myself.

Grain-free almond flour is a great new baking flour that is gluten-free, helps lower cholesterol, and is loaded with nutrition. From vitamin E to fiber, calcium and iron, I started to think if I baked with this flour it would be like cooking in Popeye’s kitchen as he eats his can of spinach. While all the benefits sounded great, I had to ensure that it tasted yummy too. There is nothing worse than a poor tasting cookie after all that work in the kitchen! (more…)

Posted on April 12, 2024 by Amy