Books! Past Present and Future.

Hope everyone had a nice Christmas! A popular gift to give and to get is always gift cards to places like Borders and Barnes and Noble. I really like them cause I can get something I want but might not normally spend money on. I thought as an After-Christmas post I would put up some of my favorite foody books I have read so far, ones that I am about to read over this break, and ones that I hope to read in the future. I figured it was timely because some of you might be looking for something to spend your gift cards on!

Books I Have Already Read

Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes.

In this book Gary Taubes goes through a lot of research and studies to explain why we have the current nutritional dogma that we have in America. I really enjoyed it because although it is pretty heavy reading and quite sciency (for me at least) Taubes does not dumb down the info he is telling you at all. A lot of other authors, especially in what you see in the online and magazine circuit, will give you info that is based on real research but they sort of exaggerate or dumb it down to much so that it doesn't really make sense in context anymore. Taubes assumes his reader wants to know the research, not a watered down version of it, and really is through and backs up all of his statements. This book was harder to read on the subway and I found that I really had to dedicate my full attention to it. I would save this book for a vacation or time when you can really sit down an read it in big chunks. 

The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

This book is really popular so it might be old news, but it really deserves a shot out. In it Pollan takes you though four different types of food (I say types for lack of a better term) He takes you through highly industrial food based on corn, GMOs, and conventional American meat farming, Industrial organic farming (which is sometimes not that different from regular farming), "Beyond Organic" farming which is sort of what regular organic farming was supposed to be like before capitalism took it over (and which makes you want to drop everything and move to a farm like these), and hunting and gathering for food which sounds like a lot more fun than it actually turned out to be for Pollan. It was a really great read and definitely changes your perspective on food. If you are just going to read one book about food, this might be the one I vote for.  

The End of Overeating by David A. Kessler MD

This book is a great read for those of us who have trouble having "just one cookie". In it Kessler goes through the science of the chemically based cue and reward system in our brains that drive us towards foods that are super palatable. He explains how the food industry knows enough of this science to make their processed foods pretty much irresistible to people, especially if you are sort of prone to compulsive behavior. After reading this book it is really no wonder that so many Americans suffer from compulsive over eating and because of it, metabloic syndrome. However, after explaining how the food industry works and shedding light on reasons you may not have thought of as towards why you might have trouble with compulsive eating, Kessler gives a lot of helpful advice on how to sort of treat yourself and make it easier to avoid harmful foods. 

Books Waiting on My Shelf

What to Eat by Marion Nestle 

This book is sort of a hand guide to the grocery store. Although she is a little more mainstream than say, Taubes, Nestle does a good job of going through all types of food (produce, meat, milk, processed foods) and telling you what she thinks you need to know about them. These days, the supermarket can be a lot more overwhelming than it should be, so unfortunately there is a big need for a book like Nestle's.  I am only a few pages into the book, but I am enjoying it so far. To give you more insight, here is one of the quotes on the back of the jacket : "The industry wants you to believe there are no good foods or bad foods. Well, that's not true. And I can't think of anyone who knows the difference better than Marion Nestle"- Eric Schlosser

In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan

After Pollan came out with The Omnivore's Dilemma, many people asked him the question of "Ok, then, what should I eat?"In response to that question, Pollan came out with this book. From what I can tell, it looks like it is going to be a combination of The End of Overeating and What to Eat. Pollan explains the food industry as well as giving instruction on the best way to navigate through it and pick the best foods.  I am sure that it will repeat a lot of stuff from the other books but Pollan is a great author and the book is a quick read.

Next on the List....

Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon and Mary Enig

This book comes with the stamp of approval from Dishing up Nutrition and it is definitely what I will be spending MY Barnes and Noble gift card on. Part nutritional education, part cookbook, Nourishing Traditions explains what is wrong with the American view that dietary fat = body fat. Fallon is a leader in the Weston A Price foundation that calls for nutrition reform in America. Price was a dentist who did research on healthy primitive people and what they ate. They call to attention the need for REAL fat in the diet and the return to real foods including butter, lard, fatty meat, whole protein, fermented foods, and unrefined vegetable carbs. I have heard Sally Fallon speak before and I am excited to read the cookbook and test out what is in it. 

Julia's Kitchen Wisdom by Julia Child

Besides Nourishing Traditions (because it is so much more than a cookbook) I am not generally too interested in having a ton of cookbooks because I find a lot of good stuff online. However, I think this book will be great to have because it is more about kitchen technique and things that you might not automatically know like, the best way to braise meat or how to keep your vegetables from wilting too much when you cook them. Although I like to cook a lot, I think a lot of us could use tips like this and based on what I read in the reviews, I think that this could be a great kitchen aid to anyone who already sort of knows how to cook.

  

So I know some of my pics are obvious, but hopefully there were a few in there that you weren't sold on that you might want to get now or a few you didn't know about at all! If you are still going to get the Twilight Series or  the Hungry Girl low fat cookbook, I guess I failed you, but at least I tried!

Happy New Year!

Holidaze: Flourless Brownies!

Again, it has been forever. Finals week was rearing its head earlier this month and ever since Thanksgiving I had been finding it hard to find time for nutritional escapades. However, I now have weeks ahead of me of nothing but eating, cooking, working out, and working a little bit on my fashion portfolio. After Christmas I am even going to Seattle for a few weeks to see Dan so hopefully I will be able to put up some good Seattle foodie posts while I am out there.

So as everyone is either happily or painfully aware, Christmas almost upon us! I know between Starbucks attractive drinks in their nice red cups, people bringing in Christmas treats to school/work, or just the cold weather and stress all adding up, I have have the urge to eat a lot of bad things more often then I normally do. I also find it quite unhelpful when people talk about "holiday poundage" because generally I wasn't thinking about Christmas cookies until it was brought up, but then I really want some! Whatever reasons you have, many people struggle to stay on track around this time of year.

Just can't get enough holiday treats!

However, not all treats were created equal. There are some treats that, although they should still be eaten in moderation, are much better for you than their overly processed peers (and I'm not talking just fruit salad!). In general, it is better to eat a dessert that is home made rather than one that is processed or made with HFCS and veg. oil. That is pretty obvious. There are also some great desserts that go a little further by cutting out some other ingredients that can be harmful if eaten in excess....

On Sunday, my mom and I were craving some chocolate, and I remembered a recipe for flourless brownies that I saw on the Nutritional Weight and Wellness website. This recipe was gluten free so my dad could eat it and getting rid of the flour will really cut down on the excess carbs. There is also no added sugar so the only sugar in the recipe is coming from the dark chocolate. Not too shabby. Also, there were only FOUR ingredients, all of which we just happened to have in the house so it's not some fancy recipe that you have to buy stuff you will only use once for. So here is how to make it ....

1) 2 cups (or one bag) of dark chocolate chips (try to get a better brand that has as few harmful ingredients as possible)
2) 1 1/2 sticks butter
3) 6 eggs
4) 1 Tbs. vanilla extract

So you can save your flour for hiding your jewelery

1) First Pre-heat the oven to 350.
2) Take the chocolate and butter and melt them together in a double boiler and stir occasionally

Try to resist putting your head in the pot of melting chocolate

3) Take the eggs and crack them into a large mixing bowl. 
4) Take a hand beater and beat the eggs on high for about 5 minutes or until the eggs are thick and very well beaten.
5) When the chocolate is fully melted cool it a little bit and add the vanilla extract.
6) When the eggs are ready, slowly add the chocolate to them, stirring very fast so that the chocolate gets fully blended into the eggs.
7) When the mixture is fully combined, line a 9X9 pan with parchment paper and pour the mixture in.
8) Bake in the oven for about 50 minutes

Let cool and enjoy! Sorry I forgot to take my own pictures again, I was living in the chocolaty moment.


Oh and Happy Holidays! Hope Santa brings you something as good as these brownies.....