Healthy Hot Pockets

Lets talk a little about why these Hot Pockets are not very healthy. According to the nutritional facts of the Flatbread Sausage Egg and Country Gravy Hot Pocket, it has 55% of your DAILY recommended Saturated Fat (the fat the causes high cholesterol, amongst other things). If you are not good with numbers, that's more than half of what you should be having in a day. Saturated fats are mostly in dairy (cheese), animal fat (processed sausage), and oils (gravy).

Also it has 610mg of sodium (salt)! And don't think that too much salt just makes you swell up... excessive salt intake can lead to stroke and high blood pressure (hypertension).

OK! So why do we need so much salt and fat in a meal that looks like it could be good carbs and protein.

Lets create a healthier version.

RECIPE

-Whole Wheat Flatbread or Pita Bread

-Low Fat Cheese

-Turkey Sausage-Cooked

-Egg (or just the Whites)- Cooked

-Low-Sodium Cream of Mushroom Soup

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Lay out flatbread or pita bread on a cookie sheet

3. Spread some cream of mushroom soup on the bread

4. Top with egg, cheese and turkey sausage

5. Season with pinch of salt/pepper

6. Bake until cheese is melted and gooey

***You can also do this in the microwave.

This alternate meal is much lower is salt and fat. 

It also has REAL FOOD in it!! 

Enjoy!

Egg Recall

There has been a shelled egg recall due to possible Salmonella contamination. To find out if your eggs might make you green. Here is a CBS News article listing the eggs that should not be eaten! 

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20013938-10391704.html

Some great egg substitutes in baking: 

1/2 -1 banana = 1 egg

1/4 cup apple sauce = 1 egg

These are also healthier and a great vegan option!

Frightful Foods Week 1: Hot Pockets & Chef Boyardee

This is the first week of revitalizing the way you eat. We are going to tackle Hot Pockets and Chef Boyardee Brand foods!

So I found a great website that rates the nutritional value of foods we eat all the time. Calorie Count is a website for those looking for tools to manage their weight. It also has a great rating scale from A-F (like in school) that they apply to all types of food. 

The website lists all types of Hotpckets and the grades range from B- to F. The Flatbread Sausage Egg and Country Style Gravy is the only one to recieve an F. So that will be the first food to find a healthy substitute for. 

As for Chef Boyardee, Spaghetti and Meatballs in Tomato Sauce received a D (which was the worst grade). This kid friendly food claims to be nutritional however the highest grade was C+. Lets find something better for our kids!

Im excited lets do it!!  

Welcome to Grassroots Food!

Everyone knows that some foods are less healthy than others. But we still eat them! Why? Because they taste good! Sometimes I think "Ok, I know I shouldn't eat this, but what else is there? Is there a healthy pop-tart?" Inspired by the documentary Food, Inc., I have decided to take a stand against processed and unnatural foods. My goal is find healthy foods amongst all the unhealthy options at the grocery store and transform our favorite sinful foods into tasty, health treats! 

I will pick two unhealthy food items each week and research similar healthier options that are available at the store or that can be easily made. Keep in mind I'm not a nutritionist; but finding simple, pure food shouldn't be rocket science. 




So take a stand with me against an unhealthy life. It is time to get back to real, natural, pure food. Start by checking out some good tips given on the Food, Inc. website.




http://www.takepart.com/foodinc




Enjoy!