Too Cool Articles

How to Retain the Nutrients in Fruits and Vegetables
By Philip Orhokomua

Raw fruits and vegetables are filled with lots of nutrient, vitamins and minerals that are necessary for healthy living. They should be a vital part of our daily diet as they help to reduce the chances of being infected with diseases and help to improve the immune system.

Food specialists are of the opinion that many people seem to lack what they need because they are not given to taking enough of this gifts of nature as a supplement to their daily diets.

As much as they are necessary for healthy living, when they are not handled properly will bring about the loss of most of the mineral and nutrient in them. To conserve the goodness in them, you must wash the them properly before eating. The vegetable can be boiled, sautéed or even roasted before they are eaten. If you do it that way the nutrient and mineral in them can be retained. Know also that fruits and vegetable work in such a way that they start to lose the goodness in them shortly after harvest; therefore it is pertinent that they be preserve in the refrigerator or freezer but not for a long time or period. If you are able to get farm fresh fruits, then it is best to eat the them within a few days of sourcing them. Knowing how to properly handle your fruits and vegetable will help retain the nutrient in them and help you also to get the best out of them.

Philip Orhokomua is a health resource expert you can get free resource material by visiting: http://bodybuildinghealthtips.blogspot.com

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How to Grill a Fish That Is Healthy and Good For Dieting
By Elizabeth Beauchamp

Ever wanted to try and cook a grilled fish but don’t know how? Don’t worry, anyone can grill a fish. Grilling a fish is easy. All you need to do is read these easy steps on how to grill a fish. Frying is different than grilling, frying is good but the fish can absorb unnecessary oils that can ruin your diet plan and is unhealthy to eat often. Grilling the fish can be difficult to prepare but once you get the hang of it, it can be easy.

Grilled fish drips unnecessary oils which is good for dieting. You can apply olive oil when you are grilling the fish if you do not want it to be too dry. Why olive oil and not normal oil? Olive oil contains anti-oxidant and contains good cholesterol that the body needs while normal oil has a 50/50 good and bad cholesterol ratio and sometimes has fats that can ruin your diet. That is why you would rather use olive oil and other oils that are healthy. To cook the fish here is the steps.

1. Clean your fish before you cook it in the grill. You don’t know if the fish is really clean or not, so just to be safe, you should clean it first. You don’t want to get sick because of an unclean fish. Wash it properly before you prepare it.

2. When you have cleaned the fish well, you can slice it no more than an inch or you can just go with the sizes of the fillet that you would prefer. Fillet is one of the simplest types of recipes when grilling fish and also a good choice if you are a beginner in grilling.

3. Season the Fish well with salt and pepper or you can try other seasonings such as soy sauce and calamansi. It all depends on what you like for your fish to be prepared. You could also try dry seasoning if you want.

4. Prepare the utensils that you need before grilling the fish. Add charcoal and fire it up until the coal is red hot. You can apply olive oil to the grill grate and put the fish on the grill, repeat applying the olive oil to the grate to prevent the fish from sticking.

5. Using a broiling fork, you need to check the bottom of the fillet. If you see grilled marks then turn the fish to the other side. Do this until the fish looks slightly brown or depending on how you want your fish cooked.

6. When the fillet is done, you can put it on a clean plate. You can also prepare fresh fruit juice to lighten up the taste.

See? It’s simple to grill a fish. Grilled fish is one of the best diet foods that you can prepare. Try other recipes to cook your grilled fish. You can also add some vegetables with your fish to add up taste.

Elizabeth Beauchamp is a writer who is a health and fitness enthusiast. In fact, he likes to write about food, diet and topics about how to grill vegetables and grilling steaks, and other interesting stuff.

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Food in Spain - Why Spain is a Top Foodie Destination
By H Makri

I first discovered Spanish food at a tapas bar in New York City and fell in love instantly, since then I had wanted to travel to Spain and experience the real thing.

I finally had the chance to visit Barcelona, the main goal of the trip was to experience the many tapas bars and excellent food and culture. I was not disappointed and intend to visit again in the coming years for the same reason - the food!

I greatly enjoyed the country, its people and lifestyle and can see myself living there, shopping in the markets and cooking with the most amazing ingredients - specifically fresh seafood and pork products.

Spain has many different personalities and flavor profiles from Andalucia to Galicia to Catalonia and everything in between - every part of Spain has its own food specialties and traditions. I prefer the more traditional Spanish dishes and way of eating for example roast baby pig and pintxos/tapas mainly because you can taste the history, culture and soul of the country. Tapas is a very social way of eating with no ‘rules’ that you must first have your salad then entree then dessert in that order - you can enjoy whatever you like and as much as you like, you’re not limited to only one or two things which keeps the eater from becoming bored and allows one to easily try new things. In my experience, Spanish cuisine in general whether traditional or modern is always prepared with passion and a sense of pride and respect for both the country and the ingredients - Spanish cooks don’t just want to feed your hunger but they want to touch your soul and seduce your mind! In Spain, eating is not just something one does out of a need to survive, it is an experience and a way to connect and relate to those who prepare the food and those you are sharing your meal with.

I believe the culture of food in Spain is something that many Americans are just starting to understand and appreciate. In the US, people sometimes have a negative or non-existent view of food. Because so many people in the US have health and weight problems, food is often seen as something bad that you need to avoid and not take pleasure in. Many people are raised in environments where little or no emphasis is placed on food - its merely a form of sustenance lacking flavor and creativity. I feel that people are starting to rebel against these ways of thinking about food and are beginning to recognize that food can be something positive. When travelers return from experiencing food in Spain, they can’t help but talk about their eating adventures - the buzz is growing and anyone who is seriously interested in exploring new foods can’t help but add Spain to their list.

Another reason why people are starting to embrace Spanish food is because the American food culture has been very dull. People quickly grab a bite to eat in between errands, they gulp down re-heated take-out while watching TV and many people want to add more flavor and excitement to their meals but don’t have access to unordinary ingredients or restaurants in their area - these people are ready and willing to experience something different and exciting. Because Spain is so welcoming and has a great deal to offer visitors in addition to excellent cuisine, it is the perfect foodie destination.

Also, there is a growing segment of the population that has discovered a passion for food especially that of different cultures and is seeking that which they cannot have - the tapas bar hopping experience, the delicious cava and my personal favorite - jamon, something you can’t get easily in the US. You can order your cured pork and aged Manchego online, you can sit at an American interpretation of a Spanish bar but its an empty experience - nothing compares to the real thing.

Gastro Travels is for culinary adventurers who will go to the ends of the earth to explore new cuisines and cultures. We feature food & travel reviews, travel gear, cooking essentials and recipes. Visit our blog to learn more about food in Spain and find tips on travel to Spain.

Life is short - experience the world and all its tasty treats!

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Green Smoothies For Health & Energy With the Vita-Mix
By Kristin Hatch

Do you love to drink smoothies? All those healthy fresh fruits blended together into a thick cool and refreshing drink… ahhh… I think they are great as well. But I have noticed a rise in popularity of these very thick bright green drinks. It seems as if I am seeing them everywhere these days.

I started to get curious and see what they were all about.

Interestingly these are a combination of fresh fruit smoothies that also contain some leafy green veggies in the ingredients such as spinach, kale or mustard greens.

It turns out that many experts think that these dark leafy greens are some of the most nutritious of all foods. This is why we are seeing more and more of these drinks at the health food store and smoothie bars. This makes perfect sense, right? Who could not use an extra boost of antioxidants to help the immune system or give you a boost of energy in the afternoon? More energy= weight loss, right?

One sneaky way that I tried to enjoy these dark greens is to drink them in a smoothie. I recently tried a Pear-Kale smoothie and was completely blown away by how good it tasted. I thought for sure that the smoothie would be just OK or even a bit “earthy” but that was not the case at all.

My Pear Kale smoothie was bright green, thick and tasted like sweet fruity pears. Now there were other fruits in the drink but the blender, a Vita-Mix, made it all one smooth and delicious drink in seconds.

So the next time you are dragging in the afternoon, you are starting to feel a cold coming on, or you are trying to eat better to loose weight, try a Pear Kale Green Smoothie and see if you are not amazed by the taste and all the energy it gives you.

Do you love to drink smoothies? Then check out http://www.livingtraderjoes.com to find recipes and tips for making rich delicious smoothies at home with the Vita-Mix health machine. You will love how easy it is to stay healthy, lose weight and have energy all day long with the Vita-Mix. Check it out today at: http://www.livingtraderjoes.com.

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Banana Split Cake is Very Easily Made
By Robert Mallery

Everyone who loves bananas and strawberries will go crazy over this banana split cake recipe. It is delicious with homemade banana icing. This cake is so beautiful I wish my baker would have had it in his wedding cake recipes. This sweet treat can be made fast and easy, the smell of it baking will fill your home with a wonderful aroma.

This banana split cake is very easily made, and if you have some bananas that tend to be over ripening in the fruit bowl this recipe is a great way not to waste them. Once the banana skins start to brown and get spotty, they are just ready to be blended in to this flavorful treat that your whole family will enjoy.

At our house we do not believe in being wasteful. If you feel the same way and have too many ripe bananas you could always bake another banana cake and offer it as a wonderful gift to family or friends. Another option is to freeze one of the cakes for later or you could just freeze the extra bananas. Just make sure the bananas are unpeeled and you can put them into a freezer bag. There is a reaction to the cold temperature when bananas are frozen. The peel will turn black.

The fruit is still good to eat. just remove then from the freezer, and mix them right into the cake or you may rather thaw them first.

You can use bananas that you just bought and are not ripe enough yet. Peel your bananas and put them in the microwave until they brown. It will not take but a few seconds. After they are ready put them to good use in this delicious Banana split cake recipe

Banana Split Cake Recipe

Ingredients 1 box Duncan Hines Deluxe Yellow (or strawberry) cake mix

1 1-lb pkg. frozen strawberries

1/2 cup sugar

5-6 bananas

1 lg. tub Cool Whip

1 cup roasted pecans, finely chopped

Cook cake mix according to directions, making 4 layers, let cool completely. Mix strawberries with 1/2 cup sugar. Slice bananas into rings. Stack layers as follows: lay bananas close around the edges of 1st layer, fill in center with strawberries, cover with Cool Whip and sprinkle pecans. Continue to layer each layer the same.

Around the top and down the sides spread Cool Whip and sprinkle with pecans, refrigerate until ready to serve.This banana split cake will keep in an airtight container for 2-3 days, or you can refrigerate for up to 7 days.

Robert is a cooking enthusiast You can find this banana split cake recipe and much more at http://www.wrayhealthremedies.com/bananasplitcake.aspx

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