What is Riboflavin?

Also known as vitamin B2, riboflavin is present in whole wheat rice, pasta and breads. Consuming foods containing riboflavin helps maintain your vision, metabolic activities in the body and  promotes energy production in the cells.

To read more about riboflavin, read my article "Riboflavin Health Benefits and Sources" on Associated Content from Yahoo! by clicking HERE.

Until next time,

Choose Healthy!

Angela

Are bamboo shoots healthy?

Asian stir-fries often contain slender slices of soft, bamboo shoots. Although the vegetable adds texture and a corn-like flavor to the meal, does it add much nutrition? Are bamboo shoots healthy?

Bamboo shoots
Photo by Chamomile, Morguefuile.com

Once cup of bamboo shoots boiled with salt and drained (without any sauces added) only adds 13 calories to your dietary intake, according to Self Nutrition Data. Bamboo shoots also contain little to no cholesterol and are low in saturated fat.

However, bamboo shoots are naturally high in sodium--to the tune of almost 300mg of sodium per cup. And, when combined with salty teriyaki sauce, your Chinese meal may exceed your sodium intake requirements for the entire day.

But, rest assured, bamboo shoots offer nearly 2 grams of protein, 1.2 grams of fiber and 18 percent of your daily potassium requirements per cup.

Resources and Recipes:

Self Nutrition Data: Bamboo shoots, cooked, boiled, drained, with salt

Cooking.com: Thai Vegetable Curry

Epicurious: Spinach with Bamboo Shoots

Until next time,

Choose Healthy!

Angela
Whole Foods Living
###

Garden Pasta

If your garden has an abundance of end of the season tomatoes, try this quick late-summer lunch for two. This recipe is vegetarian friendly and loaded with healthy whole foods.

(Photo by Hotblack, Morguefile.com)

End of Summer Garden Pasta

2 Tbs. olive oil

6 sliced shallots (or 1 cup chopped onion)

2 Tbs. minced garlic

1 cup chopped green, yellow or red sweet peppers (whatever grows in your garden!)

3 cups of chopped fresh tomatoes, including the skins

3 cups cooked whole wheat pasta or whole grain rice

Measure olive oil into a non-stick skillet and warm to a medium setting. Saute sliced shallots, minced garlic and chopped peppers until the shallots are opaque. Add the chopped tomatoes and allow the mixture to simmer and reduce for approximately 10 minutes.

For a more hearty sauce, add 1 cup of sausage-flavored soy crumbles (I like the Morningstar Farms brand) to the simmering tomato mixture.

Spoon the sauce over a bed of whole grain spaghetti or whole grain rice.

Serve the pasta with a fresh tossed salad.

Until next time,

Choose Healthy!

Angela
Whole Foods Living

###

Healthy Chocolate Treat

Photo by Alvimann, Morguefile.com

I crave chocolate-- a lot. Instead of reaching for a high calorie, preservative filled candy bar, my new addiction is a "chocolate-covered banana" smoothie! This sweet treat came about one morning when I realized I was out of vanilla soy milk and rice milk. Hey, chocolate for breakfast is ok, right?

Chocolate-Covered Banana Smoothie

2 1/2 cups of organic chocolate soy milk

2 peeled bananas, broken into chunks

1 cup ice cubes

Place bananas and milk in a blender. Blend until smooth.

Add ice cubes and blend until no ice chunks remain.

Pour into a tall glass and enjoy!

Until next time,

Choose Healthy!

Angela

Whole Foods Living

###