Q. My dad's doctor just recommended the DASH diet to control his blood pressure. He lives alone most of the time seeing i go to college out of state. I think the extent of his cooking skills are cereal and ham sandwiches which are not on the diet plan. What are some healthy cheap recipes to try to try out?
A. If your Dad doesn't like to cook much, the best thing you can offer him regarding recipes that will promote lower blood pressure is simplicity. In this vein, let's focus on the basics regarding diet and blood pressure.
Too much sodium is responsible for a great deal of high blood pressure problems. Most Americans get way too much of it in their diets, and most of it isn't due to sprinkling more table salt on food either. Processed food is loaded with it. Why not do grocery shopping for your father, or get somebody else to do it for you? Read the labels, and reject anything with a lot of sodium.
Avoid foods with LDL cholesterol as well. This is the "bad" cholesterol, and can be a big contributor to blood pressure problems. The Mayo Clinic recommends eating oatmeal and oat bran, nuts, especially walnuts and almonds, and fish high in omega 3 oils -- salmon, mackerel, tuna, lake trout, sardines, herring.
Focus on the simple recipes for your father. How much cooking does a bowl of oat bran with skim milk take? If that's too bland for him, sprinkle a few blueberries on top. Skim milk is an ideal food for high blood pressure too, since it contains calcium and vitamin D, and the two have a synergistic effect.
Potassium helps lower blood pressure too. Foods rich in potassium include bananas, baked potatoes and soybeans. As bad a cook as your Dad may be, peeling a banana a few times a day is something I'm sure he can handle. I hope you see what I'm driving at here -- simple ways he can lower his blood pressure. Don't try to turn him into Julia Child here.
Half an ounce of dark chocolate per day has also been shown to lower blood pressure. The higher percentage of cacao in it, the better. For more tips, please read the resources in the source box.
God bless your Dad, and you for helping him.
Too much sodium is responsible for a great deal of high blood pressure problems. Most Americans get way too much of it in their diets, and most of it isn't due to sprinkling more table salt on food either. Processed food is loaded with it. Why not do grocery shopping for your father, or get somebody else to do it for you? Read the labels, and reject anything with a lot of sodium.
Avoid foods with LDL cholesterol as well. This is the "bad" cholesterol, and can be a big contributor to blood pressure problems. The Mayo Clinic recommends eating oatmeal and oat bran, nuts, especially walnuts and almonds, and fish high in omega 3 oils -- salmon, mackerel, tuna, lake trout, sardines, herring.
Focus on the simple recipes for your father. How much cooking does a bowl of oat bran with skim milk take? If that's too bland for him, sprinkle a few blueberries on top. Skim milk is an ideal food for high blood pressure too, since it contains calcium and vitamin D, and the two have a synergistic effect.
Potassium helps lower blood pressure too. Foods rich in potassium include bananas, baked potatoes and soybeans. As bad a cook as your Dad may be, peeling a banana a few times a day is something I'm sure he can handle. I hope you see what I'm driving at here -- simple ways he can lower his blood pressure. Don't try to turn him into Julia Child here.
Half an ounce of dark chocolate per day has also been shown to lower blood pressure. The higher percentage of cacao in it, the better. For more tips, please read the resources in the source box.
God bless your Dad, and you for helping him.
Can someone provide me with some tasty but healthy recipes that are quick and easy to prepare?
Q. I can’t eat dairy for a while, because of allergies. So I’m going grocery shopping later in the afternoon and I need some ideas on what to buy for lunch. I live alone, so I don't want to get too much or buy something pricey (e.g. lobster). I’m not big on a lot of leftovers either.
Usually I don’t have a lot of time, so I’ll eat something quick like a grilled cheese sandwich with a salad, or some cottage cheese with tomatoes and crackers. I need some ideas.
Last but not least, I don’t like any of the following: red meat, pork, dark meat (fowl), octopus, lamb, meat that's packed into a can (e.g. tuna, chicken, shrimp, & spam), protein shakes, meal replacement bars.
Mmm, thanks for all the great advice!
Usually I don’t have a lot of time, so I’ll eat something quick like a grilled cheese sandwich with a salad, or some cottage cheese with tomatoes and crackers. I need some ideas.
Last but not least, I don’t like any of the following: red meat, pork, dark meat (fowl), octopus, lamb, meat that's packed into a can (e.g. tuna, chicken, shrimp, & spam), protein shakes, meal replacement bars.
Mmm, thanks for all the great advice!
A. peanutbutter and jelly
cereal w/soy milk (i like fruitloops)
cereal w/soy milk (i like fruitloops)
What are some healthy dishes you can make in under 10 minutes?
Q. lets just say i eat WAY too much fast food. (but i'm not fat cuz i have a fast metabolism!) so i need some healthy fast food to make in 5-15 minutes. i'd prefer if they were'nt vegetables (i don't like them) but if they are, that's ok... but i REALLY don't like vegetables! lol thanks!
A. You can actually make sandwiches ahead of time and freeze them if you like cold sandwiches. They don't have to be unhealthy either. You can use a healthy type of margarine like smart balance light instead of a real cream butter to cut major calories. Mayonnaise actually doesn't freeze well, which is why this says to use butter. High cream contents also do not freeze well. You could always put mayo on it after it defrosted.
1 pack of sub sandwich rolls
1 package cold cut meat (or you can do multi-meat sandwiches)
1 pack cheese slices
Low fat margarine or butter
Spread a thin layer of the butter on both inside sides of the sub rolls. Place meat and cheese inside. Wrap each sandwich in cling wrap and then place them in individual freezer zip-locks or one big one. Take a sandwich out of the freezer 4-5 hours before you will eat it or the night before and place it in a cooler or fridge. It should be defrosted by the time you want to eat it. If you work or go to school full time, you can take it before work/school and it would be ready to eat by lunch. If you want to have lettuce and tomato on it, put those in a ziplock separately in the cooler when you take the sandwich out in the morning.
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If you like tuna, chicken or have hard boiled eggs on hand you can make creamed tuna or chicken or eggs goldenrod.
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
4-6 slices of toast
1 can tuna or chicken breast or 2 hard boiled eggs
Salt and pepper to taste.
1. Put the butter in a small or medium pot or skillet over medium heat.
2. When the butter it melted, add the flour and stir it to make a roux that looks like a light yellow paste. Turn the heat to medium high
3. Add the milk immediately all at once. Whisk continuously until it is thick and bubbles break the surface. Remove from the heat.
4. Using a fork, flake the tuna or chicken into the sauce. Salt and pepper to taste. If making eggs goldenrod, dice the eggs and put them into the sauce.
5. Cut the toast into little squares. Pour the sauce over the squares and enjoy. I make this all the time, it's super fast, cheap and easy. Canned tuna and chicken breast are high in protein and low in fat. This recipe makes 2 good sized portions or one huge one. The only disadvantage is that I don't believe it keeps in the fridge so you will have to eat it immediately. You could always half the recipe and put the rest of the can of chicken or tuna in a little tupperware in the fridge and use it later.
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Quesadillas
2 tortillas
Cheese (any kind, cheddar or mexican blend works best)
Any other fillings you would like - canned chicken breast, jalapeño slices, fresh diced tomato pieces, black beans
Skillet: You can spray a non-stick skillet with non-stick spray, but it isn't necessary. Heat the skillet over medium heat. Place one tortilla on it. Sprinkle the cheese and other ingredients on it. Place the second tortilla on top. When the cheese just starts melting, flip it over. You can also flip it if the tortilla on that side is browning too fast. Eat it whole or slice it into wedges.
Microwave: Assemble the tortilla and place it on a microwave safe plate. Microwave it for about 30-45 seconds. Then eat and enjoy.
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Black Bean Tacos
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
several tortillas
Any toppings desired - shredded cheese, salsa, diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, sour cream, guacamole
1. Cook the black beans in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring until hot.
2. Heat the tortillas for 15-30 seconds until hot.
3. Put the black beans in tortillas like a taco. Top with toppings. Enjoy. For any leftover black beans, put them in a tupperware in the fridge and use them in more tacos or quesadillas later.
1 pack of sub sandwich rolls
1 package cold cut meat (or you can do multi-meat sandwiches)
1 pack cheese slices
Low fat margarine or butter
Spread a thin layer of the butter on both inside sides of the sub rolls. Place meat and cheese inside. Wrap each sandwich in cling wrap and then place them in individual freezer zip-locks or one big one. Take a sandwich out of the freezer 4-5 hours before you will eat it or the night before and place it in a cooler or fridge. It should be defrosted by the time you want to eat it. If you work or go to school full time, you can take it before work/school and it would be ready to eat by lunch. If you want to have lettuce and tomato on it, put those in a ziplock separately in the cooler when you take the sandwich out in the morning.
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If you like tuna, chicken or have hard boiled eggs on hand you can make creamed tuna or chicken or eggs goldenrod.
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
4-6 slices of toast
1 can tuna or chicken breast or 2 hard boiled eggs
Salt and pepper to taste.
1. Put the butter in a small or medium pot or skillet over medium heat.
2. When the butter it melted, add the flour and stir it to make a roux that looks like a light yellow paste. Turn the heat to medium high
3. Add the milk immediately all at once. Whisk continuously until it is thick and bubbles break the surface. Remove from the heat.
4. Using a fork, flake the tuna or chicken into the sauce. Salt and pepper to taste. If making eggs goldenrod, dice the eggs and put them into the sauce.
5. Cut the toast into little squares. Pour the sauce over the squares and enjoy. I make this all the time, it's super fast, cheap and easy. Canned tuna and chicken breast are high in protein and low in fat. This recipe makes 2 good sized portions or one huge one. The only disadvantage is that I don't believe it keeps in the fridge so you will have to eat it immediately. You could always half the recipe and put the rest of the can of chicken or tuna in a little tupperware in the fridge and use it later.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quesadillas
2 tortillas
Cheese (any kind, cheddar or mexican blend works best)
Any other fillings you would like - canned chicken breast, jalapeño slices, fresh diced tomato pieces, black beans
Skillet: You can spray a non-stick skillet with non-stick spray, but it isn't necessary. Heat the skillet over medium heat. Place one tortilla on it. Sprinkle the cheese and other ingredients on it. Place the second tortilla on top. When the cheese just starts melting, flip it over. You can also flip it if the tortilla on that side is browning too fast. Eat it whole or slice it into wedges.
Microwave: Assemble the tortilla and place it on a microwave safe plate. Microwave it for about 30-45 seconds. Then eat and enjoy.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Black Bean Tacos
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
several tortillas
Any toppings desired - shredded cheese, salsa, diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, sour cream, guacamole
1. Cook the black beans in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring until hot.
2. Heat the tortillas for 15-30 seconds until hot.
3. Put the black beans in tortillas like a taco. Top with toppings. Enjoy. For any leftover black beans, put them in a tupperware in the fridge and use them in more tacos or quesadillas later.
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