Diet recipe's?

[Ratty]

All of today's recipes make me hungry but I'm cramming for my upcoming physical (trying to get the cholestorol count down before my doctor yells at me again!). Mmmm, that salad recipe looks so good and interesting but I can't eat it!!

So what's REALLY healthy and REALLY delicious?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Fresh picked greens

lettuce and spinach out of the garden is really good. You can use low fat dressing if you like.

For something cool, I'd recommend getting a shaved ice machine. You freeze blocks of ice, and then add flavorings-I get black cherry concentrate from the health food store-black cherry good for arthritis, I'm told. Anyway, this cools you off better than ice cream because there is no fat.

[Ratty]

4. Ooh, shaved ice ... now that's a thought

I LOVE shaved ice. I never thought about it. That's a great idea. Actually you don't even need a machine. I saw it on Martha Stewart. You can mix the liquid up, put it in a casserole dish and put it in your freezer. It's not the same as shaved ice, it's called a granita I think. But anyway, you take it out and continuously score it with a fork to "shave" it. Mmmm, lots of blackberries coming in in my backyard.

Oh, that is a stupendous idea. Thanks so much!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. Frozen blueberries

and strawberries are really really good. I pick the fruit myself, and try to get organic.

[trof]

2. Job related physical?

Insurance?
Annual?
What?

[Ratty]

7. Nah, I had to see him for something else and he demanded a physical

I have a very small hernia and he won't let me get surgery until I get a physical. He's been after me for years to lower my cholesterol, every chance he gets. So I have to cram. I've been eating very well for about 3 weeks now, but I think I need another week at least before I see a difference.

[trof]

15. I *MAY* be the resident (DU) expert on cholesterol.

Because of my own condition, I've done a LOT of research on the web.

I also have two very close friends (married couple) who are physicians. He's ob/gyn and a good back up. She is the most brilliant diagnostician I've ever known. And I've known some.

Very knowedgeable on meds to lower cholesterol.

Send me a pm, if you like.
I finishing my second (and last) Martini and I find my typing abilities have severely deterioted. deteriatied. Don't work real good.

[Ratty]

17. It was 250-something about a year ago

And he hit the roof. I've been very bad this last year so I wouldn't be surprised if it was higher now. I'm really starting to pay attention to it lately.

[Ratty]

20. Red wine?

... Since you bring up the topic drinking. Is it true that moderate amounts of red wine can lower cholesterol?

[AspenRose]

3. Olive oil

is good for raising your "good" cholesterol levels. So salads with olive oil dressings are good.

You might also want to consider a omega 3 supplement or eat lots of salmon. Now is a good time of year for BBQ'd salmon and a huge green salad with olive oil dressing.

Disclaimer: Not a doctor, don't play one on TV.

Check out the South Beach Diet Cookbook.

[Ratty]

9. Oh yes, lots of olive oil

I'm pretty good about cutting out just about all saturated fat but I'm not afraid of olive oil at all. There's this veggie sandwich I've been buying everyday that has lots of it, plus when I make salads I'm putting lots of olive oil vinnaigrette (sp?) on it.

[Taverner]

6. Chicken Chile Verde

Get a large Crock Pot and add:

4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
1 Tsp Olive oil
1 Bay Leaf
1 12 oz plastic thingy of Green salsa
2 jalepenos
2 Anaheim chilis or Green peppers if none available
1 can of Reduced sodium Chicken broth

Crock overnight, then during the last hour add 1/4 cup of corn flour (or corn startch if you cant get good 'masa harina'.) Then eat. Lots of protein, very low fat. Serve with rice and beans or tortillas.

I have tons more - I should put out a cookbook.

Name what you want and I'll show you how to do it low fat or low carb (or both)

[Onlooker]

10. Okay, taverner, how about a low calorie/carb version of baked Alaska?

:)

[Taverner]

11. Hmmmm baked alaska

Isnt that deep fried ice cream?

If so use fat free, splenda sweetened ice cream, and bread with shake and bake.

Send me youre recipe and I'll modify

[Ratty]

14. I got a desert

Not totally good for you but you really get a bang for your buck in terms of taste and health:

Put some Godiva chocolate liquor in the bottom of a small bowl
Put a lowfat brownie on top
Put a scoop of lowfat or nonfat vanilla ice cream on it.
Pour a bit of Hershey's chocolate syrup on top

Frankly, the lowfat brownies and ice cream by themselves are gaggy but I've found this combo to be quite tasty.

[supernova]

13. Splenda

Just make desserts with Splenda. It tastes the same and doesn't do nasty things to your blood sugar levels.

[Ratty]

16. Okay sandwiches ... What kind of sandwiches can you recommend?

Your recipe seems kind of ordinary at first glance but then I get to the masa harina part and the rice and .... Mmmmmm Arghrgleargh *slobber* ...

But I think what I really need are some good vegetarian sandwich recipes. I have some healthy meat sandwiches but I'm trying to really cut back on meat.

[Taverner]

18. Vegetarian Sandwiches?

Well can you eat turkey? Here's an excellent one if you can:

Ezekiel 4 : 9 Bread
Sliced Turkey Breast
1/4 Avacado
Romaine Lettuce
Roma Tomato
Red Onions

Very VERY healthy!

If you can't do the sliced turkey breast, try it with Jarlesburg Lite cheese.

ON EDIT: Oh also try grilled eggplant or a grilled portobello instead of turkey.

[Ratty]

19. Portobello!

Now that's a great idea. I can certainly eat Turkey but I'm saving it for my Friday treat. I get this excellent "Turkey Delight" with fresh carved turkey, avocado and cranberry sauce. But like I said, only on Fridays. Yours sounds like a totally guilt free pleasure any day of the week.

I've never been able to get into eggplant. One of the sandwiches I was buying for lunch for awhile had eggplant and grilled red bell peppers, but it was a bit too sweet and sourish for me, too tart. The eggplant was too slimy. I LOVE mushrooms. I think I will give your recipe a try tomorrow, with the Jarlesburg Lite cheese. It sounds delicious.

[Onlooker]

8. Shrimp.

Jumbo shrimp and cocktail sauce

[Ratty]

12. Shrimp

I thought all seafood was great for you but somebody told me shell fish was not. There are good cholesterol fish and there are bad. Are shrimp really good for you (cause I love shrimp and so does my cat)?

[BlackVelvetElvis]

21. Shellfish are high in cholesterol.

Bad stuff.