I am the guest chef on Recipes from the Chef’s Kitchen (show 688) with Lindsey Gustin on Fairfax Channel 10 this week. Tune in Monday at 8:30am, Friday at 6:00pm, or Saturday at 2:30pm to see me demonstrating delicious recipes for your holiday table. Check out the recipes on Lindsey’s website!
If you are a journalist or producer interested in working with me, please get in touch!
Note: this piece first appeared in the December 2006 issue of Clark Wellness ForkBytes.
This is a very simple whole grain cooking technique that you can whip up quickly and enjoy on a cold winter night! Amaranth and millet are both yummy whole grains you can find in a natural foods market.
Serves 4 to 6
1 cup millet
1/2 cup amaranth
3 1/2 to 4 cups water
1 teaspoon sea salt
Rinse the millet, then add it along with the amaranth, water, and sea salt to a medium cooking pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer, covered, for 15 to 25 minutes or until the grains have absorbed all the water. Fluff with a fork and serve warm.
Note: this piece first appeared in the December 2006 issue of Clark Wellness ForkBytes.
Delicious and nutritious whole grains are one of my favorite food categories to recommend to clients during the holiday season. Whole grains like millet, brown rice, kasha, and spelt are soothing, nurturing, and grounding foods, so they’re fantastic antidotes to holiday-related chaos and stress. They’re also high in the B vitamins, which support the nervous system; they are calming and strengthening.
Unground whole grains (rather than processed whole-grain flours) are best — let your body, rather than a food manufacturer, process the food for you. This slows down the metabolism of the carbohydrates in the grains and helps to stabilize your blood sugar, keeping you focused and satiated longer.
Whole grains are easy to cook. Check out our recipes for some ideas to get you started. Enjoy!
Note: this piece first appeared in the December 2006 issue of Clark Wellness ForkBytes.
Welcome to December! Although the weather has been a bit unpredictable, the unmistakable signs of the holiday season are definitely all around this month. And it’s easy (and normal!) to become overwhelmed this time of year regardless of your religious persuasion.
With an overdose of social activities, parties, and celebrations happening this month, along with the usual challenges that come along with any seasonal change, it’s helpful to take a step back and ensure that you are staying balanced inside the chaos. So, I’ve posted my best tips below for surviving the holidays while keeping wellness in mind. Please accept these tips as my holiday gift to you!
1. Take a breather. Sometimes family gatherings can get a little intense. Take a walk, volunteer for an errand outside of the house, or just do some deep breathing in the bathroom if it comes to that!
2. Put yourself on your gift list. It’s easy to forget yourself when you are focused on doing nice things for others during this season. Remember to take personal time out for things you enjoy. A gift to yourself can include a tangible item, but it doesn’t have to. Wouldn’t you enjoy a free hour just for you?
3. Be a closet teetotaler. Order a festive sparkling water and lime with a hint of cranberry juice instead of a sugary alcoholic beverage at parties. No one will know you’re not drinking except you and the bartender.
4. Eat balancing foods. It’s okay to indulge in a bit of your favorite treat as part of your holiday tradition. Just ensure that you’re also getting lots of whole grains, root and green vegetables, and healthy protein to balance yourself out.
5. Schedule your detox now. Pull out your 2007 calendar and mark off a few days in January when you can enjoy a short, gentle cleanse or just some solid rest so you can rejuvenate after the holidays.
I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is to try to please everyone.
—Bill Cosby
Note: this piece first appeared as the December 2006 ClarkWellness.net recipe of the month.
This nurturing and satisfying dish is a beautiful addition to your holiday table — or it can add pizazz to any “regular” meal. It’s colorful, simple, and easy to prepare.
Serves 4
2 cups water
1 cup brown basmati rice, rinsed
pinch sea salt
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup walnut pieces
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
Bring water to a boil in a medium-sized cooking pot. Add rice and salt, turn down the heat to low, cover, and cook, covered, for 15 minutes. Remove the cover and add the cranberries and walnuts on top of the rice (do not stir). Replace the cover and continue to cook 15 to 25 minutes longer, until all the water has been absorbed by the grain. Remove from heat, add parsley, and fluff with a fork. Cover and allow to sit for 3 to 5 minutes off the heat before serving.
