food

Makes:   4 Servings 

Prep time: 30 minutes

Chopped mushrooms, when sauteed, blend seamlessly with ground meats. Swapping or adding mushrooms to a recipe can add an extra serving of vegetables to the plate.

Dear Dietitian,

Why are nutrition studies so confusing? One day we hear a certain food is good for us; then the next thing we know, the same thing may cause cancer. It's very frustrating! --George D.

Dear George,

Makes:   6 servings 

Break out the barley to make a comforting vegetable soup on a cold or rainy day.

Dear Readers,

Recently, a Harvard doctor referred to coconut oil as "pure poison," which set off a social media firestorm. What's all the fuss about?  Another doctor was quoted as saying coconut oil is safe to use in moderation. What, exactly,ismoderation?

Makes:   16 servings 

This tasty, zucchini bread can be eaten as a dessert or snack. Serve warm or cooled.

Dear Dietitian,

My four-year-old son, Alex, has suffered from epilepsy since shortly after birth. He is on medication, but still has as many as five seizures a week. I have been thinking about putting him on a ketogenic diet, as I have heard from other parents that it will reduce the number of seizures. Other parents have said the diet is very hard to stick to, and it didn't work for their child. What do you think?

Sharon

Dear Sharon,

Dear Dietitian,

I am confused about whole grains. Some information tells me to eat lots of whole grains, but others say it is fiber that is important in a healthy diet. Which is it?
--Ray

Dear Ray,

This is a good question. I recently bought a loaf of bread that advertised "20 g of whole grains per serving" and "a good source of fiber."  Keep in mind that this is advertising. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a whole grain must contain all the components of a grain kernel: the bran, germ, and endosperm.

It won't be long before kids will be heading back to school and for the parents to begin packing their lunches again.  Organic food is expensive and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches only work for so long.

But Chef Zipora Einav, a chef to the celebrities and author of Recipe for a Delicious Life, says it is easy to stick to a budget on school lunches if you plan and prepare the meals at home in advance.