Foods to Ponder

Cranberries

It only seems appropriate to talk about a food associated with the upcoming holidays.  I would talk about turkey...but I'm not a big fan (I know it's healthy and yummy--I just don' t like the taste).  So, I thought it would be fun to explore the wonderful world of cranberries.  Did you know such a thing existed?  I did not.  

I always thought that cranberries could only be found growing on bogs (they are big in Cape Cod and New Jersey)--but I just discovered that they are a cousin of the blueberry and can be found growing in the wild on shrubs.  Interesting.  They are in season from October to December--hence a perfect addition to your holiday meals or even drinks!  Post fresh cranberry season, frozen varieties and juice are a great alternative.  One cup of whole cranberries has just 45 calories and 4.5 grams of fiber.  Craisins (dried sweetened cranberries) have 140 calories in 1/3 cup--so stick with the fresh version if you can --you can have more for less!


The health benefits of cranberries are plentiful.  They are most known for protecting against  urinary tract infections due to a specific type of tannin in the berry.  Just 8oz  of juice is all you need.  Make sure you avoid the cranberry juice cocktail though.  It's loaded with sugar an has 137 calories per cup.  Stick with the Diet Cranberry Spray and you'll save 132 calories.  I like to mix it with some seltzer water or diet gingerale to make my own calorie free cocktail...sans alcohol, I know, but it's still yummy.  Cranberries also have been found to help in kidney infections, lower LDL (bad cholesterol) and raise HDL (good cholesterol).  They can also act as a probiotic which promotes the growth of good bacteria in the gut and killing bacteria causing infections and food born illnesses.


I grew up eating cranberry sauce out of the can (jellied and sphere shaped in a dish!), but it's pretty easy to make your own cranberry sauce for the holidays.  Here is a great recipe from my favorite magazine - Cooking Light.  Cranberries are also a great addition to salads (craisins are too--just use less) or a good alternative to blueberries in your cereal.  A great idea is to put cranberries in the freezer (or you could just use frozen cranberries) and use them as ice cubes to serve in your beverages over the holidays.  The bright red color alone makes a meal look festive.  


Happy Holidays!






Email me at nicolesilva@weightthatsit.com