Baked Veggie Egg Rolls!

     Last night for dinner I made some delicious veggie egg rolls. I had actually originally intended to make spring rolls but could not find the wrappers anywhere! So I decided to make egg rolls instead, and ended up being very happy with them!

Baked Veggie Egg Roll Recipe

Ingredients:
olive oil
1/2 head of red cabbage, sliced
1/2 cup of carrots, julienne
1/2 cup of bean sprouts
4 green onions, sliced
1/4 cup of mint leaves, cilantro, and Thai basil, finely chopped
1 package egg rolls wrappers (usually found near the tofu in grocery stores)
dash of salt and pepper
dipping sauces (I used sweet and sour, soy sauce, and hot mustard)

Directions:
Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Heat a small amount of olive oil in a skillet. Saute cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts, green onions, and herbs until just tender. Add a dash of salt and pepper to taste.

When the veggie mixture is done sauteing, let it cool. Then add a small amount of the mixture to the center of the egg roll wrapper and wrap according the directions on the back of the package (it's actually very easy!). Place the egg rolls on a cooking sheet. Once all the egg rolls are on the sheet, brush the tops lightly with olive oil.

Bake on the center rack for about 10 minutes, or until the egg rolls are beginning to turn golden brown. Enjoy with your selected dipping sauces!

    You can add whatever ingredients you want for the filling of these. It can be a fun activity with kids to have them fill their own egg rolls. Enjoy!

Cheers,
Brittney

Appetizer Alert!

      I don't know about you guys, but joining Pinterest ( http://pinterest.com/ ) has given me inspiration to try lots of new recipes! I made these little caprese bites for the Super Bowl party last weekend!

     Super delicious and, unlike most Super Bowl snacks, super healthy too! A pretty basic recipe, but find the original here http://www.framedcooks.com/2011/09/mini-caprese-bites.html.

    P.S. I loved that Super Bowl commercial for the Honda CR-V with Mathew Broderick! If you didn't see it (or want to see it again like me), watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhkDdayA4iA

Cheers, Brittney

Contest from Peeled Snacks: 500$ Cash Card for Costco!

     If anyone is a Costco shopper you will definitely want to check this out! Peeled Snacks is giving out a 500$ Costco shopping card! Follow this link to take the survey and be entered to win: http://peeledsnacks.com/contest/survey?utm_source=Midwest+Bloggers&utm_campaign=2ed3c729ca-CustomerAppreciation_2011_2_7_2011&utm_medium=email.

     Peeled Snacks are delicious and healthy dried fruit. They make great snacks for on the go. Try keeping them in your desk drawer at work and munch on them instead of hitting up the vending machine, replace your kids fruits snacks with them, or take them with you on to go! Their dried fruit has no added sugar and has lots of fiber! More info on Peeled Snacks: http://peeledsnacks.com/

     Check out my full product review here: http://nutritionall-rd.blogspot.com/2011/08/product-review-peeled-snacks.html

Cheers,
Brittney

Dietitian Approved!

Keeping a stocked fruit bowl makes it easy for you and your family to grab a healthy snack in a pinch!

Cheers,
Brittney

Product Review: Peeled Snacks!

     Looking for a great afternoon snack to boost your energy? Of course I'm going to recommend fruits and vegetables! An easy way to meet your daily fruit quota in the office, on your commute, at the park, or at home is by snacking on dried fruit! Swap out your kids fruit snacks (made with added sugar and artificial products!) for some healthy dried fruit! Instead of grabbing chips from the vending machine, have some dried fruit stored in your desk at work! Keep some in the car for road trips or bring them with you to the airport!

     One great brand of dried fruit is Peeled Snacks. They come in individual as well as resealable packages and offer a variety of different fruits like banana, pineapple, and the Farmer's Market trio with raisins, cherries, and apples! And whats on the ingredient list? Nothing but the fruit itself! No added sugars, colors, flavorings, oils, or other additives. And Peeled Snacks are certified organic! I really like the pineapple, it's a variation from the usual dried fruit offerings! 

     

     What's more, a study done at Loma Linda University followed 2,800 participants over 26 years and found that "consuming dried fruit three times a week or more, versus less than once a week, was associated with a 26 percent reduced risk of colon cancer."  The fiber in the dried fruit serves to dilute carcinogens in the intestines! 

     Next time you are looking for a tasty, quick, and healthy snack pick up some Peeled Snacks. Available at Starbucks, grocery and convenience stores, and now Cosco stores in the Midwest. For more information on Peeled Snacks visit the website at: http://www.peeledsnacks.com/.

     For more information on the study at Loma Linda University on fiber and colon cancer please visit: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110802091026.htm

    *Please note that I recieved a free sample of Peeled Snacks from the company to try before writing this product review. I only write product reviews on products that I fully support and that I feel confident recommending to others. For more information please see the 'Disclaimer' page.

Cheers,

Brittney

Garden Fresh Veggies!

Almost time to pick the tomatoes!

My garden plot in a community garden!

     Garden fresh veggies make great snacks, and gardening can be a good workout. This is my first year gardening so I started small. I have two rows of lettuce, 4 bell pepper plants, and 4 tomato plants. Even if you don't have a yard where you live you can still have a garden, by renting a plot in a community garden! While its late in the season this year, you can keep it in mind for next spring. I found out about this community garden by reading my town's weekly newspaper. You can also search online or contact your city hall or chamber of commerce!

Walnuts - A great snack idea!

     Looking for a snack that is healthy, delicious, and filling? Give raw walnuts a try! Walnuts are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids which provides a protective effect against heart disease. Omega-3 fatty acids can lower triglyceride levels, reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, slow the build up of plaque, and lower blood pressure slightly! Walnuts are high in antioxidants which can help lower your risk of cancer!
    Keep in mind however, that nuts are high in calories so when you snack on them limit how many your are eating! A 1/3 cup of walnuts with fruit makes a great snack. Try them with blueberries, melon, an apple, or raspberries!

    Always remember that simply adding a healthy food to your diet will not necessarily protect you from disease. The way to get the best results from eating healthy foods is by using them to replace less healthy foods in your diet! For example, if your usual afternoon snack is a bag of chips, try eating some walnuts instead!

For more information on omega-3 fatty acids please visit http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fish-oil/NS_patient-fishoil

Cheers,
Brittney