The Whole Wheat

February is Heart Disease month. Heart disease is responsible for 29% of all deaths in the United States – nearly 700,000 people annually. That is almost one-third of all US deaths each year.

What are some basic steps you can take to reduce your chance of heart disease?

1. Get moving! Do some type of daily activity that is just for you: walking, yoga, running, weights, roller blading, playing chase with your kids – anything! Don’t have time? Take a walk around the block at lunch time, wake up 5 minutes earlier and do some push-ups or lunges, do some stretching when you watch TV or before bed.
2. Eat more vegetables. Didn’t your mother tell you to eat your veggies? I know mine did. Instead of counting your calories and worrying about every single bite – focus on eating more veggies and your consumption of foods with HFCS, trans fat, etc. will naturally decline. And even if it doesn’t, at least you will bet getting more vitamins and nutrients. Why not challenge yourself to try one new vegetable or vegetable recipe every week this month? I’ll be posting a lot of veggie recipes to help you out.
3. Eat more fruits. No this isn’t the same category as vegetables. The point is to try to eat more of all the products nature generates without our “help.” Instead of dessert – try having some fruit.

That is it. It really is THAT simple. Challenge yourself this month to be active every day and to increase your fruit and vegetable intake.

If you are looking for more information (and government influenced material) – check out the Center For Disease Control’s website.

Recently in my weekly CSA boxes I’ve been getting a LOT of bok choy. About a pound a half each week. I like bok choy but I can’t say I frequently buy it and cook with it. So I’ve been looking for some fun recipes and alternate ways to prepare it. Today’s dish is actually a pretty predictable Chinese influenced dish. It isn’t particularly Chinese per se, but influenced definitely. And I cooked it in a wok. 

I think this would be great over rice. I forgot to make any rice since I was trying to quickly make lunch (and was starving!). It was fantastic solo though also. Very easy and a great way to eat a lot of veggies! Enjoy! Read more »