Friday Food Fact: Gimme some tacos! But on healthier tortillas, please.

One thing is certain, tortillas made with plain white flour have always out-sold whole wheat and corn tortillas in the U.S. because they are softer.  However, they are not the best, healthwise, that is.  They don''t fill you up as fast or stick with you, so you are likely to eat more.  Whether you make them yourself or buy them at your local grocer, why not try corn or whole wheat tortillas. Both are nutritious alternatives. [caption id="attachment_768" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Corn tortillas or whole wheat? Either choice is better than white flour."][/caption]

Whole wheat tortillas really are healthier for you.  They are lower in the Glycemic Index (GI) which is the measurement for how fast food raises your blood glucose levels. The higher the GI, the faster your blood sugar level rises.  Since  whole wheat tortillas are  a complex carbohydrate, they break down more slowly into glucose so they provide a longer, more sustained source of energy.  You should have fewer spikes in blood sugar, have more energy longer and not need to eat as often.  They are also lower in calories provide a good source of fiber and are low in cholesterol.  They even make "sprouted" organically grown tortillas found in the freezer.

Corn tortillas are better for you than white flour tortillas, but try and search out tortillas made with whole corn kernel, or even certified organic sprouted whole kernel corn tortillas. Sprouting is important because the sprouting process decreases calorie and carbs and increases protein. Tortillas are so versatile you can eat them for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just for snacking.  For breakfast, try eggs, or peanut butter and jelly, or maybe peanut butter and bananas.  For lunch or dinner you can add some grilled meat and veggies. Use them for tacos or quesadillas.  As a snack or appetizer, just break them into pieces and serve them with guacamole or salsa.  The point is tortillas can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Here are some final facts to consider. These nutritional breakdowns are for an industry-wide "medium" tortilla which is approximately 6 inches in diameter.... Flour Tortillas - 18% Fat, 72% Carbs, 10% Protein 101 calories, 2.0g fat, 2.66 g protein, 129mg sodium, 65mg potassium, 18.24g  carbs. of which 1.8g is fiber or 7% . Corn Calories - 11% Fat, 79% Carbs, 10% Protein 52 calories, .68g fat, 1.37g protein, 11mg sodium, 4mg  potassium, 0 cholesterol, 10.71g carbs. of which is 1.5g or 6% is fiber. Whole Wheat Tortillas - 4% Fat, 72% Carbs, 14% Protein 71 calories, .035 fat; 2.9g protein,131mg salt, 65mg potassium 0f cholesterol 15.07g carbs of which 1.9 or 8% is fiber. Which is better? Whatever tastes better to you! Each has its own benefits. Be sure to toast them on the grill or even quickly on a burner (pan if you like) to bring out the full flavor.

Tuesday Tweet: May the best taco win

It started simple enough on Sunday: "What do you want to eat tonight?" Pretty soon my dad (AthleticFoodie) and I were in a taco battle. Both of us wanted to try something new. So, two tweets this week:

@AthleticFoodie Chopping fresh jalapeno w @G_WeberGale both started coughing, fingers burning...bring on the tacos! @AthleticFoodie Taco face-off w @G_WeberGale - Mine, tofu marinated in lime, cilantro, jalapeno. His, seared scallops w sweet red peppers. Pretty darn good.

My dad's recipe for these tofu tacos was pretty simple. Marinate firm tofu in lime juice, cilantro, chopped tomato, and diced jalapeno peppers. We ate them with fresh corn tortillas smeared with some vegetarian refried beans (quite healthy) and just a dusting of sharp cheddar. Cheese with strong taste allows you to use a little less and still enjoy flavor. [caption id="attachment_753" align="aligncenter" width="458" caption="I have to admit that these tacos were pretty darn good. The simple recipe was easy to prepare."][/caption] My recipe was even easier--lightly season the scallops with a little pepper and a dusting of low-sodium sea salt. While they are resting, saute sweet red peppers and some onions in a non-stick pan. Serve with a little salsa, avocado slices and a dusting of cheese (not sure cheddar was quite the right choice). We used whole wheat tortillas. [caption id="attachment_755" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="Scallop tacos? Why not! The sweet red peppers and scallops go well together. "][/caption] Who won? Who cares! We certainly had a great dinner.

What’s in a name? Lots when you talk about the options you have in eggs.

[caption id="attachment_684" align="aligncenter" width="425" caption="You probably eat 'em, but what do you know about eggs?"][/caption] Most omnivores eat eggs.A

Memorial Day Grilled Snack

It's Memorial day baby and that means grilling. Here's a super simple appetizer your friends are sure to enjoy. Summer is the time for fresh and delicious tomatoes so let's eat some

• Go get a few fresh tomatoes.
• Slice them in half.
• Grate a bit of fresh pepper over the top.
• Get the grill going to medium heat and set the tomatoes on the grate until they look like the picture above...about 25 minutes.
• Finely chop some fresh basil and mix it with olive oil so that it is a paste consistency.
• Lightly toast pine nuts in a pan over medium heat for about five minutes until you can smell the nut flavor and they brown a bit.
• Freshly grate a cheese of your choice. I prefer Parmesan or Sarvecchio.
• Take the tomatoes off the grill, top with the basil and olive oil, sprinkle some pine nuts and cheese over the top...enjoy!

Sunday Breakfast

I love breakfast. Not only does a good breakfast help my body start the day out right in terms of nutrition but my mind also always feels great after chomping some delicious fare. This is what I ate for breakfast this morning. Forget syrups, honeys, jams and jellies. I make my own fruit spread. On top of the pancakes is simply crushed up blueberries and blackberries. I use no butter. Behind the cakes is pineapple and grapefruit. For beverages I like OJ and Almond milk. Every morning I also drink a protein shake of 100% whey protein.

Make your pancakes a bit healthier by mixing milled flaxseed into the batter for some added Thiamin, Vitamin B6, and Manganese!

Vitamin D? Why do we need it? How do we get it? Sun for 10 minutes?

It's on the label of every milk carton, but do you really know anything aboutA