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Q: What do you suggest
for healthy choices when tailgating?
A: Unfortunately, tailgate parties often encourage
the kind of eating that has little to do with good health. Instead
of providing plenty of plant foods like vegetables, fruits, whole
grains and beans, these parties include foods so concentrated
in calories that weight control becomes more challenging. If
you grill, try chicken and include vegetable kebabs, a delicious
way to add more vegetables to a meal. If you like make-ahead
dishes, chili, sloppy joes, lasagne, and enchilada casserole
can all be lean and healthy when prepared with lots of vegetables
and beans. Try them with lean ground turkey if you don’t
want them completely vegetarian, and if the dish includes cheese,
limit the amount and use reduced-fat options. Or you can stir-fry
some vegetables, with or without chicken, in advance and let
tailgaters create their own fajitas by rolling them up in whole-wheat
tortillas. If your tailgate parties tend toward sandwiches and
subs, make them lean with turkey or a little lean roast beef
and load them with vegetables. Then cut them up into small sections
to make portion control easier for your guests. Since we often
nosh through more chips than we realize, provide a range of vegetables
instead; add some pita bread wedges and hummus, or pretzels and
mustard for you and your guests to enjoy. Grapes, pineapple and
melon chunks on skewers or toothpicks make a healthy way to finish
off the tailgate with a sweet note. Since drinks can add so many
unwanted calories, make sure to offer one or more calorie-free
selections, like plain or sparkling water and unsweetened or
lightly sweetened ice tea (or hot chai-flavored tea when the
weather gets cool). |
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Q: Is homemade hummus
dip much healthier than the pre-made versions available in the
grocery store?
A: Hummus, whether commercial or homemade, can be
a great choice as a dip for vegetables, a filling in sandwiches
and in a variety of Middle Eastern-type mixed dishes. Commercial
and homemade versions vary somewhat in the proportions of their
ingredients, but a two-tablespoon serving of either typically
contains 45 to 60 calories depending on amount of added fats
and whether the dip contains lower-calorie ingredients like red
pepper or other vegetables. Two tablespoons also usually contain
two to three grams of fat from healthy sources including olive
oil and tahini (sesame seed paste), one to three grams of protein
(depending on the amount of beans) and up to 3 grams of dietary
fiber. Making hummus at home allows you to keep sodium around
100 milligrams (mg) by using beans canned with no added salt
or cooked from dried beans; commercial varieties may be nearly
that low or contain about twice that amount. Overall, both homemade
and commercial hummus are nutritionally sound choices. If you
go the commercial route, remember that small differences between
brands become more significant as your portion size increases,
so comparing nutrition information on labels is worthwhile.
Q: Is it true that garlic
can interact with medications?
A: Enjoying typical amounts of cooked or raw garlic
may provide health benefits and is unlikely to cause problems
for most people. However, garlic in large daily doses –
garlic supplements - can interfere with some medications. Garlic
and garlic extracts can also interact with blood thinner medication,
reducing blood’s clotting ability too much. Make sure you
tell your healthcare provider and pharmacist if you use garlic
supplements or eat large amounts of garlic daily so you can check
that this won’t interfere with any medications you take.
Avoid garlic supplements and be cautious about dietary garlic
for a week before surgery, since these compounds have potential
to interfere with anesthesia and increase risk of bleeding problems. |
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