Carbohydrates-the good and the bad

There is a lot of talk about carbs when it comes to dieting. Some diets want you to stop eating carbs all together. I don’t like those diets because carbs are a source of energy for the body and are needed to keep the body fueled. I don’t think it is an effective way to be healthy or to lose weight. Last semester I learned from my nutrition class that carbohydrates provide 4 calories per gram and the recommended intake for carbs is 45 to 65 percent of daily calorie intake. That is a good chunk of your daily calories. That is why I don’t believe it is healthy to cut out the carbs. I think it is better to reduce the amount you eat, but not too significantly. Starch and sugar are two types of carbs. Some examples of starch carbohydrates are vegetables, whole grains, bread, rice, and pasta. Sugar carbohydrates are desserts, all fruits, and can be found in dairy products. Looking closely at the two types the unhealthiest thing I see about carbs is found in sweets in the sugar carbs. Most of the items made with sugar contain empty calories, that have no nutritional value.  So here are some ways I have thought of to cut back on the empty calorie sugar:

·         Try sugar substitutes

·         Limit chocolate, cakes, cookies, and other sweets

·         Use low-sugar versions of your favorite desserts or sweets

·         Try having fruits, like grapes, instead of sugary snacks

These are just some suggestions on lowering sugar intake.

Now for the fun part, Jalapeno Poppers! I picked this recipe because it uses jalapenos and cheese which are a good source of carbs. I make these as appetizers for family events.  I included the link for the recipe which I found on Weight Watchers.  Here is a picture of it that I took after my batch today.

Ingredients:

Olive oil cooking spray                                                          

1/2 cup of low-fat shredded Cheddar cheese    

 1/4 cup of low fat cream cheese    

 1 Tbsp fat-free mayonnaise     

 8 small jalapeño peppers   

 1/4 cup fat-free egg substitute (use an egg if you don’t have this)

 7 Tbsp cornflake crumbs (or any kind of cracker crumbs, I use Ritz crackers and Better Cheddars)

Instructions:

1.       Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a large baking sheet with the cooking spray.

2.       In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, cheddar cheese and mayonnaise; mix well and set aside. Cut the jalapenos into halves lengthwise and remove seeds. Stuff the jalapenos with the cream cheese mixture.

3.       Place egg substitute in a dish. Place crumbs in a separate dish. Dip the jalapeno halves into the egg substitute and then roll in crumbs to coat the top.

4.       Bake until filling is bubbly, about 30 minutes. Serve hot and enjoy!

 It’s that easy and very tasty! If you prefer to have a spicier kick to it I suggest not taking out all of the seeds. Hope everyone has a great Labor Day!

http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/prt/RecipePage.aspx?Type=1&RecipeID=90601