Meatout

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Meatout Mondays

 

Kick the Meat Habit - One Day at a Time!

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April 2, 2007

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Recipe: Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies

 

Walnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids and can reduce the “bad” cholesterol

(LDL)

while preserving levels of the “good” cholesterol (HDL). Walnuts are

available

year-round and make a healthy snack or a nice addition to main courses and

decadent

desserts. Indulge your sweet tooth and get nutrients! Try variations of these

Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies with apples, dried berries or whatever you

crave!

 

Ingredients:

 

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup ripe bananas, mashed

3/4 cup organic sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. ground cardamom

1 1/2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

3/4 cup non-dairy dark chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

 

Directions:

 

Preheat the oven to 375 F and line a half-sheet pan with unbleached

parchment paper.

In a large pot, combine oil, bananas, sugar, salt, and cardamom; warm over

low heat

for 2 minutes and whisk to incorporate; remove from stovetop and set aside.

Sift together pastry flour, all-purpose flour, and baking soda; add 1/2

cup at a

time to the oil mixture and gently combine with a rubber spatula until no

flour

spots remain (about 2 mins).

Gently fold in chocolate chips and walnuts until well incorporated and

forming a ball.

Place dough ball onto a cutting board; roll into a rounded log,

approximately 16 " x

3 " .

With a sharp knife, cut the dough into 12 even pieces; place on the

cutting board

and press down, rounding the edges, ensuring that all pieces are evenly

sized. Using

a small spatula, transfer to the half-sheet pan.

Bake for about 15 minutes; remove from oven and let set on sheet pan for 5

minutes.

 

For this and other great veg recipes, visit www.VegCooking.com!

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Product: Chocolate Coconut LARABAR

 

Looking for something sweet? You can either eat junk food and feel

guiltyÂ… or

choose a treat that make you feel smart and super healthy! LARABAR makes

the best

flavors and variety of raw bars. Free of chemicals, sugar and sodium, all

the bars

are made with raw healthy nuts.

 

Try the decadent Chocolate Coconut, made with dates, walnuts, almonds,

coconut and

cocoa powder. You'll swear you're eating a brownie! The unsweetened cocoa

is even

good for you, providing more antioxidants than green tea. This bar is a

whole-food

source of 16 essential vitamins and minerals, fiber, Vitamin E and more

than 2 grams

of Omega 3 & 6 essential fatty acids.

 

For nutritional information about this product, visit www.LARABAR.com!

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Health: Walnuts for Bone Health

 

Many studies have already noted that omega-3s, found in walnuts, reduce

inflammation, heart and vascular disease risk, decrease insulin

resistance, assist

with weight management and may be beneficial in brain function. A new

study now

reveals that they are beneficial to the skeletal system by decreasing the

breakdown

of bone.

 

The report, published in Nutrition Journal, Penn State, is the first human

study

evaluating the effect of plant-based sources of omega-3 fatty acids (ALA)

on bone

health. Results reveal that a higher consumption of ALA leads to a

reduction in bone

turnover, and a shift in the balance of bone degradation/formation toward

formation.

Walnuts are unique as one as one of the most nutrient-dense whole food

sources of

ALA.

 

To read the full article, visit

http://www.nutritionhorizon.com/newsmaker_article.asp?idNewsMaker=13141 & fSite=AO\

545 & next=1

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Inspiration: Veg For All Reasons

 

Theresa Flinck began her evolution to vegetarianism eight years ago.

Enrolled in a

sociology class, she began to learn about a variety of global social and

environmental issues. When talking to her instructor about how each person

could

make a difference in the world, she received the most unexpected answer:

“Eat less

meat.”

 

Initially for environmental reasons, she began slowly eliminating meat

from her

diet. She came to realize the pain and suffering animals endure for meat

production

and now states three central reasons for “kicking the meat habit”: health,

environment, and animal cruelty.