No Fries in ’09 — #10: Cold hot sweet peppers

June 12, 2009   Leave a Comment  

RedBellPepper_70

Raw veggies are good for you!

No Fries in ’09 — #9: The simple panini

April 3, 2009   Leave a Comment  

Iggy's of Cambridge is the best bread in New England

You don’t need a fancy panini press to make the famous flat Italian sandwich that’s been sweeping every restaurant, frozen food section and Food Network show over the last few years. I use a George Foreman Grill. Every college student has one. It’s cheap. It works. You need good bread, firm tomatoes and fresh mozzarella [...]

No Fries in ’09 — #8: Have a frickin salad!

March 18, 2009   Leave a Comment  

The salad is way under-rated

The most under-rated french fry substitute has to be the simple garden salad. Think about it: yes, it’s the polar opposite of french fries. You hardly ever think “hey, I can really go for a super size salad right about now.” And how bout them cucumbers? Don’t discount the sheer value here, however. A salad [...]

No Fries in ’09 — #7: Turkey and Quinoa stuffed peppers

March 2, 2009   2 Comments  

Stuffed peppers are an old Italian standby.

Stuffed peppers are an old Italian standby. Usually it involves fatty ground beef and white rice, maybe with some cheese crammed into a bell pepper. It’s delicious homestyle comfort food that’s easy to prepare. The problem is that they’re awful for you. It’s ground red meat with tons of fat, and the cheese doesn’t make [...]

No Fries in ’09 — #6: FAILED! Baked onion rings?

Feb. 14, 2009   1 Comment  

Baking did not work for onion rings.

Onion rings. They’re not good for you. According to About.com, a single serving of 8-9 onion rings contains 276 calories, 15.5 grams of fat, including 7 grams of saturated fat, 14 milligrams of cholesterol, and almost 20 percent of your daily sodium. Plus there’s more than 31 grams of carbs! I set out to see [...]

How do you avoid fries at a burger joint?

Feb. 9, 2009   Leave a Comment  

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Meeting my mom on her lunch break was nice. Having my father join us was even better. Gazing at the menu trying to determine combinations that didn’t include french fries … not quite as pleasant. One thing about “going out for lunch” is that sandwiches almost always come with fries or [...]

No Fries in ’09 — #5: Colorful Peppers and Onions

Feb. 3, 2009   Leave a Comment  

Shake and stir, baby!

Summer church carnivals bring the old familiar tastes of sausage, pepper and onion subs. Unfortunately, there are very few diets that will let you eat sausage on Italian bread. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to healthily cook and eat peppers and onions. They are fabulous for you; packed with vitamins, and they fill you [...]

No Fries in ’09 — #4: Virtually Fat-Free Chicken Tenders

Jan. 23, 2009   Leave a Comment  

Virtually Fat-Free Chicken Tenders with Veggies!

Even if you’re not eating French fries for a whole year, deep fried and heavily battered chicken tenders, while absolutely delicious, can still ruin a perfectly good diet. On a health kick, my father threw together baked chicken tenders, and, if done right, it’s a healthy and delicious way to eat chicken. When I retire [...]

No Fries in ’09 — #3: Baked Sweet Potato Wedges

Jan. 16, 2009   2 Comments  

foodtest017

Sage, meet the readers. Readers, sage. The problem with cooking healthy is that it is a widely-known fact that the flavor is often in the fat. But fresh herbs, however daunting that section of the produce department is, are the secrets to dishes that are packed with healthy flavor. If you want a dish that [...]

Bar food alternatives?

Jan. 13, 2009   Leave a Comment  

BRANFORD, Conn. — Being on a diet doesn’t mean you have to shed all social contacts, does it? So, I’m visiting the family in Connecticut, and my brother and I decide to run out to the bar Sunday night after my Steelers whooped the Chargers. Of course, EVERYTHING comes with French fries, right? Enter the [...]