health – The Pear Dish https://usapears.org/blog A blog about our favorite fruit, USA Pears! Mon, 24 Sep 2018 23:52:57 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.25 Why Nutrition Buzzwords Aren’t Worth the Buzz https://usapears.org/blog/why-nutrition-buzzwords-arent-worth-the-buzz/ Tue, 29 May 2018 15:00:05 +0000 http://usapears.org/blog/?p=5058 Scrolling through the health news can be interesting, exciting even, and downright maddening! Popular media suggests some interesting things about the public concept of nutrition – and it isn’t founded in science. Beware! Nutrition buzzwords are a part of media campaigns aimed at selling products, diets, books, or supplements, and they’re pretty successful. Here are a handful of the popular buzzwords that make me roll my eyes, and why we should stop using them. Clean eating: What exactly is a “clean” or “real” food? Carefully choosing minimally processed foods is reasonable, but excessive restriction can cause nutritional inadequacy. Cleanse or detox: Your liver and kidneys already do this, so don’t waste your money or starve yourself. Plus, these extreme measures can be dangerous! “Boost” or “jump start” your metabolism: This simply doesn’t mean anything. Superfoods: No capes here. Just because Continue reading →

The post Why Nutrition Buzzwords Aren’t Worth the Buzz appeared first on The Pear Dish.

]]> Pear Kimchi https://usapears.org/blog/pear-kimchi/ Fri, 11 May 2018 15:00:51 +0000 http://usapears.org/blog/?p=5044 Sweet pears and spicy flavors make for a winning combination. Kimchi, the mainstay of every Korean table, has been gaining mass appeal in recent years. Prized for its health benefits and irresistible spiciness, kimchi is becoming a staple condiment in many homes. If you’ve never made your own, then this version, featuring pears and crunchy root vegetables, is a great place to start. This is a quick kimchi recipe, meant to enjoy immediately. Serve it alongside a simple roast pork with steamed rice and sautéed greens, add it to a vegan grain bowl, place it atop ramen noodles or in lettuce wraps—you’ll find that the ways to enjoy fresh kimchi are endless. Makes 8 to 10 servings Ingredients:  2 large white root vegetables, such as kohlrabi or turnips 2 large slightly underripe USA Pears 1/4 cup kosher salt 1/4 cup Continue reading →

The post Pear Kimchi appeared first on The Pear Dish.

]]> To Snack or Not to Snack? Intuitive Eating Answers the Question https://usapears.org/blog/to-snack-or-not-to-snack-intuitive-eating-answers-the-question/ Tue, 01 May 2018 15:17:46 +0000 http://usapears.org/blog/?p=5040 That is the question of the hour! Popular media is full of nutrition advice, often encouraging wacky diets that cut specific food groups, macronutrients, or favorites. (Like cupcakes, I can’t live without cupcakes!) In this landscape of restrictive eating, I see people struggling with the constant merry-go-round of weight loss, weight gain, loss, gain… I know people not eating for long stretches each day or only eating every other day. The truth is, most of us can lose weight if we’re motivated. But, diets don’t teach us to listen to our bodies, which can lead to weight gain. Intuitive eating is a lifestyle strategy that encourages mindfulness – listening to your body, rather than telling it what to do. It’s not a radical concept, but it’s one that encourages a healthy relationship with food and the body. By letting go Continue reading →

The post To Snack or Not to Snack? Intuitive Eating Answers the Question appeared first on The Pear Dish.

]]> 5 Tips for Plant-Powering Your Eating Style https://usapears.org/blog/5-tips-for-plant-powering-your-eating-style/ Wed, 18 Apr 2018 15:13:13 +0000 http://usapears.org/blog/?p=5034 Plant-based eating is hot, hot, hot! More and more people are turning away from the traditional American plate – with a slab of meat at the center – towards a gorgeous, colorful, plant-centric plate filled with pulses (beans, lentils, peas), whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. No wonder this eating style is catching on—it’s downright delicious! From a whole grain bowl filled with chickpeas, pears and sunflower seeds, to a homemade veggie burger with avocado slices, there are so many delicious offerings. A plant-based diet doesn’t mean that you have to give up meat altogether if you don’t want to; it just means that your diet focuses mostly on plants. This flexitarian eating style is linked with a boatload of benefits, such as lower risks of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain types of cancer and obesity, as well Continue reading →

The post 5 Tips for Plant-Powering Your Eating Style appeared first on The Pear Dish.

]]> 5 Pear Salads To Freshen Up Your Spring https://usapears.org/blog/5-pear-salads-to-freshen-up-your-spring/ Tue, 03 Apr 2018 14:46:19 +0000 http://usapears.org/blog/?p=5014 When you think of spring, what comes to mind? Nourishment, freshness and rejuvenation may all describe it, and not just the season but also your diet and lifestyle. If you’re the type who hibernates all winter, then spring is ideal from coming out of your shell and embracing healthy choices and better eating habits before summer hits. Besides their sweetness, pears make a great addition to salads as a way to elevate the nutritional value of the dish. One medium-sized pear packs 6 grams of fiber and contains zero sodium, fat or cholesterol, so you get all of the flavor and texture without the unhealthiness. Plus, when it comes salads, there are endless pear-ssibilities! We recommend kicking off spring with these five flavorful pear salads to suit any occasion. 1. Grilled and Fresh Pear Salad with Chile Oil and Togarashi Try Continue reading →

The post 5 Pear Salads To Freshen Up Your Spring appeared first on The Pear Dish.

]]> 6 Ways to Eat Well, Waste Less and Save Money https://usapears.org/blog/6-ways-to-eat-well-waste-less-and-save-money/ Thu, 22 Mar 2018 16:28:46 +0000 http://usapears.org/blog/?p=5010 Each March ushers in spring and National Nutrition Month! This annual celebration of nourishing the body through food began with the presidential proclamation of National Nutrition Week in 1973. This year’s theme is Go Further with Food, which encourages us to achieve the benefits of eating well while reducing food waste. In other words, planning and managing food resources will save both nutrients and money! The message of eating well while saving money is particularly close to my heart, and who doesn’t want more money in the bank? We can also think about nutrition status as a bank. We have nutrients stored in the body; when we eat we make a deposit and when we’re active we make a withdrawal. Throughout the day, the goal is to maintain appropriate fuel for living our best lives, and the same idea is Continue reading →

The post 6 Ways to Eat Well, Waste Less and Save Money appeared first on The Pear Dish.

]]> Cast-Iron Skillet Roasted Pears with Hearty Whole-Grain Panzanella (Vegan) https://usapears.org/blog/cast-iron-skillet-roasted-pears-with-hearty-whole-grain-panzanella-vegan/ Mon, 19 Mar 2018 16:47:07 +0000 http://usapears.org/blog/?p=5000 A good cast-iron pan works wonders on pears. When just-ripe Anjous are cut in half and seared in a hot skillet then placed in the oven, it brings out a rich and roasty caramelized flavor that renders the pears entrée worthy. They take on depth of flavor and luscious texture to make them a deliciously satisfying substitute for meat, whether you practice a vegetarian or vegan diet, or are just looking to reduce the amount of meat you consume. Here the roasted pears are offered with a warm, whole-grain panzanella, that ubiquitous Italian bread salad usually involving fruity tomatoes and basil in the height of summer. Fruity roasted pears are a perfect alternative at the end of winter. Packed with hearty greens and chicories, olives, and a maple-scallion dressing, this recipe makes for a nutritious one-dish meal. Serves 4-6 Ingredients: Continue reading →

The post Cast-Iron Skillet Roasted Pears with Hearty Whole-Grain Panzanella (Vegan) appeared first on The Pear Dish.

]]> Do’s and Don’ts of a Heart-Healthy Diet https://usapears.org/blog/dos-donts-heart-healthy-diet/ Mon, 26 Feb 2018 15:04:15 +0000 http://usapears.org/blog/?p=4993 Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States? In response, the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association recently released stricter high blood pressure (hypertension) guidelines, narrowing the diagnosis from ³140/90 mmHg to ³120/80 mmHg. These numbers represent the amount of pressure exerted against the blood vessel walls when the heart contracts and relaxes. Over time this elevated pressure damages the heart, blood vessels, and increases risk for heart attack and stroke. The stricter guideline means more people will be diagnosed with hypertension, but instead of a push for pharmacologic remedies, the American Heart Association recommends improving diet for long-term heart health. February is American Heart Month, the national campaign to tackle heart disease. Is there a better time to love your heart? A heart-healthy diet is attainable for everyone, with Continue reading →

The post Do’s and Don’ts of a Heart-Healthy Diet appeared first on The Pear Dish.

]]> Instant Pot Pear Oatmeal Jars https://usapears.org/blog/instant-pot-pear-oatmeal-jars/ Fri, 16 Feb 2018 15:05:59 +0000 http://usapears.org/blog/?p=4966 The Instant Pot, that magical cooking appliance that allows you to do everything from sautéing to pressure-cooking, is all the rage right now. I put it to use in the morning to cook steel cut oats in no time. What’s even better is that the oats can be combined with any variety of ripe USA Pears and cooked right in individual mason jars for the family on the go. After cooking, the jars are topped with a variety of toppings to jazz up this heart-healthy breakfast. Makes 4 one-pint jars Ingredients: 2 cups diced USA Pears 1 cup steel cut oats 1/4 cup chopped dried fruit, such as cranberries, cherries, dates, or raisins 6 tablespoons honey 8 teaspoons chia seeds 1/2 teaspoon cardamom 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger Sea salt About 3 cups water Topping Ideas: Coconut Milk Yogurt or Greek Continue reading →

The post Instant Pot Pear Oatmeal Jars appeared first on The Pear Dish.

]]> I’ve Fallen Off The Wagon. Now What? https://usapears.org/blog/ive-fallen-off-wagon-now/ Tue, 13 Feb 2018 15:00:45 +0000 http://usapears.org/blog/?p=4953 The holidays are behind us and grey months are ahead of us, which makes today a good day to consider the rest of 2018. Many of us make health-related New Year’s resolutions, and only 9.2% of people feel they successfully meet these goals. The problem may be that our goals were too drastic or too restrictive. We are all guilty of this type: “I’m going to run five miles every day” or “I’m only eating 1000 calories a day!” Unfortunately, drastic pledges that limit enjoying our lives generally don’t work. Plus, shouldn’t we enjoy life? YES! So, what can you do? Step 1: Keep it simple. Counting calories or minutes on the treadmill may not be the best way to tackle your goals. If you currently don’t exercise, try adding one or two short walks during the day – even Continue reading →

The post I’ve Fallen Off The Wagon. Now What? appeared first on The Pear Dish.

]]>