The best way to know what’s in your food is to prepare it yourself. For those of us who can’t whip up something from scratch, we need recipes to guide us. There is an endless supply of bloggers, foodies, chefs and nutritionists who post their recipes online, but where do RDs go for recipes? We have some tips, tricks and sources for you to get cooking.
Why check blogs? For those of us who aren’t exactly Top Chef material, cooking blogs can be a great resource. Bloggers often test their recipes first and add their own creative spin. If you have dietary restrictions such as a gluten intolerance, vegan or vegetarian, there are blogs catered specifically to those needs.
Look at the ingredients: To make the healthiest recipe, limit the amount of saturated fat, added sugar and sodium. Saturated fat is typically solid at room temperature -- butter, margarine, shortening and lard. Sources of sugar include granulated sugar, brown sugar, honey or syrups. Sodium is found in salt and high sources can be found in canned vegetables. If a recipe calls for healthy ingredients and has limited saturated fat, added sugar and sodium, then it is very likely the dish will be healthy.
List of Blogs:
Elie Krieger, a Registered Dietitian for the Food Network, puts her own healthy spin on classic recipes we all know and love. http://www.foodnetwork.com/profiles/talent/ellie-krieger/recipes
The blogger behind this website, Emily, has gone through a personal weight loss journey and has a passion for preparing lightened-up recipes of her favorite comfort foods. http://www.emilybites.com/
Gina is a photographer, recipe developer and the creator of Skinny Taste. http://www.skinnytaste.com/
Erin started cooking as a hobby, which eventually transformed into the blog Well Plated today. She thinks that sweets, veggies and everything in between can be enjoyed equally and offers recipes that will be sure to satisfy. http://www.wellplated.com/
The Kitchn is a website that handpicks healthy and tasty seasonal recipes from tons of food blogs. This website is a great resource for beginner cooks because it also has video and picture demonstrations of cooking, baking and knife techniques. http://www.thekitchn.com/
Lindsay, the face of the Lean Green Bean, is a Registered Dietitian and a working mom. For those who are limited by time, this blog is a great place to find recipes that are fast, delicious and healthy. http://www.theleangreenbean.com/
Kristina of Love and Zest is a Registered Dietitian whose philosophy behind nutrition and food is to enjoy real foods with unique flavors without breaking the bank! http://www.loveandzest.com/
This blog is run by a dynamic husband and wife duo, Sonja and Alex, who believe food brings people together. Feed your brain, not just your body, with their weekly podcasts about the joys of homecooking. https://www.acouplecooks.com/
Meatless Monday, a nonprofit that started the Meatless Monday movement, offers tons of plant-based recipes hand-selected by their own Registered Dietitian for people who are vegetarian, vegan or just looking for a tasty meal. http://www.meatlessmonday.com/favorite-recipes/
Bottom Line: This is by no means an all-inclusive list. There are many bloggers out there and new ones pop up all the time. If you’re looking for new recipes and bloggers, use your own judgment. Choose recipes that maximize fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grain ingredients while limiting added sodium, saturated fat and sugar. Bon appetit!
Written by: Melissa Kowalski, Wellness Workdays Dietetic Intern