Suzy Eats

A continuous debate between my husband and I is how long it takes us to eat dinner and the amount of time that we sit at the dinner table. In short, I take A LONG time to eat, while my husband eats VERY quickly.  

The other night I made a great dinner 🙂 We had cream of broccoli soup, fattoush salad and baked chicken with coucous. The issue really was not the dinner but rather the fact that I was still eating the soup as my husband was finishing up the baked chicken and coucous.

So….what is the problem with that? Well, first it means that he gets up off the dinner table a lot quicker and there is no time to talk 🙂 

But the real is issue is related to health….

Studies show that people who eat their food quickly are more likely to become obese. Eating quickly has actually become more common as people are often in a hurry and may even have a shorter lunch or dinner break at work compared to the past.  In addition, some people are even eating in their cars. I have attached a link to a specific study that I thought was particularly interesting: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091104085230.htm.

The study basically shows that the longer you take to eat….the more full you may feel at a 30 minutes after eating mark…..

Are you a slow eater or a quick eater???? I would love to hear your thoughts.

Now that is food for thought 🙂

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Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.

I would love to know if you are cooking for Valentine’s Day? If it is not you that is doing  the cooking then who is doing it???

1. Myself

2. My spouse or significant other

3. Going out to eat

4. What is Valentine’s Day?

Need an idea???

Try Baklava for Dessert. It is one of the most popular dishes of the Mediterranean, and I made it for Valentine’s Day this year and it seemed to go over well 🙂

Makes about 10-12 pieces

Ingredients

Filling

• 8 ounces of walnuts or pistachios, ground
• 4 ounces of almonds, ground
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Outer Shell

• 1/2 pound phyllo dough
• 6 tablespoons butter

Syrup

• 1.5 cups water
• 1 cup sugar

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grind the walnuts and almonds (can do it separately since almonds may take longer and you don’t want the walnuts too ground) and mix with the cinnamon.
3. Remove Phyllo dough from plastic and cut it into 9×12 inch pieces 
4. Take 6 sheets of the Phyllo dough and butter both sides and place into a 9×12″ baking pan.
5. Add the nut and cinnamon mixture.
6. Pat the mixture down to make sure it is flattened.
7. Add 6 more sheets of of the buttered Phyllo dough (make sure to butter on both sides) to the top of the baking pan.
8. You can cut them into pieces prior to placing in the over (can also freeze before cutting which will make it easier).
9. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until Phyllo dough looks golden.
10. While the Baklava is baking, begin to make the syrup.
11. Boil the water and then add the sugar to the mixture and stir.
12. Remove Baklava from over, and add the syrup to it.
13. Enjoy!!!!

Use a brush to add themelted  butter to the phyllo dough

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I have attached three food pyramids below. The first pyramid is the USDA recommended food pyramid, while the latter two are Mediterranean Food Pyramids.

The Mediterranean Diet has been proven to be one of the most healthiest diets in the world. At the bottom of the Mediterranean Food Pyramid are breads and cereals which should be consumed daily. A key component is cous cous.

As you move up the pyramid, there are increased amounts of fruits and vegetables (much more than the standard USDA food pyramid). 

A key difference is OIL…specifically olive oil.

There are smaller amounts of cheese, yogurt and other dairy in the Mediterranean Pyramid than in the USDA pyramid.

Other key points are that: there is VERY LITTLE RED meat that is used in the mediterranean diet and very small amounts of sweets since fruits are eaten as sweets. Olives and tomatoes are the most common fruits. Legumes and nuts are eaten as snacks. Fish and poultry are more common than red meats.

There have been key studies comparing the Mediterranean Diets to other diets around the world.  In the countries with a Mediterranean Diet, heart disease is generally lower.

  Another difference is that the Mediterranean Food pyramid describes foods in various terms: monthy, weekly and daily. While the USDA, describes the daily intake. 

Which food pyramid are you following????

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I received this weight loss tip from one of my readers. She said that when you are eating out at a restaurant and you begin to feel full that you should immediately stop eating….AND then, pour water directly onto your food so that it “tastes watery” and is no longer edible. (this only applies if you are not planning to take the food home). She says this helps her stop eating unnecessary calories.

Just don’t dessert!! 🙂

Thanks Amanda!!

Thoughts on this tip??? Do you have any tips?

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Hello and welcome to my blog. I am very passionate about cooking healthy meals and mediterranean meals are DEFINITELY healthy. What are some of your favorite things to cook??

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