New Year, New Beginnings

The holidays have finally started to wind down, and the parties are fewer and further between. Many of you are probably vowing to a New Year’s resolution of eating better in 2010. Here are some quick snacks to make, they're sure to help you out when you’re at a loss for what to eat.

• Fruit cups: Chop up your favorite fruit and enjoy! You can’t ever go wrong with cups of fruit for a snack.
• Lettuce wraps: Use leftover meat and fresh vegetables to make easy lettuce wraps. They’re great for a snack or a quick meal. Saute any leftover veggies with some olive oil or a dash of sesame oil, and wrap with crisp iceberg lettuce. Yum!
• Flax seed chips: These chips are much healthier for you then regular potato chips, and help curb that craving for something crunchy. Cut flax roll ups into squares or triangles, brush with some oil and salt, and heat at 350 degrees until brown. Top them off with fresh vegetables, salsa or hummus- delish!
• Strawberries with Bliss: Cut some fresh strawberries and drizzle some Tantillo’s Balsamic Bliss on top for a sweet, vinegar flavor.

There are so many easy to ways to stay healthy this new year. Treat yourself to some easy, quick snacks and meals at the beginning of 2010- starting off on the right foot is key!

Apple Fluff Holiday Wreaths

These fun snacks are great for holiday parties or for a quick treat for the children. They're so easy to make, festive, and delicious to boot!

This Thanksgiving let your waistline do some of the thanking. After the Thanksgiving feast has been enjoyed, the days and leftovers thereafter should be filled with healthier food decisions. (Especially if you’re gearing up for Black Friday shopping!) There’s inevitably going to be loads of turkey leftover. A day or two before Thanksgiving, head to the grocery store and pick up a few quick things to make lettuce wraps: mushrooms, green onions, watercress, and a head of iceberg lettuce. When its time for your post-holiday snack, chop the vegetables and then sauté the mushrooms, watercress, green onions and leftover turkey in some extra virgin olive oil and just a touch of garlic. Any leftover vegetables can be thrown in the mix as well. Then drizzle with some fresh lemon juice, salt and pepper, and wrap in a crisp leaf of iceberg lettuce. Just like that, an easy breezy, and most importantly, healthy snack has been made! These wraps are so full of wholesome nutrients that you will definitely feel full and content. Leftovers from Thanksgiving doesn’t have to mean turkey sandwiches with all the fixings, there’s always a way to mix them into something healthier, leaving you satisfied and nourished.

image from zwani.com

Spooky (and healthy) Halloween Delights

I recently stumbled onto a great site dedicated solely to Halloween- www.365halloween.com

Its a great spot for moms and dads alike to check in and find some great recipes for this Halloween season. One of my favorites are veggie platters shaped like skeletons. They have a great recipe section with so many healthy choices to make festive foods- like brains made out of watermelons, bananas that look like ghosts, and a jelly sandwich that looks like a skull. Even if they're a little too hard to make with your kids, they will certainly enjoy their spooky but silly nature. Check it out this year and try out their fun Halloween foods!

The Tri-State Italian-American Congress

WCBS-TV President and General Manager, Peter Dunn, served as the Chairman for the Tri-State Italian American Congress 2009 Dinner Reception held in honor of WCBS-TV’s Food Editor Tony Tantillo on Friday, May 15th, 2009. The Tri-State Italian-American Congress, formed in 1988, is a non-profit organization whose membership includes individuals active in Italian-American affairs in the tri-state area. Its purpose is to provide educational opportunities for Italian-American children, to support organizations and charities benefiting Italian-Americans and to support other programs and individuals with similar goals. WCBS-TV plays a vital role of the community by bringing awareness to many causes and non-for-profit organizations. Dunn, along with other WCBS-TV employees, were honored to be a part of this celebration for one of their own, Tony Tantillo. Tantillo is completely dedicated and proud to serve the organization's mission of educating young people and preserving the Italian heritage.

Back to School Deliciousness!

While your kids are at school, its important that they are eating the right foods to stay fueled throughout the day. Packing a good lunch is crucial for them! There are lots of creative ways to help get the kids actually wanting to eat healthy foods! Adding little extras like peanut butter or nuts give fruits and vegetables a more fun taste, while still keeping things healthy. Remember, kids like food thats FUN! Try making the all time favorite, Ants on a Log. You can't go wrong with their silly nature, and kids will still get vitamins and nutritious value. They're fun and easy to make, and the interaction will help them like what they are eating. Another simple snack is mini caramel apples. Using a melon scooper, scoop out pieces of apple, and let the kids dip them in caramel packets. The apple keeps things healthy, but gives them a little sugary treat with the caramel. If your kids really love apples, try making apple pinwheels. Peel and core an apple, then mix some peanut butter, honey and raisins and stuff the core with this delicious mixture.

Remember that peanut butter is healthy! The monosaturated fats have been proven to help keep health risks at bay, and like apples, they are good for a healthy heart. It will also help to keep children full throughout they day, unlike treats with high glycemic indexes, which will only make them feel hungrier faster.

Try some of these treats in your kid's school lunches, and help make a difference in the way they eat. There's always a way to get kids to eat healthier!

**image from homebakedrecipes.com**

Healthy is Happy!

Its almost that time - back to school! Parents everywhere are gearing up for the fall, and that includes making and packing healthy lunches and school snacks. When September rolls around, I will post some great ways to help you get your kids to enjoy more produce and healthy treats. They're easy and fun, and have little extras like nuts and peanut butter to give a little variety to the everyday lunch box.

Check back soon and have your pen ready to hit that grocery list!

The Salsa Mix Up

There are times when you may find yourself wishing for some spice in your life. Whether its literally or figuratively, there is a good way to mix things up a bit. Salsa, an all time favorite Spanish side or dip, will give you the chance to give some spice to any meal of the day. There are so many different ways to enjoy salsa I feel like Bubba from Forrest Gump counting all the ways to cook shrimp. Try it on egg whites, chicken, fish, shrimp, or add some a dash of low fat sour cream to the mix and make a quick, easy dip. If you want to have a low-cal snack, steam some fresh veggies and add salsa on top. Its all a delicious way to spice things up!

Super EVOO

Did you know olive oil has super powers? Ok, maybe not "super" powers, but it can do wonderful things for your body- inside and out. If you consume just 2 tablespoons of olive oil a day, it can enhance the appearance of you hair, nails, and skin! It can also reduce the risk of heart disease because it contains monounsaturated fats, and can also help lower your cholesterol and LDL (the "bad" cholesterol) in the blood. Extra Virgin Olive Oil is particularly good for you. So now every time you add Italy's favorite condiment to your food, think of all the great things it is doing for your body.

Bliss-fully Delicious

Next time you have family and friends over for a summer bbq, try grilling dessert! It is fast and simple, and will definitely wow your guests. Drizzle some of my Balsamic Bliss.. a delicious balsamic reduction.. onto some grilled pineapple, and throw it on the grill. Wait until the sides of browned just a little, and then top it off with some vanilla ice cream. The Bliss tastes great on ice cream, too. Its a flavor your guests will never forget, and will be the hit of the evening. 

A Minty Balance to Summer

During our recent family vacation, my wife had an outstanding salad at a small restaurant in Sicily. It was simply arugula with a tuna steak and drizzled with olive oil. But what gave it this delicious, refreshing flavor was added mint. The cooling flavor of the mint along with the peppery leaf of arugula was tasty to say the least. I plan on adding it to salads when I can, its a great summer flavor! 

A little fruit for your fancy..

Do you ever find sometimes your sweet tooth is really.. well, sweet? There's a fun and tasty way to throw some sugar into lunch, dinner, or even as a light snack. Add dried fruit to your salad! Sunsweet's Berry Blend or Pineapple is a great alternative to the everyday salad, and its full of nutritious antioxidants. It will add just the right amount of sweet and tart to tantalize your tastebuds. 

A New Beginning!

Welcome to my new blog!

I look forward to sharing my tips and advice with you that I have accumulated over the years! Many are from my personal experiences with different chefs and my travels throughout Italy. I will update as often as I can. If there is anything you would like to know more about, please feel free to leave me a comment and I will do my best to get back to you! 

Have a wonderful day, and remember to Eat Fresh & Stay Healthy!