Thursday, January 7, 2010

Healthy Cooking Challenge



I have a quick question to ask you all. Since it is a new year and everyone is focused on health that gave Rose and I an idea for a healthy cooking challenge. We were thinking it would be fun for everyone to post a healthy recipe (or two or three) to share with each other. This would accomplish a few things. Give all of us a few more dinner ideas, and allow us to share in some of everyone’s favorite recipes. It will also be a great way to get to know each other a little better.

Rose and I have been pondering the specifics today and how we would accomplish this logistically. She has graciously offered to help with some of the behind the scenes work that will be required. One of the benefits for all the participants is that I will be calculating the nutritional stats on each recipe as part of the judging criteria.

We are still working out the details and the specifics of the first challenge but will focus mostly on healthy food (definition will be included in the challenge post), then creative use of ingredients, and finally creative presentation. For this first challenge we were thinking of asking everyone to take a family favorite recipe and make it healthy.

Please leave a comment if you may be interested in participating in the challenge. We want to gauge interest before we put a ton of time into the background work. You don’t need a blog to participate, just a recipe and a photo of it. If the first challenge goes well we thought we would have a new one each month. Any ideas you have would be greatly appreciated.

27 comments:

  1. Your blog is SUCH an inspiration to me every day...sometimes, a few times a day! :) Definitely count me in!

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  2. Laura,

    What a nice thing to say. Thank you so much! I REALLY appreciate it. :)

    Alicia

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  3. I'm game! :-)

    Cindy
    nutritarianrecipes.blogspot.com

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  4. Cindy,

    Thanks for joining us! :)

    Alicia

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  5. I might be interested. Then again, I may be afraid to learn the real values of what I make! EEK.

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  6. Heather,

    Your recipes look healthy to me, no worries. :)

    Alicia

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  7. Thanks Alicia, that makes me feel a little better. You can count me in. By the way, I have to totally agree with Laura Jill!

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  8. Heather,

    Great! And thank you for the nice compliment. All of you inspire me to keep blogging. :)

    Alicia

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  9. I think this sounds like an awesome idea!
    Especially taking an old family recipe and transforming it into something healthy because I am from the south where food is soaked in oil and then refried

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  10. Drewewith,

    Thanks for joining us! I can't wait to see how you make Southern fried food healthy. You may be my new hero!

    This concept is getting more interest than I expected. I will try to get the challenge specifics posted tomorrow.

    I can't wait to see what you all come up with. This is going to be a blast!

    Alicia

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  11. I love the idea, and will definitely be following along at home, but I don't have much experience in health-ifying recipes (or the resources), so I won't be participating. I look forward to learning!

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  12. PaganAngel,

    If you change your mind and want to participate feel free to ask questions. I am happy to give anyone ideas of how to make a recipe healthier. :)

    Otherwise I am glad you will be following along at home!

    Alicia

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  13. Definitely interested in being involved, I've only been vegan since the start of November. I like the idea of alot of the raw dishes but they seem a bit overwhelming for a beginner :)

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  14. I'd love to know the nutrition info. of my "healthified" cookies and muffins, which are unique each time. But first I need to measure my ingredients! Sounds like a fun project.

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  15. Polka Dot Rabbit,

    Thanks for your interest. You are definitely on the right track. In general raw food is going to be more nutritious than cooked. I am also working to include more raw food in our diet. As soon as I find a really good raw cookbook I will let everyone know what it is.

    Laura,

    Measuring was a problem for me too. Before the blog I never measured ingredients. Once you get into the habit it isn't as much of a chore as it seems. I keep a clipboard in my kitchen and jot things down as I go.

    Alicia

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  16. Laura,

    I just read the article and went back to the JAMA article that was suppose to back up the "vitamins kill theory". This is the same compliation study that has been discredited previously but has turned up again and again.

    In essence the study summarized other studies and claimed to find a connection between vitamin takers and death. Well, I will die being a vitamin taker but that doesn't mean there is a connection. In general older Americans take vitamins and we will die.

    I am not concerned about this article, I think it is just hype. One of my good friends (a pharmacist) once said something that I always remember when I read these things. "Never get your health information from the news, they like to sensationalize everything and are rarely completely accurate." Keeping this in mind has served me well.

    Thanks again for the question, it is always prudent to follow up on things like this, just in case there is something we should know.

    I hope you have a great day,
    Alicia

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  17. Brigid,

    Thanks! I am glad you will be joining us. I hope to have the details of the challenge posted late today.

    Can't wait to see what you come up with,
    Alicia

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  18. I'd love to participate. Does each challenge/recipe have to involve a vegan meal? We didn't have too many of those growing up, but maybe I could play around with some old dessert recipes?

    One challenge could be iron chef inspired with a secret ingredient used in the challenge?

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  19. Jordan,

    So glad you decided to join us. The challenge will be vegan but the starting recipe can be anything. Most of my recipes were omni originally. I am going to get the specifics posted later today.

    We are on the same wave length. Rose and I were also discussing an iron chef like challenge with a secret ingredient if this one was well received.

    BTW, love my new juicer! Thanks so much for the brand suggestion and email links you sent me. You saved me a ton of time by pointing me in the right direction. :)

    Alicia

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  20. Cool idea! I'll get to thinking about it. Put me down for an *almost definitely* :) I do love challenges.

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  21. Sarah,

    LOL, love your *almost definitely*. We have a very similar sense of humor. Thanks for *considering the possibility of maybe taking part in the challenge*. ;) I can't wait to see what you come up with.

    I hope your vegan challenge is going well,
    Alicia

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  22. This is such a fantastic idea, I love it! Please count me in, I'll try my best:)

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  23. Teehee! Thanks :) I still have another week until the official start of the cleanse. I am chomping at the bit though, feeling so run down and craving bad foods. BLEH! I've started to challenge myself though to eat better leading up to the cleanse, including as much vegan as possible. So far so good!

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  24. Oraphan,

    I am so glad you decided to join in. I am looking forward to see what you submit.

    Sarah,

    Good for you starting early!

    There is definitely a difference in how I feel depending on what I have eaten. This past holiday season we were really good, no sweets (a first for both the hubby and I). It was nice not to feel the sugar fog that usually comes after sweets.

    Alicia

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  25. Can I really participate without a blog? I would love to!

    Courtney

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  26. Hi Courtney,

    Absolutely you can participate without a blog! We are going to compile recipes on Flickr so that a blog isn't necessary. I am so happy you decided to join in!

    Rose and I are putting the finishing touches on the challenge post now. We have a little administrative clean up to do. But hope to have that posted in the next couple of hours.

    can't wait to see what you submit,
    Alicia

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