We here at Dr. Gourmet are here to tell you that when it comes to [...]]]> Convenience Foods are Not Like Pizza

You’ve heard the saying: “Pizza is like sex. Even when it’s bad, it’s still pretty good.”

We here at Dr. Gourmet are here to tell you that when it comes to convenience foods, that just isn’t the case. After all: “We eat it, so you don’t have to.”

In over ten years of doing these food reviews, we’ve eaten some great convenience meals – and we’ll tell you about those next week. This week is our rundown of the worst of the worst. These are the meals that caused some of our testers to make faces, spit the food out or actually retch. Keep this list handy so that you don’t.

Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers: Cajun Style Chicken and Shrimp:“This product is not edible. It shouldn’t be endorsed by anyone.”
Yves’ Meatless Hot Dog: “Oh, my gosh! I had no idea that something could be that bad and be sold in stores.”
Lean Cuisine Parmesan Crusted Fish and Tortilla Crusted Fish:“Verdict: feed it to the cat if you already have it in the refrigerator.”
Pure Organic Chocolate Brownie Bar: “It is dry, crumbly, astringent, not chocolaty and not anything like a brownie. Just no! Ugh!”
Michelina’s Lean Gourmet Creamy Parmesan Chicken: “…The worst frozen meal we have ever reviewed.”
Lunchables Chicken Dunks: “These are the pinnacle of processed food – something that I would never eat and certainly would not give to a child.”
Amy’s Kids Meals – Baked Ziti: “…in a sauce that will make kids feel right at home because it tastes like the school cafeteria (only worse).”

Dr. Harlan’s newest diet book, Just Tell Me What to Eat!: The Delicious 8-Week Weight-Loss Plan for the Real World, is being published in April, 2011, and you can be part of it!

Have you used The Dr. Gourmet Diet and lost weight, improved your cholesterol scores, or even avoided going on diabetes medication? Maybe you just feel better or discovered that there are some vegetables you do like? If you’ve had success with The Dr. Gourmet Diet, tell us about it and your comments may be used in the book!

Send your stories tosuccess@drgourmet.com and if you are quoted in the book, you’ll receive a free copy of the book, signed by Dr. Harlan. We’d love to hear from you!

A: The Dr. Gourmet recipes, books and [...]]]> Q: I am taking Coumadin and also have type 2 diabetes. Is your book, The Quality Calorie Diet for Coumadin Users, compatible with a healthy diabetic diet?

A: The Dr. Gourmet recipes, books and The Real World Diet planner are all based on a Mediterranean style diet. We know now that this is the most effective diet for diabetics, especially Type II diabetics. Here’s the link to information about diabetes on the Dr. Gourmet web site: Diabetes

My mother [...]]]> Q: My mother and I are about to embark on the first week of our two week Quality Calorie Diet meal plan this Saturday, but I can’t find anywhere on the website any information about what to drink.

My mother loves her coffee in the morning, whereas I’m more of a tea gal, and we’re both fans of a glass of red wine with dinner. Aside from that I usually drink nothing but water all day, and she’s about the same with an occasional soda. I’m sure the soda will have to go (I’ve told her that a million times) but what about the coffee, tea or wine?

And if we can drink our morning beverages, what kind of, if any, sweetener is acceptable? I like to use agave nectar where she’s a fan of good old fashioned sugar. We can both do artificial sweeteners but aren’t they horrible for you?

A: Coffee and tea are fantastic for you and make a great part of eating healthy. They are one of the greatest sources of antioxidants we have. Likewise, red wine with dinner is a fine choice, and in moderation has clearly been shown to be good for you. Water is always a great choice of beverage, and while I am not a fan of soda, your mother’s habit of having one occasionally is fine. It’s clear that soda is a major contributor to the obesity issue and limiting them is a good idea. Beverages on The Quality Calorie Diet

A: The Dr. Gourmet recipes are designed to do just what you wish — lower total cholesterol, raise HDL cholesterol and lower [...]]]> Q: Would you recommend a website with healthy diets that would help to INCREASE MY HDL, good cholesterol?

A: The Dr. Gourmet recipes are designed to do just what you wish — lower total cholesterol, raise HDL cholesterol and lower LDL cholesterol and Triglycerides.

The Quality Calorie Diet meal plans are balanced with a variety of ingredients that emphasize a heart healthy diet. They are low in fat, saturated fat and higher in monounsaturated fat. Recipes do not contain trans-fats. Cholesterol and sodium are limited. The key is to maximize the flavor while working to create recipes that are healthy. The Quality Calorie Diet

Dear Dr. Gourmet,

Q: I have “Short-gut syndrome” caused by a blood clot thrown to the mesenteric artery in my large intestine. My cardio doctor has put me on warfarin. I have a list of foods showing the value of vitamin K in those foods.

My question: Is there a daily allowance of vitamin K that I can safely intake without affecting the warfarin?

A: There are a lot of resources on the Dr. Gourmet website for those who are on Coumadin (warfarin). You can get answers to many questions here: Warfarin FAQ

Here’s one example that is the answer to your question: Daily Intake of Vitamin K

Q: Your wonderful site was recommended to me by my doctor. So far, after two weeks of dutifully following your Quality Calorie Diet menus, I have lost 3 kgs [about 6.7 pounds] and my husband has lost 6.5 kgs [about 14 pounds]. I plan on visiting family this summer and will leave my lovely husband to fend for himself for three weeks and he doesn’t cook. I would like to make ahead some recipes that will freeze well, so he can continue on his diet while I am gone. He is on Warfarin, so please keep that in mind.

A: Congratulations on the progress both of you have made! A lot of us work hard here at Dr. Gourmet and having you lose weight means a lot to us.

The challenge of going away and cooking three weeks of meals is not all that difficult. While that is 21 meals, certainly cooking recipes with more servings and eating leftovers is one of the best approaches. For the first week…

Q: In an attempt to control my Parkinsonism my doctor has prescribed Azilect. I have been told to avoid tyramine-rich foods. I have a preliminary list. Where can I get more information? For instance, herring is on the list. Is tyramine a naturally occurring substance in herring or is it in the way herring is generally processed? Also what about andouille sausage?

A: Here’s a link to get you started: http://www.drgourmet.com/askdrgourmet/tyramine.shtml

It is the aging and curing process with meats and the pickling process with fish that leads to the higher tyramine levels. The process of preserving is what leads to the higher tyramine levels.

Unfortunately, there’s no definitive list of foods and their tyramine levels.

Have a question? Send it to askdrgourmet@drgourmet.com and your question may be answered in this column. Read more Ask Dr. Gourmet questions.

I [...]]]>

Dear Dr. Gourmet,

Q: I am trying to better my diet and eat healthier. I see that you say we should be eating fish or seafood 3 times a week. I don’t like fish or seafood, I can’t eat it.

I pretty much eat chicken and wheat pasta and vegetables. I eat some red meat on occasion. I do take Omega 3 pills every day, so that should help with the health benefits of eating fish.

How many times a week I should eat chicken?

A: This is a great question. We have folks that are allergic to fish or shellfish and there are those like you who simply don’t like fish. The research does show that using fish oil capsules may be almost as good as having fish 3 days a week, so using these is a good idea. The rule of thumb….

Q: I signed up for The Quality Calorie Diet today and do not seem able to get a menu. I requested “vegetarian” and within the list of foods I do not like I listed goat cheese. The menu I received includes an item requiring chicken stock and another includes goat cheese. How I can get this straightened out?

A: With the Vegetarian option all the recipes that the software chooses will work well using vegetable stock instead of chicken stock. We have modified recipes to reflect this.

The Vegetarian option in the Quality Calorie Diet Plan doesn’t yet offer the ability to eliminate ingredients. A good option….

Q: My mom is on warfarin and I have gone through your listing regarding the vitamin K content in foods but for some reason, orange peppers are not listed. Can you help me out? My mother eats the yellow peppers because their vitamin K level is zero and I would like her to have some variety.

A: Yellow, red and orange peppers have a very low amount of Vitamin K and should be safe for those taking Coumadin (warfarin).

Q: Where can I go to get my percentage of body fat measured and compared to my muscle mass?

A: There are a number of different ways to measure body fat. Most use calipers to look at various areas of the body including the chest, abdomen, thigh, arms, hips and back. Many folks can help you with measuring the percentage of body fat. Measuring Body Fat

Have a question? Send it to askdrgourmet@drgourmet.com and your question may be answered in this column. Read more Ask Dr. Gourmet questions.

Yes it does.

I’ve been writing for years now about the significant impact making changes in what you eat can have [...]]]>

Dr. Tim Says….

Does making a change in your life make a difference?

Yes it does.

I’ve been writing for years now about the significant impact making changes in what you eat can have on your health. There’s a lot of research that I’ve reviewed to support this but much of this have been isolated studies on such things as whether legumes are good for you or the benefits of olive oil. That’s not to say that there hasn’t been research on what we call “lifestyle intervention” but this past week a group reported on a study of 800 participants and how profound an effect making changes in your life can be. Change Matters

Featured Recipe

Chili Rubbed Pork Tenderloin

I like food that’s slightly spiced like this recipe. Simple rubs using chilies, cumin, paprika, nutmeg, etc. are really fantastic. The best part is that recipes like this one are just as good cold as when they are just off the stove. This pork tenderloin and the Cumin, Black Eyes and Corn Salad (Low Sodium Version) are the perfect picnic food.

This recipe is safe for Coumadin (warfarin) users, low in sodium, gluten-free and lactose-free. Those with GERD / Acid Reflux should avoid it.

Eating Gluten Free
with Julie Gee

Food is a major part of our everyday lives. When you have Celiac Disease, eating away from home can be a challenge. As you’ve progressed with your understanding of Celiac Disease, you’ve most likely discovered a wide variety of interesting and tasty gluten-free foods. Preparation and anticipation are critical to maintaining your gluten-free diet in challenging situations away from home. The first situation we’ll discuss is eating at work or school.

Many of us work in environments where fast food or take-out is readily available during work hours. Living with Celiac Disease requires a shift in your daily habits and thinking. My first suggestion is to keep some non-perishable snacks at your desk and bring a brown bag lunch whenever possible. Eating Gluten-Free in Social Situations: Lunch

Keep Up With Dr. Gourmet

Follow Dr. Gourmet on Twitter!

Find Dr. Gourmet on Facebook!

Share Your Progress with Your Facebook Friends

Now you can send information to your Facebook wall from the Quality Calorie Diet Software. Feeling virtuous about jogging that 5 miles? Let your Facebook friends know. Have a great recipe or meal? When you post it to your Food Diary you can choose to have this show up on your Facebook wall too with your comments.

It’s been pretty cool to see folks using this — commenting on recipes, columns and such as well as sharing ideas. Research clearly shows that interacting with others helps folks lose weight, get healthier and stay fit. Using Facebook with DrGourmet.com is a great way for you to get involved.

You can always check to see if your question, [...]]]> We’ve had a lot of new subscribers recently (welcome!), and I thought it might be helpful for us to share a few of our “greatest hits” or most frequently-asked questions on a variety of topics.

You can always check to see if your question, or a similar one, has already been answered by checking our main Ask Dr. Gourmet page.

Coumadin

Q: How much Vitamin K is in…?

A: There’s an easy way to find out about the nutrition content of any food. Just use the USDA National Nutrient Database. By entering an ingredient and following the steps this website will report the complete nutritional values of any ingredient and many prepared foods. The Vitamin K content is the last listing at the bottom of the Vitamins section. If it is not there, the food or ingredient that you searched on doesn’t contain enough Vitamin K to be reported.

Q: Can I use nutritional supplements while on Coumadin? What about acai juice / berries / Mona Vie or Resveratrol?

Q: Should you avoid cranberry juice on Coumadin (warfarin)?

Weight Loss / The Quality Calorie Diet

Q: Is Body Mass Index accurate for everyone?

Q: Is cutting down on carbohydrates a healthy way to lose weight?

Q: Is there any cost involved in The Quality Calorie Diet (formerly My eatTHISdiet) or the Dr. Gourmet website?

Q: How can I lose weight if I can’t exercise?

Miscellanous

Q: Should I be concerned about the level of mercury in the fish I eat?

Q: Does sea salt have less sodium in it than regular salt?

Q: Would adding baking soda to chili to make it GERD-friendly ruin the taste of the chili?

Q: Do you have diet plans for those with Type 2 diabetes?

Q: Are seeds really a problem for those with diverticulitis?

Have a question? Send it to askdrgourmet@drgourmet.com and your question may be answered in this column. Read more Ask Dr. Gourmet questions.

We’re pretty excited about this.

You can now use your Facebook login on the DrGourmet.com web site. Click the Connect with Facebook button on the login page of the [...]]]> Greetings from Dr. Gourmet,

We’re pretty excited about this.

You can now use your Facebook login on the DrGourmet.com web site. Click the Connect with Facebook button on the login page of the Quality Calorie Diet software and it will ask you to match up your DrGourmet account with your Facebook identity.

After that you can login easily.

You’ll also find Facebook Comment Boxes throughout the Dr. Gourmet site. They are now live on all the recipe pages now and you can comment on recipes and choose to have those notes posted to your Facebook wall (or not)

We’ve wanted to have folks be able to to interact on DrGourmet.com for a long time but haven’t found software that we felt worked the way we wanted. Using Facebook in this way will help us connect folks with shared interests but at the same time weave those links into Facebook and the larger internet community. More cool features to come soon.

Thanks for being a fan of DrGourmet.com!

Eat well, eat healthy, enjoy life!

Timothy S. Harlan, M.D.
Dr. Gourmet