A Guide to Contemporary Cooking With recipes and articles by Shelly McRae

The Contemporary Cook needs to meet special dietary needs as awareness of food allergies continues to grow, as more of us decide to limit the fat and salt in our diets, and as many more choose a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. The development of personalized food styles leads to lifestyle changes, creating new paths and approaches to how we live on this planet. I've written numerous articles relating to healthy eating and healthy lifestyle choices. Several of these articles are listed here, with links to the respective postings.

A Guide to Healthy Fats Fats provide nutrients for cell development and organ function. Without fats your body is unable to absorb certain vitamins and minerals. Some fats, though, build up in your arteries, leading to heart disease because they are more difficult for the liver to process. If you include the healthy fats in your diet, and reduce your intake of bad fats, you'll lower your risk for heart disease, diabetes and obesity related conditions. Read more... Is Lowering LDL Cholesterol Enough? One indication of heart disease, and the potential for heart disease, is high levels of Low Density Lipoproteins, or LDL cholesterol, in the blood. When LDL levels reach over 100 mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter of blood), a physician will most likely begin working with the patient to lower that number, usually starting with changes in diet and lifestyle. Read more... Which is More Important When It Comes to Health Food: Taste or Nutrition? The succulence of the tender chicken breast, seasoned with rubbed sage and earthy rosemary, grilled to perfection, spreads like liquid velvet across your tongue. The swift crunch of cooled cucumbers, the sudden sweetness of fresh strawberries, the tangy blast of a cherry tomato as you bite down... Read more... Lifestyle Changes to Lower Your Cholesterol Cholesterol builds up in your body over time and there is no quick fix for reducing cholesterol to healthy levels. A few lifestyle changes may get those levels under control within a reasonable amount of time, however. A change in diet and following a rigorous exercise routine, along with a daily regimen of supplements, may be all you need to get your cholesterol under control and keep it under control. Read more... Why Exercise Should be a Part of Your Weight Loss Plan If you’re five pounds overweight, you may need to cut back on the rich desserts, or the salty snacks or that second helping at dinner that’s become a habit. You’re not hungry when you eat those desserts or snacks or second helpings; you enjoy the sensations those foods evoke. Read more... Visit my blog, Contemporary Cooking for more information on low-fat, low-sodium cooking.