THE HEALTHY CHEF
Houston's top chefs offer advice on low-fat, flavorful cooking
ELOUISE ADAMS JONES
 OUISIE’S TABLE
“Eating well and eating healthy can be the same thing. Really. Seven years ago I began walking more and eating less. I never gave up flavor or quality of food. I just ate less of some foods and more of others, such as fresh vegetables and fruits, lots of fresh fish like poached salmon, halibut, red snapper and lean meats like venison, bison and, of course, chicken and turkey, no skin.
“I love grilled quail with herbs and a little something tucked in like boar sausage. I use butter sparsely, only to flavor, and I prefer extra virgin olive oil. There are so many wonderful oils available to us, and they add so much flavor to the plate and our palate.
“The practice of mindful eating (it takes the place of gulping) is eating in slow motion, which also slows down your mind and calms you. You become very aware and grateful for what you have. You also begin choosing and preparing your food with much more thought. You become more creative, more selective and thoughtful of yourself and of what you really like and prefer. It reminds you to take care of yourself.
“I found myself translating what I was doing for myself to my customers and my menus by offering meals that were a good alternative. Sales on those items were good, which told me I was doing the right thing.
“Fresh and dried herbs, garlic and heat, like chili flakes and cayenne, have always had a place in my kitchen. They are effective, especially when you’re cutting back and balancing what you eat. Citrus is also indispensable in adding a fresh sparkle and a bright finish to poached salmon, grilled meats and salads. Try it on steamed broccoli with a little sea salt or on steamed carrots with honey and cilantro with a little extra virgin olive oil.”
Moral Intelligence
Best selling author John Bradshaw, who appears this month on “Living Smart With Patricia Gras” on Houston PBS, is one of America’s leading personal growth experts. He has written five New York Times bestsellers in which he pioneered the concept of the “Inner Child,” and brought the term “dysfunctional family” into the mainstream.” In his most recent book, he tackles moral intelligence.
“Reclaiming Virtue–Developing The Moral Intelligence To Do The Right Thing At The Right Time For The Right Reason” discusses what Bradshaw describes as, “The moral intelligence and emotional imagination that is sometimes necessary to do the right thing and how people do the right thing even though no one will ever know.” The book also covers steps we can take to motivate ourselves and others to be “ordinary heroes.”
“My life … I could never get balanced. I was an alcoholic. I’m recovering, 44 years now. When I went to the seminary, I was the perfect seminarian, and the next year they were thinking about kicking me out. I have either been the best of the best or the worst of the worst. I’ve found the moral education I had did not mean I had balance in my life. I was in these polarized extremes,” Bradshaw says.
Bradshaw believes the missing link in moral education is the education of emotions. On “Living Smart,” Bradshaw will explain what it takes to develop moral intelligence, how to teach it to your children and why living a life of happiness is a life of virtue.
“Living Smart with Patricia Gras” airs Sundays at 3 p.m. and Fridays at 10 p.m. on HoustonPBS Channel 8. For more information, visit Houstonpbs.org/livingsmart, or Patriciagras.net. This episode’s “Green Tip” with Mona Metzger discusses creating your own natural cleaning products.
Gras also co-hosts “Latina Voices: Smart Talk” on HoustonPBS (Latinavoices.com.)
—Patricia Gras
Photo: Gras With Bradshaw [Photo By Anisworth Duvernay]
 Vitamin Supplements for Men’s Health
Did you know that 40 percent of Americans use a daily multivitamin despite studies indicating that many don’t know how to safely or appropriately use them, or even if they need supplements in the first place? It’s true.
Because men and women have different nutritional needs, it’s important to know the differences between supplements and when and how to use them.
WHEN IS A VITAMIN/MINERAL SUPPLEMENT POTENTIALLY HELPFUL?
• You are eating less than 1,600 calories per day, or if you are on a low-calorie weight-loss diet
• You are a strict vegetarian or vegan
• You have a medical condition or special diet that limits your food choices
WHEN IS A VITAMIN/MINERAL SUPPLEMENT POTENTIALLY HELPFUL?
Men and women have different nutritional needs. Most men’s supplements don’t contain iron because men need less than women and typically have adequate intakes. Most men’s supplements have higher amounts of vitamins to better meet their needs. They contain additional vitamin A, C and E, intended to aid in strengthening immunity. Vitamin C, calcium, magnesium and potassium aid in maintaining proper blood pressure, while vitamins B6, B12, C and E and folic acid may help protect against heart disease.
What To Avoid in a Supplement
• Be careful when choosing supplements. Read the labels and know what you’re taking.
• Beware of claims that they will cure ailments or provide you with energy. Vitamins do not provide energy; they assist with turning food into energy.
• Avoid “mega-doses” of anything. You are likely literally flushing your money down the toilet, or worse, damaging your organs.
• Just because it’s more expensive or a name brand doesn’t always mean it’s better.
—Danielle Phaneuf, RD, LD, is a registered, licensed dietitian working both in clinical and private practice. To contact Danielle, visit Optimizenutrition.net.
FROM THE KITCHEN
“Stock up on nonstick pans for baking, grilling, and sautéing, and even for soup. Nonstick pans allow you to avoid using oil in favor of healthier options like cooking spray, wine, water, or fruit juice” – Susan Burke March, MS, RD, LD/N, CDE, author of the book “Making Weight Control Second Nature: Living Thin Naturally”
 DID YOU KNOW?
The Houston-Baytown-Huntsville region is among 14 metro areas in the U.S. that have improved their ozone levels over 2009 figures. Source: American Lung Association
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