Disease Proof

As if the holidays weren't enough of an assault on your healthy diet, now football fans are gathering to watch bowl games and the NFL playoffs. If you're going to be snacking in front of the tube, use these nutrient-rich tailgate party recipes and you can snack away without being unhealthy. (These recipes are from Dr. Fuhrman's book Eat to Live.)

Grandma Tillie's Eggplant Dip
1 eggplant
1 tomato, diced
1 green or red pepper, diced
1 large onion, diced
dash of Mrs. Dash seasoning

Bake the eggplant in the oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour, or microwave it for 8-11 minutes. In a covered, shallow pan or pot, steam-fry the tomato, pepper, and onion until soft. Scoop out or peel the eggplant and blend it with the steamed vegetables and seasoning.

Raisin Coleslaw
½ cup raisins
½ cup apple juice
½ baked potato, skin removed
1 tsp. mustard
1 tbsp. lemon juice
4 cups cabbage, shredded
2 cups carrots, shredded
1 cup beets, shredded (optional)
2 cups apples, peeled and shredded
¼ cup scallions, finely chopped

Blend or Vita-Mix the raisins, apple juice, potato, mustard, and lemon juice, then mix all the ingredients together.

Bean Burgers
½ cup sunflower seeds
2 cups red or pink canned beans (unsalted)
½ cup minced onion
½ tsp. chili powder
2 tbsp. ketchup
1 tbsp. wheat germ or oatmeal

Chop the sunflower seeds in a food processor or hand chopper and mash the beans with a potato masher or food processor and mix. Mix in the remaining ingredients and form patties. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool until you can pick up each patty and compress it firmly in your hands to reform the burger. Then cook for another 15 minutes on each side.

Hungry for more? Check out this recipe for a Quick Soy Cheese Pita Pizza from a previous post.