Myth No More: Foods that Taste Good and are Good For You

Woody Allen once said, "in order to live a long life, you have to give up everything that wants to make you live a long life."

Today, in this what-will-surely-be-a-supremely-epic blog posting, we will debunk this myth with ten foods that are not only healthy but also taste delicious with the right preparation. Of course there are more than ten, but I leave that to you, my faithful reader, to add in the comments section those foods which both delight your palate and your body which have been so gravely omitted from my humble list below...

My List:

1. Sweet Potato - made into fries, boiled, roasted, there really is no wrong way to cook a simple sweet potato (most preparations require nothing more than washing off the skin.) It can be eaten as a snack, as an appetizer, or even used as a crust on fish... however you devour it, there is no doubt that this potato is well... sweet!

2. Mr. Avocado (Robato?) - ok, ok so this one is controversial but seriously, avocado is delicious! I love that you peel the thick skin off a ripe Haas avocado and eat it without having to add a thing and it will be a filling, healthy snack. Yes it's fatty, but it's the good kind of fat (not the Krispy Kreme donut kind...) that enriches your muscles and contributes to your overall health....

3. Greek Yogurt - fine, I'll admit it, this one may take a leeeetle bit of tweaking to be edible, (unless you love all things sour, then by all means, enjoy plain!) but with a splash of honey, maple syrup or cinnamon, this creamy, soft yogurt deliciousness becomes a delicious treat that can double as either a snack or a meal! (Also, makes for great post-hangover eats, and that one I can tell you from first hand experience...)

4. Balsamic Vinegar - again, requires a bit of help to reach full yum-potential but there is nothing quite as luscious as pouring a cup of balsamic vinegar in a pot, adding a dash of cane sugar or honey, (and just a dash is okay folks!) and letting the brown liquid reduce to syrupy goodness... a perfect topping to those boring vegetables that without its sweet, sweet assistance would arguably only serve to reinforce Woody Allen's original idea...

5. Fresh Basil - there is nothing quite like the smell of fresh basil. Chopped, whole with a juicy red tomato, or made into pesto (try my own pesto recipe here: http://oeats.blogspot.com/2010/07/not-so-pesky-pesto-recipe.html ) it is undeniably one green that is neither gross nor gruesome.

6. Whole Wheats - Honestly, have you ever tried fresh bread baked from whole grains and wheats? Do it and you'll never want that bland white stuff ever again... (to me, white bread is the Voldemort of complex carbohydrates, that-which-will-not-be-named on this blog!)

7. Dark, Dark Chocolate (I'm talking 75% and over here people....) Yes, it's fatty, yes it's one of the evils of the food world for any and all trying to diet or maintain their weight, but a small piece of dark chocolate is choc-full (ha! I make a funny!) of anti-oxidants and a satisfying, complex snack or ending to any meal. Once you start eating it, tasting the entwining of cocoa and sugars on your tongue, understanding the love and care that went into the harvesting and molding of the deep, rich chocolate and you'll never want a plain old Milky Way or all-too-sugary Kit Kat bar again...

8. Medjool Dates - These things are like nature's answer to taffy. Intensely sweet, gooey, chewy and still technically in a discernible food group, (try classifying that Big Mac and you know what I mean...) medjool dates are truly a not-so-guilty guilty pleasure for all to enjoy.

9. Fresh Mangos- Bite into a fresh mango and tell me you'd rather eat a sugar-loaded piece of cake instead... I dare ya....

10. Butternut Squash - roasted, toasted... boasted? However you cook it, (and may I humbly suggest as a butternut squash soup a la my recipe found here: http://oeats.blogspot.com/2010/09/butternut-squash-soup-recipe-welcome-to.html ) it almost tastes like something you shouldn't eat. It's sweet--decadently so even--and has a comforting, smooth texture that makes for a great snack or addition to any meal. Delish I tell ya, simply delish!

Now of course you could also make a top ten list that goes something like this:

1. Dunkin Donuts (any and all flavors)

2. Butter croissants

3. Dorito Ranch Chips

4. McDonald's French Fries

5. Extra cheese pizza

6. Movie butter popcorn

7. Oozing Chocolate Souffle Cake

8. Chicken Pad Thai

9. Plain bagel with butter or cream cheese

10. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dynamo Ice Cream

But if you attempted to eat all items on this list in a day.... well... I don't want to discuss what would happen, (or be ejected for that matter...) whereas eating everything on the former list would actually be a full day's worth of healthful edibles. And you know what? The freshness and nutrition adds a level of enjoyment to those top ten that the bottom ten lack. Now, looking over that"junk food" list, it seems somehow empty, devoid of natural vivaciousness and life, unappealing even. So tell me, have anything to add??

Xo