Life in Color

They say it is sometimes better to view the world through rose-colored lenses. But what about some spectacles that are vibrantly and whimsically technicolored?

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Have a Tomato

Unfortunately, I will not have access to a kitchen until this summer. Thus, Tuesday's posts will be a little lacking as far as content goes. My apologies!

Here are a couple snack recipes that incorporate fresh tomatoes. I didn't include exact amounts, so you can add however much of each ingredient you want. It shouldn't be too difficult to eyeball it!

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A Traditional Antipasto Dish

• sliced tomatoes
• fresh mozzarella
• fresh basil
• drizzle of balsamic

Mediterranean Vegetable Salad

• tomatoes
• green bell peppers
• cucumbers
• Kalamata olives
• feta cheese
• balsamic vinaigrette

Quick Open-Faced Sandwich

• sliced tomato
• hummus
• whole-wheat English muffin

French Sandwich

• French bread
• tomatoes
• goat cheese spread
• fresh basil
• olive oil
• salt and pepper

Now that summer is quickly approaching, these fresh and tasty treats will be the perfect complement to a hot afternoon spent relaxing at the pool. Enjoy!

A Dark Indulgence

As a delicious luxury for those of us who are weight-conscious, it’s hard to believe that something as decadent and seemingly sinful as chocolate can be beneficial to our health. Of course we’re going to be skeptical. It’s the thing we cut out of our diet when we’re counting calories, what we allow ourselves to have only on special occasions, what we give up for lent (it’s over, eat up!). Luckily, we don’t always have to spare ourselves the pleasure of consuming the creamy delectable treat. In fact, chocolate can actually be beneficial to your health.

There are two caveats that you need to keep in mind with this little tidbit of information: dark chocolate and moderation. For it to be most effective, the chocolate needs to be at least 70% cacao and have as few ingredients as possible. The Ghirardelli variety pictured fits this mold perfectly. For those of you who aren’t huge fans of dark chocolate like myself, try biting off small pieces and letting it melt in your mouth. This undercuts the intensity and makes it very manageable. Make sure that you eat only one square a day, which equates to about 11 grams and 60 calories.

So what about the health benefits? A number of studies have shown that dark chocolate’s special antioxidant properties help protect the cardiovascular system, including:

• Widening blood vessels
• Modest effect on lowering blood pressure
• Reduces platelet action- reduces blood clotting

While these revelations may seem like excellent news to your cardiovascular health, remember not to get too carried away. Over-consumption of both of these can decrease their beneficial effects and also cause weight gain. Yet, in a way, you can have your cake and eat it too.