Hot Chocolate + Blizzard = Happy

Ah, there's nothing better than a rich cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter's night...when there's approximately a foot of snow outside...and more to come!

I steer clear of powdered hot chocolate mixes. Most have dismally small amounts of protein (about 2g) and calcium (43mg), are full of added sugar and, well, they're just not chocolatey enough for me! I usually make my own hot chocolate, which is just quick and convenient as a mix - and much more nutrient-dense.

Here's my favorite recipe for hot chocolate:

Rouge Tomate: Nutritious and Delicious!

Yesterday, I took my mom out for lunch at Rouge Tomate for her birthday. What an exquisite dining experience! My interest in Rouge Tomate was first piqued by a nutrition career panel I attended last winter. One member of the panel was Natalia Hancock, RD, culinary nutritionist for Rouge Tomate. A restaurant with a nutritionist on staff? Yes, it's true! Check out Rouge Tomate's philosophy to learn more.

First, the setting:

Looking down to the lower level.

Main level.

Lower level.

Alpha-Carotene, Beta's not-so-little sister?

Just before Thanksgiving, I came across this article published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. In short, the authors analyzed data from 15,318  adults who participated in NHANES, and followed them over a 14-year period.  Carotenes are antioxidants, and it has been hypothesized that they may lower risk for cancer and cardiovascular disease. In this case, the authors discovered that those adults with the highest blood concentration of alpha-carotene had the lowest risk of death from all causes - yes, this includes cancer and CVD.

Now, while this is quite intriguing, please note that it is an association, which does not establish cause and effect. Still, this article highlights something I often explain: that nutrients cannot replace food.