Carbohydrates are the part of a meal that it is too easy to eat too much of! A tasty, home baked bread disappears before you know it; a heaping pile of rice seems to dissolve on your plate; pasta glides down so easily you hardly have to chew!
Consider a healthy, heaping serving of root vegetables as your carbohydrate at dinner time. Laden with vitamins, minerals, and fibre, these veggies fill you up in a healthy way, without providing a lot in the way of calories (though it should be noted that they are NOT FreeVeg – they must be counted as carbs).
Here is a delicious recipe from my wonderful family in Denmark, where root vegetables are a staple of the winter diet. This dish tastes like french fries, with a sweet twist from the beets that make it simply outstanding!!
Ingredients:
- 300g parsnips, peeled and cut into french fry shapes
- 500g red beets, peeled and cut into french fry shapes
- 400g carrots, peeled and cut into french fry shapes
- chili pepper flakes, garlic powder, thyme, pepper, and salt, to taste
- 2 tsp canola oil
Mix oil together with veggies in a large bowl. Spread over a baking sheet covered in tin foil. Sprinkle spices over top. Place in 400F oven and bake for 45 minutes. Every 10-15 minutes, stir the veggies around to ensure they are baked evenly.
Serves 6, with 83 calories per serving!
Dr. Sue © 2009 www.drsue.ca drsuetalks@gmail.com