Be Proactive Not Reactive

Here’s a New Year’s resolution for you. Be proactive in preventing chronic disease. What’s that mean? That means stop waiting for your doctor to diagnose you with diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, COPD or a myriad of other chronic diseases, and do something to prevent them. Remember Ben Franklin’s famous, ” an ounce of … Continue reading “Be Proactive Not Reactive”

The Trickle Down Effect

Over the last several years as I have listened to patients talk about the foods that they remember growing up, they tell of the cabbage and noodles, and the ethnic cuisine of kibbe, grape leaves, and home made pasta sauce that their grandmas cooked. When I ask if they have continued those traditions, they tell … Continue reading “The Trickle Down Effect”

Access to Health Care is Useless without Access to Healthy Food

We struggle in this country with providing health care to all of our citizens. The debate rages on about how to do this affordably , effectively, and fairly so that everyone benefits from the medications, provider services, and medical diagnostic testing and treatments that exist in the year 2017 to treat and cure illness.  Yet, … Continue reading “Access to Health Care is Useless without Access to Healthy Food”

Chef Gene’s Applesauce Cake with Zucchini

  Ingredients 1 cup white sugar 1/2 cup butter or margarine 1 cup chilled applesauce 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 1/2 cup raisins 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup shredded zucchini Directions Cream butter or margarine with sugar. Add applesauce; beat well. Stir in … Continue reading “Chef Gene’s Applesauce Cake with Zucchini”

Chef Gene’s Pinto Bean Salad

Ingredients 1-1/2 cups dried pinto beans, soaked overnight and drained 2 medium tomatoes, chopped 1 medium onion, diced 1 red pepper, diced 1 green pepper, diced 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro For the vinaigrette 1/4 cup malt vinegar ( or any other vinegar of choice) 1 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup olive oil 1 large garlic clove, … Continue reading “Chef Gene’s Pinto Bean Salad”

Chef Gene’s Summer Salad

Ingredients 1 cup thinly sliced cucumber 1 cup diced fresh tomato 1/2 cup olive oil 1/2 cup red wine vinegar 1/2 cup sliced onion 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon chopped fresh basil ( more to taste) Directions Toss cucumber, tomato, olive oil, red wine vinegar, onion, salt, basil, and white pepper together in a large … Continue reading “Chef Gene’s Summer Salad”

Chef Gene’s Apple/Rosemary Porkchops

 2 lbs  (about 5)  Fuji or other sweet-tart apples  2 tablespoons butter, melted 4 pork loin chops 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 small onion thinly sliced 1/2 cup apple juice 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves Directions Step 1 Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Marinate pork loin chops with apple juice and rosemary leaves for … Continue reading “Chef Gene’s Apple/Rosemary Porkchops”

Fast Food May Be Your Last Food

It’s a sunny Thursday morning as I set up my table, sign in sheet, and prescription box in the parking lot of Health Right Clinic, when I am immediately  assaulted by the smell of grease heating up in the fry bins of the fast food restaurant (which shall remain unnamed) looming across the street.  It is disheartening to say the least, but I … Continue reading “Fast Food May Be Your Last Food”