Someone in the family got news that they were borderline diabetic. It has caused us to change our eating habits. For the first time in a long time we are diligently trying to eat more fresh fruit and vegatables. We hang out at farmer's markets and search out interesting recipes.
The biggest surprise is how good vegetables taste all by themselves or with very simple, healthy, and limited additions.

Take some asparagus, snap off the woody bottoms, place on a broiler, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with some sea salt and bake at 500 degrees farenheit for about 15 minutes. The stalks will caramelize slightly and the taste is sheer heaven. And no worrying about how the hollandaise sauce is going to curdle, or worse. Cauliflower, baked with a little olive oil and lemon juice, tastes amazing. And, if you are trying to shed some calories from your meal, try mashing cauliflower instead of potatoes - makes for a nice change. Substitute a sweet potato for a white potato. So much better for you.

And try something you think you hate. If you really think back, you can't even remember when you started hating it. Give it another try and you might find a new favorite. My new find - marinated black olives. I thought I hated them and then suddenly tried one at a Greek restaurant and love them.

New medical conditions have caused us to discover much healthier eating choices. And we are thankful that we live in a country that provides such great access to healthy food choices.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive