Zucchini Nutrition Facts

There’s zucchini…and then, well, there’s ZUCCHINI (see photo). This popular variety of summer vegetable is light, refreshing, versatile and delicious. Zucchini is easy to grow in a home garden….and boy, does it grow. Summer squash is in peak season early in the summer but home gardeners may not harvest it until mid-summer or later. Eating produce in-season ensures fantastic flavor and lower prices. Late summer and early fall is not time to wind down your trips to the farmer’s markets, but to kick it into high-gear as August is a big harvest month.

Summer squashes are relatives to winter squashes, such as pumpkins as well as melons and cucumbers. They belong to the Cucurbitaceae family of plants. Zucchini has a soft shell and creamy white flesh. In terms of selection, choose firm zucchini (free of blemishes) with a shiny, slightly prickly green skin. Store in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days. DO NOT wash until you are ready to use.

This low-carbohydrate vegetable offers 20 calories per cup, sliced, 0 g fat, 4 g carbohydrate, 3 g sugar, 1 g protein, 1 g dietary fiber and 10 mg sodium. Zucchini is an excellent source of vitamin C and a good source of other essential micronutrients, such as molybdenum, vitamin B6 and manganese. Summer squash is one of the best food sources of various carotenoids (antioxidants found in dark green/orange veggies), such as alpha- and beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-cryptoxanthin. Supporting healthy eyesight, offering anti-cancer benefits and supporting blood sugar metabolism are just three of the many health benefits of this nutrient-dense veggie. Eat raw (as a snack or on top of a salad) or slice and steam to retain the most nutrients (skin-on). Zucchini can be frozen, but doing so will soften the flesh…however, frozen summer squash actually retains its antioxidant content (potency) very well.

You can find recipes for zucchini bread, cake, muffins, etc. What about something different and super-easy? Cut your zucchini length-wise in 1/4″ slices. Brush lightly with olive oil and grill seasoning (and/or seasonings you like). Grill (on a pre-heated grill) until tender, about 3-4 minutes per side!

Hot Dogs Nutrition Facts: Limit the Damage

Hot dogs, synonymous for many with ‘summertime’ food, will never be mistaken for a health food. But how bad are they? Can you do minimal diet damage and still enjoy an occasional hot dog as a treat? Why are they so unhealthy to begin with? First, the bad news: hot dogs are processed meat products, full of calories, sodium, cholesterol and fat. This processed ‘cured’ meat product contains sodium nitrite, a preservative that gives hot dogs a pinkish-red color and helps to prevent botulism food poisoning. Cooked over hot coals, nitrite can react with naturally occurring compounds in processed meat to form nitrosamines/ nitrosamides, connected with the development of certain types of cancers. Add to that the fact that consuming a diet rich in red meat alone is connected with an increased risk of developing colon cancer…for overall health, it is best to limit red meat consumption but be particularly cautious with processed meats (deli meats, bacon, sausage, hot dogs…).

Now for some good news: hot dogs can be a better choice than regular hamburgers (calorie and fat-wise) and don’t have to be ‘off-limits.’ Choose wisely when you can and balance less nutritious food items (like processed meats) with better choices (whole grains, fruits and vegetables). Here are some guidelines for limiting the damage in your favorite summertime treat:

• Choose small or regular-sized pork or beef hot dogs over ‘jumbo’ hot dogs. A smaller-sized hot dog (around 40 to 50 grams) typically offers less than 150 calories per wiener but a jumbo dog (close to twice the size) can provide, predictably, twice the amount of calories, and that’s before the hot dog bun and condiments.
• Look for brands of hot dogs that are low in saturated fat (providing no more than 3 grams per wiener, 2 grams is even better) and not too high in sodium (about 400 to 450 mg per wiener).
• Try a veggie or turkey dog instead. You may not save much on sodium, but you will on calories and fat, and consume no  saturated fat by choosing these dogs. A veggie dog offers, on average, 60 to 70 calories, less than 2g fat and less than 400 mg sodium. Veggie hot dogs are also sodium nitrite-free.
• Finally, choose a whole grain hot dog bun and be careful with high-calorie toppings. Try a squeeze of yellow mustard, onions and tomatoes. Keep in mind that most condiments are sodium-rich. Balance your plate with healthy choices, such as fresh watermelon and a three-bean salad.

Nuts for Health: Including them in your diet

In a word…YES! Nuts contain a lot of fat, scaring off many calorie-conscience dieters. Nuts are high in calories. Why? Gram for gram, fat provides the most calories (9 calories per gram versus 4 calories per gram for carbohydrate and protein). However, the fat in nuts is mostly unsaturated (heart-healthy kind of fats). So, while they may be higher in calories,  nuts are also packed with a lot of really good nutrients, such as protein, as well as vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, chromium, manganese, selenium, potassium, niacin (vitamin B3), copper and vitamin E (among other nutrients). What are some of the benefits of including nuts in your diet?

• Nuts are cholesterol-free  
• Nuts are a fantastic source of dietary fiber and antioxidants
• Those who consume one serving of nuts five times per week can reduce risk of heart disease by 50% and diabetes by 25%
• Eating nuts as a snack (part of a snack) stabilizes blood sugar, staves off hunger and may aid in weight loss/ management, despite a higher calorie content

Because nuts are higher in fats, they can help keep you satisfied longer and tide you over when you are hungry (it takes longer for your body to breakdown fat). The recommendation: try eating a handful of unsalted nuts (15-20 each) daily … but make sure you substitute something out of your diet because a serving of nuts may provide up to 300 calories. 

All nuts are healthy in moderation, but walnuts, pecans, almonds and pistachios are particularly nutritious choices and offer surprising health benefits. Here are a few ideas on how to include nuts into your diet:

• Use chopped or crushed nuts as a crispy coating (along with whole-grain cereal and herbs) for fish or poultry
• Toss coarsely chopped nuts into side dishes, such as brown rice, barley or quinoa
• Chop and stir into oatmeal or cold cereal
• Toast (on medium heat in a dry nonstick skillet) lightly for topping salads
• Grind them in a food processor and use as a substitute for bread crumbs

 These are just a few suggestions – use your imagination!