Healthy oils

Despite all the concern about healthy oils in our diet, the body does require healthy oils to function. The problem is that most people are getting the wrong kinds of fats/oils in their diet and are lacking the good healthy oils.(especially people eating low fat foods).

Besides being an energy source, healthy oils are nutrients used in the production of cell membranes, as well as in several hormone-like compounds called eicosanoids. These compounds help regulate blood pressure, heart rate, blood vessel constriction, blood clotting and the nervous system.

In addition, healthy oils helps carry the nutrients from your food into your body. Oils also helps maintain healthy hair and skin, protects vital organs, keeps your body insulated, and provides a sense of fullness after meals.

The human body cannot function properly without healthy oils are truly to normal cell structure and body function.

Bottom line:: Would you run your car with out oil? The human body is a fine tuned machine, and healthy oils helps keep it running good



Here is the 28 fabulous ways to get your healthy oils list: Thank you to whomever originated it.

Having trouble getting in all your healthy oils? Here's some idea's. You only
need to eat 2 tsp of oil per day. (1 teaspoon is a serving), So you can get it
in throughout the day. Healthy oils are: olive oil, canola, sunflower,
safflower or flaxseed. FYI: Fish oils, Oil capsules, Avocados, peanut butter,
nuts, etc, do NOT count towards WW healthy oils requirements. Only the pourable
kind count.

1) Cook with it, A lot of recipes start off with oil in the skillet

2) Mix up a marinade for meats and/or veggies

3) Mix it with meat sauces, or most sauces

4) Sautee with it.

5) Drizzle over pasta

6) Drizzle over popcorn

7) Drizzle over veggies

8) Drizzle over pizza

9) Drizzle over corn on the cob

10) Drizzle some over fat free cheese(it helps melt better)

11) Mix up some salad dressing (like olive oil and balsamic vinegar)

12) Rub it on poultry or fish before baking it

13) Rub it on meats for the spices and/or rubs have something to stick to

14) Rub some on a baked potato

15) Grill sandwiches

16) Stir Fry veggies

17) Coat some homemade baked fries

18) Makes garlic toast, (oil and garlic on bread toast)

19) Add some to soups

20) Add some to smoothies

21) Mix 2 tsps olive oil to fat-free salad dressing

22) Add to anything that is fat-free. instead of the fat, you're replacing it
with healthy oils

23) Roast veggies with oil

24) Mix canola oil to oatmeal, yogurt, smoothies, soups

25) put some in salsa

26) If you eat frozen dinners, drizzle some over it.

27) make some Herb or Spice Infused Oil, (for dipping or cooking)

28) Mix in some Butter Buds or Molly McButter, you'll have butter flavored
oils




Homemade Granola






POINTS® Value: 3
Servings: 12
Preparation Time: 10 min
Cooking Time: 30 min
Level of Difficulty: Moderate


Each 1/2-cup serving of this healthy, homemade granola is drastically lower in fat than most store-bought varieties.
Ingredients

3 cup(s) uncooked quick oats
2 cup(s) ready-to-eat puffed rice cereal
6 Tbsp honey
1 tsp canola oil
1/4 cup(s) apple juice
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup(s) slivered almonds
1/4 cup(s) dried cranberries
1/4 cup(s) raisins

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix uncooked oats and puffed rice cereal together and spread on a non-stick baking sheet with sides; bake for 10 minutes, stirring once.


Meanwhile, mix honey, oil, apple juice, spices and vanilla together in a cup. When oats and puffed rice are done, spoon into a large bowl; set pan aside. Add almonds to cereal mixture and stir to combine. Pour honey-spice mixture over cereal mixture and mix thoroughly to distribute and coat completely; spread mixture back over pan.


Return pan to oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes more, stirring every few minutes. Remove from oven and spoon back into bowl. (Note: Be careful that granola doesn't burn - especially cereal along sides of pan.)


Stir raisins and cranberries into mixture; let cool. Store in an airtight container. Yields about a half cup per serving.






PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE

1 cup(s) all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp table salt
3 Tbsp reduced-calorie margarine, stick-variety
2 Tbsp reduced-fat peanut butter
1/2 cup(s) packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup(s) sugar
1 large egg white(s)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 spray(s) cooking spray

Instructions
Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl; mix well and set aside.


Combine margarine and peanut butter in a mixing bowl; beat on medium speed until blended and smooth. Gradually add both sugars and beat until blended; add egg white and vanilla and beat until smooth. While beating on low speed, gradually add flour mixture and mix until just blended.


Transfer dough to a large piece of plastic wrap and roll into an 8-inch log. Wrap log in plastic wrap and freeze for 2 hours. (Note: You can make the cookie dough up to 3 days in advance and freeze until ready to bake.)


Preheat oven to 350ºF. Coat 2 large baking sheets with cooking spray.


Remove cookie dough from freezer and slice crosswise into about twenty-four 1/3-inch-thick slices; place slices 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake until golden around edges, about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely. Yields 1 cookie per serving.