Yesterday, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette ran “Healthy Spreads for Superbowl Sunday”, an article featuring two of my recipes from the upcoming “Secrets of a Skinny Chef”.

Prevention Magazine’s editor-in-chief, Liz Vaccariello, invited me on her show, “In the Kitchen With Liz” to talk about healthy foods. The first video focuses on a delicious and heart-healthy smoothie!

Long a cornerstone to ayurevedic medicine and revered by tropical civilizations, coconut oil has a surprisingly long history in food and medicine throughout the world. However, the oil that has been somewhat controversial when it comes to recent health studies.

Nothing smells better than melted butter – and many readers ask why don’t I use butter in my recipes more often. Is butter really bad? Or could it be better as some of the latest health trends indicate?

In my opinion, the number one reason to use spices in your food – beyond adding plenty of flavor with no fat or sugar – is that most spices contain compounds that work as powerful anti-inflammatory agents. So escape your comfort zone and try some of the more “exotic” spices!

This month’s newsletter is chock-full of great resources, articles and videos – check out my fridge-makeover video on AOL, a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette interview and several articles and interviews about naturopathic medicine, cocoa and cooking oils!

Oils are one of the most widely used ingredients in cooking – you can find them in every cooking method, including sauteeing, pan frying, roasting, and even dressing raw foods. Besides salt, using cooking oil or fat is essential to preparing meals.

Mystery surrounds the famous Saint Valentine who restored sight and hearing to the daughter of his jailer while imprisoned. His great act of spiritual love is commemorated with a modern celebration of romantic love, on Valentine’s Day next week.

Smooth, fat free pumpkin puree is a dream when it comes to adding creaminess and moistness to desserts. Instead of using applesauce to lower fat content in desserts like cake, brownies, and soft cookies just substitute the same amount of pumpkin. Try layering pumpkin with your favorite non-fat yogurt or mixing it into low fat frozen yogurt.

Learning quick tips about cooking and healthy eating is the best way to get started on the right track towards health. Complex diet plans can be hard to follow, but in some cases simple, small changes can make a huge difference in your weight or overall health.