| Soul food recipes have a reputation as unhealthy, | | | | The other half concerns the cooking methods and |
| especially in the light of today's health conscious | | | | techniques. Because what good is adding healthier |
| consumers. More people are watching their diets by | | | | ingredients to the dish if you end up cooking valuable |
| choice or are forced to by doctors orders. The high | | | | vitamins and minerals out in the process? That's why |
| fat, salt and calories contained in traditional soul food is | | | | you'll find less deep fat frying in today's cooking and |
| blamed for the high rate of obesity, high blood | | | | more steaming, roasting, baking, and sautéing, |
| pressure, diabetes and other health ailments. | | | | for example. |
| That's why radical changes continue to take place | | | | All these work to add the valuable health element in |
| when it comes to this popular southern cuisine. Those | | | | and eliminate former health concerns of the past. |
| changes have combined healthier ingredients and | | | | Another culprit is sodium, one of the biggest culprits |
| cooking methods with the robust flavor of southern | | | | blamed for the increase in high blood pressure, |
| cooking. The result is a healthier and friendlier version | | | | especially among African Americans. Now more |
| more people are loving. Now you can taste healthier | | | | recipes contain sea salt and even kosher salt, which |
| ingredients that make the dishes safer to eat than the | | | | contain much less sodium than table salt. But the |
| past. No more artery clogging fat back, bacon or ham | | | | movement continues toward no salt recipes by using a |
| hocks in these dishes. We're talking leaner, meaner and | | | | combination of spices, citrus juices and herbs instead. |
| healthier. | | | | These are quick and simple ways today's creative |
| Now you'll find more natural ingredients, herbs and | | | | cooks are making soul food recipes safer for public |
| spices that work with your healthy soul food diet, not | | | | consumption. Now you can have your favorite |
| against it. But including natural ingredients that | | | | southern dishes without risking your soul. |
| harmonize with good health standards is half the battle. | | | | |