Why do we like “Junk Food”?

There are a million reasons we all like to tell ourselves, while reaching for that high calorie snack, “Oh, its ok, its healthy because the label says “MULTIGRAIN”, protein rich, enriched with fiber, blah blah something or other bar.” However, lets be real, it’s most likely a high sugar, high fat, and loaded with calories bar. We are all guilty. Its a major problem in America now a days.

Why? Marketing scams and genetically modifying food. We have developed ways to make food taste flavorful however, never expire? Never expire!? Imagine that, we have become a society where we have invented food where it will never go bad! Miracle? More like scary. An apple goes bad after a week, fish after a couple days, but no doubt you’ll definitely still be able to chow down some cheese puffs and spam 35 years from the day you bought them.

So now you know the hook, ready for the bait? Addiction. Why are we addicted to “comfort foods”? Well lets be real, sugar and fat are what make food taste good making you desire and crave them immensely. Satisfying ones desires with a snickers bar makes them feel good and when it makes you feel good your body creates endorphins. Endorphins create dopamine, which can relate to the fact that being addicted to these high fatty sugary foods is equivalent to a cocaine addiction!

Either stop the addiction before it starts (hint to all you new or expecting parents out there) or go cold turkey. This means no cheating, which lets be real, we play the excuse game again of “Oh this 3 Musketeer high sugar chocolate bar reads less fat on the label, therefore it’s healthy.” No! Stay away! Don’t do it! Be strong! Or here is a thought… just trick your brain into thinking its eating things its not. How you ask? Remember when you were a kid your parents would tell you that your broccoli was little trees and you were the imaginary dinosaur who had to eat them? Well yeah so, it’s kind of like that except the adult version. Think of it like this, there are ways and methods out there to create healthy food that interests you enough to want to desire it and really truly be the honest definition of “healthy” for the human body. I’m on that mission… watch it happen…

Veal Kebabs

Ingredients (Makes 8 Kebabs)

* 2 lb ground veal
* 1 tbsp coriander
* 1 tbsp chili powder
* 1 tbsp paprika
* 2 tsp ground ginger
* 1 tbsp paprika
* 1/4 cup minced fresh oregano
* 1/4 cup minced fresh mint
* 1/2 of one medium minced white onions
* 4 cloves minced garlic
* 1 tsp vinegar
* Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl. Shape the mixture into 8 even balls. Mold each portion around a skewer (that has been soaking in warm water for about 30 minutes) until evenly spread out. Spray a hot grill (or grill pan) with cooking spray (any kind). Grill each kebab for for about 10 minutes (depending how hot your grill is) or use judgement when the kebab is sturdy enough to rotate over with out falling apart, flip it to the other side. Finish off the kebabs in a preheated oven (400 degrees) for about 8 minutes more or (using a meat thermometer) until the internal temperature reads around 155 degrees. Let rest for about 2 minutes before serving.

Minty Yogurt Dressing

Ingredients (Makes about one cup)

* 1 tbsp chopped fresh oregano
* 1 tbsp chopped fresh mint
* 1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
* 1/4 cup whole milk
* 6 oz Fage Fat Free Plain Greek Yogurt (Fage is my favorite tasting brand of greek yogurt, feel free to substitute though)