Applesauce Carrot Bread

Eating healthy is a hot topic today, but with the demands on people's time and the confusing array of diet plans out there few people even know where to start. This blog is for you whether you are at a normal weight and want to eat better so you can feel good and live longer, or whether you are struggling with a weight problem and need to take control of your waistline and thus lower your risk of obesity related diseases. The Low Glycemic eating plan is for anyone who wants to eat healthy regardless of their weight status. Low glycemic is a fancy word for low sugar. I'll introduce this eating plan, and in future blogs I will offer tips on how to get started on a healthier life. Stay tuned!

Despite all the push for low-fat foods in the past 20 years Americans are fatter than ever, and along with the rise in obesity there is an alarming epidemic of obesity related diseases like Type 11 Diabetes. Nutrition experts used to tell us that eating low-fat foods was the answer to the
battle of the bulge. It ain't so. Sugar is the problem and not fat. It's important to eat healthy fats and to avoid trans fats, but sugar is the culprit. Americans eat a shocking amount of sugar and a lot of processed foods. The low glycemic diet avoids foods that are high on the Glycemic Index. These are foods that are digested very quickly and can cause a surge in insulin production in your body. High glycemic foods get blood glucose levels up and keep them up. You'll notice that I don't use these foods in my recipes. White baking potatoes, corn, beets, white flour, white bread, white rice, pineapple, watermelon are some of the offenders. There is a dazzling array of foods to enjoy in the Low Glycemic eating plan such as whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, low fat dairy, chicken, meats, seafood, nuts and healthy oils. My recipes cut back on sugar, fat and salt, but every one of them tastes terrific. These recipes prove that food is meant to savor and enjoy.
Stop thinking of food as an enemy that makes you fat; food is nourishment and a source of pleasure that you can share with your loved ones.

The following recipe uses applesauce to create a moist, flavorful bread that can be frozen in individually wrapped slices. With a cup of hot tea this is a perfect dessert. I tried out this recipe on my daughter, and she loved it. So will you.

• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup non-fat buttermilk
• 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour. Use white whole wheat flour if available. If not use regular whole wheat flour.
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 large carrots, grated
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Follow these steps

1. Spray the bottom and sides of a loaf pan and preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
2. In a large bowl combine flour, allspice, cinnamon, salt, baking soda and mix well. Add grated carrots to dry ingredients and stir. Add eggs, brown sugar, canola oil, applesauce, vanilla and buttermilk to flour and mix well. Do not over mix; just make sure the flour is blended into the wet ingredients. Add in the chocolate chips and nuts. Mix again. If the batter is too stiff you may have to add a little more buttermilk. Add a tablespoon at a time.
   
3. Spoon the batter into a loaf pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 45 to 50 minutes. Stick a toothpick in the middle and if it comes out clean then the bread is done.
   
4. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Turn out onto a wire rack to finish cooling.