Healthy Cooking with Michael Milken

Join cancer survivor Michael Milken to learn the importance of soy as he creates a rich Spinach Cannelloni in Tomato Sauce and tosses a Caesar salad. Plus, Michael's taste test and learn some surprising ways to change the way you eat.

Getting Kids to Eat Healthy

Spaghetti Squash

One look at a spaghetti squash and your child may back away from this unfamiliar object. Here's how to turn this late-summer vegetable into two child-friendly dishes: To cook a 2 1/2 to 3-pound spaghetti squash, halve the squash lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Place the halves, cut side down, on a baking sheet. Bake in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until tender. Cool slightly before using.

CANDIED Squash

While the squash cools, in a large skillet heat 4 tablespoons of butter or margarine until melted. Using a fork, remove the stringy pulp from the squash; discard. Cut the flesh into cubes and add to the skillet. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon and 2 tablespoons maple syrup; cook and stir until heated through.

MOCK Spaghetti

While the squash cools, in a saucepan heat 1 28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes. Using a fork, remove the stringy pulp from the squash; discard. Cut the flesh into thin strips and arrange on a serving platter. Top with the crushed tomatoes. Sprinkle with finely grated Parmesan cheese.

Healthy Snacking for Kids

When your children come running into the kitchen looking for a snack, they want something they can grab and eat. Freshly cut vegetables are always a great idea. Of course, it can be difficult to remind yourself to constantly replenish the supply. A simple solution: Just cut up that extra half of sweet pepper or leftover part of zucchini or cucumber whenever you're chopping the vegetables for a salad or for another dish. With bite-size vegetable pieces on hand (and a container of delicious accompanying dip), your children won't have to raid the pantry at snack time.

Rediscovering Mangoes

Mangoes are an unappreciated fruit--but not among U.S. growers. The new National Mango Board was created to seek out new markets for this fruit. The formation of the National Mango Board marks the first time that growers have joined together to market their crop to consumers. Mango consumption is steadily on the rise in the United States, but statistics indicate that less than 50 percent of the population actually consumes mangoes.

One of the first goals of the Mango Board is to entice you to pick up mangoes. We've gathered a few recipes to get you started. Mangoes are an excellent addition to your diet, providing vitamins A and C, and fiber. For more information and recipes for using mangoes, visit http://www.mangoinfo.org.

Peeling and Pitting Mangoes

Using a sharp knife, cut a thin piece off the bottom of the mango. Place the mango on a cutting board, stem-side up. Starting at the stem, run the knife to the bottom of the mango, following the curve of the fruit. Trim away the skin. The mango has two soft pear-shaped "cheeks," which run from the top of the fruit to the bottom. To remove the "cheeks," place the knife at the top of the mango, slightly off center. Slice off one of the "cheeks" in a clean, single cut. Keep the knife along the side of the pit as you cut. Repeat on the other side of the mango. Once the "cheeks" have been separated, you can then peel the mango. To remove the flesh from the peel and cut it into pieces at the same time, make cuts in a crosshatch fashion through the flesh of the mango. Bend the peel back and carefully slide the knife between the peel and the flesh to separate the flesh from the peel.

Healthy Cooking for the Month of October

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Each year, breast cancer claims the lives of scores of women across the United States. You may even know someone, whether in your own family or in that of a loved one, who died from breast cancer. The good news is that even though there is currently no cure for this terrible disease, scientists and researches continue their quest to battle against breast cancer.

Even though breast cancer awareness comes to the forefront during this month, let's not forget men as well. Prostate cancer claims just as many men as breast cancer does women each year. And while there is currently no single month of the year dedicated to Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, we cannot ignore this cancer as well. To heighten awareness of both cancers during this month, Recipes will feature a special article dealing with a cancer survivor's quest to revolutionize food and diet by calling attention to foods that can help anyone (especially those battling cancer) have a healthier diet.

Look for this special article on October 11 here at Recipes. If you'd like to contribute to breast cancer research, here are a few nonprofit organizations you can make a donation to:

1. The Women's Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) Sponsored by the Entertainment Industry Foundation, the WCRF supports education, outreach, and research programs, including an effort to identify early cancer biomarkers that may one day let doctors detect and treat breast cancer sooner.
2. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation This organization--recently named one of America's top charities--guarantees that a minimum of 85 percent of all funds raised goes directly to researching the causes of and treatments for breast cancer. Recent donations have helped fund studies of cutting-edge targeted therapies that fight cancer with far fewer side effects than chemotherapy.
3. The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation One of America's oldest and largest breast-cancer groups, the Komen Foundation funds breakthrough research, local breast-cancer screening programs, and treatment projects around the world.

Seven Keys to Healthy Eating

Unlock the secrets to healthy eating with these seven tips:

1. Eat a variety of foods. Your body needs more than 40 different nutrients to stay in top physical shape.
2. Balance food you eat with physical activity to maintain or improve your weight. Instead of slouching in the lounge chair after dinner, take a walk or jog around the neighborhood.
3. Eat lots of grains, vegetables, and fruits. Eating these types of foods will allow you to maintain a healthy balance of the essential vitamins and minerals your body needs to function effectively.
4. Choose a diet low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. This is especially important if you wish to lower your risk factors for high blood pressure and heart disease.
5. Choose a diet moderate in sugars. By curtailing the amount of sweets you eat, you'll be able to lessen your cravings for items like doughnuts.
6. Choose a diet moderate in salt and sodium. Be aware that some food products contain hidden sodium; read food labels carefully when grocery shopping.
7. If you drink alcoholic beverages, do so in moderation. A glass of wine at dinner is fine, but avoid drinking several alcoholic beverages within the same day.

Here's a tip to help you keep to your diet: Give your taste buds time to acclimate to your new dietary changes. It takes several weeks—and sometimes months—to adjust to eating less fat and sodium. Make changes slowly but surely.