Lightweight Eats

Have you ever been on FoodGawker or Tastespotting? Or read a food blog? (Yes, I'm guilty of this as well.)

In case you're wondering, every recipe either has bacon or is "healthy". With a myriad of fad diets out there, from gluten-free to paleo to raw vegan, everybody has a different definition of healthy. And, frankly, if you have to call a recipe out as healthy, it probably isn't.

Take these "healthy" chocolate coated gingerbread balls:
http://www.nutritionistinthekitch.com/2012/12/13/chocolate-coated-gingerbread-bliss-balls-vegan-gf/

Between the dates, the maple syrup and the molasses, I don't consider these particularly healthy.

When I picture healthy, I see a huge fresh veggie salad topped with an avocado-based creamy dressing and lightly toasted nuts, served with a whole grain and beans. Or a grain bowl. Not chocolate-covered anything.

Of course, somebody on a paleo or raw diet might look at the "healthy" I just described and wrinkle their noses in judgement.

So in this new year, let's resolve to be a little bit more specific. "Reduced calorie", "low fat", "veggie-ful", "paleo", "raw" and "vegan" are all great descriptors. Even "butter-free". But please, don't go calling your fudgy brownies healthy because you added prunes. They're still brownies.