The premise of Recipe Rehab is taking typical American dishes and making them healthy. American foods is high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt, and low in nutrients and fresh ingredients. Recipe Rehab's approach is to make replacements and adjustments to everyday recipes, turning dangerously unhealthy foods into satisfying and nutritious meals. Health concerns aside though, in every scenario I would take the Recipe Rehab recipe over the traditional dish.
Most of their recipes use fresh and "super-food" ingredients (chia, dates, coconut, nuts, yogurt, greens, etc) from stores like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. Almost every ingredient on the show comes from one of these two stores, although it doesn't seem to be sponsored by either of them (otherwise the labels wouldn't be taped over).
All of their episodes are available to watch for free online at the CBS website (Google it), and I've been catching up on the whole series with my wife. I'm quite astonished at how different it is from your typical cooking show. She is more interested in the recipes, while I'm constantly finding new healthy food replacements. I'm intrigued by little switches like substituting cream for pureed raw almonds, or a delicious icing made from nothing more than tofu, maple syrup, coconut oil, and natural flavorings (in "Chef Richard's Carrot Cupcakes").
There are so many horrible cooking shows on TV, telling American's to revel in their obesity by pouring on the butter and animal fats. The Food Channel's lineup is downright grotesque. In another decade our entire generation will be paying the price with an even more dire obesity epidemic.
Recipe Rehab is a refreshing alternative and offers a host of recipes and food swaps that can really change the way you and your family eat for the better. If nothing else, it's a great way to learn to use all of the incredible food options that are available at modern grocery stores like Trader Joe's.
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