Cooking to Prevent Cancer

People often wonder whether they are eating enough fruits and vegetables and what benefits they provide.  What we know is that fruits and vegetables can offer benefits that many people may not have thought of:  to both help prevent and fight cancer. We also know that we need to gain a better understanding of nutrition and cancer.

The fact is, eating the right kinds of food has a big impact on your health and can even help prevent and deter cancer growth.   Increasing your intake of vitamin- and fiber-rich fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes, which all have important nutrients and anti-oxidants which are cancer-fighting substances, can make a difference. It’s a good idea to eat vegetarian at least once a week.

Improving your diet is easy – and a great way to start the year off right.  One of my favorite health tips is to put as much color on your plate as possible.  We love 3 Sisters Cafe because they offer so many dishes with healthier ingredients and lots of color!

The Gateway’s mission is to help cancer patients live longer, feel better and be cured Today!   Ninety-nine cents of every dollar we receive goes to fund promising research all over the world to find cures for today’s cancer patients.  At demandcurestoday.org, you can see that we fund cancer research in complementary medicine like nutrition as well as conventional treatments like new drug discoveries.

Recipes from 3 Sisters Café in Indianpolis

Blueberry Goat Cheese Pie

Use a standard 9 inch pie crust

5 C fresh blueberries
1/2 C chevre style goat cheese
1/4 C almond milk
1/4 C honey
1/4 C all purpose flower
1 egg 
1 t chopped basil
 
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl until roughly incorporated.   It’s important to leave hunks of goat cheese and whole berries. Pour into pie shell and top with:

Topping:
1 1/2 C sliced almonds 
1 T olive oil 
1/2 C honey
Combine and pour over the pie.
Bake at 350* until light golden brown, about 30 minutes.
 

Porridge
4 C cooked grain mixture
1 C almond milk
1 C water
1/2 C honey
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t cardamon
1 t vanilla extract 
1 C uncooked old fashioned oats

Combine in a saucepan on low and simmer until most of the liquid is absorbed.  Add favorite dried fruits and nuts.

Happy Garden 3 Delight Salad
Mixed field greens
1/2 C pineapple
1/2 C tofu
1/4 C shelled edamame
2 T sliced almonds
 
In a very hot pan, add one T olive oil and everything but the field greens, season with salt and pepper and fresh cilantro.  When the pineapple and nuts start to brown, remove from heat.   Serve on top of spring mix and garnish with fresh avocado. 

5 Grain Pilaf
4 C cooked, cooled grain mixture
1/2 red onion, jullienned
1 peeled, cored and diced granny smith apple
1/2 C edamame
1/2 C dried cranberries
1/2 C sliced almonds
1/2 C lemon juice
1/2 C honey
1/2 C balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper
1 T each chopped fresh basil and cilantro

Mix all ingredients well in a large bowl and serve.