Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN
Toby is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in clinical nutrition and dietetics from New York University. She is the founder of Toby Amidor Nutrition [1] where she provides nutrition consulting services for various entities. As a nutrition expert for FoodNetwork.com, she writes for their Healthy Eating Blog [2]; she is also the nutrition advisor for FitStudio [3] (powered by Sears). Toby is on the Advisory Committee for Activewear USA, has a regular column titled “Ask the Expert” in Today’s Dietitian Magazine, and is an adjunct professor at Teachers College, Columbia University’s Nutrition Department. You can read Toby’s personal blog [4] and follow her on Facebook [5] and twitter [6].
Having spent my summers in Israel and having grown up in a household filled with Mediterranean flavors, I adore the fresh and delicious foods the Mediterranean lifestyle promotes. The diet [7] is filled with fresh fruit and vegetables, fish, poultry, nuts, seeds, and legumes. The food is subtly flavored to allow its natural flavors to shine. Lunch and dinner are accompanied by a splendid glass of red wine. Meals are enjoyed with family and friends sans electronics with good old conversation. What more could a gal ask for?
The recipe below is for Grilled Vegetable Skewers marinated in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The beautiful colors are perfect to serve guests as a side to chicken or fish.
Grilled Vegetable Skewers
Serves: 4 (2 skewers per serving)
Ingredients:
16 cherry tomatoes
1 medium green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium yellow bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
¾ medium red onion, cut into 1-inch pieces
8 button mushrooms, sliced lengthwise
Directions:
Place all vegetables in a large bowl and set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, honey, balsamic vinegar, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Pour marinade over vegetables; mix to evenly coat. Cover vegetable bowl and let marinate in refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
Preheat grill. Thread the vegetables in any order desired. Each skewer should have 2 pieces each of green peppers, yellow pepper, onion, tomato and mushroom. Grill skewers for 10-15 minutes, turning several times, until vegetables are tender and edges are slightly browned.
Nutrition info per serving:
Calories: 128 Total Fat: 7 grams, Saturated Fat: 1 gram, Total Carbohydrate: 15 grams, Protein: 5 grams, Sodium: 303 milligrams, Cholesterol: 0 milligrams, Fiber: 3 grams
Links
[1] http://tobyamidornutrition.com/
[2] http://www.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats
[3] http://www.fitstudio.com/
[4] http://tobyamidornutrition.com/my-blog/
[5] http://www.facebook.com/tobyamidornutrition
[6] https://twitter.com/#%21/tobyamidor
[7] http://www.oldwayspt.org/resources/heritage-pyramids/mediterranean-diet-pyramid/traditional-med-diet