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Recipes to Prevent Picnic Pigout this Memorial Day Weekend

May 4, 2005 -- Memorial Day Week-end marks the beginning of picnic and barbeque season, which usually means calorie-laden fare such as ribs, burgers, potato salad and ice cream.



This season, you don't have to sacrifice good taste and fun to have a healthy outdoor meal. "Beautiful sunshine, warm weather, and outdoor activities can make this season the perfect time to start making positive lifestyle changes," says David Grotto, RD, LD, Director of the Nutrition Program at the Block Center for Integrative Cancer Care and Optimal Health in Evanston, Illinois. To make it easier to plan your healthy picnic or barbeque, Grotto suggests this picnic-perfect menu: All-American Fruit Pizza, Grilled Ahi Tuna Steaks on Whole Grain Rolls, Pecan Pie for dessert, and iced green tea to drink.



"Simply eating the All-American Fruit Pizza instead of rich appetizers such as chips and dips or cheese plates could save you hundreds of calories that day," Grotto said. "And it tastes great too!"



All-American Fruit Pizza



3 teaspoons 100 percent fruit spread, such as strawberry or mixed berry

1 large (12-inch) whole wheat pita bread

1 Gala apple or pear, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced

6 large strawberries, sliced

1/2 cup blueberries

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 350F. Spread the fruit spread over the pita bread. Arrange the apple or pear slices on top, then the strawberries and blueberries. Sprinkle with the cinnamon. Bake for 15 minutes. Serve warm or cooled. Serves 4.



"Grilled Ahi Tuna Steaks are especially great when they are served on whole grain rolls," says Grotto. "If you substitute white bread for a whole grain bun, you get great taste, similar calories, and a whole lot more than just fiber. There are more than 100 plant chemicals in whole grain, such as whole wheat, that have been found to help fight cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and even help manage your weight."



Grilled Ahi Tuna Steaks on Whole Grain Rolls

� teaspoon salt

� teaspoon cracked black pepper

� cup low-sodium tamari sauce

� cup agave syrup

1 teaspoon dried mustard

� teaspoon wasabi paste (optional)

4 Ahi tuna steaks

4 whole grain rolls

In a bowl, mix together the salt, pepper, tamari sauce, agave syrup, dried mustard, and wasabi paste, if using. Place the tuna in the bowl and cover with the mixture. Refrigerate the tuna overnight. When you are ready to grill, take the tuna out of the bowl and discard the marinade. Sear the tuna on high heat for approximately two minutes on each side, leaving a pink center. Serve on the whole grain rolls. Garnish with a slice of ripe tomato and endive lettuce or spinach, if desired. Serves 4.



Nothing finishes off a picnic like a decadant dessert. Here's a version of pecan pie that is not only delicious, it's actually good for you.



Pecan Pie

2 1/2 cups, toasted organic pecans

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup agave syrup

1/2 cup brown rice syrup

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

l teaspoon minced fresh ginger

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

3 tablespoons flaxseeds

1 1/2 teaspoon arrowroot powder

1/3 cup soy milk

Pre-baked 9-inch whole wheat pie crust

Preheat the oven to 350F. Place the pecans in a large bowl. In a medium saucepan, combine the maple syrup, agave syrup, brown rice syrup, vanilla, ginger, and salt. Bring to boil and simmer for 5 minutes, then remove from heat and allow to come to room temperature. Meanwhile, grind the flaxseeds to a powder in a coffee grinder. Add the arrowroot, soy milk, and ground flaxseed to the syrup mixture, pour into a blender, and blend until smooth. Pour the mixture over the pecans, mix well, and pour into the pre-baked pie crust. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the filling has thickened.



For other healthy recipes, please visit the Block Center's website at: HYPERLINK "http://www.blockmd.com". The Block Center for Integrative Cancer Care and Optimal Health (BCICCOH) was founded in 1980 by Penny and Keith Block, M.D., with a focus on treating the patient as a whole person, and not treating just the diagnosis or symptoms. The Center's research-based treatment integrates an innovative approach to the best of conventional medicine with scientifically sound complementary therapies - therapeutic nutrition, botanical and phytonutrient supplementation, prescriptive exercise, and systematic mind-body strategies - to enhance the recovery process. Block has pioneered this "middle ground" approach to cancer care and optimal health - designing a total treatment plan that is tailored to the precise needs of each patient, using a unique set of clinical and laboratory assessments. The Block Center is breaking new ground with the creation and development of Cancer Rehab as an innovative treatment modality, and is currently the only private North American medical center using chrono-modulated chemotherapy. While the Block Center is a full treatment clinic, it is involved in collaborative research with M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas as a Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) and is also engaged in clinical cancer research with other university facilities in the United States and Israel.

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