CHARTING A COURSE TO WELLNESS
Creative Ways of Living With Heart
Disease and Diabetes

By Treena and Graham Kerr
Publisher: American Diabetes Association
Price: $18.95/trade paperback
ISBN: 1-58040-198-8

FORMER GALLOPING GOURMET GRAHAM KERR
AND WIFE TREENA REVEAL HOW THEY ACHIEVED WELLNESS
BY CHANGING THE WAY THEY COOK, EAT, AND LIVE

New Book Explains How Anyone Can Apply Their Methods,
and Features More Than 400 Healthful Gourmet Recipes


Millions of people know Graham Kerr from his long-running television series, The Galloping Gourmet, and from his current PBS-TV show, The Gathering Place. But when his wife, Treena, suffered a heart attack and was subsequently diagnosed with diabetes, this renowned chef and cookbook author knew he had find a way to transform his style of rich gourmet cooking - one that would retain the delicious flavors while limiting the ingredients that contributed to her illness. Working together, they made major lifestyle changes and took control of Treena's health. Their new book, CHARTING A COURSE TO WELLNESS: Creative Ways of Living With Heart Disease and Diabetes (American Diabetes Association) - chock full of sensitive, caring, and practical advice - is another team effort. In it, they reveal how anyone can embark on the same road to wellness - and they offer more than 400 luscious and healthful recipes to boot.

Although the Kerrs quickly recognized the need for an overhaul in their culinary lifestyle after Treena's diagnosis, it wasn't easy. As most people know, change rarely is. But by taking small steps, keeping a logbook, and focusing on the benefits of a new approach to eating, they were able to bring about major improvements in Treena's health.

In CHARTING A COURSE TO WELLNESS, they share their story and make it possible for others to find their own unique ways for living healthfully with chronic illness. The Kerrs emphasize the importance of working with a partner - a spouse, close family member, or friend - and explain that there are five key building blocks for developing this "partnership in purpose." They are:
  • It's Options and Choices, Not Rules and Regulations - Anytime you create a rule or regulation, you invite rebellion. Your objective is abundant life, not rigid restriction.

  • Have a Degree of Willingness (DOW) - Both of you must be willing and motivated to do what's necessary for good health.

  • Measure So You Know - It's not enough to say "everything in moderation" - you need to measure portion sizes, as well as take health-related measurements, such as blood sugar.

  • Take Your Medications - Although major changes can be brought about by lifestyle shifts, carefully-researched medications can be a real partner in your search for better health.

  • The Search is Never-ending for Creative Change - Medications and surgery can be wonderful interventions, but neither should be an alternative for creative lifestyle choices. You should keep searching the web and other sources for the latest ideas that might unlock another door to abundant life.
CHARTING A COURSE TO WELLNESS offers more than 400 recipes, based on Graham Kerr's fine foods expertise, but built on principles of healthy eating. The recipes - including French Toast with Blueberry-Orange Sauce, Creamy Clam Chowder, Herb Broiled Artichokes, Halibut with Mango Chutney, Crustless Spinach Ricotta Quiche, and Boston Cream Pie - are accompanied by a "Food Preference Sheet" (FPS) which divides foods into categories such as salt, sour, sweet, and bitter, as well as by aroma, color, and texture, and asks for reactions to a variety of cultural styles of cooking and methods of preparation. By filling out the FPS - indicating, for example, that you like onions but dislike ketchup - it becomes easy to customize the recipes for your own preferences. For example, if a recipe calls for anchovies, it's possible to replace them with a variety of other salty options. "Nobody else has had your exposure to foods nor your experiences with eating and drinking, and nobody can tell you what to like and not to like," writes Kerr.

All of the recipes include detailed nutritional information, and many offer vegetarian options or details for reducing the number of carbohydrates. Among the recipes included in CHARTING A COURSE TO WELLNESS is:

Vegetable Curry
SERVING SIZE: 1/4 of recipe, SERVES: 4
(* indicates that you may want to cut the carbs in this dish)

1 tsp non-aromatic olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onions
1 Tbsp curry powder
2 cups cauliflower florets
1 cup thinly sliced carrots
* 1/4 cup raisins
* 1/2 cup 100% orange juice
* 1 cup petit peas, thawed
1/4 tsp salt
2 Tbsp 100% orange juice mixed with 1 tsp arrowroot or cornstarch (slurry)
1/4 cup cashew nuts
* 2 cups cooked rice

1. Heat the oil in a high-sided skillet on medium high. Sauté the onions for 1 minute then add the curry powder and cook 2 minutes more. Stir in the potatoes, carrots, and raisins and toss to coat with curry. Pour in the juice, cover, and cook on medium for 20 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.
2. Stir in the peas and salt and heat through. Add the slurry and stir until thickened and clear. Serve over rice and scatter the cashews over the top.

* To Cut Carb
* Raisins: reduce to 1 Tbsp.
* Orange juice: reduce to 1/4 cup.
* Peas: reduce to 1/2 cup.
* Rice: reduce to 1 cup and change to brown rice.
+ Add 1 cup of your favorite vegetable.

Per serving: 273 calories, 6 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 3% calories from saturated fat, 50 g carbohydrates, 7 g fiber, 264 mg sodium
Exchanges: 2 Starch, 1 Vegetable, 1 Fruit, 1 Fat

Low Carb
Per serving: 194 calories, 6 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 4% calories from saturated fat, 31 g carbohydrate, 6 g dietary fiber, 250 mg sodium
Exchanges: 1 Starch, 2 Vegetable, 1/2 Fruit, 1 Fat


The Kerrs' devotion to bringing what they've learned about nutrition and wellness to a broader audience shines through every page of CHARTING A COURSE TO WELLNESS. With Treena's experiences in her own words and poetry, and Graham's culinary expertise, it is a unique compendium of inspiration, motivation, and practical information for anyone looking to embark on the road to better health.

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

GRAHAM KERR is an internationally known culinary and television personality and award-winning author. He has hosted more than 1,700 programs on such series as The Galloping Gourmet, Take Kerr, The Graham Kerr Show, Graham Kerr's Kitchen, and The Gathering Place. A frequent speaker whose books have sold over fourteen million copies, Kerr is also a member of the Advisory Board for Partnership For Food Safety Education and has an ongoing partnership with the American Dietitic Association. He lives in Mt. Vernon, Washington, with his wife, Treena.

TREENA KERR has served as co-creator on all of Graham Kerr's television activities since 1969, when she was twice nominated for an Emmy as Daytime TV Producer of the Year. She is also a published poet and has lectured all over the world.

CHARTING A COURSE TO WELLNESS is available at http://store.diabetes.org, by calling 1-800-232-6733, or at your local bookstore.

Cure. Care. Commitment.
That's your American Diabetes Association.
 

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