Receta You Add What?
Again, another one of those topics that feed the airwaves of our media venues-Artificial sweeteners. Whether it be cancer-causing or promoting weight-gain, or even causing death. (I think I got an email the other day warning me about Diet Coke and aspartame, and my imminent death looming before me if I don't stop with my Diet Coke habit.) According to the National Cancer Institute, there is no scientific link between approved artificial sweeteners used in the United States and cancer. The Food and Drug Administration has approved and established an "acceptable daily intake" (ADI) for each sweetener. The ADI is the maximum amount considered safe to eat each day during your lifetime. FYI-- 've realized that the ADIs for sweeteners are thought to be 100 times less than the smallest amount that might cause concerns.
*Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal) 50 mg/kg = 18 to 19 cans of diet cola (Oh geeeez!)
*Saccharin (Sweet'N Low) 5 mg/kg = 9 to 12 of the pink packet
*Acesulfame K (Sunett, Sweet One) 15 mg/kg = 30 to 32 cans of diet lemon-lime soda
*Sucralose (Splenda) 5 mg/kg = 6 cans of diet cola
So- they have been approved, but does that mean they are safe? Numerous studies confirm that artificial sweeteners are safe for the general population- ie, the warning label on diet drinks sweetened with Aspartame- 'PHENYLKETONURICS: Contains Phenylalanine.' (Those individuals cannot have Aspartame, so it isn't safe for them, obviously!) Since nonnutritive sweeteners are such a poplular topic, they have been researched and studied for the next big discovery to come streaming across Twitter. I read that more than 200 studies have been conducted over the past 30 years on aspartame alone! I say they are getting the job done in determining the saftety of these items on the shelves of our grocery stores.
Don't Forget!! Although sugar substitutes have been approved for your use, You should remember that by just removing sugar from from the product does not make them low-calorie, low-fat, health foods. Removing the sugar often means adding fat or salt or carbohydrate, making the food still moderately calorie dense. Yes, I'm sorry- Your sugar-free cookies still contain calories, and excess calories are no bueno if you are watching your weight. So- here is my recipe, using my favorite- Diet Coke. I had a good friend of mine make this for my husband and I for dinner one night, and I really couldn't believe she used Coke as a cooking liquid. I thought it was so bizarre. Anyway, I decided, with the help of her suggestions, I would recreate it with a little more pizzazz! Enter- garlic, onions and a mix of Diet Coke and Coke Zero! Try it, I promise you wont be dissapointed!
Cola Barbeque Chicken
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 medium Red Onion, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp Canola Oil
- 6 (4oz) Chicken Breasts
- 1 (12oz) can Diet Coke
- 1 (12oz) can Coke Zero
- 1 cup Tomato Ketchup
- 1 cup Bbq sauce
DIRECTIONS:
In a large Dutch oven, saute onions and garlic until fragrant and transparent, about 7 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix ketchup and bbq sauce. Add chicken breast to the pan and pour the sauce mixture over the chicken. Next pour Diet Coke and Coke Zero over chicken. Mix well, and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce to meduim-low, and allow to simmer for 30 minutes. Remove chicken from pan and set aside. Turn heat up to HIGH and bring sauce back to a boil, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes or until thickened.
Nutrition Information
Serving Size: 1 breast, 1/4 cup sauce
Calories: 237
Fat: 3.2g
Carbohydrates: 26g
Fiber: 0.5g
Protein: 26g
**Slow Cooker- Throw all ingredients in a Croc*Pot and cook on low for 4-5 hours