What's the Only Thing Better Than Bacon?

Yes, I know - it's more bacon. And I like the greasy, slippery stuff as much as you do. More, even. Crispy, though. Not rubbery.

Despite my love of grisly fried pig, I am NOT a proponent of super low-carb, Atkins-type diets. Bacon, hamburgers, omelets and a big old T-bone steak can be included, in moderation, in a healthy diet, but they should not make up the BULK of it. And any diet plan that forbids fruit is just plain SILLY.

Carbs are not your enemy. Carbs are your FRIENDS, particularly if you're an endurance athlete - and that means you, Ms. Gym Bunny. Your step and boot camp habit counts! Carbs are one of the essential macronutrients - they give us energy to get through not only our workouts, but our everyday routines - and they're our bodies' preferred source of fuel. They're broken down and converted into glucose, which takes a tour of our bodies by way of our bloodstreams, feeding our brains as well as our muscles. (That's why Atkins devotees sometimes seem a little spacey.)

That said, the low-carb folks are partially correct - carbs DO need to be eaten with care. While I don't adhere to black-and-white, good-versus-evil broad-stroke labels in most areas of my life, Puritan logic does apply here. When it comes to carbs, there's a big, big difference between the good kind and the bad kind - also known as "simple" and "complex." You'd have had to be living under a bus not to have already heard 14 explanations of the difference.

I look at it this way - good carbs are fiber. Bad carbs are plain old white sugar.

The good stuff - whole wheat bread (check the label already!), beans, apples - give you more for your calorie. The fiber fills you up, and the glucose is released into your bloodstream more slowly. There are a couple of bonuses to eating these types of carbs - a more regular, er, "schedule," and quality energy without the head-lolling later.

The bad stuff - white bread, Lucky Charms, Cool Ranch Doritos, Oatmeal Creme Pies, and my FAV-O-RITE, mint double-stuff Oreos - flies in and out of your system faster than those three martinis. You get an immediate SPIKE of energy, followed up by a seismic CRASH. You'll actually feel more tired an hour or two after sucking down that Mountain Dew than you did before your first sip. And you're not putting anything into your body that benefits it - just thigh-thickening white sugar.

But Oreos and even Oatmeal Creme Pies have their place. A life without enjoying them occasionally - I do once or twice a week - isn't a life I wanna be living. (wipes frosting from mouth) Just make sure MOST of your carbs are good ones, and there'll be no need to eliminate them entirely.

Here's one of my favorite "good carb" recipes. Quinoa is actually less a grain than a seed, and it's pretty tasty. It's versatile too - you can pair it with fruits and it'll satisfy a sweet tooth, or you can add spices and veggies and go savory. Quinoa is high in protein, fiber, calcium and iron, but all this good stuff comes at a caloric price, so watch your portions.

Tara's Kitchen Sink Quinoa

2 cups quinoa
1 can black beans
1/2 can corn (or more, if you like it)
1 jalapeno pepper (I use two; you can also add the pickled version)
1 garlic clove, minced, OR 1 tsp garlic powder/salt
1 red pepper, diced
1 large ripe tomato, diced
1 green pepper, sliced thin
1 tsp cumin

Dressin'
2 T freshly squeezed lime juice
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp salt
Fresh ground pepper
1 t (or more! I like it spicy!) cayenne
2 T chopped fresh cilantro

How to Do It
1. You gotta rinse the quinoa first - it's got a soapy-tasting coating.
2. After each rinse, pour off most of the water and finish draining through a large fine mesh strainer.
3. Prepare according to package directions.
4. Fluff gently with a fork and set aside to cool.
5. Saute jalapeno and garlic in a little olive oil.
6. Add the green and red peppers and saute until soft.
7. Add the cumin and coriander, cook a few minutes (this vaguery is just how I roll, people).
8. Whisk together the dressing.
9. Gently combine sauteed veggies, tomatoes, black beans, quinoa and dressing in a large bowl.
10. This is good hot or cold, but I like it hot, with a teeny-tiny bit of marble jack cheese and salsa on top. Mmmmmmm!

Next up, I'll tell you about my new weight training circuit, and later, I'll share with you some of my favorite, tasty and healthy post-workout snacks - no protein powders or funky-tasting electrolyte drinks required.