Waterless Cookware Blog

Try it and see…but don’t tell the kids it’s cauliflower.   From a fresh organic crown of cauliflower, cut and steam the florets until tender–including a length of stem .  Once cooked, cut off stem then mash florets until smooth.  (TIP: melt a dollop of brisk cheese on each cooked stem—a tasty finger-food appetizer).

Add a shake of salt & pepper (light on the butter if you must)…again, don’t tell the kids.

Mashed Cauliflower looks and smells much like mashed potatoes, similar in taste, texture, nutrient rich, with one important difference; cauliflower avoids the glycemic onslaught of potato.  Baking a potato destroys the cell wall (which would otherwise  inhibit rapid absorption of starch by our body).  Without this natural defense, starchy carbohydrates are immediately and suddenly absorbed causing harmful spikes in blood sugar.

Compare the Glycemic Load of these four cooked vegetables (eGL—a measure of a food’s effect on blood-sugar levels):
eGL = 29 > potato
eGL =  8  > butternut squash
eGL =  1  > cauliflower
eGL =  0  > carrot

…glycemic Load (eGL) and glycemic Index (Gi) are related but different measures of a body’s blood sugar response to various foods.  The Gi of an 8 oz baked potato is 95—extremely high.

What’s the harm?  In an effort to manage the sudden blood sugar shock, a body releases an intense insulin bolus.  There are many side effects to excessive spikes of insulin levels in the blood—a few to consider:

• Physical agitation, anxiety, stress, headaches (especially in children)
• Cravings for sweets and more empty carbohydrates–a vicious spiral
• Increased cortisol levels in the brain (“…cortisol is an acid bath for young brain cells”—Dr. Lee Polus)
• Mental Distractedness and Shortened Attention Span.  ADHD/ADH or ‘hyperactivity’ isn’t a disease but symptoms of a young body trying to cope with the modern cocktail: toxin & chemical allergies combined with excessive daily sugar/carbohydrate-induced insulin spikes.  Most physicians refuse to treat ADHD/ADH with Ritalin or other drugs because it’s now recognized as external etiology.  See Carbohydrate Addicted Kids by Drs. Richard and Rachael Heller, MDs.)

Mollify the glycemic eruptions of potatoes by doing simple things:
> small servings combined with other vegetables, fruits and grains rich in fiber
> real lemonade is an antidote that naturally slows carbohydrate absorption
> include the potato skin—it’s nature’s own self-contained glycemic moderator
> explore alternatives—cauliflower for example
> use unrefined whole health sweeteners too

Mashed Cauliflower…will your kids notice?
Our boys did…but surprise surprise–they really liked it.

Will your kids notice the difference in the way they feel?  Absolutely!  Especially when whole carbohydrates are served with a balance meal (40% natural carbohydrate, 30% protein, 30% fat).

Treat the body to foods it has naturally adapted to over eons.  Today’s highly processed boxed, canned & frozen foods just can’t help us experience real, sustainable, joyful health and vigor.

Cook healthy, eat honestly, and thrive