Cook of the Week: Fitness trainer gives traditional recipes a healthy twist

Fitness guru Denise Powell remembers the only unhealthy food she ever saw in her home when she was growing up.

“It was a bag of unsalted Jay's potato chips! My mother was Italian and really believed in serving healthy Mediterranean food.”

Denise learned the wisdom of her mother's philosophy when she moved away from home and soon gained a couple of pounds.

“I guess my mother was right about some things!” she laughs.

Now a certified personal trainer and the mother of four, cooking healthy is not only a priority — it's a passion.

“In Italian families cooking is kind of a big deal. Everything revolves around food,” she says. “We have a lot of traditions. We used to gather at my grandmother's house every year before Christmas to make the special pasta for Christmas Eve.”

Denise continues those traditions with a healthy twist. “I enjoy being in the kitchen. I like my kids to see me working there. I don't want them to grow up to be lazy!”

Denise believes the secret to getting kids to eat healthily is to start off when they are little.

“That way they never know anything different. And now, with all new whole wheat products out there, like whole wheat pasta and breads, it is easy.”

For the kids' lunches, she usually packs peanut butter on whole wheat bread, some yogurt and sometimes soup in a thermal container. Their favorite? Stracciatella, an Italian egg drop soup.

For her lunch, Denise will usually saute a mixture of vegetables, garlic, chicken stock, tofu and garlic in olive oil. Sometimes she eats this with brown rice.

Denise advises followers of her fitness Facebook page to choose lean proteins, complex carbohydrates and lots of fruits and vegetables, and “stay away from anything that's white.”

Denise also advises against using a lot of ingredients in one dish.

“When you use too many, your dish can be overwhelmed by too many flavors. Sometimes salt and pepper is all that's needed.”

Still, just because she likes to eat healthily, doesn't mean she never eats desserts.

“I love dessert. I believe everything is OK in limitation.”

Denise would never order an entire dessert for herself, but she is always happy to share!

Currently, Denise is busy planning the opening of a healthy-oriented restaurant with a small plate concept and organic food emphasis. Until we can visit the restaurant, we can try her recipes at home.