KinkyShea’s Health and Fitness Tip of the Week

This is one of my all-time favorite steak recipe. The rich flavor of the bison steak is complemented by the bite of radicchio. The flavor is mellowed a bit by the grill and earthy-sweet beets and creamy goat cheese dressing. Bison is a wonderfully nutritious alternative to beef steaks, but because bison steaks are so lean they are very easy to over cook. Bison steaks are best when cooked rare to medium-rare.

Nutrition Profile: Diabetes appropriate, low calorie, low cholesterol, low saturated fat, low sodium, heart healthy, healthy weight appropriate, and gluten free.

Ingredients:
¼ cup crumbled low fat goat or feta cheese
4 teaspoon white-wine vinegar
¾ teaspoon dry mustard
1 small shallot, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
¾ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
¾ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 small heads of radicchio
1 15-ouce can baby beets, drained
1 pound bison steaks, trimmed of fat and cut into 4 portions.

Directions:

1. Preheat grill to high

2. Place cheese in a medium bowl and mash it with the back of a spoon until creamy. Add vinegar, dry mustard, shallot, parsley, ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Whisk to combine. Continue and slowly drizzle 1 tablespoon oil until blended. Set aside.

3. Cut each radicchio head in half, core and quarter each half. Thread radicchio chunks and beets onto skewers. Drizzle skewered vegetables with 1 ½ teaspoon oil. Rub steaks with the remaining ½ teaspoon oil. Season steaks and skewered vegetables with the remaining ½ teaspoon salt and pepper.

4. Grill steaks 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Grill vegetable skewers, turning frequently so the radicchio doesn’t burn, until the radicchio is wilted and lightly charred (5 to 7 minutes total). Transfer the steaks to a plate; let set for 5 minutes. Remove the vegetables from the skewers. Serve the steaks and vegetables drizzled with sauce.

Nutrition Per serving: 222 calories; 9 g fat (2 g sat, 5 g mono); 55 mg cholesterol; 0 g added sugar; 25 g protein; 2 g fiber.

I’ve seen this shoe’s popularity grow increasingly in popularity in the fitness world. Barefoot-style and minimalist shoes are one of the hottest trends to sweep the footwear category since Nike Waffle Trainer running shoes and Crocs. The Vibram FiveFingers Classic is a minimalist athletic shoe designed to mimic the feel of being barefoot during activities such as running, fitness training, martial arts, yoga and Pilates. The manufacturer claims that by putting your feet in touch with the earth, you can move in a more natural, healthy way. They describe that their customers report an increase sense of balance, greater agility, and visibly improved posture. The Vibram FiveFinger Classic is one of several designs Vibram offers that adheres to the minimalist principle. The shoe features a sculpted, non-marking sole that wraps around the bottom and sides of the food and a stretch polyamide fabric that envelopes the toes and top of the foot. The shoe is completed with an elastic band that fastens at the heel allowing users to adjust the coverage and fit. Like gloves, each toe has it own little slot (just like toe socks).

This isn’t your typical shoe and needless to say, they do take some getting used to and may not appeal to everyone. The shoe does provide some arch support and the sole is thick enough to minimize the feel of rocks or pebbles under foot. Being water-resistant and machine washable, the Vibram Five Fingers is ideal for walking along rocky shorelines or climbing over boulders. There are many that wear these shoes for long distance running and give the shoe rave reviews.

One feature of the shoe that could pose a challenge (and certainly did for me) is its molded shape, which makes it difficult to fit those who don’t have “standard” shaped feet. For example, if someone has a second toe that’s larger than their big toe they may find the shoe doesn’t fit correctly or feels uncomfortable. The high heel tab may irritate those with heel spurs or other issues. Also those with problems with their arches may have problems with this shoe. People with fallen arches may find that this shoe may not have enough arch support to see them through a long run.

So are these worth looking into? This product should be reviewed on an individual basis. Everyone’s feet are different and have different needs. Personally, after trying these on walking for fifteen minutes my arches and ankles weren’t having it. I could barely walk around in the store let alone go for a run in them. For me running in these shoes would not be an option. A yoga or a Pilates class or strength training maybe be a more appropriate use of these shoes for me. Others may find these to be the holy grail of running shoes depending on their individual needs. Others find improved balance during strength training while wearing the Vibrams. Some physicians have voiced their opinions against this shoe and others fully support it. There are a lot of mixed reviews, research and opinions on these, most of which are positive. That being said, I would offer the same suggestion on this shoe as I would in buying a sports bra or any other shoe. Think about the activity you’ll be using the shoe for, know the kind of support you need, and find the right fit for you and your needs. If this shoe is able to meet your needs then it may be well worth a shot.

Until next week…
KinkySheaPT