Major League recipes

Ever wonder how your favorite home-run hitter stays in shape all season long? A big factor is diet. Celebrity Chef Phillip Andriano of ChefsDiet.com, who has cooked for some of Major League Baseball’s (MLB) most renowned players, such as Jason Giambi, Carl Pavano and Doug Mientkiewicz, shares three of his healthy MLB recipes that can keep baseball players and fans fit and trim.

Healthy MLB Recipes

Baseball-shaped Whole Grain Peanut Butter Berry French Toasts

Serves 1 A true power breakfast, baseball-shaped French toasts pack whole grains, protein and good for you fat. Ingredients:
2 eggs
1/2 cup fat free milk
2 slices whole grain bread
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon sugar (preferably fructose — fruit sugar)
2 cups mixed berries
2 tablespoons peanut butter Directions:
1. Combine eggs and milk in a bowl and whisk together. 2. Using a large round cookie or biscuit cutter, cut circles from the centers of the bread (simulates baseballs) to form two circles. Dip circles into egg and milk mixture and allow to soak. 3. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Spray with nonstick cooking spray and add soaked bread. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until bottom is toasted. Flip and cook 2 minutes or until second side is toasted. Remove from pan and keep warm. 4. Add water, sugar and berries to a pan and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until reduced to a jam-like consistency. 5. Spread peanut butter and berry mixture on the toasts and serve immediately.

Ball Park Beer Dogs with Sauerkraut and Homemade Baked Beans

Serves 2 High in fiber and full of flavor, this is a quintessential baseball dish – but without the bun. Ingredients:
1 (12-ounce) can beer
2 chicken dogs or turkey franks
1 cup sauerkraut, drained
1 cup canned navy beans, rinsed
1/4 cup BBQ sauce
1/4 cup molasses
2 strips of pork or turkey bacon, chopped Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Pour beer into a small saucepan and bring hot dogs to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove dogs with tongs and set aside. 2. Add sauerkraut to beer, and cook over medium heat until heated through. Drain beer from pan (and reserve if you want to add some to the beans) and set sauerkraut aside. 3. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, combine beans, BBQ sauce, molasses, and bacon (and some of the reserved beer, if desired). Cook, stirring occasionally, until bean mixture is heated through. Transfer beans to a baking dish and bake for 15 minutes or until bubbly. 4. Plate sauerkraut and baked beans side by side. Top with dogs and serve immediately.

Cracker Jack Trail Mix

Serves 1 to 2 Cracker Jack is a staple at baseball games and when transformed into a trail mix that is baked without the added oil typically found in most trail mix, it becomes an even healthier favorite. Enjoy as a snack plain or sprinkle on top of yogurt, cottage cheese, or even ice cream. Ingredients:
4 ounces rolled oats
1 teaspoon peanuts, coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon wheat germ
1/4 cup cranraisins
1/4 box Cracker Jack
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 cup assorted dried fruits
1 tablespoon protein powder Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a small baking dish, combine oats, peanuts and wheat germ. Bake for 2 minutes or until lightly toasted and remove from heat. 2. In a medium-sized bowl, combine all remaining ingredients and mix well to coat evenly with honey. Add oat mixture and toss to combine. Let cool and store in an airtight container. You can also add more honey to make the mixture stickier and form into baseballs or baseball bats for fun. For more healthy recipes, visit the SheKnows.com Food and Recipes Channel.