My favorite lunch when I was growing up was tomato soup with a toasted cheese sandwich. I also loved peanut butter and honey sandwiches. When I was older and the tomatoes ripened in our garden, I could eat BLTs for dinner multiple days in a row. As an adult, an open-faced bagel with lox, cream cheese and capers could satisfy me for holiday brunch.

I really do not know of anyone who dislikes bread. Unfortunately, most bread, including wheat bread, does not have much nutritional value and often is filled with nutritional time bombs such as corn syrup or added sugar. A bagel or pastry for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, a roll with dinner and some crackers for a snack are too much of the wrong type of carbohydrate. Bread can be replaced with healthier alternatives such as:

• Leafy greens and lettuce wraps
• Corn tortillas
• Cooked sweet potato slices
• Ezekiel bread or any bread made from sprouted grains

Just say no to bread when dining out or at holiday gatherings.

 Yes, I do eat thin crust pizza and share a gourmet hamburger on a bun once in a while. Pay close attention to portion sizes and limit the number of bread servings you eat each day!