Ask the Expert: Nutrition #3

Q: Does slow cooking hurt food's nutritional value?

A: Yes and no. Some nutrients - especially delicate ones like vitamin C - will be lost the longer you cook food. But most of the vitamins that leach out of the vegetables during slow cooking are retained in the liquid, which is usually consumed as part of the meal. Another advantage of slow cooking: Most recipes don't call for added fat, saving you calories.

For some great, healthy slow cooker recipes, check out this article from Cooking Light magazine. See one of our favorites below!

Pork Roast with Three-Mushroom Ragout
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 8 hours, 15 minutes
Servings: 5 (3 ounces pork, 1 cup sauce, 1 cup noodles)

Ingredients

• 1 (3 1/2-ounce) package shiitake mushrooms
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes, divided
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh (or 2 teaspoons dried) thyme
• 2 (8-ounce) packages button mushrooms, cut in half
• 1 (8-ounce) package cremini mushrooms, cut in half
• 1 large onion, cut into 8 wedges
• 1/2 ounce sun-dried tomatoes, packed without oil, quartered (about 6)
• 1 3/4 pounds boned pork loin roast
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 5 cups cooked medium egg noodles (about 4 cups uncooked pasta)

Directions

1. Discard shiitake mushroom stems; cut caps into quarters
2. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, 1/2 cup crushed tomatoes, and thyme in an electric slow cooker; stir well with a whisk. Add all mushrooms, onion and sun-dried tomatoes.
3. Trim fat from pork. Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper; place on top of mushroom mixture. Pour 1/2 cup crushed tomatoes over pork. Cover with lid; cook on high heat for 1 hour. Reduce heat setting to low; cook 7 hours. Remove pork from slow cooker; cut into slices. Spoon pork and sauce over noodles.

Nutritional Information:
460 calories, 11.2 g fat, 6 g fiber