Going Gluten Free

Becoming “gluten free” is often a choice made by people who wish to live a healthier lifestyle. There are many benefits to a gluten-free diet, including for those with inflammatory diseases and autoimmune disorders, as gluten can damage the intestines if you are suffering from one of those afflictions. People with Celiac’s disease also usually require a gluten free diet to go about everyday life normally.

Gluten is found in wheat, rye, barley, and also in the grains that contain these things. While gluten on it’s own is not proven to be unhealthy, some of the foods associated with these grains can occasionally be high in calories or fat. Although a gluten-free diet may not be the best choice for someone not suffering from Celiac disease, or any inflammatory or autoimmune disorders, many people have reported a large increase in energy after eliminating gluten from their diet. It can also promote a decrease in inflammation in the joints. Better focus and thinking can also be a positive side effect of becoming gluten free, as some people report. Although none of these reports are officially confirmed, there are many people who swear by the diet.  

At La Bottega, we have many options on our menu that are free of gluten for anybody who is practicing the diet. Many restaurants offer very limited options when it comes to dietary restrictions. With many delicious choices, our menu is available to accommodate people with many different dietary preferences. If this is something you’re interested in, and want to try some delicious authentic italian cuisine, stop by our restaurant today!

Why We Should All Eat More Salads!

Why is it important to eat salads? Well, besides the fact that they’re delicious, they are also one of the healthiest things we can put into our bodies. Salads provide us with many necessary nutrients that our bodies need. Growing up, we were always taught to eat our fruits and vegetables. We may have tried to avoid them, but salads provide us with the opportunity to involve a variety of servings of fruits and vegetables at once.

The availability of most salads is present at all times. Almost every restaurant has salad on the menu, and you can even prepare your own homemade salad within 5 minutes. If you’re making your own salad in your kitchen, you can customize your salad and put anything you want in it. Some people like chicken in their salads, while others prefer the crunching sounds of croutons with some simple ranch dressing. Furthermore, there are many things a salad does for your health. For starters, salads provide the human body with much needed fiber that helps lower cholesterol and prevent constipation.

Another thing salads provide is good fats. Fats are notoriously known for being harmful; however, salads have monounsaturated fats, which can be found in olive oil and avocados. These ingredients help your body absorb protective phytochemicals, such as lycopene, from tomatoes and lutein from dark green vegetables. Research suggests that those over 60 years old who include plenty of olive oil in their diet have a greater risk of increasing their morality.

Salads are also great for cutting weight! Salads of 150 calories or less are a great way to please your taste buds and appetite without gaining weight. When it comes to the size of the salad, bigger is better, as long as it’s the right “bigger.” Salads should be bigger in size, with more veggies but less dressings.

Overall, fruits and vegetables found in salads have been linked to decreases one’s risk of getting cancer, especially cancers found in the neck and head. Even those who drink and smoke often have a better chance of avoiding cancer when eating fruit and vegetables. Salads are a great way to help get maintain and improve your health, and they should not be overlooked. Next time you’re out to eat, think about how salads can be both tasty and healthy, and enjoy!

If you're in Farmingdale or the surrounding area give us a call at 516-586-8195. At La Bottega Farmingdale, we take pride in bringing you the best quality of food and service. Here is our menu, what salad are you going to pick today?

Fresh Ingredients Makes for a Better Product

Many people today are always in a rush and do not necessarily have time to cook a fresh meal. People will buy frozen foods or already made meals to save time both in the kitchen and at the grocery store. What people do not realize are all the unhealthy ingredients that they are putting into their bodies when they eat these meals verse when they have fresh foods.

More people today are becoming health conscience even with their busy lifestyles. They are more concerned about what they are putting into their bodies and how they can stay healthy. When people started eating fresh and healthy foods they felt healthier overall, they were not getting sick as much and their weight was under control. Many people are now looking for fresh and organic ingredients in their food. Fresh food even looks more appetizing than processed food. There is nothing more delicious than eating food right off the growing source. Salt, fat, and sugar are not needed to make a meal taste delicious. A fresh meal is guaranteed to give you more nutrients than frozen or processed food. Fresh fruits and vegetables provide most of the vitamins and minerals that are needed to get our bodies healthy. They also have more water and therefore offer us natural hydration. When a meal is made from scratch, the cook is in control of how many oils and fats are put into their meals unlike when a meal is already made. Enzymes, which are needed for digestion, help break down food into different parts that our bodies can use. Enzymes are taken out of the fresh foods when made already so that it will last longer. Already made meals also have more salt, toxins, and unhealthful fats.

Fresh foods can make your day and your life better, so take the time to make sure that you are getting the right nutrients you need to keep your body healthy! When cooking your own healthy meal just isn't an option, stop in to La Bottega of Farmingdale, we offer the freshest ingredients, great service, and meals that will keep you coming back for more.

Welcome to Our Blog!

Welcome to La Bottega Farmingdale’s first ever blog! La Bottega is nestled in the quaint of Main Street in Farmingdale, and is home to some of the best tasting food on Long Island. La Bottega Farmingdale is owned and operated by Jeff, a local resident who has been an entrepreneur in the food & beverage industry for 15 years.The restaurant is filled with a wide variety of selection, including our renowned paninis, pizza, pastas and salads that everyone across the Island has come to love.

Our goal at La Bottega is for you to walk out of our restaurant feeling full, welcomed and serviced. We always pride ourselves on taking care of all our guests and providing them with the service that they deserve, which is nothing but the very best. Without our guests, we would not be able to run our restaurant, and for that, we are extremely thankful. We aspire to provide a comfortable atmosphere for all of our guests, which is why we added a gluten-free menu. Every guest that walks into our restaurant should feel that they have a variety of food to choose from off of our menu.

In addition to our service, we take a lot of pride in creating tasteful, enjoyable food that you will never forget! Stuck at work, but have your mind on some Italian food? No worries, we will come to you and deliver! If you are in the area, we encourage you to stop by and taste all our delicious menu items. Whether you are grabbing some food with friends, on your lunch break at work, or taking your husband or wife out to dinner, La Bottega is suitable for any occasion. We look forward to sharing some interesting material on topics that relate to our restaurant and Italian food! There is so much we have to share, and we can’t wait to begin to share it with you!