Recipe of the Week: Seared Steaks with Caramelized Onions & Gorgonzola

In our humble opinion, steak is best topped with sweet caramelized onions and salty Gorgonzola cheese. We recommend seeking out good-quality Gorgonzola for the best flavor, but any will work. Serve with garlic mashed potatoes and steamed carrots.

4 servings

Active Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes


Nutrition Profile

Diabetes appropriate | Low calorie | Low carbohydrate | Healthy weight | Gluten free |



Ingredients
2 tablespoons canola oil, divided
2 large onions, sliced (about 4 cups)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 cup reduced-sodium beef broth
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 pound beef tenderloin (filet mignon) or sirloin steak, 1-1 1/4 inches thick, trimmed and cut into 4 steaks
1/4 cup crumbled Gorgonzola or blue cheese


Preparation
1.Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and brown sugar and cook, stirring often, until the onions are very tender and golden brown, about 15 minutes. Add broth, vinegar and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring, until the liquid has almost evaporated, 3 to 4 minutes more. Transfer the onions to a bowl; cover to keep warm. Clean and dry the pan.
2.Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper on both sides of each steak. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the pan over medium-high heat. Add the steaks and cook until browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Turn them over and top with cheese. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook until the cheese is melted and the steaks are cooked to desired doneness, 3 to 5 minutes for medium-rare. Serve the steaks with the caramelized onions.

Nutrition

Per serving: 306 calories; 16 g fat ( 5 g sat , 7 g mono ); 81 mg cholesterol; 11 g carbohydrates; 28 g protein; 2 g fiber; 508 mg sodium; 524 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Zinc (40% daily value), Potassium (16% dv), Iron (15% dv)

Carbohydrate Servings: 1

Salt can be good for many things.....

Just a pinch of it and it’s worth it. We’re talking salt here. Used throughout human history, mentioned often in the Bible, ubiquitous and cheap. Mined from salt rocks and extracted from sea water, salt is… well, the “salt of the earth.” You can’t live without it healthily. At the same time, you can’t live healthily with too much of it. Get the balance right – in your food and in your live – and salt is worth it’s own weight.

14 surprising good uses for salt

1. Deter ants
Sprinkle salt in doorways, on window sills and anywhere else ants use to sneak into your house. It’s a sure way to keep them out!

2. Kill grass and weeds growing in cracks in your driveway
Tired of weeding your driveway? Sprinkle salt on the grass and pour very hot water over it. Not only is this a highly effective way to kill unwanted plants, it’s also eco-friendly and cheap.

3. Say goodbye to fleas
If your dogs have fleas, simply wash their doghouse and blankets in salt water. If you’re worried your dogs may have brought fleas into your house, simply sprinkle your carpets lightly with salt and then brush it in. Leave it for 12 hours and vacuum thoroughly.

4. Pick up a dropped egg
If you drop an egg on the kitchen floor, sprinkle salt on the mess and leave it there for 20 minutes. You’ll be able to wipe it right up.

5. Clean up oven spills quickly
If a pie or casserole bubbles over in the oven, pour a handful of salt on top of the spill. It won’t smoke, smell and, most importantly, will bake into a crust that makes the mess easier to clean once it’s cooled.

6. Clean brown spots off your iron
Simply sprinkle salt on a sheet of waxed paper, slide the iron across it and rub lightly with silver polish. Your iron will look like brand-new in no time.

7. Remove stains from your coffee pot
Fill it with 1/4 cup of table salt and a dozen ice cubes. Swish the mixture around, let it sit for half an hour, fill it with cold water and rinse. Your coffee pot will look brand new.

8. Keep your windshield frost-free
Dip a sponge into salt water and rub it on windows, and they won’t frost up even when the mercury drops below zero.

9. Shell nuts more easily
Soak pecans and walnuts in salt water for a few hours before shelling them. Doing so will make it easier to remove the meat.

10. Drip-proof candles
If you soak new candles in a strong salt solution for a few hours, then dry them well, they won’t drip when you burn them.

And some more uses

11. Tame a wild BBQ
Toss a bit of salt on the flames caused by fat dripping from the grill. It’ll reduce the flames and calm the smoke without cooling the coals (like water would).

12. Soothe a bee sting
Wet the sting right away, then cover it with salt.

13. Stop a grease fire
Pouring salt on top of a grease fire will smother it. Completely.

14: Exfoliate with salt
Salt scrubs can be a great beauty treatment for exfoliating dead skin. Here is a great do it yourself at home recipe:

Citrus Salt Body Scrub
1 1/2 cups of kosher salt
2 Tbs. lemon, grapefruit or orange zest (i like a combination)
1 cup vegetable or canola oil
1 tsp. lemon extract
1 small glass jar or other container

Fill your jar with the kosher salt and sprinkle citrus zest on top. Using the long, blunt end of a wooden spoon (or mortar and pestle if you've got one) distribute the zest throughout the salt evenly by stirring the dry ingredients together. Next pour the oil first into a measuring cup. Stir the lemon extract into the oil. Now pour half of the oil mixture into your jar and stir with small spoon to combine well. Pour the rest of the oil into the jar and mix well. Label your jar, tie it with string and it's ready for giving.

Check back on the next blog as we investigate scary sodium facts for restaurants.

Beating the Birthday...Healthy Foods for Healthy Skin

It may be my birthday week, and I may have gotten older, and you may be seeing some people you haven't seen in awhile and you might notice they are a bit older, but they don;t need to think that about you or me. Beat the Birthday age bashing by keeping healthy skin! Here are some healthy foods that will keep your skin healthy!

Mangoes

You keep your skin looking good with nourishing moisturizer and protective sunscreen. You can also build healthy skin from the inside out by packing your diet with lots of skin-saving nutrients. Sweet and delicious, mangoes are an excellent source of beta carotene, which is converted to vitamin A in the body, says Keri Gans, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. “Vitamin A is necessary to maintain healthy skin and repair skin tissue--without adequate amounts of it your skin will be dry and flaky.” Vitamin A may also reduce skin inflammation after exposure to sunlight.

Best bet: To buy ripe mangoes, focus on feel rather than color. Choose fruit that is slightly soft to the touch.

Try this: Enhance the flavor of fresh mango by adding a touch of salt, lime juice, or ground chili pepper.

Other sources of beta carotene: Carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, apricots

Orange Juice

OJ is packed with vitamin C, an antioxidant that helps protect the DNA in skin cells by neutralizing free radicals, atoms that damage cells and accelerate aging and disease. It can also help skin look great. “Vitamin C is necessary for the production of collagen, which helps prevent our skin from sagging and wrinkling,” Gans says.

Best bet: Nourish bones as well as skin by choosing orange juice fortified with calcium and vitamin D.

Try this: Make a Creamsicle smoothie by blending a cup of orange juice with a container of nonfat vanilla yogurt, ice, a dash of vanilla, and a drizzle of honey, suggests Diane Werner, R.D., editor of the Taste of Home Comfort Food Diet Cookbook.

Other sources of vitamin C: Bell peppers, broccoli, grapefruit, strawberries



Yogurt

Staying in the shade is good for your skin because the sun’s ultraviolet rays can hasten wrinkles and raise your risk for skin cancer. The downside of avoiding the sun is that it limits your body’s production of vitamin D, which is crucial for bone health. Keep your levels up with dairy products such as yogurt that have been fortified with vitamin D.

Best bet: For a naturally sweet treat, add pureed fresh peaches or strawberries to plain, D-fortified non-fat yogurt.

Try this: Make a snappy yogurt dip for fresh veggies, recommends Werner. “Mix plain yogurt with Dijon mustard, dill, lemon juice, garlic, and a dash of cayenne.”

Other sources of vitamin D: Milk, fortified cereals, fortified orange juice


Almonds

Gobble up a handful of almonds and you’ll be getting a healthy dose of vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps protect skin cells from the damage caused by the sun’s ultraviolet light. “Vitamin E helps form muscle and tissue to prevent premature aging of the skin, as well as protecting it from dryness,” Gans says.

Best bet: Nuts are high in calories, but even a small amount delivers big: An ounce (about 25 almonds) provides nearly half of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin E.

Try this: Sprinkle chopped almonds over your favorite salad.

Other sources of vitamin E: Sunflower seeds, sunflower oil, hazelnuts, peanuts

Flaxseed

This is a good source of omega fatty acids, especially for vegetarians or people who don’t like the taste of fish. “Omega 3 fatty acids are responsible for skin repair and moisture content and help build flexible cell membranes,” Gans says.

Best bet: Grinding flaxseed releases its nutritional power because your body can’t digest whole flaxseeds.

Try this: Check your grocery store for flaxseed cereals such as Nature’s Path Organic Flax Plus.

Other sources of omega fatty acids: Canola oil, salmon, soybean oil, and walnuts

Chicken

Chicken contains two nutrients, zinc and protein, that are crucial for healthy skin. Zinc helps maintain healthy skin, aids in healing wounds, and reduces inflammation, while protein keeps your skin fresh. “Skin is predominately protein, and if you are not consuming adequate amounts of it daily through diet, your skin can become slack and loose,” says Gans. “Also, your body uses amino acids [found in protein] to make collagen, which gives you fresh new skin cells.”

Best bet: Remove chicken skin to keep calories and saturated fat low.

Try this: Werner recommends combining chopped cooked chicken, cooked quinoa, and shredded Monterey Jack cheese; stuff into a poblano pepper and bake for 25 minutes at 375 degrees.

Other sources of protein and zinc: Beef, crab, pork

Tomato Sauce

Tomato sauce is a concentrated source of lycopene. This antioxidant helps the skin protect itself from ultraviolet light. One study found that people who ate five tablespoons of tomato paste (an ingredient in tomato sauce) every day for 12 weeks had 33 percent more protection against sunburn than those who didn’t.

Best bet: To promote good heart health, look for low-sodium brands.

Try this: For a quick, easy, lycopene-rich pasta sauce, sauté garlic and onions in olive oil. Add oregano and basil (dried or fresh), tomato paste, and enough water to give the sauce the consistency you like. Simmer for 10 minutes and serve over pasta.

Other sources of lycopene: Tomato juice, ketchup

Check in on the next blog as we talk more about birthday eating!

Did You Know..... About Birthday Cake?

Many of us enjoy Birthday Cake, but did you know where it originated from? Here are some facts...


History of Birthday Cake
Origin of Birthday Cakes dates back to ancient times but the cake of then was very different from what we have today. The word ‘cake’ is said to have coined as early as 13th century and is said to have derived from ‘kaka’- an Old Norse word.

Definition of Birthday Cake
In Western culture Birthday Cake is defined as a pastry or dessert served to a person on his or her birthday. Birthday cakes are usually decorated with person’s name and carry a message of congratulations. Candles equal to the number of year’s a person has been alive are also placed on the cake. There is also a tradition to place one extra candle to bring good luck. Birthday cakes are usually spongy and the most popular flavour in cakes is chocolate.

Birthday Cake History
History of Birthday Cake can be traced back to the ancient Greeks who made round or moon shaped honey cakes or bread and took it to the temple of Artemis -the Goddess of Moon. Some scholars, however, believe that the tradition of Birthday cake started in Germany in Middle Ages. Sweetened bread dough was given the shape of baby Jesus in swaddling cloth and was used to commemorate his birthday. This special birthday cake later reemerged in Germany as a Kinderfest or the birthday celebrations of a young child. Germans also baked another special kind of a cake called Geburtstagorten as it was baked in layers. This was sweeter that the coarse and bread like cake that were usually made at that time.

Why is Birthday Cake Round?
In earlier times, Birthday cakes were mostly round in shape. Scholars associate religious beliefs and technical compulsions for the same. Greeks offered round shape cake to the Goddess of Moon - Artemis as it signified moon. They even placed candles on the cake to make the cake glow like the moon.

Some scholars opine that cake in the ancient world has association with the annual cycles. Round shapes of cakes were preferred as these represented the cyclical nature of life. Most specifically, the sun and moon.

Technical reason given for the roundness of the cake is that most cakes we know off advanced from the bread. In ancient times breads and cakes were made by hand. Typically, these were fashioned into round balls and baked on hearthstones or in low, shallow pans. Hence, these naturally relaxed into round shapes. With the progress of times baking pans of various shapes were developed and today we see cakes in imaginative shapes and sizes.

Tradition of Putting Candles on Birthday Cake
Tradition of placing candles on Birthday cake is attributed to early Greeks, who used place lit candles on cakes to make them glow like the moon. Greeks used to take the cake to the temple of Artemis-the Goddess of Moon. Some scholars say that candles were placed on the cake because people believe that the smoke of the candle carried their wishes and prayers to Gods who lived in the skies. Others believe that the custom originated in Germany where people used to place a large candle in the centre of the cake to symbolize ‘the light of life’.

In present times too, people place candles on Birthday cakes and a silent wish is made before blowing out the candle. It is believed that blowing out all candles in one breath means the wish will come true and the person with enjoy good luck in the coming year. Some also smear out the name of the person before slicing of the cake to bring good luck.

Traditions and Superstitious Beliefs Related to Birthday Cake
In medieval times people of England used to place symbolic objects like coins, rings and thimbles in the batter of the cake. It was believed that those who found coin in the cake would be wealthy while the unlucky finder of the thimble would never marry. Wedding was signified for the person who found the slice of cake with ring. Even today some people follow the tradition and place small figures, fake coins and small candies inside the cake.

If the cake fell while baking it was considered to be a bad omen and signified bad luck for the person in the coming year.

Technical Advancement in Making of Birthday Cake
In the beginning the cakes used to be similar to bread. They were sweetened with honey and enhanced with nuts and dry fruits. According to food historians, ancient Egyptians were the first to show evidence of advanced baking skills. Medieval European bakers used to make fruitcakes and gingerbread that could last for months. Around the middle of 17th century, Europeans had made considerable advancement in the art of making cakes. They began to make what can be called precursor to modern cakes that were round and had icing. This was mainly due to the development of technology that made available reliable ovens, food moulds and refined sugar. At that time cake hoops - which were round wooden or metal moulds for shaping cakes were placed on flat pans to effect the shape.

First icing that was used in cakes were usually a boiled composition of finest available sugar, egg whites and flavors. Then icing used to be poured on the cake and then the cake was put back into the oven for a while. When the cake was taken out, the icing cooled quickly to form a hard glossy ice-like covering. Mouled cakes and fancy ices reached their zenith in Victorian times.

With the time, the art of baking cakes kept progressing and it was not until the middle of the 19th century that the cake we know of today developed. Taste and appearance of the cake was enhanced with extra-refined white flour and the use of baking powder instead of yeast.

Lightening Your Birthday Bash

There are other ways to have a great party, great food, and fewer calories too. Magee helped us gather a host of tips for keeping it light:

If sundaes are part of your party, try one of the many light ice creams out there. Pair your favorite with fresh blueberries, bananas, and a handful of nuts. You'll be getting protein, calcium, and vitamins along with your birthday treat.

Cut the fat and calories in a cake recipe or mix by substituting lighter ingredients for the oil called for, recommends Magee: "Try buttermilk, fat-free sour cream, applesauce, fruit juice, or yogurt. If it's a carrot cake, add pineapple." And here's a frosting trick Magee recommends: Frost only the middle and top of your cake, for all the richness but far fewer calories.

Have no- and lower-calorie drinks, like diet soda, wine spritzers made with club soda, and herbal iced tea.

Using small plates at a party is a great strategy, adds Magee. When you fill up a petite plate it gives a feeling of abundance. And be in a mood to sample. "It's fun!" she says.

Kebobs have it all for party fun. They're super-customizable finger foods; can be made from a wide range of fresh, healthy ingredients; pop easily onto the grill; and nibbling on the bite-size skewered goodies makes the meal last.

While the grill's still hot from the kebobs, go for a sizzle of birthday sophistication by popping a few peaches or nectarines over the coals for a few minutes, then drizzling them with light whipped cream, light ice cream, or a bit of bleu cheese.

Have guests dip strawberries into melted dark chocolate for a delicious indulgence that's heart-healthy to boot. A serving has fewer calories than you think -- under 200 for four dipped berries.

Check back on the nest blog when we look at the hidden dangers of Birthday Cake, plus new birthday cake recipes for your diet...

Deadly deserts and the reinvention of the birthday cake

Indulgence. It’s part of what makes life worth living—giving in to temptation, letting go of one’s inhibitions.

People have been happily indulging in cakes and cookies and ice cream for thousands of years. Yet the obesity crisis—and the accompanying rise in diabetes and heart disease rates—has only come into being in the past 30 years or so. What that tells us: In today’s restaurants and supermarkets, it’s hard to find dessert choices that satisfy your sweet tooth without bloating your waistline.

Here, you’ll learn how to indulge more often but with less damage. You could literally have dessert after most dinners and still stay slim or have dessert once a week and grow fat. How? Simply by knowing the truth about America’s worst desserts

10. Olive Garden - Zeppoli with Chocolate Sauce - 1130 calories

9. Chili's - Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie or Brownie Sundae - 1290 calories

8. On The Border - Sopapillas (5) - 1350 calories

7. Red Robin - Mountain High Mudd Pie - 1373 calories

6. Red Lobster - Chocolate Wave - 1490 calories

5. P.F. Chang's - The Great Wall of Chocolate - 1532 calories

4. Applebee's - Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae - 1660 calories

3. Johnny Carino's - Mascarpone Bread Pudding - 1678 calories

2. Cheesecake Factory - Chocolate Tower Truffle Cake - 1680 calories

1. Outback Steakhouse - Sweet Adventure Sampler Trio - 2394 calories

Now how about some homemade birthday cake solutions!

Birthday Cake Bark

6 ounces high quality dark chocolate (I used Lindt 70%)

12 ounces high quality white chocolate (I used Lindt)

3 teaspoons yellow cake mix

sprinkles of your choice (at least 3 tablespoons worth or more)

Melt dark chocolate either in the microwave or a double boiler. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and pour chocolate on. You can smooth it with a spatula to the thickness you desire. Stick in the freeze for 20 minutes.

Melt while chocolate. Whisk in cake mix slowly, stirring well until no lumps remain. Let it set for 3 full minutes (or at least until it slightly thickens). Remove baking sheet with chocolate from the freezer and immediately pour white chocolate on top. Sprinkle on sprinkles. Freeze for 20 minutes.

Once set, break into chunks. Keep refrigerated.

Diet Coke Birthday Cake

1 (18 oz) cake mix, dry, any flavor

12 oz diet soda, any flavor

1/4 cup liquid egg whites (or 2 egg whites from whole eggs)


1)Mix together the dry cake mix, soda and egg whites.

2) Pour into a lightly greased 9x13 pan.

3)Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

4)Slice into 12 pieces. 4 Weight Watchers Points per slice or 241 calories

5)Top with Cool Whip, if desired (make sure to count points for Cool Whip).

Check back on the next blog when we dish out healthy beauty foods that will keep the birthday age bashing away!

Recipe of the Week- Strawberry Cream Pie

Strawberry Cream Pie

Need a delicious yet low-calorie dessert recipe? Try this light and creamy pie made with strawberries. Surrounded by ladyfingers, it makes a royal appearance.

MAKES: 8 servings

Nutrition Facts Per Serving:
Servings Per Recipe: 8
Calories: 130
Protein(gm): 4
Carbohydrate(gm): 22
Fat, total(gm): 3
Cholesterol(mg): 39
Saturated fat(gm): 2
Dietary Fiber, total(gm): 1
Vitamin A(IU): 146
Vitamin C(mg): 29
Sodium(mg): 48
Calcium(DV %): 10
Iron(DV %): 1

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups strawberries
1/4 cup sugar
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
2 tablespoons frozen limeade concentrate or frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
3 slightly beaten egg whites
1 tablespoon tequila or orange juice
1 3 ounce package ladyfingers, split
2 tablespoons orange juice
1/2 8 ounce container frozen light whipped dessert topping, thawed
Sliced strawberries (optional)
Fresh mint (optional)

Directions
1. Place the 2-1/2 cups strawberries in a blender container or food processor bowl. Cover and blend or process until nearly smooth. Measure strawberries (you should have about 1-1/2 cups.)

2. In a medium saucepan stir together the sugar and gelatin. Stir in the blended strawberries and limeade and lemonade concentrate. Cook and stir over medium heat until the mixture bubbles and the gelatin is dissolved. Gradually stir about half of the gelatin mixture into the egg whites. Return mixture to the saucepan. Cook, stirring constantly, over low heat about 3 minutes or until mixture is slightly thickened. Do not boil. Pour into a medium bowl; stir in tequila or orange juice. Chill until mixture mounds when spooned, stirring occasionally (about 2 hours).

3. Meanwhile, cut half of the split ladyfingers in half crosswise; stand on end around the outside edge of a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom or a 9-inch springform pan. Arrange remaining split ladyfingers in the bottom of the pan. Drizzle the 2 tablespoons orange juice over the ladyfingers.

4. Fold whipped topping into strawberry mixture. Spoon into prepared pan. Cover and chill about 2 hours or until set. If desired, garnish with the sliced strawberries and mint. Makes 8 servings.

Summer Celebrations and dieting

I just celebrated another birthday on May 26th, and it made me think about making choices for birthday cake, birthday meals, birthday splurges and all of the celebrations that are coming up this summer. With Father's day, graduation parties, weddings, birthday's, family bbq's and so many other celebrations, whose of us who are trying to maintain a healthy way of eating, and looking and feeling fabulous have to make some choices and changes for these events. So this week I am dedicating my blog to celebration food choices, eating tips, and healthy beauty tips to keep us on track and looking our best.

Portion Control
Portion control at parties can be easy. Many of us use specific plates and bowls at home to control our portions, but you can do the same without have to go through the embarrasment of bringing your own plate.

Instead of using a dinner plate...

Use an appetizer plate. An average dinner plate is rought 8-12 inches wide, while an appetizer plate is usually from 5-7 inches wide. The size differemce will allow you to to still eat the food, but not feel the guilt of eating large portions.

Fill up on Veggies First...

Control your portions of starches, excess proteins and fats by starting with salads and vegitables first. The more you take up in yuor small plate with our colorful lower calorie friends the less chance you have of stacking up piles of dangerous foods like pasta, high fat meat and bad carbs.


Changing it up

Changing up the menu is ok when you are dieting. If you are part of a potluck, bring a healthy dish and encourage others to do the same. Modify recipes with healthier ingredients, and cut out some of the unhealthy ingredients.

Salads...

You will find a salad any almost any event, and most of the time there will be options for dressing. Try using a vinegarette instead of heavy creamy dressings. It you would like a creamy dressing, try dipping your salad fork in your dressing to cost the ends of the fork, then spear the salad. This should give you enough flavor of the dressing without over saturating it with high calories and high fat.

Changing your Clothes and Hands...

When you wear snug-fitting attire, chances are you'll be too busy holding in your stomach to overeat. While you stand around looking posh in your celebration finery, hold a drink in your dominant hand so it won't be so easy to grab food.

Avoiding Tempting Foods

Avoid those foods you love and hate and you will be ahead of the game!

Chew Gum...

When you don't want to eat, pop a piece of sugarless gum into your mouth. This works well when you're cooking or when you're trying not to dive into the buffet

Drink, Drink, Water...

Alcoholic drinks are loaded with calories -- especially holiday favorites like eggnog. "Cut your alcohol calories in half by alternating water or seltzer between alcoholic beverages


Be a Food Snob

If you don't love it, don't eat it, says American Dietetic Association spokeswoman Melinda Johnson, MS, RD. Scan the buffet for foods you truly treasure and skip the everyday dishes that are available all year long. And don't think it's your responsibility to sample everything on the buffet. Go ahead and indulge in your personal favorites, then find a seat and, slowly and mindfully, savor every mouthful. First things first. When you arrive at the party, grab a sparkling water with a twist, and wait at least 30 minutes before eating. This will give you time to relax, get comfortable in your surroundings, and survey your food choices on the buffet before diving in. A buffet is an invitation to eat all you can, and unless you carefully scrutinize it and make wise choices, you're likely to overeat.


Make it fun

Cynthia Sass, MPH, MA, RD, co-author of Your Diet Is Driving Me Crazy, proposes taking the focus off food and getting family and friends more active during celebration parties. Think horseshoes, badminton, volleyball, swimming and dancing. Indoors, try a spirited game of charades, or rent an instructional dance video followed by a dance-off.

Check back on the next blog for our weekly "did you know" fact!

Discovering Meal Plans

Choosing the Right Diet for You


I am ready to lose weight, but you have no idea what diet plan to follow. There are so many of them out there, and it is leaving me confused and overwhelmed. How do you choose a good diet plan?

Many people ask their family and friends what they did to lose weight. The only problem with that is you will get many conflicting reports. One person may have used one weight loss program and loved it, and another may have failed on that same plan. I have done this and recieved many helpful hints and supportive ideas but I am still lost.

The majority of diet programs that are available have seen success from customers that have used them. All diets do work, but all of them will not work for everyone. My success will come from finding a meal plan that will work for me.

So, what is it that you need in order to lose weight effectively? What aspects does a diet need to have that will give me the best chance at losing weight?

Here are the most important things to consider when choosing a diet plan:
◦Cost
◦Convenience
◦Ease of use
◦Foods
◦Exercise
◦Support

There are other aspects of a weight loss program, but these are the most important ones to consider. Let’s take a look at a few of these more closely.

First up-the big one-cost. This is a big issue, especially in today’s society. While everyone wants something affordable, what one person considers to be a good price, another person may consider expensive.

For instance, if you normally eat out at least twice a day, most days of the week, you could be spending anywhere from $400-$600 a month, or more, on your meals. In this case, choosing a meal delivery program, at around $300 a month, would seem very inexpensive to you. Whereas, for a mother of three, who cooks and prepares most meals at home and is on a tight budget, this same plan would be way too expensive. I am in this plan because I eat with my family. So right now with my budget I will have to be not do a traditional costly diet plan.

Now, let’s take a look at convenience. This is another very important deciding factor in choosing a diet. Are you on the go constantly running kids around, or working long hours at the office? I don't have a lot of time to spend preparing meals,but I am fortunate that my family can help with that. I may decide to try this certain diet for a little while when my family isn't available to help me with preparation.

Ease of use is another factor. Sometimes, ease of use can tie in with one of the other big factors. For instance, one person may think counting points is not very easy to do, because they are extremely busy, and it is not convenient for them. While another person may have a lot of free time, and counting points is no big deal. In this case, ease of use was dependent on convenience. To me the point system works,but what do you do after you have lost the weight. Calories tracking takes time, but like everything else you I will have to make a habit out of it. I think I will have to easemy way into calorie counting.

Do you know the top ten diet plans?

- Weight Watchers
Weight Watcher is #1 because it simply is the most widely known and most popular weight loss diet and has been for years. Weight Watchers is based on a points system. Foods are assigned point values, and each day you need to stay within your daily points allowance. Weight Watchers is available by attending local meetings, or by joining the popular Weight Watchers Online program.

- Fat Loss 4 Idiots
Fat Loss 4 Idiots is increasing in popularity very quickly. There is no counting calories, points, carbs or fat grams. It is as simple as following a menu designed just for you, based on your food choices. The diet is based on “calorie shifting”. The menus are specifically designed to maximize your metabolism by rotating the types of foods you eat each day.

-Diet to Go
Diet to Go is a meal delivery service. They take all the work out of eating healthy and losing weight. All you have to do is choose which meals you want. Every meal is made from fresh, healthy ingredients and is the proper portion size. No counting calories, points or carbs. No prepping, cooking or clean up. If ease and convenience is your #1 wish in a diet, then take a look at Diet to Go.

-Nutrisystem
Nutrisystem Advanced is a portion-controlled, prepared meal delivery program. You order your meals online and they will be delivered right to your door. There are programs for men, women, diabetics and vegetarians. You will also have access to many online features, support, meal planners and much more.

-Medifast
The Medifast 5 & 1 Plan is a meal replacement plan that is delivered right to your door. This diet was created in 1980 and has been recommended by over 15,000 physicians. On this diet, you will be eating 6 meals a day-5 Medifast meals and 1 “lean and green” meal. You will also have access to many online tools and support.

-South Beach Diet
The South Beach Diet is called the “Food Lovers Diet”. It is about living well and loving what you eat.” This diet emphasizes eating good carbs, good fats, and lean proteins. You can follow this diet by reading the bestseller book “South Beach Diet”, or you can join their online weight loss program for all the diet details and lots of helpful weight loss tools.

-Master Cleanse
The Master Cleanse is used for detox and weight loss. Celebrities such as Beyonce Knowles and Robin Quivers have praised the effectiveness of the Master Cleanse. It is a very popular method for quick weight loss and to detoxify the body of impurities and get rid of many conditions and ailments.

-Sonoma Diet
The Sonoma Diet is based on the Mediteranean lifestyle and the enjoyment of eating flavorful, healthy foods. This diet encourages eating just whole, fresh everyday foods that will naturally improve your overall health, satisfy your hunger and help you lose weight. This diet has received consistent approval from doctors and experts

-Truth About Six Pack Abs
The Truth about Six Pack Abs will give you the secrets to losing weight and getting that “ripped” middle section that you desire. This program involves full body workouts and a complete diet plan to help you reach your weight loss goal. It is very popular and is the #1 selling weight loss e-book.

-Strip that Fat
Strip that Fat is a new diet. We decided to include it in the top 10, because of it’s potential to become one of the most popular weight loss methods. It is an extensive, in depth weight loss plan. Strip that Fat teaches you everything you need to know about losing weight the healthy way. This includes the Strip that Fat Diet Creator, which creates 14 day menus for each individual, based on your food choices.

There is so much to research out there! Check out the next blog as I research diet journals.

Recipe of the week for Memorial Day Weekend plus You say sorbet and I say Sherbet...right?

Grilled Glazed Pineapple with Coconut Sorbet

Create a tropical dessert by grilling pineapple slices tossed with a mixture of orange marmalade and fresh lime juice. The finishing touch is a scoop of coconut sorbet.

Ingredients

1/3 cup orange marmalade
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 pineapple
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/8 teaspoon salt
Coconut sorbet
Chopped fresh mint

Preparation

1. Whisk together orange marmalade and lime juice in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at HIGH 15 seconds.
2. Peel and core pineapple, and cut into quarters. Reserve half of pineapple for another use. Halve each of the 2 remaining quarters lengthwise into long spears. Brush with vegetable oil, and toss with marmalade mixture. Sprinkle with salt. Grill pineapple over medium-high heat (400°) for 5 to 7 minutes or until tender, turning occasionally.
3. Spoon 1 scoop coconut sorbet into each of 4 bowls. Serve with grilled pineapple slices, and sprinkle with mint.

The Difference between Sorbet and Sherbet

Twins separated by the creaminess quotient, sorbet and sherbet both offer low-fat dessert options to the health-conscious cook. Make them in the summer when seasonal fruit is plentiful from your garden or the farmer's market. Alternatively, you can create sophisticated versions in the winter from honey, liqueur and imported fruits. Most supermarkets stock sherbet and sorbet in the freezer section.

Sorbet
A dessert with roots that stretch back thousands of years to ancient China and Rome, the classic sorbet is made from fruit juice or pureed fruit. Some classic sorbet mixes include herbs, honey, liqueurs and even egg whites. Modern sorbet makers place the fruity mixture in an ice cream maker or directly into the freezer, but the ancients achieved the frozen treat by mixing the fruit and flavorings with snow.

Sherbet
Creamier than sorbet, sherbet is also fruit based. The main difference lies in its inclusion of milk. "The Nibble" says regulations stipulate that real sherbet cannot be made from cream or any milk higher in fat than 2 percent. Like sorbet, sherbet may include egg whites and other flavorings. The dessert's name traces its ancestry to charbet, a Middle Eastern drink featuring fruit juice and sweeteners.

Health
On average, both commercial and homemade sorbets and sherbets are lower in fat and calories than ice cream. A survey of frozen desserts compiled by the University of Utah's Office of Health Promotion found that most sorbet and sherbet brands contained between 110 and 120 calories in a ½-cup serving and had no fat. In contrast, regular ice cream products contained as much as 280 calories and 11 g of fat for the same-size serving. Most of the light ice creams, frozen yogurts and nondairy frozen desserts were all higher in fat and calories than sorbets and sherbets. But sorbets and sherbets were not lower in sugar. The brands averaged about 25 g of sugar per serving, while even some full-fat ice creams were lower in sugar, though still higher in calories.

Method
To create a classic sorbet, peel and puree your chosen fruit. Use a sieve to remove seeds and graininess from the puree. Flavor your mixture with sugar, honey, wine or chopped herbs and freeze the mixture according to your ice cream maker's directions. If you don't have an ice cream maker, place the puree in a freezer-safe container for at least four hours. The process for making sherbet is similar, except cooks use equal parts milk or yogurt and fruit puree or fruit juice.

Caution
While the classic definition of sorbet remains a fruit-based frozen concoction without milk, some commercial brands and restaurants use regional recipes that use milk or even cream in both sherbets and sorbets. If your are lactose intolerant or just trying to cut fat, read labels carefully when buying products, and ask servers to check with the chef to confirm the absence of milk or cream.


Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/438319-the-difference-in-sorbet-sherbet/#ixzz1v588c2Il

Dinning on vacation tips, plus national casual eateries to try in a city near you

Eating out on a diet doesn't have to be cause for panic while on vacation. Sure, you hear about oversize restaurant portions and the plethora of fattening menu choices available all the time, but that doesn't mean dining out will doom your dieting efforts! Just use these 10 simple tips for eating out on a diet:

Cram for tonight's dinner. Many eateries post their entire menu online so you can print it out for reference. If you often eat at "mom and pop" type restaurants that aren't online, call and ask for the menu to be faxed to you, or pick up a takeout menu on your next visit. Highlight the healthiest options for each menu and store them all in a central location. Then, when you are planning your next night out, take the time to decide on your dishes at home before you've been tempted by the sight of other choices.

Order your main dish from the appetizer menu. Not only are appetizers more reasonably-portioned, they will save you some money as well. (This is a great way to save enough calories and cash to split dessert with someone!) Too peckish to be satisfied with just a starter? Order a side salad, too -- the fiber-rich veggies will round out your meal. Soup is super-filling, so it's an awesome appetizer add-on, too (just steer clear of cream-based ones).

Beware these high-fat menu buzz words: Cream sauce, butter, oil, au gratin, breaded, Alfredo, battered or batter-dipped, "with gravy," or smothered. Unless you've spared yourself treats for several days and snacked on salad greens all day, these little "extras" aren't worth the extra calories.

Modify the menu. In my neck of the woods, anything and everything can be batter-dipped and fried, so I make special requests all the time. Many restaurants will take your dietary needs into account so you'll be a happy customer and return. Don't hesitate to request anything on the menu to be prepared in a more diet-friendly and for sauces or dressings to be served on the side. It's not likely that you will be denied.

The meat is on. As tempting as that bucket of fried chicken looked on the commercial before you left home, order poultry steamed, poached, roasted, broiled, boiled, grilled or baked. Ask for skinless chicken whenever possible or remove it yourself. If you do treat yourself to fried chicken, choose white meat as it has fewer calories than dark. Of course, chicken, chicken and more chicken gets old after a while, so if you're asking, "Where's the beef?" allow yourself red meat a few times a week -- just be sure to choose leaner cuts of meat like loin or flank.

Keep tabs on that tubini. Endless pasta at your favorite Italian restaurant may be carb-lovers' heaven (Darn near nirvana for yours truly!), but it's a waist-widening trap for those of us who tend to overeat (How are you supposed to know when to say "when" if they keep bringing more?). As tempting as the great "value" for your money that infinitely-refilling pasta bowl seems, it's certainly not a bargain for your calorie budget. Order a portion-controlled main dish instead. "Ixnay" on the endless breadsticks, too!

"Wrap it up, I'll take it!" You know you're at a nice restaurant when the server takes your plate away and wraps up your leftover food for you at the end of the meal. (And if you're in a really nice restaurant, you'll get the eating out equivalent of a balloon animal -- the tin foil swan!) To ensure you don't leave sans swan, keep temptation at bay and ask the server to wrap up half of your as soon as it is served.
Take control of takeout. You don't have to swear off takeout when you're dieting -- there are many healthy options at ethnic restaurants. Portion control is key, though: Take out half of your takeout before dishing up your dinner, put the food in microwave containers and tuck it away in the fridge before you even start eating. (Instant will power and instant next-day lunch!)

Banish buffets. Portion control can become a foreign concept for even the most determined dieter at an all-you-can-eat buffet. (Who can practice moderation when there are new, clean plates just beckoning to be filled?) The sheer variety of foods available at buffets is also daunting -- studies have shown that when we're given more choices, we tend to eat more without realizing it. Simply avoid buffet restaurants and you won't have to face this temptation.

Mini meals are a must. It's smart to eat smaller meals during the day when you're planning to dine out. Just don't eat too sparingly, though -- you don't want to be so famished by the evening that you overeat. (It was a dark day when I ate too-mini mini meals and -- clearly ignoring my own tip number 9! -- visited a buffet in a ravenous state with a fellow waist-watcher ... the look of sheer horror on her face as I went for round number four is not something I will soon forget!) If mini meals don't tide you over, have a small, healthful snack in the afternoon to curb your appetite and you'll be much more in control come dinner time.

Here is a list of National Casual eating chains to try out..

Uno Chicago Grill
unos.com

If you haven’t been to your local Uno’s recently, you’re in for a great surprise. Sure, its famous deep-dish (read high-fat) pizzas still hold court, but nutrition has become the word of the day with a completely trans fat–free menu and plenty of grilled entrees (including antibiotic-free chicken). Adding to the healthy variety: whole-grain pasta and brown rice, organic coffee and tea, and flatbread pizzas that have half the calories of deep-dish ones. Plus, you can add a salad to your pizza for half-price because, according to the menu, “We want you to get some greens in your diet.” Now that’s a blue-ribbon commitment to health. Another reason Uno’s is at the top of our list: You know what you’re eating. In the lobbies of most of the restaurant’s locations, there are Nutrition Information Centers that detail ingredients, fat and sodium contents, and calories and fiber of every item, in addition to gluten-free options.

Danger zone: Deep-dish pizzas can pile on the fat.

We love: The Penne Bolognese—just 16 grams of fat (well within the daily recommended max of 65 grams of fat for a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet).

Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes
souplantation.com

Can a buffet-style restaurant—that symbol of American overindulgence—possibly be one of the healthiest restaurants in the country? It can in this case, because this salad-soup-and-bakery eatery (Southern California locations are named Souplantation, everywhere else they’re called Sweet Tomatoes) uses produce so fresh that it’s guaranteed to have been “in the ground” 24 hours before it’s in a refrigerated truck on its way to the restaurant. At the salad bar you’ll find seasonal vegetables like squash and bell peppers, freshly tossed and prepared salads, and a great range of nonfat dressings. San Marino Spinach With Pumpkin Seeds and Cranberries, anyone? This is paradise for vegetarians, vegans, and anyone who’s looking for a low-sodium, low-fat, high-nutrient meal outside the home.

Danger zone: Plate overload—after all, it’s all-you-can-eat.

We love: The Tomato Spinach Whole Wheat pasta, a delicious combo of whole grains and veggies.

Mimi's Cafe
mimiscafe.com

This cozy cafe-style restaurant transforms normally less-than-healthy foods into better—and still tasty—options: a half-pound cheeseburger wrapped in lettuce (that’s right, no bun); the cutely named Naked French Market Onion Soup, served without cheese. Another thing to love is the way that Mimi’s clearly steers you toward its healthy options. Its “Lifestyle Menu” points you to low-carb picks like the fish of the day served with fresh steamed veggies. Also, Mimi’s keeps portions small, so you can get away with occasionally having one of their more indulgent entrees like the Sweet & Sour Coconut Shrimp (608 calories).

Danger zone: The “Comfort Classics” page of the menu, with throwbacks like rich (super-high-fat) Chicken Cordon Bleu.

We love: Chicken & Fruit (above)—grilled chicken and a garden salad, plus wedges of fresh orange, honeydew, watermelon, and cantalope.

P.F. Chang's China Bistro
pfchangs.com

Take the best aspects of Asian cuisine—a combination of fresh vegetables and protein—surround them with healthy influences such as whole-grain brown rice, wild-caught, sustainable Alaskan salmon, and all-natural chicken, and you have a recipe for delicious, healthy dining. Wok-based cooking (which requires less oil) using soybean oil keeps fat contents low, and less sodium in the sauces rounds out P.F. Chang’s healthy take on Chinese food.

Special credit goes to their nutritional information being based on the whole entree, not a single serving like at most places.

Danger zone: Traditional, fat-dense items such as Lo Mein Beef.

We love: Carb-free vegetarian lettuce wraps—wok-seared tofu, red onions, and water chestnuts with mint and lime, set in lettuce cups.

Bob Evans Restaurants
bobevans.com

You wouldn’t think a restaurant that prides itself on sausage could muscle its way into the top five healthiest restaurants in the country. But Bob Evans scores high on its dinner menu, which has plenty of low-carb, low-fat entrees and alternatives for children and adults (chicken tenders that are grilled instead of fried, potato-crusted flounder, and salmon stir-fry). Look for sides like steamed broccoli florets and fresh fruit, and enjoy old-fashioned family meals in a modern, nutrition-forward way.

Danger zone: Breakfast, where bacon and sausage are kings.

We love: Healthy options on the kid’s menu, like slow-roasted turkey with mashed potatoes and glazed baby carrots, and fruit and yogurt dippers for dessert.

Ruby Tuesday
rubytuesday.com

If we’d done this survey in 2004, Ruby Tuesday might have won the blue ribbon for printing all its nutritional content right on the menu. It was revolutionary, and, frankly, it didn’t last. But the healthy ethos survived in the chain’s ingredients: organic greens, hormone-free chicken, trans fat–free frying oil, and better-for-you beverages including Jones organic teas and made-to-order drinks like all natural lemonades (think real fruit and juice). It’s easy to find the good stuff—it’s highlighted—and the offerings range from a chicken wrap in a whole-wheat tortilla to broiled tilapia.

Danger zone: Comfort-food entrees like Gourmet Chicken Potpie, which piles more than half your daily calories on the plate.

We love: That they’ve even healthied-up the burgers, offering veggie and turkey versions.

Romano's Macaroni Grill
macaronigrill.com

This Italian eatery puts its entire menu’s nutritional content online, so you know before you go what to steer clear of—mainly, the massive baked pastas. But what pushed Macaroni Grill onto our best list is its “Sensible Fare” menu, with entrees like Simple Salmon, a grilled fillet sided by grilled asparagus and broccoli. Grazie for whole-wheat penne available as a substitute in any dish. And bravo for including a grilled skinless chicken breast with steamed broccoli and pasta on the kid’s menu.

Danger zone: Heavy entrees like spaghetti and meatballs with meat sauce.

We love: The delicious Italian sorbetto and biscotti—just 330 calories and 4 grams of fat.

Chevy's Fresh Mex
chevys.com

Chevy’s makes a big deal out of the “fresh” in its name, and with good reason—no cans in the restaurant, fresh salsa blended every hour, fresh avocados smashed every day for guacamole, and watch-them-made tortillas. All oils are trans fat–free, and the Mexican-style fare has lots of healthy options including Grilled Fish Tacos.

Danger zone: Sodium counts. To get below 1,000 milligrams, you’ll need to get those Chicken Fajitas with no tortillas, tomalito, rice, sour cream, or guacamole.

We love: Fresh fish of the day, grilled and served on a skillet with homemade salsa.

Olive Garden
olivegarden.com

Like Macaroni Grill, this Italian eatery has great-for-you options, as long as you keep your wits about you (again, avoid the baked pastas!). Use the olive-branch icon on the menu to find low-fat “Garden Fare” items such as Venetian Apricot Chicken, (448 calories, 11 grams fat). Even the fries aren’t a disaster, because they’re done in trans fat–free oil. You can grab some whole-grain goodness, too, by choosing the whole-wheat linguine at dinner as a substitute for any pasta.

Danger zone: The non-olive-branch entrees. Olive Garden provides no nutritional information on anything else on the menu.

We love: The low-fat Capellini Pomodoro (644 calories and 14 grams fat).

Denny's
dennys.com

Yes, the home of the Lumberjack Slam and Moons Over My Hammy offers lots of skinny options to counter its fatty mainstays. “Fit-Fare” dishes such as the grilled-chicken-breast salad, and tilapia with rice and veggies, each have less than 15 grams of fat. Denny’s also posts full nutritional information on its Web site. Its use of trans fats to cook its French fries kept it from landing higher on our list, but the rest of the fried food is trans fat–free.

Danger zone: Breakfast specials, especially the Meat Lover’s Scramble, which is as bad for you as it sounds.

We love: The online nutritional chart has Weight Watchers Food Exchange Values.

Check back in on the blog for our recipe of the week and more fun Memorial Day Weekend Diet tips!

Eating on the Road this Memorial Day Weekend

Eating on the road for your Memorial Day Travels is hard to do on a diet, but here are some suggestions

Fast food every now and again doesn't have to spell diet disaster. It's all about fitting it in to your calorie budget. Whether you want a snack or a meal, we've got suggestions. Check out these 35 choices for 500-calorie or less fast food.

Chicken McNuggets Happy Meal (4 piece chicken McNuggets, small fries, and 12-oz. beverage) - 500 calories
One regular hamburger - 250 calories
Hamburger Happy Meal with Apple Dippers and 1% milk as side choices - 460 calories
McChicken sandwich - 360 calories
Fruit 'n Yogurt Parfait - 160 calories

BK Veggie Burger - 420 calories
BK Veggie Burger (no mayo) (340 calories) and small fries (230 calories) - 570 calories
4-piece chicken tenders - 170 calories
Whopper Jr. Sandwich (no mayo) - 310 calories
Garden salad with Ken's Border Ranch Dressing - 125 calories

Martha's Vineyard Market Fresh Salad (no dressing) - 277 calories
Martha's Vineyard Market Fresh Salad with Light Buttermilk Ranch dressing - 389 calories
Market Fresh Mini Turkey & Cheese Sandwich - 235 calories
More: Arby's Quick Guide

Small chili (220 calories) and a plain baked potato (270 calories) - 490 calories
Ultimate Chicken Grill Sandwich - 370 calories
Mandarin Chicken Salad and small soda - 310 calories
Roasted Turkey and Basil Frescata - 420 calories
Roasted Turkey and Basil Frescata without pesto - 350 calories
Kids' size fries - 280 calories
Jr. cheeseburger - 240 calories

Tip: Stick with 6-inch subs to keep portions in check. Hold the oil and mayo!
6" Oven Roasted Chicken Breast with swiss cheese and light mayo - 410 calories
Veggie Delite Salad - 60 calories
6" Veggie Delite - 230 calories
6" turkey breast sub - 280 calories
6" Bourbon chicken sub - 350 calories
Grilled chicken breast and baby spinach salad - 140 calories
6" roast beef sub - 290 calories

Tip: You can order regular menu items "Fresco Style" and save a lot of calories and get some extra veggies too (salsa is substituted for cheese and sauce).
Two "Fresco Style" Ranchero chicken soft tacos - 340 calories
One spicy chicken soft taco - 190 calories
Taco salad (no shell) - 420 calories

Tip: Avoid "crispy" recipe chicken as it is higher in fat. The Snacker sandwich line is good for portion control. There are some healthy vegetable sides here too.
One original recipe drumstick - 140 calories
Honey BBQ KFC Snacker (220 calories) and corn on the cob (70 calories) - 290 calories
Baked beans - 230 calories
Tender Roast Chicken Sandwich (no sauce) - 390 calories
Original Recipe Chicken Sandwich (no sauce) - 320 calories

Check back on the blog for more helpful Memorial Day weekend info!

Memorial Day Weekend Snacking

Picnic season is upon us and Memorial Day is one of the biggest days for the outings of the year.

Here are some foods you can substitute for picnic favorites to keep things healthy while not sacrificing too much taste this Memorial Day season:

Healthy Memorial Day Picnic Food Idea #1: Salsa

Instead of going for the classic potato chips and french onion dip combo at your Memorial Day picnic, choose chips and salsa instead. Get some all-natural organic chips instead of the salty normal kind you find at grocery stores. Salt is a big contributor to health problems across the board.

Good, organic, natural corn chips and garden fresh salsa tastes way better than that same old chips and dip combo most people go with on Memorial Day.

Healthy Memorial Day Picnic Food Idea # 2: Lightly Sweetened Iced Tea

Use real tea bags instead of Lipton's tea which is packed with highly-processed high fructose corn syrup.

Add just enough real sugar to the tea after mixing it and pouring it into a pitcher and also use lemons to sweeten it.

Real sugar isn't a health food by any stretch but putting your own sugar in allows you to control calories. Stay away from artificial sweeteners and diet sodas as many researchers have found it doesn't help people lose weight. Instead many researchers have found that it causes peoples' appetites to increase.

Health isn't always about calorie control by the way, it can also be about eating the way nature intended. Use a reverse-osmosis water filter for the healthiest possible drink for your body.

Healthy Food Memorial Day Picnic Food Idea #3: Vegetable Tray

Just about anything tastes good with a little bit of ranch, preferably light ranch. Instead of the pesticide-laced, overpriced veggie trays you'll find at the factory-sized grocery stores, buy some tasty organic carrots and broccoli (not too expensive at all, really) and add a few other choices to that mix to mix your own tray.


Cook Quality Food not Fatty Food


Grilled Potato Wedges – I wash and slice potatoes into wedges (I leave on peels for added nutrients). I put them into a bowl and coat them lightly with some olive oil. Spray a sheet of aluminum foil with Pam cooking spray and lay the wedges out in 1 to 3 layers on foil. You can certainly add chives, garlic powder, onion salt, seasoning salt, crushed red pepper flakes or just plain ole chopped onion. Make the wedges to fit your taste buds. Then, wrap them up in foil so olive oil and steam can’t escape. Grill over indirect heat at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.

Oriental Coleslaw – This is a favorite amongst my big kids.
I originally found the recipe online at cooks.com – Oriental Coleslaw Recipe
:Coleslaw
1 bag Dole coleslaw
1/4-1/2 c. slivered almonds
1/4 c. sunflower seeds
2 tbsp. sesame seeds
2-3 chopped green onions (optional)
1 pkg. chicken flavored Ramen noodles
Dressing
Flavor packet from Ramen noodles
1 tsp. seasoned salt
2 tbsp. sugar
1/4 c. oil
1/4 c. rice vinegar

Sometimes, I only use half of the Ramen Noodles and add more crunchy sliced carrots or almonds. You’ll save some empty calories here. I do use olive oil also. Oh! Please do use only rice vinegar. I tried using regular once… It was awful. Lesson learned. ;)


Your body will thank you for eating the good stuff.



Check back on the next blog when we explore a way to keep you safe from bugs while spending time outdoors this Memorial Day weekend!

Is it just diet and exercise?

I wanted to know if it is really just exercise and diet? I decided to reasearch some ideas about how to loose weight being obese, because as someone who is more then a few punds overweight, I can't suddenly hit the gym and go on a starvation diet because it would be too risky to my health.

I found this information online: If you are suffering from some of the harsh effects of being obese, then it is time to look at the options for losing obesity weight. This is especially true if you are obese and have complications such as sleep apnea, breast cancer or other types of cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, or osteoarthritis.

Diet

One of the simplest, yet most crucial things you can do, is to start keeping a food journal and writing down everything that goes into your mouth. You would be surprised at how much eating is done on an unconscious level. Starting to be aware of your diet is key to losing body fat.

You can start to change your diet by doing one simple thing: cut out soft drinks. You can also start to incorporate more plant-based foods into your diet by cutting at least one sugary snack per day and replacing it with a fruit.


To ease myslef into a meal plan, I want to start off with just expirementing with portion control. I want to see if cutting my food intake down other then modifying will help me start being more aware of what I am eating and help me feel better.

Exercise

Another vital change to start making is the amount of activity that you do on a daily basis. It can be simple to incorporate more movement into your day by doing even the smallest things. You can park a few spaces further from the grocery store than you normally do. You can get up and walk around the living room every time a commercial comes on. You can lift small hand weights before every meal.

Walking is another great activity and has tremendous health benefits. Even if you only walk a block or two, it all adds up and you can increase your walking increments slowly.

Ultimately, a healthy weight loss will eliminate 1-2 pounds per week. This may seem like a slow process, but it is proven that this type of weight loss promotes a permanent change, rather than taking off the weight too quickly.



I do want to start incorporating exercise eventually however, to begin with I plan to may my self discovery of weightloss primarily based around discovering meal plans that work for me.

Check back with the blog when I research different diet plans and journals.

Dryer Sheet's Working in an Un-bee-lievable Way

Spending time in the great outdoors is what Memorial Day Weekend is all about for many people. With nature, we have bee's! Spring and summer are the favorite seasons of bees. Flowers emerge as buds and open into blooms to reveal sweet nectar for the bees' diet. Bees can be pests when family and friends are outside enjoying the nice weather at a barbeque or party. Sugary drinks like soda, sweet tea, lemonade and beer attract bees with the sweet smells they emit. Sweet foods also attract bees to a gathering. Dryer sheets repel bees from the area of their placement for a bee-free environment. Many people are allergic to bee stings and should avoid bees at all costs.

Instructions

1.)Fold a dryer sheet so that it fits in a pocket. Wear the dryer sheet in a shirt, pants or shorts pocket while outside near bees. The smell of the dryer sheet repels the bees.

2.)Rub a dryer sheet on all skin that clothes do not cover. Rub the sheets on arms and hands, legs, necks and faces to repel bees.

3.)Place a dryer sheet on the table or on a blanket on the ground for a picnic. This will rid the picnic of bees that like to enter sugary drinks. This idea also works well at the beach.

4.)Poke a hole in one corner of a dryer sheet with scissors. Insert a string and tie a knot to hold it to the dryer sheet. Hang the dryer sheet from rafters on a deck by tying the string around the rafter or on an arm of a sun umbrella. This process will eliminate bees from decks, porches and outside entertainment areas.

5. Tuck a dryer sheet into the back of outdoor chairs behind the cushions so that bees will not bother guests and family as they sit outside in the chairs. Hang dryer sheets with a string on chairs that do not have cushions.

Check Back on our next blog as we continue on with the beauty tips and trends for memorial Day Weekend. In teh meantime learn more about bees!


[Source: Today I found out]

I Challenge You ...

After making thousands of clients look and feel their most amazing in his chair as a Hair Stylist and Make-up Artist, Celebrity Stylist Clark Russell has had a long struggle with his personal health and weight. While Clark has always believed that beauty is not a weight number, it is what you make of yourself with confidence and beauty techniques; however the health problems have become increasingly detrimental to lifestyle. Now at his highest weight, Clark has made several failed attempts to lose weight; including research into bariatric surgery, severe weight loss dieting plans, weight loss and exercise gimmicks. After numerous attempts of trying to be cast of shows such as The Biggest Loser, Extreme Make-over Weight Loss Edition, several other undisclosed weight loss show castings and meetings with television producers, Clark Russell has decided to start his own movement.

The be Clarked, be Fit Healthy Lifestyle Challenge is a new idea from Clark Russell where the concentration of “diet” is discarded, and the focus is not to lose weight but to become more healthy. Join Clark Russell in his quest to improve the quality of life, one healthy lifestyle change at a time. With his resources of going to a nutritionist, seeking healthy ways to become more increasingly fit and sharing beauty tips and facts along the way, it will surely be a fun adventure. Clark Russell challenges you to be beautiful, be healthy and be fit along with him…

An insppiring new Documentary on HBO "Weight of the Nation"


Be sure to check out our facebook page and like it at http://www.facebook.com/pages/BeClarked-beFit-Challenge/329221343818002?ref=ts and our website at www.beclarkedbefit.com

Did I just eat that?.... Why don't you join me...

On my quest to find out more about my own eating habbits I have decided that the best approach would be for me to start a food journal. That way I can currently track what I eat now, and see where I am at in a dietary plan, and what I need to alter or change up to reach some of my health goals and make me ask myself... did I just eat that?

I decided to start a food journal with WWW.LiveStrong.com. Why I like www.livestrong.com, is because it is founded by the Lance Armstrong foundation, which as you may know is a cancer foundation. The site has amazing apps for eating healthier, tracking calories, exercise regemines and much more. They even have an app to help smokers quit! Plus the greatest benefit... it is free!

Here is some info about www.livestrong.com

WHY WE ARE HERE: The Limitless Potential of You


Demand Media and the Lance Armstrong Foundation envisioned LIVESTRONG.COM as the definitive destination for those who want to build their own healthy living success story. We believe that everyone should feel empowered through food, fitness, and inspiration to pursue their best life because eating well and staying active are critical components in preventing cancer and fighting other illnesses.

At LIVESTRONG.COM, we believe that achievements start with education and a commitment to small, daily choices. We offer content that engages and informs, and we complement that information with practical tools that make living healthy an easy and sustainable process.

LIVESTRONG.COM believes that healthy living is essential to the prevention of cancer and other illnesses. Therefore, we are a proud licensing partner of the Lance Armstrong Foundation and have contributed over $3M in support of their mission to provide services to those affected by cancer. We help to bring awareness of the fight against cancer to millions of people and support those in pursuit of living healthy every day.

WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE

We're here to make our members unstoppable. We're passionate about the transformative power of smart food and fitness practices and encourage our members to celebrate their daily victories in developing those practices. We aim to share our members' powerful, personal success stories as a catalyst that can create an evolution of change.

LIVESTRONG.COM is dedicated to helping our members realize their potential so that they can help others do the same.

For more about why we are here and what we believe in, read our Promise.

WHY YOU SHOULD BE HERE

Tools


We provide tools and applications that make it easier to live a better, healthier life. LIVESTRONG.COM's flagship tool is MyPlate - a comprehensive food and fitness tracker leveraging the largest online food and fitness database. MyPlate Mobile is a smart phone app that offers the same functionality on-the-go. Both tools provide information and utility to transform smart food choices into natural habits.

LIVESTRONG.COM empowers members to quit smoking through MyQuit Coach - a smoking cessation app offering a personalized quitting plan, while also providing support and encouragement from social circles.

LIVESTRONG.COM engages the community through challenges that encourage short-term and long-term healthy living changes.

Our recipes offer one of the largest databases of meal options. We believe that enjoying food is part of living a healthy life. Recipes allow members to create and share food options based on dietary preference while still providing detailed nutrition data.

Loops, our mapping tool for local running, cycling, walking and hiking routes provides another solution for members who want to blaze their own trail and track their success.

Content


LIVESTRONG.COM offers authoritative expert content in the diet, nutrition, fitness, wellness and lifestyle categories that informs and empowers. Our content offering includes:
•Investigative and engaging feature content created by leaders in healthy living
•Practical, solution-oriented short form content created by experienced freelance professionals
•Entertaining, instructional video series and short form video content
•Expert input, personality and soul throughout the site via Q&A series and content formats with social media portability
•Relatable, knowledgeable editors who interact with the community and develop content based on the members' needs and interests.

We believe that health information is always evolving and our content reflects the fluid and ever-changing nature of life. We've created a safe, encouraging space where members can engage directly with respected experts to have their questions answered.

Our content serves to teach, but never preach. We believe that our ultimate purpose is to enable members to discover the practices that work best for them.


Community


We believe that peer-to-peer support is one of the cornerstones of success. LIVESTRONG.COM serves as a platform for community members to connect, inform and inspire. Throughout the site, members are encouraged to interact with each other in Groups and Forums, where they can share their goals and experiences.

WHO WE SUPPORT

We support LIVESTRONG/The Lance Armstrong Foundation


LIVESTRONG serves people affected by cancer and empowers them to take action against the world's leading cause of death. Created as the Lance Armstrong Foundation in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong, the organization is now known publicly by its powerful brand - LIVESTRONG - and is a leader in the global movement on behalf of 28 million people around the world living with cancer today. Known for its iconic yellow wristband, LIVESTRONG has become a symbol of hope and inspiration to people affected by cancer around the world. Since its inception, the organization has raised more than $400 million for the fight against cancer. LIVESTRONG.org.


I am encouraging you to join www.livestrong.com and join me! I will be posting some interactive ideas and would like a community of friends and family to join me on this exciting process. Looks like I will be starting on Monday... Wish me luck and hope you join as well!

Check back next Tuesday when I talk about my www.livestrong.com experience.