Hungry For Living

Friday's Featured Product! Brummel & Brown!

2012-02-17T08:19:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but I LOVE butter! Of course, whenever something is cooked with butter, it tastes better. Unfortunately butter isn't great for our health (or our waistline!) so like most I look for healthy butter substitutes. I have used and tried a bunch of different ones out there over the years. They are great because they will help you cut calories when cooking and baking while still getting the delicious flavor you want.

My favorite right now is Brummel & Brown® because it has a creamy and delicious fresh butter taste. I use it whenever I am cooking, whether buttering toast or baking cookies. I also use it in most all of my recipes in place of butter to save calories and fat. It will work in any kind of recipe that calls for butter. It's blended with natural yogurt and has half the fat and calories of butter. Also it contains 85% less saturated fat than butter, and has no cholesterol, no hydrogenated oils and no trans fat per serving. I have found it to be a butter substitute that is creamier and tastier than most other substitutes out there because of the natural yogurt.

For anyone trying to eat healthy, lower their fat, including trans fat, calories, or cholesterol intake by replacing butter in their diet you may want to try this creamy and natural spread!

Meatballs!

2012-02-14T10:00:00.003-05:00

Today's recipe is for delicious yet healthy meatballs that you will swear your grandmother made. Actually this recipe is derived from one of my grandmother's recipes that I just adjusted a bit. It's simple and easy to make and does not require a lot of time.

What You Need:
Large pot
Frying Pan
Mini food processor/blender or chopper

Ingredients:
2lbs 93% lean ground beef
2 slices of Weight Watchers bread (or light wheat)
1-2tsp Olive Oil
2Tbsp grated Romano cheese
1 large egg
2 cloves garlic (minced, grated, or pressed)
1tsp Parsley
1Tbsp Oregano
1Tbsp Basil
1tsp Salt
1/2tsp Black Pepper
1tsp Garlic powder
1/2tsp Thyme
Tomato Sauce (homemade or canned)

First you want to put your pot with tomato sauce on medium heat. You need enough sauce to fully cover your meatballs while they cook (aprox 15). I usually have my large pot, pictured above, filled 1/3 to 1/2 way up.

Next, we want to make our own homemade healthier breadcrumbs. In your chopper or blender add ripped up pieces of the bread, 1Tbsp of Romano cheese, Basil, Parsley, Salt, Pepper, Garlic powder, Thyme and any other spices you wish. I also add two spice blends from Penzeys Spices (for my tastes) called "Mural of Flavor" and "Herbs de Provence" they are basically just Italian spice blends. Lightly pulse and blend the bread and spices together.

What you end up with should look like this..

Next, in a large bowl add your beef, Egg, 1Tbsp Romano cheese, bread crumbs and garlic. Now here is where we go old school, with freshly washed hands you want to mix all your ingredients together with you hands. Smush, mush, squeeze and mash it all together until it looks evenly mixed together.

In a frying pan over medium heat and 1tsp of Olive Oil

Grab a fist size worth of meat and using your hands form into a ball

Using your other hand slightly press the meat down so that the top and bottom are more flat

Add your meat balls to the hot frying pan

You want to lightly brown them on both sides

Once browned remove the meatballs from the frying pan and place in the tomato sauce.

Repeat this process until you have used up all the meat. You should be able to make 15 meatballs. If needed you can add another tsp of Olive Oil to the pan.
Lightly stir the meatballs to ensure all are covered with sauce. You want the sauce to be hot but not boiling. Cover and let simmer for at least a half hour.
Then Enjoy!

You can enjoy these meatballs alone as a yummy snack or on top of your favorite pasta dish. I love these meatballs on top of a bowl of whole wheat pasta and sprinkled with some Romano Cheese.

This recipe yields 15 servings and is 2 Weight Watchers Points Plus per serving

Music Monday! Stronger!

2012-02-13T14:18:00.000-05:00

I love this song! Kelly Clarkson shows young girls and women everywhere the meaning of empowerment and inner strength. This song and this video sends the message that there is life after a failed relationship. It's all about finding the strength and courage to go it alone!

Another great thing about this video is that they used footage submitted by her fans! Kelly encouraged fans to be a part of her new video. She posted an instructional dance video with the choreography and had fans send in their home videos to be used in this music video.

What do you think?

Interesting!

2012-02-12T19:24:00.000-05:00

We know to avoid processed foods because they are not healthy and cause us to gain weight, but now new video shows that we can't even digest them properly.

What do you think?

Banana Bread!

2012-02-08T20:53:00.004-05:00

If you are like me, some of your bananas seem to go bad before you can eat them all. I love keeping bananas in the house for a healthy mid morning snack but I don't like them once they start getting all brown. A great way to avoid throwing out old bananas is to turn them into Banana Bread! I have created a Low Fat, sugar free banana bread that is delicious and healthy!

What you need:

A Large Bowl
A Loaf Pan
Wooden Spoon
Cooking Spray
Potato Masher & Hand Mixer (optional)

Ingredients:

3 Bananas
2 Eggs
1/4 Cup Water
1 & 2/3 Cups of Flour
1/4 Cup of Brummel & Brown (or a similar reduced fat butter substitute)
2/3 Cup of Splenda
1tsp Baking Soda
1/4tsp Baking Powder
1/2tsp Salt
4Tbsp Chocolate Chips (optional)

Pre-heat your over to 350

In a large bowl mash up your Bananas. Mix in your eggs, water, brummel & brown and splenda. You want a cake batter like consistency.

Then mix in your flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. If you are like me and have a sweet tooth you can add in 4tbsp of chocolate chips. This also makes the banana bread a sweet chocolaty treat.

Spray your loaf pan with cooking spray. I like to use PAM. You want to fully coat the inside of the pan so that your bread will fall out easily. Then pour your batter into you loaf pan.

Place your pan in your pre-heated oven for about an hour and 15 minutes or until golden brown. (TIP: You can tell if your bread is fully cooked by inserting a knife into the center. If your knife comes out clean your bread is done)

Once your bread has cooled you can turn your pan upside down and the bread should easily fall out. Place on a plate, slice it up and indulge...

Enjoy!!

This banana bread yields 11 servings and is only 4 Weight Watcher Points Plus!

5 Points Plus if you add the Chocolate Chips!

(If you don't want to make the recipe sugar free you can use the same amount of sugar instead of splenda)

Music Monday! Dream Big!

2012-02-06T13:04:00.000-05:00

This is an amazing song that always puts me in a good mood. It has a great message and even if its not the kind of music you usually listen to, I'm sure you will love it if not just for the great message it holds. It never ceases to inspire me when it comes up on my play list!

Reward!

2012-02-02T21:25:00.000-05:00

So today I treated myself! After a long day of filming in NYC I had some time to kill before meeting up with my friend and decided to treat myself to a pedicure. After a long year with a lot of death and relationship drama I back tracked on my weight loss efforts a bit. I gained back a few of the pounds I have lost and I am determined to re loose them again as well as more. As a reward for hitting the 5lb mark this week (I'm actually at 6.6 but whose counting) I decided to treat myself to a relaxing pedicure. It was wonderful and exactly what I needed today. I am even more excited for my 10lb reward a massage!! :)

Tuesday's Tip! Other uses for Coffee Grounds!

2012-01-31T13:52:00.001-05:00

Coffee! Though I don't drink the stuff, most people depend on it to get their day started, but what happens to all those coffee grounds? When we throw coffee grounds into the garbage they break down and release methane. Methane is a greenhouse gas that is 20 times more powerful than CO2. Lucky for us there are lots of ways to put them to good use and keep them out of landfills. Coffee grounds can be useful for beauty, cleaning, and even in the garden. Here are a few ideas on how to reuse coffee grounds.

TIP: If you plan on hanging on to the grounds for a little while before using them you want to dry them out so they don't get moldy. To do this just spread a thin layer on a cookie sheet and place in a sunny spot

Of course you can compost them.
Use as fertilizer for acid-loving plants such as tomatoes, carrots, roses, azaleas & blueberries.
Try storing them in your refrigerator and freezer instead of baking soda to eliminate odors.
Keep out ants by sprinkling some grounds where they enter.
Fill an old sock full of dried coffee grounds & insert into a smelly pair of shoes to eliminate of the stink.
After dicing onions and garlic you can scrub your hands with old coffee grounds to get the smell off of your skin.
You can mix them with mashed avocados for a organic facial mask.
Keep those pesky neighborhood cats out of your garden by sprinkling a small amount around beds or pots.
For those of you with dark hair, you can massage them into your scalp to prevent dandruff.
You can use them to exfoliate your skin.
Use them as a chemical free way to scour away grease on your pots and pans.
Steep them in hot water to make an all natural brown fabric dye
If you are crafty you can give paper an “aged” look by dipping it in water that has soaked overnight with coffee grounds.
You can make an at home anti-cellulite scrub using 5 tsp. ground coffee, 1 tsp. sugar or salt & 2 tsp. essential oil. Apply with your hand or a loofah in a circular motion, leave on five minutes and then wash off.

Tip: You can dry out used coffee grounds and mix them with fresh grounds to make coffee with them one more time!

Do you have more ideas on how to reuse coffee grounds?

Music Monday! Skyscraper!

2012-01-30T10:53:00.000-05:00

This is a great inspiring song for anyone who has been through trying times. It's all about rising above everything that has happened and being a better, stronger person because of it. The video shows that your heart is strong enough to go through pain without breaking. We are all resilient and though we go through ups and downs we are all strong enough to make it through.

Healthy Ricotta & Peperoni Pizza!

2012-01-27T00:12:00.138-05:00

I am Italian, so of course I love pizza. Lately I have been experimenting in the kitchen to come up with healthier versions of my favorite pizzas. Today's recipe is for a ricotta and pepperoni pizza. By adjusting a few ingredients you can totally change the calorie and fat outcome of this restaurant favorite. I use whole wheat pizza dough and instead of regular cheeses I opted for lesser fat versions. I also chose to use turkey pepperoni. I was very nervous about how it would taste but was pleasantly surprised. As you know I don't like foods that taste "diet" but it actually taste just like regular pepperoni, even straight from the package.

What You Will Need:

1 pkg Whole Wheat pizza dough (you can find this in the refrigerated section at your local grocery store)
8oz Part Skim Ricotta Cheese
1 1/4 cups Reduced Fat Mozzarella Cheese
17 slices of Turkey Pepperoni
1/4tsp Oregano
1/4tsp Basil
1/8tsp Parsley
A pinch Nutmeg
1/8tsp Salt
A pinch of Pepper
Sauce (you can use a jar of sauce or your own, I include a recipe for sauce for this recipe)
A round pan, pizza stone or cookie sheet
Corn Meal

To make a quick yummy pizza sauce you will need:

1tsp Olive Oil
1 Clove of Garlic minced
1/4tsp Basil
1/2tsp Oregano
1/4tsp Salt
A pinch of Parsley
A pinch of Pepper
A pinch of Thyme
1can of plain Tomato Sauce
Sauce Pot

To start you want to put your dough in a bowl and allow to rise. I like to give it 24hours to rise. I usually put it in a bowl and cover it with a damp paper towel and leave it on the counter overnight. In the morning I take the risen dough and form it back into a ball and allow it to rise again. If you don't have that much time you want to allow enough time for the dough to rise at least once. (TIP: to help your dough rise faster you can turn your oven on to 400 degrees for 10 minutes then turn it off and put the bowl of dough inside with the oven door slightly open, the heat will help speed up the process)

Before

After

Pre heat your oven to 375degrees

To make the sauce you want to put the pot over medium heat and add the olive oil and garlic till it begins to brown. Next add the Sauce, Basil, Oregano, Parsley, Pepper, Thyme & Salt. Stir and allow for the sauce to become hot. then reduce heat and let simmer for 10-15 minutes.

In a small bowl add together the Ricotta Cheese, Basil, Oregano, Parsley, Salt, Pepper & Nutmeg. I know nutmeg may sound weird but it's an old trick my mother taught me years ago. You don't actually taste the nutmeg but it helps bring out the flavors of the cheese.

No matter what surface you are using to cook your pizza you want to coat it with a thin layer of Corn Meal.

Next you want to form your dough. Depending on the type of surface you are using this can be a square or circle. To stretch the dough you can hold it in the air and pull out from the center while rotating the dough. You can also lay it on a flat surface and push it out using the balls of your fingers. You want to stretch the dough and big and flat as you can since it will rise a little while baking. (TIP: fix any holes by just pinching the dough around the hole together)

I like to pre bake the crust to ensure it cooks all the way through. To do this I simply stick the crust in the oven first for 10 minutes.

Once the dough is pre baked you want to remove it from the oven and add your sauce leaving at least a 1/4 inch of uncovered dough around the edges for your crust.

Next using a spoon add the ricotta in dollops and using the spoon gently spread out.

Then evenly spread your mozzarella cheese

Lastly you want to add your turkey pepperoni. (TIP: The pepperoni will shrink a little during cooking so if you like a lot of pepperoni on every slice you may want to add a little more)

Then place in the oven for 30 minutes or until the crust begins to brown and the cheese bubbles.

FINISHED PRODUCT

ENJOY!

Weight Watchers PointsPlus value of 6 points per serving. Recipe yields 8 servings

Wordless Wednesday! Snow Day With Ozyy!

2012-01-25T13:33:00.000-05:00

Tuesday's Tip! Other uses for Olive Oil!

2012-01-24T11:18:00.000-05:00

Olive oil is a “healthy fat” and when consumed in moderation, it can help to reduce your risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. Olive oil is healthy for our insides, but it also has all kinds of other uses.

Today I have compiled 10 other unique uses for this common kitchen staple.

Un-stick A Zipper

This is something good to remember when your in a pinch. You can loosen that pesky zipper by dabbing a small amount of olive oil onto the zipper’s teeth to help it slide along smoothly.

Make A Sugar Scrub

Olive oil can be used to create a moisturizing and exfoliating scrub that helps heal and sooth dry winter skin. To make just mix sugar with enough olive oil to form a paste. If you want you can scent the scrub with essential oils. To use just massage the scrub into your skin in the shower, bath or use on your hands in the sink. You can also get the same effects by making a salt scrub. You can see how I made my own Salt Scrub HERE

Sooth A Sunburn

No one likes getting sunburn but if you are like me you will try anything to help sooth your skin after spending too much time in the sun. Now you don’t want to use oil on your skin the same day you notice a sunburn, but you can start using olive oil to moisturize your skin a day or two later. This will also help prevent your skin from peeling and help to heal the damaged skin.

Moisturize

During the winter especially your hands and feet usually call for some extra TLC. To help soften your dry winter skin massage a small amount of the oil after your shower. For extra soft skin you want to wear socks and gloves afterwards to help the moisture absorb into the skin. You should feel and see results right away.

Hairball Prevention

This was new to me since I do not own cats. But apparently even cats can benefit from the many uses of olive oil. Depending on your cat’s size you can feed them 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of olive oil to help prevent them from getting hairballs. Also a plus, the olive oil will also help their coats look shiny.

Oil Your Hair

Oiling your hair seems to have been around for awhile. A lot of instructions use coconut oil but olive oil will work just as well. Just put a few drops of oil onto your hands and massage evenly into your scalp. Next just comb your hair to evenly distribute the olive oil. You want to let the oil absorb for about an hour before washing it out with your regular shampoo.

Rejuvenate Your Furniture

Make your old dresser shine like new again. Mix 2 parts olive oil to 1 part lemon juice. Using a soft cloth add a small amount of the mixture and wipe down your wood furniture. This trick will keep your wood from drying out and help hide any small scratches.

Remove Makeup

Makeup removers bought in stores are often expensive and usually full of mystery ingredients. Now you can use olive oil instead. Using a warm, damp wash cloth or a cotton ball just add a few drops of olive oil. Not only will it remove makeup but you will also moisturize your face at the same time.

Treat Dandruff

For a dry itchy scalp forget buying expensive shampoos, just massage a small amount of olive oil onto your scalp. This will help moisturize and fight those pesky flakes.

Wash Your Face

It may sound funny to use oil to wash your face but many "green" beauty experts swear by OCM (oil cleansing method) For more information and to find out what mixture of oils works best for your skin you can go HERE

What other uses to do you have for Olive Oil outside your kitchen?

Music Monday! We Found Love!

2012-01-23T16:03:00.001-05:00

This is the song and video that I have been obsessed with the last few weeks. It’s that feeling like you are screaming and no one can hear you. You feel almost ashamed that someone could mean so much to you and be that important that without them you feel like nothing. You feel as though no one will ever understand how much it hurt you are feeling. You feel a sense of hopelessness, like nothing can save you. It's an intensely captivating take on the opiate-infused pull of love and the loss of it. She knows she loves him, but she has to do what is right for her life. In the beginning Rihanna is missing him, but in the end it shows her making a stand, moving on and getting back on track. truly inspirational.

Thoughts?

Guacamole!

2012-01-22T13:19:00.000-05:00

Guacamole is one of my favorite foods and it is actually good for you! Avocados have gotten a bad reputation for being a food that is high in fat, while they are high in fat, the oil it contains actually ranks among the healthiest types of fat. Plus all the other ingredients in Guacamole are highly alkalizing (means they help promote weight loss, increased stamina and strength, a stronger immune system and a greater sense of well being) and loaded with nutrients. It`s important to make Guacamole fresh though. Here is a simple and easy recipe.

What you Will Need:

4 ripe avocados (soft to the touch)

1/2 red onion

1 tomato

1 Jalapeno

1 Lime

4 Cloves of Garlic

A Handful of FRESH cilantro

1/2 tsp of Salt and Pepper

You Will also need: A large bowl, large knife, small knife, spoon & hand grater

To start slice up the avocados. I like to take a small knife and slice a few time horizontally and vertically to create chucks to start from. Then using a large spoon scoop out the avocado into a large bowl.

Next you want to "De-Vein" your Jalapeno. This is done by simply by taking a small knife and removing the white stem and seeds from the pepper. TIP if you like HOT you can add some seeds to your guacamole

Once the vein is removed you want to grate the Jalapeno using a fine hand grater. If you don't have one you can finely dice the Jalapeno.

I like the flavor you get from using this method.

Now using a large knife you want to dice your onion.

TIP

An easy way to dice an onion is to first hold the onion with one hand flat on top and make horizontal slices

Than starting with the tip of your knife make vertical slices

Now all you have to do is slice the onion and its diced for you

Next you want to add four cloves of garlic. Again I like to use a fine hand grater, this really adds to the flavor of the final guacamole. If you don't have one you can use a garlic press or finely mince the garlic using a sharp knife.

Again using the fine hand grater you want to zest half a lime

Than using a juicer, juice the whole lime into your Guacamole

Using a sharp knife you want to mince the cilantro. This consists of just the leaves no stems

Add 1/2 tsp of both Salt and Pepper. Then using a large spoon mix the ingredients together in the bowl while also mashing some of the avocado into more of a paste.

Before

After

Now using a very sharp knife you want to dice your tomato

Using a large spoon gently fold in the diced tomatoes

Now all you need are your favorite whole wheat chips to enjoy your fresh homemade Guacamole! I like to use Weight Watchers wheat chips because I know they are healthy and its also a pre measured portion.

Enjoy!

A Quick, Easy, Filling Snack!

2012-01-18T20:14:00.001-05:00

Finding a healthy snack that will also fill you up can be a challenge. The best nutritional value provided by snacking on popcorn is that it is high in fiber. Most people don't get enough fiber in their daily diet so its an added bonus. Plus it helps fill you up and keep you full longer. It's quick simple and easy.

POPCORN!

What you need:

large pasta pot with lid

2tbsp popcorn kernels

1tsp Vegetable oil

Place pot over high heat with 1tea spoon of oil and 3-4 kernels

When the kernels begin to pop add 2 table spoons of kernels and recover

As the kernels begin to pop gently shake and or move the pot around over the heat
Once the popping stops (for at least 3 seconds) remove from heat and pour into a bowl.

(I like to sprinkle a little salt on top)

For added flavor you can add flavor with a variety of different spices like Cinnamon, Garlic Salt, Paprika, Parmesan Cheese, calorie free popcorn toppings or for a buttery guiltless topping you can spray a few sprays of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter.

78 Ways To Cut 100 Calories! Featured Post From Women's Health Mag..

2012-01-16T19:02:00.000-05:00

I found this article and thought I would share it with all of you. it was a very easy way to cut calories from your diet everyday, no matter the situation. They have a bunch of great ideas to help you tackle all kinds of situations.

78 Ways to Cut 100 Calories from Your Diet

From: Women's Health Magazine

Calories can be cruel. Sweat through a 30-minute workout and you can torch 200. Take three gulps of a foamy frappuccino and you're right back where you started.But slashing those suckers can be as effortless as piling them on. We've found 78 ways you can cut 100 or more calories at a pop. From picking the right slice at Pizza Hut to skipping the whip on your latte, they'll add up so fast, you won't miss a thing—until poof! Your love handles are gone.

Cut 100 Calories...

At Breakfast:
• Ditch the Pop-Tart for a slice of high-fiber toast with strawberry jam.
• Gotta have carbs? Split a bagel with a coworker.
• Drink your two cups of joe black. Or order a single espresso instead of your usual latte.
• Swap OJ for the real deal—one fresh orange.
• Trade a side of regular sausage for turkey.
• Top your waffles with Reddi-Whip instead of syrup (or use sugar-free).
• Skip the whip on any Caribou Coffee 16-ounce drink.
• Eat your granola from a 4-ounce mug, not an 8-ounce bowl.
• Lose the Yoplait Thick & Creamy and have a Yoplait Fiber 1.
• Order pancakes, but hold the butter.
• Scramble together 4 egg whites instead of 2 whole eggs.

At Lunch:

• Leave the Swiss cheese out of your sandwich.

• Slather your bread with mustard rather than mayo and save 80 calories per tablespoon.

• Pass up croutons at the salad bar.

• Use up to 10 pumps of ranch dressing spray instead of pouring 2 tablespoons from a bottle.

• Devour a slice of Pizza Hut cheese pan pizza instead of the meat lover's variety.

• Take your iced tea unsweetened.

• Reach for a Snapple raspberry white tea instead of a Snapple raspberry iced tea.

• Stuff chicken salad into a whole-wheat pita instead of between slices of multigrain bread.

• Make your burger turkey, not beef.

• Slurp minestrone soup instead of cream of anything.

• Go bunless—shed your hamburger roll.

• Use south-of-the-border savvy: Have a quesadilla made with two 6-inch corn, not flour, tortilla

At Happy Hour:
• Nurse a single glass of wine instead of downing 2 beers.
• Ask for your rum and cokes in a highball glass. Bartenders pour an average of 20 percent less liquid into taller tumblers, so you'll swig less per round.
• Drizzle extra hot sauce, not blue cheese or ranch dressing, on your wings.
• Ordering a cocktail? Make it on the rocks instead of frozen. Slushy fruit drinks tend to be made with bottled mixers that contain added sugar and syrups.
• Blending your own? Have a daiquiri, not a piña colada.
• Pop the cap off of an MGD 64 instead of a bottle of Killian's Irish Red.
• Sip a glass of water between drinks—pacing yourself can help you cut back by a glass or more.
• Dip your nachos in salsa rather than guacamole.
• For automatic portion control, sip wine from a Champagne flute, not an oversize goblet.

On Your Snack Break:
• Drink sparkling water instead of soda.
• Move your stash of Hershey's Kisses at least 6 feet away from your desk—you'll dip in half as often.
• Drain the heavy syrup from your can of fruit cocktail and then rinse the fruit with water before digging in.
• Have 1/2 cup of fresh grapes instead of that little snack box of raisins.
• Lay off the Lay's Classic potato chips and have a handful of Rold Gold pretzels.
• Munch on a bag of Orville Redenbacher's Smart Pop Kettle Korn, not Movie Theater Butter.
• Chase down the ice-cream truck for a Good Humor vanilla sandwich, not a King Cone.

During Dessert:
• Stop eating when you hit the crust. The edges and bottoms of baked goods are especially caloric because they absorb the butter used to grease the pan.
• Fill your bowl with sorbet instead of ice cream—you can have an extra 1/2 cup of the former and still slash calories.
• Next time a cocoa craving hits, ditch the dish of chocolate ice cream (about 3/4 cup) for a Fudgsicle.
• Have sugar-free Jell-O instead of pudding. Better your nighttime treat jiggle than your thighs.
• Go ahead and have that piece of birthday cake—just scrape off the chocolate frosting first.\
• Eat 5 meringue cookies instead of 2 chocolate chip ones.
• Pass on the à la mode and savor that brownie au naturel.
• Can the cone. Have your ice cream in a bowl.
• Top your dessert with 1/2 cup of fresh berries instead of 2 tablespoons of chocolate syrup.

In the Kitchen:
• Substitute nonfat Greek yogurt for a serving of sour cream.
• Use chicken broth (low-sodium is best) instead of oil to sauté meat and veggies.
• Making homemade mac 'n cheese? Cut 2 tablespoons of butter from the recipe.
• Replace the oil or butter in cakes with Sunsweet Lighter Bake prune-and-apple mixture or any brand of unsweetened applesauce.
• Next time you make meatballs, meatloaf, or burgers, go half-and-half with ground beef and turkey.
• When preparing packaged foods that call for butter or oil, like rice and stuffing, use a broth instead.
• Swap low-fat cottage cheese for whole-milk ricotta when you make lasagna or stuffed shells.

At the Drive-Thru:
• Pass up a Wendy's baked potato with sour cream and chives and chow down on value fries instead. Amazing but true.
• Have a McDonald's cheeseburger instead of a Quarter Pounder with cheese.
• Downsize your drink: Trade a large fountain soda (with ice) for a medium.
• Go for grill marks. Order a flame-broiled chicken sandwich rather than one that's breaded (and usually fried in oil).
• Treat yourself to an ice-cream cone at McDonald's instead of Dairy Queen.
• Crunch on one Taco Bell regular taco instead of a Ranchero Chicken Soft Taco. And all the hot sauce you want.
• Slurp a cup of Panera Bread's low-fat chicken noodle soup instead of the cream of chicken with wild rice.

• Make your daily pick-me-up at Starbucks a skinny vanilla latte, not a regular.

When You're Not Cooking:
• Request the lemon chicken with white rice, not fried.
• Skip the crunchy noodles with your bowl of wonton soup.
• Ask for an order of Szechuan Shrimp instead of your usual General Tso's.
• Choose the pasta with 1/2 cup of marinara instead of 1/2 cup of Alfredo sauce.
• Indulge your inner carnivore with beef stroganoff, not meat lasagna.
• Go with the baked potato (butter only), not the mashed, as your side of choice.
• Dip your dinner roll in marinara sauce instead of olive oil.
• Avoid anything breaded. Flour and bread crumbs not only add calories but also absorb more cooking oil.

Find the original article on the Women's Health Magazine website HERE

What do you think? Have any other tips to share?

Grilled Shrimp in a "Buttery" White Wine Sauce..

2012-01-14T20:58:00.000-05:00

Now I am sure some of you are saying WHAT! How can that be healthy? Well after much experimentation I have created a healthier version of that fatty yet delicious meal. Now I am a sucker for a savory creamy white wine sauce but I know it isn't a fan of my waistline. By tweaking a few ingredients I have created a distinctively tempting alternative. And because I do not like "diet" tasting foods or lame recreations, I also tasted it against a regular butter white wine recipe.

This recipe is for at least two. When cooking a single meal just for myself I simply cut the recipe in half.

You Need:

Sauce Pan

Frying Pan

Ingredients:

20-24 peeled shrimp

White Wine (dry) I use Chardonnay

Brummel & Brown

Garlic

Thyme

Basil

Rosemary

Salt & Pepper

To start put 3 Tablespoons of Brummel & Brown in a sauce pan over medium heat.
Add 2 cloves of minced garlic and saute
Add 1 Cup of White Wine

About a 1/2 teaspoon thyme
About a 1/2 teaspoon Basil
About a 1/4 teaspoon Rosemary
A pinch of Salt and Pepper

And Bring to a boil. Then let simmer for a few minutes.

At this point you can do one of to things

1. You can saute your shrimp in the sauce as is or

2. You can thicken the sauce

I like to add a little cornstarch to thicken the sauce up a bit before I add the shrimp.

To do this add:

1Tablespoon of cornstartch &
1 Tablespoon of cold water in a small bowl or cup and mix it together
Bring the sauce back up to a boil and slowly mix in the cornstarch solution

4. Add your peeled shrimp to a frying pan over medium heat

5. Pour the sauce over the shrimp and saute until cooked

(nice and pink)

Now again you can do one of two things:

1. Top off a salad with these deliciously flavored shrimp

2. Pour the sauce and shrimp over whole wheat pasta

Either way... Yum!!

Let me know what you think or if you have other ideas of how you can use this recipe!

9 Tasty Low Calorie Foods!

2012-01-07T21:28:00.000-05:00

It's a new year and many people have made resolutions to loose weight, get fit, stay fit, or eat healthier! These are tasty, healthy, diet-friendly foods that are also low in calories. If you are want to find some creative new ways to boost your weight loss try some of these!!

Popcorn:
One cup of air-popped popcorn contains only 30 calories! Its low in calories and easy, you can make plain popcorn right in your microwave. Just take a brown paper bag, spray the inside with cooking spray like "PAM" and add four tablespoons of popcorn kernels. (for extra flavor you can add some flavor with cinnamon, garlic salt, chili powder or any other spice) fold the edge of the bag over twice to close and microwave the bag on high for 1.5 to 2 minutes.

Salsa:
Salsa is tasty and flavorful with very few calories, about 20 per ¼ cup. Fresh homemade salsa or bottled makes a zesty, low-cal dip for crunchy veggies like baby carrots and celery sticks. It's also the best slimming condiment for sandwiches, burgers, and baked potatoes. Use it place of calorie killers like mayo, sour cream and butter.

Grapefruit:
Besides being refreshing grapefruits are sweet and hydrate you. Its also one of the few seasonal winter fruits. It's just 120 calories for one large grapefruit. Plus since you eat a grapefruit one segment at a time, it also helps pace your eating.

Frozen cherries:
Frozen cherries are a healthy solution to those pesky sugar cravings. Snacking on them right out of the freezer bag is like a healthy version of Italian ice. Plus they are only 110 calories for every ¾ cup. They are also another treat that will help stretch out your snack time.

Hot sauce:
Research shows that spicy foods suppress your appetite and ups your metabolism. I love flavoring bland foods with it or even adding some spice. Try some on eggs, in soups and stews, or mix it into spreads like hummus to add some heat.

Naturally flavored seltzer:
You should be drinking 8 glasses of water a day but if you're bored with plain tap water try adding some flavor and carbonation with naturally flavored seltzers. Best of all it's calorie-free, fizzes like soda, and comes in tons of flavors. (Just make sure the label says no sugar)

Whole-grain sandwich thins:
Sandwich thins are the best thing since sliced bread! These little things are tasty and a top and bottom have the same amount of calories as one regual piece of bread (100 calories) . These whole grain buns are great for sandwiches, toast, mini pizzas and anything else you can do with bread.

Egg whites
Egg whites are pure protein containing only 17 calories apiece. They are an ideal ingredient for a low calorie breakfast that will keep you energized. For a slimming start to the day try making a spinach omelet or scrambled eggs with sauteed vegetables.

Shrimp:
At only 8 calories a piece, shrimp are a great source of lean protein, which also helps to boost your metabolism and suppress your appetite. You can start your next meal at a restaurant with a shrimp cocktail appetizer to help fill up so you don't over eat. Or try sauteing some shrimp with veggies, like onions, mushrooms, peppers, and broccoli, for a healthy dinner. I also like to top my salads with grilled shrimp.

So the next time your stomach starts to growl, you have a sugar craving, need a healthy snack or want to try a new healthy meal keep these tips in mind! Let me know what you think and other great Low Calorie foods you LOVE!

New Year, New You!

2012-01-01T22:12:00.000-05:00

As Maria Robinson once said, “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” Nothing could be closer to the truth. But before you can begin this process of transformation you have to stop doing the things that have been holding you back.
Here are some ideas to get you started:

Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you. If someone wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you. You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot. Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth. And remember, it’s not the people that stand by your side when you’re at your best, but the ones who stand beside you when you’re at your worst that are your true friends.
Stop running from your problems. – Face them head on. No, it won’t be easy. There is no person in the world capable of flawlessly handling every punch thrown at them. We aren’t supposed to be able to instantly solve problems. That’s not how we’re made. In fact, we’re made to get upset, sad, hurt, stumble and fall. Because that’s the whole purpose of living – to face problems, learn, adapt, and solve them over the course of time. This is what ultimately molds us into the person we become.
Stop lying to yourself. – You can lie to anyone else in the world, but you can’t lie to yourself. Our lives improve only when we take chances, and the first and most difficult chance we can take is to be honest with ourselves. Read The Road Less Traveled.
Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too. Yes, help others; but help yourself too. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.
Stop trying to be someone you’re not. – One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you like everyone else. Someone will always be prettier, someone will always be smarter, someone will always be younger, but they will never be you. Don’t change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.
Stop trying to hold onto the past. – You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one.
Stop being scared to make a mistake. – Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing. Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading towards success. You end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.
Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us. We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future. Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.
Stop trying to buy happiness. – Many of the things we desire are expensive. But the truth is, the things that really satisfy us are totally free – love, laughter and working on our passions.
Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness. – If you’re not happy with who you are on the inside, you won’t be happy in a long-term relationship with anyone else either. You have to create stability in your own life first before you can share it with someone else. Read Stumbling on Happiness.
Stop being idle. – Don’t think too much or you’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place. Evaluate situations and take decisive action. You cannot change what you refuse to confront. Making progress involves risk. Period! You can’t make it to second base with your foot on first.
Stop thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.
Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons. – Relationships must be chosen wisely. It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company. There’s no need to rush. If something is meant to be, it will happen – in the right time, with the right person, and for the best reason. Fall in love when you’re ready, not when you’re lonely.
Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work. – In life you’ll realize that there is a purpose for everyone you meet. Some will test you, some will use you and some will teach you. But most importantly, some will bring out the best in you.
Stop trying to compete against everyone else. – Don’t worry about what others doing better than you. Concentrate on beating your own records every day. Success is a battle between YOU and YOURSELF only.
Stop being jealous of others. – Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own. Ask yourself this: “What’s something I have that everyone wants?”
Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Life’s curveballs are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you. You may not see or understand everything the moment it happens, and it may be tough. But reflect back on those negative curveballs thrown at you in the past. You’ll often see that eventually they led you to a better place, person, state of mind, or situation. So smile! Let everyone know that today you are a lot stronger than you were yesterday, and you will be.
Stop holding grudges. – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart. You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate. Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.” It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.” Forgiveness is the answer… let go, find peace, liberate yourself! And remember, forgiveness is not just for other people, it’s for you too. If you must, forgive yourself, move on and try to do better next time.
Stop letting others bring you down to their level. – Refuse to lower your standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs.
Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others. – Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway. Just do what you know in your heart is right.
Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break. – The time to take a deep breath is when you don’t have time for it. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting. Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.
Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. – Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things. The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.
Stop trying to make things perfect. – The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done. Read Getting Things Done.
Stop following the path of least resistance. – Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile. Don’t take the easy way out. Do something extraordinary.
Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t. – It’s okay to fall apart for a little while. You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well. You shouldn’t be concerned with what other people are thinking either – cry if you need to – it’s healthy to shed your tears. The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again.
Stop blaming others for your troubles. – The extent to which you can achieve your dreams depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life. When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you give others power over that part of your life.
Stop trying to be everything to everyone. – Doing so is impossible, and trying will only burn you out. But making one person smile CAN change the world. Maybe not the whole world, but their world. So narrow your focus.
Stop worrying so much. – Worry will not strip tomorrow of its burdens, it will strip today of its joy. One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time? Three years? Five years?” If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.
Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – Focus on what you do want to happen. Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story. If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.
Stop being ungrateful. – No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life. Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs. Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing.

I see myself all over in this list. These are all excellent reminders and it contains helpful advice to think about as we head into a new year! This is something that was passed on to me and I thought would be beneficial to share with all of you. The original post can be found HERE

An Obituary printed in the London Times...

2011-11-17T18:17:00.000-05:00

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, 'Common Sense', who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were lost long in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

- Knowing when to come in out of the rain
- Why the early bird gets the worm
- Life isn't always fair
- And, maybe it was my fault

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (Don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (Adults, not children, are in charge)

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun tan lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason. He is survived by his four stepbrothers: I Know My Rights - I Want It Now - Someone Else Is To Blame and I'm A Victim.

Attendance at the funeral was not many, since so few realized that he was gone.

Top Ten...

2011-11-06T21:42:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again to take hold and look at the crazy food concoctions that came out of State Fairs this year...

Each year gatherings from small venues to huge state fairs across the country offer visitors an array of food vendors with hundreds of options, most of which are fried and or on a stick for easy eating.

Since only the guiltiest of pleasures are considered as ingredients, the selection of food is often more ridiculous than you could expect and the combinations keep getting more obscure. But when you can deep fry anything and call it delicious, hundreds of fair goers seem to rally around you.

Here is a look at some of the weirdest concoctions to come from fairs around the nation this year...

10. Chocolate Covered Corn Dog — The Orange County State Fair:

9. Deep Fried Kool-Aid — San Diego County Fair:

8. Deep Fried Butter On A Stick — Iowa State Fair:

7. Buffalo Chicken in a Flapjack — Texas State Fair:

6. Red Velvet Funnel Cake — Florida State Fair:

5. El Bananarito — Texas State Fair:

4. Chocolate Covered Jalapeno Poppers — Minnesota State Fair:

3. Deep Fried Salsa — Texas State Fair:

2. Breakfast Lollipop –- Minnesota State Fair:

1. Fried Ice Cream Burger — Florida State Fair:

Thoughts?

Quick Note!

2011-04-22T01:57:00.000-04:00

I just wanted to take a moment and let you all know that some things have happened recently in my life and that is why I haven't posted in a few weeks. I have been dealing with some tragic deaths in my family and have not been motivated to keep up with my postings. I am trying to get back into the swing of things and should have New posts coming soon!!

Feature Friday! Heart Rate Monitor USA Interview

2011-03-11T16:07:00.000-05:00

Heart Rate Monitor USA recently did an interview with me so I thought I would share it with all of you..

• What made you decide to get healthy? (Your Journey page tells a bit, but could you be more specific?)

Growing up I struggled with my weight. I was a dancer since I was little and then in High School I stopped and began to gain weight. My weight would go up and down due to my poor eating habits and continued throughout college. Finally I saw pictures of myself and I didn’t recognize the person in the photos. I was not happy with myself and I finally realized that I not only wanted to lose weight but also become all together healthier. I knew I had to make long lasting changes.

• How do you stay motivated to stick with your wellness plan?

It is hard to stay motivated, especially after you reach certain goals you had been working towards. I definitely still plateau at times. It’s all about finding new ways to stay motivated. Finding new workouts, new recipes and working towards new goals. Keeping my blog also helps me to stay on track.

• What does a typical day of your diet/exercise plan look like?

A typical day for me:
Cheerios and a banana for breakfast, followed by and mid morning snack of some type of fruit. I usually have a protein shake for lunch; sometimes I hit the gym around lunch time. Then I will snack on fruits, nuts, or maybe some edename. For dinner I usually have a large salad with grilled chicken or shrimp or maybe some whole wheat pasta. It changes depending on the day, but dinner time is when I try to get most my vegetables in. If I am still hungry I will snack on pop corn I pop on the stove using a small amount of oil or some fruit. Depending on the season I will go to the gym, go to a boot camp class, do Wii fit or go for a bike ride in the evening

I am bad when it comes to eating vegetables; I am a very picky eater, so I usually always try to have a salad every day. I also take a green supplement to make sure I get all the nutrients I need.

• What about exercise? What do you recommend for those who are just starting out on the path to getting healthier?

I started out doing a mile on my bike one night and then tried to go a little further each night. I eventually got to the point where I was biking 26 miles around my neighborhood after work. I would say the best thing is to start slow and gradually work your way up. Walk around your block, then the next night go a bit further. After a while try walking some and jogging some, then try jogging the whole way.

• What, do you feel, has been your biggest wellness achievement so far?

I think just being able to feel healthier from within and getting to share my experiences and tips with others.

• What is your one best tip for someone who wants to start eating healthier?

Same as with the exercise, you have to start slow. If you jump into a whole new way of eating you are less likely to stick with it. Slowly change your eating habits and start to incorporate healthier meals and snacks into your day. Also I don’t think you should deprive yourself. If you say you will never eat ice cream again you will constantly wish you could eat ice cream and eventually you will sub come and feel like a failure. If you allow yourself special treats in moderation you will always feel satisfied and you will be able to make life long changes.

• What's your favorite food?

It sounds funny because I don’t like a lot of vegetables, but I love artichokes.

Aside from that I could live on a diet of pure chocolate… but since that is not a very healthy diet I am constantly teaching myself moderation.

Have a great day..

Worldless Wednesday!

2011-03-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

Tuesday's Tip! Hydration

2011-03-08T15:20:00.001-05:00

Even those of us who are focused on our heath and aware of what we eat can sometimes underestimate the importance of how much water we take in. Here are some of the many reasons why good hydration is essential to good health...

Your bodies hydration can affect your: Energy, Digestion, Regularity, Blood Pressure, Respiration, Weight Management, Skin Health, Stomach Health, Acid-Alkaline Balance, Cholesterol, Kidney and Urinary Health, Joint Health, and Aging... and that's only some!

Here are some tips to staying hydrated...

~Each day before your morning cup of coffee, start your day with a glass of water. This will help your body replace the fluids you lost overnight. It is also helpful to keep a refillable water bottle with you throughout the day.

~Try eating two or three servings of fruits and vegetables at every meal. They are full of water and contain minerals that help the body absorb and use them properly. Remember that most processed foods can lower the body’s water levels.

~Create regular water breaks. Try drinking a glass of water at your desk each day before lunch, drink an extra glass of water if you worked out or didn’t eat enough fruits and vegetables with your meal.

~Drink sparkling water or vegetable juice instead of sodas and fruit juices. The sugar in soda and fruit juice, as well as the chemicals can cause unwanted reactions in your body like blood-sugar spikes.

~Use a water filter, pitcher type filter or keep a constant pitcher of water in the fridge at home

~Try using high-quality sea salt when you cook. It is rich in minerals that are key to cell health and hydration. Also sea salt has less sodium than table salt.

Have any other ideas?