The Big Secret -- a diet tip a day ...

Tiny Tip -- Skip the Juice

2010-02-09T06:32:00.000-06:00

Instead of fruit juice with breakfast, have a glass of water and a whole fruit instead. It's more filling, has more fiber, and likely has less calories than even a small glass of juice.

Easy Make Ahead Low-Point Chili

2010-02-08T06:26:00.008-06:00

Easy Make Ahead Low-Point Chili Freeze this in convenient single-size servings. 6 cans of Chili Beans in Sauce (15 oz. can)2 cans crushed tomatoes (28 oz. can)1 lb. extra lean ground beef or turkey2 onions, chopped (about 2 cups)2 green peppers, chopped (about 1 cup)chili powder to taste salt and pepper to taste In a large pot, brown the beef and drain well. Add all the other ingredients

Valentine's Day Hinting Starts Today

2010-02-07T06:00:00.002-06:00

If your true love usually gives you candy for valentine's day, now is the time to start hinting for something different this year. Flowers are nice -- and not fattening -- but how about going one step further and asking for something that's actually good for you?If you're thinking high end, a piece of exercise equipment, a gym membership, or an hour or two with a personal trainer would be great.

Raid Your Piggy Bank

2010-02-06T06:28:00.003-06:00

If you walk to keep fit, you probably have a certain number of laps or blocks or circuits through your house as a daily goal. If you're listening to an audiobook or music, or even daydreaming, it can be hard to keep track of just how far you've gone.The solution? Four pennies and several nickels.Start with all the coins in your left pocket. Each time you finish a circuit, move one penny from your

Twice Baked Potatoes

2010-02-05T06:28:00.005-06:00

Twice baked potatoes are usually for special occasions and there's a good reason for that -- the 'average' twice baked potato has about 550 calories. Try these instead, still worthy of a special occasion, but clocking in at less than half of that 500 calories. (Serves 2.)1 large baked potato1 slice 2% American Cheese3 Tbs. low fat sour cream2 Tbs. low-fat buttermilk (or fat-free half and half)

Bored With the Same Old Lunch?

2010-02-04T06:09:00.000-06:00

If you're bored with the same old lunch, try a salad made from grains. Use cooked brown rice, couscous, bulgur, quinoa or barley, toss it with some chopped veggies, and stir in a little ff italian dressing and/or balsamic vinegar. Add some diced chicken (or tuna or shrimp), ff feta, or black beans or chickpeas to make it more hearty.Limit your grains to a cup or less, pile in the veggies, go easy

Be A Book

2010-02-03T06:46:00.011-06:00

Bookend your meals. Imagine the beginning and end of each meal as bookends, and vow not to take a bite unless you're precisely between those bookends.The beginning doesn't start until you sit down to eat. That means no nibbling as you cook and serve. The ending is when you take that last bite, while you're still sitting at the table. After that, no "finishing off" the rest of something as you

Party (Healthy) Hearty!

2010-02-02T06:45:00.004-06:00

Do you have a group of friends you socialize with regularly? How about suggesting a healthy potluck dinner for your next get-together? Everyone is interested in a healthier lifestyle these days and you may be surprised at the enthusiasm your suggestion garners.Your theme could be healthy food in general or limited to low-fat, low-cal, vegetarian, or raw foods. Have everyone bring printouts of the

Salsa Meatloaf

2010-02-01T06:22:00.015-06:00

Since I don't eat any beef (zero, zip, nada), I haven't tried this and most likely never will. But I saw it on the Fiber One site and was impressed by its ratings -- 5 stars based on 44 reviews.Salsa Meat Loaf1 cup Fiber One® original bran cereal1 cup Old El Paso® Thick 'n Chunky salsa2 eggs1 teaspoon chili powder1/2 teaspoon ground cumin1/4 teaspoon salt1/8 teaspoon pepper1 1/2 lb extra lean (at

Tiny Tip -- Better Eaten At Home

2010-01-31T06:31:00.001-06:00

The typical restaurant dinner portion of pasta is about 4 cups, almost 900 calories (not including added sauces). Enjoy your pasta at home, where you can control the calories and portion size.

"Filling, Creamy, Comfort Food Soup"

2010-01-30T06:35:00.003-06:00

From a website:"I'm trying to keep walking every morning through the winter, but when I get home, I'm cold and hungry and ready for lunch.My favorite thing to do is take a can of Campbell's Chunky Baked Potato with Cheddar & Bacon Bits soup and add two cups of frozen mixed veggies and a splash of white wine. I let it simmer for a bit (I add a little chicken broth or water if it gets too thick).

Begone, Bad Fats!

2010-01-29T06:06:00.004-06:00

Speaking of good and bad fats, one way to increase the good fats and decrease the bad fats in your diet is to replace butter with olive oil in food preparation. (This works well for lactose intolerants, too.)Use a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in place of butter for smooth and golden mashed potatoes. Drizzle a little olive oil on french bread for your morning 'toast.' Spray corn on the cob

Good Fats, Bad Fats

2010-01-28T06:17:00.002-06:00

Do you ever get confused about which are good fats and which are bad fats? Just remember that good fats are usually liquid at room temperature; bad fats are usually solid. Also, most bad fats come from animals (meat, dairy, eggs), most good fats from plant sources (some vegetables, nuts and seeds, olive oil). (As always, there are exceptions to the rules --coconut, palm, and palm kernel oil are

A Brownie a Day?

2010-01-27T06:36:00.001-06:00

I never really got on the Vitalicious bandwagon because the products are just so darned pricey. A few years ago I drove around for three days trying to find chocolate VitaTops and when I finally did, I didn't buy them because they were so expensive.Of course I probably spent double their cost on gas money, but such is the workings of a brain that's half raving maniac in search of 'healthy'

It's Way Better Than It Sounds

2010-01-26T06:32:00.002-06:00

One of my favorite things to do with leftover salad is to make a salad sandwich. It's much better than it sounds. Really. In fact, it's very good and it's filling, too.Chop about 2 cups of leftover salad in smaller than bite-sized pieces. Add more veggies, if desired. (Sliced mushrooms, diced radishes, shredded carrots, and julienned jicama are good additions). Toss in half of a diced apple, 1 T

Five Little Words

2010-01-25T06:25:00.000-06:00

Five little words:You are not your weight. Don't put your life on hold until you've reach your goal. Thin or thick, your weight is just a shell -- as the old saying goes, it's what's inside that counts. Love yourself and live life today.

The Tap-Tap-Tapping of Burning Calories

2010-01-24T06:37:00.000-06:00

Do you have a friend who taps and fidgets and drives you crazy? I'll bet they're skinny!Tapping your feet and fidgeting can burn up to 350 calories a day and you can do it anywhere. (Tap your feet while on the phone in the office, fidget around while you're watching TV).Okay, so now you'll be the one who is driving everyone crazy, but if you're losing weight, you'll be in such a good mood that

Super Easy Corn Muffins

2010-01-23T18:50:00.001-06:00

If you like sweet corn muffins, these are not for you (unless you add sweetener). These small muffins are good with chili or beans, or any other dish that goes with a savory muffin. Super Easy Corn Muffins1 cup self rising corn meal 1 can creamed corn 1 egg white (Sweetener if desired) Mix and place into 12 sprayed muffin tins. Bake at 350 degrees until lightly browned.About 60 calories, 1

Tiny Tip -- Go Play in the Snow!

2010-01-22T06:51:00.000-06:00

Exercise doesn't have to be a chore. An hour of snow sledding burns about 500 calories.

Take A Second Look, 2

2010-01-21T06:35:00.000-06:00

The only time my plastic salad dressing container doesn't work is when I'm traveling. Instead, I try to collect single-serve packets to take along on trips -- I can't tote a bottle of salad dressing around with me and refill my plastic container at will.Salad dressing packets can usually be purchased at salad bars. Fast food restaurants will sometimes let you buy extras. They can also be found on

Take A Second Look, 1

2010-01-20T06:25:00.000-06:00

I saw a package of Hidden Valley Ranch Lite individual serving (small) cups at the grocery store the other day. They were kind of pricey but I plucked them up because they were 80 calories a serving and portable to boot! But as I read the nutritional information, I became more and more confused. A serving size is 2 Tablespoons/80 calories. However, each "single cup" is contains 2.5 servings/200

Mulit-Tasking Crockpot Chicken

2010-01-19T06:59:00.001-06:00

Multi-Tasking Crockpot Chicken1-16 oz. cans of sweet corn, drained1-16 oz. can pinto or black beans, rinsed and drained1-16 oz. jar of salsa (mild-hot, your preference)1/2 cup chicken broth3 whole boneless, skinless chicken breasts1 cup low fat or fat free shredded cheddar cheeseCombine corn, black beans, broth and 1/2 cup of salsa in the slow cooker. Place chicken breasts on top. Pour remaining

Enforced Discipline

2010-01-18T06:42:00.001-06:00

In my long history of dieting I've found that, hands down, the best time to weigh in is Monday morning. Chances are if we're going to slip off the wagon for a day or two, it will be on a weekend. But if that weigh in is scheduled the first thing Monday morning, we'll hang on harder and tighter to make it through the most difficult days to end up at a good weigh in.The worst time to weigh? Well,

Mini Me

2010-01-17T06:26:00.001-06:00

If you think you have to do without dessert when eating out, have I got news for you!PF Chang's has mini desserts that can easily be worked into any food plan. How about Tiramisu for 100 calories? Or Red Velvet Cake for 130 calories?Check out the menu for info on the rest of the mini delights, as well as for excellent nutrtitional information on their other dishes:P.F. Chang's Nutritionals

Tiny Tip -- Cock-A-Doodle-Treadmill

2010-01-16T06:15:00.000-06:00

Over 90% of people who exercise consistently, exercise in the morning. If you want to exercise consistently, odds are in your favor if you exercise first thing in the morning.