Archive for the ‘ Uncategorized ’ Category

 

Pre Turkey-Day Prep (the healthy way)

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Well it’s Thanksgiving eve and you know what that means-cleaning, cooking, shopping, cooking, and did I mention cooking?

While the eve of Thanksgiving may be one of the biggest bar nights of the year and a highly anticipated night for many, I find myself slaving away in the kitchen-and I’m actually proud of it.

Since Thanksgiving is all about eating (and yes, family and giving thanks too), what better to do than spend the night cooking in the kitchen?

And no, I’m not talking about the usual mashed potatoes drenched in 5 sticks of butter or grandma’s famous pumpkin pie. While those dishes are delectable indeed, I decided to make our Thanksgiving feast a tad healthier this year, just a little bit “cleaner.”

Don’t get me wrong: my family will devour the broccoli cheddar casserole within minutes and the homemade cheese cake won’t stand a chance of surviving very long, but that doesn’t mean there can’t be healthier options as well-to go along with the traditional artery clogging favorites.

That’s why I experimented this year with some new recipes, which are both healthy and thoroughly enjoyable, and which I hope my family agrees.

*First of all, I suggested a fruit Read More!

What ever happened to pleasing the customer?

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The other day, I was venturing off to yet another day at the library to study for my law exam. And, knowing me and the caffeine addict that I am, I stopped to get some coffee before my day in “jail.”

However, my morning coffee dose wasn’t nearly as pleasant as I would have expected. In fact, it turned in to a complete horror story.

Well, I decided to go to Sheetz, the little gas station/convenience store down the road, and I ordered a standard iced coffee with soy milk-no extra sugar, no extra cream, no extra whip, just plain coffee, or so I thought.

I even mentioned to the girl making it ahead of time, “Please don’t add too much milk. I just want plain coffee. Thanks.”

I thought I was being polite, at least.

But when I took the ever-so anticipated sip of my morning java, it came as quite a surprise-straight up sugar would be an understatement. In fact, I couldn’t even taste a hint of coffee.

So, I asked politely if I could have another one made, explaining my sensitivity to really sweet food, and my dietary needs. Normally, this would be no problem: after all

Read More!

Give Your Breakfast a 'Lil Kick

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So, I know a lot of you guys out there aren’t huge breakfast fanatics. After all, why spend time and extra cals in the morning when you can easily survive off a Mocha Frappucino, right?

Actually, that is far from the truth. Breakfast actually gets our metabolism going for the day, so you will feel full and satisfied longer while burning even MORE calories than usual. Also, those who skip their morning meal will end up feeling starving later during the day, packing on up to double the original calories.

So, ladies, do me a huge favor: eat your breakfast.

This morning I had a delicious breakfast, and I wanted to share it with you all.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup egg substitute or egg white

1/2 cup chopped tomato

1 reduced fat string cheese or 3/4 cup shredded reduced fat cheese of your choice

few fresh basil leaves

*Spray a medium pan with cooking spray and add your egg beaters; wait until partially cooked to add the tomato and cheese to one side. Lower the heat, wait ’til the cheese melts and then flip one half over the other to create your perfect omelet. (This part takes practice : ) ) … Read More!

Skinny Up Your Summer BBQ

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So, yesterday I had my family 21st birthday party at my house. Now, being the health nut that I am, I requested healthy appetizers, entrees, and desserts naturally. However, for the first time, all the food was finished off and EVERYONE seemed to love it. (Reminder: This is extremely rare for my large food-loving family)

So, how do you make a healthy BBQ, yet still manage to keep the taste? Here’s some simple, little tricks for your next summer feast:

1. Choose healthy, limited appetizers, so people can save room for the main course.

Ideas:

*shrimp cocktail

*fruit kabobs (layer various fresh fruit with small cheese wedges)

*healthy bean dip (layer low fat sour cream, salsa, cilantro, beans and reduced fat cheese in a dish and serve with baked tortilla chips)

2. Offer various low-cal drinks

Ideas:

*Have a HUGE pitcher of water on hand to keep everyone hydrated ‘n’ healthy

*Light iced tea

*”Healthy” Margaritas: Use Sprite Zero and Crystal Light Lemonade to reduce the sugar drastically

3. Substitute the typical burgers and dogs for yummy kabobs.

Try:

*shrimp and tomato kabobs

*chicken and pineapple kabobs

*onion and peppers kabobs

Tip: Try different seasonings and light marinades on each Read More!

Bloating Remedy

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If you’re not lucky enough to be blessed with a perfect digestive system, you most likely suffer from the occasional (or quite frequent) case of the bloat, like me.

After every big meal I consume, especially late at night, I become extremely uncomfortable and my stomach puffs up like a balloon. I find myself sprawled out on a couch, helplessly shoving tums in my mouth in hope they will cure my problem.

Wouldn’t it be nice if I could just pop my huge gut after every meal, I think to myself.

Well, unfortunately, that’s not possible, but there are a few natural remedies for this common problem among women.

First of all, you may want to reconsider some of the foods you eat: you may have a food allergy to lactose, wheat, or maybe even some sorts of fruit. If you’re like me, I have to limit my wheat intake.

Secondly, drink tons of water to drain out all those bad toxins. It may seem ironic to drink MORE water, when you are already feeling bloating, but drinking water actually drains out your system and allows food to digest more easily.

Tea with lemon has been a long believed cure … Read More!

How To: Slim Down Your Java

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You may not realize this, but your morning dose of coffee could be packin’ on tons more calories than you think. Just a medium Coffee Coolata from Dunkin Donuts packs on over 400 calories! (yikes)

And it gets worse: A Starbucks medium Frappuccino has over 500 calories and a whopping 170 grams of fat! Many coffee-lovers slurp these drinks down in a jiffy, without realizing the damaging effects they can have on our bods.

So, in order to get your daily caffeine dose without the fatty consequences, follow these simple tips:

1. Order your drink with skim or soy milk, rather than 2%.

2. Skip the cream…milk tastes just as good.

3. Go for sweet n’ low or splenda rather than sugar to cut the cals.

4. Order a smaller size, and drink slowly. This way you’ll actually get to savor and enjoy your beverage.

My Slim Favorites:

*Medium Dunkin Donuts Flavored Coffee with a little skim milk and sweet n’ low (only about 40 cals-and that’s with the milk!)

*Medium Dunkin Donuts Iced Latte Lite (70 cals)

*Starbucks tall light coffee frappuccino (only 9o cals and 5 grams of fat compared to the whopping 500 above!)

*Starbucks grande iced Read More!

Do This Today: Go Blueberry Picking!

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It’s summertime ‘n it’s getting hot outside, but that shouldn’t stop you from taking the season to its full advantage.

Today I went blueberry picking and had such a blast! Together, with my mom and friend, we picked 10.5 pounds of berries for only $20.00. Now that’s what I call a bargain!

Here’s some tips for the blueberry-pickers:

1. Wear lots of sunscreen (While there may be many bushes, they are short and definitely don’t shield ya from the strong rays)

2. Dress comfy and light…and especially make sure you’re wearin’ comfy shoes.

3. Go earlier in the morning to beat the mid-day heat wave

4. Bring a bottle of water along with you to stay hydrated

5. Have fun with it! (and eat a few as you go)

How To: Beat a Workout Plateau

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You’ve been killing yourself at the gym lately, spending hour’s everyday on the treadmill and weight machines. Yet, the weight won’t budge. It seems like you’ve developed a little case of the weight loss plateau, something that happens when your body gets used to a workout.

Our bodies are very efficient systems in that they burn just enough calories to keep us going. However, the body is very smart as well, and when it becomes accustomed to a workout routine, it no longer works as hard to burn those cals.

But good news for you: you can fix the problem easily! You just have to change up your daily routine, so you’ll work harder and sweat a whole lot more.

For instance, if you’re a treadmill gal, try out the elliptical. Or, if you’ve been doing the same old sprints every day, try doing intervals instead. (Steady pace for 5 minutes; sprint for 1, repeat)

Another idea is to try some of the classes offered at your local gym. Aerobics, kickboxing, spinning, yoga and Pilates are all great, dynamic classes that can get you into shape fast. And, they’ll keep you having fun, so it won’t be such a chore … Read More!