The new year is almost here. It’s time to start thinking about what you want to accomplish in 2010. For me, the beginning of each year means starting clean and improvement.  My spin instructor last night had a great New Years’ Resolution, she said that she was going to try to do everything “a little bit better.”  I like her resolution and am going to try and do the same, starting with my workouts.  Here is a trick that can help you to eat “a little bit better” - “clean” out your kitchen. Several years ago as I was scrubbing and disinfecting my pantry and fridge and tossing old spices (I do this every new year), it occurred to me that I should recommend that my clients also “clean” out their kitchens. But not necessarily in the way that I was cleaning, instead they should toss or donate any foods that would get in the way of eating healthfully and feeding their families healthfully.  (I started keeping my kitchen pure long ago, since I do not have any willpower against sweets.)

So, try this — get your family involved and scrub your kitchen clean of –

refined carbs,

salty, greasy snacks,

high sugar cereals,

cookies and cakes (save treats for out-of-the-house eating),

all overly-processed foods (if the ingredient list is a book with a bunch of foreign words, it is overly-processed)

Replace with -

raw nuts and seeds,

dried fruit, like prunes

whole grains, like brown rice, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat bread, baked whole grain crackers, etc.

cereals with at least 5 g of fiber

Tags: baby fat diet, healthy eating, healthy foods, losing weight, New Year

This year the holidays came upon us fast. So, I had to find and create easy, delicious, (and kind of healthy)  candies and treats for our gatherings and gifts.  One treat in particular got great reviews, so I thought I would share it.  Also, you can feel okay about enjoying this treat – consider it a little healthy since it is made with dark chocolate, whole grains and has the option to add almonds and dried fruit. Plus, it will not add too many calories to your daily tab as long as you stick to two. 

Crunchy Yummies (my children named our creation)

Serving size = 2

Total time to prepare = 7 minutes

4 cups Kellogg’s Special K cereal (or any whole grain crunchy cereal)

1 lb dark chocolate chips

1 cup white chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla extract

red and green sprinkles

(optional almond slivers and/or dried cranberries, or other fruit)

Step 1. Melt all chocolate together in microwave. Start with one minute and stir 30 seconds to help chocolate continue to melt.  If the chocolate is not completely melted, then heat for another 15 seconds and stir for 30 seconds - continue this until chocolate is completely melted and smooth.  Be very careful not to overheat - the stirring will help the chocolate melt.

Step 2. Pour cereal, vanilla extract and melted chocolate into bowl and mix together

(optional - add almond slivers and/or dried cranberries or other fruit during this step)

Step 3. Drop spoonfuls on wax paper and add sprinkles

Step 4. Put in refrigerator for about 30 minutes and enjoy and share

Try it and tell us what you think.

Happy Holidays!!!!

Tags: baby fat diet, health, holiday treat, holiday treats, nutrition, weight loss

Today has been a good day because at lunchtime the baby was napping and I had time to actually sit down and enjoy a nutritious meal.  My lunch was delicious, healthy and super quick to make so thought I’d share.

1 Thomas’ Sahara 100% Whole wheat wrap with 2 Tbs Sabra hummus, 1 sliced tomato, handful of baby spinach leaves = 250 calories, 7 g fiber, 10 g fat (1 g sat fat), 8 g protein

1 apple, 1 cup of green tea and 3 Hershey’s Bliss Dark chocolate squares = 200 calories, 6 g fiber, 7 g fat (4 g sat fat), 2 g protein

Total lunch: 450 calories, 13 g fiber, 17 g fat (5 g sat fat), 10 g protein

Tags: Add new tag, baby spinach, healthy lunch, Hershey's Bliss Dark chocolate, hummus, whole wheat wrap