Friday, December 28, 2012
Pregnant & always hungry, any advice?
As you are well aware of I normally just post recipes. Now is your chance to pipe in if you have any suggestions for me. I am expecting a baby & it seems being hungry all the time is part of the pregnancy. It seems to me I may be gaining more weight that I should (that's just my opinion).
So I ask you, do you have any great tips/recipe's of healthy & low cost foods I could be eating please share.
Thank you!!
Wendy
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Rocco's Five Quick Calorie Cuts
http://www.thedoctorstv.com/main/home_page?init_type=Feature&init_id=5265
Tip: Substitute egg whites for eggs = Save 50 Calories
Tip: 1 Tablespoon of flaxseed + 3 Tablespoons of water = 1 egg = save 40 calories & boot your omega 3
Tip: cottage cheese with lemon juice can replace sour cream = save 325 calories
Tip: chilled soups skim the fat before serving = save 100 calories (I wish I had know that yesterday)
Check out more here: Younger Thinner & Sexier in 30
Friday, June 3, 2011
The Brown-Bag Lunch Challenge!
Is your lunch hour your time to unwind in the middle of a hectic workday? If you're spending most lunch hours in restaurants with co-workers or clients, you could be doing a lot damage to your diet! Massive portions, loads of fat and calories, the never-ending bread basket, and I haven't even mentioned dessert — did you know some restaurant meals have more calories than you should eat in a whole day?!
You can make healthy choices when you eat out — like asking the server to remove the bread basket, requesting sauces on the side, and sticking with grilled chicken or fish and steamed veggies. Still, it may be easier — and tastier — to just bring your own healthy lunch from home!
Brown-bagging isn't hard at all; it just requires some planning. Here are a few of my favorite bring-to-work lunches:
Sandwiches: Nothing is easier than a no-cook sandwich, and the options are endless — chicken, tuna, cheese (yum, fresh mozzarella!), egg salad — I could go on and on! You can pick whatever filling you like, just put in a whole-grain bread, wrap or pita, limit or avoid high-calorie add-ons like mayo, and throw in lots of veggies.
Soups: They're really filling and super easy to heat up at work! Invest in a thermos and a few cans of hearty and healthy soups, or cook a big pot of your favorite veggie soup on the weekend. Pair it with two slices of whole-grain bread and you're set!
Yogurt with granola and fruit. This light meal is an ideal grab-and-go lunch. It's perfect for those days when you don't have time to pack lunch — all of the components can be found in nearly every grocery or convenience store.
Leftovers: My personal favorite is last night's leftovers! If you take the time to cook a healthy dinner, why not make a little extra and bring the leftovers for lunch? You can heat them up in the microwave at work.
This coming week, how about brown-bagging it at least one more workday than you usually do? You'll not only get healthier and save calories — you'll save money too!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Flax seed benefits -
The Health Benefits of Flax Seeds!
The National Cancer Institute has identified golden flax seeds as a food product that deserves further study and attention because of its potential cancer fighting properties and many health benefits. According to the U. S. Department of Agriculture, golden flax seeds contain 27 identifiable cancer preventive compounds. Medical sources abound that have published clinical results concluding that golden flax seed can have a positive impact on your overall health.
The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute suggests adding flaxseeds, walnuts and canola oil to your daily meal plan to improve overall health. These foods are high in an omega-3 fat called alpha-linolenic acid and appear to lower triglyceride levels. Fatty fish, such as bluefish, salmon, halibut and sardines, also contain omega-3 fats. Including these fish two to three times a week may help keep triglyceride levels stable.
Some of the potential health benefits of flax seeds that have been reported: (Please note these claims have not been evaluated by the FDA. See disclaimer below.**)
What the Experts have to say:
Gandhi once observed, "wherever flax seed becomes a regular food item among people, there will be better health."
Dr. Bob Arnot recommends 25 grams of flaxseed a day (approximately 1/4 cup ground) to protect against the development of breast cancer.**
Dr. Andrew Weil and Omega-3
Country Road Chronicles
Report on Flaxseeds by the Flax Council of Canada Flax a Health and Nutrition Primer
Lowered blood cholesterol levels
Lowered high blood pressure
Increased energy, vitality, and stamina
Increased sense of calmness under stress
Reduced threat of blood clots
Protection against cancers, particularly hormone sensitive cancers such as breast and prostate
Better regulation of blood sugar levels
Eases inflammatory tissue conditions, including arthritis
Alleviation of dry skin, eczema and psoriasis
Enhanced immune system
Increased metabolic rate with a positive impact on weight management
Helps with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
Natural laxative
And the list goes on
Try this health tip:
Use the golden flax seeds instead of the oil - although flaxseed oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, it doesn't contain the beneficial lignans and fiber that are removed in the process of making the oil.
Dietary Sources of 1 gram of Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Sources Amount needed Calories
Flaxseed oil 1/2 teaspoon 20
Ground Flaxseed 1-1/2 teaspoon 40
Walnut halves 5 70
Canola Oil 2 teaspoons 80
Soybean Oil 1 tablespoon 120
Wheat germ oil 1 tablespoon 120
Salmon, herring, albacore,
sardine, rainbow trout, eel 2 ounces 100
Other fish contain some
omega 3, but not as much 9 - 12 ounces 300(or more)
Broccoli, cooked 5 cups 220
Spinach, cooked 10 cups 280
Soy nuts 3/4 cup 285
Rice Bran oil 4 tablespoons 480
http://www.greatplainsflax.com/benefits.htm
What's all the Flax about Golden Flax Seeds??
Flax is an oil seed that has been used as a food product for thousands of years. Flax, also known as linseed, is an ancient crop that has its origin traced back to 3,000 B.C. when cultivated by the Babylonians. It has been grown all over the world, with its higher production as a field crop noted in fertile river valleys. Around 650 B.C. Hippocrates wrote about the soothing nature of eating flax to relieve abdominal pains.Civic and religious leaders during these times continued to relay messages about the qualities of flax to use for fibers in weaving and promoting the addition of the harvested seed to their diets. There are two types of flax seed. One type is grown for the seed use and considered an oil seed variety.
The other is grown specifically for fiber production to be utilized in the textile industry. In North America, it is primarily the oil seed varieties which are produced commercially. Much of the world flax production occurs in Canada and the United States. The US production is centered in North and South Dakota. A University research project led to the creation of a new variety of flax seed called Omega. This new variety was created primarily as a food source and has a pleasant nutty flavor and has a much higher level of the beneficial Omega-3 oil. In fact, the composition of the flax seeds (and the related health benefits) can vary significantly between the flax seed varieties. The golden flax seed products sold in health food stores generally originate in Canada and do not contain the same organic composition as the Omega flax seed. All golden flax seed is not alike!
Golden flax seed contains:
Omega-3 oils. Also known as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
Lignans
Fiber, both soluble and insoluble
Each of these components contributes health benefits to regular flax seed users.
Golden Flax is available in a number of forms including whole seeds, flax oils and capsules, and ground flax meal. As whole seeds pass through the body without the shell of the seed breaking down, the healthy contents of the golden flax seed are not absorbed. Flax oil products do not provide the fiber and lignans that are key components of the health benefits of flax. Freshly ground Omega flax seed provides the maximum health benefits associated with both the Omega-3 essential fatty acids, lignans and the fiber in a form that the human body can absorb and process.
More Info from http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/benefits-of-flaxseed?page=3&print=true
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Ways to soften Brown Sugar
It happens to the best of us: rock hard brown sugar. How to soften it? Ten easy tips below:
1. Place the brown sugar in an airtight container with a slice of fresh bread placed on top. Seal and leave overnight. It should be soft and fresh again in the morning, if not just let it sit another day or two.
2. Sprinkle a few drops of water over the chunk of hardened sugar, place in a plastic bag, seal, and let sit for a couple days.
3. Place brown sugar in an open container, then top with a moistened cloth (paper towel works too). Let sit overnight.
4. Place the hardened sugar in an airtight container with a few apple slices. This should soften the sugar within the next day or two. Remove apple slices once sugar is soft again.
5. Use foil or plastic wrap to cover the top of the sugar. Then set a dampened sheet of paper towel (not dripping wet) on top of the foil. Place in an airtight container and seal. Let sit overnight or a few days as needed. Remove foil and paper towel once the towel is dry and sugar is fresh again.
6. Buy a clay disc or if you have a pottery piece on hand (from a broken clay pot, etc.), set it in water for about 30 minutes. Dry the piece so it isn’t dripping wet. Put the clay piece in a container with the sugar and seal. Check after a few days. Keep the piece in with your sugar for months if you’d like–will keep it soft.
Quick Tip #1: Need the sugar soft now? Put the brown sugar in a container and place in the microwave with a small bowl full of water beside it. Microwave for about 1 minute–check. If it’s still hard, try for another 30 seconds. You can keep doing this until the sugar is soft, but watch that you don’t melt the sugar.
Quick Tip #2: Place the hardened sugar in a baking pan and set in oven (temperature at about 250° F). Check after 5 minutes. If still not soft, continue checking every few minutes until it’s soft and ready to use.
Quick Tip #3: Place the brown sugar chunk in a microwave safe plastic bag. Take a square of paper towel and moisten with water (not dripping wet–wring out excess). Place the wet paper towel in the bag with the sugar and seal. Place in the microwave for approximately 20 seconds. If still not soft, microwave for a few seconds more, repeating until the sugar is ready to use. Be careful not to melt the sugar.
Quick Tip #4: Stick chunks of the brown sugar in a food processor or blender and chop/pulse until useable.
For best results, make sure to store brown sugar in a sealed, airtight container. A clay disc kept in the container can keep it soft for months (see tip above for clay disc).
Brown sugar can also be stored in the freezer and thawed a few hours before using.