tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57370305210286919922024-03-14T02:30:14.042-07:00Yummy, Low Calorie Diet Food -- Plus Where to Buy!Smarter, Yummier, Food Choices For Your Busy Lifestyle!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540175839494623402noreply@blogger.comBlogger362125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737030521028691992.post-66491664943499308102011-05-22T12:41:00.000-07:002011-05-22T12:41:36.683-07:00attune Mint Chocolate Bars<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5-T7xSTzwxI/Tc8wkeGb9fI/AAAAAAAAAGw/mUp1hECI5Q8/s1600/attune+chocolate+mint.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="attune bars chocolate mint" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5-T7xSTzwxI/Tc8wkeGb9fI/AAAAAAAAAGw/mUp1hECI5Q8/s1600/attune+chocolate+mint.jpg" /></a></div>To this day, one of my favorite flavors has been <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/11/chocolate-covered-cacoao-nibs.html">chocolate</a> mint. I think it started when I first ate a <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/01/genisoy-chocolate-mint-sweet-crisps.html">thin mint cookie</a> from the Girl Scouts. So when I happened across the Chocolate Mint flavored attune <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/search/label/low%20calorie%20bars">bars</a> (I posted about a few additional <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/08/attune-probiotic-chocolate-bars.html">attune bar</a> flavors a while ago), I couldn't wait to get home to try one. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">And wow - was I impressed! The combination of chocolate mint and crisp <a href="http://rice/">rice</a> is beyond yummy, sort of like a mint chocolate Nestle's crunch. And, like other attune bars, not only are the <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/search/label/low%20calorie%20bars">bars</a> delicious, but they contain <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/04/chobani-yogurt.html">probiotics</a>. I am especially impressed that they are packed with *five* times more probiotics than <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/06/i-love-fage-yogurt-you-will-too.html">yogurt</a>. And yet, they don't lose anything in taste or texture. I really like the crispy <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/02/trader-joes-organic-brown-rice.html">rice</a> texture with chocolate taste that all attune bars have.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Not only are these bars rich in probiotics but they are also a portable form of probiotics. One thing that I find challenging when I am on the go is keeping up with daily habits like taking supplements. So these bars are perfect – they work as a healthy portable snack. They are sold in the refrigerated section, but they do not require constant refrigeration. I've read that the cultures begin to decline after 1 month unrefrigerated.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Calorie wise, each attune bar is only 3 <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/12/weight-watchers-new-points-plus-program.html">weight watchers points plus points</a>, with 90 calories, 6 g fat, 12 g carb, 1 g protein and 3 g fiber. </div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Attune bars come in a ton of flavors: Chocolate, Chocolate Crisp, Almond Chocolate, <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/01/genisoy-chocolate-mint-sweet-crisps.html">Chocolate Mint</a>, <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/09/yummy-low-calorie-blueberry-muffins.html">Blueberry</a> Vanilla, Coffee Bean Dark Chocolate, and Raspberry Dark Chocolate. You can buy them in the refrigerated section of stores like Whole Foods or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Attune-Foods-Mint-Chocolate-Probiotic/dp/B0048KER7U?ie=UTF8&tag=yumdiefoo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online at Amazon</a>.</div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Enjoy!<br />
Juliet</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540175839494623402noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737030521028691992.post-40463319928434322712011-05-18T21:11:00.000-07:002011-05-18T21:11:26.252-07:00Food Should Taste Good Chips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v4fdwZqJbdI/TZf7upkviBI/AAAAAAAABbU/1_MgZogiLlY/s1600/food+should+taste+good.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="food should taste good chips" border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v4fdwZqJbdI/TZf7upkviBI/AAAAAAAABbU/1_MgZogiLlY/s200/food+should+taste+good.jpg" width="141" /></a></div>I often find myself hungry in the late afternoon, especially during the work week. I sometimes opt for a bag of <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/02/frozen-blueberries.html">frozen blueberries</a> or a <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/09/frozen-bananas.html">frozen banana</a>, but every once in a while I want something more crunchy, and less sweet. On these occasions a small serving of chips usually fits the bill.<br />
<br />
I have a few chip favorites that I have posted on before, including <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/03/kettle-brand-baked-potato-chips-cuties.html">Kettle Baked Chips</a> which are really good, and of course, my old standby, <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/08/low-calorie-restaurant-style-tortilla.html">tortilla chips</a>. But I recently found another chip that lives up to all of my expectations for a healthier version of the <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/03/kettle-brand-baked-potato-chips-cuties.html">potato chip</a> – Food Should Taste Good Chips.<br />
<br />
Ah, the name says it all! How could a food lover pass a display of chips in the health food aisle that is made by a company called Food Should Taste Good? Let’s face it. Much of the stuff that is marketed as healthy doesn’t taste good. Some of it is flavorless, and some is just downright un-yummy and tastes like cardboard. I saw the Food Should Taste Good Buffalo Chips at Whole Foods Market and just had to give them a chance, especially since one of my followers had said that she tried them and they were yummy. If the name of the company is a marketing gimmick, it is definitely working!<br />
<br />
So, out of the bag, these chips are definitely aptly named. They are very good, and a serving is only 4 <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/12/weight-watchers-new-points-plus-program.html">weight watchers points plus points</a>! I have only tried the Buffalo flavor, which was, very Buffalo-ey but not what you’d call “hot” yet very delicious. These chips are made with all natural ingredients and they are baked, not fried, a must if you want to keep your arteries free-flowing, right? They are also free from trans-fats, cholesterol, GMOs and gluten. They are low in sodium and certified Kosher. Wow! That’s certainly a lot for this little bag!<br />
<br />
In addition to the very buffalo-ey Buffalo, there are also six other varieties including Sweet Potato, the Works, Olive, Multigrain, Jalapeno – and (did they dare?) chocolate! Each one ounce serving of these chips that are very deserving of their name has 140 calories and three grams of fiber. They can be found in all sorts of natural food markets, as well as <a href="http://www.amazon.com/FoodShouldTasteGood-Chocolate-Tortilla-Chips-6-Ounce/dp/B000YSQB6K?ie=UTF8&tag=yumdiefoo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online at Amazon</a>.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
JulietElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540175839494623402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737030521028691992.post-3961854404106778742011-05-16T21:05:00.000-07:002011-05-16T21:13:50.463-07:00Health Benefits of Milk<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zbTVrWjHh4c/Tc82VlIdL3I/AAAAAAAAAG0/sXKS6Rj9H4Y/s1600/milk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zbTVrWjHh4c/Tc82VlIdL3I/AAAAAAAAAG0/sXKS6Rj9H4Y/s1600/milk.jpg" alt="milk"/></a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Over the past few years, I've written about various milk alternatives - <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/07/refrigerated-almond-milk-from-almond.html">almond milk</a>, <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/04/westsoy-unsweetened-soy-milk.html">soy milk</a>, <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/07/healthy-and-yummy-coconut-milk.html">coconut milk</a>. Today I thought it was time to give regular milk a fair <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/02/low-calorie-strawberry-shake.html">shake</a> and talk about some of its benefits. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Milk is a good source of <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/07/dr-oz-diet-and-weight-loss-advice.html">Vitamin D</a> which millions of people are surprisingly deficient in. Even in warm weather, many people stay indoors or use sunscreen to protect their skin from the sun. Many doctors believe that maintaining sufficient levels of Vitamin D is key to good health, as well as in cancer prevention. Milk also contains appreciable amounts of protein and <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/02/importance-of-calcium-in-your-diet.html">calcium</a> which are good for our bones and muscles. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Of course, I have to acknowledge that there is a lot of concern about how our milk is produced these days. Some people feel that the pasteurization process is quite harmful to the milk, altering its amino acids and killing the very enzymes which help our bodies assimilate the nutrients in the milk. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">All this has led to a resurgence of interest in raw milk. If you do not have a supplier of raw milk in your area or if you just prefer not to buy it <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/12/goraw-live-super-cookies.html">raw</a>, look for *organic* DHA-enhanced milk. DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid which is needed by the brain and the retina. It is a crucial element for optimum learning ability, mental development and good vision. Apparently Americans are quite deficient in DHA which is why many food manufacturers are adding it as a supplement. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">You probably don't have too much trouble finding ways to include milk in your diet. It is a great <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/11/avocado-smoothie-fun.html">smoothie</a> base, goes with <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/02/kashi-mighty-bites-cereal.html">cereal</a>, hot or cold, makes a great base for <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/12/low-calorie-hot-chocolate.html">hot chocolate</a> and as a great midnight snack.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Enjoy!<br />
Juliet</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540175839494623402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737030521028691992.post-36735104340614119832011-05-14T21:34:00.000-07:002011-05-16T21:06:13.705-07:00Chocolate Espresso Frappucino Smoothie with Chocolate Almond Milk<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ySXsdg1sUPU/TcAy8g4YOAI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/U8AmOig0JuQ/s1600/chocolate+almond+milk.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="chocolate almond breeze" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ySXsdg1sUPU/TcAy8g4YOAI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/U8AmOig0JuQ/s1600/chocolate+almond+milk.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I recently picked up a fitness magazine while I was checking out at the <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/03/points-plus-grocery-list-for-weight.html">grocery</a> store. The <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/search/label/low%20calorie%20breakfast">breakfast</a> section had a recipe for a vegan Chocolate Espresso <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/06/banana-smoothies-are-delicious.html">Smoothie</a> that sounded good. So I decided to try it. I certainly couldn't pass up what appeared to be a recipe for a drink very similar to a low calorie frappucino! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The recipe in the magazine used <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/04/westsoy-unsweetened-soy-milk.html">soy milk</a> for the base, but since I prefer <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/08/low-calorie-almond-milk-1-weight.html">almond milk</a>, I decided to try using chocolate almond milk instead. The chocolate almond milk I drink is made by Almond Breeze, and it comes in both sweetened and unsweetened flavors. The amazing thing about the unsweetened flavor is that it is delicious enough to drink, and is still only 50 calories per cup!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<u><b>Chocolate Espresso Smoothie</b></u><br />
<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">1 cup chocolate <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/07/refrigerated-almond-milk-from-almond.html">almond milk</a>, or <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/04/westsoy-unsweetened-soy-milk.html">soy milk</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">2 Tb. Chocolate syrup </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">1 tsp instant espresso powder (you can certainly skip this, if you want to avoid coffee or caffeine)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">½ <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/02/so-delicious-vanilla-ice-cream-bar.html">vanilla</a> extract</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">1 cup chopped ice</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Combine ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. This recipe makes 2 servings at 140 calories, 1.5 g fat, 25 g carbs, 4 g protein, 2 g fiber per serving. Each serving is 3 <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/12/weight-watchers-new-points-plus-program.html">weight watchers points plus points</a>. I used the regular chocolate almond milk but you could also use the unsweetened kind (at only 50 calories per cup) for an even skinnier version, making the smoothie 2 <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/12/weight-watchers-new-points-plus-program.html">weight watchers points plus points</a> and only 78 calories per serving!<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
Juliet</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540175839494623402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737030521028691992.post-6686946408138187502011-05-10T21:17:00.000-07:002011-05-10T21:17:02.130-07:00Seasonal Fruits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0ln9zu6dNCo/TcYfOHx7dbI/AAAAAAAABcU/f5fNITS1a9c/s1600/watermelon.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="watermelon" border="0" height="134" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0ln9zu6dNCo/TcYfOHx7dbI/AAAAAAAABcU/f5fNITS1a9c/s400/watermelon.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>There are many things I like as I anticipate the arrival of summer. But one of the things I love the most is enjoying various 'summer foods' that are so abundant especially in early summer, like corn on the cob, watermelon, peaches, nectarines, etc.<br />
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Now that it is common for supermarkets to stock produce that has been shipped long distances, from the other side of the country or even from another hemisphere, we have a much greater window of availability for <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/09/fruitabu-smooshed-low-calorie-fruit.html">fruits</a> and vegetables than their natural local growing seasons. For instance, you can buy <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/11/lydias-organic-tropical-mango-bar.html">mango</a> almost any time of year, though where I live, it certainly does not grow year round.<br />
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But as people try to eat more locally grown food, we naturally end up eating with the seasons and we get reacquainted with the natural growing patterns for various foods. And by eating according to the seasons we end up eating produce when it is most abundant in the market, which means it is a) at its cheapest price for the year b) in its freshest condition, not having spent weeks in transit and storage.<br />
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As it is now, I always notice that in early summer the produce section of the supermarket has piles and piles of fresh, juicy peaches and nectarines. And of course, I remember that juicy watermelon is prevalent in summer too. I think apples are always best in the autumn. But I don't remember too much more than that. So I thought it would be helpful to feature a list of what fruits are in season at what time of year. <br />
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<b><u>Spring</u></b><br />
<br />
Apricots – spring into summer<br />
<a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/06/frozen-cherries-are-amazing.html">Cherries</a> - spring and summer<br />
Lemons – winter into spring<br />
Grapefruit – winter into early summer<br />
Oranges<br />
Rhubarb – spring into summer; eat stems only; leaves are poisonous!<br />
Strawberries – peak from April through June<br />
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<b><u>Summer</u></b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/10/apples-healthy-eating.html">Apples</a> – summer into fall<br />
<a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/11/avocado-smoothie-fun.html">Avocados</a><br />
Blackberries<br />
<a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/02/frozen-blueberries.html">Blueberries</a><br />
Cantaloupes<br />
<a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/01/organic-adriatic-fig-spread.html">Figs</a> – mid to late summer<br />
<a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/04/frozen-grapes.html">Grapes</a> – end of summer into fall<br />
Mangoes – late spring into summer<br />
Melons<br />
Nectarines<br />
Peaches<br />
Plums<br />
Raspberries<br />
Watermelon<br />
<br />
<b><u>Fall</u></b><br />
<br />
Apples – late summer through fall<br />
<a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/11/thanksgiving-and-cranberries-great.html">Cranberries</a><br />
<a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/07/yummy-dark-chocolate-figamajigs.html">Figs</a> - 2nd season in late fall, around Thanksgiving<br />
<a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/11/crispy-pears.html">Pears</a> – mid-summer into winter<br />
<a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/01/persimmons-and-pomegranates.html">Persimmons</a><br />
<a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/01/persimmons-and-pomegranates.html">Pomegranate</a><br />
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<u><b>Winter</b></u><br />
<br />
Clementines<br />
Pomegranate – fall into winter<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
JulietElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540175839494623402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737030521028691992.post-31204932705213647712011-05-09T21:31:00.000-07:002011-05-14T21:41:15.159-07:00Panda Licorice Candy<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SAtNl_1roXM/TcA8WhPdJsI/AAAAAAAAAGU/ThM2hKdFwe0/s1600/panda%2Bcherry%2Blicorice.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="panda licorice" border="0" height="182" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SAtNl_1roXM/TcA8WhPdJsI/AAAAAAAAAGU/ThM2hKdFwe0/s200/panda%2Bcherry%2Blicorice.jpg" width="170" /></a><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">These days food manufacturers seem to be cluing into the fact that many people desire healthier food with fewer mysterious ingredients. Unfortunately, some companies try to hop on the bandwagon by just pasting words like “all natural”, “fresh”, “pure” and so forth on their labels without doing much to raise the standard of the ingredients. But today's post is about a licorice that really is made from simple natural ingredients. It's Panda Licorice and here is the ingredient list for their regular black licorice: Molasses, <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/04/whole-wheat-breadcrumbs.html">wheat</a> flour, licorice extract, natural flavor (aniseed oil).<br />
<br />
A neat thing about licorice is that in addition to being a fix for your sweet tooth, it has other perks too, such as helping people to relax and relieve stress. Why not give yourself a treat that restores you on more than one level? </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">When you come across something like Panda Licorice that has exactly four ingredients, all of them simple, recognizable words, then you know you have found a good choice. You might be surprised to find that many candy items which are labeled licorice do not actually contain any real licorice extract.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Panda licorice comes in several flavors and styles. You can get <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/03/kashi-granola-bars-cherry-dark_15.html">cherry</a>, raspberry or black licorice in small bite-sized chews or in a single snack size bar. The herb flavor (green box) seems to come only in the bite-sized chews. One of their newer packaging styles is a ziploc bag that apparently really keeps the licorice fresh and moist. They carry one more flavor I have never tried – Licorice Creams with <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/02/low-calorie-strawberry-shake.html">strawberry</a>, <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/02/bananas-in-low-calorie-caramel-sauce.html">caramel</a> and <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/03/trader-joes-gone-bananas.html">banana</a> fillings! This version does have cane sugar and skim milk powder whereas the others are all dairy-free and sweetened only with molasses. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Whichever kind you try, most are only 3 weight watchers points points and around 130 calories per serving, 0g fat, 30g carbs, 2g protein and no fiber. The exceptions are the herb flavor which is 4 WW points but still 130 calories and the licorice creams which come out to 4 WW points and 160 calories per serving.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">You can find Panda at most health food stores or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Panda-Natural-Licorice-Chews-1-125-Ounce/dp/B000FELX2U?ie=UTF8&tag=yumdiefoo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">order it online through Amazon</a>.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
Juliet</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540175839494623402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737030521028691992.post-79109243687279096242011-05-07T22:04:00.000-07:002011-05-07T22:04:43.156-07:00Barry's Bakery French Twists<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hISHQ9cXNUs/TcYgLajeFnI/AAAAAAAABcc/aNYnT6JYIbU/s1600/french+twists.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="barry's bakery french twists" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hISHQ9cXNUs/TcYgLajeFnI/AAAAAAAABcc/aNYnT6JYIbU/s1600/french+twists.jpg" /></a></div>I write about a lot of delicious <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/12/my-favorite-low-calorie-foods-for-2008.html">low calorie foods</a> here on Yummy Diet Food, but sometimes I find something I'm so excited about that I can hardly wait to post. Today is one of those days! I was recently introduced to Barry's Bakery French Twists, and my reaction was WOW! They are absolutely delicious and fully satisfy my <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/01/genisoy-chocolate-mint-sweet-crisps.html">sweet</a> tooth, and with only 30 calories each, and 1 gram of fat (and only 1 <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/12/weight-watchers-new-points-plus-program.html">weight watchers points plus point</a> for every two twists).<br />
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What you'll find inside of the container are delicious, crunchy puffed pastries, with the taste and quality of a sweet twist that you'd find at a cafe. They do not taste low calorie and feel like way more of an <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/09/lucys-cookies.html">indulgent treat</a> than they really are. Inside them is no dairy, no cholesterol, and no eggs. Just wheat flour, soy oil, palm oil, beet sugar, <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/01/warm-cinnamon-apples.html">cinnamon</a> (for the cinnamon flavor) and salt. Very simple straightforward ingredients. And, if that wasn't good enough, they come in several flavors including <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/06/yummy-chocolate-wedges.html">chocolate</a> (my favorite), raspberry, california almond, and maple french toast. <br />
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I highly recommend you try these out if you are looking for a low calorie sweet treat to eat every once in a while. You can buy them in many grocery stores, like Safeway, or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Barrys-Bakery-French-Original-4-5-Ounce/dp/B000I6KQ8W?ie=UTF8&tag=yumdiefoo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online at Amazon</a>.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
Juliet<br />
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PS. In case you are wondering here are few other of my favorite discoveries: <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/08/if-you-love-pizza-crust.html">pizza pretzels</a>, <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/08/yummy-decadent-cocoa-berries_04.html">cocoa berries</a>, <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/09/frozen-bananas.html">frozen bananas</a>, <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/07/julies-organic-ice-cream-sandwiches.html">ice cream sandwiches</a>, <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/11/delicious-fat-free-cheese.html">fat free cheese</a>, and lucy's <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/09/lucys-cookies.html">chocolate chip cookies</a>.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540175839494623402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737030521028691992.post-63633578193294295072011-05-03T21:37:00.000-07:002011-05-03T21:22:00.340-07:00Yogavive Apple Chips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HEPEzGtoDqg/TaZiCmkhMRI/AAAAAAAAAFo/r5r-8IC1iqQ/s1600/yogavive.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HEPEzGtoDqg/TaZiCmkhMRI/AAAAAAAAAFo/r5r-8IC1iqQ/s1600/yogavive.jpeg" /></a></div>Usually at most cafes, the <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/02/my-favorite-healthy-low-calorie-snacks.html">snack</a> choices include items like <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/08/get-your-chocolate-fix-for-just-60.html">chocolate</a>, pastries and <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/09/lucys-cookies.html">cookies</a>, usually high in fat and sugar. And while there is nothing wrong with an indulgence from time to time, I like to save those for special occasions, or when I am really craving an over-the-top, all-out rich and decadent snack. So I usually look for something <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/11/apple-blackberry-sauce.html">light</a> to eat instead. So I was delighted to see a snack at a local cafe today that was quite healthy - Yogavive Apple Chips.<br />
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The package says they are "organic popped fuji <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/10/apples-healthy-eating.html">apple</a> chips." I am not sure exactly what the 'popped' refers to, but I must say that it makes them pretty tasty! It's nice that they have *no* added sugar so you really just get a clean apple flavor. It is literally crunchy like a <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/02/pop-chips.html">chip</a> but the flavor is pure, sweet apple. They come in five flavors - original, <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/01/warm-cinnamon-apples.html">cinnamon</a>, <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/02/bananas-in-low-calorie-caramel-sauce.html">caramel</a>, peach and <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/02/low-calorie-strawberry-shake.html">strawberry</a>. And I read that they have two more flavors coming out soon too - chocolate and <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/02/so-delicious-vanilla-ice-cream-bar.html">vanilla</a>. <br />
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The size package I got at this bookstore cafe was a small bag - perfect for a quick snack at .35 ounces. Each bag contains the equivalent of one dried apple. And each serving is only 35 calories or 1 <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/12/weight-watchers-new-points-plus-program.html">weight watchers points plus point</a>. <br />
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I found these chips at a cafe, but according to the store locator on the Yogavive website they are available at many stores. Vitamin Outlet stores particularly seem to be a regular carrier of these chips. <br />
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And, for those of you who really prefer a more savory chip, Yogavive also has a line of savory flavors: Cheddar, Ginger, Barbecue and Garlic! I cannot really imagine <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/03/low-calorie-garlic-toast-on-english.html">garlic</a> and apple together in a chip :) I will be keeping an eye out for these too. Do let me know if you've tried them.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
JulietElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540175839494623402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737030521028691992.post-80558668349885454442011-05-02T21:02:00.000-07:002011-05-03T21:23:33.289-07:00Why Exercise Is Important<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XuyRzcn9gT8/TcDUslUJxiI/AAAAAAAABcM/FBdXxQyVPi4/s1600/exercise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XuyRzcn9gT8/TcDUslUJxiI/AAAAAAAABcM/FBdXxQyVPi4/s1600/exercise.jpg" alt="importance of exercise"/></a></div>While dieting, it is easy to get so wrapped up in what to eat and what not to eat that we sometimes forget the other part of the weight loss equation – <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/06/wii-fitt-my-new-exercise-partner.html">exercise</a>! Exercise not only burns calories while we are doing it - it also increases our metabolic rate for several hours after we finish exercising. I have heard that it is better to exercise in the morning for this reason – our metabolism will be churning along at a higher rate than if we had not exercised at the start of the day. <br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Some other ways that we benefit from regular exercise: </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Immune Health</b> – Exercise stimulates the lymphatic system and a healthy lymphatic systems is crucial to a strong <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/10/great-immunity-boosting-foods.html">immune</a> system. It is sometimes said that the lymphatic system is the body's first line of defense against disease. Exercise also improves circulation throughout the whole body helping to break up stagnant energy and bringing fresh energy to every cell.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Energy</b> – it sounds contradictory at first because exercise uses a lot of energy, yet it also credited with increasing energy. Perhaps because it improves circulation and breaks up stagnation as mentioned above. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/12/foods-for-dealing-with-stress.html">Stress</a> relief!</b> - When we are stressed we unconsciously clench our muscles which uses up a lot of our energy! Exercise helps shake a lot of this held in tension out. You have probably noticed how often after exercise you feel much more mentally relaxed. Getting the body moving helps the mind to relax.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/12/foods-for-dealing-with-stress.html"><br />
</a> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Creativitiy -</b> The relaxation that results from exercise helps us be more creative in all sorts of ways. Oftentimes, the shift in mood and focus that exercise brings is exactly what we need to see a problem from a fresh perspective.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Mood Elevator </b>- Everyone has heard of runner's high which happens when the body produces endorphins from vigorous exercise. However, your body doesn't care if you are running, playing basketball or cycling. It is going to produce endorphins from any energetic physical activity and your mood will likely show it. This is why people suffering from anxiety or depression are often advised to exercise. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Improved Sleep</b> – it seems that we are at an all time high for sleep problems. Considering the effect of exercise on stress reduction, physical tension, mood and creativity, it is not surprising that after releasing some of our pent up energy through exercise, we will sleep better. I am all for anything that helps me get a good night's rest!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">So, now that we have reviewed why exercise is so important, I want to mention that it helps to choose a form of exercise that you <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/06/does-wii-fit-work.html">enjoy</a>. That way you won't think of the activity as another task on your To Do list but more like a refreshing change of pace. If you make a commitment to swim so many laps per day but you don't actually enjoy swimming, then you will have an inner resistance to executing your plan. That is a little self-sabotaging.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I find it helps to remember that in simpler times when many people performed demanding physical work, they did not carve out a portion of the day for exercise. It was a byproduct of their normal activities. Likewise, in many cultures, people <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/07/dr-oz-diet-and-weight-loss-advice.html">walk</a> several miles a day as part of their normal routine of shopping and going to the bank. In most cities in the United States, it is common to drive almost everywhere. When a friend of mine was visiting the US several years ago, she was astonished to see that people can do their banking without even getting out of the car!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">With all that said, my personal favorite form of exercise is yoga. I like that it effects my body, mind and spirit. I have definitely felt the way that yoga increases my capacity to respond well in stressful situations. And it can be extremely effective at building strength, flexibility and balance. Once you have learned some basic routines, yoga can be done anywhere. No special attire needed aside from non-restrictive clothes. Classes are especially good for beginners to help ensure your alignment is right, etc. but once you are familiar with yoga, it can easily be done at home or while traveling. You can design your own practice, use some routines from a book or let yourself be guided by an instruction CD or DVD.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
Juliet</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540175839494623402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737030521028691992.post-46383593641229476402011-04-30T21:48:00.000-07:002011-04-30T21:48:15.293-07:00Millet Pudding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YQV3v9A8FMY/Tbzk7FtHatI/AAAAAAAABcA/8NA6yy3TIm8/s1600/millet%2Bpudding.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="millet pudding" border="0" height="181" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YQV3v9A8FMY/Tbzk7FtHatI/AAAAAAAABcA/8NA6yy3TIm8/s400/millet%2Bpudding.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>Sometimes I am at a loss for what to eat for <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/search/label/low%20calorie%20breakfast">breakfast</a> when I want something different but healthy, sustaining and satisfying. What I really like is a breakfast that is super-filling and grounding, something that will hold me for a while.<br />
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But when I want to mix things up a little, one really hearty and healthy breakfast I have is homemade millet pudding. This is basically just a half cup of millet (available in the bulk section of your natural foods store) cooked with about 2 cups of <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/07/refrigerated-almond-milk-from-almond.html">almond milk</a> and a dash of <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/01/warm-cinnamon-apples.html">cinnamon</a>. (The cooked millet will come out to about 3 times the dry quantity).<br />
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To cook, bring the mixture to a boil, lower the flame and let it simmer about 20 minutes. Because of the nut milk, it may boil over if the flame is too high. Keep an eye on it. The end result is more like a porridge than a typical pudding, but my friend who shared this recipe with me calls it "pudding" so I am calling it that too. She made it with non-dairy chocolate chips inside and calls it <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/10/raw-cocoa-almond-and-raisins.html">Cocoa</a> Millet Pudding. Yum! If you have a sweet tooth, you could add some honey. Or dress it up with <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/12/chestnuts-low-calorie-nut.html">nuts</a> and raisins or whatever you can think of. You can also just cook millet with water and after it is cooked, add a little rice or <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/08/low-calorie-almond-milk-1-weight.html">almond milk</a> if you prefer.<br />
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Which brings me to why millet is so good for you. Hopefully you will see why I think it is worth the trouble. First, millet is an honest to goodness whole grain! It is not just "made with whole grains" which have been pulverized, ground, rolled, cut, baked or anything else. It is the real deal. Aside from <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/10/benefits-of-brown-rice-vs-white-rice.html">brown rice</a> and maybe <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/09/amys-steel-cut-oatmeal-bowl.html">oats</a> and barley, many of us hardly ever eat whole grains when they are still *whole*, if you know what I mean. So while it may seem like a lot of effort for what is essentially a breakfast cereal, the benefits of eating something completely unprocessed is that you get the maximum energy from the grain. No energy is lost by turning it into a flour. <br />
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Millet is one of those foods that has been largely pushed to the sidelines in the American diet. Many people think of it as great bird food. However, this stuff is not just for the birds! The health benefits of millet are numerous. Rich in protein and <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/10/importance-of-fiber-in-diet.html">fiber</a>, it is thought to help prevent heart disease and some forms of cancer.<br />
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Although it takes a bit of time to make, this quantity will make 3 half cup portions of a very nutritious breakfast at 4 <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/12/weight-watchers-new-points-plus-program.html">weight watchers points plus points </a>and 166 calories each. <br />
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Enjoy!<br />
JulietElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540175839494623402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737030521028691992.post-84219299756917408372011-04-26T22:24:00.000-07:002011-04-26T22:24:27.025-07:00Cascadian Farms Chocolate O's Cereal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-47T1xHNfxm4/Ta3_mJnJGyI/AAAAAAAAAFs/LKUlRm0yf00/s1600/chocolate+o%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-47T1xHNfxm4/Ta3_mJnJGyI/AAAAAAAAAFs/LKUlRm0yf00/s1600/chocolate+o%2527s.jpg" /></a></div>As a kid I always looked forward to Fridays. That was when my mother did her weekly grocery shopping and she often brought home some kind of 'kid cereal', one of those sweet, crunchy, refined-sugar cereals that went really well with Saturday morning cartoons. <br />
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These days I don't buy as interesting cereals, but I do still like a treat of a sweet, <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/10/low-calorie-low-fat-granola.html">crunchy</a> cereal, especially for breakfast. Which is why I really like Cascadian Farms new Chocolate O's cereal. I enjoy the yummy-ness of a crunchy, <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/08/get-your-chocolate-fix-for-just-60.html">chocolate</a> snack without the artificial colors and corn syrup that are included in so many <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/07/another-yummy-breakfast-or-snack.html">cereals</a>. Plus, these are <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/02/organic-foods-worth-buying.html">organic</a> and made with whole grains. I am pretty sure the kid-friendly cereals I ate as a kid were not!<br />
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Personally, I like the flavor of this cereal as it is with <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/06/my-first-post-low-calorie-milk.html">almond milk</a>, but <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/04/westsoy-unsweetened-soy-milk.html">soy milk</a> would be really good too. In fact, it would probably be fabulous with chocolate almond milk, which I am going to post about here soon.<br />
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One serving of the cereal has 8 g of sugar and the soy milk has about 7 g of sugar per cup, but I use maybe a quarter of that. To me it is a comfortable amount of sweetness and I like that the cereal tastes like it has real chocolate in it. At 3 weight watchers points plus points, 100 calories, .5 g fat, 23 g carbs, 2 g protein and 3 g fiber, I think you will agree, it makes for a great breakfast.<br />
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You can buy Cascadian Farms products at most supermarkets, including Whole Foods.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
JulietElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540175839494623402noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737030521028691992.post-46210885896476078262011-04-25T20:53:00.000-07:002011-04-25T20:53:38.720-07:00Clif Z Bars - Smores Flavor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jJkSWsH4_3c/TX1Djo2IqeI/AAAAAAAAAB0/5sMXdAHOdAU/s1600/Clif+Kid+Smores.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="no follow" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="clif z bars" border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jJkSWsH4_3c/TX1Djo2IqeI/AAAAAAAAAB0/5sMXdAHOdAU/s1600/Clif+Kid+Smores.jpg" /></a></div>Sometimes I find myself wishing I had the natural endless energy of a kid again. Take a few minutes to watch some kids just hanging out nearby in a restaurant or out at a park. If they are under 12 years old, you'll notice they have a lot of energy! Where does that energy go once we get to be adults? Likewise with balance. Kids can fly down the street on a skateboard and make it look effortless! :) <br />
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I don't know if eating kid-style snacks will bring back any of that free flowing energy, but I am going to hope so because <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/06/whoe-grain-z-bars-are-great-snack.html">Clif Kid Z bar</a> has a great new flavor - S'mores. These yummy bars are made with rolled <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/09/amys-steel-cut-oatmeal-bowl.html">oats</a>, <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/01/organic-adriatic-fig-spread.html">fig</a> paste, brown rice syrup, organic chocolate chips, organic <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/01/sweet-riot-low-calorie-cocoa-nibs.html">cocoa</a> and milled <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/11/flax-seed-benefits.html">flax seeds</a>. Each one contains 12 essential vitamins and minerals. I really appreciate that they are organic too!<br />
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At 130 calories and 4 Weight Watchers Points Plus points per bar, they are the perfect diet-conscious treat for the kid in all of us. Clif Bar's website points out that these Smores Z bars are a classic campfire snack, so plan to bring some on your next camping trip or picnic. They are delicious too.<br />
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And for those of you who are a little more adventurous or maybe have a little extra time, you can try making these <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/01/low-calorie-trail-mix-bar-recipe.html">trail mix bars</a> at home. And, if you don't have time, and like eating bars for snack (or a little chocolate fix), then you might also want to check out <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/01/luna-mini-bars.html">Luna Minis</a>, <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/12/110-calorie-pria-bars.html">Pria Bars</a>, or <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/03/kashi-granola-bars-cherry-dark_15.html">Kashi Granola bars</a>.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
JulietElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540175839494623402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737030521028691992.post-23371950154702823412011-04-23T21:15:00.000-07:002011-04-23T21:15:42.026-07:00Bear Naked Fit Granola<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F84HUzIO7J0/TZf9qanUNgI/AAAAAAAABbc/FtnSfQuoERM/s1600/bear+naked+fit+granola.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="bear naked fit granola" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F84HUzIO7J0/TZf9qanUNgI/AAAAAAAABbc/FtnSfQuoERM/s1600/bear+naked+fit+granola.jpg" /></a></div>Granola is so wholesome – but you really have to be careful when buying <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/10/low-calorie-low-fat-granola.html">granola</a> if you are counting calories! Most people assume that if it says granola its good for you when dieting – but if you read the label on some granolas – you’ll quickly see that not all granolas are created equal, with many having more than 200 calories per serving!<br />
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But, I love granola, especially mixed with fruit and <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/06/i-love-fage-yogurt-you-will-too.html">yogurt</a>, as a parfait. One of my new favorite granolas is called Bear Naked Fit Granola. This wholesome granola is available in two decadent and yummy flavors, including vanilla almond crunch (with delicious whole almonds, whole grain oats and ground flax seed) and triple berry crunch (with whole grain oats, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and more). You may recall that I have posted on the health benefits of <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/11/flax-seed-benefits.html">flax seed</a> before, and the vanilla almond variety is a great way to get flax into your diet. <br />
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As far as calories go, this is a lower calorie version of Bear Naked’s other granolas and contains just 4 grams of sugar per serving and 120 calories (and 3 weight watchers points plus points) for a quarter cup. There are not trans-fats or saturated fats in this delicious mix, and it provides two grams of dietary fiber (three grams in the berry variety) and four grams of protein per serving. These are delicious when you toss a half serving of them into your favorite yogurt or when eaten on their own for a delicious and satisfying snack. You might also think about adding this granola to your favorite <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/09/low-calorie-trailmix-substitute.html">trail mix recipe</a>. <br />
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You can also get your granola fix by trying <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/10/low-calorie-low-fat-granola.html">Enjoy Life’s Cinnamon Crunch granola</a> cereal, or <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/08/kashi-golean-crisp-toasted-berry.html">Kashi GoLean Crip Toasted Berry Crumble Cereal</a> – I’ve posted and reviewed both of them before. I enjoy both of these cereals for their granola crunch – just add some nutritious <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/11/silk-pure-almond-milk.html">almond milk</a>, grab a spoon, and breakfast is ready! <br />
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Enjoy!<br />
JulietElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540175839494623402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737030521028691992.post-65475796371425744842011-04-19T21:20:00.000-07:002011-04-20T21:12:20.966-07:00Frozen Vegetables<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vRfb993zzMQ/TIhWVgCtreI/AAAAAAAABU4/dEQhQykukD4/s1600/edamamesmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="frozen edamame" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vRfb993zzMQ/TIhWVgCtreI/AAAAAAAABU4/dEQhQykukD4/s1600/edamamesmall.jpg" /></a></div>There is an ongoing debate about whether frozen fruits and vegetables are less nutritious than fresh. I've seen a couple of articles that claim that frozen veggies are generally harvested at their peak of ripeness and freshness, whereas fresh veggies are often picked before they are fully ripe. This is done to prevent spoilage and allow more time for ripening during the transit time from farm to store to your table. And, while frozen veggies might lose some nutrients from the freezing process, because they are allowed to continue growing longer, they have more time to develop their nutrients to the fullest. So, it seems there is an equally good arguments in favor of frozen over fresh.What do you think?<br />
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In any case, I find it helpful to have some frozen veggies on hand. When you buy fresh, you may not get around to eating all of it before it starts going bad. It can be very handy to have some frozen veggies in the freezer to add to a soup or other recipe. Not to mention that frozen veggies are already washed, peeled, diced, etc.<br />
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So here is my list of suggestions for frozen vegetables that you might consider keeping on hand.<br />
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<a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/01/delicious-broccoli-in-spicy-orange.html">Broccoli</a> - I like to get frozen broccoli because I want the florets more than the stalk. And it is so easy to pour out a small amount to use in an omelet or for a side dish of steamed broccoli. I also love to eat broccoli with <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/11/delicious-fat-free-cheese.html">non fat melted cheese</a> of course.<br />
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<a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/12/healthy-low-calorie-butternut-squash.html">Butternut squash</a>, acorn, winter - any of the orange squashes are often difficult to peel when raw. So buying them frozen allows you to circumvent that process. <br />
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Cauliflower - It always seems to me that cauliflower is a little more perishable than a lot of other veggies. I am always finding little moldy brown spots that have to be scraped off. Since I use it mainly in <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/02/imagine-potato-leek-soup.html">soups</a> and casseroles, to me it just makes more sense to buy it frozen. <br />
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Corn - when using corn in casseroles and soups, fresh corn still on the cob has to be scraped off the cob with a sharp knife. If you are in a hurry, it can be a little tricky. Of course, if you want to eat your corn still on the cob, most stores have it frozen that way too. <br />
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<a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/08/yummy-edamame.html">Edamame</a> - usually frozen edamame is still in the pod which means after steaming, you have to snap open the pod to get to the peas. I actually like doing this. <br />
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Green beans - chop both ends and then cut? Maybe not. Frozen, cut green beans are just so much easier. Plus, green beans are easily used in casseroles and soups so if a low prep meal is what you are looking for, frozen green beans are handy.<br />
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Sliced peppers - some of the combo bags have a mix of red, green and yellow peppers. These are great for <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/08/low-calorie-recipe-sesame-asparagus-and.html">stirfries</a>!<br />
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Speaking of vegetables... I recently learned about a program called <a href="http://www.root4kids.com/">Root 4 Kids</a>, which has a mission to inspire families and schools nationwide to eat more real food. To encourage participation and create friendly competition this spring, they are encouraging parents, family members, teachers and administrators to <a href="http://www.root4kids.com/join" rel="nofollow">sign up</a> and commit to helping kids eat more veggies. The Root 4 Kids contest will award the school with the most sign-ups by May 31, 2011 with its choice of a Farm to School program or a school garden, which I think is pretty darn cool, and worth learning more about.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
JulietElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540175839494623402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737030521028691992.post-3351924557469594352011-04-18T20:56:00.000-07:002011-04-18T20:56:13.046-07:00Fage Total 2% Greek Yogurt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kg4l9PMVZfc/TZf8hBb-1cI/AAAAAAAABbY/uq6Ahdt0REs/s1600/fage+cherry.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="fage cherry" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kg4l9PMVZfc/TZf8hBb-1cI/AAAAAAAABbY/uq6Ahdt0REs/s1600/fage+cherry.jpg" /></a></div>I love yogurt! It is healthy and great for dieting. And there are so many different yogurt options out there to choose from. I posted quite some time ago about nonfat <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/06/i-love-fage-yogurt-you-will-too.html">Fage Yogurt</a>, which is a thick and creamy yogurt that I absolutely love. If you haven't tried it, you really should. It may seriously change the way you feel about yogurt, and I'm not just saying that.<br />
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I recently tried Fage Total 2% (so low fat not non fat) with cherry flavor (which comes in its own little cup on the side). It is party of a low fat line up that includes other equally yummy flavors, including strawberry, peach, blueberry, and honey (which is divine), as well as plain which is great in <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/06/banana-smoothies-are-delicious.html">smoothies</a>.<br />
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These fun yogurt cups come with a packet of individual <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/06/yummy-dried-fruit.html">fruit</a> (or honey) that you blend into the yogurt yourself, which makes the whole thing take on this fresh taste that is unbelievably delicious and rich. A big 5.3 ounce serving of my favorite flavor (cherry) is 140 calories. All of the fruit flavors are 140 calories, with the exception of blueberry and plain, which weighs in at just 130 calories. The honey variety, although higher in calories (180) than the others, is delicious. I just don't eat all the honey (the portion is huge, and it is very sweet and filling). The fruit flavors are 4 <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/12/weight-watchers-new-points-plus-program_04.html">weight watchers points plus points</a>. They make a perfect breakfast or snack. <br />
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Enjoy!<br />
JulietElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540175839494623402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737030521028691992.post-34575187528766031492011-04-16T21:08:00.000-07:002011-04-16T21:27:23.262-07:00Weight Watchers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8BqeQFCu46U/TaTwXBySsJI/AAAAAAAAAFk/8GClF360wmA/s1600/calculator.jpeg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="weight watchers points plus calculator" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8BqeQFCu46U/TaTwXBySsJI/AAAAAAAAAFk/8GClF360wmA/s1600/calculator.jpeg" /></a></div>It has been a few months that the <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/12/weight-watchers-new-points-plus-program.html">new Weight Watchers Points Plus plan</a> program has been in effect. I'm really enjoying it, and thought I'd share some more details with you about how great the program has been.<br />
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Unlike some diets that tell you to set certain ratios of <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/03/low-carb-or-low-fat-diets.html">carbs</a> vs. <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/09/benefits-of-protein-and-high-protein.html">proteins</a>, or eliminate certain foods all together, the Weight Watchers plan allows each person to make their own choices about what to eat. The main guideline is to stay within a certain points allotment each day. Each person's daily <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/12/weight-watchers-new-points-plus-program_04.html">points</a> allowance is calculated based on height, weight, age and gender. Since you are tallying the number of points you eat throughout the day, there is no need to count calories for everything you eat as well. Also, the formula for calculating points takes into account where the calories are coming from. A 100 calorie food that is high in protein and <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/07/yummy-fiberful-0-ww-point-fruit-bars.html">fiber</a> is more filling than a 100 calorie food with no fiber. In a sense, tallying points is a more effective gauge of what you eat than simply counting calories.<br />
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One thing that I think is really neat is that you can *earn* additional points by exercising. To me, it feels like a double incentive to exercise. You want to exercise to burn more calories and to stay physically fit, and when you do, you are allowed more food while still following the plan. <br />
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Plus, with the recent change, most <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/12/other-healthy-superfruits.html">fruits</a> and <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/08/yummy-ideas-with-vegetable-broth.html">vegetables</a> are considered zero points. So you can eat as much of these as you want without ever exceeding your points allotment. This is really helpful because you never have to feel starved on Weight Watchers.<br />
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Weight Watchers added in a nice perk with the new program: Real Living points. This is an extra cache of 49 points per week that you are allowed to put towards those little splurges that we all want from time to time. So if you have a piece of cake to celebrate a friend's birthday, you don't have to skip lunch or dinner. You just deduct the points from your Real Living total. <br />
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Weight Watchers has so many ways to support dieters, from the weekly group meetings at times that accommodate a variety of schedules to a huge store of online resources. There over 1000 recipes online as well as exercise videos and lots and lots of suggestions about how to stay focused on your goal. The online features are really helpful for people who are traveling and maybe can't get to a meeting. Some people just like to use the eTools throughout the day to make sure they are staying on track.<br />
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I compiled a list of <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/12/weight-watchers-new-points-plus-program_04.html">common questions</a> about the new program back in December when it was just rolling out. More recently I updated some of the <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/03/weight-watchers-points-plus-recipes.html">low calorie points plus recipes</a> and <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/04/ww-points-plus-sandwich-ideas.html">sandwich recipes</a> on this site with the points values for Weight Watchers new program. Also, whether you are new to Weight Watchers or new to dieting in general, you might get some helpful shopping ideas from this <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/03/points-plus-grocery-list-for-weight.html">starter grocery list</a>.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540175839494623402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737030521028691992.post-11462827085737645852011-04-14T21:23:00.000-07:002011-04-14T21:23:08.851-07:00WestSoy Unsweetened Soy Milk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Eb8yNfY5tkM/TXsSeY4B9JI/AAAAAAAABag/X74u0VAwLSA/s1600/unsweetened+soy+milk.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="westsoy unsweetened soy milk" border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Eb8yNfY5tkM/TXsSeY4B9JI/AAAAAAAABag/X74u0VAwLSA/s1600/unsweetened+soy+milk.jpg" /></a></div>You may have enjoyed my posts in the past about drinking and using <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/.../delicious-low-calorie-coconut-milk-ice.html">coconut milk</a> or <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/.../refrigerated-almond-milk-from-almond.html">almond milk</a> in recipes – either of which is a great choice for calorie counters as well as those who want to live a more healthy lifestyle. Soy milk is an additional one of my staples, and while I sometimes enjoy the flavored and sweetened versions that are on the market, sometimes I just want unsweetened soy milk – which is when I drink WestSoy’s Organic Unsweetened Soy Milk. One thing that I like about this product is that there are only two ingredients in its makeup – filtered water and whole organic soybeans. <br />
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An eight ounce cup of WestSoy’s Organic Unsweetened Soy Milk has ninety little calories, four grams of dietary fiber, nine grams of protein, no cholesterol, and no trans-fats, and 2 <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/12/weight-watchers-new-points-plus-program.html">weight watchers points plus points</a>. Pretty good, huh?<br />
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<a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/04/west-soy-tempeh.html">Soy</a> is a magical food. Soy milk, in particular, is believed to help in lowering one's cholesterol and staving off heart disease. This has been a recognized since the mid-nineties when soy milk drinkers in a research study were shown to reduce their total cholesterol and LDL “bad” cholesterol as well as their triglyceride and preserving HDL “good” cholesterol levels. Soy is although thought to help bones stay strong and is used in some countries as a treatment for osteoporosis<br />
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I drink unsweetened soy milk from time to time, but I also like to use it when whipping up a <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/06/banana-smoothies-are-delicious.html">low-cal smoothie</a>. WestSoy also offers unsweetened soy milk in unsweetened vanilla and unsweetened chocolate flavors, and is available in a lot of natural food stores, including Whole Foods. You can bone up on your soy intake by drinking soy milk – and you can also get soy from soy powder, soy <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/02/voskos-greek-yogurt.html">yogurt</a>, many breakfast <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/02/kashi-mighty-bites-cereal.html">cereals</a>, <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/08/vegetarian-tofu-with-peanut-ginger.html">tofu</a>, <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/04/west-soy-tempeh.html">tempeh</a>, and <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/08/soy-nuts-vs-peanuts.html">soy nuts</a>. <br />
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Enjoy!<br />
JulietElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540175839494623402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737030521028691992.post-28356625396442169632011-04-12T22:03:00.000-07:002011-04-12T22:03:33.718-07:00Not In the Mood for Water? Drink Tea Instead!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pZBA7wzdPxg/TaE1U2Uy-TI/AAAAAAAABbk/4fPo23DVVQo/s1600/herbal+tea+infusor.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="herbal tea infusor" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pZBA7wzdPxg/TaE1U2Uy-TI/AAAAAAAABbk/4fPo23DVVQo/s1600/herbal+tea+infusor.jpg" /></a></div>I’m a big tea drinker. I love tea. I love the smell of tea and many of the flavors of tea that are on the market. And I love it both hot and iced. I rarely use tea bag tea, but instead opt for loose leaf tea. I like whole, loose tea leaves because they still contain their essential oils. The tea "dust" that is packaged in tea bags just doesn’t compare for me, albeit very convenient. Tea leaf is invariably of higher quality. And since you get more of the essential oils, you also get more superior flavor. One taste of fresh tea made from loose leaves will be all of the incentive you need to ditch <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/08/sweet-herbal-tea-0-ww-points.html">tea bags</a> forever. Maybe, anyway! Luckily it isn’t all that much more complicated to brew tea from tea leaves than it is to make it using tea bags. And, the few extra steps are definitely worth it! <br />
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I love different teas, but since there are thousands of different varieties and I have definitely not tried them all, I will stick with what I know and recommend a few of my favorites to you. I’ve always thought it was funny that there is just one tea plant but there are so many different teas – just like there are different grapes that are used to make different wines. But you should always experiment with tea and don’t be afraid to try ones that you haven’t sampled before.<br />
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The four main types of tea are <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lipton-Black-Loose-pound-Boxes/dp/B000EM6PC6?ie=UTF8&tag=yumdiefoo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">black tea</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Davidsons-Tea-Gunpowder-Green-16-Ounce/dp/B000SATIFA?ie=UTF8&tag=yumdiefoo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">green tea</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Celestial-Seasonings-White-Imperial-20-Count/dp/B000E63LQA?ie=UTF8&tag=yumdiefoo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">white tea</a>, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Prince-Peace-Tea-Oolong-100-Count/dp/B0010BQB6A?ie=UTF8&tag=yumdiefoo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">oolong tea</a> (which some people believe aids in weight loss). Black teas have about ½ the caffeine as coffee, and oolong teas have around 1/4th the caffeine that is found in coffee. Green tea has about 1/3rd the caffeine. If you’re looking to reduce the caffeine that you take in, go for white tea or green tea, both of which, by the way, have tons of health benefits, too. Green tea has a <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/11/wheatgrass-juice.html">grass</a>-like taste (no, I’ve never tasted grass but that’s the best way to describe it). I also enjoy a cup or English tea with a spot of almond milk from time to time.<br />
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My favorite teas are black teas that are <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002I7FRPG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yumdiefoo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002I7FRPG" rel="nofollow">infused</a> with <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/12/other-healthy-superfruits.html">fruit</a> or flower blossoms. I love black tea with lemon, ginger, or jasmine. You may remember that I mentioned my love of <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/08/sweet-herbal-tea-0-ww-points.html">Good Earth’s Sweet and Spicy Herbal Tea</a> before, and I think it is worth mentioning again to those who might have missed that post. Like I told you then, this tea is among the yummiest and sweetest unsweetened teas that I’ve ever had, and I love its <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/01/warm-cinnamon-apples.html">cinnamon</a> taste.<br />
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If you don’t prefer hot tea, you can always brew your own tea and then serve it on ice. We do this in our house all the time during the warmer months and sometimes just for a cool beverage to have over dinner, year round. <br />
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Enjoy!<br />
JulietElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540175839494623402noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737030521028691992.post-44975020677097387922011-04-11T20:34:00.000-07:002011-04-11T20:34:36.247-07:00West Soy Tempeh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R7M1zYK083E/TZFfe9qD3AI/AAAAAAAAAFU/P8zk5_r4fSc/s1600/tempeh.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="west soy tempeh" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R7M1zYK083E/TZFfe9qD3AI/AAAAAAAAAFU/P8zk5_r4fSc/s1600/tempeh.jpg" /></a></div>I like to think of tempeh as tofu's lesser known sister. Made from pressed soybeans and sometimes rice or other grains, it is a fermented food which makes it more digestible than <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/08/vegetarian-tofu-with-peanut-ginger.html">tofu</a>. It is fairly high in <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/09/benefits-of-protein-and-high-protein.html">protein</a> at 12 g per 2 oz. serving. <br />
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Tempeh is usually sold in 8 oz. slabs that can be cut into chunks or patties. Whole Foods and most other health food stores carry it. While there is some confusion about whether <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/08/yummy-edamame.html">soy</a> products are good for us or not, it is generally agreed that fermented soy products are better than many of the other soy items out there such as those containing soy protein isolates.<br />
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There is also a theory that fermented foods in general are very beneficial to health, from miso and tempeh to kimchi, apple cider vinegar and other things. You can read about it all over the web if you want to know more, or email me if you want me to dedicate another posting to it. <br />
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I like tempeh because it is a good vegetarian protein. It is great sauteed in a little toasted sesame oil and added to stirfries or <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/01/la-tortilla-factory-smart-and-delicious.html">veggie wraps</a>. Some people even use grilled tempeh to make a vegetarian version of the New York deli favorite: The Rueben.<br />
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Here is a recipe for a vegetarian sandwich filler, similar to tuna salad or chicken salad. This recipe is taken from a fascinating book called "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hip-Chicks-Guide-Macrobiotics-Philosophy/dp/1583332057?ie=UTF8&tag=yumdiefoo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Hip Chick's Guide to Macrobiotics</a>" by Jessica Porter. She calls this recipe "Mock Tuna" but many health food stores that sell prepared foods have similar dishes called Tempeh Salad or Un-chicken Salad. Also, I should mention that this recipe is best made ahead of time for maximum flavor.<br />
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1 8-ounce package tempeh<br />
1 Tb. umeboshi vinegar<br />
1/3 cup Tofu Mayonaise (post on this coming soon!)<br />
black pepper to taste<br />
1 celery stalk<br />
1/4 red onion, finely diced<br />
optional <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/07/adding-herbs-to-your-recipes.html">herbs and spices</a> of your choosing--cumin, curry, paprika, saffron, etc.<br />
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Steam or boil your tempeh for 20 minutes. Break apart with a fork until you get smaller than bite-sized pieces. Sprinkle umeboshi vinegar onto the tempeh, mashing it in with a fork until you get a tuna-fishy saltiness. Mix tofu mayonnaise, pepper and any other spices you enjoy. Mash into tempeh. Add vegetables. Serve or refrigerate. Serves 4. <br />
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For <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/03/silken-tofu.html">tofu</a> mayonnaise you can make your own using a recipe on the web or you can try Nasoya's fat-free brand. Umeboshi vinegar is a specialty salty vinegar carried by Whole Foods and many other natural food stores. But you can substitute with an equal amount of red wine vinegar and a little salt or soy sauce. <br />
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When I have made this tempeh salad, I usually just eat it by itself, but you can also make it into a sandwich if you want something more filling. By itself using the Nasoya fat-free nayonnaise, one serving is 4 <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/12/weight-watchers-new-points-plus-program.html">weight watchers points plus points</a>, 5 g of fat, 9 g carbs, 2 g fiber and 130 calories.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
JulietElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540175839494623402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737030521028691992.post-82694105295133185572011-04-09T21:24:00.000-07:002011-04-09T21:24:16.366-07:00Low Calorie Pizza - 4 Points Plus Points<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zd6fTpEdgJw/TZvjkyY3zjI/AAAAAAAAAFg/p2SJ89hoLow/s1600/365+Whole+Foods+Veggie+Pizza.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="low calorie pizza" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zd6fTpEdgJw/TZvjkyY3zjI/AAAAAAAAAFg/p2SJ89hoLow/s1600/365+Whole+Foods+Veggie+Pizza.jpg" /></a></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zd6fTpEdgJw/TZvjkyY3zjI/AAAAAAAAAFg/p2SJ89hoLow/s1600/365+Whole+Foods+Veggie+Pizza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
I don't eat roasted veggies often enough, which is a shame since roasting <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/09/fruit-and-vegetable-basket-delivery.html">vegetables </a>really intensifies their flavor, making them delicious (and more sweet). It seems you really don't need to add much of anything to roasted veggies to make them taste good.<br />
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So when a fabulous reader (named Claire, thank you!) pointed me towards Whole Foods' new Roasted Veggie Pizza, I was pretty excited to try it. This pizza has no <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/08/low-calorie-babybel-cheese-cooking-with.html">cheese</a>, which many people consider essential on pizza. But, that has never bothered me, so I decided to give it a try. I'm glad I did!<br />
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The combination of seven roasted veggies give the pizza a lot of flavor. And seven different vegetables on a personal size pizza is pretty remarkable too! They include: red and yellow peppers, yellow squash, zucchini, poblano peppers, artichokes and red onions. The surface of the pizza is pretty much covered in vegetables, as you can see in the picture. <br />
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If you can't live without the cheese, I would recommend adding a soft <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/02/delicious-goat-cheese-low-calorie-goat.html">goat cheese</a>, or browning some crumbled feta on top in your oven. If you find that you prefer pizza with goat cheese or feta instead of mozzarella (which I do), remember you can order it this way in a restaurant too, saving a bunch of calories even when dining out. <br />
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And here is the most amazing part -- each pizza is one serving and has an unbelievable 150 calories and is 4 <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/12/weight-watchers-new-points-plus-program.html">weight watchers points plus points points</a>. If you choose to add cheese, 1 oz. of soft goat cheese brings it up to 250 calories, or 7 weight watchers <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/12/weight-watchers-new-points-plus-program.html">points plus</a> points. Fat-free <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/03/horizon-organic-string-cheese-say.html">mozzarella</a> works too, at 195 calories, and 5 weight watchers points plus points points. As far as other nutritional information, each pizza has 2 g fat, 29g carbohydrates, 5 g fiber and 6 g protein. <br />
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If you are reading this posting in sadness because you don't have a whole foods nearby, have no fear. Check out this post on delicious <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/08/if-you-love-pizza-crust.html">pizza pretzels</a>, this information on <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/09/low-calorie-pizza-munchees.html">pizza munchees</a>, and this recipe for <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/09/low-calorie-lunch-with-english-muffins.html">making your own pizzas on english muffins at home</a>. <br />
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Thanks again to my reader Claire for pointing me towards this pizza. I always appreciate when people email in with great finds.I highly recommending adding this to anyone's <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/03/points-plus-grocery-list-for-weight.html">low calorie grocery list</a>.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
JulietElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540175839494623402noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737030521028691992.post-67324244479532210972011-04-05T20:51:00.000-07:002011-04-05T20:51:38.730-07:00Chobani Yogurt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iW4DiEvyUiQ/TWaPI92hRCI/AAAAAAAAAAY/KQSB8u0hp5k/s1600/Chobani.jpeg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="chobani yogurt" border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iW4DiEvyUiQ/TWaPI92hRCI/AAAAAAAAAAY/KQSB8u0hp5k/s200/Chobani.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>It is becoming more commonly known that <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/08/attune-probiotic-chocolate-bars.html">probiotics</a> (found in yogurt) are really important to our overall health because they improve digestion. And our digestive health has a big effect on our overall immune health. <br />
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Chobani yogurt is Greek style yogurt (like <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/06/i-love-fage-yogurt-you-will-too.html">Fage</a>). If you've tried Greek yogurt you have probably noticed it has a much creamier texture than regular yogurt. Much more satisfying in my view. I was a little curious about why Greek yogurt is so thick and creamy (and yet so low fat) so I took a peek at Chobani's website. They explain that the thick, creamy texture is the result of a "centuries-old straining technique" to reduce liquid. No yucky thickening agents added, which is a plus in my book. <br />
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As for flavors, they come in low fat, non fat, and a <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/">low calorie diet</a> sized cup called Chobani champions. <br />
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The <i>low fat</i> flavors (4 <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/12/weight-watchers-new-points-plus-program.html">weight watchers points plus points</a>) include mango, plain, pineapple, and strawberry banana, and the <i>non fat</i> flavors (also 4 weight watchers points plus points) include black cherry, lemon, plain, blueberry, honey, raspberry, peach, pomegranate, strawberry, and vanilla.<br />
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There are also two <i>Chobani Champion</i> flavors (at 100 calories each, and only 2 weight watchers points plus points) in very berry flavor and honey nana, both of which I've tried and can say are super delicious. <br />
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Some of the fruity flavors (like pineapple and <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/11/lydias-organic-tropical-mango-bar.html">mango</a>) have real chunks of fruit in them vs. the sugary syrups that accompany many of the other greek yogurts. I love this! And, most of the flavors are very high in protein, around double of most traditional yogurts, so if you are searching for a way to get more protein into your diet without eating meats, Chobani may be a good choice for you.<br />
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If you want a little extra crunch in your yogurt, you can sprinkle some <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/09/another-low-calorie-granola.html">low calorie granola</a> or <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/03/cascadian-farm-cinnamon-crunch-cereal.html">cereal</a> in your yogurt cup, making it a perfect <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/07/another-yummy-breakfast-or-snack.html">low calorie breakfast</a> or <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/06/yummy-healthier-low-calorie-snack-list.html">snack</a>. <br />
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Enjoy!<br />
JulietElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540175839494623402noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737030521028691992.post-29423218732174584692011-04-04T21:10:00.000-07:002011-04-04T21:10:23.159-07:00Overcoming Emotional Eating<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-IF6wAdE3vDQ/TW0z0A9rmPI/AAAAAAAAABA/Oc9WcfKVL8A/s1600/chocolate_peanut_butter_candy.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="peanut butter cup" border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-IF6wAdE3vDQ/TW0z0A9rmPI/AAAAAAAAABA/Oc9WcfKVL8A/s1600/chocolate_peanut_butter_candy.jpg" /></a></div>Have you ever noticed that sometimes thinking about a stressful conversation makes you want to reach for a calorie rich snack? Often you probably don't even notice the connection between your feelings of stress and your desire for junk food.<br />
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Many people struggle with emotional eating. We sometimes tell ourselves that a little treat can make us feel better. Maybe we even reward our family members with sweets to cheer them up. A little <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/search/label/low%20calorie%20chocolate">indulgence</a> is good for everyone, we believe. But if we do it too often we may unconsciously end up with long-term pattern of eating unhealthy foods to lift our moods or numb out a little. <br />
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What can we do to change these habits? I came across a couple of interesting bits of information which I thought might be helpful to others.<br />
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Dopamine is the "feel good" hormone produced by the brain when we experience positive emotions. The more positive moods we have, the less likely we are to resort to emotional eating. It turns out that overeating high-calorie foods is one of the things that leads to greater dopamine production! Positive things that cause our brains to produce dopamine are positive social interaction and emotional fulfillment. So, if we can create positive feelings regularly, we may be less likely to crave high-calorie foods.<br />
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Brendan Brazier, author of "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thrive-Nutrition-Optimal-Performance-Sports/dp/0738212547?ie=UTF8&tag=yumdiefoo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life,</a>" shared an interesting discovery about willpower. He says we usually think of will power as something we either have or do not have. But studies show that will power can be increased, or maybe recharged is a better word. He talked about a study which showed that a group of students who were given a stressful task and then asked to resist sugary snacks showed significantly less will power than another group of students who were assigned a pleasant relaxing task and given the same sugary snack temptations. The ones who had been in the stressful situation had very little will power to resist temptation. The ones who had just finished a pleasurable outing had very little difficulty resisting. <br />
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The study concludes that when we are under too much stress, our will power becomes depleted. If we can find ways to relieve the stress, whether it is rest and relaxation or bigger life changes, we will have more will power available to improve our diets. At least when you do snack, there things like <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008_11_01_archive.html">tropical mango bars</a>, <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/01/snacktrition-fruit-and-nut-mix.html">fruit and nut mixes</a>, <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/10/apples-healthy-eating.html">fresh fruit</a>, and <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2009/03/just-blueberries-just-bananas-just.html">dried fruits and veggies</a><br />
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What do you think about this? Have you observed the same pattern in your life?<br />
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JulietElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540175839494623402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737030521028691992.post-80397022810650398242011-04-02T21:12:00.000-07:002011-04-02T21:23:11.650-07:00WW Points Plus Sandwich IdeasLast week I posted a starter <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/03/points-plus-grocery-list-for-weight.html">grocery list for the weight watchers points plus program</a> along with a guide to some <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/03/weight-watchers-points-plus-recipes.html">weight watcher points plus recipes</a>. Today I thought I'd so something similar by going over some sandwich ideas that would be good for the <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/12/weight-watchers-new-points-plus-program.html">weight watchers new plan</a>. You may or may not realize that there are a lot of ways to pull together a low calorie sandwich.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vTmOnUhGMcU/TYlh8ZLcTMI/AAAAAAAAAFA/c3xUCwC6aGg/s1600/yummy+tomato+spinach+rolls.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tomato spinach rolls" border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vTmOnUhGMcU/TYlh8ZLcTMI/AAAAAAAAAFA/c3xUCwC6aGg/s1600/yummy+tomato+spinach+rolls.jpg" /></a></div><a href="http://users/terri/Desktop/Yummydiet%20foods.com/healthy-low-calorie-sandwich-ideas.html">Yummy Tomato Spinach Rolls</a><br />
These are as interesting as they are tasty. If your co-workers see you eating a tomato spinach roll, they might think you are eating take-out since these colorful rolls look so of fancy. They are actually fairly easy to make and with fat-free cream cheese, and only 88 calories, they are only 3 WW points each. That has to be one of the most <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/10/healthy-low-calorie-sandwich-ideas.html">low-calorie sandwiches around</a>!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-sO7BvvtOd3g/TYliQbKP49I/AAAAAAAAAFI/IkTAY7tSbzs/s1600/grilled+cheese.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="grilled cheese sandwich" border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-sO7BvvtOd3g/TYliQbKP49I/AAAAAAAAAFI/IkTAY7tSbzs/s1600/grilled+cheese.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_3ee4Uy4cPk/TYliG3rstDI/AAAAAAAAAFE/HC0SPAJ2aO8/s1600/boca+chicken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/07/low-calorie-grilled-cheese-sandwich.html">Low Calorie Grilled Cheese Sandwich</a><br />
I posted about how I make a low-fat grilled sandwich a while ago. You can make it even more interesting by choosing from an unbelievable 8 flavors of super delicious <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/11/delicious-fat-free-cheese.html">fat free cheese</a>. Weigh out a 1 oz. portion of cheese and sprinkle over the bread. If using a microwave, the cheese will only need about 20 seconds to melt. Once the <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/11/delicious-fat-free-cheese.html">cheese</a> is melted, add some fresh sliced tomato, grilled peppers or onions to make it even more delicious. A cheese andwich comes out to about 155 calories and 3-5 WW point, depending on exactly how you make it. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_3ee4Uy4cPk/TYliG3rstDI/AAAAAAAAAFE/HC0SPAJ2aO8/s1600/boca+chicken.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="boca chicken" border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_3ee4Uy4cPk/TYliG3rstDI/AAAAAAAAAFE/HC0SPAJ2aO8/s1600/boca+chicken.jpg" /></a></div><a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/09/low-calorie-lunch-with-english-muffins.html">Chicken Sandwich or Chicken Burger</a><br />
When you really don't want to think too much, it is nice to be able to pull out a burger, or for more zest, a spicy chicken burger <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/08/boca-spicy-chicken-chikn-patties.html">spicy chicken burger</a>. These Boca chicken patties are vegetarian but you could also used leftover grilled chicken. I like using <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/06/you-can-eat-bread-on-diet.html">flax seed bread</a> or an <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/09/low-calorie-lunch-with-english-muffins.html">english muffin</a>. Top with fat-free <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/09/jarlsberg-low-calorie-cheese-you-can.html">cheese</a> and melt. At the end of cooking your burger or give it a few seconds in the microwave for pre-cooked chicken. Using the flax seed bread and the boca chicken burger, the sandwich comes out to 260 calories and 7 WW points. With the same bread and 3 oz. grilled chicken breast, it is 240 calories, or 6 WW points.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
JulietElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540175839494623402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737030521028691992.post-20332192924418048112011-03-29T21:20:00.000-07:002011-03-29T21:20:06.382-07:00Cascadian Farm Cinnamon Crunch Cereal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ooyeByAEJIg/TY-6F3dQpnI/AAAAAAAABbQ/CXhcW2mIF8I/s1600/cinnamon+crunch+cereal.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="low calorie cinnamon crunch cereal" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ooyeByAEJIg/TY-6F3dQpnI/AAAAAAAABbQ/CXhcW2mIF8I/s1600/cinnamon+crunch+cereal.jpg" /></a></div>You’ve got to admit, if you like <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/07/another-yummy-breakfast-or-snack.html">cereal</a> – it makes a good meal nearly any time of the day. That’s why I like to have a variety of healthy cereals on hand. I have posted before about a favorite cereal called<a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/10/cascadian-farm-fruitful-os-cereal.html"> Fruitful O’s</a> – sort of like the organic and good-for-you version of Fruit Loops. I have since that time found another cereal from the same company that is definitely worth trying – called Cinnamon Crunch cereal. If you like Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, you will *love* this cereal. Less sugar and calories, and all of the taste. <br />
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Cascade Farm Cinnamon Crunch is totally organic and oh-so yummy – whole grains are made into squares and then sprinkled lightly with sugar and cinnamon. Yummy! An entire cupful of this delicious cereal is just 110 calories (3 <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/12/weight-watchers-new-points-plus-program.html">weight watchers points plus points</a>) so it gets a big two thumbs up there. It also has no saturated fat or trans-fats and no cholesterol while providing three grams of dietary fiber and two grams of protein. I was also surprised to see that Cinnamon Crunch also gives me twenty-five percent – a full 1/4th of the iron that I need each day.<br />
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I recommend eating this cereal with <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/08/low-calorie-almond-milk-1-weight.html">almond milk</a> and <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/02/frozen-blueberries.html">frozen blueberries</a> for a delicious, well balanced breakfast.<br />
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You can buy Cinnamon Crunch at several super markets including Whole Foods, and if you can't find it near home, you can purchase it <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cascadian-Organic-Cinnamon-Crunch-10-3-Ounce/dp/B002866FCG?ie=UTF8&tag=yumdiefoo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">online at Amazon</a>. <br />
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Enjoy!<br />
JulietElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540175839494623402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737030521028691992.post-91116767653371909872011-03-28T21:25:00.000-07:002011-03-28T21:25:57.829-07:00Thinking About Nutrient Density<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1wa3beM0yCM/SeKJtVbTXfI/AAAAAAAABNs/6lXbxJTz9cw/s1600/grapes.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="grapes" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1wa3beM0yCM/SeKJtVbTXfI/AAAAAAAABNs/6lXbxJTz9cw/s1600/grapes.jpg" /></a></div>Recently, I noticed that Whole Foods had put up several signs in the produce department about nutrient density. The concept peaked my interest, so I decided to learn more. Here is what I learned...<br />
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Some nutritional experts are suggesting that we pay less attention to dieting in terms of calorie restriction, fat content, etc. and instead choose foods based on nutrient density. For instance, green vegetables almost always have extremely high nutritional value and the lowest number of calories per pound, followed by <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2010/09/fruit-and-vegetable-basket-delivery.html">fruits</a>. <br />
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Dr. Joel Fuhrman, author of "Eat to Live," points out that <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2011/02/organic-foods-worth-buying.html">fresh produce</a> almost always yields the most nutrition per calorie. He devised a scoring system for foods based on their nutrient density per calorie. You won't be surprised to hear that leafy <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/12/green-superfood.html">greens</a> like kale, collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens and watercress all scored extremely high. Bok choy, spinach, brussel sprouts, radish, agugula and cabbage are close behind. Soda and white sugar have virtually no nutrients per calorie, as you would expect. <br />
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He says that if we eat foods that are nutrient dense, that is, with a high ratio of vitamins and minerals, we can eat as much as we want without ever gaining weight. In fact, most people will lose weight while eating as much as they wish. If we choose only nutrient-dense foods and eat to the point of feeling full, there will be no need to restrict the quantity of food we eat to maintain weight.<br />
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According to Dr. Fuhrman, the reason many people struggle with weight is because some of their food is calorie rich and nutrient poor, maybe even nutritionally negative. While we know that glazed donuts are high in calories and low in nutrients, we may not fully realize that the lack of nutrients will leave us hungry for more. So in a half hour or so, we want something else. <br />
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One reason it can be difficult to eat purely <a href="http://www.yummydietfood.com/2008/11/avocado-smoothie-fun.html">whole foods</a> is because consumption of foods high in salt and other extremely stimulating flavor additives has conditioned our taste buds to desire these very intense flavors. Over time, pure whole foods no longer taste delicious and satisfying. We often feel they are dull. To overcome this perception, Fuhrman suggests we try a new food up to 15 times to allow our taste buds to adapt to it. It may take that long to notice the more subtle flavors in fresh vegetables. He argues that it is a form of addiction to processed foods and animal foods which prevents people from eating a nutrient-dense diet.<br />
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In a similar vein, Kevin Trudeau, of the Natural Cures series of books, says many packaged foods contain 'excitotoxins' or chemical additives that overstimulate our taste buds so that we desire more and more exciting flavors in food and we are less and less satisfied with ordinary unprocessed foods. These excitotoxins will not be listed as ingredients on the label. The manufacturers will hide them under broad categories such as 'flavors' or 'spices'. It is for this reason, that Trudeau advises his readers to only buy snack foods from health food stores since these products will have fewer additives and stimulants.<br />
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Nutrient dense eating pays dividends not only in weight loss but also in increased energy, alertness, resilience, allergic resistance, stronger immunity to colds, etc. The next time I find myself staring at the pastry case contemplating a treat to go with my beverage, I will take a moment to consider the nutrient density of the coffee cakes and brownies.<br />
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Hope you found this interesting and useful.<br />
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JulietElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540175839494623402noreply@blogger.com1