Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so starting off on the right foot will help you make better choices and maintain a healthy diet. It's important to eat breakfast shortly after waking up in the morning to boot your metabolism into gear after a night of feasting on stores. Your body needs energy to run for the entire day.
When choosing what to consume, try eating protein lower in saturated fat, high in fiber and nutrients, whole grains, and low fat or non-fat dairy/soy. Real Simple shares some of their healthy breakfast ideas on their website.
This morning I made flour less, healthy pancakes in about two minutes flat.
RECIPE
Makes 1 Batch
1 Ripe Banana
2 Whole Eggs
Cinnamon
Vanilla
Mix all ingredients together. Cook in griddle or in a pan for about 2 minutes on each side.
Feel free to add blueberries or top with fresh fruit.
I have such a great passion for Mexican cuisine and it's usage of fresh and delicious ingredients. About a year ago while visiting Manhatten, I stumbled upon a Mexican Restaurant by the name of La Palapa in Greenwich Village. The food was beyond amazing. I enjoyed it so much I bought their cookbook they happened to sell in the restaurant, Antojitos. Most of the recipes are very labor intensive but worth the time and effort. The recipes aren't always the healthiest of options, however I like to make them for special occassions.
Recently, I cooked Adobo-rubbed pork ribs for a family birthday. I have some photographs of the process which I will share with you in this slide show.
Pork Ribs in a Mulato Chile Adobo Costillitas al Adobo de Chile Mulato
Serves 6
ADOBO
12 Mulato Chiles, seeded and membranes removed (I used pasilla peppers because I had trouble finding mulatos around here)
1 Poblano Chile, seeded and membranes removed
1/2 Onion, chopped
2 Plum Tomatoes
1/4 cup corn oil
1 cup Light Brown Sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup Olive Oil
1/4 Sherry Vinegar
1 tbsp Kosher Salt
1 tsp Black Pepper
2 Bay Leaves, or Avocado Leaves
3 pounds Baby Back Pork Ribs
2 cups Mexican Beer, Negra Modelo or Tecate
6 Black Peppercorns
2 Bay Leaves
2 sprigs Epazote or Flat Leaf Parsley
2 tbsp Kosher Salt
1 tsp Dried Thyme, or 1 tbsp Fresh Thyme
1/2 cup Cilantro
To make the adobo, in a small bowl, combine the mulato chiles with hot water to cover and let stand for about 20 minutes to soften. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup of the soaking water.
Transfer the mulato chiles to a blender, add the poblano chile and the 1/2 cup reserved water, and process until smooth. Add the onion and tomatoes and process until smooth and pastelike.
In a saute pan, heat the corn oil over medium heat. Add the chile paste and cook, stirring constantly, for about 5 minutes, or until it is uniformly dark. Add the brown sugar, olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper, stir well, and heat, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute, or until uniformly hot. Remove from the heat, transfer to a nonreactive bowl, add the bay leaves, stir gently, and let cool. (You will not need all of the adobo. Store the remainder in a tightly lidded container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, and use for slathering over meats for grilling or as a salsa.)
To prepare the ribs, cut the racks into groups of 3 to 5 ribs, to make it easier to fit them into a pot. In a large stockpot, combine the ribs, beer, peppercorns, bay leaves, epazote, salt, thyme, and water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat, lower the heat to a steady simmer, and cook, uncovered, for about 45 minutes, or until the meat is partially cooked and the juices run clear when the meat is pierced with a knife tip. Remove the ribs from the pot and pat dry with paper towels. Discard the cooking liquid.
Preheat the oven to 350. Heat a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches to avoid crowding, add the ribs and cook for about 3 minutes on each side, or until browned.
Transfer to a roasting pan and brush on both sides with some of the adobo. Roast, basting every 10 minutes with the pan juices, for about 1 hours, or until cooked through and tender.
Transfer to a platter, garnish with the cilantro, and serve right away.
Going out to eat does not always have to break the calorie and fat budget for the day. There are many secrets dieters all around should know before overindulging when they dine at a restaurant.
- Always ask the server to have the kitchen put the sauce or dressing on the side. Sauces and dressing are high in fat and calories. Instead of cutting out all sauce, ask for a side dish so you can enjoy a small amount without overdoing it.
- Swap out calorically high sides for lighter options. For example, instead of ordering a loaded baked potato, ask the server to substitute for a vegetable (hold the butter) or house salad (dressing on the side).
- Be wary of certain descriptors when reading the menu. Words to avoid are crunchy, crispy, creamy, buttery, pan-fried, and the list goes on.
- Order a salad (dressing on the side) or light soup before your meal. This will give digestion a jump start before your meal comes. Restaurant meals are typically larger in portion size than is necessary, so you won't be hungry enough to finish the entire meal.
- Pack up half of your meal before you start eating so you don't finish the entire plate.
- Don't be afraid to ask the server for whatever it is you would like.
For further reading on how to combat international menus, visit Cooking Light's Menu Navigator.
We all make New Year's Resolutions, year after year, swearing we will eat better, exercise more, or live healthier lifestyles after indulging in the holidays. However, according to an article on the Forbes website, just a mere 8% actually achieve their New Year's Resolutions. Don't fall off the back of the wagon like a majority of people do. Here I will provide some tips on how to stay on track and become a healthier and happier you!
First things first, make your resolution realistic. Don't make a drastic change because you will be less likely to stick with it. Once you have chosen your resolution, make sure to set goals for yourself, both short term and long term. For example, you decide you want to lose weight. Your short term goal can be to lose 5 pounds by the end of January and your long term goal can be to lose 15 pounds. By setting goals such as this, you have checkpoints to look forward to and you have a better chance of accomplishing your goals.
Becoming a healthier individual takes time to do. You have to make your lifestyle healthy in order to become healthier. Simply changing your diet or just going to the gym will not be as beneficial as if you changed your lifestyle. Eating a well balanced diet, exercising, and getting enough rest are good ways to begin. Make meal plans for the week and do one major grocery shopping. By doing this, you are forced to stick to your healthy eating. Check out local gyms to see if they are offering any promotions for the New Year. There are also many free fitness apps for the smartphone-using population, in which you can work out in the comfort of your home. One free app I thoroughly enjoy is called Nike Training Club.
Don't beat yourself up if you get off track, just hop right back on the wagon!! Changes take time getting used to. So you have a bad eating day, there is always tomorrow to start over again.
And don't forget!!!!
It's never too late to make resolution! You don't have to wait until January 1st to change yourself for the better. Start on a Monday if you feel the need to make a change.
Just a little humor to end this post. Happy New Year! :)
Getting through the holidays without gaining weight can be difficult, especially with all the delicious temptations we are faced with! (My weakness being the plethora of sweets) However, there are strategies to save you, or at least guide you in the right direction while attending holiday parties, family gatherings, and the like.
First and foremost, eat before you go to a gathering!! Often times, we deprive ourselves all day when we plan on eating unhealthy later in the day. This leads to overindulgence when the food is laid out. However, with a full belly, you will be less like to overindulge on junk. Follow this link for more information: Real Simple's Tips on Eating Before a Party
Another tip to follow for healthy holiday eating is bring your own food whenever possible. By doing this, you know exactly what ingredients were used, reducing your consumption of calories. Perhaps you can create a healthy option to bring as a munchy.
Try these:
Christmas Tree Crudite Platter
This vegetable Christmas tree platter is made up of broccoli, grape tomatoes, pretzel sticks, cauliflower, and yellow bell pepper. Cut the broccoli and cauliflower into bite-sized pieces and arrange accordingly. Serve it with a healthy version of Ranch Dip. This is festive and healthy!
Shrimp Cocktail
Bring shrimp cocktail served with a healthy cocktail sauce. This is low calorie and high in protein, filling you up without the added calories.
Another tip to follow during the holidays is everything in moderation. Choose your indulgences wisely and use portion control. Don't deprive yourself of Grandma's infamous Christmas cookies! Allow yourself to eat one or two and move on. The more you deprive yourself, the more likely you will be to overindulge at a later time.
A final tip to help you avoid the holiday weight gain is to continue exercising on a regular basis. Exercise not only keeps your heart healthy and the weight off, but also relieves stress that often comes with the holidays. If you don't have time to workout, break it up into 10-15 minute intervals throughout the day. And don't forget, every little bit helps!
But most importantly, enjoy the festivities and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!
