Hungry for Hummus?

I don't know about you, but I just love Hummus. I eat it with crackers, pita chips, raw veggies, and as a spread on sandwiches. It is hearty, tasty and best of all, healthy! My husband likes it but says he wishes it had a different name. Something about the word hummus bothers him (maybe we've seen Zohan too many times!).

Hummus is a very healthy alternative to fat-laden dips. With its protein and heart-healthy olive oil, it really can't be beat.

Here is my recipe for one of my favorites: Cilantro and Lemon Hummus. Make some for a snack or the next time you're having a few guests over. Serve with any type of whole grain cracker or pita chips. Or you can always make your own pita chips (less salt and they taste better). Either way, try the Hummus. You'll be glad you did!

Cilantro and Lemon Hummus


Ingredients:

1 16 oz can of chickpeas or garbanzo beans

1/4 cup liquid from can of chickpeas

3-5 tablespoons lemon juice (depending on taste)

1 1/2 tablespoons tahini (sesame seed paste, can be omitted if you don't have it)

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon cilantro, finely chopped

Preparation:

Drain chickpeas and set aside liquid from can. Combine remaining ingredients in blender or food
processor. Add 1/4 cup of liquid from chickpeas. Blend for 3-5 minutes on low until thoroughly
mixed and smooth.

Place in serving bowl and drizzle very lightly with olive oil. Garnish with extra cilantro (optional). Cover and refrigerate unused portions. Will keep up to a week.

Nutritional  Information

Serving Size 8 ounce 1 tbsp (14g)
Amount per serving:
Calories 23 Calories from Fat 12
Total Fat 1g 2
Saturated Fat 0g 
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 53mg 
Total Carbohydrates 2g
Dietary Fiber 1g
Protein 1g

Be a Cheater

I have one rule that I implore you to obey if you are trying to lose weight or get fit. It's a simple one. Anyone can do it. In fact, you will love following this one little rule.

The Rule is that you must have a cheat day once a week.

By cheat day I mean that you eat what you want. Cheeseburger. Pizza. Tacos. Chips and Salsa. Whatever trips your trigger. Maybe a nice cold Corona to wash it down. Oh yeah, I can taste it now!

It's okay to do this. It will not, and I repeat will not set you back. Quite the opposite. It will reset your metabolism, not to mention give your mouth (and brain) what it possibly has been lacking -- the satisfaction of a fat-laden but oh-so-yummy meal.

The key is not to go C-R-A-Z-Y. Eat what you want on your cheat day, but let moderation be your guide. In other words, don't eat the whole pizza yourself, or yes, you will be taking steps backward. That is not our goal. Our goal is to enjoy life while losing weight and getting healthy.

I make Saturday my cheat day. Mexican food is my favorite cheat, complete with margaritas rimmed with the dreaded salt. But I look forward to it all week, making the light, healthy diet I engage in much easier to deal with.

So pick a cheat day and plan a cheat meal. I'm thinkin' steak, baked potatoes and Newcastles for tomorrow -- afterall, tomorrow is my cheat day!

Five Simple Things That Will Help you Burn More Calories

It's funny, the rut we fall into. I call it the lazy rut. It's easy to do; everywhere we turn there are conveniences which tempt us and which most of use succumb to using. Elevators. Escalators. Remote controls. Drive-thru restaurants. Drive-thru banks. Drive-thru pharmacys.

You get the picture. For me personally, at times I use these modern conveniences as a time saver, because I am a fairly busy person.

But there are times when taking a few extra minutes to do something the "old-fashioned way" is the thing to do. Why? Because our society has become far too sedentary. This is a huge contributing factor to our obesity problem.

It is vital for you to exert some energy while doing your daily life tasks. And the more you do, the better your metabolism will function. Your blood will flow to your muscles and organs and you will feel better.

Here are SIMPLE five things you can do to burn more calories throughout your week:

1. Take the stairs. Every multi-story building has them, so use them!
2. Park at the mid-to-far end of the parking lot and WALK to the store.
3. Sip green tea or warm lemon water all day long.
4. Eat six small meals a day. That's right, six. Small meals are proven to increase metabolism and help burn fat.
5. Keep moving. Don't stay glued to your desk chair all day. Take short breaks and go for a walk, stretch your back, legs, shoulders and arms and get that blood flowing (remember the old curse "secretary spread"?).

Don't wait another day. Start tomorrow. Your body will thank you for it!

Weight: It's a Matter of Opinion

Just for the record, I don't advocate being "thin". At least not thin as in the waif-like girls and women we see on TV and in magazines. To me, thin means not being overweight. And that is different for each one of us.

The thing to remember is that being HEALTHY and at a normal weight is far more important than being classified as thin. If you are not happy with your body, you have the power to do something about it. We all do.

You may be carrying extra pounds.

You may be underweight due to an eating disorder.




You may be the ideal weight but are flabby and mushy and feel like @#%$!!

It's time to make a committment to feeling better. Looking better. Living better. And it all begins with you.

Stick with me and I'll help you achieve whatever it is you wish to achieve. As for me, I was ten pounds overweight, gushy, flabby and just plain tired.

I am now the ideal weight, have a fairly athletic body and while I still loathe trying on bathing suits, overall I am happy with my body. And I feel fantastic! I haven't been sick a single day in years. My choleserol is so low the doctor is astounded.

Not bragging -- just want you to know that if I can do it (especially well into my forties) you can do it to!

Here's to you becoming thin --whatever that may mean!!

What's for Dinner

Everyone who knows me knows we eat a lot of chicken at our house. A great source of protien, it's also low in fat and carbs.

But we, like everyone, grow tired of bbq'd, baked, sauteed, grilled, fried and slow-cooked chicken.

I stumbled across this recipe and let me tell you, it makes a tasty and lite summer evening dinner. Only five ingredients and under a half hour -- voila! Toss together some Romaine lettuce, chopped tomato, any veggies you like and your favorite low-calorie dressing for a side salad and you have a dinner that is yummy, HEALTHY and even the kids will like. Now how can you beat that?

CHICKEN TORTILLA PIE

The fresh salsa called for here has a natural low-sodium advantage over bottled commercial salsa. A rotisserie chicken with the skin removed can be used for the shredded chicken breast, but keep in mind that this will increase the amount of sodium in the dish.

(NOTE: I used canned white breast meat and it was wonderful, not to mention easy!).

Prep: 13 minutes; Cook: 10 minutes
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 wedge)

Ingredients

2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
1/4 cup Fresh Salsa
1 cup spicy black bean dip (such as Guiltless Gourmet)
4 (8-inch) multigrain flour tortillas (such as Tumaro's)
1/2 cup (2 ounces) reduced-fat shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Cooking spray

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 450°.

2. Combine chicken and salsa in a medium bowl.

3. Spread 1/4 cup black bean dip over each tortilla. Top each evenly with chicken mixture and 2 tablespoons cheese. Stack tortillas in bottom of a 9-inch springform pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 450° for 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated and cheese melts. Remove sides of pan. Cut pie into 4 wedges. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Information
Calories:380 (26% from fat)
Fat:11g (sat 4.3g,mono 4.4g,poly 1.4g)
Protein:39.9g
Carbohydrate:28.7g
Fiber:12.2g
Cholesterol:80mg
Iron:0.8mg
Sodium:660mg
Calcium:215mg
Courtesy of Cooking Light Fresh Food Fast, Oxmoor House, APRIL 2009

Obesity and the Incredible Shinking Brain

As if obesity doesn't cause enough health problems  (increased risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and even some cancers to name a few),  there is now research that shows that obese people have eight percent less brain tissue than normal-weight individuals. Eight percent! (Oh -- and lest I not forget to mention that its also been shown to reduce sexual activity).

The research was funded by the National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Center for Research Resources, and the American Heart Association. The study scanned 94 people in their seventies. Their brains were found to appear 16 years older than the brains of lean individuals. People in the study who were classifed as overweight had 4 percent less brain tissue and their brains appear to have aged prematurely by 8 years.

More than 300 million worldwide are now classified as obese, according to the World Health Organization. Another billion are overweight. Experts say the main causes are bad diet, including an increased reliance on highly processed foods (read fast and junk food).

Obesity is measured by body mass index (BMI), defined as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters. A BMI over 25 is defined as overweight, and a BMI of over 30 as obese.

I don't know about you, but I need all the brain function (and surface) I can get. Just one more reason to eat healthy in an effort to stay fit and lean.