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Showing posts with label healthy diet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label healthy diet. Show all posts

Friday, May 28, 2010

Battle Belly Fat: Pan-Seared Shrimp Tacos, Crunchy Crust "Mac n Cheese,” Oven Fries


*** Eat your favorite comfort foods and still battle the belly fat. Recipes the whole family will enjoy they won't even know they are eating healthy!




Flat Belly Diet Family Cookbook by Liz Vaccariello



From Denny: Want guilt free comfort food that actually taste good? Look no further in your quest to battle belly fat and not roll your eyes at typical diet food that has you bored and your family in revolt.

Liz Vaccariello is the author of the newest cookbook in her series about good food to battle belly fat, "Flat Belly Diet! Family Cookbook." She features traditional comfort food favorites like macaroni and cheese (Mac 'n' Cheese for those in the know), oven french fries, shrimp tacos and dark chocolate brownies. That line up sure doesn't sound like we will be deprived of good taste or familiar dishes.

This cookbook and recipes are geared to family healthy eating without sacrificing great taste and favorite foods. While she does limit each meal to about 400 calories the real success is combining a MUFA with each meal.

What's a MUFA? Mono Unsaturated Fatty Acid. They are found in olive oil, olives, nuts and seeds, peanut butter or other nut butters and the biggest favorite: dark chocolate.

Here are the three basic rules from Liz Vaccariello, Editor in chief of Prevention Magazine, to help lose that belly fat:

1. Eat a MUFA with every meal

2. Stick to 400 calories per meal

3. Never go more than 4 hours without eating


Recipes Featured:

Pan-Seared Shrimp Tacos
Crunchy Crust "Mac and Cheese”
Salt and Pepper Oven Fries






Pan-Seared Shrimp Tacos

From: "Flat Belly Diet Family Cookbook"

Makes: 4 servings, 320 calories

INGREDIENTS

• 1 Haas avocado, cubed
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
• 1/2 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1 pound peeled and deveined medium shrimp
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 8 (6-inch) corn tortillas
• 1 cup shredded romaine lettuce


DIRECTIONS

Combine the avocado, onion, jalapeno pepper, cilantro, lime juice and 1/4 teaspoon in a bowl and set aside. Combine the shrimp, chili powder, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper in a separate bowl.

Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and cook 2 1/2 to 3 minutes per side or until opaque. Transfer to a plate and keep warm. Heat tortillas in a dry skillet over medium-high heat until hot and lightly toasted, about 30 seconds per side or according to package directions. Place 2 tortillas on each plate and top each with 2 tablespoons lettuce, 1/8 avocado mixture and 1/8 of the shrimp. Serve immediately.





"Crunchy Crust "Mac and Cheese"

From: "Flat Belly Diet Family Cookbook"

Makes: 4 servings, 328 calories

INGREDIENTS

• 4 ounces multi-grain macaroni
• 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 3 tablespoons Panko bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups fat-free milk
• 1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese


DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat an 8-inch x 8-inch baking dish with vegetable spray.

Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the macaroni according to package directions. Drain, rinse with cold water and drain again. Set aside. Combine the bread crumbs and 2 teaspoons oil in a small bowl. Stir with a fork to evenly coat the crumbs with oil.

Add the remaining 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon oil to a large saucepan. Set over medium-high heat. Whisk in the flour, paprika, salt and pepper until smooth. Add the milk, whisking constantly. Cook, whisking, for about 5 minutes, or until thickened. Remove from the heat. Stir in the cheese until it melts. Stir in the macaroni. Pour into the baking dish. Top evenly with the crumbs.

Bake for 15 minutes, or until bubbling and golden. Allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving.





Salt and Pepper Oven Fries

From: "Flat Belly Diet Family Cookbook"

Makes: 4 servings, 262 calories

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound russet potatoes, cut into 3 1/2-inch long by 1/2-inch wide sticks
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley


DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.

Combine the potatoes and 2 tablespoons oil in a large bowl, tossing well to coat. Arrange potatoes in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the center of the oven 15 minutes, turn the potatoes and bake 15 minutes longer or until golden brown and crisp. Remove from the oven and transfer to a large bowl.

Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Pour oil and garlic over the potatoes, and add the salt, pepper and parsley; toss well. Serve immediately.



*** For the chocolate recipes go here:

Battle Belly Fat: Fudgy Dark Chocolate Brownies, Chocolate French Toast




Flat Belly Diet Family Cookbook by Liz Vaccariello


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Monday, March 8, 2010

Check Out Statistics 4 Real Cost of Fast Food vs. Whole

From Denny: This short video clip really brings it home how America has devolved downward on the food culture scale. We have added excessive calories and dumbed down our nutrition in only one generation. Take a look as this is really something to consider:





*** THANKS for visiting, come back often, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers - and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Chef Jamie Oliver Discovers American Kids Dont Know Veggies

From Denny: Chef Jamie Oliver recently discovered that America's first graders cannot identify even the most common vegetables and fruits like tomatoes and potatoes.

The British chef is on a mission to improve the diets of America's school kids. He entered a first grade classroom and queried the children as he held up each vegetable from a table display. They did not know one. All they knew was they didn't like vegetables when he first uncovered the display as audible gasps were heard throughout the classroom.

His first stop on Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution - celebrity chef of Naked Chef fame - was to visit what is known as the unhealthiest city in America: Huntington, West Virginia. Chef Oliver is determined to improve America's ingrained bad eating habits and turn us away from the alarming rising rate of obesity. He is hoping this new series will be the catalyst for a healthy food reaction across America.

Take a look at these cute kids who clearly did not know what was on their plate or have any idea of the connection from farms or gardens to their lunch plate:





*** Almost every time I go to the grocery store the cashier asks me what those fruits and veggies are called. Hmmmm... maybe I should start memorizing those bar codes? :)

*** Please visit these food and health blogs:

The Healing Waters

Romancing The Chocolate

Comfort Food From Louisiana


*** THANKS for visiting, come back often, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers - and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

How Many Poisons in Our Food Supply?

From Denny: This news will get you wondering how to safeguard yourself. There are so many contaminates in the air, the soil and the oceans that it is migrating into our food supply. Dr. Oz talks about mercury and pesticides as a promotion for a full length show he devotes to the safety of our food supply. He also provides healthy diet tips.


Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy



For more food articles and recipes, please visit:

Romancing The Chocolate

Comfort Food From Louisiana

The Healing Waters


*** THANKS for visiting, come back often, feel free to leave a comment, a big shout out to current subscribers - and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email!
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