Quick, smart breakfast choices.

Breakfast is an essential part of your diet

Having said that, sometimes coffee with my hazelnut creamer is the only thing I can stomach. However, by 9:30 I need some real fuel to avoid hitting that wall!

Here are Some Quick Breakfast Tips:

• Good old dependable cereal. I eat whole grain shredded wheat cereal, high in fiber and low in sugar. Add a little bit of low fat, organic milk and flax seed (high in fiber and actually tastes yummy).

• A handful of blueberries and a fist full of raw almonds go far!

• Gotta love a fuji apple and string cheese.

If you want to cook:

• Make an egg white (or use one yolk) omelet. I add a ton of veggies and some cheese.

These are all great options that fuel your body, fill you up, and help you avoid the bagel and cream cheese carb and calorie-fest!

Quick, Healthy, “Grab Me” Foods

Fuel Your Body Throughout the Day and Avoid the Garbage You Crave When You’re Starving!

Sometimes when you’re on the go you don’t always have the chance to eat the way you really should. A great way to control your cravings is to make sure to carry around easy “grab me” snacks that are small in size but high in quality.

For example, in my purse you’ll always find a baggy of raw almonds (with some yummy raisins thrown in). I don’t need to eat the entire bag, but if I’m trapped on the freeway and I’m starving its a fabulous way to curb the hunger, and almonds are a great source of omega 3.

Here are a few “grab-me” snacks that will keep you going and stop you from from heading to the drive-through:

• 1 large apple with a shmeer of peanut butter to dip into – delicious!

• Some string cheese with 5 crackers or rye crisps – this will really boost your energy level!

• Peeled baby carrots and a side of ranch (Nancy’s Kitchen Ranch Dressing is  soooo good and low in fat)!

• Sugar snap peas with Nancy’s Ranch. These are good when you mindlessly want to chomp on something (without paying attention to how much you’re eating) while watching, say, Oprah!

• For something sweet, I love hot cocoa (sugar free). It really curbs the sweet tooth and is low in fat and calories.

• A cup of blueberries is a great choice and higher in antioxidants and vitamins than almost any other fruit!

• Cucumbers are great. I sometimes eat an entire cucumber and dip it in ranch dressing – plus it gives my mouth something to do besides yacking (and it curbs those salty cravings).

• Trader Joe’s “No Yolk”  Egg Salad and rye crisps. Yummy and easy.

• Sliced strawberries and low fat whipped cream – my kids think this is the greatest dessert!

• A portioned-controlled handful of pretzels and cream cheese. Yum!

• For mindless snacking choices when you are say on a long drive, try sunflower seeds.

If you never allow yourself to indulge, you will rebel with a vengeance!

Instead give yourself the treat, enjoy it, without eating the entire bag. It’s OK to have that Oreo or piece of chocolate.

Substitute your cravings with one of the above choices and then do something indulgent for yourself, like taking a hot bath or get a pedicure.

Remember its your body, its your choice!

Cardio Cooking:Burn calories before you eat them. Try this recipe/workout

When I’ve been out of the house all day, and I missed the opportunity to get in a work out, I found a way to shove one in.

I came up with “Cardio Cooking.”

Cardio Cooking allows me to really maximize my time and multi – task while chopping vegetables or slicing chicken. I know sounds crazy, but it works. Wouldn’t  you want to burn off calories before you eat them?

Some might call me insane…. but for those of you on board with this, I came up with a bunch of recipes and a way to chop till you drop.

Recipe for:  Sophie’s “Candy Chickie” (“Apricot Chicken” if you don’t have a Sophie.)

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan
2 pounds chicken tenderloins – cut in small pieces (the smaller the better according to my kids)
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons cider or white wine vinegar (optional)
2 cups chicken stock
1 cup apricot all fruit spread or apricot preserves

Serve with brown rice (if you can get away with it… otherwise, mix half white rice half brown rice, till your kids dig it!) Also, lemon juice and butter helps!

Directions
Heat a large skillet with a lid over medium high heat. Add oil and chicken. Season with salt and pepper. Lightly brown the chicken a few minutes on each side. Add the stock and vinegar (if you’re using it) and cook five minutes. When stock comes to a bubble, add preserves and stir to combine. Cover pan, reduce heat and simmer 10 to 15 minutes.

Your Workout!

1. Start your “Rag Drag”. (the link will take you to the RAG DRAG how-to section (isn’t that convenient?))
2. Engage your tummy muscles and create a loose upper body and controlled lower body.
3. Then, with your right leg, bring it in and out 5 -7 times alternating with the left 5-7 times. Do this while you dice your chicken and prep your food. You will elevate your heart rate and burn your butt and work your oblique’s quite a bit.
4. Next, while browning your chicken do several sets of leg lifts to the back and side. Lift your leg straight out to the side or back until your foot is 6 to 12 inches off the floor keeping your tummy tight.
5. While you are cooking at the counter top, take this opportunity to do 15 – 20 presses, like counter top push ups.
6. If you have anything to nuke in the microwave…always seize the opportunity to do something active. Instead of just standing around waiting for the beep, add some jumping jacks in. What else are ya gonna do?