10 Strategies to Avoid Stuffing Yourself On Holiday Treats

It’s here again—the holidays! It’s that time of the year when people have parties and get-togethers. Of course, they’ll be plenty of sweets to eat at these events. You'll want to enjoy the special foods the holidays bring, without packing on the weight that comes with holiday binging. Right? Is that even possible?

You bet it is, if you eat the holiday treats and skip the snacks you normally can get at other times of the year.

In other words, you can have cheese ‘n crackers and chips ‘n dips any time of the year. But your sister-in-law only makes those special Christmas cookies once a year. Opt for the foods that are special holiday treats. Leave the rest for other times of the year. Choosing wisely and observing reasonable limits should get you through the holiday season unscathed. 

Here are 10 strategies to help you cut out the extra calories you simply don’t need:

Don't stand near the buffet table and munch mindlessly.

Don’t arrive at the party absolutely starving.

Check out the spread before you dive in, so you can eat the Holiday treats that bring you the most pleasure.

Trade in the dinner plate for a smaller plate.

Eat more protein than carbs

Think about how you want to feel when you’ve finished eating—comfortably full or stuffed

Practice gratitude. Think about who harvested and transported this delicious food. Who prepared it for you? Was it made with love or mass produced?

Savor your food and eat it mindfully! If possible, sit down and take time to socialize between bites.

Enjoy the people and the event itself. Don’t focus on the food.

If, despite your best intentions, you overeat, practice self-compassion and put the guilt to rest. Instead, ask yourself, how you can do it differently the next time.

To sum up, eat special holiday food in an amount that gives you pleasure without stuffing yourself. As always, let me know how you did. Wishing you Happy Holidays! 💖_Lisa

HERE'S THE DISH ON GRAINS

Brown rice, which is a whole grain, is healthier than white rice, which is a refined grain. Here's why: Whole grains are more nutritious because they include the bran, germ, and endosperm of the grain. Bran is rich in fiber and phytochemicals (think antioxidants) and the germ contains healthy fats as well as vitamins and minerals. Eating whole grains versus refined grains reduces your risk of colon cancer, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. So, what other whole grains are there besides brown rice?

·        Farro – Farro is a fiber and protein-packed whole grain that is derived from wheat. It’s packed with nutrients. It’s nutty flavor and chewy texture make it a perfect ingredient for risotto-style dishes. It can also be added to soups or stews instead of rice. My local supermarket sells it in the rice aisle, and it is delicious! I use it as a side dish when I cook chicken or fish.

·        Bulgur – Bulgar is a whole grain made from cracked wheat. It, too, has a nutty flavor and can also be served as a side dish, like rice or couscous. Bulgur is a good source of fiber, protein, iron, and vitamin B6.

·        Barley – Hulled barley is a whole grain that also has a nutty flavor and a chewy texture. It has plenty of fiber and several trace minerals like selenium, manganese, and phosphorus. It can be used in soups and stews, or it makes a delicious pilaf. Be sure and use Hulled barley vs. Pearl barley which is not a whole grain because the bran and possibly the endosperm layers have been removed.

·        Millet - Millet looks a bit like quinoa, but it has a brighter color and a milder flavor. Millet contains calcium, iron, zinc, and is rich in B vitamins. Try cooked millet instead of oatmeal. Add a drizzle of honey or Greek yogurt for flavor.

·        Tef – Tef is a very tiny gluten-free grain. You can cook tef like rice to eat with veggies, meat, or fish.

So, go ahead - try a new grain to add variety and flavor to your dinner! Let me know how you like them. 💗 Lisa!

A LUNCH SANDWICH CAN HELP ME LOSE WEIGHT? YOU BETCHA!

Lunch is an ideal time to stock up on good nutrition. I find that many of my weight-loss clients are afraid to eat a lunch sandwich because they fear the bread. Hey, whole wheat bread is not your enemy!  It’s a complex carb that your body needs and may actually help you lose weight. Complex carbs are brain foods, so don’t think you can’t have a sandwich for lunch and still lose weight. Just be mindful of the size and kind of bread.

Here are some of my favorite sandwich breads:

·       Dave’s Killer Bread, Thin Sliced, Good Seed for 70 calories/slice

·        Arnold’s 100% whole wheat Sandwich Thins

·        Tumaro-Low-in-Carb wheat wraps (60 calories and only 75 mg. of sodium)

·        A sprouted grain bread like Ezekiel

·        2 slices of 100% whole wheat bread like Nature’s Own

·        A whole wheat pita bread like Joseph’s

Or, you can choose to fill your salad bowl with a variety of greens like baby spinach, romaine, spring mix, arugula. (Just be sure it’s organic and already washed.) I also recommend adding a variety of veggies such as cucumber, tomatoes, peppers, carrots, or whatever you like.

How about adding some protein to the sandwich or the salad?

·        1-2 hard-boiled eggs (up to 7 egg yolks per week are recommended by the American Heart Association)

·        3 oz of skinless chicken or turkey breast

·        3 oz of light tuna canned in water (up to 9 oz per week due to the mercury)

·        ¼ cup of hummus

·        ¼ cup of almonds, pistachios, walnuts, or another nut

·        ½ cup of chickpeas

·        ½ cup of black beans or cannellini beans (buy low sodium and rinse well)

·        ½ cup of lentils

·        4 oz of shrimp

·        5 oz of baked or grilled tofu

·        2 TB of natural nut butter with 1 TB of all fruit spread (yes, this is a pb&j)

·        A Dr. Praeger’s California Veggie Burger

To add a fat on your sandwich or salad, try low-fat mayonnaise, or 2 TB of oil and vinegar, or a low-calorie salad dressing. I really enjoy Bolthouse Farms’ dressings. Other fats that go well in a salad include:

·        ½ of a chopped or sliced avocado

·        8-10 olives

·        1-2 TB of oil and vinegar or a homemade salad dressing

·        1-2 TB of low-fat mayo

·        1 oz. of low-fat cheese, i.e., Alpine Lace Low-fat Swiss is tasty and low in sodium, as well

Try to bring your own healthy lunch to work every day. Avoid greasy burgers and fries. Your brain and your waistline will thank you. What are you eating for lunch today? Let me know. _Lisa💖

PASS THE SALT, PLEASE

If you have high blood pressure, you definitely want to keep your salt intake to 1500 mg. or less. (A teaspoon of salt is 2,325 mg. of sodium.) Even if you don’t have high blood pressure, it’s a good idea to keep your sodium intake low.

The American Heart Association recommends no more than 2300 mg. per day. Here’s why: Salt increases your blood pressure, which puts an extra burden on your heart and blood vessels. People with high blood pressure are more likely to develop heart disease, or have a stroke if they use a lot of salt.

But, we all know that some foods are bland and require salt to taste good. So, what should you do if you want to salt your scrambled eggs or ear of corn?

I recommend using Kosher salt, because Kosher salt’s coarse crystals have less sodium per teaspoon than ordinary finely ground table salt. Try Morton’s Coarse Kosher salt, which has 480 mg. of sodium per ¼ tsp. compared to regular salt which has 590 mg. Or, try Diamond Crystal with just 280 mg. of sodium per ¼ tsp. due to its hollow crystals.

You can also try Morton Lite Salt which has 290 mg. of sodium per ¼ tsp, and 350 mg. of blood pressure lowering potassium.

Pass the lower-sodium salt, please.

PROTEIN BARS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL

Protein bars are not a whole food, but some are MUCH LESS processed than others. I recommend

protein bars when you’re on the road and might not have access to a whole food. What should you look for in a protein bar?

·        Minimal ingredients

·        Low ADDED sugar or sugar alcohols (11 grams or less)

·        No artificial sweeteners

·        210 calories or less

·        Enough protein to keep you full (4-20 grams)

·        Low saturated fat (4 grams or less)

·        Low sodium (150 mg. or less)

So, which protein bars meet these criteria?

·        Lara bars have relatively few ingredients, are made from whole foods, and are gluten free. My favorite is the Blueberry Muffin Lara bar which contains 190 calories and has 4 grams of protein with only 5 mg. of sodium. The ingredients are: cashews, blueberries, blueberry juice concentrate, lemon juice concentrate, and vanilla extract. The 17 grams of sugar are not added sugar they come from the blueberries! The downside to the Lara bar is that it is relatively small and not very high in protein which helps keep you full.

·        Rx bars also have few ingredients. They are made from whole foods and are gluten free. I don’t think they taste as good as Lara bars, but they have 3 Xs the protein. My favorite is the Coconut Chocolate for 210 calories, 6 grams of fiber, and 12 grams of protein. The ingredients are: egg whites, almonds, cashews, cacao, natural coconut flavor, seas salt, and coconut. They also have 6 grams of fiber while the blueberry Lara bar has only 3 grams of fiber. However, they contain 150 mg. of sodium which is a lot more than the Blueberry Lara bar.

·        Kind bars are also recommended but are certainly a bit more processed, although they are also gluten free. My favorite is the Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt which contains 200 calories, 6 grams of protein, 7 grams of fiber, 4 grams of saturated fat, 140 mg. of sodium, and only 4 grams of added sugar. The ingredients are: almonds, peanuts chicory root fiber, honey, palm kernel oil, sugar, glucose syrup, rice flour, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa powder, seal salt, soy lecithin, natural flavor, and cocoa butter.

Those are my top-three choices. The Lara bar is great if you just need a little something to tide you over. The Rx bar is good if you’re hungry and your next meal won’t be for a few hours. The Kind bar is perfect if you’re craving chocolate and want to avoid a candy bar. In addition, Kind bars now come in mini bars for just 100 calories and 3 grams of protein and Rx bars come in Kids size for 140 calories and 7 grams of protein.

When on the road and you don’t have an apple and almonds or another whole food, grab a protein bar as an “emergency snack”. Keep one in the glove box of your car, or your purse or brief case, so you don’t arrive at your destination ready to eat 2 rolls before your meal even arrives! But remember, protein bars should be an occasional snack. Whole food should be your first choice.

DELICIOUS SUMMERTIME TREATS

It's summertime, and if you're like me, you crave something cold and sweet after dinner. So, here are a few great-tasting options in lieu of a big bowl of ice-cream!

· A cup or two of frozen grapes are a wonderful alternative. (Grapes slowly release sugar and they taste sweeter when they're frozen.)  Personally, I prefer purple grapes. They taste great and they're more nutritious than the green ones.

·        Mix a tablespoon of walnuts into a 5.3 oz container of 0% fat Greek yogurt like Trader Joe’s coconut yogurt. YUM!

·        Try a peanut butter chocolate Enlighten bar sweetened with the safe sweetener erythritol for just 100 calories and 9 grams of sugar.

·        Have a Yasso Greek yogurt bar with 13 grams of sugar and stevia, which is also a safe sweetener, for only 100 calories. It’s very satisfying.

·        A Chilly Cow bar with 12-13 grams of sugar for just 100 calories helps you stay the course.

·        Make your own strawberry-banana “ice-cream.” Here’s how:  Blend together 1 small, sliced frozen banana with 5 or 6 fresh or frozen strawberries and ¼ cup of skim milk or if you have a food processor pulse for 1-2 minutes, scoop into a bowl and enjoy!

IT'S TIME TO GRILL, LET'S BE HEALTHY ABOUT IT

Summer is here and it’s time to dust off the grill. Make your grilling as healthy as possible by following a few tips to reduce the HCAs in your food. (HCAs, heterocyclic amines, are chemicals formed when muscle meats like chicken, hamburger, steak, and pork are cooked at high temperatures. HCAs are mutagenic, meaning they cause changes in DNA that may increase the risk of cancer. In January 2005, the Federal government officially added HCAs to its list of known carcinogens.)

·      Marinate – according to an article in Bon Appétit On-Line Magazine, “…a marinade will never really penetrate much past the surface of the meat. (Alex Delany, January 16^th 2018 - https://www.bonappetit.com/story/how-long-to-marinate-meat). The purpose of a marinade is to be the first thing that cooks when the meat hits the pan or grill…creating a nice caramelized crust.” Reducing the HCAs in your meat.

·      Microwave – believe it or not, if you microwave your meat or chicken first for 1 ½ to 2 minutes, and pour off the juices, you will eliminate 90% of the HCAs.

·      Try grilling swordfish, haddock, salmon, or tuna! (See my website for a great marinade for swordfish.) Fish has fewer HCAs if you don’t char it.

·      Keep your meat or chicken MOIST! The drier and more well done the meat the more HCAs you get.

·      Turn your meat or chicken frequently. Flipping your poultry, turkey burger, or burger every minute cuts the HCAs by 75-90% because the surface temperature stays lower.

·      Enjoy a veggie burger that generates few or no HCAs. My favorites are Blue Mango veggie burgers and Dr. Praeger’s California and Sweet Beet veggie burgers. Grilled veggies also have very few HCAs, and cruciferous veggies like broccoli and brussels sprouts may help the liver detoxify HCAs.

So, get out there and start grilling today - the healthy way!