Cock-a-doodle-do!
Let's talk Breakfast. This is my FAVORITE meal of the day. It is (as you've been told since you're five) the "Most" important meal of the day. I eat breakfast every morning and I suggest you do the same. I know you may feel you don't have the appetite or have time. You can always start with something small or wake up 20 minutes earlier. There is no excuse. I'm sorry to sound harsh but you owe this much to yourself. This meal is going to wake up and ignite your metabolism for the day. You want that. You need that. Do it for YOU, Foxy!
Let's start small. Cereal and milk. That's easy enough. I measure a cup of cereal with a cup of unsweetened almond vanilla or chocolate milk. Almond milk is 40 calories a glass and delicious. I likr Kashi "Go Lean" Original. It has as much protein as eggs, its high fiber. Its satisfying and good. You can have a different cereal if you want, just watch your calories (no more than 150 a serving), sugar (less than 10 g) and always have fiber to keep you full. I'm not going to school you on cereal here, but if you have a question or find something amazing- please contact me :]
Another very easy breakfast is some whole wheat/grain or rye toast with a tablespoon of Nut butter (I always measure). My favorites are Almond butter (crunchy and smooth varieties), Sun butter (party in my mouth!) or Justin's chocolate hazelnut (like an a.m. dessert). I also buy "Better'n butter," - a light Peanut butter with half the calories (50 per tablespoon). These nut butters are all starting to pop up at major supermarkets, but without fail can find at Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Wegman's, even Target! If all else fails- Amazon.com. It's that easy.
Now, let's discuss my absolute favorite breakfast, Oatmeal. I can't even begin to describe the variations on oatmeal I eat. It's going to need a blog in itself because that's how I have transformed this power food. For now I'll keep it simple. I always use Old Fashioned Oats in the canister & I suggest you do the same. For hot oats I measure 1/2 a cup with a cup of water and microwave for 3 minutes. I then add either cinnamon or stevia/splenda, maybe some sugar free maple syrup, a little smart balance butter, or a tablespoon of nut butter. You have to make it work for you. You can even add fresh fruit or a little chopped almonds or walnuts- just always watch and measure your portions.
I also love Overnight Oats. It's not even normal how excited I get the night before I have overnight oats! They are the easiest too. Mix 1/4 cup oats with 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk of your choice, cover and let settle in the fridge over night. In the morning add a tablespoon of nut butter, a drizzle of sugar free maple syrup (if you fancy) and that's it. It's cold, quenching and delectable (salivating!- I know, not normal).
Okay Foxes, now onto some chicks. Eggs take some more effort but they're really not that timely either. Swap your eggs for egg whites to you reduce your calories & cholesterol, while keeping your meal satisfying and protein rich. Conveniently almost every grocer now sells cartons of just egg whites, so it's a no mess, easy meal. You can add some fiber and extra nutrients to your omelet by putting in some cooked veggies (I microwave the frozen kind first and toss them in) or some fresh mushroom, onion, tomato or peppers. Salsa is also a good spin on your omelet or a little cheese (not too much). I personally love a spinach and light feta omelet- so good! If you're eating out, most diners will accommodate you with egg whites for an extra $1.00. Its so worth it. I also swap out my breakfast potatoes for lettuce and tomato on the side or a fresh fruit cup. I NEVER eat white toast but will occasionally order one slice of whole wheat/grain or rye toast (dry) with my eggs. So satisfying!
When it comes to bacon, I always go for turkey bacon. I'm not a sausage fan but I know you purchase and some diners even serve turkey sausage. There's not much of a taste difference and I don't feel deprived or guilty after having a side of turkey bacon. It also great BLT style on some whole wheat/grain or rye toast. Ask for the mayo on the side and put a smidge of it on yourself or if you're home, use light mayo or olive oil. With the smokiness of the meat, you're not going to taste a difference.
Breakfast possibilities are really endless. A few more quick suggestions are a toasted "Bagel thin" or whole grain English muffin with a tablespoon of light cream cheese and maybe a little sugar free jelly. "Vita top" makes 100 calorie muffin tops that are pretty good on the go. If you have time, lightly toast and put some jelly, smart balance or nut butter. Yogurt is great when you're time pressed- but can be tricky. I get plain non-fat Greek Yogurt and doctor it up myself- either with a stevia/splenda, cinnamon, sugar free syrup/jelly or fresh fruit, a little chopped nut. This is another one totally based on preference, but definitely steer clear of any already flavored yogurts that are usually sugar loaded. Lastly, French toast made with whole wheat/grain bread, egg whites, and sugar free syrup is delightful when you have time in the morning/ on weekends. Also Fiber One pancake/waffle mix is pretty tasty. These breakfast are so good, they feel like you're being bad (a girl can pretend).
Again, I know it's not always easy, but worth it. Enjoy breakfast & Good luck making it work. xo
Pizza, Pizza
I'm convinced the days of my life alternate between bouts of reality and themes from episodes of "Seinfeld." Right now, I'm having a "Seinfeld" type situation. If you've seen the show, you will know what I'm talking about immediately- if not I'll clue you in quickly. The episode is based around how the Seinfeld crew find a Fat-free Frozen yogurt place, where the fro-yo tastes just too good to not be fattening. After weeks of indulging and tightening pant belts, they decide to send a sample of the frozen treats to a lab. Low and behold, testing results show that the fro-yo is in fact NOT fat-free!
OK, now my story: Let me start off by saying that I LOVE to cook & am not a fan of processed foods. In my freezer, along with frozen veggies, fish, meat, herbs, sprouted bread, light ice cream and of course vodka, you will find frozen pizzas. These are not just any fro-piz, but "Eat Rite" low-carb, low-fat individual deep dish chicago pies. For the past year, I've been going to a specialty healthfood store to buy these $6 ea. heavenly fro-piz. They're delectably cheesy, the crust is crunchy and they mainly make me happy :) So happy that like anything else seemingly too good to be true- I had my doubts. And as our gut is always right, my doubts were confirmed. A quick Google search led me to a story Fox News had done on the company and their false health claims. The pizzas contain more than double their claimed calories and about 300% more fat and carbs!
Check this out http://www.myfoxny.com/story/18071984/false-nut .
So now what's a girl to do when she wants some good pizza without the guilt? I have other options, don't you worry. If you're going out, try for whole wheat- it's going to add some extra fiber to your meal and help keep things moving along. If you don't have access to whole wheat where you're dining (no biggie)- either way always go thin crust/well done & light on the cheese. It's inevitable that pizzerias overload on the cheese and yes, even after your request, they probably still will. If you feel deprived, shake some grated parmesan on that baby (mmm), maybe some garlic powder, oregano, and of course if you can tolerate some red pepper (which is also a metabolism booster!). I like to sometimes order fresh veggies on my pizza too- broccoli, mushrooms, fresh garlic, onions, tomato slices, artichokes, spinach- what ever your foxy heart desires. I do stay away from any meat toppings- the cheese and oils in the pizza are going to give you enough fat for that sitting. Save your meatballs & pepperoni or chicken for a different meal and you should be okay.
There's also the option when it's just you or yourself + one and you want to stay home and make your own pizza. I do it all the time. It's the easiest thing to do. Buy some mini whole wheat pitas or whole wheat wraps. I try and stay in the 100-150 calorie range and always make sure they have some fiber. Top with a some jar sauce- I like Ragu Traditional for my pizzas (Unlike when I make pasta -my sauce homemade all the way baby!). Sprinkle with some part-skim mozzarella (1/4-1/3 cup), pop in the oven at 350 for about 15 mins, check until cheese is melted and bubbly. Take out and top with some grated cheese and seasonings. You can have some carrot sticks or salad on the side, maybe some frozen broccoli with a little smart balance salt, pepper and more grated cheese :)
There's also the option of the White Pie, which I adore and is just as easy. Top your whole wheat pita/wrap with two table spoons of fat-free ricotta (so good, you can't even tell it's non-fat), a little sprinkle of garlic powder and Italian seasonings, and top with a some part-skim mozzarella. Same thing pop in the oven until cheese is melty. Take out, add some grated cheese and serve with your choice of a side veggie. Delish!
Another option is a homemade Gluten free/Low carb pizza crust. This will require some more time- not too much though :D
Grate raw cauliflower until you have 2 cups worth and microwave for 8 minutes. Add 2 egg whites, a tablespoon of ground flax some garlic powder, Italian seasonings and grated cheese. Work all ingredients and mold into crust. Place on parchment paper and in 400 degree oven about 25 mins (thickness will affect cooking time, so keep checking until it looks "crusty").
Remove from oven, top however you'd like and place back in the oven for about another 15 minutes or until your cheese/toppings look good to go. Take out, give a minute or two to cool & Dig in!
I hope you've been enlightened by my Tips/Recipes. Healthy eating can be really simple and tasty when done right. I'm not a Nutritionist, just a girl who took her body into her own hands and like clay molded it how I wanted it. I've read hundreds of health/fitness related articles and done the research. I feel so blessed to have put them to good use for myself and even more blessed to now share with you. xo
Food, Fitness, Fashion, Fun & Faith
December 4th, 2012. Let this be the day that something Amazing* is born. Here and now I start my own blog in hopes to help others. I'm not exactly sure where to go with this but it's COMING from a good place, so it must LEAD to the same direction. I've been itching to do something- write a book, start a column, open a restaurant, drive a food truck (laughing obnoxiously outloud!)- anything to share my (fat) skinny recipes, daily-sometimes broken- rules. Maybe I can inspire with my laughing, crying, frustratring and "a-ha" moments. It's worth a shot.
I'm a self-made Nutrition Guru. A former curvy fox, who totally transformed my body and lifestyle in every aspect possible. I mean going shopping J-Lo extra booty room jeans to walking the runway during NYC Fashion Week. This is without EVER feeling like I was depriving myself or killing myself at the gym. Self-taught and totally disciplined. I want to share it all. I have friends and co-workers who are constantly asking me fitness and diet tips & I'm so happy to share. But I want to keep on sharing. I need to keep giving, because I know what it's like to be "that girl." I am still her.. just tinier.
Now that you have an idea what type of blog this will be, I hope you join me as I embark on this new adventure. I feel really good and I can't wait to share! xo
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