Healthy Living

Healthy cooking, recipes, and exercise tips

Adventures in the Kitchen with Michelle

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It’s Independence Day!  And it’s Michelle’s day.  As I mentioned on Monday, the festivities start early in Old Homosassa and just continue. Well this extends all the way down to Michelle’s Weeki Wachee kitchen.  She has a super great idea.  I didn’t even know this stuff existed!  Take it away Michelle……

Anyone on a diet knows the mantra “No Drinking!”, sorry No-Can-Do ! Especially with July 4th here, did I mention how hot it is?!! Well, I’ve found a bandaid for that paper cut you got hiding your food intake log book too quickly,..It’s called the Diet Mojito.

I love Mojitos, it’s Florida, ya kinda have to, but all that sugar and alcohol can weigh in at 235 calories. And those bottled versions – OMG ! Well my friends the folks at Crystal Light have come up with a yummy diversion from the norm. (and I’m not a big Crystal Light fan) So, here’s my solution: pick up the New Crystal Light Mojito Mix. Make it up in a 2 qt pitcher, but make it strong by only adding 56pints (the next mark on the jug below 2-qut) of water. That way the ice won’t water it down, and it’s only 5 calories anyway! Get some La Croix Mineral Water with Lime (0 calories), some mint (if you’ve got it – it grows like a weed here!), and lime wedges. Then the weapon of choice…yes they’re normally made with rum and the Cruzan White Rum is my fave for this…but I’ve sucked it down and the bottle got tossed, so I’ve tried a spiced rum today… not bad. Better yet, the dieting lushes BFF – Vodka. You just can’t ruin a drink with good vodka…and with enough of it you really won’t care! So mix up your little first-aid-kit-in-a-glass and splash in the LaCroix last. There you go! No, it’s not the Muddled Masterpiece that Raul the Pool Boy can bring you – but that one will cost you, what like 50 sit-ups! No thank you,…maybe this will set you back a couple of curls,…hey can I burn the 80 calories in vodka with my tiny arm curls. Ooooo-let’s see….”No, Raul – just a fresh towel dahhling!”

 Stay Cool and Happy 4th of July !!

Michelle

Hmmmm, I knew that Michelle had a pool, but Raul?  A pool boy?  He’s never there when I stop by!

Have a great day!

Kathy

“Fit for Life” Finale

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I lost those pesky five pounds.  Took three weeks and I’ve already admitted that I couldn’t stick to the “Fit for Life” diet plan.  But I did pull some of the suggestions into my daily life and am going to try to continue using them. (No promises, though)

One tablespoon of ground flaxseed every day.  Something Dr. Fuhrman, the author of this diet, doesn’t mention is that ground flaxseed goes bad.  Even in the refrigerator.  I buy whole flaxseed and grind a little in the blender once a week and store it in the fridge for use in smoothies.  Maggie gets a little in her dog food, too.

Dates are actually good and a natural sweetener.  I have always hated dates but that’s because I’ve associated them with fruit cake and other cookies with those yucky candied fruits in them.  Dates are naturally sweet and “Fit to Life” used them to sweeten smoothies.  Now I can tolerate dates–at least until the package I bought is gone.

I can actually eat less cheese and be happy.  And if I eat beans in my salad for lunch, I won’t be hungry until dinner.  I can survive without sugar or artificial sweeteners.

While I lost the weight, there’s not much of a chance for Maggie.  Between ear infections and being itchy, Maggie is on prednisone, a steroid which turns her into an eating machine.  Poor little thing.  I’ve limited her snacks and dry dog food and she gets plenty of exercise but she’s still chunky monkey.  Gotta love her the way she is!

Who’s a chunky monkey?

 

 

Adventures in the Kitchen with Michelle

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Michelle has a quick yummy snack for you!

It’s hot…real hot. I’m done with yard work and want to put my feet up, but need a little something. I get tired of fro-yo and fruit smoothies. There’s no chocolate in those!! I stumbled on a cheap diet friendly snack. Take a box of Chocolate Graham Crackers, and a tub of Cool Whip Lite (not that fat-free stuff, yuck) Thaw the whip in the fridge and break the crackers into squares. Spread on some topping and make a sandwich! Freeze on cookie sheets and then stack in a zip-top bag stashed in the freezer. Cheap and easy. Perfect lo-cal snackin’s when the Chocolate Monster in your head just won’t shut up! Go make some. Then grab your favorite book, and put those feet up.