Sunday, January 29, 2012

The Repeat Winner of Fattest day of the Year

Happy Super Bowl weekend everyone

You may have heard……Super bowl has achieved the not so honorable top spot as Americas #1 most fat filled gluttonous day on the calendar.

Even more than thanksgiving you ask?

Yes!

Thanksgiving, although highly caloric if not well planned, at least has the opportunity of some healthy food choices; roasted turkey, green beans, sweet potatoes, corn…

Not so much the Super Bowl which seems to have become a fiesta of all things fried and highly caloric; fried wings, French fries, potato skins, chips, dips, shrimp stuffed with cheese and wrapped with bacon (ouch a fat and cholesterol bomb) – you get the point.

Add to the fine FAT cuisine some (sometimes too much) alcohol and you have yourself a 5000+ calorie day. YIKES!!!

You work too hard to ruin your progress in one day

How can you enjoy a great party and keep on track with your eating and fitness plan and not feel left out?

Here are a few tips:

1) Bake or grill instead of fry - Simply that. Think of all the Bake opportunities, the wings and potatoes, meats etc that you can cook in other ways than frying.

2) Eat before the party – Have something healthy before you go to the party. A turkey sandwich, chicken salad etc. Get to the party full instead of hungry. Show up hungry and you are much more likely to overeat all the chips and fatty snack foods, even before a half time main dish.

3) Find the bright foods – look for the veggie and fruit tray. There has to be one at the party, stay close to it and go to it to help curb the munchies. Just to be sure, take one yourself so you know you will have a healthy alternative.

4) Workout before the game – Get your metabolism burning before you party and you will at least be burning more calories – Check out this quick but effective two exercise workout – only a few minutes to light your furnace.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwYCbzp4rp8


Enjoy your day, your family and friends. Drive safe.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Super easy and delicious Turkey Chili

Attached (just in time for football party season) is an excellent Turkey chili recipe.

This chili is loaded with turkey (or beef) and beans for zinc and B vitamins, tomatoes and green peppers for vitamin C, and butternut squash for beta-carotene.

Turkey / beef and Butternut Squash Chili

1 lb extra lean ground beef or Turkey breast
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 14 1/2 oz cans canned Mexican style stewed tomatoes
1 16 oz can chili beans
1/2 small butternut squash, peeled and cubed, about 1 1/2 cups
1 cup low sodium beef broth
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp chili powder
1 cup frozen corn kernels

Cooking:
Cook beef, bell pepper, onion and garlic over medium high heat until the meat crumbles and is no longer pink. Drain well and return to pan.

Stir in tomatoes, chili beans, squash, beef broth, cumin and chili powder and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium low and simmer, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes.

Stir in corn and cook uncovered 15 minutes or until squash is tender and chili is thickened.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 234 (22% from fat)
Fat: 6g (sat 2.3g,mono 2.3g,poly 0.4g)
Protein: 17g
Carbohydrate: 30g
Fiber: 6.8g
Cholesterol: 21mg
Iron: 2.9mg
Sodium: 642mg
Calcium: 65mg

Bon Apetite!!!


Boot Camper review:
I have made this chili several times and it’s great. I don’t cook too well but I can manage this one.

If you don’t want to play around with peeling and cutting up the squash, Trader Joe’s has butternut squash already cut up in a bag ready to cook and it really gives the chili a great flavor.

You can also use cut up frozen onions and bell peppers to save more time. For any of you on Weight Watchers, it is only three points and you get 8 one cup servings.

I freeze it in serving sizes and just microwave for lunch or dinner. Add some low fat grated cheese and some whole wheat crackers and your tummy will be happy without guilt
-C.Delgado, Anaheim

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