Detox Your Way to Summer

Tue, 22 May 2012 14:20:13 -0400

Pools across the country are officially open for business this weekend. Can we all send up a celebratory cheer?!? And while I love lounging by the pool with my favorite glossy (and sunscreen, of course) I don’t always love how my diet makes me feel. Chips and cookies are probably not the best pre-lounging foods am I right? And after a long winter of heavy foods and a few extra treats, I need a kickstart this week to feel my best. But I’m so not a fan of shelling out big bucks on a juice cleanse or going on an extreme deprivation diet. Luckily there are ways to detox safely and naturally before we hit the poolside.

1. Stop Eating Junk Food
I know, this seems so obvious. But if you’re like me, this is probably the hardest to do. Foods filled with sugar and fat are a fast ticket to weight gain, irritability, and low energy levels. And nobody wants that. To make this happen, take a pause before you eat anything to make sure you’re really hungry and that what you’re about to shovel in is worth it. When you stop eating junk food, you quickly start to lose your cravings for it. In fact, if you can cut out the junk for 21 days, you might just lose the cravings for good. It’s only a few days of willpower!

2. Banish the Bloat
No one wants to feel puffy and gassy when they pull on their bikini. If you already eat pretty well, try cutting out foods like beans, artificial sweetener, alcohol (yes, bummer), and anything salty to flatten your tummy.

3. Hydrate the Right Way
Now is the time to get rid of the empty calories found in soda and alcohol. Focus on hydrating with water or metabolism-boosting green tea. If you think water is super-boring, check out these fun ways to add a little flavor. You can also try this secret from Jillian Michaels!

4. Keep it Fresh
Stick to all natural whole foods that are as close to nature as possible. The vitamins, minerals and antioxidants of fruits and veggies will make you glow from the inside out as they help eliminate the toxins you let in over the winter. Not to mention, fresh foods help to maintain your energy levels and promote healthy sleeping habits, which help you stick to your beach body workouts!

And go the extra mile by…

5. Choose Foods with Detoxing Properties
You already cut out the junk for a few days and are picking fresh, whole foods, but you can go an extra step and pick foods full of natural detoxing powers. They decrease belly bloat, aid in healthy digestion, help to alkalize the body, and more, so you're sure to feel lighter after eating these good-for-you foods. Check out watercress, lemon, any dark leafy green, any fresh fruit (but especially berries), cabbage, artichokes (but not in a cheesy dip!), beets, ginger and garlic, green tea, oatmeal, and salmon.

Lazy Girl Recipes: 3 Easy Summer Meals with 6 Ingredients

Tue, 15 May 2012 12:54:46 -0400

In the summer, the last thing I want to do is cook. I spend all winter making heavy meals like stew and as I start to shed my layers of clothing, my meals get lighter too. It’s not only due to the heat outside, which just kills my desire to ever turn on the oven, but I just don’t want to spend my time inside! I’d so much rather spend my limited free time after work running or walking my dog or playing in the park! So, needless to say, I’m always on the lookout for quick, creative, and easy recipes I can whip up on the fly. Here are three of my favorite weeknight dishes for the summer!

Pesto Pasta with Lemon, Spinach, Edamame & Toasted Almonds
serves 4 to 6 (perfect for a picnic or leftovers!)

There’s no better combination than pesto and pasta (okay, maybe chocolate and peanut butter…) and this dish mixes them in a bright and elegant way, and the only time it takes is the time to boil water and cook the pasta. Easy peasy! This is a great option for an outdoor party or picnic as it doesn’t need to be refrigerated and is delicious room temp or chilled.

Ingredients
8 ounces spaghetti
1/2 cup pesto
8 ounces spinach
2 cups edamame (shelled and shucked, the peas, not entire pods)
juice from 2 lemons (plus fresh lemon wedges for serving)
3/4 cup almonds, crushed and lightly toasted

Directions
Heat a large pot of water to boiling, cook pasta until al dente. Remove from water, strain and rinse with cold water. In a large bowl, stir pasta, pesto and spinach until combined (some spinach will wilt, some will stay firm — this is a nice contrast of textures). Finally, stir in the edamame and squirt the lemon all over the finished dish. Reserve a few lemon slices for people to add more if they like. On a low heat, toast crushed almonds until just fragrant. Garnish pasta with the toasted almonds.

BBQ Chicken Pizza with Caramelized Onions
makes 2 thin crust pizzas, serves 4 to 6

Pizza is the ultimate in weeknight time-saving dinners. Everybody likes it and it only takes 15 minutes. To save time, you can pick up pre-made dough from the grocery store or pizza shop. And if you have a leftover piece of grilled chicken, you’re even closer to enjoying the yumminess of caramelized onions and BBQ chicken!

Ingredients
1 medium yellow onion, sliced
Olive oil
1 grilled chicken breast, chopped into bite-size pieces
1 lb ball fresh mozzarella, sliced
1 cup BBQ sauce
1 cup tomato sauce
1 ball pizza dough (approximately 22 oz or enough for a large pizza)
Flour for rolling out dough
Tomatoes, to garnish

Directions
Preheat oven to 425°F. Heat a heavy-bottom pan over medium heat. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned. Add a tablespoon of water to the hot pan and scrape off any brown bits. Remove from heat.

Using flour as needed, roll out half of pizza dough until thin (thin enough so the dough isn't in danger of tearing). Place dough on pan or stone. Spoon 1/2 cup tomato sauce and 1/4 cup BBQ sauce onto dough. Add 1/2 pound sliced mozzarella and half of the chopped chicken. Repeat with remaining dough for second pizza.

Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until dough is crisp and cheese is melted. Add caramelized onions to cooked pizzas, and drizzle with remaining 1/4 cup BBQ sauce. Add thin sliced tomatoes for garnish.

Artichoke, Spinach & Ricotta Pie
serves 4 to 6

Whenever I have an egg-based dish for dinner, I feel very French. I don’t know why. But there’s something so elegant about quiches and the like…even though they are ridiculously easy! This egg and ricotta tart does takes awhile to cook, there’s no getting around that. But I promise it’s worth it!

Ingredients
Olive oil
4 eggs, beaten
8 ounces ricotta cheese
4 ounces Parmesan, grated
1 cup canned artichokes, chopped
1 bunch spinach (or arugula)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions
Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 9-inch cake pan lightly with olive oil.

In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, ricotta cheese, and Parmesan. Roughly chop the artichokes and thinly slice the kale leaves and add to the cheese and egg mixture. Season lightly with salt and generously with black pepper Stir until combined.

Pour contents of bowl into the greased cake pan and drizzle with olive oil. Cook until custard is set, about 40 to 50 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 5 to 10 minutes and serve.

Adapted from The Kitchn.

{Summer Guide} Best Diet Tips for the Season

Mon, 14 May 2012 12:49:55 -0400

It’s summertime, and you can expect to find yourself poolside, at the beach, at the ballpark, or at a barbecue, where you’ll be tempted by a juicy hot dog or a cool and creamy ice-cream sundae. I know in the summer I find it easier to eat healthfully most of the time because when it’s hot out, who wants to eat something hot? And there are so many yummy fruits and veggies that are in season! But, I really do enjoy backyard barbecues…and tend to undo any dieting progress in a few hours. And don’t get me started on vacation. Sure, I’ll have a beer on the beach at 10am. Why not?!? Are you the same? We don’t have to give in! Here are seven tips for eating healthfully during this tempting season.

Try Spicy Foods
Did you know, spicy foods have been shown to help people eat less during meals and throughout the day. Eating a tablespoon of chopped red or green chili pepper can also increase your metabolic rate! It’s all thanks to Capsaicin. It’s the spicy part of the pepper that makes your mouth feel like it’s on fire, and it has been shown to act as an appetite suppressant. Try adding red pepper flakes to pasta and omelets or make a spicy jalapeno burger! Sabra makes a delicious spicy hummus that makes a perfect afternoon snack with some crunchy carrots and celery.

Eat Grilled Fish or Chicken at the Barbecue
It’s simple, chicken and fish are much leaner options than many other summer foods – like hamburgers, for example. Make the event a potluck so you feel less weird bringing your own healthy option.

Focus On Calcium-Rich Foods
Research has shown that calcium in a woman’s diet can aid in helping to reduce body fat and to lose weight. Milk isn’t the only option – almonds and leafy green vegetables such as broccoli, spinach and kale are all high in calcium. Also, don’t shy away from nonfat yogurt. Summer is a great time to enjoy a fruit and yogurt and low-fat granola parfait or a smoothie for breakfast!

Eat More Often
If you eat only large meals with many hours in between, you’re training your metabolism to slow down. Having a small meal every three hours will keep your metabolism at an optimal rate, so you burn more calories over the course of the day. Also, if you snack regularly, you are more likely to eat less at mealtime. Some healthy snack options are nuts, berries, apples with peanut butter, and popcorn without butter.

Go Big On Protein
When your body digests protein, it burns many more calories than it does digesting fats or carbohydrates. Eating lean protein at each meal – particularly breakfast – will help keep away hunger pangs for longer so that you don't arrive at the next meal feeling ravenous. Some healthy protein options are turkey, lean beef, fish, tofu, beans, and eggs.

Drink Lots Of Water
Obvious, right? But it’s more important than you think. During summertime, you need water more than usual because of the heat, which can easily cause dehydration. In addition to its hydrating effects, water also fills you up between meals. Studies have shown that people who drink water before meals eat fewer calories. Why? Because your body has a hard time differentiating hunger from thirst, so if you don’t drink enough water, you may feel like you’re hungry when you’re really just dehydrated. And that can lead to eating more calories than you want to.

Enjoy Low-Calorie Frozen Treats
When it’s hot outside, there are few things that sound more appealing than ice cream. But there are several frozen options that are much healthier, such as low-fat frozen yogurt. Another tasty option is to freeze orange juice in an ice tray, and eat the cubes as popsicles. Frozen grapes and berries can also serve as refreshing summer pick-me-ups. I love to make my own soft-serve using…bananas! Trust me on this one. Freeze a few bananas (without the peel) and give them a whirl in the food processor or blender. You can even add some cocoa to make it chocolatey!

Thirsty Thursday: Fruit Infusions

Thu, 10 May 2012 19:01:49 -0400

I know that I usually bring you a cocktail recipe in this column, because, well, they’re just fun and playing bartender makes me feel like Megan Draper making fancy drinks for my friends in my mod Manhattan apartment. (Yes, I’m a Mad Men nerd. Sorry I’m not sorry.) But sometimes, I just don’t want to drink. I know, shocking! Whether I’m trying to cut out some extra calories or I’m hosting a baby/bridal shower or you know, it’s 11am on a Monday morning, alcohol jus doesn’t seem appealing. But, I have a secret: I hate water.

Ugh I know you’re supposed to drink it all day long. I remember when I was on Weight Watchers a few years ago, I used to carry a huge bottle around with me all day long and I could barely make it through meetings because I had to go to the bathroom constantly. Anyway, water’s boring. But not if you add a few special ingredients…fruit!

Thank about it. This summer, wouldn't it be nice to have pitchers of flavored waters in the fridge to make drinking water delicious? It’s refreshing and will hydrate you like it’s supposed to (unlike diet soda) and has a little bit of sweetness without any calories. If you like sparkling water, you could even try it with the bubbly stuff!

Some of my favorite combos: Lime and lemon, obviously. Watermelon and mint. Cucumber and mint. Anything with mint. Strawberries and basil. Grapefruit. Pineapple! It’s like going to a spa anytime you want! This version even makes the spa portable. And look at these…so refreshing.

{And if you want a boozy option, try tonic with lime, mint and cucumber. All you need is the gin!}

Lazy Girl Recipe: Brunch Granola Cups

Wed, 09 May 2012 18:45:48 -0400

I’m a sucker for individually-portioned foods. Cake? Better as a cupcake. Scrambled eggs? I’d rather have an omlette. And now, here is a just-for-me version of one of my most favorite breakfast foods: granola and yogurt. How genius are these granola cups? Ok, I know it’s essentially a granola bar. I get it. But you can’t fill a granola bar with yogurt and fruit! And the best part is, you can make them with a regular muffin tin for a full breakfast serving or use a mini muffin tin to make a more bite sized version for brunch (like say, a Mother’s Day brunch…)

Luckily for us, making a batch is fairly quick and easy. And if you’re making the bowls for a brunch, it’s a snap to make them the day before, meaning you get to sleep in and still be a fabulous hostess.

Brunch Granola Cups
Makes about 12 regular sized cups or 24 to 30 Mini Cups

Ingredients:
4 Tbsp Butter
1/4 Cup Honey
1/4 Cup Molasses
2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Ginger
1/4 tsp Cloves
1/4 tsp Salt
1 tsp Vanilla
2 Cups Old Fashioned Oats (Not Quick Cook!)
1/2 Cup Wheat Germ
1/4 Cup Flax Seed
1/4 Cup Sliced Almonds
1/4 Cup Dried Cranberries

Directions:
To a small sauce pan, add the butter, honey, molasses, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt. Heat until butter is melted and ingredients are combined. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.

In a separate bowl mix together the oats, wheat germ, flax seed, almonds and cranberries.

Pour the liquid over the dry ingredients and stir until completely coated and place the mixture into the fridge for about 30 minutes to cool.

When ready to bake, grease up a muffin tin and fill each opening about 2/3 full. Using your fingers press into the center of the hole and then work your way around the edges to form a bowl. If the dough is sticky, wet your fingers with cold water, shake them out, and proceed. Repeat as necessary.

Place the bowls into an oven preheated to 325 degrees. For regular sized muffin cups, cook about 15-17 minutes. For mini muffin cups, cook about 10-12 minutes.

Let cool completely before removing from the tin.

Store in an air tight container. When ready to eat, pull one out and fill with the yogurt of your choice. Top with fresh berries.

From Mommie Cooks.

7 Ways Junk Food Makes You Miserable

Mon, 07 May 2012 11:14:22 -0400

You know it’s not good for you. Sugar. Trans fats. Carb overload. These diet devils are what’s lurking in all that junk food—and weight gain isn’t the only thing they cause. Foods like processed “white” carbs, cookies, potato chips, sodas, and high-fat burgers and fries not only pack on the pounds, they cause physical side effects that make you look and feel like, well, crap. The last few weeks I have been indulging a little bit too much (thanks to a stressful work project and some relationship woes) and started to notice a few awful side effects (see #2 and #5 and a horribly broken out face), so I did some research and found these seven potential side effects of a diet high in junk food that just might motivate you to make a beeline for the nearest Whole Foods (where I’m headed after work!).

1. Pass the Wrinkle Cream Please
What’s bad for your waistline is also bad for your face. We all have heard that sugar and grease cause zits, but sugars, trans fats and starches can also cause insulin to surge and trigger an inflammatory response, the end product of which is a fancy-science term called glycation. This speeds the aging process (aka, gives you wrinkles) by deactivating the body’s own age-fighting antioxidants, making you more prone to sun damage and premature aging. Eek!

2. Tight Jeans (The dryer must have shrunk them…again!)
There is a ton of sodium in processed junk foods, and sodium is a big cause of bloating. How? The purpose of sodium is to regulate the amount of blood in your vessels, but it also attracts water. High concentrations of sodium pull water from your cells, causing your body to hang on to extra fluid to compensate. And get this: If you’re a fan of diet soda, which many body-conscious girls are, it can make matters even worse: The combination of bubbles (which trap air) and artificial sweeteners (which can cause gas) is bloat central.

3. That…uh…Not-So-Regular Feeling
Sorry to be so frank, but white bread, white rice, and other “white” (read: processed) products can cause constipation because they contain little to no fiber, and fiber moves everything through the body. Dehydration can make constipation worse as well, and if you’re coupling your white bread with booze—knocking back beers and hot dogs at a Sunday afternoon ball game—you’re not looking at a regular Monday morning.

4. A Roll of Tums for Breakfast
Too many high-fat meals are a recipe for acid indigestion. Foods high in saturated fat take longer to digest; so when you haven’t fully digested last night’s cheeseburger and fries, excess stomach acid can splash back into your esophagus the next time you eat (gross), causing heartburn.

5. Crazy-Lady PMS
Foods don’t actually cause PMS, but some can certainly make it worse. Sugar and starches can cause insulin to spike and then drop, which affects brain chemicals and may make mood swings way worse. Apparently, sweet coffee drinks are one of the worst things you can indulge in when your hormones are raging—the combo of sugar and the simulant effect of caffeine (and the subsequent crash) can push you over the edge. Sorry Starbucks! Looks like I’m skipping my afternoon treat this week!

6. Headache Central
Tyramine, a chemical formed in the breakdown of a certain protein in food colorants, dyes, and nitrates (found in hot dogs and other processed meats) is a known headache inducer; experts believe it increases blood flow to the brain, causing vascular changes that result in pain. If the snack you’re about to eat has a hue that’s not found in nature, you may want to steer clear.

7. A Down-in-the-Dumps Mood
Studies show that people who eat a lot of junk food are more likely to experience depression. Even if you don’t fall into a serious funk, pigging out on food that’s not good for you will make feel lousy (and guilty)—and when you don’t feel great your mood is bound to be lousy as well.

Have you experienced any of these sh*tty side effects? How did you make yourself feel better?

Sunday Slim-Down: Get Back on Track

Sun, 06 May 2012 15:33:36 -0400

We know how it is: You're vigilant about your diet five days a week, counting calories and picking salads over fries, but around Friday at 5pm when the work week ends, so does your attention to exercise and what you eat. Come Sunday afternoon, after a weekend of fried foods and cocktails you wake up feeling bloated and even a pound or two heavier. You immediately resolve that you’ll start tomorrow and never do it again! Right? But don't get discouraged or make crazy vows you’re just going to break. We have an easy-to-follow action plan to help you get your diet back on track.

Don't Starve Yourself
Like I said, you don’t have to go all dramatic on me. Don't skip a meal or two just because you feel you might have blown it on the weekend. Simply start the day with a filling, low-calorie breakfast like a bowl of oatmeal or cereal that has 150 calories and no less than 4 grams fiber per serving paired with skim milk and fruit for added fiber so you'll feel fuller on fewer calories.

Track Everything
Resolve to keep track of eating and physical activity for the whole week (on the weekend, too) and by the following weekend you'll be back on track. The single best predictor of whether a person loses weight is if the person keeps a food diary. I know it sucks, but sites like Sparkpeople or Fitday are as convenient as possible (and free!)

Don't Give Up Exercise…
Everyone deserves an exercise break, but the downside of infrequent or irregular workouts may be a contributing factor in why your scales have stopped dropping. You’ll feel better and stay stronger if you commit to working out at least one day over the weekend.

…But Don’t Go Overboard
Just because you overdid it, don’t turn around and overdo it at the gym. Using a workout to “purge” your weekend wrongdoings is going down a bad road for your mental health. Instead, go on a long walk with a friend or hit the gym to do whatever you would normally do so you feel better without going to a negative place.

Ease Up
Sticking to too strict a diet on Monday can be just as ineffective for weight loss success as overeating on the weekend. Strict restrictions lead to a repetitive pattern of self-deprivation, which can result in bingeing, weight-grain and worsening self-image. Doesn’t sound good, does it? Instead, be smart about picking filling, but controlled portions.: Portion control is absolutely central to losing weight.

Change One Thing
Don't measure success by stepping on the scale and expecting a 3-pound weight loss. When you change your behavior it can be overwhelming to change everything all at one time. Start off with diet. Though both diet and exercise are important for weight loss, you lose more weight by learning how to make healthy food habits and portion control. And stay patient. It can take six to 12 weeks to add and master one healthy habit in your life. Remember, each new week presents a fresh start at striving for healthy weight loss.

Thirsty Thursday: The Perfect Paloma

Thu, 03 May 2012 20:26:04 -0400

Did you know that the most popular tequila-based drink in Mexico is not the almighty Margarita, but in fact, the Paloma. And I have to say, I can understand why. They are delightfully refreshing and sophisticated and the color is just so pretty! I fell in love with these cocktails a year or so ago at a local Mexican resto and now order them whenever I can.

The Paloma is not too sweet, but is light and bubbly thanks to club soda and grapefruit juice. If you struggle to drink tequila cocktails because of some college flashbacks, this might be the drink that makes it ok again! Enjoy!

Ingredients
1 1/2 shots of tequila (any good quality blanco)
juice of half a ruby grapefruit
1/2 shot of agave syrup or sugar syrup
club soda
fresh lime juice (optional)

Mix the grapefruit juice, tequila and sugar syrup until well mixed. Pour over a tall glass filled with ice and top up with soda water. You could add a squirt of lime juice which adds a nice flavor, and you could also rim the glass with salt.

If you want to reduce your sugar intake, simply leave the sugar out. It’s less sweet but delicious. You could also simply use a grapefruit soda like Squirt, which comes in a diet option if you’re looking to cut a few calories!

Adapted from Drizzle and Drip.

Grapefruit not your thing? No problem. Here are some other great cocktails for celebrating Cinco de Mayo!

Micheladas

Ruby Red Sangria

Cucumber Margarita

And just for fun, Margarita Popsicles! Cheers!

Lazy Girl Recipe: Quesadillas {Three Ways}

Tue, 01 May 2012 21:19:52 -0400

I know what you’re thinking. Quesadillas? Anyone can make that, it’s just cheese and a tortilla, duh! Oh, but it can be so much more. See, I’ll let you in on a little secret. I hate dinner. Since moving in with my boyfriend, making dinner usually falls to me. Now don’t get your panties in a twist. He doesn’t “make” me do it, it just makes sense for our lifestyle because he gets home from work later and does the dishes. But anyway, I hate dinner because I am so uncreative. I always forget to plan anything and then it’s 7pm and I haven’t started cooking anything and we’re starving and getting cranky.

Been there?

That’s why quesadillas are awesome. You can put anything in them! Seriously forget what you know about them and check out these “fancy” quesadillas that use simple ingredients, take only minutes to make from start to finish, and will please everybody. No crankiness involved!

Sweet Potato and Spinach Quesadillas
Sweet potatoes and spinach are superfoods, so not only are you making a quick and easy meal, you’re making one with major health benefits. Way to go you!

Ingredients {Serves Two}
1 medium sweet potato
1/2 large red onion, sliced
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
4 (6-inch) flour tortillas
2-3 cups baby spinach
1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella
3 tsp olive oil, divided

Directions
Poke sweet potato with a fork and microwave until tender, about 8-10 minutes.

Meanwhile, sautée onions over medium high heat with 1tsp of the oil.

Split cooked potato open with a knife; remove the skin and transfer to a bowl. Use a fork to mash potato with salt and pepper; divide potato filling among 2 tortillas. Top each with 1 heaping cup spinach, 1/4 cup cheese, and another tortilla.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, heat 1 teaspoon oil and transfer 1 quesadilla to skillet; cook until quesadilla is crisp and cheese is melted (about 3 minutes per side). Place another pan on top of the quesadilla while it’s cooking to help it flatten and melt the cheese. Repeat with remaining oil and quesadilla. Cut quesadillas in quarters and serve each with nonfat Greek yogurt. If you like something a little sweet, add a few dried cranberries in the filling. Yum!

Adapted from Health.

Shrimp and Goat Cheese Quesadillas
This can be made in literally 10 minutes. I know the combo sounds a little strange -- spicy shrimp, peppers and onions, and goat cheese – but it is really really good. Be sure to top this version with a few slices of avocado and some fresh salsa!

Ingredients {Serves Two}
4 flour tortillas
8 raw shrimp (frozen or fresh, deveined with tails off)
1/2 cup frozen sauteed pepper and onion mix
1/2 cup shredded pepperjack cheese
1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese
pinch of chili powder
pinch of salt
pinch of cayenne
salsa and avocado slices for serving

Directions
Heat up the frozen bell pepper and onion mix in a skillet over high heat for about a minute. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside.

In the same skillet, spray with cooking spray and crank up the heat to high. Add the shrimp and cook quickly for about thirty seconds. Add the cayenne pepper, salt and chili powder and toss to coat. Immediately take off heat (shrimp cook fast!).

Scatter pepperjack cheese and goat cheese on two tortillas and then top each with four cooked shrimp and a little bit of the onion and pepper mix. Lay other tortillas on top and cook each in a greased skillet over medium heat until the cheese has melted and the tortillas are golden brown and crispy.

Let cool and then cut into four slices with a pizza cutter. Serve with avocado slices and salsa.

Adapted from Eat Live Run.

Pesto Chicken Quesadillas
This is an amazing combo. Pesto is flavor-overload. Basil, garlic, parmesan cheese… it’s all there. Bonus – you can buy pesto at the store. Add that to flour tortillas and more cheese and you’re golden. Then, pack in the flavor with shredded chicken and fresh tender spinach leaves.

Ingredients {Serves Two}
4 6-inch flour tortillas
2 tablespoons basil pesto
1/2 cup shredded cooked chicken
1/2 cup packed fresh spinach leaves
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions
Heat a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat.

To assemble one quesadilla, spread 1 tablespoon of pesto on 1 tortilla and top with chicken, spinach and cheese. Top with another tortilla. Repeat with remaining tortilla.

Add one quesadilla to the pan and cook 1-2 minutes on both sides until heated through and cheese has melted. Repeat with remaining quesadilla. Cut into four and serve immediately.

Adapted from Inspired Taste.

50 Habits of Thin People: The Weekend

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 13:46:26 -0400

Rounding out our four-part series on those little tips and tricks naturally thin people use to stay well, naturally thin, are these slimming habits you should adopt to your weekend routine. (See the others here, here, and here.) I know you’re busy having as much fun as possible during your escape from work…that’s why these tips are quick and easy. No “work” involved.

39. Dance It Out
Spend Saturday night dancing away with your girls. Keep your drinking in control (alternate a low-cal drink like vodka soda with water) and you’ll blast a ton of calories while having an amazing night.

40. Make it bacon
When you head out to brunch, order three slices of crisp bacon instead of two sausage links, and pat off the extra grease.

41. Ditch Your Dinner Date
It’s so easy to overeat at restaurants. Instead of catching up over a restaurant table, make a plan to socialize or go on dates doing nonfood activities, like walking together, window-shopping, or visiting a new art museum. Likewise, when you want to get out of the house on a Saturday night, look for fun activities.

42. Movie time
Most people eat 45% more popcorn from large-size containers, so make sure you get only a small and always skip the butter, which adds more calories than the popcorn itself. Bring your own seasoned salt or Parmesan cheese for more flavor.

43. Orient yourself
At Chinese restaurants, be sure to avoid anything named General Tso or Crispy, which means fried. Eat only the filling of the egg roll and not the shell.

44. Plan Ahead
Your weekends are often too packed to accommodate your regular diet-and-exercise schedule, but that doesn't mean you can't make healthy choices. Pack healthy food if you're running errands and eat a little something before a party so you aren't starving when you arrive.

45. Cut the cheese
Eh…not that way! Order your pizza with half the cheese or even cheese-less, and then sprinkle with a few tablespoons of Parmesan.

46. Have a hot dog!
Baseball season has started and strangely, a hot dog at the ballpark isn’t your worst bet! Pile on the pickles, onions and sauerkraut — these fiber-packed condiments will fill you up and prevent you from eating a second dog. Skip the cheese and chili.

47. Think about your drink
Consider beer or wine instead of a frozen drink: A glass of regular beer has 140 calories and a serving of wine has 126 calories, while a strawberry daiquiri has about 300 and a margarita 340.

48. Fix your fries
Rather than asking for medium fries, get an order of onion rings (8 to 9 rings). At least it’s sort of a vegetable…

49. Scream for sorbet
Indulge in chocolate sorbet instead of chocolate ice cream to shave off a ton of calories and fat.

50. Make whoopee
Yeah, I said it. Use your sexy time to stay away from the kitchen! Instead of a bowl of ice cream as a bedtime snack, have some fun with your significant other! Not only will you be too busy to eat, you’ll burn a few calories too.