Was it warm enough today for Popsicles? I think so!

Hi Everyone,

The nice weather today got me thinking about one of my favorite summer things: Popsicles! My favorites growing up included Missile Pops, Rocket Pops and Push-Up Pops. Unfortunately, all 3 have quite a bit of sugar and food coloring. Don't worry, there are healthy versions, too. So, first a fun fact about the beloved Popsicle, and then healthy ways to still enjoy them. :)



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POPSICLES

The Fact: The Popsicle was invented by an 11 year old who kept it secret for 18 years.

The inventor was Frank Epperson who, in 1905, left a mixture of powdered soda and water out on the porch, which contained a stir stick. That night, temperatures in San Francisco reached record lows. When he woke the next morning, he discovered that it had frozen to the stir stick, creating a fruit flavored ice treat that he named the epsicle. 18 years later he patented it and called it the Popsicle.

A great way to both enjoy Popsicles and be healthy is to make them yourselves. Yes, that's right - Homemade Popsicles! You can add your favorite fruit and juices/milk and you can have tasty original Popsicles.

My favorites:

• Cold coffee with vanilla soy milk
• Mango Orange juice with raspberries
• Pineapple juice with finely chopped strawberries

You can find Popsicle molds on Amazon.com and at local stores such as Crate&Barrel, Target and William Sonoma.

If you come up with great flavors, let me know. I am excited to try new concoctions.
Thanks for reading my blog!

That's my take :)

The fun fact about Popsicles is courtesy of  http://listverse.com/2007/12/17/top-10-incredible-food-facts/

Healthy Movie Snack Options - you won't miss the Large Popcorn at all!

Happy June Everyone,

Thank you for checking out my blog. I have passed my first 1000 hits and then some!

In an earlier blog post we found out how bad movie theater popcorn really is for your health. Today's post will make you smile again.

Below is a great article from Tanya Zuckerbrot (FoxNews) about healthy options for the next time you go to the movies :) So don't be sad because these options are better for your health and your wallet.

That's my take :)

 

Healthy Movie Theater Snacks

By Tanya Zuckerbrot

| FoxNews.co

Most likely, the last time you went to the movies, you bought something from the concession stand. You thought you were doing the right thing, opting for small popcorn rather than getting lured by the special for a large popcorn and large soda. You may have felt righteous ordering the small popcorn without the butter or a bag of fat-free Twizzlers. Despite your best intentions, these seemingly harmless movie theater snacks can still be sabotaging your best efforts to eat well.

Here's the low-down on your favorite movie theater treats and tips on how to make an evening at the movies more diet friendly.

Tanya's Tips_

http://tinyurl.com/5r6pyew

1) Pop your own. Your best bet is to make your own popcorn at home and bring it to the movies with you. Stick it in your purse or under a jacket and they won't even know you're bringing in outside food. Microwave popcorn such as Orville Redenbacher's Smart Pop mini bags or Jolly Time Healthy Pop minis are about 100 calories for the entire bag, 2 grams of fat and 5 grams of fiber. That is a savings of almost 400 calories from getting a small bag of movie theater popcorn.



http://tinyurl.com/5vy98h7



2) Bring along other healthy snacks. If popcorn isn't your thing, there are plenty of other healthy snacks that are great to munch on at the movies. Make your own trail mix with nuts, dried fruit and high-fiber cereal or bring along some grapes and cut up apples if you want a bit of crunch. Fruits will satisfy a sweet tooth without adding all the calories in gummy bears or Starbursts.

Popcorn:

Calories	Fat (g)	Sat. Fat(g)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)
Popcorn, buttered, small (5 cups)	470	35	20	43	7.5
Popcorn, buttered, medium (11 cups)	900	50	30	87	15
Popcorn, buttered, large (20 cups)	1,640	126	73	159	28
*Popcorn, microwave (Orville Redenbacher's Smart Pop mini bags (6 cups)	90	2	0	24	4

Candy:

Calories	Fat (g)	Sat. Fat(g)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)
Twizzlers (6 oz)	600	4	0	136	0
Reeses Pieces (8 oz)	1200	60	35	138	6
Junior Mints ( 3 oz)	362	6.5	5	75	1
Skittles (6.75 oz)	776	9	7	166.5	0
M&Ms Plain (5.3 oz)	753	31.5	18.8	105	3
M&Ms Peanut (5.3 oz)	762	40	15	91.5	6
Raisinets (3.5 oz)	380	16	10	64	2
Snow-Caps (3.1 oz)	360	16	10	60	4

Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD is a nutritionist and founder of Skinnyandthecity.com. She is also the creator of The F-Factor DietaC/, an innovative nutritional program she has used for more than ten years to provide hundreds of her clients with all the tools they need to achieve easy weight loss and maintenance, improved health and well-being. For more information log onto

.

www.FFactorDiet.com

Read more: http://health.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/01/29/healthy-movie-theater-snacks/#ixzz1OMTe0J8h

Pictures are sited below images found through Google Search Images.

Miso Soup with Vegetables and Tofu - Rich in Calcium!

Hi Everyone,

I found a great soup!! Monday night dinner is right around the corner. Below is a rich in calcium and low calorie soup that can satisfy your hunger and build your bones too!

I found it on http://www.self.com/fooddiet/recipes/2011/06/miso-soup-with-vegetables-and-tofu. This is another great site for food & diet information. If you would rather read an actual magazine, SELF is informative and worthy of your review.

Miso Soup With Vegetables and Tofu

Tofu is a surprisingly rich source of calcium, which may discourage your body from storing fat, especially in the tummy region.

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

• 2 1/2 tablespoons red miso (or more to taste)
• 1 large clove garlic, chopped
• 1 teaspoon finely grated ginger
• 1 1/2 tablespoon rice wine vinegar, divided
• 1/2 lb firm tofu, cut into cubes
• 1/4 lb snow peas, trimmed
• 4 pinch large radishes, thinly sliced
• 4 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1 cup pea shoots, sunflower sprouts or radish sprouts
• 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil

PREPARATION

1. Blend miso with garlic, ginger, 1 cup cool water and 1 tbsp vinegar in a food processor until smooth. Transfer miso broth to a bowl; stir in 2 cups cool water. Divide broth, tofu, snow peas, radishes and scallions among 4 bowls. Toss pea shoots with remaining 1/2 tbsp vinegar and oil; garnish each bowl before serving.

The skinny

123 calories per serving, 5 g fat (0 g saturated), 11 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 7 g protein

This recipe and picture are courtesy of Levi Brown with Self Magazine at their website http://www.self.com/.

Thanks for checking out my blog :) 

Have a great week!

That's my take :)

.

Can a Burger be Healthy???

Hi Everyone,

The answer is YES!!! A burger can be healthy for your heart :) 

Just in time for the weekend BBQ - I found a healthy twist to an American dish - the burger! This recipe and picture are courtesy of http://my.hearthealthyonline.com/recipe/beef/bulls-eye-onion-burgers/. I am loving their website. So many wonderful recipes and all heart healthy! You have to check out their site.

Bull's Eye Onion Burgers

Makes: 4 servings

Prep: 20 minutesGrill: 10 to 13 minutes

Ingredients

• 1  large sweet onion
• 1  pound 95% lean ground beef
• 1 1/2  teaspoons garlic powder
• 1/4  teaspoon salt
• 1/4  teaspoon ground black pepper
• 4  slices low fat Swiss cheese (3 ounces)
• 8  red and/or green kale leaves, stems removed
• 2  teaspoons olive oil
• 4  3/4-inch-thick slices hearty bread or Texas toast, toasted

Directions

Peel and cut onion into four 1/4-inch-thick slices; refrigerate remaining onion for another use. Shape meat loosely into four 1/2-inch-thick patties; sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, and ground black pepper. Press one onion slice into the center of each patty and shape meat around onion until top of onion is flush with the surface of the meat patty.

For a charcoal grill, place meat, onion side up, on the rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals. Grill for 10 to 13 minutes or until meat is done (160° F), turning once halfway through grilling. Top with cheese before the last minute of grilling. (For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Place patties on grill rack over heat. Cover and grill as above.) Brush kale leaves lightly with oil and add to grill the last 1 to 1 1/2 minutes of grilling.

To serve, place two kale leaves atop each bread slice. Top with a burger, onion side up.

Thanks for checking out my blog!

Happy BBQ weekend,.

That's my take :) 

Pan-Roasted Chicken Dish Worthy of Your Monday Night Dinner

Hi Everyone! I am back and ready to blog again :)  I found this great heart healthy recipe that is worthy of your Monday night dinner this week. Check it out and you will not only make your heart happy but your family too :)

Pan-Roasted Chicken with Shallots

Makes: 4 servings

Start to Finish: 20 minutes

Ingredients

8  shallots or 1 large onion
4  medium skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (1 to 1 1/4 pounds total)
Salt and ground black pepper
1  tablespoon olive oil
1  medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/4  cups snipped fresh parsley

Directions

Peel shallots; halve small shallots and quarter large shallots. If using onion, cut into thin wedges (should have 1 cup shallots or onion wedges); set aside. 

Sprinkle chicken lightly with salt and pepper.

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium. Add chicken; cook for 2 minutes. Turn chicken. Add shallots to skillet.

Cook for 8 to 10 minutes more or until chicken is no longer pink (170°F), stirring shallots frequently and turning chicken, if necessary, to brown evenly. If necessary, add additional oil to prevent sticking.

Reduce heat to medium low if chicken or shallots brown too quickly.

Transfer chicken and shallots to a serving platter. Cover to keep warm. Add zucchini to skillet. Cook and stir for 3 to 5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Add to platter with chicken. Sprinkle with parsley.

The recipe is brought to you by http://my.hearthealthyonline.com/recipe/chicken/pan-roasted-chicken-with-shallots/.  This website has many heart healthy recipes and general health information. Check it out!


I made this for dinner two nights ago having substituted onions for the shallots and it was indeed a great flavorful meal with simple ingredients. After a long work day, it totally hit the spot!


Happy May Everyone! Thanks for reading my blog.
That's my take :)