The Big Secret -- a diet tip a day ...

Cranberry S'mores

2009-12-20T06:42:00.002-06:00

These are from last year and so gooey and yummy (and a real sweet tooth satisfier) that I had to rerun them. They would be great Christmas Eve treat -- be sure to make an extra one to leave for Santa! Cranberry S'mores 1/2 cup marshmallow creme1/2 cup dried cranberries1/4 cup semisweet chocolate morsels12 graham cracker squares (2-1/2 inches each)In a small bowl, combine marshmallow creme,

Glow Your Way Through The Holidays

2009-12-19T06:27:00.003-06:00

While it's good to plan ahead for holiday eating, skipping meals entirely is a bad strategy. Study after study has shown that people who eat at regular intervals think more clearly and have fewer mood swings than those who don't eat regularly. Ironically, meal skippers are more prone to weight problems because when they finally do eat, they eat the wrong foods and too much of it.Meal skippers

Cranberry Sauce with Splenda

2009-12-18T06:34:00.004-06:00

Cranberry Sauce with Splenda1 12-oz bag cranberries1 cup apple juice3/4 cup Splenda brand sweetenerMix all ingredients in 2-qt sauce pan and bring to a boil over high heat. Lower heat to medium and simmer until berries are tender, about 10 minutes. Serve warm or chill for later use. Serves 12, 1/3 cup per serving51 calories, .5 points per serving (because of fiber).

Plus, Minus, Divide Equals Multiply. Huh?

2009-12-17T06:17:00.004-06:00

Sometimes, most of the time, we think of losing weight as subtracting food from our daily intake. But a successful diet also requires adding foods to your normal menu, including during the holiday season. More water, more fruits and vegetables, more fiber rich foods -- all of them will help you stay in control when temptation arises. They fill you up with healthy nutrients; if you eat an extra

They Always Thought You Were Crazy, Anyway

2009-12-16T06:54:00.003-06:00

Buy some plastic containers at the dollar store, decorate them with holiday stickers and ribbons, and give them as favors at your next family holiday party. Yes, they'll raise their eyebrows and think you've gone crazy ... until you fill the containers with party leftovers to send home with them. More for them, less for you. Who's scale is going to move down this week??

Use This for This

2009-12-15T06:41:00.000-06:00

If you don't like fat-free sour cream as a substitute for regular sour cream on baked potatoes or for a base for dips, try using plain fat-free yogurt instead. Straining the yogurt in cheese cloth or a paper towel for at least 30 minutes will eliminate some of the water, giving it a rich, creamy texture closer to that of sour cream. For an even creamier texture, start with fat-free Greek

100-Calorie Pumpkin Pie Tartlets

2009-12-14T06:03:00.011-06:00

This is a recipe from the Libby's Pumpking website (photo, too), and is a longer recipe than I usually post, but nice for the holidays. These are single serving (muffin-sized) crustless pumpkin pies that don't contain any artificial sweeteners (which can be a problem for some). Single-Serve Pumpkin Pies16 (2 1/2-inch) foil baking cupsNonstick cooking spray3/4 cup granulated sugar1 tablespoon

Double Your Calorie Savings

2009-12-13T06:41:00.000-06:00

Potato salad is always a good dish to take to casual holiday get togethers. You probably already use fat-free or low-fat mayo when you make it, but you can slim it down even more by substituting cherry tomatoes halves and chunks of cucumbers (or barely steamed zucchini) for half of your potatoes. You still get the party taste for almost half the calories.

Maybe I Need A Designated Drinker

2009-12-12T06:53:00.000-06:00

There are so many good reasons not to over indulge on alcoholic beverages, and empty calories is just one of them. And here's another --researchers from the University of California-Berkeley report that drinking the equivalent of just two mixed drinks (or two glasses of wine or two bottles of beer) slows up the fat burning process by a whopping 73 percent because your liver converts the alcohol

But, But, Sometimes I Need My Fast Food!

2009-12-11T06:49:00.000-06:00

The holidays mean shopping and shopping for me, at least sometimes, means fast food. And, okay, I'll admit it -- one of my favorite things to do when dieting is indulge in fast food. Yup. Now and then I have a Wendy's, just to feel like I'm not depriving myself.But I plan ahead. I have a light (1 point) bun on hand and swap it out for the big Wendy's bun, and I order my sandwich with no sauce. It

Chocolate + Vanilla = Yummy

2009-12-10T06:27:00.001-06:00

I Can't Believe It's Not Mousse1 1/2 cups cold skim milk1 package Fat Free/Sugar Free Chocolate Fudge Jello Instant Pudding Mix (4 serving size)1 package Fat Free/Sugar Free Vanilla Jello Instant Pudding Mix (4 serving size)1 8 oz. Tub Fat Free Cool WhipPour milk into large bowl and add pudding mixes. Beat with electric whip 1 minute or until well blended (mixture will be thick). Gently fold in

A Treat, Not A Binge

2009-12-09T06:01:00.000-06:00

We all allow ourselves treats now and then; denying ourselves everything but chicken breasts and steamed broccoli is a recipe for failure. But if we're not careful, a treat can turn into a binge, which brings a whole set of problems with it. Succeeding at safe "treating" can be incredibly empowering. If you can treat yourself and still remain true to your overall eating plan, you know you're in

Easy, Easy Fish and Veggies

2009-12-08T06:17:00.002-06:00

Easy, Easy Fish and Veggies*2 lbs fish fillets (use Orange Roughy, Halibut, or Flounder for mild flavor)2 cups frozen corn, broccoli, sweet red pepper combination, thawed 4 tsp lemon herb seasoning2 tsp olive oil Arrange each fillet on an 18" x 12" piece of heavy duty aluminum foil. Spoon approximately 1/2 cup vegetable mixture onto each fillet. Sprinkle each with 1 tsp seasoning and drizzle each

The Finishing Touch

2009-12-07T06:26:00.004-06:00

2 tablespoons of fat-free Reddi-Wip (not Cool Whip, which is the one you dip out of the carton with a spoon, [which is 15 calories per 2 tablespoons, by the way]; Reddi Whip is the kind you hold up to your mouth and squirt) is just 5 little calories.Two tablespoons is not really much, just a garnish, so you need to be careful not to let the squirts get away from you. But worst case scenario --

Tiny Tip -- It's About More Than Just How We Look

2009-12-06T06:20:00.000-06:00

According to Victor Stevens, Ph.D., losing as little as 5 pounds can reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure by 20 percent. How's that for motivation to stay on track during the holidays?

Chocolate Almond Chewies

2009-12-05T06:30:00.005-06:00

Certainly not a "diet food" or diet ingredients, but if you can stick to just one or two, it's a do-able goodie for the holidays. If you think it will be too hard to limit yourself, it's probably best to pass this one by.Chocolate Almond Chewies(modified from a Cooking Light recipe)1 cup semisweet chocolate chips3/4 cup white chocolate chips1 1/2 cups oven-toasted rice cereal (such as Rice

Be A Food Snob

2009-12-04T06:18:00.000-06:00

The holidays are just around the corner and it's time to start planning how to get through them with minimal damage. Here's a good one -- be a food snob!When attending cocktail parties or holiday dinners, only eat the special stuff. That is, if you make it at home or eat it regularly at restaurants, skip it at the party. Leave the baked potato on your plate and concentrate on the pear and

Plan Ahead With This Low Point Lunch

2009-12-03T06:36:00.005-06:00

Going to a holiday party tomorrow night? How about this for a satisfying, filling, 3 point lunch tomorrow to save points for later?A "BLT" made from 3 slices of Canadian bacon (any kind that is 3 or more slices per point; I get mine at Costco), tomatoes, lettuce, and a whisper of lf or ff mayo on 2 slices of toasted light bread or a light bun (2 points for the whole sandwich), a cup of Progresso

Just Call Me Punkin' Head

2009-12-02T06:37:00.002-06:00

As you've surely noticed, I love cooking with pumpkin during the holiday season. While you can't actually call this "cooking," here's a quick snack that's filling because of the fiber in the pumpkin.Stir together 1/2 cup prepared ff, sf vanilla (or caramel, if you can find it, yum) yogurt, 1/2 cup of canned pumpkin, and a dash of cinnamon or other spices of your choice. That's it -- punkin puddin

Tiny Tip -- Taming the Buffet

2009-12-01T06:26:00.003-06:00

At a buffet, eating even just a little of everything guarantees high calories. Instead, decide on three or four items, only one of which is a "treat." Save that for last.

Make Your Salad Your Friend

2009-11-30T06:58:00.002-06:00

It's no secret that salads can be a dieter's best friend or worst enemy, depending on what you put on them. The problem is, once you take all the "worst enemy" stuff off your salad, you're left with a pretty boring bowl of lettuce and tomatoes. But there are plenty of add-ons that can make your salad more interesting without a calorie explosion. Here are a few ideas:--Carrots, celery, cucumbers,

Comfort Food For A Chilly Day

2009-11-29T06:09:00.003-06:00

You can't get much more comfortable than this. Chicken Pot Pie1 lb of cooked chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces2 cans of Healthy request cream of chicken soup1 cup bisquick1 10 oz thawed mixed vegatables1/2 cup skim milk1 eggThaw frozen vegetables. Mix vegetables and soup. Add chicken to the vegetable/soup mixture and pour into medium casserole dish that has been sprayed with

Reverse Journaling

2009-11-28T06:56:00.001-06:00

Okay, we're always talking about journaling what we eat, but how about journaling what we don't eat?Everytime you pass up junk food or seconds or something you know you shouldn't eat, make a note of it and how many calories/points you've avoided. There's nothing more motivating than watching your weight loss efforts add up!

If You've Fallen Off The Wagon ...

2009-11-27T06:23:00.004-06:00

Since there's the slightest, tiniest possibility that some of us may have fallen off the diet wagon yesterday, I'm going to offer a few tips for climbing back on.--First of all, don't beat yourself up. One day doesn't a diet failure make and in the scheme of it, it's just a blip in the radar. Rather that being discouraged, feel encouraged that you're ready to start again and not let things get

Tiny Tip -- If You Do Indulge ...

2009-11-26T06:52:00.003-06:00

If you do indulge, for goodness sakes, enjoy it! (Happy Thanksgiving to all of you who celebrate the holiday. And Happy Thursday to the rest of you!)