As many of you know, breakfast is an absolute MUST in my book. Eating a hearty breakfast helps reduce levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin, keeping you satisfied throughout the morning and allowing your mind to focus on things other than your next food fix. While you probably don't have time to make a gourmet meal before work each morning, that's no excuse to skip breakfast.
Q: I don't have time to cook — can you suggest some quick and easy breakfast, lunch, and dinner options that don't involve cooking?
A: Here you go!
Quinoa may not have reached household name-status quite yet, but it's definitely getting there. And why shouldn't it? Considered a "super grain" (it's actually not a grain at all), this seed is super high in protein, gluten free (a.k.a., easy to digest), and rich in some serious power nutrients, such as iron, magnesium, phosphorus, thiamin, and folate. If you haven't explored the world of quinoa yet, this recipe makes for a quick, easy, and delicious introduction.
I'm all for keeping things simple — especially in the kitchen. Some days are just not made for making long, complicated recipes. When you just can't look at another 30-ingredient list in the eye, it's time to try one of my quick and easy alternatives. Enter this delicious and easy chicken and white bean soup recipe. This dish is serious comfort food at its finest — and it's easy to double so you can freeze some for later.
Hey, you. Yeah, YOU! Did you really just spend the last three nights in a row mindlessly munching in front of the television? Well, unfortunately, you're not alone.
Boredom is one of the most common causes of overeating. SO many of us are drawn to the fridge the minute we have a little downtime. But if you eat because you can't find anything else to do, then you're sabotaging yourself.
When you prepare your own food, you know exactly what is going into the dishes you eat. It's easy to gauge calorie and fat content, as well as control portion size. But all bets are off when you're dining out.
One way to dodge the problem is to avoid eating out all together — but we all know that's simply not possible. The good news? You can make smart choices when you do eat out.
When it comes to losing weight, "calories in/calories out" is the name of the game. Burn more than you consume — it's that simple. But how do you know how many calories you consume in the first place?
Q: Is it better to eat a meal before or after a workout? Why?
A: Both. Here's what I like to do: have my breakfast at 9 a.m., work out from 10:30 to 12, and eat by 1 p.m. Here's why:
Q: What is your opinion on "cheat days"? My friend's trainer says it's okay to have one cheat day during the week (as long as you remain on track the rest of the time). But I've been struggling with my weight for years now, and I'm wondering if it's because of my one day of food sin every week. Am I correct?
In the late seventies, less than 15 percent of Americans were obese. Thirty years later, 32 percent of us are obese. What happened between then and now? First, the idea became popular that fat was evil and "low fat" diets were best. Whenever possible, fat was removed from processed foods and replaced with sugars and other carbs. At the same time, high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) got really cheap and became food manufacturers' go-to sweetener.
