Love that Crispy Skin on the Chicken?

Learn to hate it.

Sorry, but that's my tip for today. If you don't buy skinless chicken, really consider NOT eating the skin with your meat. Just hearing it phrased like that gives it a gross appeal, doesn't it?

If you need to bake your chicken with the skin on to keep it moist, then go ahead, but don't let the skin reach your dinner plate if you are actively trying to lose pounds. It's pure fat, really, and as such is not good for your arteries or your diet. So get your head around doing without and you'll be a lot healthier for it.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. We're hoping for some swim time at our home. What about you?

Blessings,

Eileen

Skim Milk

For those of us old enough to remember, do you recall way back when skim milk had a blue'sh hue to it? Enough to set you running from it at once. I do. But where did that tint go?

I started drinking 1% milk a few years back to cut back on fat intake and found I liked it. Then, last year I decided I'd give the blue milk a try again, in order to cut back even more fat. To my surprise, skim milk is no longer blue'sh in color and it tastes every bit as good as 1%, at least to me it does. I really don't notice the difference, at all.

By cutting back to the lowest fat milk you can possible handle, you'll save mega calories throughout the year, even if you are not a straight milk drinker. Consider how much milk you use in your cooking. Scrambled eggs, macaroni and cheese, white sauces, cheese sauces, creamed soups, casseroles, etc. Even when you don't gravitate to a glass of milk, we probably consume a lot more than we think we do of the milky way substance and chosing to buy only skim or 1% will help cut back calories while still benefiting from milk's nutritional value.

So if you haven't already cut back on the fat content in your milk, consider working your way down, one level at a time.

Blessings,

Eileen

Stress Release

Hi, All:

If you're like me, or at least, how I used to be, you'll gravitate to empty-calorie food when times of stress hit. For our own health, we have to conquer this defeating action. And that's not going to happen when you're in the thick of things, is it?

So, what about practicing better alternatives to stress release ahead of time? What about training our minds to gravitate toward something healthier as a calming, stress-buster?

Consider things you enjoy. Do you enjoy pumping iron? Do you enjoy gardening, walking, talking to an old friend, digging up worms for your next fishing exhibition, quilting, needle work, writing, cleaning? The list is endless. While you're not in high stress take the time to discover things that you can turn to in times of despair or agitation to keep you from sabotaging your healthy attempts at eating well when those difficult hours/days strike. If you prepare ahead of time and train your mind to directly desire healthy choices instead of destructive food, then you'll have a better chance at combating the old stand-in harmful stress releases.

So take a few moments this weekend to consider what has a calming and peaceful effect on you and make note of it for the next time you need a quick diversion.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Blessings,

Eileen

Need a Pick-Me-Up?

The corner of my little world has been very busy and stressful lately, so I guess I have an excuse for my poor eating habits. However, that's not going to help me maintain a healthy, energetic body. Is it?

So, although I haven't gained weight, I do feel more fatigued lately and I'm sure it is due to not eating my proper vege and fruit intake and keeping up with my vitamins. Even my fingers are telling me to get back on track, as the signs of arthritis are painfully creeping back in.

Do you have segments like this in your life? If you're human, you most likely do and all I can suggest is to try and stop that inner chatter and anxiety long enough to take notice of the downward spiral, as I'm doing right now, and force yourself to take care of your God given temple--your body.

I'm heading upstairs to my kitchen now, and I'm going to force some broccoli, cauliflower and celery down me, along with a boiled egg or two and take my multi vitamin, B6 included for my arthritis, and then I know I'll at least feel that much better for taking care of my body.

May we all find a moment to get our priorities realigned!

Blessings!

Eileen

If you're interested...

Hi, Everyone!

I just wanted to let you guys know that I've been very luck to interview new authors on my writer's blog every Thursday. Besides offering great advice and encouragement for those interested in writing, many of these authors offer a giveaway of their newest novels via my site to help promote their books and get their name out there.

The process to have a chance at winning the books is simple, just drop a comment in their specific interview posting sometime during the week following their posting and you'll be entered into the drawing.

So, if a book being offered strikes your fancy, please do support these authors by posting a comment. All you have to do is click on the word "comment" below the post and it will take you to a comment section where you can even enter as anonymous, but be sure to include your "augmented" e-mail address (by way of adding spaces or brackets around the "@" and "." in your address for your safety against cyber predators) so that I know who to contact if your entry should be drawn.

In this competitive publishing world, authors really do like to see many people enter their giveaway drawings. It's truly encouragement for them.

Just thought I'd let you all know of this opportunity.

Blessings,

Eileen

Try this...

I thought I'd post a recipe today from my Magic Cuisine cook book. This is one that you can substitute any ground meat in. I've tried it with beef, turkey and chicken and have enjoyed each one.

Cottage Meat Loaf

1 1/4 cup Healthy Choice pasta sauce (I use the blue menu PC sauce)
2 large eggs, beaten
1 cup cooked rice (I like the basmati rice)
1/4 cup chopped onion (chopped fine so the kids don't discover them)
1 cup chopped red pepper
16 oz ground turkey breast
1/4 tsp. dry mustard
2 tsp. brown sugar substitute

Preheat oven to 400F.

Mix one cup of the pasta sauce, eggs, rice, onion, and red pepper in a bowl until blended. Add ground turkey breast. Mix gently but thoroughly.

Line a 9" X 5" loaf pan with foil. Press in the turkey mixture.

Combine remaining pasta sauce, dry mustard, and brown sugar substitute in a bowl to make meat loaf topping. Spread over turkey mixture. Bake meat loaf for one hour or until done. Drain any fat. Let stand five minutes before serving.

Serves four.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings,

Eileen

Tiny Sacrifices

Okay, I seem to be hitting that alerting number way too often lately.

Here we go again to rid myself of the extra two pounds. I'm starting to believe I'm on some kind of nasty roller coaster. Perhaps it's because I haven't been walking near enough lately. My dogs are depressed about that, so that alone should get me back on track. Right! Anyone in particular want to join me on those walks two or three times a week? I could use some accountability right about now. Just asking. No pressure, K.

Anyway, I'm back to being severely disciplined again. I had my 1/3 cup bran buds with 1/3 cup skim milk and a sliced banana for breaky. For lunch, once again I was rushing for orthodontal appointments, so I stopped at good old Tim's and picked up a 6" egg salad sandwich on whole wheat. Okay, that wasn't so good. Too many carbs and likely way more mayo than I ever should consume in a week, much less a day. But a girl's got to eat.

For dinner, I'm baking a salmon steak seasoned with lemon juice and enjoying fresh peppers, zucchini, celery, and a couple baby carrots to help offset the lunch oops.

The tiny sacrificing part--well that comes from me having the above instead of what the rest of the family will enjoy. Chinese Noodle Casserole. That baby has way too much sodium in it for me with the cans of tomato soup and mushroom soup in it. But my oldest will have a very tender mouth as her bottom braces settle in, so I have to make something easy to chew. Something "soft" as she describes it. Fresh veges just won't do. Wonder if the rest of the family will join me with the fresh vege's, though. I hope so!

So, if you're being disciplines and sacrificing calories like I am today. Don't feel alone. We'll trudge through these tiny sacrifices together and watch those unwanted pounds disappear once more.

Blessings to all!

Eileen

Precious Mother's Day Blessing

I posted this on my writer's blog yesterday to celebrate, but thought it fitting to post here as well.

Family is what makes Mother's Day special and I just wanted to brag about mine. My three wonderful daughters, with my amazing husband created this meal from scratch for me today.







When asked what I would like for my Mother's Day meal, I mentioned how I enjoyed my husband's unique sauces and that I had a craving for sauteed peppers and zucchini. Well, doesn't my family just find the perfect recipes. They even arranged it on the plate in the shape of an "M". For disclosure of what I fully enjoyed for supper tonight, I've included the menu plan that my daughter, Sabrina, typed up and placed next to my place setting for me.

Thank you dear family for a wonderful meal! You guys rock!! I love you all very much!!

I'm the luckiest Mom around. Praise God for His amazing grace!

Now, you will notice that my family also kept my weight control issues in mind as they created this meal. Grilled boneless skinless chicken breast with lots of lightly stirfried veges in a light olive oil spray. Even the wonderful sauces were low in fat and sugar content. So I enjoyed an amazing, decedant meal, without guilt!

As for the dessert--well, we won't think about the calories that came with that, but I deserved it, it was after all MOTHER'S DAY!

On an aside. If you enjoy reading Christian Romances, Steeple Hill's Love Inspired line especially, drop into my writer's blog and leave a comment on the posting of my interview with Cheryl Wyatt, author of A Soldier's Promise and A Soldier's Family for a chance to win an autographed set of these fast paced, high-energy debut novels. Drawing takes place on Wednesday evening.

And, hey, what do you all think of the new template for this blog? Is it better, or worse than the old one and is there any specific topics you'd like to see addressed here to help you with your goal? I'm up for suggestions. Let's work together to fight the low-metabolism challenge.

Blessings,

Eileen

Happy Mother's Day!

Hi, All:

For all you Mothers out there, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, early, from me! May you have some wonderful bonding time with your families and may they be supportive of your weight loss endeavors by not presenting you with any forbidden goodies.

But just in case they aren't on the same thought process as you, maybe you should prepare for such a gift by behaving really well until the big day. That way you can enjoy their surprise and not disappoint them with little guilt on your part.

That's what I'm doing. I'm sticking to the straight and narrow until Sunday when my family intends to celebrate my part in their world. I have no idea what food they are planning, but I do know my hubby did some internet searches for meal planning for the day and that has always meant one enjoyable meal in the future for me. My girls seem excited to be joining their dad in the preparation, so this should be a fun Sunday for them all and me too, since I won't have to cook.

I pray all mothers will feel special on this day of recognition!

Blessings to all,

Eileen

Barbecue Season -- The Good and Bad

It occurred to me that barbecue season has its own challenges.

During the winter months we tend to have all those heavy meals of roasted vege's, mashed potatoes and meat with gravy, and to round it all off we add buns or Yorkshire pudding to the mix if a roast of beef is the main entree for the night.

With barbecue season comes condiments galore and all those wonderful salads. And I'm not talking the simple lettuce and raw vege kind that can be topped with a smidgen of oil and vinegar dressing that our bodies can usually handle. I'm talking the gourmet salads made with loads of mayonnaise and pickled vege's (usually loaded with salt) and even ones mixed with sweet jello. You name it, these days the sky is the limit when it comes to creating scrumptious salads. And just because they fall in the "SALAD" category we are tempted to think they are our "Healthy" choice to fill up on. But beware--in today's world of these tasty creations, that is often not the case. That naked (yes, it's okay to forgo the bun every once in a while)juicy hamburger may actually be the wiser choice to take seconds of rather than heaping your plate full of the so called "SALADS".

If you really study those salads, many probably belong in the empty calorie category or even the dessert one. So be selective. If the salad is sweetened, creamy, full of bacon bits or Mr. Noodle, then it's something that should be regarded with caution. Sure, take a sampling and enjoy every morsel, but load up on the traditional greens with a dab of light dressing as your main vege intake for the meal.

I can smell the grill burning all ready, but wait, didn't I just pop a roast of beef into my crock pot earlier this morning. Guess I'm dreaming. I'll save the grilling for another day when rain isn't in the works.

Happy salad making everyone!

Blessings,

Eileen

Salsa vs. Sour Cream

Sorry, guys.

I'm behind in getting my Monday post up. Aren't I? Sorry!

I've been recovering from my weekend away which included way too much food despite a bad stomach ache that assaulted me Saturday evening. On second thought, maybe it was the fact that I ate so much that I got the stomach ache in the first place. But, really, the buffet style meals were wonderful and I loved their fruit salad each morning.

Anyway, on with my first tip of the week.

Sour cream is high in fat and thus we should minimize the use of it. However, doesn't it taste grand on a good baked potato? Mmmm, I'm salivating just thinking of it. BBQ season is upon us and those potatoes are bound to be baked more than mashed for the next several months, so I thought I'd offer an alternative. Give it a try and see what you think.

Pick up some low-fat salsa and instead of dipping your tortilla chips into it, try dabbing a tablespoon of the salsa on top of your baked potato. Forgo the butter and sour cream this time and try this new thing out. You'll save unwanted calories and get a whole new taste from your potato! Remember, it's good to mix things up and this is a simple way to do that.

Happy barbecuing everyone!

Blessings,

Eileen

Met My Challenge, Did You?

Hi, All:

I am pleased to announce that it is much, much easier and faster to lose 2 lbs when you're in a healthy weight zone, than when you are not.

Sticking to my "diet" allotment for just one day accomplished my goal! Those 2 extra pounds are no more--Hooray!

See, it's worth the struggle to get rid of the weight upfront and well worth the effort to maintain your goal weight. By having a small alerting number to set you back onto a "diet" you can accomplish it with so much more ease than waiting until you have too many pounds to lose again.

When you're in goal weight it takes much longer to gain pounds than it does to lose them if you stay on top of it and try and make wise choices along the way. When you think of it, it makes sense, as how many years did it take you to gain all those pounds in the first place? For most of us, a lot. They just accumulate over time at a snail's pace so that we really don't notice it until one day...drats...it becomes more than evident to our previously closed eyes.

Well, I'm off for a scrap booking retreat with my Mom and a couple of my sisters. May we all have a wonderful weekend ahead!

Blessings,

Eileen