What's Cookin'....by Laurie C

My wonderful students have generously shared some of their favorite recipes. The first installment is:

Apple Jicama Cranberry Slaw
Serves 6, Weight Watchers=2 pts/serving

Dressing: (whisk together)
2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp. honey
2 tsp. walnut oil
½ tsp salt


Salad: (put in a large bowl)
2 cups savoy or Napa cabbage, finely chopped
2 cups apples, cored and coarsely grated (leave skin on)
2 cups jicama, peeled and coarsely grated
2 medium green onions, minced or finely grated
½ cup dried cranberries
1/8 tsp. black pepper (optional)

Toss dressing with salad and refrigerate until ready to serve.


This is a delightfully crisp and refreshing salad. Perfect for your next potluck, dinner party or side dish for the family.

BTW....check out this link for jicama (hi-ca-ma) fun facts!
http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/equivalents_substitutions.asp?index=J&tid=752

Don't tempt me, Frodo

Every get late night food cravings? Last night I worked out late, came home and ate the delicious moo shoo pork and veggies that my husband made, and was still hungry.

I searched the cupboard and found raw walnuts and almonds, roasted pumpkin seeds and a zone bar. I searched the freezer and found frozen chicken soup. I searched the refrigerator and found veggies, condiments, eggs.... Where were the cookies, chocolate, ice cream and candies? Oh yeah, still at the grocery store. If I wanted something naughty I was going to have to make it from scratch at 9:30PM.

Ultimately I settled on a corn tortilla with a dab fig paste, about 50 calories. Just a morsel with a hint of sweetness, kinda like a fig newton, right? ("That's a stretch!" one of my students told me this morning.) This will not be appearing as "recipe of the week" anytime soon.

Moral of the story: If you don't let yourself be tempted at the grocery store, you won't be tempted at home. If you don't buy the junk food you can't eat it.

When we do our shopping for the week I don't pick up cheat foods to have around the house whenever I feel like it. This helps me stick with my plan of having a special sweet treat day ONCE a week, not every night. It also keeps me from absentmindedly noshing on chips etc. when I get home from work. Keep this in mind next time you go shopping.

BBQ tips from the ma'am

Do you ever go to a BBQ and eat so much you feel like someone has to cart you home in a wheel barrow? Like you blew all the progress you made at the gym this week in two short hours?

Well here are some tips to help you enjoy yourself at upcoming summer BBQs without blowing your entire meal plan.

1. give yourself a maximum # of alcoholic or sugary beverages per party or per hour. Or alternate each caloric bev with a glass of water.
2. Be good with your eating a couple of days before if when you know you're going to a party this weekend. That way you can use the BBQ or party as you cheat meal and relax.
3. Try not to go to a BBQ FAMISHED. At the least, eat a small snack an hour or two before you leave so you don't grossly overeat when you get there.
4. If you are bringing a dish to the party, try to bring some kind of healthier option, e.g: something with some vegetables, hummus, a quinoa salad, or fruit tray.
5. Load some veg on your plate as well as potato salad and chicken legs.
6. Control your portion size. Try not to mound the food on your plate-just go back for seconds in a couple of hours.
7. Eat dessert first. Well, maybe after your vegetables. So you still have room.
8. Lastly, relax, enjoy and get back on track with your food and workouts tomorrow!

Happy Independence Day!