"Preserving Bananas"

Are you tired of your bananas over ripening before you can eat the second or third in the bunch? My daughter recently shared a tip with me that works! Seperate each banana from the bunch. Also to avoid strings from the banana peel, peel the banana from the opposite direction. It works!!!

Great Food Find - Powdered Peanut Butter

I just found the most amazing food...powdered peanut butter. Now, before you say "oooohhhh", let me tell you it is quite tasty, completely natural, and has 75% fewer calories than regular peanut butter. I stumbled upon this find on the Weight Watcher's message board (this portion of the website is free). It is made in Tifton, Georgia at a company called "Bell's Plantation". The product name is "PB2" (for more info, google "PB2"). It is made by pressing the oil out completely, this leaves a powdery substance. Oh, and the website gives you 102 yummy recipes you can make with this. On the downside, it is rather pricey ($4-$5 a jar). As with any first time product use, I've dated the jar and will see how long it will last. If you order it through the company, the shipping is expensive ($9), but you can find this at "Grassroots", a healthfood store located in Five points. Since I have family in Tifton, I also plan to take orders for anyone interested and possibly bring a large quantity back with me in a couple of weeks when I visit. To use: Mix 2 TBS powdered peanut butter with 1 TBS waters...wha laa...instant PB, YUM!

"Return to Weight Watchers"

I was going to try to wing this weight loss effort on my own and fore go the $12 - $13 weekly fee at Weight Watchers. The truth of the matter is, I need the support group atmosphere. I need accountability, the cheerleaders, and the fresh ideas. Not to mention, I wouldn't think twice about dropping $13.00 on fast food or Starbucks in a week. So....I can't begin to tell you how excited I was when I found out that our little town now has two weekly WW meetings, one on Tuesday evenings and one on Saturday mornings. I went to the Saturday meeting today and left completely "pumped up". Not only was our WW leader enthusiastic but she also had a realistic view of the struggles we encounter with losing weight and keeping it off....Oh, and I had lost 5 pounds over the past 6 days. This is typical for most people the first week at WW, but I was still ecstatic!

Recipe Time "Stuffed Peppers"

Hey, check this out....I made this a few weeks ago and it tasted great....don't know Weight Watcher points but they have very healthy ingredients:


"Stuffed Peppers"
(Serves 5)


Ingredients:
5 green bell peppers
2 pounds ground turkey or boca crumbles
1 1/2 cupped chopped onion
1 green bell pepper (chopped)
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 (16 oz) jar chunky pasta sauce
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 (6 oz) package tomato lentil couscous mix (found @ Winn Dixie)
8 oz shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (can use fat free)

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees
2) Cut pepper in half, place in a 9 x 13 baking dish, and set aside. In a large skillet over med heat, saute the ground beef for 5 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups chopped onion, chopped green bell pepper, and garlic. Reduce heat to low, add pasta sauce, and let simmer while preparing the couscous.
3) Prepare couscous according to package directions, but add the remaining onion to water before adding couscous. When couscous is done, combine it with the sauce. Fill bell peppers with the mixture. Top each with shredded cheese.
4) Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and slightly brown on top.

The Importance of Planning Ahead

Of all the professions, health care, especially in the hospital setting, is not very conducive to healthy eating. In these settings, staff usually works 12 hour shifts and have very little time to sit and actually eat a meal. The doctor's often reward the staff with finger foods and snack items that can be eaten on the run. One doctor is notorious for bringing in Duncan Donuts, another brings in Panera Bagels (my favorite), and yet another orders Pizza routinely. I don't want to appear ungrateful....most of them have wives and understand the motto, "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy". However, it is almost hypocritical to work in health care and not eat healthy. I thought back to five years ago when I was at my healthiest and asked myself..."what made it work". The biggest solution is planning ahead. This can be an issue if you are pushed for time, but if you keep your pantry and fridge well stocked with healthy items, it only takes about 15 minutes to pack a nutritious meal that can be eaten throughout your day on a 12 hour shift. In addition to a stocked pantry, it is necessary to keep containers that seal food appropriately. I try to pack so that I can eat something every two to three hours. Here is a sample of yesterdays menu:
* Pre-packaged oatmeal - Sturm's organic oatmeal (Walmart)
* Banana
* Salad with 1/2 cup chickpeas, 4 artichokes, 4 oz. sliced chicken & homemade
dressing
* Grapes
* 1/2 cup fat free Stonyfield yogurt
* 1 cup of coffee with a Fiber One Bar
* 1/2 cup tuna salad on two slices of double fiber bread
Now, that is really alot of food when you think about it. I only managed to get 20 oz of water in (something that I need to continue to work on).

Yep, that waist belongs to me....

According to "Nursing for Women's Health" magazine, women who carry excess fat around their waists, even if they were of normal overall weight, are at a greater risk of dying early from cancer or heart disease. The article goes on to say that women with a waist size of more than or equal to 35 inches were twice as likely to die from heart disease as were women with waist size less than 28 inches. O.K., I am not living in fear, but this certainly does motivate me....yep, that's my waist in the picture and in case you can't read the numbers, I'll enlighten you, it's more than 35 inches....

New Beginnings....

My journey begins today (as it seems to every Monday)....but this time I am doing something I have failed to do before...I am taking this issue to the Lord. I can't do it without Him. My goals are simple, most of them are from "Weight Watcher's", which I consider to be the only safe way to lose weight and implement permanent lifestyle changes. My goals for this week are as follows:

(1) Drink 64 oz water daily
(2) Ingest a mixture of 5 fruits/veggies daily
(3) Eat in moderation
(4) Walk at least twice a week
(5) Weight bearing exercises twice a week.

Throughout the week, I welcome any input you can give....cheers, jeers, etc...