Go Ahead and Eat Dessert…It Can be Good for you!

When people think about eating better, they often focus on how difficult it will be or how much they have to change. With what seems like a new diet popping up everyday, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and unsure of where to start. Focusing on making small changes in your diet can make a big impact.

For example, when many people decide to make dietary changes, dessert is usually the first thing to go. According to Micki Sannar, an Instructor of Nutritional Cuisine based in Highlands, UT, substituting olive oil for ingredients like butter and shortening in your recipes can lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease. She suggests the following techniques:

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• Use pure olive oil when creating sweet desserts.
• Always spray baking pans with olive oil to prevent sticking, including cookie sheets.
• Try experimenting with your favorite dessert recipes. For each cup of butter, margarine or shortening, use about 2/3 – 3/4 cup olive oil.
• When baking non-sweet breads and other foods, don’t be afraid to use extra virgin or virgin olive oil. It tastes fantastic and it’s good for you.

“The great thing about cooking and baking with olive oil is that you can still get the same great taste out of your recipes,” said Sannar.

Making small changes in your diet can help you establish better eating habits and you’ll see the health benefits in no time!

Battle of the Bulge

The Battle of the Bulge

Remember in March, as the last bit of winter faded away and everyone made it a top priority to drop those unwanted pounds before swimsuit season? Now, with summer nearly over, the weight we worked so diligently to shed has not only returned, it’s increased! Staying up later, sleeping in longer and enjoying those countless backyard barbecues makes it hard to stick to a strict diet. Is it still possible to fit into that two-sizes-too-small swimsuit we bought back in March and take advantage of what’s left of summer?

According to Dr. Leslie Van Romer, who wrote the book “Getting Into Your Pants – Add 10+10 for Life,”  addition, not subtraction, is the key to weight loss. We don’t necessarily need to subtract ice cream, but we should first add fruits and vegetables to our meal. Dr. Leslie tells us that once you’ve eaten your fill of fruits and vegetables, it’s always important to leave yourself the freedom of choice to eat whatever food you want – if you’re still hungry.

Another key from Dr. Leslie is to STOP eating when we are full. Most of us, especially during those hot summer days, eat until our stomachs are overfull. By that time we have eaten too much food and taken in too many calories. Dr. Leslie explains that if you pay attention to your body’s natural signals, your brain tells you that you are satisfied and full before your stomach screams at you and begs for mercy.

Swimsuit season may be drawing to a close, but being fit and feeling good  should still be a top priority. By following Dr. Leslie’s simple strategies, we can all whip our bodies into shape, hit the beach and enjoy the rest of summer!