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| Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations | Topic: Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations 2013-05-22 21:17:16  Lighten up your BBQ! Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start to summer. Whether you are barbequing at home or whipping up a favorite dish to bring along, you can add in some nutritious ingredients to make party faves a little lighter. Remember it’s all about portion control and incorporating whole grains and vegetables. Many of the items can be made ahead of time allowing more time to spend with family and friends, enjoy! Starters and Sides Artichoke Dip with Grilled Whole Wheat Pita Tri-Colored Pepper Potato Salad NutritionBabes Zucchini, Tomato and Onion Bake Grilled Eggplant with Goat Cheese Main Fare: Ground Turkey Kebabs with Tzatziki NutritionBabes Buffalo Chicken with Blue Cheese Dressing Grilled Chicken and Veggie Wraps Sweet Endings Grilled Peaches and Frozen Yogurt Vanilla “Unfried” Ice Cream with Strawberries Photo Copyright (c) http://www.123rf.com Topic: Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations 2013-03-21 10:55:55  Spring Holiday Entertaining the Healthy Way! Spring is a time of new beginnings and the Easter and Passover holidays mark its arrival. These special occasions bring our family and friends together to share a delicious, home cooked meal. However, we all know that many of our traditional holiday items, regardless of which holiday you celebrate, tend to be laden with fat, sugar and calories! AND, let’s not forget the portion sizes! We once again put together a springtime holiday menu to allow you to make better food choices. All of the recipes listed are appropriate for Passover unless otherwise specified. Quinoa is generally considered Kosher for Passover, so we have included a few of our favorites on this list. The base of most of our traditional holiday dishes are nutritious, we just need to be more conscious of portion sizes and cutting back on the amount of fat and sugar included in your recipes. Enjoy! Starters: Main Fare: Tips for the holiday: Photo Copyright (c) http://www.123rf.com Topic: Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations 2013-03-12 17:49:38  Enjoy St. Patrick’s Day, NutritionBabes Style! St. Patrick’s Day is quickly approaching. This holiday is famous for falsely colored green foods like bagels and beer, along with the traditional corned beef and cabbage. We’ve created NutritionBabes approved recipes to help you celebrate this festive holiday while keeping you food coloring free. Instead of adding chemical colors to your menu, decorate your table by garnishing with fresh greens like kale. Add fresh green herbs like dill to your salmon and put out a bowl of green grapes for noshing. A green veggie tray with green peppers, celery, broccoli and cucumbers with our Tzatziki dip will certainly bring a lot of green and good nutrition to the holiday. Try infusing water with some fresh mint leaves for a refreshing, calorie free beverage. Enjoy our twist on these traditional St. Patrick’s Day recipes: NutritionBabes Irish Soda Bread Broiled Salmon over Sautéed Cabbage with Turkey Bacon Don’t forget to go outside for a little exercise. Watch the parade and take a family walk (weather permitting) to keep moving and spend quality time together. Let us know what you do on St. Patrick’s Day! Photo Copyright (c) http://www.123rf.com Topic: Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations 2013-01-29 15:33:47 
Touch Down for a Healthier Super Bowl Party! Are you planning a Super Bowl Party? It’s time to get friends and family together to cheer on their favorite team while noshing on some high calorie comfort foods. We’re here to give you the game plan for a healthier party interception. Plan Ahead! Keep portions small Do not hang out near the buffet or dessert table Limit your intake of alcohol Your Game-Plan Menu for your Super Bowl Party? We have it! Looking for party dips? Try our NutritionBabes Crab Dip served with cut up vegetables. For the chip crowd, serve tortilla chips, salsa and our NutritionBabes Guacamole! Look for tortilla chips made with whole white corn and canola oil. The fewer the ingredients the better and look for fiber between 2 and 4 grams per ounce. Look for salsa with as few ingredients as possible and words you can pronounce such as tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, onions and garlic. And add bean dip! We’ve mastered this fiber packed appetizer that is low in fat. Whip together our NutritionBabes Bean Dip for the game. Your guests will thank you! A great starter for the game plan menu is our Chipotle Panko Jalapeno Poppers. They pack all the flavor and a fraction of the fat and calories found in traditional poppers. Instead of Buffalo wings, try our Spicy Gluten Free Chicken Tenders ! Serve with your favorite salad of tossed greens with our NutritionBabes Greek Yogurt Balsamic Vinaigrette. For the main meal, keep it simple with a self-serve one pot dish that can be revisited throughout the game. Our Turkey Chili with Guacamole is packed with protein and fiber that will keep you running for a touch down. Don’t forget about dessert! Serve our Banana Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins or our Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Popcorn Balls They keep the portion sizes under control and are sure to be a crowd pleaser. Let us know what you make..leave a comment below. Enjoy!!
Topic: Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations 2012-11-25 11:44:13  5 Foods to Help You Avoid the Dreaded Holiday Weight Gain! The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Years are filled with family gatherings and seemingly infinite holiday parties. The average weight gain during this time period has been rumored to equal 5-10 pounds. Research has shown that it is closer to 1 pound, however, that is a pound that you will most likely never lose. Therefore, a yearly 1 pound weight gain solely from holiday parties adds up quickly. Here is a list of 5 foods that can give you an edge when trying to outsmart the scale this season. 1. Hard-boiled eggs. This nutrient dense, perfectly packaged food can be used strategically to assist you in controlling your food intake at parties. Simply eat one before you head to the festivities. For only 70 calories, the protein and fat will prevent you from arriving hungry and decrease your likelihood of making impulsive food choices. 2. Chia seeds. These trendy, nutrient packed seeds have a special quality. They can absorb up more than ten times their weight in water, allowing them to swell in your digestive tract and help to keep you satisfied. Sprinkle a teaspoon on yogurt, over your salad, in your oatmeal or add them to your recipes and baked goods. For an extra 20 calories, you will benefit from protein, fiber, coveted omega 3 fats and prolonged fullness. 3. Green Tea. This warming (or cooling) beverage serves a dual purpose. Not only is it full of antioxidants and other healthy phytochemicals, but it has the benefit of slightly increasing your metabolism. Sipping tea in the evening instead of snacking, or trading in your latte for a cup of iced or hot green tea will lower your calorie intake and help you burn a few extra. Just remember that adding sugar to sweeten it will defeat the purpose. Try different flavors like pomegranate or blueberry green tea. The enhanced flavor makes sweetening it unnecessary. Add several tea bags to a 2 quart container filled with water and let it steep overnight in the frig. Viola, homemade iced green tea. 4. Greek yogurt. Plain and vanilla flavored Greek yogurt is one of my daily staples. Not only is it fabulous with fruit, whole grain cereal, in smoothies, on oatmeal…I could go on for days, but the super high protein content helps to keep you full in between meals. You can also use it to sub for higher fat items in your holiday favorites such as oil, sour cream or mayo. Stick with the plain or vanilla varieties and doctor them to your liking. The fruit flavors tend to have significant added sugars, something you don’t need when trying to fend off the holiday pounds. Another benefit? The probiotic content can potentially boost your gut immunity and help you stay healthier during this cold and flu season as well. 5. Pistachios. This heart healthy nut is full of surprises. For 100 calories, you get to enjoy approximately 30 nuts! When you purchase the ones in the shell, it takes quite some time to consume 30 nuts. The protein, fiber and healthy fats will help keep you full. Keep them in pre-portioned zipper bags for quick grab and go snacks, especially on long shopping trips. We wish everyone a very happy, healthy and safe holiday season. Cheers! Photo Copyright (c) http://www.123rf.com Topic: Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations 2012-11-11 20:23:08  A Healthier Holiday Menu that no one will suspect…Happy Thanksgiving! Tips to manage your waistline on the big day: 2. NEVER go to a party hungry! Something as simple as a hard-boiled egg before leaving home, or prior to your guests’ arrival, will help you manage cravings, and increase your chance of making better choices at mealtime. 3. Stick to the 2 Tablespoon rule for indulgent treats. Everyone has family favorites that are higher in calories than we would like. Enjoying a spoonful or two will allow you to savor the flavor without overdoing it. 4. Go easy on the alcohol. Not only do cocktails contain a lot of calories, but they lower your inhibitions and you are likely to eat more. The base of most of holiday dishes are nutritious, we just need to be more aware of portion sizes and cutting back on the amount of fat and sugar included in your recipes. AND make sure to drink lots of water! Here are some NutritionBabes recipes to include in your festivities. Try one or several; let us know what your friends and family think! All Gluten Free items below are marked with a “GF” Carrot, Butternut Squash Soup (GF) Carrot-Ginger Soup with Greek Yogurt (GF)
Roasted Turkey with Cranberry-apple Chutney (GF) Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Shallots and Almonds (GF) Apple Stuffing Spinach and Mushroom Quinoa (GF) Sauteed Asparagus and Garlic (GF) Mediterranean Salad with Greek Yogurt Balsamic Vinaigrette (GF) Carrot Muffins with Greek Yogurt and Cream Cheese Frosting Apple Quinoa Bake (GF) Cheers Tip for the holiday Topic: Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations 2012-10-26 14:32:48  Halloween Tricks AND Treats…with a Healthy Twist! How do you keep your little ghosts and goblins from overdoing it this Halloween? Make it fun and sneak in some healthier items…they’ll never notice! Candy is an important part of Halloween and should be included, just keep it in moderation! We have NutritionBabes Tricks AND Treats that we use with our own kids. Try a few this Halloween, it’s sure to be a screaming event! Start the day off right Set up the day leading to the big event with healthier choices including fiber packed and protein packed foods! Send the kids off Trick or Treating with a healthy dinner or snack. Well fed kids are less likely to want to snack along the route. Cut up fruit and vegetables in fun Halloween cups with a yogurt dip. Put out cheese and crackers, popcorn, whole grain pizza bagels or whole wheat cheese quesadillas. Make it festive and fun! Leave these items out upon their return; kids will work up quite an appetite while collecting their sugary loot. Safety is the biggest concern! Establish a rule that all candy and snacks must be checked by an adult before anything can be eaten. Surprise your Trick-or-Treaters Kids will still be excited over non-candy items, but choosing wisely you can incorporate sweets. Look for bite size treats and suggest your guests each take one. Implement some alternatives to traditional sugar-laden finds and offer a variety to satisfy all ages. Consider providing items such as: rubber spiders vampire teeth yo-yos bubbles jars of “slime” tiny decks of cards bouncy balls jump ropes sidewalk chalk stickers pencils glow sticks individual packs of crayons temporary tattoos Healthier alternatives to candy could include: sugar-free gum Individual bags of popcorn individual bags of pretzels GoGo squeeZ applesauce pouches www.gogosqueez.com Sun Chips single serving bags http://www.fritolay.com/our-snacks/sunchips-mix-20-count.html Annie’s Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks www.annies.com Share the Loot Operation Gratitude sends care packages to our troops overseas. Have your kids pick out a few favorites to save and then send the remainder. Be sure to enclose a letter! Take care of our troops, check it out: www.operationgratitude.com OR If you have a participating Dentist in your area, The Halloween Candy Buy Back Program will pay your kids $1.00/pound for their candy and then they will donate it for you to Operation Gratitude. Check out their website: www.halloweencandybuyback.com
Copyright (c) http://www.123rf.com Topic: Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations 2012-06-14 06:51:55 
Backyard BBQ for DAD! Father’s Day is Sunday and it’s the perfect time to get your family and friends together to celebrate! When I think of Father’s Day, BBQ is the first thing that comes to mind. Let’s put a twist on it and make it a bit healthier. Remember it’s all about portion control and incorporating whole grains and vegetables. Many of the items can be made ahead of time allowing more time to spend with family and friends, enjoy! Starters and Sides Artichoke Dip with Grilled Whole Wheat Pita Wheat Berry Veggie Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette NutritionBabes Zucchini, Tomato and Onion Bake Grilled Eggplant with Goat Cheese Main Fare: Ground Turkey Kebabs with Tzatziki NutritionBabes Buffalo Chicken with Blue Cheese Dressing
Sweet Endings Grilled Peaches and Frozen Yogurt
Topic: Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations 2012-05-10 19:11:33  Mother's Day Luncheon Are you planning a special day for your mother, grandmother, aunt or daughter? This is a great time to get together with family and celebrate the special mothers in our lives. Show them how much you care and make a luncheon that’s healthy and delicious too! Roasted Red Pepper and Garlic Hummus NutritionBabes Mediterranean Salad with Greek Yogurt Balsamic Vinaigrette Roasted Beet and Pear Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette Baked Crab Cakes with Tzatziki
Dessert: Grilled Peaches and Frozen Yogurt Happy Mother's Day to all!!
Topic: Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations 2012-03-29 00:03:17  Celebrate Spring...with Eggs! It's that time of the year again; everywhere you look there are eggs! Eggs are a big part of our traditional, springtime holidays symbolizing new life; and during Easter and Passover many are consumed. Not only is the egg a focal point of our celebrations, but they’re nutritious too! An egg is an inexpensive, high-quality protein-rich food, packed with lutein, an important antioxidant for healthy eyes, and choline, a B vitamin important for cognitive performance and healthy brain development. With all of that said, we'd like to pass along a few tips to better enjoy your eggs during this bright time of year. Play it safe to avoid the cracks! When buying eggs, check to ensure they’re clean and free of cracks. Refrigerate eggs promptly and store them in their original cartons. Keep an eye on the expiration date. Typically, eggs should be consumed within 3 weeks of purchase. Be sure to always wash your hands when handling eggs. Also wash utensils, countertops and other surfaces that come in contact with the eggs. Eggs may carry Salmonella bacteria; the cause of the most frequently reported foodborne illness. Be sure to properly cook your eggs. Bacteria can multiply quickly in temperatures between 40 – 140 degrees F. Cook thoroughly until the yolk and white are firm and no longer runny. Casseroles and other egg containing foods should be cooked to 160 degrees F and served immediately. Also, thoroughly reheat egg dishes to 165 degrees F. AND most importantly, eggs should not sit out for more than 2 hours. Refrigerate eggs and egg dishes below 40 degrees F. If eggs are used for holiday festivities, think about one set to decorate and hunt and another set to eat. The perfect hardboiled egg: Place eggs in a saucepan large enough to hold all of the eggs in a single layer. Add cold water covering eggs by at least 1 inch. Over high heat, bring eggs to a boil. Remove pan from heat and cover. Leave eggs to stand in hot water about 12 – 15 minutes for large to extra large eggs. Cool eggs under running cold water or in a bowl of ice water. Store in the refrigerator, unpeeled up to 5 – 7 days. What do you do with all of the leftover eggs? Try our Avocado Deviled Eggs or our NutritionBabes Egg Salad!
Topic: Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations 2012-03-26 12:44:30  Springtime Entertaining
Spring is a time of new beginnings and the Easter and Passover holidays mark its arrival. These special occasions bring our family and friends together to share a delicious, home cooked meal. However, we all know that many of our traditional holiday items, regardless of which holiday you celebrate, tend to be laden with fat, sugar and calories! AND, let’s not forget the portion sizes! We once again put together a springtime holiday menu to allow you to make better food choices. The base of most of our traditional holiday dishes are nutritious, we just need to be more conscious of portion sizes and cutting back on the amount of fat and sugar included in your recipes. Enjoy!
Starters:
Main Fare:
Dessert:
Tips for the holiday:
Topic: Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations 2012-02-07 18:28:24 
Valentine’s Day Dinner that your Sweetie and your Heart are sure to Love! It’s Valentine’s Day and American Heart Month! Do something special for your loved one that’s heart healthy too! We compiled a few heartwarming recipes that you’re sure to love. Combine your favorites to create a special meal. The added touches set the mood for a romantic dinner; fresh flowers, candles and music add to a special evening. Another touch is to serve Sparkling Water infused with Raspberries and Mint for a toast to a heart healthy dinner for two. First Course and sides: Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Pears Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Shallots and Almonds
Garlic Shrimp with Vegetable Quinoa NutritionBabes Vegetable Lasagna with Italian Meatballs Balsamic Chicken with Mushrooms
Fresh Strawberries and dipped in dark chocolate Wild Blueberry CrispTopic: Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations 2012-01-27 08:33:45  Healthier Super Bowl Game Plan for the Winning Touch Down It’s that time of year again…Super Bowl Sunday! Once a year, this is the day for friends and family to come together and cheer on their favorite team while noshing on some high calorie comfort foods. We’re here to give you the game plan to avoid falling into a bad play. Attending a Super Bowl Party? We have the tips! Plan Ahead! Keep portions small Do not hang out near the buffet or dessert table Limit your intake of alcohol Need a Game-Plan Menu for your Super Bowl Party? We have it! Pistachios
NutritionBabes Guacamole and Bean Dip
Spinach and Mushroom Quesadilla Great appetizer to start out the game and complements the Guacamole and Bean Dip!
Italian Meatball Sliders Chicken and Vegetable Kabobs and Garlic Shrimp Fire up the grill for these crowd pleasing kabobs and serve with your favorite salad of tossed greens and vegetables with our NutritionBabes Greek Yogurt Balsamic Vinaigrette. Go a step further and put out our Garlic Shrimp to top your salad.
Winter White Chili
Wild Blueberry Crisp
Topic: Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations 2012-01-22 21:37:42 
Frito-Lay Super Bowl Giveaway! The Super Bowl is quickly approaching and our friends at Frito-Lay would like to help you prep for the Big Game Party! Watch the N.Y. Giants and the New England Patriots battle it out in style. We will be giving away 2 gift packs featuring a set of 3 Touchdown Serving Bowls and a bag of Fritos Scoops corn chips. Fritos Scoops are made from 3 simple ingredients and contain less sodium per serving than a slice of bread. They are also Kosher and free of trans fat, gluten, additives, MSG, lactose and soy. Pair them with a healthy dip such as our NutritionBabes Bean Dip. To enter, simply leave a comment on the bottom of this blog page. We will choose 2 winners on Thursday 1/26/12. Good luck!
Topic: Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations 2011-12-30 11:39:14 
Have a Healthier New Year’s Eve Cocktail Party! Cocktail parties don’t have to be filled with appetizers that are full of calories and fat. You can still “wow” your guests with our delicious and nutritious bites! We put together the perfect crowd pleasers! Pick and choose your favorites to satisfy all palates. Have a Happy and Healthy start to the New Year, cheers! Spinach and Mushroom Quesadillas Happy New Year from Kathy and Lauren!!!
Topic: Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations 2011-12-28 11:36:18 
New Year’s Day Sunday Football!
NutritonBabes Vegetable Lasagna NutritionBabes Buffalo Chicken with Blue Cheese Dressing Happy New Year!!!
Topic: Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations 2011-11-20 23:17:32 
A Healthier Holiday Menu that no one will suspect…Happy Holidays! We understand the struggles around the holiday season. How do you not over indulge? We put together a sample of our holiday menu to help guide you with making better choices. The base of most of holiday dishes are nutritious, we just need to be more conscious of portion sizes and cutting back on the amount of fat and sugar included in your recipes. AND make sure to drink lots of water!
Roasted Turkey with Cranberry-apple Chutney Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Shallots and Almonds Apple Stuffing Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Mini-Muffins
Topic: Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations 2011-11-04 09:38:37 
The Nutritionbabes were recently featured on www.gnufoods.com. Check it out below and learn how to make your holiday celebrations a little healthier by adding more fiber! Can you give me suggestions of high fiber foods I can incorporate into my holiday cooking and entertaining? During the holidays the party fare tends to be higher in calories, fat and carbs and not necessarily high in fiber! We all know the importance of getting enough fiber in our diet. A diet rich in fiber may help lower your risk of developing heart disease, certain cancers and diabetes. But did you know that dietary fiber will also help satisfy your appetite much longer? Which means the longer your appetite is satisfied; the easier it is to manage your eating. So how do you incorporate more fiber into your holiday parties without sacrificing taste? Follow our tips to a healthier holiday party filled with high fiber food! Begin with the basics We all have traditional foods that are part of our holiday celebrations. Incorporating more fiber-rich foods along with your time-honored recipes will allow for more healthy options on your table. Ingredients to look for include: grains and whole-grain products, fruits and vegetables, beans, peas and other legumes, as well as nuts and seeds. Great ways to boost your fiber count could be adding whole vegetables to a soup, nuts to a salad or topping a lean protein (like turkey breast) with a fruit chutney instead of gravy. Help curb your cravings by incorporating more satisfying fiber-rich foods to your favorite family recipes. Let’s start the party right! Have the starters out and ready when your guests arrive. Include cut-up vegetables, whole wheat crackers and fiber-rich dips such as hummus, tzatziki, guacamole or black bean. Make the vegetables festive and get creative. Include lots of colors, red cherry tomatoes and red bell peppers can bring a festive pop to a plate. Fruit isn’t just for dessert! Put out a fruit platter with the appetizers and include toothpicks for easy snacking for your guests. Whole-wheat crackers and low-fat cheeses are always crowd pleasers when entertaining at the holidays. Does your crowd like chips? Try whole-grain corn or whole-wheat tortilla, black bean, falafel or lentil chips with tomato salsa to fill your guests up with fiber. Finally, don’t forget to put out dried fruit, nuts or edamame on those cocktail tables! Serve your soup and salad before you sit down for dinner! Passing out small salad plates and soup bowls/mugs will allow your guests to fill up on healthier fiber-rich foods. Soup is a delicious way to add fiber-packed veggies to your holiday fare. Some of our faves include Carrot Butternut Squash Soup or Cauliflower Soup. Get creative with salads and include lots of different fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts and seeds. An asparagus and arugula salad topped with roasted red peppers looks very festive and is packed with fiber. The Main Fare Including high fiber accompaniments alongside lean protein is great way to raise the bar. Experiment with different grains such as quinoa, wheat berries, brown rice, wild rice, whole-wheat couscous, barley or bulgar. Swap pasta for whole-wheat pasta, and again, remember to add more vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds. Explore new tastes and add a roasted sweet potato and pear side dish. Add dried cranberries and pine nuts to grains or salads for a festive twist. Top it all off with dessert Change up some of your old favorites by using whole-wheat flour, adding nuts, seeds or dried fruit and subtracting added sugars. Downsize portions by pre-plating small tastes of pies and cakes with berries. Make mini muffins and bite size cookies with white whole wheat flour; no one will suspect… A few simple twists will spruce up your celebrations and add great flavor as well. Happy Holidays!
Topic: Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations 2011-10-18 10:11:00  Halloween Tricks AND Treats…with a Healthy Twist! How do you keep your little ghosts and goblins from overdoing it this Halloween? Make it fun and sneak in some healthier items…they’ll never notice! Candy is an important part of Halloween and should be included, just keep it in moderation! We have NutritionBabes Tricks AND Treats that we use with our own kids. Try a few this Halloween, it’s sure to be a screaming event! Start the day off right Set up the day leading to the big event with healthier choices including fiber packed and protein packed foods! Send the kids off Trick or Treating with a healthy dinner or snack. Well fed kids are less likely to want to snack along the route. Cut up fruit and vegetables in fun Halloween cups with a yogurt dip. Put out cheese and crackers, popcorn, whole grain pizza bagels or whole wheat cheese quesadillas. Make it festive and fun! Leave these items out upon their return; kids will work up quite an appetite while collecting their sugary loot. Safety is the biggest concern! Establish a rule that all candy and snacks must be checked by an adult before anything can be eaten. Surprise your Trick-or-Treaters Kids will still be excited over non-candy items, but choosing wisely you can incorporate sweets. Look for bite size treats and suggest your guests each take one. Implement some alternatives to traditional sugar-laden finds and offer a variety to satisfy all ages. Consider providing items such as: rubber spiders Share the Loot Operation Gratitude sends care packages to our troops overseas. Have your kids pick out a few favorites to save and then send the remainder. Be sure to enclose a letter! Take care of our troops, check it out: www.operationgratitude.com OR If you have a participating Dentist in your area, The Halloween Candy Buy Back Program will pay your kids $1.00/pound for their candy and then they will donate it for you to Operation Gratitude. Check out their website: www.halloweencandybuyback.com Everyone is a kid on Halloween…enjoy!
Topic: Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations 2011-08-15 12:15:47 
Making Baking a Bit Lighter
There are many items you can use to substitute high-fat or sugar laden ingredients. Adding some of these techniques to your baking can help lighten your table. Remember, when making changes in recipes if you are replacing a dry item for a liquid item you need to reduce the liquid somewhere else and vice versa. Take a look at your favorite recipe and see how you can make it a bit lighter.
Cut back on the Sugar You can cut back on the sugar when baking by reducing the sugar in a recipe by at least 1/4. This simple change will never be noticed and is the easiest way to save calories! You can also add in fruit purees such as unsweetened applesauce or pumpkin to reduce the sugar. Pure maple syrup, honey and agave nectar can also sweeten your baked goods. However, items such as these tend to be sweeter than sugar so less will be needed.
Cut back the fat When a recipe calls for butter, you can substitute a healthier oil such as canola oil or light flavored olive oil 1:1. However, to lower the calories and fat even more you can also replace some or all of the oil with unsweetened applesauce. Start with substituting 1/2 the oil and work your way up to more. Other pureed fruits to try are mashed avocado, mashed banana and canned crushed pineapple. Vegetable purees, such as sweet potatoes, cauliflower and canned pumpkin, work well too and contribute additional nutritional value. Shredded vegetables work well for bread recipes. Try shredded carrots or zucchini. If a recipe calls for whole fat milk products, simply substitute low-fat or skim milk products. You can replace 1 egg with 2 egg whites or use a fat-free egg substitute. Other options include using mashed bananas or other pureed fruits. Approximately 1/4 cup of mashed banana will replace 1 egg. Canned pumpkin, applesauce or any other mashed canned fruit of your choice will also work well. Another option is to blend together 2 1/2 T ground flaxseed with 3 T water to replace 1 egg.
Increase the fiber Help reach the recommended daily intake of fiber by replacing all purpose flour with white whole wheat flour 1:1. Another higher fiber alternative is whole wheat pastry flour which has a much finer texture than traditional whole wheat flour. Adding pureed beans will increase fiber and protein as well. Great Northern beans will go unnoticed and will add some structure to your recipe.
Add some protein Nut butters like peanut butter, cashew butter, almond butter and tahini pack extra protein, just watch the portions. A heavy hand will add extra calories and fat.
Remember with a few simple changes, baked goods can become a bit more healthy. Smaller steps and smaller portions will make big strides to a healthier you.
Topic: Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations 2011-06-29 14:46:17  Happy Fourth of July! Are you hosting a BBQ or just relaxing while enjoying the fireworks? We'll help you celebrate and indulge while staying on track with your healthy lifestyle! Topic: Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations 2011-05-25 00:34:53  Planning a BBQ? It’s that time of year, the unofficial start of the summer and time to clean off the BBQ. Make it healthy without forgetting the taste! Our NutritionBabes recipes will have your guests inviting themselves over the next weekend too. *All recipes can be found on our Blog page under Recipes. NutritionBabes Guacomole NutritionBabes Bean Dip Arugula and Asparagus salad NutritionBabes Zucchini, Tomato and Onion bake Zucchini Au Gratin Grilled Vegetable Platter Sweet Potato Fries Buffalo Chicken with blue cheese dressing Garlic Shrimp Cheeseburger Sliders Zucchini Bread Squares NutritionBabes Chocolate Chip Cookies Chocolate Covered Strawberries Citrus Frozen Yogurt Remember to watch the portions! Give your guests lunch size plates to avoid super-sizing their meals. Serve cut up fruit as an appetizer when your guests arrive. Provide lots of water and unsweetened drinks such as iced green tea to stay hydrated in the sun. Limit the alcoholic beverages. Add some activities to your BBQ that encourage exercise. Put out balls, hula hoops and sidewalk chalk for a game of hop scotch or jump ropes for the kids. Consider setting up a volley ball net, playing basketball, organizing relay races or a friendly kickball game for everyone. Enjoy!
Topic: Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations 2011-05-02 21:57:13  Mother’s Day Brunch This Sunday is Mother’s Day and it also marks the start of National Women’s Health Week. Let the NutritionBabes help you make your mother or wife a healthy meal to honor your loved one! The entire meal can be made ahead of time and reheated on the big day. Get the entire family together and celebrate all the love and support our mother’s give to us! We have numerous recipes to serve at your Mother’s Day Brunch! Choose your favorites to meet your preferences. NutritionBabes Guacamole Quinoa Salad Check out our recipe page for all of the above mentions and for some other ideas as well!
Topic: Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations 2011-02-05 21:56:44  Touch Down Desserts Sweets should be consumed in moderation, not necessarily eliminated. So when incorporating them try adding some healthier ingredients and keep the portions small. You satisfy your craving and score a field goal at the same time. Try our NutritionBabes Lemon Oatmeal Squares and Nutritionbabes Chocolate Chip Cookies: They’re packed with old-fashioned rolled oats and whole wheat flour for a boost of fiber and we’ve cut back on the sugar without sacrificing the taste. Tips to guide you through the dessert table: It’s inevitable, your guests will bring dessert, and sweets are always welcomed. However, desserts can quickly undo all of our great strides towards a touch down. Here are a few suggestions to catch the winning pass: · Look ahead and plan to share. When many varieties are offered it’s easy to over consume. So, ask to share, cut a smaller piece or only go towards your favorite. · Have a cup of tea, coffee or water during dessert. Take your time while savoring dessert, takes sips of your beverage in between bites. This will slow you down and let your brain tell you that you’re full. · Add some fruit to your plate. Incorporating some sweet berries on top of your cake or some sliced bananas on your ice cream will fill you up faster while satisfying your sweet tooth. · Do not hang out at the dessert table! Pick up your sweet and walk away. Indulge in conversation with friends, finish your small plate of sweets and do not return. · Bring along a disposable Wisp toothbrush to the party. The Wisp toothbrush requires no water and can fit perfectly in your pocket or handbag. Cleaning your teeth of sugars will help you finalize the end of dessert. Otherwise you’ll be tempted to go back. Sneak off to the guest bathroom and no one will know. · Send everyone home with dessert! Often the host is left with many desserts. The next day it’s tough not to start picking. So, let your guests take a Ziploc bag of goodies home. Our recipes are found in our blog under “recipes”. Topic: Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations 2011-02-01 12:09:21  Super Bowl Time-Out Main Fare Keeping portions small is the game-time strategy for your winning team! Incorporating the typical time-out noshes with a healthier twist is the secret play. The winning team line-up is: · "Cheeseburger Sliders" served on whole wheat dinner rolls with sautéed onions, Jarlsberg light cheese and sliced tomato, accompanied by "Sweet Potato Fries." · "Garlic Shrimp Tacos" with arugula on a corn tortilla, homemade tomato salsa and diced avocado. Prepare the tacos ahead of time to intercept the appropriate sized portion. · "Turkey Chili with guacamole" Our turkey chili is packed with protein, antioxidants and fiber. It’s filling and healthy. · "Buffalo Chicken with blue cheese dressing" Grilled chicken on a stick with spicy buffalo sauce and lower fat blue cheese dressing. Your guests will score the heart healthy alternative with a winning kick! · "Homemade Healthy Pizza" with veggies. Slice up our NutritionBabes Homemade Healthy Pizza in small or bite size squares. All of the above recipes can be found on our blog under the topic "Recipes".
Need some tips to WIN the game! NutritionBabes team strategies: · A good player plans ahead – exercise in the morning before the big game and think about fitting in some half-time activity. Get up and do some stretching. Get a quick game of catch going with some friends or play some Wii Madden 11! · Limit your intake of alcohol and tobacco. · Eat in moderation and watch the portion sizes. · Choose healthier options: vegetables, fruits and nuts. Avoid the high fat and high sodium foods.
Topic: Healthier Holidays, Parties, and Celebrations 2011-01-31 14:56:03 Super Bowl “Healthy” Noshes! This Sunday is the de facto American national holiday “Super Bowl Sunday!” The Super Bowl is the second-largest occasion for food consumption in the United States after Thanksgiving, and it all happens in front of the television…yikes! Year after year, this is a day for friends and family to come together and cheer for their favorite team, and nosh on numerous high calorie foods. On average, it’s predicted an individual will consume anywhere from 1200 to 3500 calories just during the game! The top 5 food items consumed during Super Bowl Sunday are: potato chips, burgers, chili, hot wings and pizza. We’re here to give you some tips to cut down on the grub, and plan for some healthier noshes without anyone suspecting…shh no one needs to know! Check back all week as we go over our line-up of Super Bowl fare from appetizers to desserts!
Kick off with high protein, fiber-rich appetizers! 1. Try putting out pistachios instead of chips or pretzels. Pistachios are packed with protein and fiber, along with monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). Make sure you buy the pistachios in the shell! They take more time to de-shell which means more control without over consumption. Your guests will love this heart healthy nosh. Tip: leave out small bowls for the shells! 2. Another good choice is edamame (pronounced ed-ah-MAH-may). Place these soybeans (in the pod) around the tables facing the main event. This is another heart healthy food that’s low in fat, packed with protein, cholesterol free and fiber-rich. Tip: Introduce your guest to this great noshing food if they’ve never tried it, by showing them how it’s best eaten. Once they try them, they’ll be hooked. Again, leave empty bowls around for the pods and make sure your guests are aware they are there. 3. Another snack combo is tortilla chips, salsa and our NutritionBabes Guacamole*! Look for tortilla chips made with whole white corn and canola oil. (Try Synders Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips. Locate a retailer near you at http://www.snydersofhanover.com/Products/Cid/7/Prid/279/). The fewer ingredients listed the better. Read your label looking for fiber between 2 and 4 grams per ounce. Look for salsa with as few ingredients as possible and words you can pronounce such as tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, onions, garlic etc. 4. Don’t forget to put out some bean dip! We’ve mastered this fiber packed appetizer that is low in fat. Whip together our NutritionBabes Bean Dip* for the game. Your guests will thank you! *All NutritionBabes recipes are posted in our blog under “Recipes”
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