Beautiful Jennifer Garner believes that healthy diet equals flawless skin, which is why her favorite recipes comes from the Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, by Ina Garten.  I have bloged about foods that makes your skin feels healthier and look prettier many times before, however this cookbook is totally worth writing about. This is aconventionally organized cookbook with unconventional delicious, healthy, beauty booster food recieps!  

Make the Right Choice and try this easy making Diet Banana Split Recipe- Only 150 calories and 3 grams of fat per serving!
 

Ingredients:
1 medium banana
1 scoop non-fat vanilla ice cream or yogurt
2 tablespoons low-fat granola
1 spoon light chocolate syrup

Directions:
1. Cut the banana in half lengthwise (from tip to tip).
2. Place the banana halves on the sides of a mid size bowl.
3. Add the Ice-Cream or Yogurt in between the banana`s halves.
4. Top with granola and add the syrup.
5. Serve, Save (on calories!) & enjoy!

All peppers are rich in vitamins A, C, and K, but Red Peppers are simply bursting with them plus considered to be a great source of Vitamin B6. This very nutritious vegetable and the antioxidants it contain help preventing cell damage, cancer, and diseases related to aging. Further more, Red Pepper support the immune function, can reduce inflammation like that found in arthritis and asthma, promotes proper blood clotting and strengthens bones.

With all of these great health benefits and nutrition values, I love cooking this Moroccan-style healthy veggie meal since satisfy as steak and tasteful as a gourmet dish:  With 302 calories, 9 grams of protein,  8 grams of fat and 4 grams of fibre per serving, you cannot go wrong with this MUST TRY RECIPE !!!

Couscous-Stuffed Red Pepper W/Yogurt:

Ingrediants:

85 grams of whole wheat Couscous
2 tbsp Raisins
50 ml hot vegetable stock
1 tsp clear honey
1 large lemon- squeez for juice
2 garlic cloves
small bunch flat-leaf parsley
150 ml tub non-fat natural yogurt
2 tomatoes , roughly chopped
2 red peppers , halved, cores removed
1 tbsp olive oil

How to make:

• Pre-heat oven to 400* degrees.

• Place couscous and raisins in a heatproof bowl. Stir stock, honey and lemon juice, then pour over the couscous. Cover and leave to absorb for 5 mins.

• Place the lemon zest, garlic and parsley in a mini food processor and whizz until everything is well chopped.

• Stir 1 tbsp of this mixture into the yogurt, then set aside. Stir the remaining mixture into the couscous with the tomatoes and some seasoning.

• Spoon the couscous mixture into each pepper half, then sit them in a small roasting tin. Drizzle with oil, then bake for 40 mins until peppers are tender.

• Serve with the yogurt and a simple green salad on the side, and- ENJOY!!! 

I have always wondered – “Who wants to cook for ONE ???”   While knowing it is important for my diet and weight watchers lifestyle routine since home made meals are normally the healthier choice, as I tend to enjoy groceries shopping and cooking, doing so only for myself had always made me buying and making more food then I was suppose to in order to freshly satisfy my single little stomach. More then that, I used to feel guilty for wasting extra foods when throwing away the leftovers while there are millions of hungry children out there.  In a recent conversation with my BFF single gey guy, who usually gets to spend dinner time by himself since working late hours, he confessed to really enjoy healthy meals at home, which help his diet, time and wallet.  I was managed to adopt some of his `single person cooking for himself`secrets and this is the outcome:

•  Save time by planning weekly, for cooking 2-3 different meals, then go shopping.

• While shopping, save money by start thinking in terms of portions, rather than recipes.

• Plan on using leftovers in order to create one extra meal.

• Buy only what you Know you`ll eat during that week, considering products you can take to work as well, like fruits, snacks, yogurt and etc.

• Creat more then one dish that build on similar ingredients and cut the fresh vegetables for two meals ahead in order to ease the next day cooking preparation.

• Use your freezer, however split whatever you are about to freeze into small portions put into ziploc sealed plastic bags. Then, you can defrost the correct amount of food you wish to cook that day. 

• Marinate the meat, pork, chicken or fish in the morning, before you go to work. It takes about 5 minuets and save you many more minuets later, when you are ready to prepare your meal.

If you wish to share more great ideas on how to cook for single person while eating right and saving waste of time and money please add your comment and share it with everybody! 

Thanks! 

Nutrition Facts: 2 small cookies contain 115 calories, 3.5 grams of fat, 2 grams of protein, 19 grams of carbs, 1.5 grams of fiber and 10 mg of calcium!

Ingrediants:

• 1 Medium Banana, rip and mashed.

• 1/2 cup Brown Sugar

• 1/4 cup Butter, softened

• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

• 1 large Egg

• 1 and 1/4 cup of all-purpose Flour

• 2 cups old-fashioned Oats

• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda

• 1/4 teaspoon Salt

• 1/2 cup Dark-Chocolate Chips

• Cooking Oil Spray

How to make?!

Preheat oven to 350* degrees.

• Combine banana, sugar, butter and vanilla in a large bowl and beat with mixer at a medium speed until smooth. Add the large Egg and keep beating well.

• In a separate medium bowl combine flour, oats, baking soda and salt, stirring with a whisk. Add flour mixture to banana mixture and beat again with mixer, on medium speed until well blended. Add chocolate chips and stir.

• Coat baking sheet with cooking spray and drop cookies mixture by heaping tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart. Bake cookies for 17-20 minutes, cool down before remove from pan and- Enjoy!!! 

Related Posts:

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Read more about: Banana Nutrition Benefits -

Read more about: Oats and Healthy Dieting-

My favorite solution for fast, healthy and as fresh as possible meal, when short on time for cooking, is the low fat convenience Contessa Frozen Meals. In less then 10 minuets of preparation and a single pan, I always feel like I had just cooked that  hearty home-style healthy meal. Contessa brand offers customized gourmet foods, including convenience meals for short and simple preparation and a consistency of quality and freshness. I love the fact there are greens and tasteful healthy vegetables included in every bag, plus the sauce is always packed separately for a preferred taste and dietary needs.  Contessa meals are definitely a great healthy fast food solution, and at no doubt for people who appreciate fine food, though have no time or the ability to cook.  Especially once trying to maintain a weight watchers lifestyle and healthy diet, these low-fat and less calories meals from Contessa brand are highly recommended for any occasion!

Healthy diets almost always contain fish, which have fewer calories and higher nutrition values than other meat sources. It’s also one of nature’s most versatile foods – can be steamed, baked, fried or poached and even great as raw, in the form of sashimi.
Many health institutes recommend eating up to two portions of fish a week, based on several different studies. Eating fish could lowers the risk of death from heart disease by 36 per cent, thanks to the oils in fish, that appear to reduce stickiness of blood, therefore can prevent it from clotting. Fish also contains selenium which thought to have cancer-fighting properties plus omega-3 fatty acids which are believed to raise levels of the brain chemical- Serotonin, which aids in reducing depression. Omega 3 regulate the body’s inflammation cycle as well, which prevents and relieves painful conditions like arthritis and cystitis.

One of the benefits I like the most, from eating fish, is its ability of reducing signs of age! Some dermatologists say that a fish rich diet acts like a facial smoothing-out age lines.
 

Recommended fish: Salmon, Trout, Sardines and Tuna:

Try some of my favorite healthy recipes, taken from MyRecipes.com:

Baked Salmon With Dill Herb:

 
Tuna with Ginger Cream:

Trout with Brown Butter and Pecans:

Sardine and Potato with Romesco Sauce:

So what exactly is Tofu and why should we eat more of it as part of our weight watching healthy diet rutine, and substitute it with meat once in a while?! Tofu may looks like feta cheese, however it is non-diery and is made by curdling fresh hot soy-milk with a coagulant. Tofu is rich in high-quality protein, a good source of B-vitamins and iron and is rich in Calcium. It is low in saturated fat and contains no cholesterol! Generally, the softer the tofu, the lower the fat content. Tofu is also very low in sodium, making it a perfect food for people on sodium-restricted diets.

In recipes, tofu acts like a sponge and has the miraculous ability to soak up any flavor that is added to it. Crumble it into a pot of spicy chili sauce and it tastes like chili. Blend it with cocoa and sweetener and it becomes a double for chocolate cream pie filling. Cubes of firm tofu can be added to any casserole or soup.

One of the healthier, lighter and low in calories breakfast I can recommend is a simple, yet perfect combination of Bananas, Peanuts, Whole Wheat bread and Skin Milk. With this nutritious concept of natural healthy carbohydrates, potassium, protein and fiber you would feel not only full, but keep your blood sugar steady so then you would gain an all day energy!

Try this healthy, high in nutrition -

Banana-Peanut butter Sandwich: 

Add a small cup of skin milk and get your ALL DAY ENERGY breakfast, with only 450 calories, 9 grams of fat, 25 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber !

Ingredients:
1 tablespoons reduce fat peanut butter
1/2 Banana, sliced 
2 slices whole wheat bread, toasted

ENJOY!

Fresh figs are well known for their high fiber, calcium, potassium and iron more then most other common fruits. Unfortunately they only have a short window of availability, during mid- to late summer and are incredibly delicate as well, with a shelf life of three days or less. Figs are not only healthy and contain disease-fighting antioxidants, but versatile in recipes. Even though they are nearly perfect eaten out of hand, fresh figs make delightful addition to salads, pan sauces, meat and desserts.

My Endless-Summer Fresh Figs Salad :

This Mediterranean style, contrasting tastes and texture salad, creates an amazingly main course for all of you weight watchers out there, or for anyone who can enjoy a fun, fresh taste of summer salad, all year round. The secret is simple: if you cant find fresh figs: use dried ones!

 Salad ingredients:

5 fresh figs- washed, and cut into quarters.

½ cantaloupe melon, peeled, seeded and diced.

300g washed salad mixed green

200g low fat feta cheese, cut into small pieces.

For the dressing, separately mix:

 ½ red onion, diced

1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon of honey

1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar

4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

Preparation:   Place all salad ingredients in a large salad bowl and add dressing mix just before serving.  Toss all delicately and serve!

Now, it is very much true that even though guacamole is really nutritious, it is still loaded with calories and fat, comparing to most other fruits, however, that is the healthy, mono-unsaturated fat, therefore it can contribute to the nutrient quality of your diet!

 For all of you smart choices makers out there, who are addicted to this delightful fruit, though trying to watch your weight like I do, try this amazing Low Calorie Guacamole Salad Recipe! The key to this much loved dip salad is to bulk it up with other low calorie ingredients, and my secret one is simple hard-boiled eggs!  You can even use the egg-white only if you wish, you will get a great flavour and lower the calories and fat per servings!  I always get compliments on this So simple-to-make dish, and the hottest new thing is serving it with Baked Pita Chips!  

Best, Any-Occasion Low Calories Guacamole Salad:

Ingredients:  (3-4 Servings)

2 large `Hass` Avocados- mashed (Their skin turns from green to purplish-black when it becomes ripe and they are available all year round)

 3 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and chopped.

½ medium size red onion, chopped.

1 table spoon fresh lemon juice.

Salt, as desired.

Preparation:

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl, and serve with Baked whole grain Pita Chips (from Trader Joe`s) and sliced Tomatoes!

Enjoy!

This herb is a considerable medicinal value as stimulant and carminative stomachic properties.  Is herbal benefits are great treatments to ailments and problems such as colitis and gas, healing of the skin and controlling of infections.

 The freshly cut leaves can be chopped up and used to enhance the flavour of salads and fish dishes, since its tangy spice blends with all of these healthy values!  

Here are some of my favorite supper easy- making, low-calories weight watcher`s salad recipes with Fresh Dill:

Corn & Mushrooms Mediterranean Salad:

Ingredients:     (4-6 servings)

2 cups sweet corn kernels

1 small red pepper, seeded and chopped

1 large chopped pickle

1 small canned sliced mushrooms, drained

2 table spoons chopped Dill`s leaves

2 table spoons low-fat mayonnaise

 Salt and Pepper as desired    

Preparation:

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and- ENJOY!  Only 120 calories and 3 grams of fat per servings!

Delicious Albacore Tuna Salad:

 Ingredients:     (4-6 servings)

1 large canned Albacore Tuna in water, drained and squashed.

 1 large chopped pickle

2 Celery sticks, chopped

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 table spoons chopped Dill`s leaves

2 table spoons low-fat Mayonnaise

1/2 Iceberg lettuce- chopped large

 Salt and Pepper as desired    

Preparation:

In a medium bowl, Mix all ingredients except lettuce. Place lettuce in a larger bowl and  top with the tuna mix.      

ENJOY!    Only 115 calories and 3.5 grams of fat per servings!

Light Cucumber Salad:

  Ingredients:     (4-6 servings)

2 large House Cucumbers or 6 medium Persian Cucumbers (recommended), sliced thin.

1 medium red onion, peeled, halved and sliced very thin

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

2 Tablespoons chopped fresh dill

2 table spoons capers

1 single pack Splenda sweetener  

Salt, Paper as desired    

Preparation:

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and- ENJOY!  Only 45 calories and 1 grams of fat per servings!