Chic-Shuk Secrets

Unfortunately there is no magic when it comes to weight watching and keeping a healthy lifestyle. What makes a healthy diet works for the long term is mostly a healthy eating. When I needed to figure it out if my eating habits are good or bad I asked myself several questions:

1. What do I drink when I`m thirsty?

2. Do I normally eat in front of the TV or computer?

3. How often do I eat out?

4. How fast do I eat?

5. Do I always finish my entire meal?

6. How many times do I eat during the day?

The answers to these questions could be very, however each one of us should be as closer as possible to these answers:

We should drink lots of water, whether thirsty or not, or at least drink what is based on water, like green tea or lightly flavored vitemins water. When it comes to where we eat, around the table is your best choice since otherwise we tend to be distracted and eat more then we should. When we eat out, it makes it harder to watch our weight and healthy eating since most restaurant food has extra portion, calories and fat. Try to cook at home more often, eat slowly and listen to your body. You would know when you full and should stop eating. Even if there is still food on your plate! yes my friend, you can save it for later and continue eating once hungry again! This is how you keep your stomach and therefore your metabolism working by eating small meals several times a day.

Good Luck!!!

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! 

Combining delicious, nutritious and natural foods as oatmeal and dark chocolate, you might find that adding a fruit to the mixture can be more tasteful and healthy. Check out this wonderful craving savor healthy cookies recipe and be surprised how reducing the amount of sugar and butter per cookie, while adding mashed ripe Banana to these amazing oatmeal – chocolate chip delights can improve more then their flavor, but higher their nutrition value, especially when we are talking weight watchers lifestyle and smart food choices: 

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:

Read more about: Dark-Chocolate Nutrition Benefits -

Read more about: Banana Nutrition Benefits -

Read more about: Oats and Healthy Dieting-

It is OK to have a busy lifestyle and no time to shop for fresh groceries and cooking from scratch. It is also okay to have absolutely no idea how to cook an entire meal. (relax, many of us simply don’t have that talent..) However, It is NOT ok when you`re not eating right. Eating right means healthy food choices such as green, fresh, low fat, and most important- nutrients values.  

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!