Chic-Shuk Secrets

Once again Its all about choices. Choosing the right side dish that goes with your main course has some major affects on your diet and weight.
Switching your side dish from potatoes or rice to green spinach or vegetables mix, may be five times less the carbs, fat and calories plus five times more rich in nutritional antioxidants. I`ve tried some sauteed spinach,teaspoon olive oil with chopped red bell pepper, minced garlic and a dash of chili and I must share it with you- It was DELICIOUS near my grilled chicken! Yummy! Next time I`m trying some steamed veggie!!!

I used to think the best diet food is low fat and calories reduced. However, its not always true! The best diet food that is healthy, can fight disease and will slim you down is: Nuts! Nuts are fatty, but they keep you full, plus the extra protein they contain will revs up metabolism. Recent studies found that people who ate nuts on a daily base lost 39 percent more weight than those who didn’t , even though their calorie intake was the same! On top of that amazing weight loss fact, keep in mind that nuts can lower your risk of heart disease, diabetes and- cancer!!!  now, that a reason to go nuts, don’t you think ???!!!

Trust me- I know what it`s like. I`v been there, done that- yes, my many diet mistakes, especially while working eight or more hours a day in a public office. Agree with me on that one- It can be very difficult to eat healthfully and stick to your diet routine and the secret is simple: plan your desktop snacking- ahead of time!
Research shows that eating every four hours helps in keeping your metabolism charged and your energy level high, however before you turn into the vending machine, which normally contains fatty snacks that can easily ruin your healthy diet, plan ahead and stash low-calorie, high in fiber, nutritious snacks in your cabinet, drawer, or even in your briefcase. Each of these snacks will normally be less than 200 calories and/or 5 grams of fat and will keep you full and satisfied throughout the work day, before and after lunch time, right when the craving hits!

My favorite recommended office snacks are:

When I crave for REAL Chocolate, I pick one Kudos Milk Chocolate Granola Bar that has only 100 Calories and 3.5 grams of fat per one snack! I buy the large variety pack that contains 50 bars with different original flavors which last a few months and make sure its handy!!!

When I feel like something salty I grab a bunch of Special K Crackers! You need up to 17 of them in order to reach 90 calories!  They are multi-grains with fiber and dont taste like diet ones!!!  

If I more into crunchy or salty snacks then popcorn is the perfect low calories option (when you choose the right kind!)
Orville Redenbacher- Gourmet Microwavable Popcorn, the  Butter Light kind, is my favorite one since it is low calorie and low fat yet tastes very real and buttery! love it! I simply through it in the microwave for 2 minutes and I get a bag full with diet snack!!!!

If you’re trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle, or happened to be on a diet, and you are about to dine out at your favorite restaurant, don’t automatically turn to the salad menu! Turns out, restaurant salads can often be as bad as—or worse than—any other fatty dish on the menu! Sure, salads may contain some fresh & healthy produce base, but those leafy greens are normally weighed down with cheese, deep fried croutons, and high-calorie dressings. In fact, one salad from a popular chain restaurant may contains over 1,500 calories and too much fut!
 

These are some manue secrets you need to know:

• Anytime you see the words “Parmesans-Crusted,” or “Orange Glazed” assume the dish has been slathered in sugar or cheese, had given a frying treatment and probably contain nearly a full day’s worth of sodium and half a day’s worth of calories!
  

• In Mexican restaurants, salads are mostly the absolute worst choice from the menu. For example, with burritos and tacos, the amount of high-fat, high-calorie fillers is limited to what will fit in the shells! pay attention!
  

• The top word you should be careful about is the mighty Caesar. Regular restaraunt`s Caesar dressing is normally loaded with many grams of fat and is very high in calories, combine it with cheese and croutons and you turn your light, healthy salad to a complete diet disaster! always ask for a low fat or fat-free dressing!

Good Luck!

Seriously guys, one of the best secret I can share with you should be my `guilt free` nutrient snack, since you can`t always be in the mood for carrot or celery sticks, right?! A plain popcorn, my friends! It ranks the highest in the snacks category since contains natural fiber and whole grains which are great healthy benefits, and the good news is that according to a recent study many whole grains foods are as rich as fruits and vegetables in health promoting polyphenols which is a type of antioxidant. Now, why do I call it “guilt free”? that is because it contains no sodium or sugar, is a fat free snack and very much low in calories. Besides, even those calories it contains are well known as the healthy ones, so… it makes it a great, healthy choice!!! Enjoy, and don’t forget to go for the plain version when making you some, in order to keep your weight watching or diet routine…