Chic-Shuk Secrets

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! 

Many of us have sleeping problems and new researches suggests a natural healthy way that can help us sleep throughout the night. Even though conventional wisdom says you’re not supposed to eat right before you go to bed since supposedly it is to be the time all food goes to your waistline.  However according to several new researches bedtime snacks can actually help you sleep better especially if you have insomnia. Exploring the subject, I found a great Web-MD article which explains why bedtime snacks can indeed help you sleep. According to this article it is mostly about our metabolic hormones. If you don’t have enough Leptin, which is the hormone that signals satiety, your body could wake you up. However, the article says that you can’t snack on just anything, and certainly should not eat heavy meals since the digestive system slows down while you sleep, so eating too much can make you uncomfortable.

Choose your snacks wisely- most recommended by experts are light dairy, carbohydrate-rich snacks because it most likely increase the level of sleep-inducing tryptophan in the blood. Good choices include a small bowl of cereal and milk, a few oatmeal cookies, peanut butter toast, or a small muffin. Beware of foods containing caffeine, including less obvious choices such as certain sodas and chocolate.

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!

Don’t you just love chewing cookies plus actually eating right and fresh at the same time?! Another helpful diet secret of mine, or if I may say- a great sweet tooth saver, is keeping a box of Whole Grain baked Figs Newtons Cookies in hand. 2-3 cookies aside my afternoon cup of coffee are healthy, delightful choice for my in between meals craving. Contain only 2 grams of fat , 21 grams of carbs and 110 calories per servings, I cannot resist the real figs fill. Seriously- one of the bests tasty, healthy, real fruits and cookies combination I have ever had! A must try product for any weight watchers, dieting lifestyle or simply healthy living smart choices makers. 

Discover more about the health benefits of figs:

Discover more about Whole Grain health benefits:

 I am assuming you all know it is important to eat breakfast. However, it is not enough to have any kind of food in that meal because in order to gain enough energy for the entire day (or at least until late noons) it is important to make the right choice of breakfast`s ingrediants especially if we are trying to save on calories and live a weight watcher`s lifestyle.

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!