Vol. 3, No. 6
June 14, 2006
"My mother's menu consisted of two choices: Take it or
leave it." - Buddy Hackett
It's
summertime and the living is...hot and sticky if you're
on the East coast, the same as every other season if
you're here in Orange County, CA.
The
refreshments you reach for during the summer months will
determine how low that hammock swings when you're on it.
Although I've been accused, unjustly, of "ruining" every
holiday with my dietary advice, that is not my
intention. Really.
You have
choices. Many times the caloric difference between ice
creams, for example, is great, but the flavor difference
and enjoyment is similar. So why not choose the one that
will keep that hammock swinging freely? See below for
hot weather food choices that won't strain the fabric of
your Speedo.
We All Scream...
Ice cream
tops many people's "comfort food" list. The creamy,
smooth texture and sweet flavor brings back childhood
memories. Unfortunately, metabolisms and activity levels
have come a long way since then, making it easy to pack
on unwanted pounds.
In a study
by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the
following were judged as good, bad and out-and-out
heart-stopping frozen desserts. The best choices rated
just as tasty as the most fattening, so you won't feel
deprived.
Overall,
remember that a serving size is ½ cup – not the entire
pint container. That's the size of a tennis ball sliced
in half. Sorbet is your best bet because, unless you
choose coconut, they're void of saturated fat. Whole
Fruit No Sugar Added Sorbet rated highest in flavor at
only 60 calories a serving.
Others
ranking highest for flavor and low fat include: Breyer's
Double Churned 98% Fat Free, Healthy Choice Premium Low
Fat, Dreyer's or Edy's Fat Free Frozen Yogurt. Other
good frozen yogurt choices include: Turkey Hill Fat Free
or Smoothie, Blue Bunny Fat Free, Häagen-Dazs Lowfat
Yogurt, Turkey Hill Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Ben
and Jerry's Low Fat Cherry Garcia. (The latter three
ranked slightly less healthy than the others.)
The worst?
Avoid Breyer's CarbSmart (except Rocky Road) and
Chocolate Overload, Ben & Jerry's Body & Soul, and all
Godiva, Dove and Häagen-Dazs ice cream at 300 calories
and 18 grams of fat per serving.
Quick
Breakfast Ideas
You've
probably heard by now that breakfast eaters are more
likely to be thinner than their non breakfast-eating
counterparts. Yet, breakfast remains the most skipped
meal of the day. If you're not hungry in the morning,
you are probably doing too much P.M. noshing. Or maybe
you believe that your only breakfast choices are runny
eggs or soggy cereal. Not so. Here are a few ideas to
help jump start your metabolism and your morning taste
buds:
1.
Veggie-stuffed pita
2.
Low-fat egg sandwich
3.
Oatmeal with pecans and fruit
4.
Low-fat yogurt with raspberries and almonds
5.
Whole-grain waffle with blueberries or strawberries
6. Toast
with a tablespoon of peanut butter and half a banana
7. Pita
with cottage cheese and sliced apple
8.
Breakfast bar with a piece of fruit
Fitness
Hook Ups
The
following is an excerpt from my first OC Metro fitness
column. The link below will only be active for the next
two weeks. Enjoy!
“An
instant camaraderie develops when people participate in
fun, outdoor activities together," says Craig Inaba,
founder of Orange County-based ActivaDate.com. "You
can't get the same thing in a nightclub or online."
Inaba, a professed sports fanatic and former golf
instructor, launched the new fitness singles site early
this year and already counts over 400 members.
http://www.ocmetro.com/NEW_SITE/current_issue/fitness.php
We offer this article on a
nonexclusive basis. You may reprint or repost this
material as long as Linda Melone's name and contact
information is included.
Thanks! LM
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