Secrets of Success

"Frosting" an Avocado Half

A whole avocado may be too much for 1 meal. How to keep the second half from turning brown? "Frost" it with Greek yogurt! The thick yogurt creates an airtight layer, and the avocado stays fresh, green and delicious--ready to eat as a healthy "frosted" snack, or to be mashed up for yogurt-based guacamole. To make it even more elegant, sprinkle the "frosting" with dill weed or paprika.

Kill 3 Birds with 1 Stone

1) Fighting Daily Crave time; 2) Fitting in Exercise Minutes; and 3) Giving Yourself Props

Instead of pacing around constantly thinking about what I craved for a 3-4PM afternoon snack, alternately fighting the urge or feeling guilty if I gave in--I'd keep my body busy and do those 20 minutes' of exercises I'd set as a goal. That's 4 exercises, 5 minutes each! By the time you choose them, do them, and track them in, that snacky craving feeling is long forgotten. So pat yourself on the back!

Easy Soup Stock

After simmering or steaming vegetables, freeze the cooking liquid in baggies. When it's time to make soup, use up the baggies instead of canned broth--they're rich in vitamins, minerals, and give soups some one-of-a-kind flavor.

Simple Protein Drink with Anti-Oxidants

Brew up a pot of green tea--chill for iced tea. To a 12-oz serving of this anti-oxident rich green tea, add 1 packet of Knox Nutramix for a 7 gram boost of protein. Delightful orangy flavor, only 40 calories, very refreshing. Who knew fingernails are almost pure protein??

Healthy Homemade French/Catalina Dressing

Mix 3/4 portions of Greek yogurt with 1/4 portion of Spicy Low Sodium V-8 juice (or just enough to thin as desired) for a low cal/low sodium red salad dressing. Use for salad, or for a chicken/fish marinade or sauce. V-8 is always in my refrigerator for a quick veggie fix, anyhow!

Juicy Yet Healthy Burgers

Burgers made with 96% lean beef or with ground turkey can be as dry as sawdust--and as tasteless. Add a dash or two of olive oil to the raw meat to make them as juicy as those decadent no-no burgers.

Georgia Sweet Corn on Sale Now

..So buy it! Blanch the shucked ears in boiling water for 4-5 minutes; let them cool down; then cut off the kernels. Portion the corn into 2-cup ziplok baggies (or whatever measure is convenient for you), and freeze them. Thaw for chowder, muffins, salads or sides as needed.

Mock Constant Comment Tea

Have you just eaten a navel orange and have a nice, thick juicy peel begging to be used? Brew up a pot of green tea (think of the antioxidants in it!), and throw in the orange peels! Let it steep until it gets a bit mushy, then throw it out. Refrigerate the tea, and voila! icy refreshment for the hot summer ahead. No sugar needed.

Rice Cooker--Triple+ Duty

Cook more than just rice in a Rice Cooker: Why hide away that rice cooker you got as a shower gift and only use it once in a while! I discovered it cooks hot cereals like Cream of Wheat or Red Mill grains--quickly, easily, with no boilover to clean up afterwards. I use mine to cook beans after soaking them--again, easy and no boilovers. And why not easily and gently poach a chicken breast the same way?