Secrets of Success

CALORIE-FREE FOODS... do exist ;)

Tracking everything can be difficult... Sometimes you just want something and you don't want to run to the computer or enter it in your phone.. You just want to have a little something with the kids maybe or before bed ... What if you didn't have to track it? What if you could take the calories out of your favorite foods?

You can.

All you have to do is track it earlier... not an estimate. Instead, make yourself a smoothie, track the full amount and don't drink it all... freeze some for later.

Cut Your Pasta servings in HALF with NO ONE missing the extra calories!

Make your sauce CHUNKY with LOTS of veggies( tomatoes, onion, mushrooms, spinach, squash etc) It should be like a stew..Don't let it get "runny" . Boil 1oz whole grain pasta per person and when done- use kitchen shears to snip into small pieces. Mix into sauce and divide into servings. The veggies make up for the lower amount of pasta. And because it isn't a mound under the sauce- no one can gage how much( or little) pasta they actually have.!

low cal "Carriers" instead of Pasta or Rice

Do you have a nice, low calorie recipe for a stew, chili, saucy dish, or topping, but find that once you add in the obligatory noodles or rice for it to sit on, its now way more calories than you wanted? Instead of pasta, try spinach. Instead of rice, try cauliflower rice!

Chocolate Cravings

when I get that sudden crave for chocolate I grab a small handfull of semi-sweet chocolate chips, instead of reaching for the chocolate ice cream, chocolate cake, brownies or other high calorie chocolate fix. 1 oz (about 60 chips) has just 132 calories.

Roasted Vegetables

I cube up or cut into small pieces fresh vegetables, any that strike my fancy. Add a can of diced tomatoes, minced garlic, sliced onions, spices - Italian or Mexican spices. Add a little fatfree chicken broth. Seal in foil, 400 degrees for 45 min. or until tender. Yum!