Low Calorie Mushroom and Scallion Chicken

Ingredients

1 tbsp toasted sesame oil

1 small bunch scallions, sliced, whites and greens separated

1 small garlic clove, finely chopped

4 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and caps thinly sliced

4 cups water

1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce

1 2-inch piece ginger, peeled and sliced

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 3/4 -inch cubes

Directions

In a very large soup pot, heat the sesame oil over medium heat.

Add the scallion whites and garlic; cook, stirring, about 1 minute. Add the mushrooms and cook until softened, about 3 minutes.

Pour the water into the pot. Add soy sauce and ginger. Let simmer for 2 minutes.

Place the chicken in the broth. Reduce heat to low; cover and poach until the chicken is just cooked through, about 7 minutes.

Transfer the chicken evenly to 4 bowls. Pour broth over the chicken. Garnish with the scallion greens.

(Makes 4 Servings)

Fresh Fruit Salad

Ingredients

1/2 cup plain lowfat yogurt

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

1/4 cup honey

1 teaspoon grated fresh lime peel

2 cups diced peeled cantaloupe

2 cups diced peeled honeydew melon

1 cup seedless red or green grapes

1 cup fresh blueberries

2 cups diced peeled cored fresh pineapple

1 cup raspberries or blackberries

1 1/2 cups halved hulled strawberries

Directions

Whisk together yogurt, lime juice and honey in small bowl to blend; set dressing aside. Wash and clean fruits. Add fruit to a large bowl. Cover dressing and fruit separately and chill until ready to serve, up to 6 hours. Mix dressing into fruit. Let stand 15 minutes to blend flavors. Note: You can easily interchange different fruits – this dressing will also taste great with nectarines, peaches, etc.

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Video: Warming up is a very important part of your workout. If you have a stationary bike, riding it for 5-10 minutes is a great way to warm up.

Vegetarian Grilled Eggplant & Portobello Sandwich

Ingredients

1 small clove garlic, chopped

1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise

1 tsp lemon juice

1 medium eggplant (about 1 pound), sliced into 1/2-inch rounds

2 large portobello mushroom caps, gills removed

Canola or olive oil cooking spray

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper

8 slices whole-wheat sandwich bread, lightly grilled or toasted

2 cups arugula, or spinach, stemmed and chopped if large

1 large tomato, sliced

Directions

Preheat grill to medium-high.

Mash garlic into a paste on a cutting board with the back of a spoon. Combine with mayonnaise and lemon juice in a small bowl. Set aside.

Spray both sides of eggplant rounds and mushroom caps with cooking spray and season with salt and pepper. Grill the vegetables, turning once, until tender and browned on both sides. When cool enough to handle, slice the mushrooms.

Spread 1 1/2 teaspoons of the garlic mayonnaise on each piece of bread. Layer the eggplant, mushrooms, arugula (or spinach) and tomato slices onto 4 slices of bread and top with the remaining bread.

(Makes 4 Servings)

Cantaloupe Salsa

Ingredients

2 cups diced (1/4 inch) cantaloupe

1/4 cup finely chopped sweet onion such as Vidalia

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil

1 (2-inch-long) fresh Serrano pepper, minced (including some seeds)

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

Toss together all ingredients in a bowl and let stand, covered and chilled, 10 minutes.

Can Water Help To Loss Weight

Two thirds of our bodies are made up of water it’s no wonder then that our bodies crave and need water to survive and so the simple answer to the question, “can water help to loss weight?” Is yes!

Drinking approximately 2 liters of water per day is often the quoted ideal for anyone wondering how water help to loss weight might be beneficial. Two liters of water a day might seem like a lot to drink for anyone not used to drinking water on a regular basis, but when you put it into perspective, spacing this amount of water out over the course of a day is not going to be difficult at all. All that needs to be done is for a routine to be developed and it will become second nature.

Using water help to loss weight can be a real bonus when you think that many of the times when we think we’re hungry, we’re in fact really thirsty and dehydrated. So instead of reaching for a snack the next time you think you need some food, try drinking a glass of water instead.

Furthermore a real fact is that the more water we drink the less water our bodies feel the need to hold onto. This might sound counter-intuitive, but if you are not drinking enough water then you will have a tendency to be bloated and that will increase your weight. This is because when enough water is not being consumed, your body goes into panic mode and holds onto the water it already has because it fears dehydration.

Therefore drinking plenty of water throughout the day will stop your body from panicking and holding onto water, because your body knows that it is going to be regularly hydrated. This means your body will get to the point where it will naturally let water go from your body and you will begin to drop the pounds. This really is one of the key elements of how water help to loss weight can work.

What water can also do if you’re looking to lose weight, is to flush out the build up of toxins from the body. So start your day with a glass of water to rehydrate the body after a night’s sleep. You will feel not only refreshed, but you will instantly kick start your body’s metabolism after a night asleep.

So without a doubt, if you’re looking to lose some weight, fill up on water and keep yourself well hydrated because water is the ideal drink to drink when you’re looking to lose weight.

How to Make Vegan Black Bean Soup

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 large onion, chopped

1 stalk celery, chopped

2 carrots, chopped

4 cloves garlic, chopped

2 tablespoons chili powder

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 pinch black pepper

4 cups vegetable broth

4 (15 ounce) cans black beans

1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn

1 (14.5 ounce) can crushed tomatoes

Directions

Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Saute onion, celery, carrots and garlic for 5 minutes. Season with chili powder, cumin, and black pepper; cook for 1 minute. Stir in vegetable broth, 2 cans of beans, and corn. Bring to a boil.

Meanwhile, in a food processor or blender, process remaining 2 cans beans and tomatoes until smooth. Stir into boiling soup mixture, reduce heat to medium, and simmer for 15 minutes.

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Video: Stretching is an important part of your exercise routine and this stretch is great for your hip flexors.

High-protein Quinoa salad

Ingredients

1 cup of quinoa

1 cup soy yogurt

1 avocado – cut into 1-inch cubes

1 apple – cut into 1-inch cubes

2 tbsp nutritional yeast (optional)

2 tbsp olive oil (or other oil)

1 tbsp sea salt

1 tbsp curry powder

1 tsp ginger powder

1 tbsp white pepper

1 tsp dried dill

Directions

Rinse quinoa. Soak for 10 minutes then rinse again and add to 2 1?2 cups boiling water. Reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes (until all the water is absorbed). Transfer the quinoa to a large bowl and mix in the rest of the ingredients. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 24 hours.

Your Natural Way To Lose Belly Fat

Do you want to know the natural way to lose belly fat? Do you dream of washboard abs or a flat stomach but don’t want to take pills, potions, or shakes? Do you long for an exercise program that doesn’t depend on complicated abdominal crunches that take an athlete to actually pull off?

Well I have a solution for you. There is a natural way to lose belly fat. It’s called a proper diet and exercise.

First of all, you want to have a balanced low calorie diet. One suggestion is to “eat around the outside of the supermarket.” That is, don’t go into the isles where all the processed food is. Instead, eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as a moderate amount of lean meat and low fat dairy products. Bulk up with natural foods like whole grains and legumes.

Be aware that there are food choices that you can make to save calories. For instance, swapping 2 cups of air popped popcorn for 1 cup of potato chips saves you 95 calories. And, instead of eating the prepackaged fruit on the bottom strawberry yogurt, eat 1 cup of sliced strawberries with 1 cup of fat free vanilla yogurt and save 105 calories.

Then, start to ramp up a cardio routine. You should be doing heart healthy exercises at least 5 times a week. One study showed that dieters who also walked for 50 minutes 3 times a week lost nearly twice as much belly fat as those who only reduced their calories.

You should aim for 45 minutes of strenuous exercise as a natural way to lose belly fat. This exercise can include moderate to fast walking, jogging, cycling, or using any cardio machine at your gym.

One popular routine that can burn up to 500 calories in a single session has you warming up for 3 minutes, picking up the intensity for 3 minutes, pushing yourself as hard as you can for two minutes, then slowing down for 3 minutes followed by pushing yourself for another 2 minutes. Repeat this for a total of 45 minutes before doing a 2 minute cool down period.

You should be doing strength training on top of your cardio as well. Working your muscles is key to finding the natural way to lose belly fat.

Buy a belly ball and work out with this large 22 inch stability ball. They cost about $30 in sporting goods stores, and if you are serious about finding a natural way to lose belly fat, you’ll get one. Lie on your back and hold the ball in the air between your legs for one minute. It’s easier to get the hang of than a traditional crunch and will strengthen your muscles just as well. The book that comes with the stability ball will explain more exercises.

Diet and proper exercise including both cardio and strength training routines are key to the natural way to lose belly fat.