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Never Count Calories Recipes – Part 2

April 14, 2010 By Karen Ficarelli

Breakfast

Florida Fruity Sunny Smoothie
This cool and creamy drink is delicious for breakfast or as a snack. The flaxseed oil adds healthy monounsaturated fatty acids that have been proven to fight belly fat.

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Ingredients:
1 ½ cups frozen mango cubes or peach slices, slightly thawed or 1 large mango, peeled and sliced.
1 cup hulled, halved fresh strawberries
1 cup fat-free vanilla yogurt or light vanilla soy milk
½ cup chilled mango nectar
1 Tbsp frozen pineapple juice concentrate, slightly thawed
1 Tbsp flaxseed oil

Preparation:
• Place mango, strawberries, yogurt, nectar and juice concentrate in blender. Add about 5 ice cubes if you use fresh mango. Blend well until smooth.
• Add flaxseed oil and blend for 2 seconds. Pour into 2 chilled glasses.
• Serves 2

Per Serving: Saturated Fat: 1.5g, Protein: 8g, Sodium: 86mg, Total Fat: 14g, Carbs: 65g, Fiber: 5g,
Cholesterol: 2mg. For those who insist on counting the Calories: 399.
Lunch

Panini Style Roast Beef Sandwich with Creamy Dijon, Tomato and Avocado

Ingredients:
4 slices low-calorie multigrain bread
4 oz thin deli sliced lean roast beef
1 beefsteak tomato
½ avocado, sliced
¼ cup baby arugula
1 tsp Dijon mustard
¼ tsp extra virgin olive oil

Preparation:
• Top 1 slice of bread with roast beef, tomato, avocado and arugula. Spread remaining slice with mustard and lay face down on arugula.
• Heat nonstick grill pan over medium heat until hot. Brush sides of sandwich lightly with oil and place in pan. Set a skillet with a heavy-bottom, on top of sandwich and cook 1 to 2 minutes per side. Should be warm in center.
• Serves 2

Per Serving: Saturated Fat: 2g, Protein: 17g, Sodium: 639mg, Total Fat: 12g, Carbs: 25g, Fiber: 4g,
Cholesterol: 30mg. For those who insist on counting the Calories: 251.
Dinner

Dijon Salmon with Dill Cream Sauce
This is a low-fat, low-calorie, heart-healthy dish that is good for your entire family. A delightful fish entrée with mouth-watering flavor, tastes great with steamed broccoli.

Ingredients:
1 cup fat-free sour cream
2 tsp dried dill
3 Tbsp scallions, finely chopped
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 ½ lb salmon filet with skin, cut in center
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp black pepper
Fat-free cooking spray, as needed

Preparation:
• Whisk sour cream, dill, scallions, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard together in large bowl until well blended.
• Preheat oven to 400º F; and spray baking sheet with nonstick fat-free cooking spray.
• Place salmon, skin side down on baking sheet.
• Sprinkle with garlic powder and pepper, then spread with sauce made in Step 1.
• Bake salmon until opaque in center, or about 20 minutes. For best taste, do not over bake.
• Serves 4.

Per Serving: Saturated Fat: 2g, Protein: 27g, Sodium: 229 mg, Total Fat: 7g, Carbs: 5g, Fiber: less than one gram,
Cholesterol: 76mg,
Potassium: 703g. For those who insist on counting the Calories: 190.
How to Select Salmon, Fish and Seafood

The lovely pink-hued salmon can be served in a variety of ways and is always a favorite among fish lovers and enjoyed even by those who are not always fond of fish. It’s delicious and nutritious with omega 3 fatty acids. The season for the different species of salmon ranges from early summer to late fall, however, with increased production of farm-raised salmon this healthy fish can be found fresh in local supermarkets year round.

The salmon flesh ranges in color from pink to red to orange with some varieties richer in important omega 3 fatty acids than others. Two examples of salmon, chinook and sockeye are fattier fish than pink and chum and contain great amounts of healthy omega 3 fatty acids.

Just two servings of Omega-3-rich fish per week can lower triglycerides. Triglycerides are a form in which fat is carried in your bloodstream. In normal amounts, triglycerides are important for good health because they serve as a major source of energy. High levels of triglycerides, however, are associated with high total cholesterol, high LDL (bad) cholesterol and low HDL (good) cholesterol), and therefore, with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Salmon is sold in many different forms. Fresh salmon is available as a whole fish or in steak or fillet form. Salmon is also available frozen, canned, dried or smoked. Whenever possible, choose wild rather than farm raised salmon.

Sockeye salmon are an exceptionally rich source of vitamin D: a 4-ounce serving of baked or broiled sockeye salmon provides 739.37 IU of vitamin D. The same 4-ounce serving of chinook salmon, another excellent source of vitamin D, supplies 411 IU.

Fresh whole salmon and other whole fish should be displayed buried in ice, while fillets and steaks should be placed on top of the ice. Smell is a good indicator of freshness. Once the fishmonger wraps and hands you the fish that you have selected, smell it through the paper wrapping and return it if it does not smell right.

Smoked salmon should not have dry or brown edges. In addition, avoid smoked salmon that is very shiny or is leaking moisture as it is probably not too fresh.

When storing all types of seafood, including salmon, it is important to keep it cold since fish is very sensitive to temperature. Therefore, after purchasing salmon or other fish, make sure to return it to a refrigerator as soon as possible. If the fish is going to accompany you during a day full of errands, keep a cooler in the car where you can place the salmon to make sure it stays cold and does not spoil. Out ice or a couple of those plastic blue ice and freeze the night before.

The temperature of most household refrigerators is slightly warmer than ideal for storing fish. So, in order to ensure maximum freshness and quality, it is important to use special storage methods to create the best temperature for holding the fish. One of the easiest ways to do this is to place salmon, which has been well wrapped, in a baking dish filled with ice. The baking dish and fish should then be placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator, which is its coolest area. Replenish ice one or two times per day.

Start a discussion by leaving a comment.

Read Part 1 here.

Filed Under: Diet

Baked Spinach Balls

April 13, 2010 By Karen Ficarelli

Great as an appetizer or can be served as a complement to any meal.

2 cups Italian bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (fat-free)
1 small green onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 pkg. frozen spinach (thawed and drained)
1/4 cup vegetable stock, sodium free
2 Tbsp fat-free margarine, melted (Smart Balance is a good brand)
Salt and pepper to taste
2 egg whites, beaten

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, onions, garlic and nutmeg into bowl.
3. Mix in spinach, stock, margarine, egg whites, salt and pepper.
4. Shape mixture into 24 balls.
5. Lightly rub each ball with a good olive oil before putting into oven.
6. Cook 10 to 15 minutes.
7. Can serve with mustard sauce or any condiment of your choice.

Health Benefits
Low in fat, cholesterol, sodium and calories. Spinach is an excellent source of iron, necessary for a successful women’s fitness plan. You’ll need lots of energy for your workouts and spinach can give you the power to keep on going, don’t forget that’s where Popeye got his strength.

Do you have a spinach recipe?  Please share it in the comment space below:

Filed Under: Healthy Cooking

The Omron Pocket Pedometer

April 10, 2010 By Karen Ficarelli


The Fitness4Her Health and Fitness Product Review of:

The Omron HJ-720ITC Pocket Pedometer

I was looking for a pedometer to keep track when I walk, since I don’t always follow the same path, I wanted one that would keep a record of my steps and distance. I’m not all that interested in the amount of calories burned, but I know many people like to keep a running track of calories consumed and expended when managing their weight.

The Omron HJ-720ITC Pocket Pedometer is a full-featured pedometer that allows you to calculate the number of steps, the distance traveled and the calories burned. Designed to tolerate more tilt so that it doesn’t count false steps as I have experienced with many other pedometers. I placed it in my pocket and took the same walk for a couple of days walking the same distance and the pedometer was accurate each time.

I like the fact that the Omron HJ-720ITC is small enough to easily fit in my pocket while still being fully functional and precise. The user friendly, large LCD display is easy to read, even outside. So, you can take it out of your pocket at any time during your walk to check how far you’ve traveled. It’s great for walking on the beach, or any place where the surroundings make it hard to gauge your distance traveled.

There is software available to upload your steps, distance and calories to your computer and keep an ongoing account of your walking program. This great little tool has a lot of potential for such a small device. Inexpensive and convenient, reliable and durable, I would recommend this pedometer to anyone starting a walking program fitness program or who just wants to keep track of the steps they take in a regular day.

For more information, please visit them at directly at: Omron Health Care

Filed Under: Reviews4Her

Don’t Let Your Feet Get In Your Way

April 9, 2010 By Karen Ficarelli

Everyone knows that the key to a healthy lifestyle is exercising and eating right. But what happens when your feet get in the way of your exercise? No, I’m not talking about clumsiness; you’re on your own with that one. But what I am talking about is what almost 60 million Americans suffer from on a daily basis – foot problems!

It’s hard to get a good work out when your feet are bothering you. Sometimes pain in your feet can be caused by being overweight, but if your feet hurt because you’re overweight, and you can’t exercise because your feet hurt… what’s a person to do?

Well, of course the solution often depends on the kind of foot problems you do have. If you suffer from foot and ankle pain, then the first step is to invest in a good pair of walking or running shoes with the support you need. Rule of thumb is if you can fold the sole in half, it’s too flexible. You can also try what is called a foot orthotic. These can provide shock absorption and the support you need to handle the stress your extra weight can have on your joints. Although there are prefabricated foot orthotics, depending on the severity of your pain, you may need to be custom fitted for one at your local podiatrist.

Common corns and bunions can also interfere with your exercise routine by causing you pain and discomfort when you walk. Corns are callus growths that can form on the tops of your toes and are usually caused by wearing shoes that don’t fit you right. The first thing you can do to help avoid pain from corns is to have comfortable well-fitting shoes. You can also apply padding around the corns to soften impact when you are exercising. If the corn becomes increasingly painful, you should go to your doctor for treatment.

Bunions are a bump on your foot by your big toe. The joint of your big toe actually becomes enlarged and forces your other toes to crowd. Bunions are again caused by wearing shoes that don’t fit well. To reduce pain, again, get a good comfortable pair of shoes. You can also pad the area and take over the counter pain medicine such as Tylenol or Aleve. If the pain persists, you may require surgery.

Don’t allow common foot problems to get in the way of your healthy lifestyle. If the pain persists, see your health care professional immediately.

Please share your opinion with us and our readers in the comment space below:

Filed Under: Women's Health

Richard’s Roasted Garlic with Three Cheese Spread

April 8, 2010 By Karen Ficarelli

This tasty treat can be enjoyed in the evenings with just the family or you can make a bigger batch and serve it when guests come over. It’s easily portable if you need to take it to office parties or even tailgating.

1 large garlic bulb
PAM Olive Oil cooking spray
1 pkg. 8 oz fat-free cream cheese, softened
2 oz goat cheese
1/2 cup fat-free parmesan cheese
3 Tbsp milk, 1% 2%, or fat-free
Minced parsley as garnish
Pepper to taste
1 loaf of crunchy hot out of the oven, sourdough bread, cut up into pieces.

Directions
1. Cut off top of garlic bulb to expose cloves.
2. Spray garlic lightly with cooking spray and wrap in aluminum foil.
3. Bake at 400 degrees until tender, about 40 minutes.
4. Cool, gently remove from skins.
5. Mash cloves with fork and set aside.
6. In separate bowl, mix cheeses, garlic and pepper, stirring in milk carefully to make desired consistency.
7. Refrigerate for 2 hours or longer, so that flavors can marinate.
8. Spoon over hot bread and sprinkle with parsley.
9. You can substitute pita chips or veggies if you don’t have fresh baked or warm bread.

Health Benefits
Low in fat, sodium and cholesterol. Healthy spreads are all the rage when you are looking for a savory snack that fits within your women’s fitness program. Look for my other healthy spreads and dips throughout my recipes. My family loves to eat, so I am always searching for low fat alternatives.

Doesn’t this recipe sound great?  Leave your opinion in the comment space below:

Filed Under: Healthy Cooking

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KAREN FICARELLI, Founder
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