Fire up the grill today as part of the great American tradition and celebrate the 4th with a reasonable number of calories. Grill some nice chicken but keep the barbecue sauce to a minimum. The sugar is a hidden calorie waster. Use hot sauces instead.
Grill veggies too. All that zucchini that’s now coming out of home gardens is a great side. Corn on the cob is an easy grill item. Trim off the silk and then soak it water before putting it on the grill for about 10 minutes. It gets smokey and steamed in the husk.
Skip the potato salad! Coleslaw or tomato & cucumber salad is really great with an easy low cal / low carb dressing of mayo and the juice from no sugar “bread & butter” sweet pickles.
Have fruit as dessert. Strawberries and blueberries will keep the theme. Use Splenda as a sweetener. Since that doesn’t make the usual sugar syrup you’ll need to add some liquid. Water will do, or try a little orange juice.
TODAY: Enjoy the picnic, just do it in moderation or your waistline will explode.
If you have a stash of snacks in bags left in the house, get rid of them. You’ve got to change your habits and if you leave those temptations within reach you will no doubt give in to them in a moment of weakness or more likely laziness. It’s just handy to grab one of those bags and munch away. Lay’s even names the snack size bag the “Big Grab”. They ought to call them the “Big Flab”.
You can still snack in moderation when you’re hungry. Just make the snack protein filled. Eat hard cheese, meats, jerky, salami, sardines or the high protein nuts like macadamia and almonds. If you absolutely need a bag of stuff to munch get fried pork rinds. Drink lots of water too. It will help you feel more full while also giving you hydration and flush your system of the extra protein you’re now eating.
TODAY: CLEAN OUT THE PANTRY. GIVE UNOPENED BAGS OF SNACKS TO A SHELTER.
I’ve found that by planning my meals the day before gives me a chance to really enjoy them more. And research has shown that enjoying food makes it more filling and satisfying. I’ve been on the Atkins diet and I have an egg breakfast every day. By planning how to prepare those eggs, what meat to have (like leftovers from dinner) and even what condiments to use makes that breakfast an event. It’s like setting a goal and reaching it. So I start the day with a diet victory. As a bonus, I often get to try new things. Have you ever tried a barbecue omelet?
Dieting is a life extending change. So plan your diet menu for tomorrow today and you’ll have more today’s to plan too.
TODAY: PLAN YOUR MEALS FOR TOMORROW. THINK ABOUT THEM WHILE YOU’RE WALKING.
You may have some spare bites left in the fridge from eating less at each meal. Today is the day for you to have a smorgesboard of bites. It will give you a nice variety and a cheap meal. Actually, don’t let those leftovers go to waste at any time. A diet is a great way to save money and those hunks of meat and portions of veggies that you didn’t eat because you were reducing portions can be mixed together into a nice hash. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different combinations. It’s a great opportunity to experiment because if it doesn’t taste good… it’s no big loss! I find that a good spicy hot sauce, with little or no added calories, gives a nice boost and tickles your taste-buds with a new experience as well.
TODAY: MAKE A MEAL OF LEFTOVERS.
I’ve told you before that exercise counts even if it’s in small portions throughout the day. Well food does the same. Don’t fool yourself. A bite of candy here, a few chips there, it still gives you calories that you have to burn. Don’t have those things around and you won’t be tempted. You do want to eat several times a day to keep your metabolism up and burning. Just eat snacks that have high protein, low carbs, high fiber and low calories. Pay attention to what you eat don’t just open your mouth and stick in whatever is handy.
TODAY: AVOID UNNECESSARY CALORIES.
Spring has sprung. Now’s the time to get out and take advantage of it. This weekend get out and pick a spot for a garden. Clear the space, turn the soil, get down on your hands and knees and plant some veggies. Salad greens, radishes, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, carrots, eggplant, whatever you feel like or have room for. Taking care of the garden will give you exercise, and eating the veggies will be good for you and your food budget too.
They were once called “victory gardens”. It can be your “diet victory”.
TODAY: START YOUR GARDEN.
The grilled offering at KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) may lead you to believe that it’s the diet choice you might make on their menu. Well the nutrition handout available at the stores tells the story differently. Surprisingly ORIGINAL RECIPE is the low cal / low fat winner. But there is a catch. The KFC Original Recipe breast has half the fat and 40 fewer calories than the new grilled version. IF you take the skin off. It seems that the skin absorbs most of the oil and the “secret herbs and spices” has a LOT of salt. As a matter of fact it reduces the salt and cholesterol by half! (Grilled had TWICE the cholesterol!) In addition taking off the skin and it’s minimal breading reduces transfat from 21 grams to just 2, carbs from 7 grams to 1 while eliminating ALL of the saturated fat.
The down side is that the skin may reduce the amount of actual food you get… but then again that’s sort of what I’ve been nagging you about.
TODAY: GO SKINLESS TO GET SKINNY.
Daily Nag, Healthy Recipes | Diet Nag | 
July 4, 2010 8:09 am | 
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