This Mama Cooks! On a Diet

Lusting after dishware

My every day dishes are the Autumn Leaf pattern by Franciscan by Glading, McBean & Co. And if you've seen my food photos, like this odd pairing of kiwi and pizza (what was I thinking?) you've seen my dishes!

The Autumn Leaf pattern was made in the mid-'50s, and they've held up very well. (Yes, I put them in the dishwasher.) I have dozens of the bowls and smaller plates and enough dinner plates for a large sit down meal. But there are pieces I never get down from the cupboard, like the matching mugs, which I paid $35-50 each.

Lusting after dishware is a genetic thing for me. My mom had special bowls for fish soup, and special plates for eating steamed artichokes. So you'll understand when I occasionally indulge in some online dishware porn - fancy china, crystal, and dinnerware.

The Martha Stewart in me comes out for a second until I realize how much good dishes cost. But that's o.k. because it makes me feel less guilty about buying that $50 Autumn Leaf Teapot a few years back.

Click here to read more...

MothersClick 2nd Annual Cookbook for Moms

MothersClick just announced that they're taking submissions for their 2nd Annual Cookbook for Moms. Last year, Food Network celebrity chef, Nigella Lawson, contributed to their efforts and helped debut the cookbook. This year, their special contributor will be a surprise. (Anthony Bourdain? Don't laugh, he's a new dad.)

Once again, they're turning to their active community and moms everywhere to participate in this fun and charitable project. From now until April 16th, they'll be collecting recipes submitted online, and the MothersClick community will vote on their favorites. Top entries will then be selected for publication in this year's Cookbook for Moms, giving credit and recognizing each contributor.

I'm planning to submit a recipe online, and as far as I can tell, you can submit more than one. So many recipes...which one to choose?

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed.

5 reasons why soup is healthy for dieters and everyone else

I'm having a get together next week and have decided to turn it into a "soup and salad" party. While doing my online research, I found out that soup is an excellent food for anyone trying to lose weight or eat more healthfully. Here are a few reasons why:

1. Eating soup helps cut your intake of food. By having a bowl of low-calorie soup prior to a meal, you can cut your total mealtime intake of amount of food and calories. According to Penn State researchers, diners consumed 20 percent fewer calories when they had both the soup and entree compared to when they did not have soup. The authors cautioned people to pick low-calorie, broth-based soups that are about 100 to 150 calories per serving.

2. Soup is convenient. Thank goodness for Amy's Soups. Not only are they organic, but many of them are low calorie, low fat, high fiber, vegetarian, and delicious! According to The Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 97% of people who ate soup as part of a low-calorie diet thought soup was a valuable part of their weight loss plan.

Whether you buy Campbell's, Amy's, Progresso, or a store brand, there are many terrific healthy choices for soup. Read the labels, pick the healthiest ones, and stock your pantry! Canned soup takes a few minutes to heat up. So if you always have it around, you won't be as tempted to cheat. Plus, it's easy to take to work, and you can often find healthy soup on the menu at most restaurants.

The coupons are in the mail

Congratulations to the winners of my Smart People Drink Milk and Milk is Brain Food contests.

My apologies not getting the word out quicker to my readers. I'm in the middle of Spring Break and preparing for the two blogging workshops I'm giving at the Northern Colorado Writer's Conference on Friday and Saturday.

Here's the lucky people who got the coupons for a FREE sample half-gallon of Horizon Organic's new DHA Omega-3 milk:

• Aimee B.
• Summer at Wired for Noise
• Lisa of Workout Mommy

And if you didn't win, you can get some cents off coupons at the Horizon Organic website. I got a $1 off a half-gallon of the DHA milk and some coupons for their yogurts.

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed.

Find out if you have what it takes to live to be 100 years

Take Another fun blog quiz from Structured Settlement company.

75%

I guess I didn't pick my parents carefully enough. Plus, like all Americans, I could have less stress in my life and work out more.

Take the quiz and tell me what your percentage is below!

In my next house...

After more than seven years living here, I still love our house. But it's missing a few things. A proper laundry room. (Our laundry set is in a closest on the way to the downstairs half-bathroom.) An office for me. (Maybe I'll get that some day when we finish the basement.) And a bigger kitchen with better appliances.

My kitchen is fine, but it's just one counter short. If my husband and I are cooking dinner, it's inevitable that one of us is also using the kitchen table to chop veggies. And when I'm baking cookies or cupcakes, it's impossible. I have cooling racks all over the dining room and kitchen.

And after seven years, the appliances are getting old. Even my sink is getting chipped and needs replacing.

Otherwise, I love the house and the location. So if the housing market gets back on its feet, I could see us doing a small kitchen expansion. But that's hardly a DIY project. Instead I'd hire special kitchen designers.

Click here to read more...

5 tips for eating out when you're trying to lose weight

One of the biggest challenges dieters face is eating at a restaurant. If you're on a diet with a fixed daily menu, it's impossible. It's one of the reasons I gave up doing the Extreme Fat Smash Diet. However, for those of you on more flexible weight loss plans like Weight Watchers, dining out is easier but not without its risks.

All the diets I've been on give you tips for how to eat at a restaurant. You know, things like "order the grilled fish with no sauce" or a "get a salad with dressing on the side." We all know how to follow those strategies. Instead, how about trying a new one:

Plan your restaurant meal before you leave the house

1. Choose the restaurant in advance and make reservations. No restaurants with a buffet or a mascot like Chuck E. Cheese. (Yuck!) Instead, pick a restaurant with a varied menu, so you can find something healthy to eat. Your best bets are seafood restaurants that grill (not fry) their fish, Japanese places for low-cal/high protein sashimi and miso soup, or one with an extensive salad bar. Also, when you make a reservation, your table is ready when you arrive (hopefully) so you don't spend time drinking and snacking in the bar.

2. Plan out your food budget before you go. Calculate how many Weight Watchers POINTS or calories you can use during the meal. Then stick with it!

3. Don’t leave the house famished. Have a light snack, like a piece of high fiber fruit or something with protein in it (nuts or a glass of skim milk) an hour before your reservation. Make sure you've had a few glasses of water or a cup of tea (bring a to go cup in the car) before you leave, too.

4. Get your exercise in earlier that day. If you can manage it, exercise then immediately go out to eat.
(Shower first and change your clothes, please!) That way your metabolism will be revved up and you'll be burning calories at a faster rate while you dine.

5. Go to the restaurant's website to plan what you're going to order. Or have them fax you a menu. Write down what you're going to order and any questions you have for the wait person. (Can I get it with brown rice? Instead of the potato, can I get some steamed veggies?) When you arrive, tell the hostess that you don't need a menu since you already know what you want to order. That way you won't be tempted to sabotage your plan.

For more Five Things/Ways advice articles, click here.

Click here to read how Outback Steakhouse is a great place for dieters, and those on gluten free, diabetic or low carb diets...

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed.

The "Smart People Drink Milk" contest

Recently I posted a product review of Horizon Organic's new DHA Omega-3 milk. Docosahexaenoic Acid, or DHA, is a type of Omega-3 fatty acid that has been studied for its role in heart, brain and eye health.

As part of Brain Awareness Week/Month I'm giving away 3 Horizon Organic coupons good for any ONE FREE Horizon's product up to $4.99 (excluding gallon milk and 16 oz. butter) in value.

To Enter:

1. Leave your name, email address, and blog address (if you have one) in the comments below.
2. You must be willing to send me your full name and address so I can mail you the coupon. I will not share your personal info with the public. However, if you do have a blog, I will link back to it when I announce the winners.
3. You have until midnight MT on March 27, 2008 to enter.
4. This contest is limited to the continental U.S.
5. I'm also offering having this contest at My Readable Feast. Feel free to enter there as well. One entry on each of my blogs is allowed.
6. The coupon cannot be used in CO, MA, MO or ND, so don't enter if you live in those states.
7. I will announce the winners on March 28, 2008 and mail out the coupons via USPS by the following week.

5 Swiss ball exercise videos

Keeping with the ball theme started in last week's post, Get rid of flab quickly by using an exercise ball, here are five videos that demonstrate several kinds of exercises you can do with an exercise ball.

I do variations of the chest and shoulder presses as well as the abdominal exercises. I especially like using weights and an exercise ball at the same time. I feel I'm getting "more bang for my buck" and using my time more effectively.

Remember, exercise is not without its risks and this or any other exercise program may result in injury. To reduce the risk of injury in your case, consult with your doctor before beginning your exercise program. As with any exercise program, if at any point during your workout you begin to feel faint, dizzy, or have physical discomfort, you should stop immediately and consult a physician.

Do you use an exercise ball with or without weights? What exercises do you like to do?

For more Five Things/Ways advice articles, click here.

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed.

Get rid of flab quickly by using an exercise ball

We have a guest blogger today! Liz Harper is a personal trainer living and working on the Gold Coast of Australia. Liz specializes in clients over 35 and people with diabetes and heart disease. Her blog is Liz Harper Fitness where she shares health and fitness tips with her readers.

Since I've been using exercise balls in my workout routine, I asked Liz for more information on this type of workout.

Sculpt a body you can be proud of by using a Swiss ball
By Liz Harper of Liz Harper Fitness

Yes it’s true. You really can have a beautifully sculpted body with the help of just one simple piece of fitness equipment.

History of the Swiss Ball

The Swiss ball (also known as a fit ball, gym ball, body ball or exercise ball) was first developed in the 1960s by an Italian plastics manufacturer who came up with a way of making large colorful balls that could be filled with air.

A doctor in Switzerland was the first to use the balls with adults who had orthopedic problems. Therefore, because the balls were first seen used in Switzerland, they became known as “Swiss balls." The balls were later introduced to the United Sates in the late 80s and since then they’ve been widely employed in fitness programs throughout the world.

Are exercise balls dangerous?

For a number of years the Swiss ball seemed to be everywhere. But in recent years there seems to be a shying away from the balls due to a number of reports of injuries sustained when balls have burst. In one case I heard about, the person involved ended up with fractured eye sockets due to dumbbells hitting the eyes when the Swiss ball burst. The person was lying on it in a reverse bridge position and performing a dumbbell chest press. 

In an attempt to promote safe practices, some gym instructors and personal trainers have been discouraged from using them. Personally, I think this is probably a bit of an overreaction, because if used appropriately, Swiss balls can be a terrific tool for increasing muscle strength, flexibility and balance as well as improving core stability. They also add lots of variety to a training program and can be a welcome change from some of our more routine strength exercises.