Are You a Cautious Label Reader?.....

Yesterday I came across a blog call My Whole Food Life.  She has a lot of great clean recipe ideas.  She also does a little segment called Processed Foods Exposed.  I looked through a few of them and was particularly interested in the one she did on Progresso Plain Bread Crumbs.  Seems like a pretty harmless food right?  I was actually quite shocked at how many ingredients went into plain bread crumbs, including high fructose corn syrup and partially hydrogenated vegetable oil.  I suppose that is why bread crumbs have such a long shelf life.  It was a good reminder to ALWAYS look at the ingredient list to see what you are really eating.  

Ways to get around using store bought bread crumbs...

1. I often use old fashion oats in place of breadcrumbs.  Especially when I am making meatloaf (I love me some meatloaf:).  
2. Make your own breadcrumbs from the crusts and heel of your bread.  Just freeze them until you have enough to make a batch of breadcrumbs.  (this is perfect for me because my girls don't like to eat the crust and my husband gets mad at me for catering to them and cutting it off and throwing it away.  Now everyone can be happy:) 

I am going to try making these Homemade Coconut Cream Larabars from the My Whole Food Life blog this week.  I need to grab a few of the ingredients next time I go grocery shopping...

Coconut Cream Larabars

15 Medjool Dates
1/2 cup almonds
1/2 cup cashews
3/4 cup shredded coconut
2 T coconut oil
2 T water

Mix the almonds, coconut and cashews in the food processor until fine. Then add the dates, oil and water and pulse until a dough forms. Line an 8X8 pan with parchment paper leaving enough room for some to come out the sides. That way, the bars will be easy to remove and cut with a pizza cutter. Press down the down so that it is packed well and place in the fridge to set. It will take an hour or two. Slice and eat. These should keep in the fridge for a couple weeks.

Skinny Tips...

So I came across this video while checking out YouTube for workout ideas.  There are some good ideas to help you either eat less or reduce your food cravings. 

I thought this might be a good thing for us to have on our minds as we head into the weekend. 

It is actually kind of entertaining to watch but if you don't have time I will do a quick rundown for you...

P.S. I promise not everything I will post will have to do with Jillian Michaels.

Skinny Tips-

1. Eat 5 walnuts or 8 almonds before a big meal (lunch or dinner).  They release a hormone that delays gastric emptying which should help you to feel fuller longer.

2.  Brush your teeth often throughout the day.  Foods like pizza and pasta may not sound as good if you have the taste of toothpaste in your mouth. 

3.  When you have a craving you just can't get rid off try eating three bites of it and walking away for ten minutes.  You won't feel deprived but you won't over do it either. (not sure this would work for me.  I tend to go all or nothing:)

4.  Wear tight clothing.  Even go as far as wearing spanx under your clothes.  If you feel constricted in your clothes you just may not want to eat more food making them feel tighter. (I am so doing this!)

5.  Cook your pasta to al dente.  It lowers the glycemic index of the pasta.  You should also pair your pasta with fat and protein.  This also keep the glycemic index lower.  

6.  Use a fiber supplement before a meal.  It will expand in your tummy helping you to feel more full.

7.  Ruin your food!  If you are sitting at a table and you keep picking at the food after you are done grab the salt and dump so much on it that the food no longer is a temptation.

Are you going to try any of these skinny tips?