Is There Such A Thing As Healthy BBQ?

Who doesn't have a memory filled with BBQs, family, friends, sunshine and outdoor activities? Oh the memories of helping dad at the grill flip the burgers and dogs while mom prepares the condiments. Of course it could have been the other way around or who knows, maybe you were the one cooking, well whatever your memories may be, I am pretty sure every one's included things such as hamburgers, cheese burgers, hot dogs, ribs, corn, potato salad, etc... This is where BBQing gets a bad wrap because all the foods listed are known for their extreme calorie and saturated fat content!


Foods such as...

• Hot Dogs (Pork or Grain-Fed Beef)
• Grain Fed Hamburgers
• Ribs
• White Buns (PLEASE USE WHOLE GRAIN BUNS!!)
  
• Ketchup (full of sugar)
• Coleslaw
• Potato Salad
• Corn rubbed with Butter
• BBQ Sauce
• Chicken Wings

... should either be eliminated completely or eaten sparingly...


Luckily though, healthy BBQ isn't an oxymoron; it certainly can be done! Here is a list of wonderful foods on the grill, that are healthy and won't do damage to your waistline/figure:

• Grass-fed Beef, Bison, Elk, Ostrich, Venison, Lamb & Goat
• Salmon Fillets
• Halibut Steaks
• Swordfish
• Tuna
• Kabobs of Scallops & Shrimp
• Eggplant
• Onions
• Zucchini & Summer Squash
  
• Chicken & Turkey (Breast or Ground White Meat)
  
• Sea Bass
  
• Grass-fed Bison or Beef Brats/Hot Dogs
  
• Bell Peppers
• Portobello Mushrooms

Some wonderful marinades (chimmichuri sauce being one) can be made for all of the above listed along with crazy combinations of different yet healthy foods... anyone ever try a turkey burger stuffed with olives, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes & hot sauce? What about a beef burger with artichoke hearts, olives, capers, garlic & minced onions?


In order to retain the FLAVOR (that you might think is LOST from not eating the fatty cuts of meat typically seen at a BBQ) you simply have to be creative! (Oh and I am sure I will post some intense combinations sooner or later...) Just to suppress your intense desire for my creations... here is a list of wonderful herbs, spices, seasonings, and other condiments to use on your new and improved BBQ foods:

• Thyme
• Basil
• Oregano
• Sage
• Chili Powder
• Mustard Powder
• Curry Powder
• Paprika
• Parsley
• Rosemary
  
• Pepper
• Cumin
• Olive Oil
• Tomato Paste
• Olive Tapenade
• Sun-Dried Tomato
• Olives & Capers
• Pickles (no sugar added)
  
• Sauerkraut
• Mustard (no sugar added)
• Citrus Juices

And yes, you knew this part was coming... condiments to avoid:

• BBQ Sauce
• Jarred Relish
• Bread & Butter Pickles
• Butter
• Mayonnaise
  
• Honey Mustard
• Cheese

I'm sorry if this ruined BBQing for you because it really shouldn't... You just have to give the "It Is What It Is" Approved Food List a chance! I promise you will be impressed with the results and your stomach will also be thanking you and asking for more at your next family gathering! So why not break out the grass-fed beef and the halibut steaks and get grilling!!







*Things to remember: marinating all meat before cooking helps reduce the formation of chemicals that are formed when foods are cooked at high heat. Also remember to clean your grill before and after use! Pot Holders may be useful and also consider having a fire extinguisher near by if your new to the whole grilling thing!
*I don't know if you caught on... but the foods in green = GO FOR IT... while the foods in red = STOP! Ha Ha!
*Sorry Jack Daniels... but you are full of sugar!

Play Baby?

So I guess that stripper pole is going sooner than she expected....


For any of you who have caught the first two episodes of Kendra Wilkinson's new show on E!... She specifically said that if she were to have kids, the stripper pole she installed into her new home [before getting ANY furniture], would be taken down.


Well I guess it's time to take it out of the house [or at least in 9 months] because she's PREGNANT! That's right, one of the Girls Next Door has a bun in the oven, and it's NOT HUGH HEFNER'S! (Well at least lets hope not... that would make pretty good TV though).


So obviously you all caught me, I have watched Kendra's new show and... I used to watch the Girls Next Door on a regular basis! Guilty as charged! But I am a slave to all things "E!" so I guess I am OK with being caught!

Speaking of being "caught"... Her fiance (and baby's daddy?) Hank Baskett is a football player for the Philadelphia Eagles (football - catching, yeah, I know good one! ha ha)... Let's just hope he's ready to take on the role as daddy!


As for being a mommy, good luck to you Kendra. Apparently your "kinky sex" worked in terms of getting your pregnant! (She has stated numerous times how she and Hank have the best sex and a lot of it... I wonder how Hef feels about that?) While I know you have said that you have calmed down quite a bit and want a family now that you're out of the Playboy Mansion... The first episode of your new show didn't show any signs of you slowing down!


But you know, Nicole Richie was a WILD CHILD before her first daughter, Harlow and now she is a really great mother (or so I can see from pictures) and has matured beyond her years... So perhaps pregnancy will do that you you too Kendra!


One thing that Kendra is going to have to stop doing right off the bat which might make her go "nuts"... is stop drinking! She was known (and still is) as the biggest party girl. In the episode of her new show in which Hank meets Hefner... Hef says that Kendra is the BEST PARTY GIRL! ha ha.

Speaking of parties though, Kendra and Hank will still be getting married June 27 (a day after my birthday) and I am sure the bash will be out of this world! (Plus it's at the Playboy Mansion - can't beat that!)


Once again, good luck Kendra!

MUNCHIE MOMENTS!

(SNACK ATTACK!!)

So you just got home from work... feeling exhausted... ready for a pick-me-up in the form of... well FOOD... you get to your cupboard and think... "well what do I want"... you know you should be healthy but with all those crackers, cereal, cookies, etc in there you know you can't be... and at a certain point (like right then and there) you just don't care. You know though, you will care later but for that moment in time all thoughts about the future are put on pause. You grab for the stash of Keebler Fudge Shoppee cookies. Ripping the sealed bag open emits a powerful aroma of chocolate and deliciousness. You grab two cookies, put the packaged back in the cupboard and before closing it, sink your teeth into the first cookie. "heaven" is the only thought going through your head... although you should be thinking, oh no, what have I done... this cookie is nutritonally void of ALL nutrients and won't satisfy me until dinner! After you polish off the second cookie, you look at your hands and see little chocolate bits on them so you start licking. When your hands look spotless... you think, now what. Instead of walking away to unwind in another fashion (reading a book, magazine, exercising, etc) you grab the box of cookies from the cabinet again and trek on over to the TV. You think to yourself... "today was a long day, I deserve this"... plop down on the couch and munch away mindlessly until the box is pretty much empty.....

While not EVERYONE follows this scenerio a lot of people do find it difficult to figure out a healthy snack option for when they get home from work, school, etc. I too come back to my apartment with a gnawing feeling in my stomach every so often and turn to the pantry for support. But what differs from me and most people is that my pantries are stoked with extremely healthy foods (as is my refridgerator) so I know my snack will be nutritious and will give my body the boost it needs. Everyone can do the same just as long as they purchase the right things...

Here is a list of some great snack foods to keep on hand for those "munchie" moments!

1. Cherry Tomatoes
2. Bell Peppers
3. Cucumbers
4. Pickels
5. Canned Fish
6. Canned Breast Chicken in Water

7. Pureed Pumpkin with Cinnamon & Stevia (no-calorie sweetener)
8. Kale/Eggplant/Zucchini "Chips" (bake any of these vegetables after seasoning with garlic, salt, pepper & olive oil spray, until crispy)
9. Iced-Black Coffee (Decaf, sweetened with Stevia - for the moments when you know you really aren't all that hungry)
10. Cabbage (Green or Red) with Olive Tapenade, Sun Dried Tomatoes or Mustard
11. Anti-Pasti (Aritchoke Hearts, Turkey Slices, Olives, Gerkins, etc)
12. Seaweed (Nori Sheets, Kelp, Laver, Dulse, etc)

13. Canned Tomato Paste (Yes, it sounds VERY odd, but it's astonishingly delicious and so very healthy for you!)
14. Cruditee (Raw Zucchini/Summer Squash, Asparagus, Bell Peppers, Broccoli, Celery, etc) with Olive Tapenade (which comes in MANY varieties)
15. Cup of Tomato Sauce
16. Sliced Turkey or Chicken Breast
17. Hard Boiled Omega-3 Enriched Eggs
18. Hemp Seeds/ Flax Seeds
19. Egg White Omelete
20. Baked Low Sugar Fruit (Apples or Pears) sprinkled with Stevia & Cinnamon

*Combine any of the above ingredients*


I know some people are thinking that the foods listed above don't even come close to the Keebler Fudge Shop Cookies... which is true, but think about your health. Think about your body. How does your body respond to eating an entire box of cookies? How does your body respond to eating Hard Boiled Eggs with Olive Tapenade? I am pretty sure the latter makes you feel a lot better physically AND mentally! So do yourself a favor and the next time you're at the grocery store, pick yourself up some raw vegetables that can easily be cut for emergecy snacks when you arrive home famished and exhausted. After a while, you won't even desire the pint of ice cream or mac and cheese you would have orignally gone after!

*The Snack Selections above are extremely healthy and follow a gluten-free, wheat-free, dairy-free, soy-free & sugar-free lifestyle - if you need "carbs" etc... by "googling" for healthy snacks you will be able to find numerous ideas!

Crazy Stir Fry Combinations!!!

Vegetables... Meat... Seasoning... All these ingredients (PLUS MORE) can be found in stir-fry recipes which is why I adore them so much! (And why places such as Mongolian BBQ always get my service - ha ha). I won't lie to you though, I eat a limited diet so my combinations may not be as "crazy" as others who do not restrict foods (allergy issues - long story)... but I find my combos still pretty "top-notch" and delicious which is why I thought I could share a few combos with all of you!

1. Diced Chicken Breast or Turkey Breast, Chili Powder, Garlic, Olive Oil, Salt, Pepper, Bell Pepper Strips, Cilantro, Sliced Onions & Olives

2. Diced Chicken or Turkey Breast, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Olives, Capers, Green Beans, Sliced Onions, Garlic, Olive Oil, Salt & Pepper (Can be made with WHITE FISH of any type as well) 

3. Diced Chicken or Turkey Breast, Water Chestnuts, Diced Tomatoes (or Sun-Dried), Broccoli, Olive Oil, Basil, Garlic, Pepper & Salt

4. Salmon, Diced Cabbage, Straw Mushrooms, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Kale, Olive Oil, Red Pepper Flakes (a tiny bit), Onion Powder, Garlic, Salt & Pepper

5. Ground Elk, Diced Zucchini & Summer Squash, Sliced Onions, Olive Oil, Chopped Button Mushrooms, Garlic, Salt, Pepper & Red Pepper

6. Squid, Tomatoes, Red Wine, Olive Oil, Olives & Sliced Onions

7. Octopus, Paprika, Diced Olives, Red Wine, Olive Oil, Thyme, Basil, Lemon Juice, Salt & Pepper

8. Ground Bison, Diced Eggplant, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Oregano, Sliced Onions, Olive Oil, Garlic, Fennel Seeds, Salt & Pepper

9. Salmon, Fennel, Lemon, Celery, Green Bell Peppers, White Wine, Olive Oil, Salt & Pepper

10. Clams, White Wine, Clam Juice, Chopped Parsley, Diced Shallots, Garlic, Minced Anchovies, Olive Oil, Thyme, Salt & Pepper  

11. Ground Ostrich, Spaghetti Squash, Canned Tomato Sauce, Diced Onion, Green Bell Peppers, Salt, Pepper, Olive Oil, Oregano & Basil  

12. Ground Grass-fed Beef, Artichoke Hearts, Olives, Capers, Diced Zucchini, Sliced Onions, Olive Oil, Salt, Pepper, Thyme, Rosemary & Garlic 

13. Tuna, Green Beans, Sun-dried Tomatoes, Hard Boiled Eggs, Olive Oil, Garlic, Artichokes, Salt & Pepper

14. Sea Scallops, Diced Leeks, Olive Oil, Garlic, Clam/Seafood Broth, Shallots & Diced Cabbage

15. Ground Turkey Breast, Diced Cauliflower, Bell Peppers, Onions, Garlic, Dill, Chicken Broth, Olive Oil, Sage, Thyme, Salt & Pepper

16. Hard Boiled Eggs, Shallots, Asparagus, Olive Oil, Olives, Salt & Pepper 

17. Ground Grass Fed Lamb or Goat, Spinach, Olive Oil, Garlic, Ginger Root, Curry Powder, Tumeric or Curry Powder, Salt, Pepper & Cardamon 

**So for the moment that's all I could come up with off the top of my head... but if I come up with more crazy, yet healthy concoctions I will certainly keep you POSTED - PUN INTENDED! 

OH and if you have any you would love to share... please feel free to leave a comment with your ideas! 

(Pictures on post were not taken by me, FYI)

You Can't Hide From It, So Embrace It Safely!

I am sure all of you are extremely tired from the mundane/routine tasks you completed all week... I know I am. Weekends are a perfectly way to unwind from these 5 hectic days from hell. Seeing friends, sleeping, pampering yourself, all fall into that category. Another great way to completely unwind while obtaining some health benefits is by sun tanning.

I know exactly what you're thinking... "I thought sun-tanning was bad for us"... "Um excuse me, skin cancer!"... "When I go outside I use SPF 100 because I don't want to risk it"... "WRINKLES!"...

(One Big Ball of Concentrated Skin Cancer & Vitamin D! ha ha)

Yes, all of those things can result from sun-tanning... but that's why I am here to tell you how to tan safely and reap the benefits that come with basking in it!

First things first... if you want a golden tint... go outside for it! Never ever use a tanning bed! In tanning beds the only UV rays available are UVA rays which cause the most damage (while also giving you that bronzed glow... or red as a lobster look). Plus when you are laying in a tanning booth completely nude, the distance between the rays and your body is quite close - tanning beds are 2 to 3 times MORE POWERFUL than UVA rays from the sun... Thus more rays are absorbed into your body. What happens when these rays are soaked up? Well they do a number to your immune system (weaken it) which means you are more susceptible to getting skin cancer. Yikes!

When you're outside both UVA and UVB rays are present... which means the risk of getting skin cancer is there as well because two powerful rays are being absorbed into your body... No wonder there are so many sun block brands with high SPFs - getting skin cancer is rather easy!

So what can you do to make sure you are not part of the statistic (of those who get skin cancer per year)? This may come as a shock to you but for the first ten minutes of being outside, wear no sun screen at all... This way you obtain an ample amount of Vitamin D which is one of the vitamins most every American is deficient in. Vitamin D is a "wonder drug" and new findings keep supplying more information in it's favor.

After those health boosting ten minutes though, slather on some SPF 35 and reapply it every 2 hours!! This is hard to remember because some either fall asleep outside or get too involved in the Frisbee game... that's why perhaps you should turn on the timer on your cell phone - anything to get you to remember to reapply that sun screen!

Now I won't lie to you - I am pretty bad at putting sun screen on myself... but I have definitely paid for it and will try my best this summer to keep up a healthy sun screen routine!

Who's with me?

PS: HAPPY WEEKEND!!!

The Queen of Talk is Dethroned!!!

BREAKING NEWS! 

OPRAH WINFREY is no longer the most "powerful" celebrity on the planet!!!!!! How in the world can this be! She has TV shows, a production company, magazines, clothing lines, home wear lines, EVERYTHING and it's Oprah for heavens sake! Who in the world has replaced her!

Hm... Well I can list a couple of celebrities who have made lots of movies and demanded high pay checks at the end of each... there's Ben Stiller, Denzel Washington, Morgan Freedman, Jack Nicholson, Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon, Julia Roberts... but none of those listed surpassed her! So who did... ANGELINA JOLIE!

I guess we all shouldn't be too shocked; after all the world seems to be completely infatuated with her. From her long flawless features, HUGE lips, six children, humanitarian efforts around the globe... and not to mention her arm candy, Brad Pitt, Jolie is constantly featured in all the tabloids! Since the world believe Jolie is a goddess, she can demand the HIGHEST pay check and get away with it. (I wonder if Pitt is proud of her or jealous, although he didn't do too shabby in the ranking either: #9)

According to Forbes Magazine, in the past twelve months Jolie has made $27 million from movies such as Kung-Fu Panda, Wanted and Salt (a movie she is currently working on). What also helped her claim the top spot was all the publicity she got during and after her pregnancy with her twins Vivian and Knox (I hope she thanks them in the future). 

So do we think Oprah will fight her way back to the top next year? Lets hope so because I am already starting to feel out of sorts! 

Rounding Out The Top 10

#2: Oprah Winfrey 

#3: Madonna (Ugh, not a fan!)

#4: Beyonce Knowles (I wonder how Jay-Z feels!)

#5: Tiger Woods (Hole in One!)

#6: Bruce Springsteen

#7: Steven Spielberg (You must cast me in your next movie)

#8: Jennifer Aniston (Ha, she beat Brad - I bet she will celebrate!)

#9: Brad Pitt (Yes, you know you're hot)

#10: Kobe Bryant

#11: Will Smith (Well deserved!)

#12: Dr. Phil McGraw (All thanks to Oprah!)

#13: Britney Spears (Glad to see she's back in action)

#14: David Letterman (Jay Leno isn't lower on the list, I bet you're stoked!)

#15: Coldplay

#16: Adam Sandler (You deserve this because you always make me laugh)

#17: Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones does it again!)

#18: Michael Jordan (This man is just amazing)

#19: LeBron James

#20: Tom Cruise (This is not shocking)

PS: Don't believe everything you read... these figures could be before taxes, etc.... for all we know Orpah could still be on top! 

Food of the Day: EGGS

The Amazing Incredible Edible Egg! Why not start off the week with a wonderful high protein food that will keep anyone full for up to 4 hours (depending on how many you eat - many studies have proven this theory correct!). 

Those tiny little orbs you see in the grocery store diary aisle are quite amazing!! 

First of all, I am not quite sure why everyone places them in the "dairy" family because they are made from a chicken and contain no dairy ingredients what-so-ever (so if you're lactose-intolerant, by all means, ENJOY)... Secondly, THEY WILL NOT RAISE YOUR CHOLESTEROL! So for all your cholesterol-phobs out there, get your facts straight! High cholesterol foods do not impact your cholesterol levels... Saturated and Trans Fatty Acids found in that burger, french fries, muffin, bread, cookie that you are nibbling on as you read this are what cause your cholesterol levels to SKY ROCKET! But enough about those "junk foods" - today's post is about EGGS so that's what will be discussed! 

So what came first, the chicken or the egg? Well personally I think the egg, but that is a mystery that may be never solved. What I do know though is that eggs are a very versatile food that have numerous health benefits! 

I must first mention that ONE WHOLE EGG (whether BROWN or WHITE/ ORGANIC or NOT) has 68 to 70 calories, and roughly 4 grams of fat. One egg also has almost 6 grams of high quality protein which all of our bodies need to thrive! 

There are two parts to eggs that I am sure you all know quite well: the white & the yolk... Both sections contain the protein (the white a bit more) but what the white lacks, the yolk makes up for! The yolk is where all the incredible health benefits lie which is why it's such a pity when people toss the yolk and only eat the white. What exactly does the yolk contain?

WELL SINCE YOU ASKED... 

1. Choline - Builds Strong Cells in the Body, Improves the Chemical Events that take Place in the Body, Helps Carry Nerve Messages to Respected Locations, Reduces Body Inflammation

2. B Vitamins - Builds all around Good Cardiovascular Health, Promotes Energy, Promotes Brain & Nerves System Function

3. Fibrin (One of many Special Proteins in Eggs) - Prevents Blood Clots 

4. Lutein & Zeaxanthin - Contributes to Eye Health, Reduce Cholesterol Levels 

5. Tryptophan - Regulates Appetite, Aids in Good Sleep, Promotes Good Moods 

6. Selenium - Helps Prevent Oxidative Stress (which causes heart disease), Supports Thyroid Health, Preventative to Cancer, Reduces Inflammation  

7. Iodine - Regulates Thyroid Hormones 

8. Vitamin D - Maintains Cell Growth & Structure, Maintains Proper Calcium & Phosphorus Levels in Blood, Reduces Inflammation, Promotes Healthy Immune Function, Prevents Chronic Disease & Cancer, Promotes Strong Bones & Joints

So there you have it! That is only a few of the AMAZING benefits of consuming eggs! So don't hold yourself back! Get to your nearest grocery store: STAT: and purchase some free-ranged organic eggs enriched with omega-3 fatty acids (the fat found in fish which has been noted as being vital for everyone's health)... Your body will thank you buy having BOUNDS of energy so you can take on the day! See you next week with another awesome food... but for now:ENJOY!

PS: All this wonderful information was given to me by The Worlds Healthiest Food Website