Danger! BLTs at Meal Preparation Time

I’ve written about BLT’s (bites, licks and tastes) in the past and they are covered in the book. One of the most dangerous times – high risk for BLTs –  for people that prepare food is at meal preparation time. It is incredibly easy for some people to consume an entire meal before the meal, by just “tasting” the food being prepared.

“Just want to be sure it is seasoned correctly and tastes good.”

Avoid this trap by allowing yourself no more than two samples, measuring less than a teaspoon.

That means zero BLTs is okay.

 …Read More »

For some people, feeling full is a cue to eat more

 

In my advanced Fat-Burning Machine course, we get into more depth on things that get in the way of weight loss. One of the things we have discussed is that some people have a seemingly odd feeling of the need to eat more – even when they have just eaten and they should feel full. Why would that happen?

It turns out scientists believe this is a learned response – perhaps as a result of past hunger-producing diets.

Researchers were able to “condition” or teach mice that the feeling of satiety (feeling full and satisfied) means rewards of food while the…Read More »

What causes fat?


I received the same great question from Erica, Louis and Elaine: “What causes fat?”

Most people would say, “Eating more calories than you burn.”

That statement is true, with some qualifications; but, it’s more complicated than simply eating too much.

More recently, fat has been defined as an organ. It has many more functions in the body than previously thought. For example, fat releases hormones that control metabolism.

The six categories of fat include brown, white, subcutaneous, visceral and belly fat.

Brown

Brown fat has received a good amount of media attention the past few years, because of its desirable qualities….Read More »

Why is it harder to burn belly fat as we age?

Researchers at Yale, Tennessee and the University of Bonn took a closer look at something that has plagued us for a long time. As we age, we tend not to burn energy stored in fat cells as efficiently as we did when we were younger.

Is this just a curse of aging or is something else going on?

The researchers focused on specialized immune cells known as macrophages which help control infections and have other functions as well. Using mice as study subjects, they found that the macrophages in older mice breakdown neurotransmitters that consequently don’t allow fat cells to…Read More »

Are Common Food Additives Making You Fat?

In any processed, packaged food product there is often a host of chemical names. Very few of us recognize these names, why they are added to the food product and what they might do to our bodies. Scientists took a look at food additives classified as emulsifying agents intended as food stabilizers.

What does that mean?

Emulsifiers and stabilizers are added to foods to make them more appealing in texture and extend the shelf life. They are commonly used in foods like margarine, ice cream, baked goods, salad dressings, veggie burgers, non-dairy milks and pre-made hamburger patties. Emulsifiers keep the…Read More »

Low-Carb Stuffed Peppers

This yummy low-carb recipe was sent in by Brad S. He made Fat-Burning Machine modifications to a standard stuffed pepper recipe by using cauli-rice instead of white rice.

Ingredients

4 large bell peppers (green, yellow, red or orange)

1 ½ teaspoons olive oil

½ tablespoon butter or non-stick spray

1 medium onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 pound ground turkey

1 ½ cups uncooked cauli-rice

1 8-ounce can tomato sauce, divided

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

1 teaspoon sea salt (optional)

¼ teaspoon ground pepper

 

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. While the oven is heating, cut out the top of the peppers and scoop out the seeds….Read More »

Toasted Cauli-Rice

Featured: Green Cauli-Rice

If you like the texture and consistency of rice, but don’t want the carbs along with the fat-storing insulin spike, then toasted cauliflower “rice” might be a great option for you.

Ingredients and tools

1 head cauliflower

Sharp knife

Cutting board

Spatula

Food processor that has a chop feature

Gallon baggie or other storage container

 

Preparation

I am specific about the food processor because I read some online recipe blogs that it is possible to use a hand-held grater or a blender. Okay, it is “possible”; but it is a giant mess. Trust me on this one, use a food processor with a…Read More »

Coconut Curry Chicken Thighs with Peppers and Mushrooms

 

I like making a big quantity of healthy food. This allows for easy leftovers during the week or I can freeze food portions for a later time. This weekend I made a big pan of coconut curry chicken thighs with peppers and mushrooms.

Ingredients

8 chicken thighs

1 each red, yellow and orange bell peppers deseeded, deveined and sliced lengthways

16 ounces sliced mushrooms

1 can (13.5 ounces) of full-fat coconut milk

1 tablespoon of coconut oil made for medium-high heat (or butter)

1 cup chicken stock

2 tablespoons curry powder

½ teaspoon paprika

½ teaspoon coriander

1 teaspoon oregano

½ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons minced garlic

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 375…Read More »

What is the best yogurt?

Great questions from Pam. “What is your recommendation on yogurt? Coconut milk? Sheep/goat? Greek? What should I be looking for on the labels?”

My personal preference is Fage, Greek Total (full fat) plain yogurt. You can select the 2% if the taste is too rich for you. Some people like the taste/consistency of other brands. (Some are more sour and thinner consistency.)

What to look for on the label? Aim for the absolute minimum number of ingredients. On the Fage ingredient label is Milk, Cream and Live Cultures – that’s it. No list of chemicals, no added sugars, no artificial…Read More »

Which is Better, Gluten-Free or Whole Grain Bread?

Great question, Pam F.! People that have a gluten sensitivity or celiac disease need to avoid gluten (which is found in wheat, rye and barley products.) For this population, gluten-free is a must if they plan to consume grain products.

If you don’t have a gluten sensitivity, you’re better off with whole grain breads and pastas. Why?

One big reason is that gluten-free breads have the highest glycemic indexes (an index of how high blood sugar rises over the 90 minutes after consumption) of all foods according to Dr. William Davis. He says that “gram for gram, ounce for ounce,…Read More »