#Tempting Tuesday: Fighting the urge not to stuff my face

Most of you know I lost a ton of weight over the winter. If not, you can read about that here. Keeping the weight off is a lifelong commitment, and since Grace is now in kindergarten, not eating everything in sight has become increasingly difficult. My sweet tooth fights for control every day.

The house is quieter, I miss her, I get bored. Yes, I know I should be writing. And I am. When I'm writing, I fall into a zone and forget to eat. But at other times, I still feel as though something is missing, and if I'm not careful, I'll turn to food. Ramping up my exercise has helped, but it's so easy to fall into the mindset that exercise means more calories to eat. I gain weight just looking at most foods, so that's not good for me.

But every day I win the battle. I look at the before picture and remind myself of all the awesome new clothes I've bought. I've also taken to looking for new recipes that aren't loaded with carbs and fat. Eating Well has some great ones.

What do you do to fight the munchies? What kinds of snacks do you reach for that satisfy without putting on the flab?

Tempting Tuesday: Yummy Goodness

Today’s topic? One of God’s most wonderful creations, it’s a therapist, friend, and enabler. Every morsel soothes the soul and makes even the most dire situations just a little bit brighter.

I’m talking about chocolate, of course.

My sweet tooth has a life of its own. Even though I’ve been off my diet a month today (yay!) and maintained, I battle the need for something sweet and delectable every day. Several times a day, actually. I try to curb the need by chewing gum or guzzling water, but it really doesn’t come close. There’s nothing like chocolate, period.

The trick is finding chocolate that’s not too packed with calories and doesn’t taste like cardboard. Seems impossible, doesn’t it?

Oh, ye of little faith. We just need ‘the Google,’ as my husband’s grandpa calls it. A few minutes of searching, and I discovered this yummy goodness just waiting to be sampled.

Cocoa Fudge Cookies

Your mouth’s watering, I know. Mine, too. This recipe’s got some prep time, but the pay off looks delicious. I’ll be trying these this weekend for the holiday. If you decide to give into your sweet tooth, let me know what you think!

Do you have any great dessert recipes to share?

Ingredients
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 7 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup plain low-fat yogurt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Cooking spray

Preparation
• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, soda, and salt; set aside. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat; stir in cocoa powder and sugars (mixture will resemble coarse sand). Add yogurt and vanilla, stirring to combine. Add flour mixture, stirring until moist. Drop by level tablespoons 2 inches apart onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray.
• Bake at 350° for 8 to 10 minutes or until almost set. Cool on pans 2 to 3 minutes or until firm. Remove cookies from pans; cool on wire racks.

Source

Eating Healthy on Vacation and Avoiding the Car Munchies

Eating healthy is a lifetime challenge. It’s hard enough to stay on track when we’re at home, in familiar surroundings and in total control of our meals, but it’s another when we’re on vacation. The temptation of new foods, alcohol, and snacks are strong. Everyone deserves a break, and it’s okay to broaden your eating horizons on vacation.

But how can we avoid letting the perpetually hungry monster inside of ran rampant?

Everyone has a different trick, but here are some great ways to keep the monster from eating you into a new size.

For the road-trippers like me, pack a cooler full of water and healthy snacks. They’re better for your body and your wallet. Make sure they’re low-cal and high in protein like an apple of Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt is extremely high in protein and much better than regular yogurt. I’ve tried all the brands my local stores carry, and my favorites are Fage and Chobaini. Chobaini’s honey Greek yogurt is fantastic!

Snack often. Having a healthy snack midmorning and mid afternoon is really important in keeping our appetites under control. Protein bars are great for this. Many are low in calories and high in protein, and they come in all different flavors, including chocolate. Mmmm. Special K has some great ones, as well as EAS. They’re high in protein and really low on carbs.

Drink lots water. The staple of any healthy diet! Keeps us full and is great for the skin.

Keep your bread choices to whole grain when possible.

If you’re going to be camping like me, (we spend a week fishing and staying at cabins. My family has gone to the same place since my dad was a kid) stock up on lean meats like fish and chicken. Get turkey-dogs instead of beef. You can also make a great veggie plate to go with this: simply chop up your favorites—I like red and green peppers, onions, asparagus, squash, and zucchini. Toss them in a ziplock bag, add some olive oil, real salt (sea salt), pepper, and basil. Shake ‘em up and toss on the grill. Tastes yummy and will keep you from gorging on dessert.

Last but not least… the alcohol. I know we all look forward to relaxing and embibing more than we do at home, but remember the wasted calories. Limit yourself to one extra drink, two at the most. Your waistline and hangover-free body will thank you later!

What are some of your tips for eating healthy eating on vacation?