The Beverage Hype in NYC

For anyone who doesn't live in NYC, (or for those who live in the city but haven't heard), Bloomberg has proposed a ban on large sugary drinks in restaurants, movie theaters, etc. While I personally don't drink my calories, I know many people who frequent an afternoon sugary beverage. Bloomberg claims this plan will help fight obesity, but I personally think we have bigger problems to deal with than the consumption of sugar in beverages (ie: why aren't there any salads on McDonald's dollar menu?! And why is Outback Steakhouse allowed to make a Bloomin' Onion or Cheese Fries with over 1,000 calories and an obscene amount of fat?!) I know Paula Deen cut her sugary beverage consumption and lose 30 pounds, but the obesity problem in America extends way beyond Coke and Pepsi. Oh, and not to mention, the ban wouldn't even include juices (which often contain just as much sugar as a soda!)


In my opinion, Bloomberg is wasting his time. I liked the rumored plan to put a higher tax on fast food much better- make the healthier options cheaper, and chances are, people will be more willing to opt for it. If the bag of spinach was cheaper than the bag of rice, I guarantee more families would be eating a salad as a side dish.


What do you think of Bloomberg's plan? Does it have the potential for success??








For further reading, check out this article! Pin It

Garlicy Goodness- An easy way to spruce up a meal

Roasted garlic, while not the best date food, is a great way to add tons of flavor to any meal, but dieters often avoid it because it is generally laden with tons of oil. When making my famous cauliflower pizza one day, I decided I really wanted to spread some roasted garlic on the crust, but I am a huge proponent of avoiding mounds of oil at all cost (too many unnecessary calories in my opinion!), so I decided I would experiment, and luckily for all of us, I determined that a quick, simple spray of coconut oil was a satisfactory amount to roast a head of garlic with the same amount of flavor you would get from pouring oil over the head of garlic, as most people do. For those of you who don't know how to roast a head of garlic (don't feel bad; I was there myself a year ago!), I will give a brief recipe/guide for my guiltless roasted garlic, which I consider a refrigerator staple! It stays for ages and is a great addition to any pasta dish, sandwich, etc.

First, get your broiler ready! To roast a head of garlic, you start by cutting off the top section of the head of garlic, so that all of the cloves are exposed (as shown above). You can save the tiny pieces you cut off and sauté them with some onions and mushrooms (another fridge staple of mine which I add to my eggs in the morning, sandwiches, pasta, etc.) Once you've removed the tops, it's time to add your oil. All you really need is a quick spray, which you then massage into the cloves of the garlic so that when it roasts, it seeps throughout the entire head. I use coconut oil spray because it's my favorite, though for a more traditional roasted garlic, you could easily use olive oil spray. By using the spray, you are saving hundreds of calories compared to the average head of roasted garlic which is doused and dripping with oil, and it's so unnecessary! Anyway, wrap the head of garlic in some tinfoil, pop it into the broiler, and roast away! I let my head roast for about an hour, sometimes a little longer. It will be extremely fragrant, so if you're having company over that day, I might suggest lighting a few candles afterwards!


Feelin' Frisky? You can even add some spices or herbs to the top of the head of garlic which will cook through the head as it roasts to give it even more flavor. Me, personally, I don't need it, but it's a yummy addition every now and then! Pin It

Makeshift Dinner (No Microwave or oven required!)

So as some of you may know, I just moved into a new apartment in the city last Friday, and unfortunately, nothing works. Literally nothing. (No working AC, intercom, stove, microwave, dishwasher... the list goes on).


As much as it SUCKS, I'm dealing with it (I've become reliant on my three fans and toaster oven), and I recently visited my local dollar store to purchase some long matches so I could light my stovetop because the whole no-working-appliances thing doesn't make the chef in me very happy! For dinner tonight, I got a little creative and threw together a pasta dish using some of my freezer/pantry staples, and since it came together in less than 30 minutes and only required the stove top (and a little additional time to thaw I would assume, since not everyone is living without AC), I thought I would share the recipe.

You'll need:

4oz frozen seafood medley thawed, rinsed, etc.

1/4 cup tomato sauce (I use my homemade sauce that I always keep in my freezer for times like these!)

2oz Atkins Pasta, or any other high fiber, high protein pasta

Veggies of your choosing (I add some peas, chopped cherry tomatos, some sauteed onions and mushrooms which I always keep in my fridge)

A sprinkle of garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, chopped onion flakes, dried minced garlic... basically whatever spices you'd like

To prepare, bring some water to a boil and cook your pasta. Once it's finished, it's time to prepare your sauce! Add whatever veggies to a pot with your seafood medley, tomato sauce, and spices and allow to blend together for a few minutes, stirring occasionally. Finally, add your pasta back to the pot and give everything a good mix!

The whole recipe should clock in at under 300 calories depending on the pasta, veggies, tomato sauce, seafood blend, etc. that you use! And seafood has an impressive amount of protein to match the high fiber content of your pasta and veggies, so all in all, a well rounded meal!

Feelin' Frisky?: Throw in a Laughing Cow Cheese wedge at the very end and allow it to melt in with the sauce for a creamy, thick, almost alla vodka-like sauce (sans vodka obviously!)

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Sprouted Grainsation

Since I decided to reincorporate grains into my diet, I've come up with a rule when it comes to my carbs- they must be high in fiber (and preferably high in protein too!) Bread is one of the easier finds when it comes to the high-fiber picks, but there are SO many breads out there; it's hard to decide which to buy! Recently, I took a peek through the breads in Trader Joe's, and let's just say they have a WIDE selection of different breads! I don't know what brought me to this particular loaf, since many of their breads had added fiber and a fair amount of protein, but at 90 calories, .5g of fat, and 5g of fiber and protein per slice, I decided on the sprouted whole wheat fiber bread!

This bread has a grainy taste to it, which I love, so if you're a traditional white bread kinda guy/gal, I would recommend looking elsewhere! The little seeds in this loaf make each bite crunchy and delicious. My dad likes it toasted with peanut butter, and I like it toasted with some fat free cheese on it and perhaps an egg or my fav. Tofu Salad! I could see it pairing well with deli meats as well if you're a fan of the traditional lunch meat sammy. Gotta love Trader Joe's- they never disappoint! 

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Oh My Onion!

When I started a low carb diet, I thought I had given up one of my favorite breakfast items for good: an onion roll! Something about a toasted onion roll was about as good as it got for me in the morning, but the average onion roll is fiberless (or close to it) and loaded with useless carbs and calories. One of the best low carb products I have found, to date, comes from our friends at Carb Krunchers: their loaded onion pockets.

These onion-roll wannabes clock in at 121 calories a pop, pack an impressive 7.5 grams of fiber, and don't taste low carb AT ALL. Seriously, I could eat these for breakfast every day. Each pocket is filled with yummy onion flakes which provides a surprising burst of flavor! For breakfast, I pop one in the microwave for about a minute and pair it with a few tablespoons of homemade fat-free scallion/chive cream cheese (recipe here), some low cal/high protein Lox (I shoot for 70 calories/13g of protein per 57gram serving), and some fresh tomato slices. This entire breakfast clocks in at under 250 calories and keeps me full for hours!


The only downside, as per usual, is that they are a bit hard to find and fairly expensive, but SO worth it. You can order them online or check out your local health food/low carb grocer! Pin It

Sinless Slaw

In honor of memorial day weekend, I thought I would share a guilt-free recipe that you can bring with you to any BBQ, so you know you have a healthy side to eat if there aren't many other healthy options to choose from. And the best part? There's only 3 ingredients, and it couldn't be any easier. We're making guilt-free coleslaw.

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All you will need is 2 bags of Coleslaw Mix, 1 Bottle of Walden Farms Coleslaw dressing, and a splash of lime juice! Combine them all in a bowl, mix away, and you're good to go! I generally don't use the whole bottle of dressing, but you can use as much you feel necessary. And just a pointer, I find that it's best to make this a day in advance so it has some time to marinate and soak up the flavor before serving it.


Feelin' Frisky? Try adding a bag of Broccoli Slaw instead of Coleslaw mix! And a little fresh black pepper on top is pretty yummy too! Pin It

Kay, now these I can eat!

Chips and pretzels are definitely something I missed when I was dieting, but if we're being honest, they are virtually empty calories for the most part. It would take a massive amount of chips/pretzels to make a really filling snack, and those calories add up pretty quickly, which is why I was thrilled when I came across Kay's Natural Snacks. These snacks come in a variety of chips, pretzels, cookie bites, etc.- all of which are delicious. Seriously, I haven't tried a bad bag, though I definitely like some better than others. For something sweet I recommend either the Cinnamon Cookie Bites or the Cinnamon Pretzels.

And my savory faves are the BBQ Snack Mix, Jalapeno Honey Mustard Pretzel Sticks, White Cheddar Krunchees, and Lemon Herb Chips. 

Like I said though, they are all good. And what's great about these guys is that they all pack an exceptional amount of protein and even a little fiber into the 110-130 calorie, portion controlled packages. The only problem is they are a bit hard to find, so I order online! If you order on Amazon, you can get them for less than 70c a bag, which, in comparison to other chips, is fairly comparable! Pin It

Diet-Friendly Delivery

Today was quite a crazy day for me! I moved into a new apartment in the East Village, and let's just say moving is TIRING! As much as I would have loved to cook my first dinner in my apartment, my stove and microwave don't work! (Already off to a great start with my super!)


Anyway, as opposed to wasting the time going out for dinner, I decided it would be best to order in so I could keep on unpacking! Now, I live in NYC where almost every restaurant delivers, but I know in other areas delivery is limited to basically pizza and Chinese Food; however, if you choose to order Chinese Food, as I did tonight, it doesn't have to be a diet disaster. Many Chinese restaurants have added a new diet-friendly section to their menus that offer steamed options- steamed chicken, veggies, shrimp, beef, etc. And you can often get a side of brown rice! I suggest skipping the sauce and adding your own from your pantry! This is about as healthy as delivery gets- just don't overdo your portions! You can always save it heat it again the next day! (Unless, like me, you're microwave-less!)

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A Hidden Japanese Gem

It's no secret that sushi is one of my favorite foods, and it also happens to be one of the few things I can't really replicate myself at home. There is nothing quite like the fresh sushi-grade fish that Japanese restaurants serve. While sushi seems to most to be a healthy option by default, not all rolls are created equal, and there are actually a few diet-shockers on the sushi menu. While I could go through the nutritional analysis for mostly everything you could possibly get at a sushi restaurant, I'll spare us all the novel and just tell you about a secret roll that most sushi restaurants serve that many people don't know about- the naruto roll!

These rolls are made with no rice; instead, they are wrapped delicately in cucumber! The generic naruto roll usually has a mixture of tuna, salmon, yellowtail, whitefish, kani, avocado, etc., but I've been to many places that will let you custom order the rolls you like naruto style! On my splurge nights I've ordered eel naruto rolls, spicy tuna and mango naruto rolls, etc.- trust me, you won't even miss the rice! And if you find you still want the rice, order a side of brown rice and add a little bit to each roll!


Just be careful when you order these rolls- sometimes they serve them in a "special sauce," so I always make sure to ask for no sauce just in case! Pin It

Wendy Who?

As the weather gets nicer, I do my best to walk as much as possible, so lately, I've been walking home from work every day. In my town, all of the fast food restaurants are in a line, and unfortunately for me, I have to walk past them every day on my way home. Now usually, I don't think about fast food at all, but walking by and smelling the fried chicken and french fries made me think about how much I used to love the crispy chicken sandwiches from Wendy's. Naturally, I went on a hunt for a healthier version to kick this craving, and I came across these:

These vegan patties were the PERFECT way to kick my Wendy's craving. At only 110 calories and 12 grams of protein, when paired with some lettuce, tomato, a Fiber One English Muffin and a little Walden Farm's BBQ Sauce (or Mayo if you want to be traditional), these patties could easily replace the fried Wendy's chicken! I will say though, they reminded me a little bit of crab cakes (which didn't bother me at all!- It's not that they had a fishy taste, just the consistency was more like a crab cake than a chicken patty)


And now that I know that these "chicken" patties are delish, I want to try other products from this line! Their vegan buffalo wings sound incredible, and their new line of sproutburgers sound equally enticing. I'll keep you in the loop as soon as I try them! Pin It

Look who's pwinning now!

For anyone who hasn't noticed, I've added a 'Pin It' Button to the bottom of every post! I'm a HUGE fan of Pinterest (I've been using it since it first started!), and I seriously recommend it to anyone who doesn't currently use it! I have TONS of recipes pinned and great products listed on my Pinterest!


You can see/follow me on Pinterest at pinterest.com/alyvan and feel free to add BETT to your pinboards! :) Pin It

How to avoid a supermarket spending spree

How many times have you looked back on a trip to the supermarket and wondered why you bought half of the things you did? For me, it's happened quite a number of times. Chances are, its my tummy that guides my hand to that yummy looking loaf of bread I don't need, even if it is on sale!


So, how do we avoid catastrophes such as this one? It's a simple solution- don't go food shopping hungry. Ever. It just doesn't work! Make sure that before you go food shopping, you've had something to eat and made a list of what you need- and then make sure you stick to that list! My rule when food shopping- if it's not on the list, it won't be missed! In truth, if I didn't write down that I needed it, chances are, I don't, unless of course I forgot to write something down... we're all human! Pin It

Sorry Paula, No Butter for this Tummy

So tomorrow morning, my parents and I are going to a taping of The Chew, and rumor has it, Paula Deen is set to be the special guest. Everyone knows Paula is known for her excessive use of butter, so I thought I would share a few of my butter substitutes, as I rarely use butter for anything!


For starters, if you're looking to replace butter as a spread (on a bagel, toast, etc.) I highly recommend Brummel and Brown Yogurt Spread or I Can't Believe It's Not Butter (light)- both have a buttery taste at a fraction of the calories and fat! The stats are fairly similar on both products, so it's really a matter of which one you like better. The I Can't Believe It's Not Butter comes in a Whipped and Olive Oil Variety as well!

If you're someone who uses butter to coat a pan to keep things from sticking, cooking spray is one of the best inventions known to man! They even make a butter flavored one! (Though I prefer Coconut Oil spray like the one by Spectrum- it makes everything taste like coconut and is said to be much healthier than canola oil!) Just a disclaimer though, these cans claim to be 0 calories, but the serving size listed is for 1/4 of a second spray, so if you're spraying for more than 1/4 of a second (and let's be real here, you are!), then it will add a few calories, but again, it's SO much less than using butter!

How else do you use butter? I bet one of these products could replace it!

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Bearing the Seven Seas

Growing up, my mom always cringed at the thought of frozen meat, seafood etc. Until I went to college, I didn't even know that you could freeze meat/fish... I actually thought it would make it go bad (even though freezing would logically preserve it... stupid me). But in going to college, I discovered that you can, in fact, freeze this stuff- and it's extremely convenient to always have it on hand! One thing I had also never considered was buying frozen seafood. Let's be real, the budget of a college student paying NYC rent doesn''t exactly lend itself to fresh seafood, so I hadn't really been making it for myself because it is sooooo expensive to buy in the supermarkets, but recently, I came across a frozen seafood medley, comprised of a mix of mussels, squid, shrimp, etc- all of which are favorites of mine, and it was only 5 bucks for a 16oz bag! Not to mention, seafood is a really impressive protein bang for your calorie buck! So, for dinner tonight, I made myself some high fiber pasta with this seafood medley and tomato sauce, and let's just say it was exceptionally delish- and when prepared in a sauce, I don't know how anyone would know that the fish wasn't fresh! My mom still cringes at the thought of frozen meats and fish for whatever reason, but when I prepare these dishes for her, she never knows the difference (hey ma- the veal from the other night was fresh out of my FREEZER :-O)


What do you guys think? Is there anything wrong with freezing meat or fish?? Pin It

Breakfast to keep you Fiber-full

Lately, I've found myself HUNGRY in the morning, which for me, is a new thing! And not only am I hungry around breakfast time, but if I don't eat something with enough fiber, I find myself hungry an hour later- not good! As I know we don't always have a ton of time in the morning to make an elaborate breakfast, I knew I had to find something that was good for when I have a lot of time and equally as good for those mornings that I don't, and I have to say, when I eat a Fiber One Multigrain English Muffin for breakfast, it keeps me full for hours!

These fiber and protein packed masterpieces only have 100 calories- so they're great for those mornings that you don't want to expend a ton of calories- (just throw some sugar free fruit preserves on top!) And they are equally amazing for someone like me who needs a BIG breakfast with an egg and cheese on top! It also doesn't hurt that they are extremely fluffy and toast really well! (Big perk for me, because I don't really like cold bread!) Another plus- they aren't that hard to find, and they aren't expensive, especially in comparison to some of the other foods I eat that I custom order! The possibilities of these things are pretty much endless! And if for some reason you can't get your hands on these specifically, Thomas's multigrain English muffins have very similar stats, but aren't as fluffy. Either product will do the job though!

Feelin' Frisky? Take breakfast to lunch or dinner and use these fiber-packed funbuns to make an English Muffin pizza or use them as a bun with a Veggie Burger. I've done both. They are delicious!

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