Summer in many places will be coming to an end before we know it and for most  it will be time to pack up the picnic baskets and grills until next season.  You still have some time so lets look at some options for planning a picnic cookout menu.   Hubby and I love to grill all year round even in the snow so all these ideas are perfect for us.  Please welcome this guest post/news release by Pirate Brands (one of my favorite companies!)

Healthy Barbeque Tips Hot Off the Grill

Pirate Brands Nutrition Expert Offers Healthy Tips For Your Summer Gathering

Sea cliff, N.Y. (July 26, 2010) – Summertime is synonymous with barbeques and we are in the thick of it right now!  Grilling is a great healthy way to cook and a great way to bring family and friends together.  One of the only ways people can go wrong at these outdoor occasions is to select unhealthy meats, snacks and sweets.

Luckily, Emily Whelan Anschlowar, MS, RD, the in-house nutrition expert for Pirate Brands (makers of all-natural snacks including Pirate’s Booty), has created tips for your readers to throw a healthy, but delicious barbeque this summer.

*  Go Lean, or go home. Instead of a fatty New York strip steak or pork chop, select lean meats like chicken (sans the skin), top sirloin or pork tenderloin.  Grill up burgers using lean ground turkey or bison.  Fish is also delish on the barbie!  For meatless meals try veggie burgers or Portobello mushrooms.

* Make sure to veg out. Grilling veggies is not only healthy, but the process really brings out the natural flavors and juices.  Some great grilled vegetables include corn, zucchini, eggplant and bell peppers.  Shish kabobs are always a hit as they’re fun to make and eat with the family!

* Don’t forget about the snacks. Greasy fried potato chips and neon orange cheese puffs are always barbeque staples.  A great alternative to fried potato chips is Potato Flyers – deliciously baked all-natural potato chips that have half the fat and a quarter less calories than the leading potato chip brand.  A smart swap for cheese curls is Pirate’s Booty, which is baked, all-natural puffed rice and corn that is lower in calories, but high in taste.  Both products are also trans-fat and gluten-free!

* Commit to low-calorie condiments. A barbeque is not a barbeque without macaroni and potato salad.  Just swap out fatty mayo for Greek yogurt in your favorite recipe – you won’t only lose on the fat and calorie intake, but you’ll gain in nutrition, as yogurt is packed with calcium, protein and probiotics.  Also, try using guacamole, pesto and tomato sauce in place of store bought condiments, which are usually all additives with no actual food.

* Sip your way slim and stay hydrated. Stay away from drinks high in sugar and that contain caffeine like soda.  Research shows that caffeine actually dehydrates you – that’s the last thing you want while having fun in the sun!  Your best bet is to opt for water or a low-calorie flavored water.

* Savor that sweet tooth. Fruit is nature’s candy and should not be over looked when it comes to the grill!  Banana, mango, pineapple and peaches are all delicious when grilled.  Pair the fruit with a scoop of frozen yogurt and a drizzle of honey and you’re in for a real treat!

At Pirate Brands, we have been creating healthier treasures since 1987 with the belief that you shouldn’t have to “snackrifice” taste for health…Arrr!

Potato Flyers are deliciously baked potato chips that have half the fat and a quarter less calories than the leading potato chip brand.  Unlike other baked chips, which can be cardboard-like and lacking flavor, Potato Flyers are baked with pressure, which makes them crisp and tasty, proving that you don’t have to “snackrifice” taste and fun for health when it comes to your potato chip.  Like all Pirate Brands snacks, Potato Flyers are all-natural, trans-fat and gluten free and provide a first-class crunch.  Plus, the chips are only 120 calories for a one ounce serving.  Potato Flyers come in Original, Sour Cream & Onion, Homestyle Barbeque and Sea Salt & Vinegar flavors.

Don’t just take it from us!  Potato Flyers won the “Best of Expo 2010” Gold Award in the “Best New Line” category at Natural Products Expo West.

Pirate’s Booty is a deliciously baked, all-natural snack made from puffed rice and corn.  Pirate’s Booty is also gluten and trans-fat plus, only 130 calories per serving.  Pirate’s Booty comes in great flavors like Aged White Cheddar, Sour Cream & Onion, New York Pizza, Veggie, Barbeque and Sea Salt & Vinegar.

Pirate Brands

Pirate Brands, a leader and manufacturer of all-natural snacks, is located in Sea Cliff, NY and has been creating healthy treasures since 1987.  The company was founded on the belief that you shouldn’t have to “snackrifice” taste and fun for health.  Pirate Brands produces deliciously baked, all-natural, trans fat and gluten free snacks that include Pirate’s Booty, Potato Flyers, Smart Puffs and Tings.  Potato Flyers also won the “Best of Expo 2010” Gold Award in the “Best New Line” category at Natural Products Expo West.  Pirate Brands’ snacks are free from fryers and ingredients you can’t pronounce, Arrrrrr.  Products are sold in the US.  For more information visit: www.piratebrands.com

Thank you Pirate Brands!  I’m looking forward to sampling the Potato Flyers.

If you were planning a picnic cookout menu what would you include?

P.S. I reviewed the Pirate Brands Pirates Booty a while back if you would like to read about it.

 

Los Angeles, CA… Thursday, January 28, 2010 – Seduce your honey by throwing together a tasty and provocative dinner that’s sure to arouse and heighten more than just their appetite!  Celebrity Food Guru Tosca Reno, creator of the famed Eat-Clean Diet and co-author of Eat-Clean for Men: An Ironclad Plan to a Leaner Physique, says truly “clean,” healthy foods can boost a man’s libido.  Some foods that boost sexual stamina include: bananas, which are loaded with B vitamins that convert carbohydrates into energy and boost sex hormones including testosterone.  Lean proteins such as fish can increase blood flow to the nether regions, while eggs – rich in zinc – restore a lagging libido.  Even Broccoli, which Reno dubs the “Natural Viagra,” contains nutrients to pump up sexual performance!

Reno suggests cooking a delicious meal that’s full of vitamins and anti-oxidants that are guaranteed to supply both of your bodies with plenty of energy for a long night!  Check out this “Eat Clean Valentine’s Day Menu” taken from her newest book release, “The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged” to kick start your night to a wild ride!

For starters:
Pomegranate Fizz – 2 oz. Pomegranate juice, 1/2 to 1 oz. Triple sec or other orange liqueur, 5 oz. Chilled champagne, squeeze of fresh lemon juice, 6-8 pomegranate seeds with grated lemon rind (zest)

~Champagne awakens the libido and can help open up your arteries and gets the blood flowing.

Heirloom Tomato Salad – 2 lbs. Heirloom tomatoes, 1 cup bocconcini, 2 generous handfuls of fresh basil leaves, several sprigs of fresh chives, 1/4 best quality balsamic vinegar, 1/4 extra virgin olive oil, 1 tsp seas salt, freshly ground pepper to taste.

~Tomatoes, whether raw or cooked, are great for potency.

Main Course:
Scallops with Vegetables and Quinoa – 1 lb. Scallops; 3 Tbsp of Olive Oil; 1 cup uncooked quinoa; 2 cups low-sodium vegetable stock; 6 small zucchini; 4 similarly size carrots, trimmed and peeled; 1 red bell pepper, seeded and de-veined, cut into long strips; 5 scallions, trimmed, cut lengthwise into fours; juice and zest of fresh lime, divided 2 Tbsp white sesame seeds; 2 Tbsp roasted sesame seed oil; 1/2 tsp of ground ginger; 2 Tbsp low-sodium tamari sauce.

~Scallops are loaded with Zinc, which improves sex drive, regulates sperm function, increases fertility and also heightens sense of taste and smell.

Dessert:
Chocolate-Coated Frozen Bananas – 4 medium bananas; 8 bamboo skewers; 4 oz. Good-quality chocolate, 70% cocoa or darker; 1 1/2 Tbsp coconut butter; 2 Tbsp walnuts, chopped; 1 Tbsp crystallized ginger, finely chopped.
~Chocolate contains a chemical called PEA that is often compared to that of sexual bliss.

Complete the evening by lighting candles or using aromatherapy oils with scents that include Jasmine, Cinnamon, Clove and Rose to help raise blood flow and bring out raw senses that will make the night equally stimulating?

Got any great Valentine’s Day plans?

photo credit: Chelsea Daniele

 

Monday-

Leftover chicken fajitas

Tuesday-

General Tso spicy stir fry with shrimp served on soba noodles

Wednesday-

Jalapeno egg sandwiches

Thursday-

Fish Tacos

Friday-

Up in the air!

It’s been a while since I have put up our menu plan but we are fly by the seat of our pants kind of people so this probably won’t be an ongoing thing so it will either be menu plan or motivation.

What is on your menu plan for the week?

 

You can always head over to Menu Plan Monday though to get great ideas!  Do you have your menu plan up for the week?

Also, as you might have noticed, we have a very special guest Monday and Tuesday this week.  Dr. Mommy started her Healthy for the Holiday’s blog tour here on my blog.  I’m so excited for you all to get to know Daisy better. There are giveaways and I’m going to share with you in this post two yummy recipe ideas that Daisy sent along to share with my readers.  Keep reading below for the recipes.

Also, don’t forget to come back tomorrow for another awesome guest post by Dr. Mommy!

I have been motivated by Daisy to keep going on my journey.  Last night I had a major melt down (lots of crying and lots of hubby hugs) because I have gained weight and inches and now I have to buy all new clothes and bathing suits for our trip to Jamaica.  I’m sick over this not only because I worked so hard to get to where I was but also because of all the money I have to spend for new clothes.  This blog tour couldn’t have happened at a better time to get me motivated to just keep going.  I cannot change the fact that I have to buy new clothes but I won’t be in them for long and then I can either try to sell or donate them.  Gotta think positive!

Enjoy these two healthy recipes that Daisy has been kind enough to share with us.

Banana Nut Oatie Balls

Perfect for little hands!

Ingredients:

1 banana

½ avocado

2 tsp honey (never give honey to a child under 1 year of age)

½ cup almonds, finely ground

½ cup rolled oats or can use granola

Directions:

Peel and mash the banana and avocado together.

Add the honey, almonds and oats to the mashed mixture and stir well.

Form the mixture into balls and refrigerate.

Yummy treats that are nutritious too!

Cauliflower Popcorn

Ingredients:

Cauliflower flowerets cut into bit-size pieces (3 cups)

2 tbs olive oil

¼ tsp pepper

2 tbs grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Toss the florets with the olive oil and pepper.

Roast uncovered in oven at 450 degrees for about 20 minutes or until browned

Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and enjoy!

Both recipes sound yummy to me!  Thanks Daisy!

P.S.  It’s time to learn more about how to eat right and feel great! This is a book that Daisy offers for a very reasonable price of only $14.97.  Enjoy!

 

Motivation Monday:

The difference between try and triumph is just a little umph!
Marvin Phillips

I’m going to work on some extra umph this week, what about you?

I actually wanted to quickly share that I did the first day of the Melt It Off program that I mentioned in yesterdays post and boy oh boy, my arms, legs and abs are a shakin’.  Phew!  I already know I’m going to LOVE this program!

On to our menu plan for the week…..

Monday-

BBQ Chicken Pizza (homemade)

Tuesday-

Breakfast for Dinner

Wednesday-

Pasta with homemade sauce (ground turkey and veggies)

Thursday-

Smoothie for me/shake for Kev no straws LOL (time for more dental work for both of us!)

Friday-

Tuna & Soup

What is on your menu plan for the week?

 

Here is the tentative plan for our week.

Monday-

Tuna & Soup

Tuesday-

Pork Chops, potato, veggie

Wednesday-

Breakfast for dinner (eggs)

Thursday-

Spaghetti with homemade veggie sauce and sweet basil & pesto turkey sausage

Friday-

Chicken, potato, veggie

What is on your menu plan for the week?

 

Monday-

Pork chops, homemade baked beans, veggie

Tuesday-

Shrimp & Crab Jambalaya with a mixture of leftover veggies thrown in (peas, corn, mixed veggies and edamame)

Wednesday-

Pasta with homemade sauce (ground turkey and veggies)

Thursday-

Up in the air

Friday-

Up in the air

What is on your menu plan for the week?

P.S.  I’m in the process of learning what it takes to be a vegetarian and vegan.  I don’t know if either is for me for sure but I am sure willing to experiment.  I am looking for good books, websites, etc. that can give me the basics.  I know I can’t do this overnight but I would like to try to eat more whole healthy foods so that is my main goal.  I’ll write about this in a different post soon, I just wanted to see if I could get some feedback from those who might have been there, done that.

 

Monday-

Macaroni and Cheese & Hot dogs

Tuesday-

Breakfast for dinner (pancakes maybe)

Wednesday-

Chicken breast, veggie, sweet potato fries

Thursday-

Breakfast for dinner (eggs)

Friday-

Dirty Rice filled green peppers (ground beef)

What is on your menu plan for the week?

 

Menu Plan Monday time and once again we did not plan it out this week.  We were going through the freezer to see what might be good for this week and almost everything was freezer burned or the meat was dark and we didn’t want to chance it.  So we have set out some chicken to thaw and will have that on Tuesday or Wed. but other than that not totally sure.  Maybe tuna and breakfast for dinner will happen this week but other than that we’ll play it by ear.  Gotta make a grocery run on the way home from the gym tonight.

What is on your menu plan for the week? Maybe I can get some good ideas from you!

 

OK, so we didn’t plan anything for the week.  We are going to have to play it by ear unless we come up with a menu plan tonight.  Not a lot in the house but we’ll make do this week because I don’t feel like going to the store except for bananas and maybe some veggies.  We’ll see!

I’m thinking we’ll have tuna/soup, pasta, chicken/veggie, breakfast for dinner and maybe we’ll order in one night!  I don’t really know.

So sorry you didn’t find an exciting menu this week, not that any of our menus are enough to write home about ha ha

What is on your menu plan for the week?