Some of my Favorites

Lately there have been some foods, snacks or desserts that I have just loved and am found to be eating them over and over again because, not only are they easy, but healthy. I wanted to share some with you that I can't get enough of and hopefully you enjoy them as much as I do.

Spaghetti Squash
-cut in half, poke holes in the top with fork, put in oven for 30-40 mins. serve with butter and Parmesan cheese and s&p. I can't even tell you how much this has saved me from eating too many carbs such as pasta or rice as a side dish.

Warm Choco
-just one cup of skim milk with 2 tbsp. of Nestle's Fat Free Choco. Only 4 grams of carbs for every 2 tbsp. (i sometimes even use this as a snack, but in most cases when I'm having a sweet tooth-cures it every time)

Activia
-activia yogurt with 1/3 c. of raw oatmeal, and sometimes I add about 3-4 cut up almonds.

Whole Wheat
-I find myself eating this probably more than I should. One piece of Whole Wheat bread with peanut butter and half of a cut up banana all on the slice.

Herbal Tea
-Now that the weather is changing, whenever your craving something hot to drink, I highly recommend some Pomegranate Pizzaz Herbal Tea.

Spinach and Mushrooms
-Whenever I can't think of a side dish to go with my dinner, or of a way to get my vegetables into my day, I always without fail resort to putting Spinach into a pan with Olive Oil and cut up mushrooms and just let it simmer. I always put Oregano and Parsley with S&P.

Fruit and Cottege Cheese
-I count this one as a dessert because it's just as good. One cup of Cottege Cheese with Yogurt (non fat), cut up almonds and your pick of fruit. I usually use blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries (frozen bags) or banana's. Always satisfies me every time!

Fast Ways to Help with Cravings

Sometimes we can't help but let cravings get the best of us. Especially for the emotional eaters, the menstrual eaters, and of course the fast-metabolism eaters that just seem to always be hungry. Well, Val Weaver, the top health and know-how editor of Self, Vogue, Health Day, and Vegetarian Times did a little study and came up with some fast ways to help curb your cravings.

Pop in a mint mouthwash strip-not only good breathe, but the flavor takes away the taste for sweets.

Take an 8 minute walk-usually if you eat while stressed, mad or sad-what your really craving is serotonin, a brain chemical linked to better moods. Go outside and take a short walk. Scientists have said that as short as 8 minutes of fresh air boosts your serotonin. Which of course gets rid of the cravings.

Get some gum-a british study said that people who chew gum 15 minutes after eating lunch crave less sweets, and eat less snacks, than people who don't. (of course the sugar free is always better:))

Pick a different Chip-this one is for potato chip lovers. Next time you reach for a bag of potato chips, grab the dill pickle chips instead. You get salty and crunchy, so your mouth gets all puckery-cool, and your taste buds are snapped to attention-and eating 3 chips is only 5 calories! So basically you really could eat the whole bag.

Cravings can do in a healthy diet. If controlling them means you maintain your body weight and body mass index at the level you want, it can keep your health as much as 6 years younger. I'd say it's worth it eh!