Standby Slaw Salad

I love this Slaw Salad on the fly!  This high fiber, tasty salad can be made in bulk and pulled out in a pinch as a healthy side or add cold chicken for a quick and healthy lunch or eat as is for a great snack!

Combine the following:

            One 8 oz. bag of shredded cabbage or broccoli slaw

            One 8 oz. bag of shredded iceberg lettuce

            One cup of dried cranberries

Roast ½ cup sunflower seeds, ½ cup sliced almonds, ½ cup pumpkin seeds and 1 package of ramen noodles (no seasoning packet) for 10 minutes and then allow to cool. Add to salad.

The dressing is ¼ cup red wine vinegar and ¼ cup olive oil, mix well and drizzle over entire salad.

Fooducate – My new favorite app!

Love this nutrition education app! And you know if I am recommending it, it is a FREE app! Scan a barcode in the grocery store or pantry and the app will grade the food based on what your nutrition goals and special needs are.  The app will take into consideration medical conditions specific to you, your weight loss goals and the components within the food package.  A grade of “A” is a green light, a “C” grade means take another look and an “F”, well you can just put that junk back on the shelf!  The app will also let you log foods and exercise as well to keep an eye on your calorie balance.  Check it out online  http://www.fooducate.com/

There is no magic pill, magic drops, magic wrap, magic shot…period.

           

           I hesitate to write this blog entry, for my own health’s sake because when I talk about these topics, I am certain that my blood pressure goes through the roof!  Let’s start with a few questions; name the most rewarding events in your life that you had responsibility in achieving… having a child, graduating school, marriage, winning that championship, what else?  So did you find that those things came easy to you?  Oh yeah, pregnancy, labor and delivery – easy, right?   A championship earned over many weeks or months, blood, sweat and tears, simple… no problem, right? 

            Weight loss will be rewarding in ways that you cannot even imagine… reduced medication intake, increased self esteem, better body image, more active lifestyle, more energy, increased lifestyle discipline, etc.   Those are things that you cannot get in a pill, drop, wrap, shot and otherwise.  If it were that easy we would all be skinny, right?  I become infuriated when companies promoting such products take advantage of the desperation of someone to lose weight. 

First, the pill, drops, wrap, shot, etc. will not give you long term effects.  Have you ever met anyone who has used one of those products for 30 years? No. Those supplements are not around that long because they are a fad, a money maker for a period of time and then, on to the next.  In reality you are either a guinea pig for a new product or a sucker for a quick fix.

So the next argument is that it “gets you started” on a weight loss journey.  So, it gets you started and then what?  Oh, you have to eat right and exercise to keep losing weight… uh, so why wouldn’t you just do that to begin with.. oh, because it is too hard, then do not delude yourself into believing that you will do it after the supplement jump starts you!  If you are really ready to lose weight then you are ready to eat well and exercise more.

Lastly, there are serious side effects to chemical weight loss solutions; diarrhea, stomach cramps, ulcers, liver damage, heart damage, hormone alterations, death… hmmm, think I will stop there.  Really, if you think that the benefits outweigh the risks, you are too desperate.

Real results require real effort.  To have results that are rewarding long term, it will require sacrifice and discipline.