cooking

He’s back at the ranch and sure to bring even more healthy cooking knowledge! Tune in tonight, September 22, to the second episode of Biggest Loser to see what this attractive chef is serving. Curtis Stone is the Aussie chef who first showed up at Biggest Loser during season 7 with recipes so good it was hard to believe they were good for us. Now he’s back to help the newest cast of Biggest Loser contestants overcome their old habits in the kitchen by introducing healthier tips and tricks that anyone can use to make delicious, healthy meals.

Tonight Curtis also has a pop quiz prepared for the contestants, sure to test their nutrition knowledge. It might only be week two, but we’re hoping to see nothing but right answers.

If you missed his season seven appearance, then you must try these recipes:

As we all soak-up this last weekend of summer, we’re also anxiously ushering in the new fall season. And that means one thing – football! This Saturday is the kick-off to college football, and that means stadium parking lots and backyards alike will be fired-up with team spirit and plenty of food. As our dietitian explains, it is possible to socialize without blowing your diet, and without feeling deprived.

So as you grocery shop for snacks and cookout grub, consider some of these healthy tailgating recipes and food swaps. Odds are, they’ll taste better and no one will recognize the difference as they polish off a platter of leaner foods.

Tailgating Food Swaps

• Pork Bratwurst for Turkey Brats: It’s a difference of 450 calories and 37 grams of fat for the pork, versus 160 calories and 9 grams of fat for the turkey. Still boil in beer and soak in mustard and they’re really quite tasty.
  

Every night, when I pack lunches for the next day’s school and work, it becomes a chore to try to find something that’s tasty and healthy and won’t kill my budget. My kids love granola bars. I try to avoid the bars that are more like candy, with extra sugars and even M&Ms, and stick with brands such as Cascadian Farms and Kashi, but they can be pretty pricey over the course of a month.

I decided to try my hand at making my own, and scouting around I found a really great recipe original to Faith and Family magazine and reposted on several blogs. It appears to be fairly healthy, with whole wheat flour and oats and sweetened with honey, which doesn’t affect the blood sugar as badly as honey. A bonus when you make your own is the lack of high fructose corn syrup and trans fats, and you can literally whip up these bars in minutes.

The week of August 10 is Healthy Back to School Week at DietsInReview.com.

Guest blogger Rebecca Bailey returns to DietsInReview.com for Healthy Back to School Week. She is a stay-at-home mom to four little boys and is committed to fitness and health. She blogs at Life With Boys where she shares her experiences as a mom, and her journey toward weight loss and fitness.

It’s the most important meal of the day, yet so often it gets ignored or we eat something on the go that is loaded with sugar. Not exactly the way we want our kids to start the day, whether they are starting preschool, high school, or anything in between. What can we do on those rushed mornings to eat a healthy breakfast that can even be eaten on the way to school?

Plan ahead and freeze breakfast burritos. With whole wheat tortillas, scrambled egg substitute and a variety of toppings, these are easy to pop in the microwave and grab and go. Put your prepared burritos on a cookie sheet and freeze. Then place the frozen burritos in a zipper bag. This makes an easy, fast and filling meal. Try this recipe:

Making your own smoothie is easy and you can create some delicious fruit combinations. Why not take a minute to whip up your own delicious and nutritious fruit smoothie? Watch this video to see my tips and tricks – why not grab a blender and join me?