Tag Archives: desserts

Top Chef Contestant Marisa Churchill Introduces Sweet and Skinny Dessert Cookbook

Sweet and Skinny Book CoverMost people would like to enjoy dessert without the guilt of consuming lots of fat and sugar. That’s why chef Marisa Churchill’s new cookbook, Sweet & Skinny: 100 Recipes for Enjoying Life’s Sweeter Site Without Tipping the Scale, is sure to have wide appeal. You may know Marisa from season two of Top Chef, in which her low-fat chocolate cake was a big hit. Last week, I caught up with Marisa to talk about Sweet & Skinny, and to try some of her low-cal creations.

In addition to baking tips and calorie-cutting suggestions at the beginning of the book, Sweet & Skinny features five chapters of desserts: Desserts In A Hurry, Sweet Treats, Sinner Party Showstoppers, Holiday Favorites and American Classics. “I knew that in Sweet & Skinny I wanted to have American classics, because we all love things like chocolate chip cookies and whoopie pies,” said Marisa of choosing recipes to include. She started by picking the desserts she loves to eat. “I hate when you see these low-fat dessert books and they’re full of fruit desserts or meringues. That’s fine, but who wants to eat meringue all the time? You want to have variety.”

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Posted on June 13, 2023 by Margaret

Healthy Wedding Cakes Perfect for Your Special Day

The Saturday of Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial beginning of wedding season as couples across the country take advantage of the warmer weather and higher likelihood of sunshine to tie the knot. While the onslaught of summer weddings might tickle your inner romantic, they can create a hefty dilemma for dieters. The food served at weddings is typically high in calories and fat – and that’s even before you consider the cake.

According to Frost Magazine, a piece of wedding cake can set you back approximately 650 calories – which certainly won’t help you snap into shape for the summer swimsuit season. If you’re attending a wedding as a guest it can be hard to say no to cake on someone’s special day. If you’re the bride or the groom, choosing the cake can be no easy feat: you want one that looks gorgeous, fits your wedding theme and tastes delicious. The quest for the perfect cake can be even more difficult when you want to find something figure-friendly, too.

Luckily, some clever couples have moved away from traditional wedding cake and are choosing to serve figure-friendlier desserts that will still satisfy the sweetest sweet tooth.

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Posted on May 27, 2023 by Maris

Healthy Recipes for Memorial Day Parties

Memorial Day is one holiday almost everyone looks forward to. What’s not to love? The last Monday of every May, we honor our fallen U.S. soldiers and their families on a weekend when the weather starts to heat up in most parts on the country. Barbecues, camping trips and outdoor parties are how most people celebrate Memorial Day, the sunshine, and show their patriotism.

Memorial Day is tons of fun, but barbecues are notorious for being full of calorie and fat packed foods, so plan ahead. If you are taking advantage of the long weekend and going camping, indulging in 3 days worth of this indulgent food can really do some damage. If you are hosting, you have full control of the menu, but if you are a guest, bring your own “safe” dish that you know is healthy, and you already know the calories and fat per serving.

Whether you’re planning to usher in summer at the beach or with a backyard cookout, there are a lot of tempting, warmer-weather treats that might appeal to you no matter how much you want to stick to a healthy diet. Fend off cravings by making slimmer versions of your favorite meals and treats.

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Posted on May 11, 2023 by Maris

Grilling Can Save Your Diet at Summer BBQs

By Emily Fonnesbeck RD, CD, nutritionist for the Biggest Loser Resort.

As the weather warms up, you may find yourself attending many outdoor barbecues. The good news is grilling is a great way to prepare foods. It requires no water and has a short cooking time, two variables that can lead to nutrient loss. Water leaches vitamins from food and longer cooking times can destroy nutrients. The bad news is that grilled foods are often served with heavier dishes.

Here are some tips on how to lighten up your summer barbecues.

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Posted on May 4, 2023 by GuestBlogger

Healthier Royal Wedding Watch Party Recipes

No royal wedding watch party is complete without Yorkshire pudding!

With the royal wedding just a few days away, it seems that most cooks have UK fever – and the desire to cook like British royalty. While British cuisine is typically simple and unfussy, home cooks and professional chefs are pulling out all the stops in light of Prince William and Kate Middleton‘s upcoming nuptials.

If you are hosting a watch party for your friends and family to celebrate the royal wedding, opt for healthier versions of favorite English-inspired meals and snacks that will keep the atmosphere authentically British without leaving your home.

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Posted on April 27, 2023 by Maris

Sweet Treats Made With Coconut Full of Healthy Fats

We already know that there are many healthy ways to enjoy coconut, a fruit that provides a number of functional vitamins and minerals for the body. While coconut is rich in fat and saturated fat, it is healthy fat that provides energy for the lymph nodes, liver and other vital organs.

Because coconut is rich and satisfying, it can be a good source of dietary fat. Next time you want to add a little bit more coconut into your diet opt for one of our figure-friendly recipes.

Coconut Cream Pie: Even if you’re on a diet, you don’t need to give up eating pie. Just make sure it’s our coconut cream pie, that’s made with real butter and cream. Our advice? Just eat a small slice and add an extra ten minutes of cardio onto your workout the next day.

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Posted on April 18, 2024 by Maris

Healthy Recipes for Your Passover Seder

Passover, one of the most well-known of the Jewish holidays, is an eight-day festival celebrated in early spring. On Passover, Jewish families and friends gather together for dinners called Seders that involve, prayer, story-telling and some traditional foods.

During Passover, most Jewish people avoid eating anything leavened and opt for matzoh instead of bread or pastries. This year, if you’re planning a Seder or keeping kosher during Passover, get creative with your menu and whip up one of our favorite Passover-friendly recipes.

Russian Salad: The name of this hearty salad honors its ingredients, such as beets, dill, and pickles that are staples in a traditional Russian diet. Delightful with cold fish, poultry, or meat dishes, this is the perfect cold salad to keep in the fridge during Passover for fast lunches.

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Posted on April 18, 2024 by Maris

Healthy Green Recipes for St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations

Both St. Patrick’s Day and the first day of spring are right around the corner, making this the perfect time to celebrate with a bit of green! Whether you’re Irish or not, March 17th is as good a time as any to honor the Irish heritage and help usher spring in on the 20th. What are you’re favorite ways to celebrate? Shamrocks, leprechauns and rainbows are just the beginning of all the fun things you can bring out for your St. Patrick’s Day party.

Green beer is fun but let’s be honest, it’s incredibly overdone. There’s nothing wrong with including some but to really rev up the fun, expand your St. Patrick’s Day festivities to the food.

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Posted on March 10, 2024 by Theresa

Fun Green and Healthy St. Patrick’s Day Treats for Kids

Move over Red Velvet Cupcake…it’s time to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. During the month of March, stores are filled with Irish-inspired items, most of which fall under the not-so-good-for-you category.

Whether you’re the parent in charge of bringing slimmer shamrock-style snacks to your child’s class party or you’re looking to lend a little luck of the Irish to your own family, think beyond Lucky Charms this year.

Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread: Instead of traditional white flour, this year you can opt for a whole wheat version of this favorite Irish treat. Think soda bread at its finest – unadulterated without bells and whistles – and without a lot of added fat or calories.

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Posted on March 9, 2024 by Maris

Bake a Very Cherry Mixed Fruit Crisp for Family Fun Month

Busy families everywhere know how hard it is to get some quality time in nowadays—that’s why it’s important (and tasty!) to celebrate Bake for Family Fun Month. If February is dragging and you’re searching for family-friendly dreary day activities, add some sunshine to your kitchen with a refreshing (and healthy) baking project.

Time-savvy moms can bake brownies from the box or cookies from a tube, but what about a healthier option like fruit crisp? Keep it cheap, healthy and delicious — and you can even let your kids pitch in to help.

DID YOU KNOW?:

  • Peaches are a good source of vitamins A, B, and C.  That’s good for your eyes, energy, and skin!
  • Pears cause the fewest allergic reactions of all fruits
  • Very Cherry is the most popular flavor of Jelly Belly Jelly Beans

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Posted on February 23, 2024 by Maris

Diabetes-Friendly Tiramisu for Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is here and for the nearly 26 million Americans with type 2 diabetes, finding a diabetes-friendly Valentine’s Day treat can be a challenge. If you or a loved one has diabetes, you might have assumed you’d have to forgo dessert this Valentine’s Day. While there are plenty of low-and no-sugar dessert options out there, it can be difficult to find replicas of your traditional favorite recipes for holidays.

The good news is that diabetes-friendly menu items can be delicious– they’re just generally lower in sodium, carbohydrates, saturated fat and cholesterol, and higher in fiber compared with other dishes. Of course, everyone, regardless of whether or not they have diabetes, should watch portion sizes and stick to one serving – even if it is a special holiday.

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Posted on February 14, 2024 by Maris