If you struggle with keeping that healthy new year's resolution, try 10 easy steps to a healthier way of eating.  Here's a few:

1. Avoid heavy breakfasts packed with saturated fat like ham, bacon and eggs; instead, start your day with lighter alternatives like high-fiber, hearty oatmeal and delicious yogurt and granola parfaits.

7. Eating healthier doesn’t necessarily mean giving up all your favorite foods. Even bad-rep pizza can be healthy. Avoid frozen or takeout pies and make your own. Go lighter on the cheeses and high-fat meats; top with loads of veggies like spinach, olives, and artichokes.

So try making this:

Chicken Garlic Pizza

PREP TIME 15 Min, COOK TIME 20 Min, READY IN 35 Min

INGREDIENTS 1 skinless, boneless chicken breast half 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons chopped green onion 1/2 teaspoon dried basil 1 (10 ounce) can refrigerated pizza crust dough 2 roma (plum) tomatoes, diced 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro 1/2 cup ricotta cheese 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese Add to Recipe Box Add to Shopping List Add a Personal Note

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Sounds so good, especially with the cold weather in full effect (at least here in NY).  Here's the recipe from Jenny Craig:

Ingredients

* 2 cups fat-free milk

* 2/3 cup Equal® Spoonful

* 4 Tbls stick butter or margarine, melted

* 1 egg * 2 egg whites * 1 tsp ground cinnamon

* 1/4 tsp salt

* 4 cups 3/4-inch cubed day-old cinnamon raisin bread

Directions

1. Combine milk, Equal®, melted butter, egg, egg whites, cinnamon and salt in large bowl. Stir in bread crumbs.

2. Spoon mixture into ungreased 1-1/2 quart rectangular casserole.

3. Bake in preheated 350º F oven 30 to 35 minutes or until pudding is set and sharp knife inserted near center comes out clean

4. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Makes 6 servings.  Per Serving: 1 1/2 Starch, 2 Fat, 1 Free

Nutrition Info Per Serving Calories 232, Carbohydrate 26g, Protein 10g, Fat 10g, Cholesterol 37mg, Sodium 405mg

 

OK, so I'm not saying get blasted every night, but studies show that there are benefits of drinking alcohol.   According to Women's Health,

A healthy happy-hour habit is linked to a 25 to 50 percent lower risk of heart disease and diabetes in women, says Eric Rimm, Sc.D., associate professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health. Your gray matter gets lucky too, since the occasional cocktail may also keep memory intact. And no need to worry about your butt spilling over the bar stool -- a little imbibing may help you avoid excess flab.

The rest of the article is interesting and makes me feel less guilty about my New Year's Eve partying habits - however, remember - everything in moderation!  

 

 

There's a catch!  Only those who can show a gym membership card on Jan. 15 will get a free scoop of ice cream.  Why would Baskin Robbins promote such a thing?!...

Their latest addition of healthy choice ice cream called, BRight Choice, has been unveiled this January.  These flavors are not accounted for as being health foods, but a healtier choice when consumed in the suggested serving size. 

Lately any snack seems to have been shrunken into a 100 calorie pack, and now so has ice cream.

...the 90-calorie scoop of vanilla yogurt with 0 grams of fat seems like a pretty rational choice for a 2.5 ounce scoop, as does the 80 calorie strawberry sorbet. The 140-calorie raspberry chip and 130-calorie chocoloate are a little more dicey, but still something a lot of people could justify for an evening treat (be sure to ask if the cone count in the calories, because the BR press release is unclear).

Start the New Year off right with these healthy recipes from Weight Watchers - they're low in points and will statisfy that New Year's Eve hangover!

Spinach, Tomato and Feta Omelet POINTS® Value: 4 Servings: 2 Preparation Time: 13 min Cooking Time: 12 min Level of Difficulty: Easy

Bacon, Egg and Hash Brown Stacks POINTS® Value: 4 Servings: 4 Preparation Time: 8 min Cooking Time: 14 min Level of Difficulty: Easy

Belgian Waffles POINTS® Value: 6 Servings: 10 Preparation Time: 30 min Cooking Time: 20 min Level of Difficulty: Moderate

For more recipes CLICK HERE.

That's right!  In only 90 seconds you can be on your way to a healthier you by following these supersimple, quick and easy steps from Prevention.  Be able to...

Fight Cancer Eat the peel The bulk of an apple's benefit lies in its skin. In a recent lab experiment, more than a dozen chemicals in the peels of Red Delicious apples inhibited the growth of breast, liver, and colon cancer cells.

Slow Aging Sniff some lavender or rosemary The scent of lavender can bring you a restful night's sleep--but the plant can do you a world of good in daylight, too.

Cut Cholesterol Sprinkle pistachios on your salad Researchers at Pennsylvania State University recently gave volunteers a pleasant task: Eat 1 1/2 ounces (about a handful) of pistachios every day. At the end of 4 weeks, those who munched the nuts reduced their total cholesterol by an average of 6.7% and their LDL ("bad") cholesterol by 11.6%.

I'm always on the go and always looking for good healthy snacks to take with me on the road.  I also have to look for snacks that I can eat easily while driving...so it can't drip, can't involve utensils, and doesnt' require to be heated up.    

Half a Wheat Bagel with Cream Cheese If you're looking for a more substantial snack, try hitting the bagel shop for a whole-grain bagel. Packed with fiber, it'll fill your tummy for several hours (stick to one half); smear on some reduced-fat cream cheese, and the little bit of fat will give this snack even more staying power.

Recommended serving size: Half a bagel and 1 tablespoon reduced-fat cream cheese

Calories: 200

Wish you had a celebrity chef in your kitchen?!….yeah, me too!!  Well although we can’t have the meal prepared for us like a celebrity, we can at least eat like one - and on your own budget.  Check out Rocco DiSpirito’s Healthy Celebrity Chef Recipes from Mind, Body & Spirit Fitness.

Rocco DiSpirito’s Chicken & White Bean Soup with Spinach & Parmesan

“To make soups and stews low-fat, skip the sauteing step. Instead, bring all the ingredients to a simmer together — and serve.”

Makes 4 servings.

Shopping List

FRESH: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts; basil; baby spinach; Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

STAPLES: Crushed red pepper; low-sodium chicken broth; salt and pepper

PACKAGED: Pasta sauce; cannellini beans

For Ingredients, Preparation and Nutrition follow the link below.

Ingredients

3 14-ounce cans low-sodium chicken broth

1 1/2 cups plus 3 tablespoons tomato-and-basil pasta sauce

1 15-ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced thin

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Tis' the season for gaining those extra pounds, but some of your favorite holiday candy may have fewer calories than you think!  Take AOL's Quiz Tis' The Season For Candy.

I just took the quiz, and pretty much know my candy!  Don't know if that's a good thing or bad thing...hehe.  Check it out for yourself, and let us know how you do!  

American Idol, Kellie Pickler, is heading off to Iraq to entertain the troops before the holiday season.  The picture isn't one of her best, but what does Pickler plan on snacking on during the flight....a Clif Bar Energy Bar.

These are actually good, I prefer to eat them when I'm on the go a lot, especially when I'm in between teaching classes.  They come in various flavors from yummy Chocolate Chip, to Maple Nut, to Blueberry Crisp and much, much more!  This all natural energy bar can be orderd on Amazon.

Clif Bar Energy Bars, 2.4-Ounce Bars (Pack of 24)