Alternatives for Carb Lovers

As a vegetarian, it has been hard trying to stay away from consuming a meal loaded only with carbohydrates, including pasta and vegan ice cream! Today, I was finally able to find some alternatives. I never thought I would see the day where Shirataki Noodles are made into a “pasta” form. I love having Shirataki Noodles in my mom’s soups, which are usually made in a crock pot. When Shirataki noodles have been soaked in soups, they absorb all flavors while still retaining the crunch.

If this is your first time trying Shirataki noodles, buy a small package. You can find them in your local Asian supermarket, usually in the refrigerated area. However, it may be more difficult to find them in pasta form, so contact your local grocery store before making the trip. I was unable to find them in Houston, so I purchased them online (http://www.miraclenoodle.com/default.aspx). Here is a picture, courtesy of asianfoodgrocer.com

As for my “sweet” find, the name of the product is called “Arctic Zero”. This is a product that contains 150 calories/pint and about 45 calories for every ½ a cup. The best part of all is zero calories from fat!! Talk about guilt free indulgence when my sweet tooth started to scream for attention. We LOVED the ice cream. Check out: http://www.myarcticzero.com/locations.php for locations. Remember, just because these products are low in calories does not mean you should over indulge. Portion control is still the key to maintaining a healthier lifestyle. --Maria

Be a champion for a better life and a better future!!

I have been incredibly busy for the past few weeks. On top of exams and research, I also attended the 2011 Childhood Obesity Conference in San Diego. It was encouraging to see that childhood obesity is no longer viewed as an individual problem. If we do not make changes to how we lead our lives, children will have a shorter life expectancy compared to their parents. Children deserve a better future than what they are currently provided.

Look around your environment and you might find reasons why more children are considered obese; car-friendly neighborhoods are easy to find, whereas bike- friendly ones are not. There is also a lack of well lit or well connected sidewalks, encouraging families to drive. This is true in my neighborhood. However, thanks to the conference, I now have motivation to be the champion for change both in my life and in my community.

I believe that a societal change needs to occur in order to ensure the health of our children; seeing the changes that have taken place in Long Beach, California has been very encouraging. The city of Long Beach began its Grassroots movement because its residents demanded a better quality of life. By working together, they managed to change their city into an active community by experiencing their neighborhood on bicycles. As biking quickly became a new way of life for Long Beach residents, people became more connected not only with their neighborhood, but with each other. This shift towards creating a healthier environment has also been shown to improve the neighborhood’s commerce as local business owners began to see an increase in sales. I strongly believe that the revolution in Long Beach can occur in any city in the United States. Help yourself and the nation make a better future for our children.

Maria

“YUMcious” Snacks for this 4th of July

Some of my favorite treats to ward off the summer heat are frozen grapes and what I call a red, white, and blue yogurt parfait. Give these snacks a try as you celebrate the 4th of July. I would love to hear your feedback and hope that you enjoy them as much as I do.

Frozen Grapes…
It is actually very simple. Make sure that the grapes are separated from the cluster, and then wash and dry them before freezing. Be sure to lay them flat in a freezer friendly resealable bag. I personally prefer seedless grapes (green, red, or dark purple, honestly the color is an insignificant detail). And VOILA! You have a healthy and portable antioxidant packed snack.

Red, White, and Blue Yogurt Parfait…

Ingredients:
8oz Fat free Plain Greek yogurt/Fat free plain yogurt
3 tbsp of 100% Spreadable fruit (for example Smucker’s Simply fruit -100% fruit without added sugar)
¼ cup of sliced strawberries
¼ cup of blueberries
¼ cup of crushed corn flakes

Directions:
1. Layer the bottom of a bowl or cup with 2-3 oz of yogurt.
2. Spread a thin layer of 100% spreadable fruit (1 tbsp).
3. Place blueberries on top of spreadable fruit.
4. Place another layer of yogurt.
5. Spread a thin layer of spreadable fruit.
6. Place sliced strawberries on top of spreadable fruit.
7. Repeat steps 1 to 6 until you have used all of the yogurt, spreadable fruit, and fresh fruit.
8. Place the crushed original corn flakes on top of your layered creation

Maria