If you have ever purchased a veggie burger in the supermarket, you probably have an opinion. Some love them, whereas others feel just the opposite. The recipe below tastes nothing like the store-bought varieties, but is guaranteed to be party favorite even with the most devout omnivores. It is also very easy to prepare and the cooked burgers can be frozen and microwaved later on. Read more…

We are frequently told that buying in-season produce can save us a lot of money. How are we supposed to know, however, what exactly is in season? Use the cheat sheet below to get you through the year. Also, make sure to buy whatever is on sale and freeze it for future use! Just yesterday I used the cherries frozen over the summer for my delicious smoothie. Read more…

Of course baking your own pizza (including the home-made crust), is the best option if you are craving a great pizza. Rushing home at night, however, the last thing you want to do is to mix the dough and let it rise for an hour or so.

Here is the skinny on the best options you can keep in your freezer for a quick and good-tasting alternative. For a full meal, add a broth-based soup and/or a side salad to your pizza:

• Amy’s singe-serving pizza margherita: 400 calories, 3 grams fiber, 16 grams protein.
• Pizza Fit and Free (only available on-line): 248 calories, 3 grams fiber, 20 grams protein ( http://www.pizzafree.com/home.php)
• Kashi Mediterranean Pizza (1/3 pizza): 290 calories, 5 grams fiber, 15 grams protein.
• Amy’s Roasted Vegetable Pizza is a NO CHEESE PIZZA (1/3 pie): 270 calories, 2 grams fiber, 6 grams protein.
• Amy’s single serve Non-Dairy Rice Crust Cheese Pizza is VEGAN and GLUTEN FREE: 460 calories, 4 grams fiber, 10 grams protein.

Like your pizza with some soda? Try seltzer water with a bit of freshly squeezed lime or lemon. A glass of wine could work great as well. Just make sure to stick to no more than 1 drink (5 oz) for your health and your waistline.

About a year ago, after an especially long day of furniture shopping, we walked into a chain restaurant that offers weight watchers meals on the menu. I ordered some fish with steamed broccoli on the side, which was supposed to add up to around 350 calories. When my dish arrived, I knew that the broccoli was coated with butter and the fish portion was certainly more than could reasonably fit within that calorie allotment.

On another occasion, I have come across wonderful vegan sandwiches sold in almost all NY health stores. I bought “chicken salad” and “turkey salad” varieties, which were labeled to be 200 calories per sandwich. After eating one of those for dinner, I realized that I felt way too full for 200 calories. So I decided to weigh these healthy treats only to realize that each one weighed at least twice the labeled weight. I have to admit that I have been purchasing them ever since, but I now know not to rely on the calorie count on the label.

In light of these events, and many more over the years, I was thrilled to read an article published last month in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. The researchers measured the accuracy of energy contents of restaurant foods and frozen meals only to discover that  the measured energy values of the sit-down restaurant foods averaged 18% more than stated values. Some individual restaurant items contained up to 200% of stated values and, in addition, free side dishes increased provided energy to an average of 245% of the stated values. The frozen food purchased from the supermarkets averaged 8% more than stated on the label.

At first I was happy that my long-term suspicions have been validated. Then I felt frustrated because these discrepancies can add up fast. And then it hit me – this is just another reminder that for as long as we keep on relying on the large manufacturers to get us healthier, we are going to keep on sliding in the wrong direction.

What are your thoughts on these findings? Will they change your eating/shopping style? Let me know what you think!

Acne can affect individuals of all ages. Many people have hypothesized a connection between diet and skin breakouts for many years, but scientists have not been able to establish a definite association…until now. Read more…

Having written about healthy options at the Starbucks stores a few days ago, I did not want to offend anybody by forgetting about some of the good choices available at Dunkin Donuts. I have to admit that I used to be a skeptic until about a month ago. After being stuck in traffic on a road trip to Long Island, we pulled over at a local Dunkin Donuts only to be pleasantly surprised by the recent additions to the menu. Read more…

Baking bread always seemed too complicated for me to ever try my hand at it. This all changed when I saw an easy bread recipe on a package of flour. I have not bought another loaf ever since. Read more…

When your friend tells you he or she is a vegetarian, what first comes to mind?   Do you think they eat fish? Maybe they exist purely on broccoli florets and mushroom caps? There are actually a few kinds of vegetarians out there: Read more…

Would I get your attention if I said that you could get a few servings of fruits, a serving of dairy, and your healthy fats in all before lunch time? Just follow the tips below to make the most delicious smoothies, which can be consumed any time of the day and take seconds to prepare. Just a hint – add a little Bacardi or good-quality vodka for an after-dinner treat. Read more…

A NEW term “Maximum Weight Limit” has been discovered by statisticians using the SAS statistical software.  MWL correlates with the industry standard - Body Mass Index ( http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/), but the formula has been simplified and can be calculated without using graphs or calculators.  Rather than focusing on the healthy weight range, MWL focuses on the upper limit. Read more…