These are a few of my favorite things . . .

We had SUCH a fun Wine Shop at Home and Pampered Chef party at my home this weekend! My PC consultant and I really worked on creating recipes and food/wine pairing ideas that were healthy but oh-so-tasty because, why deprive yourself? There is so much delicious food to be had on this earth, there is no reason why cleaning up your diet to help with health issues and weight reduction has to be tasteless, bland or boring!!


First of all, having a great grill pan, like from Pampered Chef www.pamperedchef.biz/mandyskitchenshow makes it simple and easy to use rubs, spices, and marinades to cook sumptuous grilled meats, fruits and veggies effortlessly with gorgeous grill marks and that delightful layer of subtle smokiness that makes some of us (ME!) grilling addicts. Searing the outside of meats keeps them moist on the inside and the rubs and spices caramelize on the outside creating the perfect marriage of crispy and juicy.

I use the highest-quality grapeseed oil from WildTree (I love it so much I signed up as a consultant so I could keep up with my guilty pleasure at a discount!) and with the butter, lemon, and bacon-flavored oil (and the best tool you could possibly get for your health and your kitchen -- an oil spritzer) you can add some of the most decadent flavors to your vegetables and meats with a tiny fraction of the calories you would be adding by cooking with bacon or butter. Speaking of lemon, adding lemon and lime to just about anything makes it better in my opinion (except dairy of course! Yuk!) and the combination of white wine, lemon, and chicken stock makes a sauce for chicken, white fish or shellfish that far surpasses the flavor you can find in the finest restaurants, but again at a fraction of the calories, sodium, fat and/or chemical additives.

I have so many amazing ideas for food substitutions that can easily replace the condiments, crunch and carbs that are currently making or keeping your body fat higher than you'd like it, without compromising texture or flavor. Many of the ideas are things that will amaze you in delight at their flavor quality -- black bean brownies, avocado deviled eggs (sans the mayo), Dijon and other gourmet mustards as a base for sauces or sandwich condiments that elevate your ordinary lunch into a restaurant-style dining experience.


I don't want to give up ALL of my greatest subs in one post -- then you wouldn't come back for more! But this is just one of the many areas in which I help my personal training clients to adopt better eating habits for themselves and their families. If you have a food or beverage addiction, I will try my best to work on a substitute for you that will satisfy, but still move you toward your health and weight loss goals! Message me if you have a substitution you can't live without, or can't find one for a habit you need to break! I'll be posting recipes throughout the week.

Make it an A-MAZING Monday!