Fight the fat!

So, Christmas is a week from today!  I bet the holiday parties have been in full swing for people for a few weeks already though.

I have a few tips for sneaking in some exercise on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  I figure most other websites and blogs give you advice on how to eat healthy (portion control, use a smaller plate, don't over indulge, pick the healthier options on the table, etc) but not many give you advice on getting some exercise in. 

1.  Get outside and play with the kids.
          Let me start by explaining that my mom has 4 brothers and 3 sisters, on average they each have 2 kids.  So, when the whole family gets together there's a bunch of kids. When I was younger as soon as we got together we were outside.  We never stayed inside for more than 20 minutes.  The rest of the time we were outside playing (or at least wandering around my aunt's 7 acres)
          So instead of sitting inside get outside with the kids and play!  Play a game of tag or kickball or ANYTHING.  Playing with kids can burn between 129 and 252 calories per 30 minutes.  30 MINUTES!  That's no time at all and you can burn off at least one side dish.

2.  Take a pre/post dinner walk
           After dinner instead of sitting around gabbing why not take the whole gang out for a walk?  A short workout is better than no workout at all, right?  Round up the whole gang for a 30 minute walk.  The family can work off some of the goodies.  Walking a 30 minute mile for 30 minutes burn between 65-124 calories.  

3.   Offer to help
             There were always a million dishes after holiday get togethers at my aunt's house.  The head count was usually over 60 people!  I can remember my aunts and my mom standing around doing dishes together while they laughed, joked and talked.  Get in the kitchen and help with the dishes!  It burns between 60 and 102 calories in 30 minutes.  Instead of leaving after all the food is gone, clear off the table, and help, rinse, dry or scrub dishes.  Your family and your body will thank you!

4.  Treat it like every other day.
            Okay, this one isn't about sneaking but, it's good advice.   People like to make themselves believe that holiday calories don't count and that Christmas and Thanksgiving are good excuses to ditch their workout or indulge (or both!).  On Thanksgiving I went out for a 30 minute bike ride.  It wasn't a long workout but, it was better than nothing.  Do you normally go for a 7 AM run?  Then go!  Bike ride before breakfast?  Go on it!  Is your gym open?  Use it!  Fit in a workout when you can these days. 

5.  Visit with the family, don't wait for them  to visit you
            During gatherings the family is spread throughout the house.  Aunt Susie's in the kitchen, Uncle Joe is on the front porch, and the cousins are chilling in the backyard.  You want to catch up with all of them right?  Don't just sit on the couch and watch the game, waiting for them to come by.  Go seek them out.  Standing burns 4-6 more calories per hour than sitting.  Standing will help you burn 32-54 calories per half hour.  Think about it.  If you stand for 4 hours that's 256-432 calories!  And don't forget the extra calories from walking around!!


These are just a few of the ways you can work exercise into your holiday.  But don't forget, if you are hosting the festivities there are even more ways to burn calories.  Cleaning the house, doing the yard work, cooking dinner, these all burn calories.  

**The calories are based on a 118 and 200 lb person.  I found all the calories burned at SparkPeople and Health Status


Some other links on burning holiday calories
Spark People Blog
Sorey Fitness

Scrumdiddlyumptious Bar (A Product Review)

Scrumdiddlyumptious....great word isn't it??  That's the best word I can find for the Krusteaz Raspberry Bars I made yesterday.  These were a total surprise.  I love surprises.  Unexpected surprises are the greatest.  But food surprises are the best of the greatest. 

When you're on a special diet food surprises don't come very often.  And 99% of the time they don't come in boxed form.  Most boxed baking mixes say they have 0 grams of fat but then they call for melted butter or oil or something else that's a dietary deal-breaker.  Finding a TRUELY fat free packaged baking mix that I can add fat free substitutes to is truely next to impossible.  

That's one reason I love Krusteaz.  They have alot of 100% fat-free baking mixes.  Brownies, muffins, pancake mixes, and more.  They also have a few that can be altered to be fat free and still taste 100% delicious.   Take these raspberry bars....

I was looking for a healthy(ish) dessert for the grils last nite and found the box of raspberry bars.  I looked at the nutritionals and was surprised that they only had 150 calories per bar.  (Mine have less because I cut mine into 16 squares instead of the 12 that the box tells you to do.)  Then I noticed that the mix was fat free.  I looked at the ingredients and it called for melted butter.  : (   As we know, melted butter can be replaced with applesauce.  I just happened to have a jar of applesauce in my pantry so, I used it.  I substituted the applesauce equally to the butter, and followed the directions on the box.  They came out delicious!  

Mine definitely weren't as pretty as the ones on the box but, I have a motto, "it doesn't matter if it's pretty, as long as it tastes good!"  These received 2 thumbs up from the whole house.  

So, if you're looking for a yummy fat free box mix, turn to Krusteaz.  Their mixes would be great for holiday parties if you don't want to make something from scratch! 

**If anyone from Krusteaz is reading this:  If you need a tester for your fat-free line, my family and I are 150% willing to take on the job. **

Finally Done With Finals!

Most people go out to dinner to celebrate something like being done with finals.  I'm not going to lie, I'm jealous of people who can go out to eat and not consciously think about where they're going or what they're going to get.  If the family wants to check out a new restaurant or we're going on vacation I sit at my computer for hours looking over the menu(s) to see if there's anything that's "KT friendly" (as my family has dubbed it.)  Heck, I would happy going into the freezer section at a grocery store and picking up something from time to time.


But, my creative, fat free wheels go into overdrive when I see some dishes that restaurants have commercials for (like I did here with the sausage egg and cheese biscuits.)  This time it was IHOP's loaded hashbrowns.

Who could resist crispy potatoes, melty cheese and eggs?  Not this girl!  So I decided to give it a try.  I made it 2 ways.  Mine was super healthy and fat free and the rest of the family got one that was made with a bit of fat.

Fat-Free Loaded Hashbrowns  (serves 1)

1 sweet potato
2 mushrooms, sauteed
1/2 onion, sliced then sauteed
1/4 - 1/2 cup shredded fat free cheddar

1. Boil the potato whole for about 10-15 minutes until soft, once it's cool, cut it into small cubes.
2. Preheat oven to 450 degrees
3. Spray a cookie sheet with pan spray and put the sweet potatoes on in a single layer.  Bake until golden brown and crispy, (about 20-30 minutes) stirring a few times.
4. Place on a plate or in a bowl and top with sauteed onions and mushrooms and cheese.  Microwave for about 30 -60 seconds to melt the cheese.  (If you don't have a microwave you can do all this on the cookie sheet and place it under the broiler until the cheese melts)

On the right are the Fatty Hashbrowns.  I call them Fatty but, they're probably still healthier than IHOP's.  The Jack,Cheddar and Bacon Loaded Potatoes weigh in at 1240 calories and 74 grams of fat! 

Fatty Loaded Hashbrowns
1 bag of frozen hash browns
5 mushrooms, sauteed
1 large onion, sauteed
1/2 - 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or any cheese you like)
1 can corned beef 
1 can Spam (optional)

1. Cook hash browns according to package directions
2. Lay them on a sheet pan and top with mushrooms, onions and cheese
3. Put them in the oven under the broiler until the cheese is melted
4. In a skillet warm the corned beef
5. Slice the Spam and place it in a skillet and brown each side (about 5 minutes) turning it frequently.

 So, take your pick and enjoy!

What's your personal favorite restaurant re-creation?

Happy National Chocolate Brownie Day!

You read right.  National Chocolate Brownie Day!  I love brownies.  I don't eat (or make) them as much as I used to because of my gallbladder.

My kids love brownies.  This was Mo's "birthday cake" from her party last year.

Don't they look delicious?  Brownies that I filled with raspberry and strawberry buttercream and topped with chocolate buttercream.  (Thank you Hershey's for the amazing recipe, found HERE) But the recipe I found for fat free brownies before fell short.  They tasted more like my mom's fluffy gingerbread cake than brownies.  Even though I like that cake, they fell short of what I was looking for.

When I found out about National Brownie Day I knew that I had a reason to try a new recipe. 

Vegan Double Chocolate Brownies from Kurry Leaves

Vegan Double Chocolate Brownies
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

1.  Preheat oven to 360 degrees (180 degrees celcius)
2.  Mix all ingredients together
3.  Place batter in a parchement lined, greased 8x8 or 9x9 pan.  (You can use a spatula to smooth it down.  I had a 3 1/2 year old helping me so that's why mine aren't)
4.  Bake for 18-23 minutes  
5.  Cool and cut into 9 pieces

Store in the refrigerator.  They will keep alot longer if you do. 

With a little work this stuff....

Became this....

Not the prettiest batch of brownies but they are darn good!  Super fudgey.  Everybody in the house loved them.

These weigh in at 100 calories and 0.6 grams of fat.  And of course the pumpkin adds beneficial vitamins and nutrients.

 Now I'm going to go study for finals and eat a brownie.  Happy Brownie Day!!  Are you making a batch today to celebrate??  If so, share your recipe!

Donut Date Night

I might be a health nut (or freak if you prefer) but, I'm also a mom that occasionally enjoys spoiling her kids.  Tonite was one of those nites.  Mo went to a birthday party so I decided to indulge Kay's sweet tooth (which will be her downfall later in life, just like me.)  I took her to the nearby Dunkin Donuts.  Okay, I can't lie, I also enjoyed spoiling myself with coffee.  

 
Why no donuts?  It's a Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins combo store.  Kay decided that she wanted ice cream instead of a donut.  

I ordered a Pumpkin White Chocolate Latte.  It was delish!  Perfectly pumpkin-y and just the right about of chocolate.  Plus, a medium only has 280 calories and no fat!  

Tonite was a nite about learning, not just desserts.  Kay learned that her tummy has adjusted to our new diet way of eating.  Her stomach is very upset right now from the hot chocolate and ice cream.  She even told me she wished she had gotten a donut instead. 

I look out for my kids healthy 99.7% of the time.  Indulgences should be no different.  Next time I won't even offer to let her get the unhealthier option.  I've always said you can indulge in a healthy way.  I need to start applying this to my kids too.  

Do you indulge your kids in ways you wouldn't indulge yourself?

I work hard for a living....

I found these today.  I figured out my own personal paycheck and if I were to get paid for all I do it would be $183,546.  WOW!  
I wish I received a check that big just for my daily duties.  But honestly I wouldn't give it up for the world.  Even if the paycheck was bigger than $183,000.  


If you goto the Salary.com Mom Salary Wizard you can figure out your own.  

So, what are you worth?  Would you give it all up for a paycheck that high or do you like your "mom duties"?

Happy Belated National Cookie Day!

Yesterday (December 4) was National Cookie Day.  The first week in December is National Cookie Cutter Week.   In honor of the day I figure I'll let you in on the recipes for the Christmas cookies I'm making for the girls teachers at school and for Mr. Amazing's coworkers.

Sugar Cookies -- Courtesy of Mr. Alton Brown.  ( I love this man!)
Chocolate Chocolate Chip -- You can never go wrong with a recipe from Tollhouse!
Flourless Peanut Butter -- I have seriously come to appreciate Martha Stewart recently.  In this recipe I leave out the peanuts and chocolate chips
Chocolate Chip -- I have to throw in a healthy(er) option.  This is honestly my favorite cookie EVER.  I made myself a cookie cake one Mother's Day using this recipe.

I'll make sure to post pictures after I bake all of them. 

Aren't those plates awesome?  My mom gave them to me for Christmas about 4 years ago. 

But, here's a cookie recipe to tide you over until I post all mine.

Fat Free Fudge Brownie Cookies

3 cups powdered sugar
2/3 cup cocoa powder 
3 egg whites
1 cup chocolate chips
1 T vanilla extract

Mix everything together and drop onto a greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

It's supposed to make 24, I made 18 big ones.