It's graduation season. Any words of wisdom for recent graduates? What was the best bit of advice you ever got when you were young?

Here is Scott's encouraging letter to a listener's teenage son: Some of my fondest memories were growing up in my teenage years, and grow up you will. Now is one of those seasons in your life where the choices you make will be choices that mold and shape who you are and what you do for years to come. I pray that God's Holy Spirit will lead you to make the right decisions in every area of your life. Remember that God promises that He will never leave you or forsake you! Remember that Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. One of my favorite verses ever is Jeremiah 29:11-14...in The Message version of the Bible it says this: "I know what I am doing. I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. When you come looking for me, you'll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed, God's decree. I'll turn things around for you. I'll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you - God's Decree - bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count it."

Who wins tonight??? What is your prediction??? Crystal Bowersox or Lee DeWyze???

What are you doing to Make A Difference today??? What has someone done to Make A Difference for you??? I hope that Shay Kelly's story will inspire you to make a difference! Check out this video...

CHRISTINE AVANTI’S ULTRA LEAN SUMMER COUNTDOWN

Memorial Day is just around the corner and that means plenty of picnics, BBQs and home cooking at its best.   Typically American BBQ fare is high in sodium, sugar and fat which is not the best way to kick off swim suit season.  Being that we only have 6 weeks to summer it’s time to kick into high gear with healthy food.  Here are some helpful tips and food for thought (no pun intended) when it comes to BBQ appetizers and side dishes.  Tune in next week because Christine will be sharing her favorite BBQ main dishes and desserts.

Memorial Day appetizer do’s and don’ts:

Skip the greasy chips and serve Popchips or baked tortilla chips.  Baked and popped chips are tastier and much lower in sodium and fat then regular chips. 

Make your own homemade chips and salsa.  Christine Avanti’s Skinny Chips and Salsa recipe has only 106 cals, 2 g fat and 45 mg sodium verses-Tostitos brand chips and salsa 150 cal, 7 g fat & 370 mg sodium!

Serve homemade bean dip with cucumber slices for only 70 calories per ¼ cup serving and almost no sodium verses store bought at 160 calories and 340 mg sodium! 

Serve grilled vegetables instead of sugar laden baked beans, fat coated macaroni and potato salad.  Grilled veggies provide fiber, essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.  Most importantly they won’t cause a blood sugar spike or bloating.

Serve fruit essence water (water served with fresh berries and mint) or homemade unsweetened iced tea garnished with citrus instead of soda and beer and reduce your intake of sodium, sugar and alcohol.  

Check out Christine’s Haute and Healthy Recipes for your Memorial Day Bash:

Santorini Lemon Feta Dip

 

Portobello Caprese Salad with Citrus Thyme Balsamic

Christine Avanti’s Skinny Chips & Fire Roasted Salsa  

Looking for more recipes?  Christine’s new book Skinny Chicks Don’t Eat Salads  offers 100 recipes and 21 days fat melting meal plans.