You splurged on Easter?  Do this to get back on track….

1) Eat regular meals-starving yourself will only lead to bingeing.  Sadly, most people feel the need to punish themselves with starvation after a holiday because they feel guilty for overeating.  Unfortunately this will only slow down metabolic rate.  Don’t walk in guilt, instead walk in victory and nourish your body with healthful food.  

2) Munch on cucumbers and celery.  These vegetables are natural diuretics and they help rebalance the body’s electrolytes.  They are also low in sugar so they won’t spike insulin levels.

3) Drink peppermint tea (hot or cold), it helps banish bloating and gas.  Tea is also packed with powerful antioxidants (EGCG) that help boost metabolism.   

Weekend spring time healthy snack the entire family will enjoy:

Santorini Lemon Feta Dip with Kalamata Cucumber Relish with Pita Chips

At only 126 calories, it’s the perfect weekend snack!  It’s also great with a iced peppermint tea.  Get the recipe here!

Christine shares what to do to get back on track after Easter

Healthier Super Bowl

Christine’s Guiltless Nachos, click here for the recipe.  www.christineavanti.com

Super Bowl Sunday is one of my favorite food events of the year.   However, most of the snacks football fans enjoy are loaded with unhealthy fats that come from mayonnaise, cream cheese and sour cream.  Sadly, these fats stick to our blood vessels and clog our arteries which can lead to heart disease.

Here are some simple food swaps that will reduce the “bad” fat (saturated fat) content of your favorite super bowl recipe:

Salsa instead of cream based dip.

Guacamole (good fat) instead of queso dip.

Sub sandwich instead of pizza.

Baked or Popped chips instead of fried chips. (Popchips are yummy.)

Fruit platter instead of a cheese platter.

Air-popped popcorn instead of nuts. (Nuts are a "good" fat but very high in calories.)

Use non fat plain Greek yogurt instead of mayo or sour cream for making dip.

Swaps for recipes that call for mayo, cream cheese, sour cream and cheddar cheese.

Light Mayonnaise 3.5 grams fat

Instead of

Mayonnaise 10 grams fat

Serving size: 1 Tbsp.

Light Cream Cheese 4.5 gm fat

Non-fat Cream Cheese 0 gm fat

Instead of

Cream Cheese  9 gm fat

Serving size: 1 ounce

Light Sour Cream 2.5 gm fat

Non-fat sour cream 0 gm fat

Instead of

Sour cream 5 gm fat

Serving size: 2 tablespoons

Light Cheddar Cheese 4.5 gm fat

Non-fat cheddar cheese 0 gm fat

Instead of

Cheddar Cheese 9 gm fat

Serving size: 1 ounce
 

Eat more fruit and weight less!! In a recent review of 16 studies examining the relationship between fruit intake and obesity researchers found the higher the fruit intake the lower the obesity risk! The best way to eat carbs: combine them with a lean protein so they travel through your blood stream slower and thus keep you energized throughout the day. Click here for this week’s breakfast recipe http://www.christineavanti.com/   What is your Fave fruit???

Every week, Celebrity Nutritionist Christine Avanti has tips to help us get healthy and become a "New You in 52!"

Here are Christine's tips for this week:

 1) How to boost metabolism and burn fat with food.  Simply put-you must eat a “PC combo” (a lean protein with a healthful carb) for every meal.  This is how Christine personally lost 30 pounds of fat—and if she can do it you can do it!!

2) Why eat a PC combo?  What does this do? 

Answer: It stabilizes blood sugar and hormone levels so your body can start burning fat naturally. 

Says who?  Harvard Medical School researchers proved this in 1999!!  So start eating and stop starving!!

3) What is an example of a “PC Combo” meal?  Go to www.christineavanti.com for Christine’s infamous steak with and herb mashed potato recipe.  

Tune in next week, when Christine food swaps your favorite breakfast recipes.