Eat Comfy, Go Lightly

So I wanted to do a little follow up post to my broccoli salad recipe because I wanted to share with everyone how fantastic non fat yogurt can be. A couple of years ago I discovered how versatile non fat yogurt can be and now use it in all my mayonnaise based salads. When I make tuna salad, chicken salad, potato salad or cole slaw, instead of using mayonnaise I use non fat yogurt. A cup of non fat yogurt has 120 calories, o grams of fat, 18 grams of carbohydrates and 45% of your daily calcium. Compared to mayonnaise that has 100 calories, 11 grams of fat, and no nutritional value in just 1 tablespoon. I know I mentioned this in my previous post, but I just think its so… continue reading non fat yogurt: the best hidden diet secret | 2 Comments

Watermelon, tomato and feta salads were all over the place last summer.  But leave out the tomato and dressing, and you've got a pretty incredible dessert!  I was introduced to this in Israel over the summer when, after dinner, my aunt and uncle brought out a big plate with fresh watermelon and feta cheese.  I thought it was kind of weird at first, but after trying it I became addicted and asked for it almost every night.  The sweet, crisp watermelon is perfect with salty, creamy feta cheese.  You could make watermelon and feta cubes and toss them together, or even make watermelon and feta skewers - but I like serving it as big wedges of watermelon and slices

These days people feel like they don't have enough time to cook an entire meal so they often resort to picking up unhealthy takeout instead. Don't let time be a deterrent for making healthy meals. Here are 3 easy tips to help you make a healthy meal in a crunch!

1. Jarred marinara sauce. Jarred marinara sauce is a great healthy way to add quick flavor to any meal. Marinara sauce adds great flavors to pasta, vegetables and proteins. Usually, there is no need make your own marinara sauce because the jarred marinara is almost as tasty as the one you will make at home. Just pick out your favorite marinara sauce from the market and use it to

Five tips on making healthy food quicker and easier!

1. If a recipe calls for whole milk or cream try using soy milk instead. Soy milk has a creaminess that alllows it to easily be substituted for unhealthier versions of milk. I know you might be skeptical but believe me it works wonders and you will save tons of calories and still be able to make the food you love!
2. Don't be scared to use less oil than a recipe calls for. Often times when I am searching for new exciting recipes to make they call for a cup or a 1/2 cup of olive oil. While olive oil may be a good fat for you, it still has a ton of calories and

  Sometimes, when I'm trying to figure out ways to make recipes healthier, I ask myself "WWID?" - "What Would Italians Do?!"  I love the way good Italian cooking can take simple, healthy ingredients and turn them into delicious, comforting meals without adding a lot of extra fat.   So, with BBQ season well underway, that was sort of my inspiration with this potato salad.  I decided to roast the potatoes to add flavor, and added artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers and capers.  The capers give it great tartness (I love traditional potato salad with pickles in it...so it's the same type of flavor combo).   The best part of the salad - by far-

One of my favorite Jewish holidays, Shavuot, just passed.  It's always been my favorite holiday because you're supposed to eat dairy foods (...why is it that my favorite things always revolve around food??).  I guess technically, there's no actual requirement to eat cheesecake on this holiday, but it's one of those traditions that I love and just HAVE TO follow...wouldn't want to break with tradition!! I don't eat cheesecake that often, so I guess it wouldn't be a big deal to just eat a slice (sometimes you just want the real deal) and feel gross later (and probably force myself to "diet" for a few days trying to make up for it).  Did you know that your average slice of cheesecake can contain about

Well, Tudy and I are currently studying for the bar exam, which (sadly) means less time for cooking and experimenting in the kitchen, and in my case, a lot more time eating things like cereal.  Breakfast cereal is definitely my default comfort food, and I have a feeling that I'm not the only person who could eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner some days!  I love love love it - and I'm usually pretty good about the one's I eat (mostly the healthy, high fiber ones and oatmeal...but even those can have surprising amounts of sugar and fat in them!).  I've noticed that I end up gaining a few pounds when I go through a few weeks without much time to plan/cook - and it's probably

Tudy and I both LOVE cooking with soy and almond milk!  They're both great dairy alternatives, and they give food great creaminess and a little bit of sweetness.  They're especially wonderful to use in recipes that call for whole milk or heavy cream because they contain healthy fats that keep the dishes creamy, but are generally low in unhealthy fats.  If you're concerned about sugar and/or adding sweetness to a recipe, try unsweetened almond milk (we find it at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods) and definitely look for "lite" versions of soy milk to keep the sugar and calories down!   Nutritional information varies by brand, but here's a brief run-down of the main benefits you'll find: soy milk