| GINNA PARSONS: Eating low-fat not hard with readers' help
I want to give a great big thank you to all the readers who called, e-mailed and faxed me low-fat recipes after I practically begged for them last week. I'll gradually be trying them all ... Light Chili with Cornbread, Crispy Baked Fish Fillets, Buffalo Chicken with Blue Cheese Dip, Extra Crispy Baked Catfish, Chicken Taco Salad, Roman-Style Shrimp ... mmmmm.
Today, we'll start with Kristi Lake's Jerk Chicken and Melody Miles' Taco Soup.
On Kristi's, the original recipe called for 2 tablespoons of olive oil and Kristi substituted fat-free Italian dressing - a very good choice.
On Melody's, the original recipe came from Weight Watchers and has only 2 points per cup. Melody swears by this soup and says even her young daughter likes it.
Lifestyle changes, not diets, are key to losing weight
It seems that new diet plans are published almost every day. Some of these diets might even help you lose weight. But many diets are so restrictive, either in calories or in variety, that they can be unhealthy in the long term. "Many overweight patients come to me saying they want to go on a diet," says Dr. Jennifer Virant of DuPage Medical Group and Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital. "Some of these diets are unhealthy, especially those that feature supplements, promise quick weight loss, claim to cure disease, or that recommend excluding specific food groups." .
Our Lady of Weight Loss
Our Lady of Weight Loss is dedicated to those who are drawn to The Art of Weight Loss. Our Lady, which is like the patron saint of weight loss, encourages Janice Taylor (the first ever weight loss artist) to encourage us all to lighten up and have fun, laugh at yourself, enjoy a healthful lifestyle and redirect those 'feeding' energies into something creative and more fulfilling than any bowl of ice cream could ever be. It all started when Janice finally and permanently removed over 50 pounds 5 years ago after a lifetime of yo-yo dieting (performed with grace) and she wanted to share her successes with everyone. A little kooky sounding, I know but it's all in good fun (and good weight loss). Instead of stuffing her face with cookies, she makes art about it. 50 pounds means 50 pieces of art.
Hoisin chicken with spiced couscous (low-fat)
Bring 1 1/2 cups (375ml) stock to the boil in a saucepan and add asparagus, carrot and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Return to the boil and cook for 1 minute. Place couscous in a bowl with spices. Pour stock mixture over couscous and stir to combine. Cover with a tea towel while you cook chicken. Meanwhile, heat oil in a frypan over medium heat. Cook chicken for 2-3 minutes each side. Add combined hoisin, honey and remaining 1/2 cup (125ml) stock to pan. Bring to a simmer and continue to cook chicken, basting with sauce, for 5-6 minutes or until cooked through, then slice chicken thickly. Remove towel from couscous and fluff with a fork. Add lime juice and most of the coriander and stir to combine. Serve chicken and sauce with spiced couscous, sprinkled with sesame seeds and remaining coriander leaves.
Big gains from weight loss program
Fitness and lifestyle changes can improve personal wellbeing and work performance as more and more Victoria Police staff discover. A weight loss program inspired by a reality television program has seen members of the Crime Department shed hundreds of excess kilograms. While an ankle strengthening program involving wobble boards has reduced the number of rolled ankles suffered by Dog Squad members. And a Hastings policeman prevented early heart disease by significantly reducing his cholesterol level after a health and fitness assessment. These are just some of the achievements engineered by the Fitness & Lifestyle Unit to improve the health, wellbeing and performance of Victoria Police staff. For Detective Sergeant Andrew Dobson of the Criminal Proceeds Squad, the weight loss program run by the Fitness & Lifestyle Unit was just the kick-start he needed to invest in his own health.
|
