There's no need to diet – just cut down on treats

I don't know about you, but I find it pretty much impossible to go on a diet. When you enjoy eating food and you're a fussy eater, there's nothing more difficult than trying to cut out all the things you love from your daily meals.

You don't really need to diet to lose weight and stay healthy though – you can just limit the amount of sweet treats and unhealthy snacks in order to do that.

Rather than starving yourself or embarking on the not-so-appetising cabbage soup diet, why not just reduce the number of chocolate bars you eat each week or just try to snack on crisps a bit less?

You might want to start taking your own lunch into work, made with homemade bread – then at least you'll know what ingredients and how much salt goes into making it.

Sandwiches are a fantastic thing to have at lunchtimes, as they're bound to fill you up properly and if you go for decent bread and healthy fillings, they'll help you lose some weight in the long term too.

Just take a look online at some sandwich recipes to get some inspiration, then put together the healthiest bits and pieces you can and presto, you've got a healthy snack for lunch!

If you need a sweet treat to get you through the day, fruit is definitely the way forward. Just stock up on some apples and bananas, or whatever else takes your fancy, and munch away whenever the moment takes you!

Nuts are another fantastic thing to have to hand, so long as there's very little salt on them – they'll tide you over to your next meal without a doubt!

Healthy Recipe: Strawberries and cream

Healthy Recipe: Strawberries and cream

Healthy Recipe Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups fat-free sour cream
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Amaretto liqueur
• 1 quart fresh strawberries, hulled and halved (reserve 6 whole for garnish)
  

Healthy Recipe Instructions

In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream, brown sugar and liqueur.

In a large bowl, add the halved strawberries and sour cream mixture. Stir gently to mix. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, about 1 hour.

Scoop the strawberries into 6 colorful bowls or chilled sherbet glasses. Garnish with whole strawberries and serve immediately.

Healthy Recipe: pineapple-chicken-salad-with-balsamic

It's not too late to start a New Year detox…

Just because the end of January is edging ever closer, doesn't mean it's too late to start doing a detox for the New Year.

It may be the end of the month soon, but you needn't worry – you'll still feel the full effects of taking things easy and cutting down on those unhealthy foods even if you start now.

Just remember, there are various different levels of doing a detox. If you don't really think you're capable of cutting out everything from crisps to white bread and chocolate, you could just give them up for a couple of days every week. Or, try just limiting your intake of one of your favourite treats, like alcohol for example.

If you do that and you give yourself a deadline when you can start eating your favourite things again, it'll be something to aim for and, if you're particularly competitive, you're bound to feel a great sense of achievement at the end of it.

You can save some money if you go on a detox too – which you're bound to be grateful for later in the year. Why not make your own lunch for work with healthy sandwich fillings or even your own soup? The savings will soon begin to mount up and when your detox period is over, you'll be able to buy yourself a nice new outfit to show off your fantastic figure!

The best thing is, you don't need to detox for too long. If you want to just feel a little healthier, you can get away with just doing a few weeks or a month. Or, if you want to extend it further than perhaps consider detoxing for just a couple of days every week.

You're bound to feel healthier at the end of it, but as long as you eat a balanced diet all of the time, you'll really reap the benefits anyway. So what are you waiting for? Get detoxing now!

Ten Ways to Cook with Meat

What’s for dinner tonight?! If one of your new year’s resolutions is to cook more from scratch and eat less takeaways then here are some ideas to inspire you:

by Mandajuice

1. A traditional roast dinner. Whether it is Sunday or not, most families love a good roast dinner. Prepare ahead so it isn’t too onerous a task after work mid week.
   
2. Brunch time. Go all continental and serve ham and cheese with a range of bread, cereals and fruit. Lay everything out on your kitchen worktops and invite everyone to help themselves.
3. A winter barbecue. The sun may be hiding but fire up the patio heater, wrap up warm and have some burgers on the decking. Fun for a weekend with the family.
4. Stir-fry heaven. Quick and easy and a good way to use up bits and bats from the fridge. Cut meat into fine strips for ease and try a range of sauces from sweet chilli to black bean.
5. The all day breakfast. A welcome sight on a cold day: get into bacon and sausages grilled or fried and gather together for a feast.
6. Try something different. Seek out specialist suppliers and serve up a new taste from rabbit to ostrich to ox cheeks. You never know, you just might like it.
7. Revamp the kitchen. Fed up of food being burnt on the outside and raw in the middle? Ditch the old oven and get a new kitchen from Wrenkitchens.com.
8. Slow cooking for tenderness. Dust off the slow cooker and put it to good use this winter. Great for stews and curries, meat will be incredibly tender to eat.
9. Whiz it up. Blend minced beef fine in bolognaise sauce for pasta to get it past the kids: throw in a whole range of veggies too and they’ll never know!
10. Fall in love with soup. Perfect for winter and healthy too. Ditch the sandwiches at lunchtime and take a flask to work instead.

Healthy Recipe Rhubarb pecan muffins

Healthy Receipe: Rhubarb pecan muffins

Healthy Recipe Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose (plain) flour
• 1 cup whole-wheat (whole-meal) flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 egg whites
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
• 2 teaspoons grated orange peel
• 3/4 cup calcium-fortified orange juice
• 1 1/4 cup finely chopped rhubarb
• 2 tablespoons chopped pecans
  

Healthy Recipe Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a muffin pan with paper or foil liners.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir to mix evenly.

In a separate bowl, add the egg whites, canola oil, applesauce, orange peel and orange juice. Using an electric mixer, beat until smooth. Add to the flour mixture and blend just until moistened but still lumpy. Stir in the chopped rhubarb.

Spoon the batter into 12 muffin cups, filling each cup about 2/3 full. Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of chopped pecans onto each muffin and bake until springy to the touch, about 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes, then transfer the muffins to a wire rack to cool completely.

all-healthy-recipe:peach-crumble

Healthy recipe: Peach crumble

Healthy Recipe : Peach Crumble

Healthy Recipe Ingredients

• 8 ripe peaches, peeled, pitted and sliced
• Juice from 1 lemon
• 1/3 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup whole-wheat (whole-meal) flour
• 1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons trans-free margarine, cut into thin slices
• 1/4 cup quick cooking oats
  

Healthy Recipe Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 F. Lightly coat a 9-inch pie pan with cooking spray.

Arrange peach slices in the prepared pie plate. Sprinkle with lemon juice, cinnamon and nutmeg.

In a small bowl, whisk together flour and brown sugar. With your fingers, crumble the margarine into the flour-sugar mixture. Add the oats and stir to mix evenly. Sprinkle the flour mixture on top of the peaches.

Bake until peaches are soft and the topping is brisk. Enjoy the healthy recipe !

healthy recipe: pineapple-chicken-salad-with-balsamic.

Healthy Recipe: Pineapple chicken salad with balsamic vinaigrette

Healthy Recipe: Pineapple chicken salad with balsamic vinaigrette

HEALTHY RECIPE INGREDIENTS

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, each about 5 ounces
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 can (8 ounces) unsweetened pineapple chunks, drained except for 2 tablespoons juice$3C/li>
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 4 cups fresh baby spinach leaves
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onions
  

For the vinaigrette

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Healthy Recipe Instructions

Cut each chicken breast into cubes. In a large, nonstick frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown, about 10 minutes.

In a large serving bowl, combine the cooked chicken, pineapple chunks, broccoli, spinach and onions.

To make the dressing, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, reserved pineapple juice, sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Pour over the salad. Toss gently to coat evenly. Serve immediately. Great taste !

Try this other great recipe : Mediterrenean Stye Grilled Salmon