Eat Without Guilt » guilt

Black Bean and Corn Salad

Dinneen — Thu, 27 May 2010 10:25:20 +0000

As the weather is warming up, I LOVE making quick, easy, and healthy salads. And not just lettuce-based salads. When I lived in France, I saw there were so many types of salads out there that the word “salad” took on a completely different meaning. There were fruit salads, vegetable salads, tabouli, bean salads….the list goes on and on. And food took on a whole new meaning too. Especially during the Summertime when it was too hot to cook (AND there was no air-conditoning!) I saw the abundance of foods available — whole foods. My favorite pastime (besides eating and drinking some wine) was going to the outdoor markets. Walking around, the air was filled with so many amazing smells: I’d catch a whiff of the ripeness of a tomato, the sweetness of a freshly cut melon, the aroma of a strawberry picked just hours before, an organic chicken roasting… Read more

How to Indulge, Without the Bulge, Over the Holidays

Dinneen — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 20:16:29 +0000

As someone whose job it is to help people lose weight (and keep it off), you might be surprised to hear that, yes, I do indulge a bit during the holidays. Hot chocolate? Pass me a cup. Gingerbread? Mmm, mmm, serve me some. Christmas cookies? Absolutely! And I don’t gain weight. “Impossible,” you say. No, not at all. Now that doesn’t mean I forgo eating my veggies and other healthy foods during the holidays. It just means I relax a bit don’t try to be so vigilant by following a strict regimen. And you should do the same. My philosophy is that there’s no reason not to indulge a bit in something you (or your family) enjoy during the December holidays, provided you: 1) eat with pleasure 2) do it in moderation and 3) get some exercise. Okay, I know. Easier said than done, right? That’s… Read more

Holiday Eating — Without Weight Gain!

Dinneen — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:38:26 +0000

Are you one of those people that enjoy the holidays, but dread the inevitable weight gain that goes along with it? Do you want to attend the holiday parties and social events, but fear you’ll lose control once you see the dessert table? With the constant temptations of calorie-laden food, it can be a challenge to get through the holiday season without putting on a few extra pounds. So how to get through this “Season of Eating” without weight gain? Here are some of my favorite and helpful tips: 1) Make every bite count. When you arrive at a party survey the table and decide which foods you love the most, or special foods you only get during the holidays. Whether its pecan pie, creamy fudge, or another tasty treat that’s your favorite — have some of that and remind yourself you can have the other foods at a… Read more

Enjoy Thanksgiving Without the Guilt

Dinneen — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 23:53:11 +0000

Whether you’re trying to lose – or simply maintain – weight, this time of year causes a lot of dread and anxiety. You want to get through the holiday season without putting on extra pounds, without feeling fat, and without the guilt of eating holiday foods. And then we all have the “shoulder angel” and “shoulder devil” talking to us. You know, those voices in our heads, the two that constantly fight with each other about what to do. You’ve probably seen them in cartoons. On one side of the shoulder is an angel, representing good or “our conscience.” On the other shoulder is the devil, representing bad or “tempation.” It seems these two follow us around, especially during the holidays. You’ll be at the Thanksgiving table and all the delicious food is being passed around. You have those two guys on your shoulder. The good one says, “Oh… Read more