Eat Without Guilt » Nutrition

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

5 Surprising Reasons You’re Not Losing Weight

Dinneen — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:05:15 +0000

Despite doing all of the right things — trading those potato chips for a wholesome snack, cooking and preparing your meals at home, and getting regular exercise — you’re still struggling to shed those last 10 or 20 pounds (or more!). And it seems you’ve been at it for weeks (months, years!) and you can’t get those darn last pounds off. Don’t just assume you can’t reach your goal — you can! Of course, you do need to make sure your weight-loss goal is a realistic one, but all too often I find that even “healthy” habits can get in the way of the scale moving in the right direction. Okay, you think I’ve lost it. You’re thinking, “How can healthy behaviors be getting in my way?” Well oftentimes just some small adjustments can make big payoffs. Here are some surprising reasons why you’re not losing the weight and how… Read more

My Elimination Diet: Update & surprising “diet” results

Dinneen — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:07:50 +0000

Back at the end of November (November 30, to be exact), I decided to eliminate wheat from my diet. Not to lose weight. Not to fit into my skinny jeans. And not as a “quick fix” to shed pounds before the Holidays. Instead, it was to see if wheat was causing, or at least contributing to, the eczema that had been on my face for quite some time. And after one week of being on the “diet” (no, not THAT kind of diet) I blogged about it. (To read more about my Elimination Diet and why “going on one” can be helpful at times, read my original blog post about it here.) So though I LOVE wheat (you could say it’s ‘my crack’ as I could easily get addicted to it) I decided to eliminate it from my diet for at least a period of four weeks (but ended up… Read more

An Egg-ceptional Food For Weight Loss

Dinneen — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:00:20 +0000

Over the past few decades eggs have gotten a bad rap. They were deemed bad for us and told they were a sure-fire way to a heart attack. But scientists and researchers have now changed their tune and let eggs out of jail. A growing body of evidence now shows that eggs can supply essential benefits for the brain, the eyes, the heart, and yes, even help with weight loss — without any clinically significant impact on cholesterol. Setting the Record Straight about Cholesterol Studies have shown that there is virtually no association between eating eggs and the risk of heart disease. Although egg yolks do contain cholesterol, researchers now know that levels of saturated fat in the diet, not dietary cholesterol, is what has the greatest impact on blood cholesterol levels, which are thought to predict heart disease risk. But Are Eggs Really Healthy? Yes! Eggs are… 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

The REAL Reason Oprah Has Gained Weight — Again!

Dinneen — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:00:57 +0000

Oprah’s Battle With Weight Gain – and her Missing Link for Permanent Weight Loss It’s hitting the airwaves and news media like a tidal wave. The news about Oprah and her constant struggle with her weight. Once a trim, healthy-for-her-body weight of 160 pounds, Oprah has now reached the dreaded 200 pound mark, a number she (nor many of us) does not want to see on the bathroom scale. In the latest issue of O Magazine (January 2009) Oprah opens up about why she feels she regained the weight, what she’s learned, and how she plans to change. The article is candid, open, honest. She puts it all out there. There’s no excuses, whining, or blaming of anything, or anyone other than herself, for her actions (or lack thereof). Kudos to Oprah for being real, being open, and taking responsibility for her body, her life, and how to go about… Read more

Stop Worrying About Food…and Lose Weight

Dinneen — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 05:06:58 +0000

Can you imagine a life without the chains of dieting and constantly trying to control your weight? A life without rules, restrictions, and being told to eat the right foods? Image just how wonderful it would feel to wake up every morning without having to face the scale, without having to count calories, without having to eat foods you don’t like that leave you unsatisfied. Imagine…. being able to wear clothes you love and feel good in thinking of food only when you’re hungry finding real pleasure in eating eating your favorite foods without constantly counting calories or fat grams… and not feeling guilty – ever again! Think of how liberating it would be to feel truly nourished. Of being able to eat and stop when you’re full — and KNOWING when you’re full. You CAN eat and not have to settle for the “healthy option” all of the… Read more

Mediterranean Diet – The Healthiest on the Planet?

Dinneen — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:45:16 +0000

Many years ago I was invited to spend some time in Italy. After a tiring but adventurous morning of walking and exploring the island of Capri, my friend and I were hungry and ready for a good lunch. But we didn’t want to eat at a typical tourist restaurant. We wanted an authentic meal and experience. After what seemed like an hour of searching, we stumbled upon a restaurant nestled on the edge of the island overlooking the Mediterranean — the perfect place! We sat outdoors on the veranda shaded by the trees, grape vines, and had a light breeze from the water. It felt like we could literally reach out and touch the sea. We had a lunch of grilled peppers, melon and prosciutto, fresh pasta, fish, crusty bread, and in true Mediterranean fashion — had a carafe of the house red wine. We had 2 hours… Read more

10 Amazing Foods to Add to Your Diet

Dinneen — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:10:52 +0000

It seems like almost every day the news media is reporting on some food that’s found to be bad for you. One day it’s carbs, another day fats, and yet another day meat – I mean, how is a girl supposed to EAT?? Now I must admit that I don’t believe there are many “bad” foods (it’s all about balance, right?). But these YES foods are packed with essential nutrients and compounds that have been positively associated with preventing diseases and minimizing the adverse effects of aging (how great is THAT?) But here’s 10 AMAZING foods you should be adding to your diet: 1. ALMONDS – They’re one of my favorite snack foods and a good source of potassium, low in ‘bad’ fats and high in ‘good’ fats. However, like most nuts they are high in calories so watch how many you eat. I usually eat about 10 or so… Read more