Stephanie Suggests

Stephanie's Tips

Know Before You Cleanse

A cleanse is not a good weight loss tool, and it's not for everyone. Consider these points before you start.

1) Set Goals. You don't need a cleanse to feel healthy, but it is an opportunity to give your digestive system a mini-break, jump start healthful eating, re-check portions and eliminate possible allergens.

2) Avoid: artificial sweeteners, dairy, gluten, soy, alcohol and most caffeine. Red meat should go, and make sure any protein consumed is organic.

Stephanie's Tips

Supplements from the Supermarket

We're bombarded with information about vitamins and other supplements we should be taking. Here's how to get everything you need without popping any pills.

Stephanie's Tips

Build Your Own Cleanse

After indulging during the holidays, rebooting our systems by cleansing sounds like a pretty good idea. Pre-packaged options abound—such as BluePrint, Cooler, Organic Avenue, and Rawvolution—but let's be honest, are you really only going to drink juice for three days? How do you do it? Go vegetarian and work with my Rule of Three: three meals a day (with REAL FOOD), three days maximum, and no more than three times a year.

A Healthy and Delicious Recipe

Kale Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette

This zesty salad will make you rethink kale as a side dish. While the winter vegetable can intimidate with its toughness, once you break it down kale is delicious and great for you. It detoxifies, helps prevent cancer, and can even lower cholesterol.

Tags:

Newsletter

The Cleanse Issue

The holidays can leave you feeling sluggish, and many people turn to cleanses and vitamins to kick off the new year. But which ones? No store bought cleanse will ever be as customized and satisfying as one you create yourself. I'll walk you through, step by step, to develop a cleanse just for you. Plus I'll introduce you to powerful nutritional supplements and how you can get them the proper way, from food.

Stephanie's Tips

The 5 Point Party Plan

1) Don't go starving. Arm yourself with non-perishable snacks(like nuts or dried fruit) in your purse or car.

2) Drink a ton of water. Chase every cocktail with a glass of water.

3) Keep your hands busy. Savor a glass of wine, or take pictures; make it harder to go back to that bowl of chips.

4) Go with a plan. "I'm staying for one drink, and it's not about food."

Stephanie's Tips

Beat the Treats

Parties can trigger mindless munching, whether due to the cold, the aura of celebration, or family-related holiday stress. Every "grab" or handful does add up, but there are smart ways to target a sumptuous spread. Compare the paths of these two partygoers, and see the sidebar for my five-point plan.

Stephanie's Tips

5 Appetizers: Gourmet and Guilt-Free

1) Greek Salad Skewers Toothpick cherry tomatoes, small cubes of low-fat feta, olives and cucumber slices. Spritz with Greek dressing, and add salt and pepper.

2) Lox and Cucumbers (above) This version from Whole Foods, with lemon cream, feels decadent but packs only 25 calories.

3) Shrimp Cocktail There are about 20 calories per four shrimp. I like my cocktail sauce with plenty of horseradish for zing.

A Healthy and Delicious Recipe

Tropical Holiday Punch

This punch plays off the tropical inspiration of a Dark & Stormy cocktail, and uses juices for sweetness and spices for holiday flavor.

Tags:

Newsletter

December 2011 - The PARTY Issue!

Thank you for all your emails and responses to my recently-launched newsletter. In this issue, it's time to party! Check out my roadmap for navigating a holiday party without mindless munching, and recipes for fabulous hors d'oeuvres that won't calorie bomb your guests.