Just a tip (and a great recipe)

I am not a nutritionist, but there is a little trick that can be recommended to try.  People who have cut carbohydrates out after 3PM seem to see results in the fat cutting down.  Remember, food is a big part of how we lose, maintain, and gain weight.  This tip is something that some have tried and have found that works for them.  This is different from the Atkin's diet, but a different twist on playing with your carb intake before bed.  So, what on Earth do you serve with your meal?  The typical dinner consists of a protein (beef, chicken, pork, fish), a vegetable, and some form of carbohydrate (rice, potatoes, pasta).  The trick is to pick a healthy and hearty vegetable that can be seasoned right and cooked right so you fill up on your "greens" instead of the filler of the common carb.  When I say after 3PM, this is for a "normal" family that gets home and has dinner around 6-7PM.  When you hit the grocery store, skip the canned veggies. There's nothing left in those.  Do you wonder why the canned green beans have a greenish-brownish hue to them? They are WAY over cooked and processed so much leaving nothing "good" for you and your body.  It is now a filler.

Go to the fresh vegetable section.  Grab some green beans (remember to grab a bit more than you normally would because it is replacing the potatoes.)  Grab a bag of slivered almonds and your choice of butter or margarine.  I pick butter, but that's because I went to school for Culinary Arts and I can't bring myself to cook with something that needs food coloring to "look" like the real thing, however to each his own especially if it is recommended by your doctor.  In the end, it will taste the same.

Cut your green beans to your desired length and steam them for about 4-5 minutes.  Test them with a fork. You should be able to pierce them gently, but they should not be soft.  The point is to keep some of the crunch in the bean.  That means it has all the "good" stuff still in it for your body. Drain and set aside.
Take your slivered almonds and on a low heat in a saute pan, lightly toast the almonds (dry - no butter or oil in the pan).  Once they begin to turn a golden brown, toss in 2-3 Tablespoons of butter (or margarine) in the pan followed by the beans.  Sprinkle with a little salt (and pepper if desired) and make sure every bean and almond is covered in the butter.  This is called Green Beans Almondine.  It's SO good, you won't miss your Noodle Roni!

If you find that you get those evening munchies, have a can of roasted almonds.  They can fill you up, add fiber to your diet (which aids in weight loss) and they taste good.  Also WATER!!!

Remember, this is only a tip that others have found that work for them that I am passing on; the recipe is something that I like to prepare when we're getting ready for swim suit season.  It helps getting the trim to begin.

*Be sure to always speak to your physician before trying something different in case it interferes with health concerns your doctor might have.


* Results may vary