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A Solution for Your Resolution!

Looking for a solution to your resolution? We have it for you!

Now What?

With only 1 week left of our first 21 Day Sprint 

the question becomes...

what is your next step?

Ready, Set...

If you're ready to sprint with us...we are ready for you! 

21 Day Summer Sprint

We have one goal at NJ Center for Health & Healing and that is to get YOU results.

Recently we racked our brains thinking of a way to deliver you faster results this summer.

We are so excited to launch this new idea today.

Check it out!

Jicama Cucumber Salad

Ingredients

• 1 large cucumber
• 1/4 jicama, peeled and cut into matchsticks
• 1 lemon, zested

• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• 12 ounces white cherry tomatoes, quartered

Directions

1. Peel cucumber, alternating rows so that thin green strips of peel are left. Slice cucumber into thin rounds.
2. Stir cucumber, jicama, lemon zest, and lemon juice together in a bowl until salad is evenly mixed. Gently fold tomatoes into salad.

Allrecipes.com

Jicama...the New Cauliflower

Throughout June we will be introducing you to an often mysterious 

select vegetable called jicama (HIH-kuh-ma).

We plan on inspiring you to step outside of the broccoli and spinach box by teaching you about this very fun veggie.

Today we are focusing on how to prep jicama.  It can be cubes, sliced, julienned, shaved or spiralized. The options are endless.  Do not be afraid.  

During June we challenge you to jump right into this fun veggie!

Stocking Up At Costco...the IP Way

I have off on Thursday mornings, so I often use my work and kid-free time to stock up on IP staples that I will need to make my upcoming weekend a low carb success story.  Today, while doing my usual shopping order, I decided to make a list of my go-to Costco items.  So here it goes...take a look at what's in my shopping cart...

Really...Better Than Take-Out?

So a little backstory...good Chinese take-out is a big deal in my house...and I definitely have my usual "go to" restaurants on speed dial...but I know nothing good ever comes after opening those steamy little white boxes...all the white (or brown rice if I'm feeling "healthy")...and don't forget the heavy sauces and starchy veggies and those noodles... 

So, when I say better than take-out...I realize I may not be referring to being better tasting than those take-out joints in China Town.  

  Don't get me wrong this is a really nice dish and is really easy to assemble, but it is in no way better tasting than the take-out in NYC.  That said, I believe the name of this dish..."Better Than Take-out" is referring to you feeling MUCH better about yourself for eating this dish rather than your typical Beef and Broccoli entree.  There is no guilt associated with this indulgence and it is packed with veggies and protein...so the point has been made...it definitely is better than take-out!

This recipe can be found on page 5 of Janeva's Ideal Recipes Cookbook.

Janeva's Ideal Recipes Cookbook is available in our office our office and ***For more recipes like this visit Janeva’s Ideal Recipe Cookbook – Phase 1 on Facebook or www.janevasidealrecipes.com.  A portion of the proceeds will support Samuel’s House Foundation, a non-profit charity helping disadvantaged children and those in need of a nice meal on their plate every day. 

I Said "Hunky Monkey"...Not Chunky Monkey!

I have finally resolved to the fact that I am definitely a sweet over a savory person.  Thank god for Janeva Eickhoff, because she has saved me so many times with her unlimited options for sweet treats that are...you guessed it...unrestricted.

I've been missing that banana and chocolate combo over the past few weeks and Janeva had a perfect substitute for the my old friend Chunky Monkey.  The recipe for Hunky Monkey Cupcakes can be found on page 41 of her new cookbook, Janeva's Ideal Recipes. Within 15 minute my kitchen smelled like an enticing chocolaty banana bread...and the cupcakes did not disappoint!

I iced them using her frosting recipe(found on page 42), but I actually preferred them sans-frosting...or "bald" as my daughter calls them.

My tip is to eat them while they are warm...so the chips are all melt-y and skip the frosting!

Janeva's Ideal Recipes Cookbook is available in our office our office and ***For more recipes like this visit Janeva’s Ideal Recipe Cookbook – Phase 1 on Facebook or www.janevasidealrecipes.com.  A portion of the proceeds will support Samuel’s House Foundation, a non-profit charity helping disadvantaged children and those in need of a nice meal on their plate every day. 

Let's Have Chinese Tonight!

Janeva has a great answer to those chinese take-out cravings!

Her recipe for Orange Chicken is slammin' and can be found on page 59 of her cookbook which can be purchased on her site Click Here or in our clinic.

This was one of the easiest and fastest Janeva meals that I have made. My son was standing next to me as I was making it, ensuring he got the first bite.  He couldn't believe that I could cook a "Chinese Take-out Meal".  Everyone gobbled it down and didn't even notice that I swapped cauli-rice for the white rice...Win-Win!

Chili On This Chilly Day!

My house smells like garlic and olive oil and all kinds of goodness.

Check out this amazingly simple Phase 1- Phase 4 friendly meal.

CHILI CON CARNE

Recipe by Janeva Eickhoff

Ingredients:

2 pounds lean ground beef (may use turkey or chicken)

1 green bell pepper, diced

6 cloves garlic, minced

IP salt, to taste

2 T. olive oil

1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

3 T. cumin, or to taste

1-1/2 T. chili powder, or to taste

1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes

1 small can mild green chiles

1 C. fresh mushrooms, sliced

Directions:

1.     Heat a large skillet and add olive oil, garlic, mushrooms and green pepper, stir fry over med/med hi heat until lightly browned.   Add hamburger, brown and drain any fat.

2.     Add the remaining ingredients, turn down heat and simmer for about 20 minutes.

TIP:  Divide chili into 4 portions and refrigerate or freeze extra servings for another dinner.

Servings = 4 – 8oz lean protein / 2 C. veggies per serving

***For more recipes like this visit Janeva’s Ideal Recipe Cookbook – Phase 1 at Facebook or www.janevasidealrecipes.com for the cookbook coming spring 2015.  A portion of the proceeds will support Samuel’s House Foundation, a non-profit charity helping disadvantaged children and those in need of a nice meal on their plate every day.

Success Requires Prep Work!

Success Requires Preparation!!

My biggest weakness is getting enough veggies in everyday, so on Sundays I prep a couple of grab-and-go options for when life gets crazy mid-week.

This weeks veggies are Mockamole (found on page 49 of Janeva's cookbook or in her facebook group) and my favorite Cauliflower Soup.

Below are the recipes:

MOCKAMOLE:

Recipe by Janeva Eickhoff

Ingredients:

1 ¾ C. asparagus, skinned and cut in 1” pieces

1 T. lime juice

3 T. Pico de Gallo (or tomato)

¼ C. chopped fresh cilantro

¼ C. chopped green onion

½ jalapeno pepper, minced

1 tsp. minced garlic (from a jar)

1 or 2 dashes Frank’s Red Hot sauce

Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Clean the asparagus by using a potato peeler to peel off the tougher outside skin of the asparagus stems; not the tops of the spears.

2. Once cleaned, cut asparagus in 1” pieces. Make sure to cut off the tough ends and toss.

3. Place asparagus in a steamer on the stovetop and steam, covered, approximately 10 minutes.

4. Put steamed asparagus in a food processor and puree until smooth. Cover and refrigerate till cool.

5. In a medium bowl, place cooled asparagus puree and the remaining ingredients; fold.

6. Keep refrigerated after use.

Servings: 2 C. veggies  
***I use this as a dip to be used with Ideal Protein Garlic & Herb Chips.

TIP: I use Pico de Gallo in place of the tomato to give it more flavor. You can usually find a sugar free blend in a container in the refrigerated section of the fresh produce aisle(I find it in Costco). Serve with Ideal Protein chips.

For more recipes like this visit Janeva’s Ideal Recipe Cookbook – Phase 1 at Facebook or www.janevasidealrecipes.com for the cookbook coming spring 2015. A portion of the proceeds will support Samuel’s House Foundation, a non-profit charity helping disadvantaged children and those in need of a nice meal on their plate every day.


Delicious Cauliflower Soup: 

I make it with Rachael Ray chicken or veggie broth. It's delicious and I add it to any of the Ideal Protein Soups, which makes them even creamier and more "volumous".  It is also great served by itself! 

1 T olive oil 
1 medium onion (6 ounces) chopped 
1 head very fresh cauliflower, cut, about 1-1/2 pounds 
Real Salt, to taste 
5½ cups hot water and/or chicken broth, divided 
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste (I added some some roasted garlic when pureeing it into a soup) 

1. Warm the olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pan. 
2. Add the cauliflower, salt to taste, and ½ cup water. Raise the heat slightly, cover the pot tightly and stew the cauliflower for 15 to 18 minutes, or until tender. Then add another 4 cups chicken broth, bring to a low simmer and cook an additional 20 minutes. 
3. Working in batches, purée the soup(add in roasted garlic here if you would like) in a blender to a very smooth, creamy consistency, adding the onion as you go. Let the soup stand for 20 minutes. In this time it will thicken slightly.

Italian Herb Baked Spinach Chips

Italian Herb Baked Spinach Chips by DivasCanCook

Looking for a healthy snack idea that is also full of flavor? With only FOUR ingredients and ready in just 20 minutes, this is the savory and low-calorie choice for you!

Ingredients:

2 Cups (32tbs, big, healthy-looking leaves)     Spinach Leaves

1 Tablespoon (as required)                                 Extra Virgin Olive Oil

To Taste                                                                  Italian Seasoning Blend

To Taste                                                                  Salt

Directions:

For directions, please visit http://divascancook.com/2013/02/italian-herb-baked-spinach-chips-recipe.html

Recipe Summary:

Difficulty:            Easy

Course:                Snack

Method:              Baked

Prep Time:          10 minutes

Cook Time:         10 Minutes

Tips for Staying Healthy this Labor Day!

Labor Day Weekend is finally here and there may be many thoughts running through your head. You might have kids getting ready to go back to school (or already have), or you might be excited for the cooler weather to finally come around. Some of us are thinking more in the short term—the annual tradition of Labor Day cookouts with family and friends. If you have been sticking to your individualized weight loss plan or are currently on an Ideal Protein Phase, you may be stressing out about these cookouts. What can I eat? Is it rude not to eat the food that is served there? Can I bring my own food?

We have all had these questions. Labor Day cookouts are supposed to be fun, and now they can be fun AND healthy! There are some tips you can follow that can not only keep you on your weight loss plan, but make cookouts an enjoyable and worry-free time!

Take something with you

Prepare some snacks or a meal to take with you. If everyone else is eating at the cookout, why shouldn’t you? Even simple solutions such as cutting up some celery, pepper strips, or cucumbers to bring with you can be enough to get the job done. If snacks aren’t going to cut it, bring a healthy dish that you enjoy! One idea is to make note of your favorite Ideal Protein Phase Approved recipes and save them just for special occasions, like Labor Day! It will not only give you something to look forward too, but it will also be a delicious and rewarding holiday treat!

Eat Throughout the Day

Usually cookouts take place in the late afternoon or early evening, so the food available there will not be the only meal you eat that day. Eating throughout the day, prior to the cookout, can keep you full and satisfied so you aren’t hungry during the party. You can, of course, still bring food with you, but you should try to eat a well-balanced breakfast, light lunch, and a protein-rich snack to help curb hunger and temptation.

Stay Hydrated

These are two easy things you can do to help take off some of the pressure that comes with eating healthy at cookouts, where food is a major focus. The last tip is an easy one that anyone can do—Stay hydrated! Water is your best friend no matter what day it is, and Labor Day is no different! It can keep you full, energized, and even speed up your metabolism. Drink up and make sure you’re properly hydrated. Your body will thank you!

So this Labor Day, get out there and have a blast. You deserve it!

Sweet Dreams

It happens a lot these days.  Crazy dreams.  Dreams that wake me from a sound sleep...but this one was different. I was doing something that I would never even think of doing.  I woke up because of the nonchalant attitude I had toward doing it.  It was so disconcerting.  I woke up panicked. I cared. Doing this would make me unhappy.  I knew that...so why? Why was I having yet another dream about....

eating a cupcake? 

I woke up panicked...like I lost my child in an airport kind of panicked.  But once I realized that this cupcake debacle was all a dream an instant calm came over me. Thank God, because experience has taught me what comes along with that one cupcake...the feeling that I instantly gained 10 pounds, that my clothes are tighter and that I failed.

I thought a lot about that dream today.  Was my fear really about consuming that one cupcake? Cause in reality one cupcake wont ruin much of anything.  I realized after much thought that it wasn't the cupcake.  It had everything to do with breaking my momentum.  It was about my fear of not being able to get right back on track. The fear of the snowball effect. Well, since I already ruined my eating for today...I might as well go out for pizza tonight. The fear of reassuring myself that I'll just get back on track tomorrow or maybe the next day.

My comfort right now is that I am on autopilot.  No thought is involved.  I want to get where I'm going...and that's just that.  But the idea that I could eat a cupcake so flippantly was just nagging at me. In my dream I easily said "no" to how great I have been feeling and "yes" to a cupcake that would make me feel ashamed and would be gone in a matter of minutes.

This cupcake dream has had a big impact on me.  I knew that I didn't want the cupcake or the disappointment that accompanied it. But the biggest revelation of my nightmare was discovering what I do care about. I want to feel great in my clothes.  I want to be happy...a happy mom, not a crabby mom. I want to jump right in family pictures without finding someone to stand behind.  I want to enjoy every minute of my summer vacation and every vacation thereafter, without being upset about how I think I look.  I want to have lots of energy and to feel proud of the decisions I made for myself the day prior.  I want to ride bikes on the beach with my husband when I'm in my 70's and cupcakes won't get me there!

So tonight I aspire to dream of biking on the beach...that is my kind of sweet dream!