Guilt-Free Pasta

Penne and Asparagus with Ricotta Cheese
1 box of fiber-enriched penne pasta (suggestion: Ronzoni Smart Taste Penne Rigate)
1 pound trimmed asparagus, cut into 2-inch diagonal pieces
2 teaspoons freshly minced garlic
1 cup low-fat ricotta cheese (suggestion: Precious)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup reduced-fat grated Parmesan cheese

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Crushed red pepper flakes, to taste, optional


Directions:1. Cook the pasta according to package directions, omitting any oil or butter.

2. Two to four minutes before the pasta is done, add the asparagus to the water (two minutes for thin spears, four minutes for thick).

3. Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water in a small bowl. Drain the pasta.

4. Meanwhile, add the garlic, ricotta, and olive oil to a large serving bowl. As soon as the pasta is
drained, mix in 1/3 cup of the reserved pasta water.

5. Immediately add the pasta and asparagus and gently toss until the pasta and asparagus are coated with the cheese mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Gently toss again.

6. If the mixture seems too dry, add more reserved pasta water, about 1/4 cup at a time, until no longer dry.

7. Sprinkle the Parmesan over the pasta. If desired, sprinkle with the red pepper flakes. Serve immediately.

Makes 6 servings. Each (about 2-cup) serving has 318 cals, 15g protein, 60g carbohydrates, 7g fat, 2g saturated fat, 18mg cholesterol, 9g fiber, 183mg sodium.




Source: Food & Wine Magazine

Healthy Quick Tip of the Day: Olive Oil!

Make the Switch: Use olive oil instead of butter! Dip your bread in it, use it to marinate your meat, & drizzle it over fish & veggies. This will add healthy fats and reduce saturated fat. :)

Healthy Fall Recipe: Spaghetti Squash!

Spaghetti squash is one of my all time favorite vegetables to cook with! It's a pure vegetable, not processed or refined & it serves just like a pasta, making it delicious with your favorite healthy sauce, seasoned vegetables, &/or protein. & it's so simple to prepare!

Ingredients:

• 1 whole spaghetti squash
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (optional)

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Rinse or wipe & then dry the exterior of the squash.
3. Use a fork to punch holes in the squash, scattered over the surface.
4. Place the whole squash in a shallow baking dish, such as a large glass casserole.
5. Bake it for 1 hour.
6. Remove it from the oven & let it sit for about 5-10 minutes to cool a bit.
7. Cut the squash in half. Use a large metal spoon to scoop the seed area out of each half.
8. Sprinkle sea salt to each half. (optional)
9. Use a fork to gently scrape the flesh of the squash; it will come off easily in thin spaghetti-like strips.
10. Serve with your favorite flavorful sauce, vegetables, &/or protein. (I sometimes like to use just a little bit of olive oil to coat the "noodles" & a small amount of fresh parmesan cheese with garlic...yum!)

Enjoy!

What are some of your favorite Fall healthy recipes?!

Snack Attack: Warm Apple Toast

I'm all about healthy eating but I do admit I have a reallllly bad sweet tooth. & I hate denying my cravings lol! If you're looking for a quick yummy snack idea that'll warm you up on a cold afternoon or satisfy your sweet tooth after dinner, you've got to make this delicious apple toast. Simple to make, you only need four ingredients!

Ingredients:

* 1 slice whole wheat bread
* 1 tablespoon all natural peanut or almond butter
* Half a medium apple, cored & sliced
* Sprinkle of cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat toaster oven to 350° F.
2. Smear the nut butter on the bread. Top with sliced apples & a sprinkle of cinnamon.
3. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the apples are slightly soft.

So quick & easy! Not to mention yummy :) ENJ0Y!

Love = Being a Better Athelete?!

I recently read a study showing that being in love improves athletic ability! If you think about it LOVE really does make you feel indestructible. Almost as if you can do anything! & I guess studies have shown that it helps with our athleticism & fitness as well. The recent study surveyed 400 competitive athletes & discovered that loving relationships increased athletic performance (esp those in a long-term relationship).  Being in love doesn't instantly make you win races, but the idea is that when you're in a mutually loving relationship with someone else, you feel happier, more energized, & more supported. See the study + article here.

Lose Weight Fast Secrets to Get in Bikini Shape!

It's time to change it up a bit with normal nutrition plan & use these diet secrets to lose weight fast to look good & feel great this summer!  Have that dream body you've been lusting after in the shortest time in a healthy way.

Sometimes results aren't as apparent therefore, leaving you discouraged & with zero motivation to stay on track.  However, pro dietitians provide you with a few LIFE-SAVING diet secrets to lose weight fast.  These tips will definitely change your eating habits & can also boost your metabolism to burn calories more efficiently.  Use these recommendations to make sure you're on the right track of getting rid of those extra pounds & sculpting your figure in that bikini ready body you've been wanting.

Skip Oil

Learn the modern & healthy ways of preparing your favorite dishes. Skip vegetable oils when frying your meals. The solution to cut back on calories from oil is to use a non-stick pan. Place your veggies or meat in the pan and fry them without feeling guilty about the consumption of saturated fats.

Green Tea

Don't neglect the positive slimming impact of green tea. This delicious drink can burn calories with ease allowing you to feel more healthy & energetic. Drink at least 3-4 cups of tea per day to make sure you load up with the necessary antioxidants to flush out free agents & get rid of fat.

Lean Meat

It's time to swap roasts and fattening sausages for lean meat. It's time to include these ingredients into your eating plan in order to spare yourself from saturated fat.

Ingredients Control

It is extremely important to keep an eye on the ingredients to use to prepare your fave meals from especially when in the midst of a dieting project. Pro nutritionists advise you to embrace the following pattern when building up your daily menu. Your meals should be 50% veggies & 50% should be made up of carbs or lean meat. This is one of the top tricks followed also by celebs when adopting a well-defined diet plan.

Fresh Fruits

Swap the consumption of juices for fresh fruits. Eat more salads and raw fruits to burn calories and keep your metabolism on top speed. In order to preserve the versatility of your diet plan have different fruits on your menu, from tropical ones to the more accessible types all can be pierced into your daily meal plan. Cut back on calories with this popular slimming tip.

Follow these tips & as well as a great workout plan in order to get your bikini bod in know time!  Not only will you look good but you will feel great! Please comment & let me know you think of this post as well as your own diet tips/secrets to staying summer time fineee, lol. :)

Healthy Beach Snacks

No need to bring unhealthy calorie-full snacks to the beach.  There are tons of other options that are healthy & just as good! (maybe even better) Take a look at the better-for-you options after the jump:

Victoria's Secret Models Reveal Their Fitness Secrets

At the SoulCycle gym charity event, the Victoria's Secret Models cycled to raise money for cancer research.  Alessandra Ambrosio, Lily Aldridge and Erin Heatherton revealed how they stay in such great shape.