Monday, November 16, 2009

Article: 10 Days Worth of Mood-Boosting, Waist-Shrinking Lunch Ideas by Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D.

Here's a great article by the author of Eat Your Way to Happiness which is on my review pile and I'm looking forward to reading it.   Thank you Julie Harabedian of FSB Assoicates for forwarding me this article to use.


10 Day's Worth of Mood-Boosting, Waist-Shrinking Lunch Ideas
by Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D.,
Author of Eat Your Way to Happiness


1. Wrap It: Fill a Mission Life Balance flour tortilla with 2 ounces of turkey breast meat, 1/2 cup shredded romaine lettuce, 2 tablespoons grated carrot and 1 tablespoon low-fat Caesar salad dressing. Serve with a glass of 1% milk and a piece of fruit.

2. Salad Fixings: 
Top 3 cups of baby spinach and/or romaine lettuce with 1/2 cup berries, 1 tablespoon pecans, 1/2 cup broccoli florets, 1/3 cup kidney or black beans and 2 tablespoons low-fat dressing. Serve with 100% whole-grain bread and a slice of low-fat cheese.

3. Pocket It: 
Fill a 100% whole-wheat pita with 1/2 cup black beans, 1/4 cup grated carrot, 1/4 cup chopped cucumber, 1/4 cup diced red peppers and 2 tablespoons light Italian salad dressing. Serve with Rachel's yogurt and a glass of 100% juice.

4. Burgerville: Top a 100% whole-wheat burger bun with a vegetarian burger, 2 tablespoons low-fat crumbled feta cheese, 1/3 cup baby spinach leaves, and 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard. Serve with a piece of fruit and a glass of 1% milk.

5. Chicken of the Sea Sandwich: Top 2 slices of 100% whole-grain bread with 2 large romaine lettuce leaves and a mixture of 2 ounces drained, water-packed tuna, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon fat-free mayo and 1/4 cup diced celery. Serve with a side salad or piece of fruit and a glass of soy milk.

6. Take-out Desperado: If you must go, then order a kid's cheeseburger, a side salad with fat-free dressing and apple dippers, or Wendy's Ultimate Chicken Grill Sandwich (hold the mayo), a carton of low-fat milk and a Mandarin Orange cup.

7. Soup-n-Sandwich: 
Have a bowl of Campbell's Healthy Request Savory Chicken and Long Grain Rice soup and add extra frozen vegetables. Serve with fresh fruit and a grilled cheese sandwich made with 2 slices of 100% whole-grain bread, low-fat cheese and cooking spray instead of butter or oil.

8. Veggie Broil: 
Cut in half and toast a 100% whole-grain English muffin. On one side, put 2 tablespoons mashed avocado, 1/4 cup alfalfa sprouts, 1 thin slice red onion, 1 teaspoon sesame seeds and 2 teaspoons low-fat ranch dressing, and top with 1 ounce grated, low-fat cheddar cheese. Place under broiler and heat until cheese bubbles. Remove and add other side of muffin to form a sandwich. Serve with tomato juice and a side salad or fruit.

9. Campfire Crunch Sandwich: 
Mix 2 tablespoons fat-free cream cheese with a dash of lemon juice, lemon peel, 2 tablespoons dried tart cherries, 1/4 cup grated carrot and 3 tablespoons trail mix. Pile onto a slice of 100% whole-grain bread, spread evenly and top with second piece of bread to form a sandwich. Serve with 1% milk and a piece of fruit or a salad.

10. Bagel Sandwich and Slaw:
 Spread 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard on half a 100% whole-wheat bagel; layer red onion, cucumber, red pepper slices, spinach leaves and low-fat cheese; and top with the other half of the bagel. Serve with broccoli slaw made with broccoli-coleslaw mix, low-fat coleslaw dressing and dried cranberries.


The above is an excerpt from the book Eat Your Way to Happiness by Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D.. The above excerpt is a digitally scanned reproduction of text from print. Although this excerpt has been proofread, occasional errors may appear due to the scanning process. Please refer to the finished book for accuracy.
Copyright © 2009 Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D., author of Eat Your Way to Happiness

Author Bio
Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D., author of Eat Your Way to Happiness, is a registered dietitian and author of several books, including 10 Habits That Mess Up a Woman's Diet, Food & Mood and Age-Proof Your Body. She is a member of the editorial advisory board of Shape magazine and editor in chief of Nutrition Alert, a newsletter that summarizes the current research from more than 6,000 journals. She appears frequently on NBC's Today and other national television shows.

For more information please visit www.EatYourWayToHappiness.com.


Review: Masquerade by Melissa de la Cruz

Masquerade (Blue Bloods, #2) Masquerade by Melissa de la Cruz

My rating: 4.5/5.0

Publisher: Hyperion
Publish Date: May 1, 2007
Pages: 320

My Review:

Picking up quickly where Blue Bloods left off, this one starts with Oliver and Schuyler on the hunt for her grandfather in Venice. While at home the other Blue Bloods are preparing for the annual Four Hundred Ball.

There is a lot of excitement in this one and I pretty much read it in one sitting. It reads quickly with a lot of action and inner turmoil going on with Schuyler, Oliver, Mimi and Jack. Also a new boy is introduced and quickly becomes part of the story. More and more is learned about the Blue Bloods and the Silver Bloods. Schuyler is also starting to learn to use her gifts.

I really enjoyed this book and this series so far. I have the next one Revelations on my library pile at the moment and I am anxious to pick it up. This is a great young adult paranormal series and I would like to thank all those bloggers who talked these up, because they are the reason I picked this series up and I just love it.

The characters are well done in this one, growing more and learning more from what is going on. I like the continuation through the books because it allows for a more in-depth look at the characters since a small amount of time is covered in each book. Of course I love Schuyler, Ollie, Jack and Bliss. Mimi is there to hate, but I do believe she is still redeemable. I'm still trying to figure out the whole Silver Blood thing and lots of possibilities are still left open and that is part of the fun of these books.

About the Book:

Schuyler Van Alen is starting to get more comfortable with her newfound vampire powers, but she still has many unanswered questions. A trip to Italy in search of her grandfather only serves to make things more confusing. What secrets are the leaders of The Committee hiding? Meanwhile, back in New York, preparations are feverishly underway for the famous Four Hundred Ball. In true Blue Blood fashion, the ball is totally fab, complete with masks, and hidden behind this masquerade is a revelation that will change the course of a young vampire's destiny.

Challenges:
100+ Book Challenge
Support Your Local Library Challenge
Fall Into Reading Challenge 2009
Countdown Challenge 2010






What Are You Reading Monday - November 16


Come post weekly and see what others are reading too just so you can add to your tbr - I always do! For more information see J.Kaye's Book Blog and join in!

Books Completed Last Week:
  • A Courtesan's Scandal by Julia London (review)
  • Invasion of the Boy Snatchers by Lisi Harrison (library)
  • The Secret of Joy by Melissa Senate (review)
  • Masquerade by Melissa de la Cruz (library)
Reading Now:
  • Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough (review)
  • Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis (audiobook with DS)
  • Sole Survivor by Dean Koontz (audiobook)
  • The Cutting by James Hayman (review)
Reviews Completed Last Week

Next:
  • Kissing Games of the World by Sandi Kahn Shelton
  • Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie Montana by Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss
  • The Silent Gift by Michael Landon and Cindy Kelley
  • The Pretty Committee Strikes Back by Lisi Harrison
Reviews to do:
  • The Secret of Joy by Melissa Senate
  • Masquerade by Melissa de la Cruz
  • Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
  • Only In Your Dreams by Cecily von Ziegesar
  • Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning
  • Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
  • Relentless by Dean Koontz
  • Hunted by P.C. and Kristin Cast
  • The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
  • True Colors by Kristen Hannah

Summary -

It was an excellent week for getting things reviewed, but not as great on the reading side.  The books have taken me longer and I have been a little busier.  I think this week will be better.  Logan (my oldest) and I have been making great progress on Prince Caspian (it took a little bit to get into) and I'm almost done with Sole Survivor on audio.  I have several books to read for tours this week and some catch-up to do on others, so I need to get reading!