WLC Count down to the New Year

Another big challenge this month, folks, as we are all probably doing at least some planning, baking, and partying this holiday season.  One of the hardest things is resisting the cookies and candies that start appearing around the office, school, and home from before Halloween and don’t stop until New Years Day, when we all feel about 4 sizes bigger than we should.  And then come the resolutions not to do it again next year.  Well, let’s just stop it now.

The HBC Recipe Book is full of recipes that are good for you and will help you not only create delicious dishes, they will help you stay on track with your weight loss goal because they follow the Chinese Medicine philosophy of 5-Flavor Eating.  There are recipes for every aspect of your meal, including drinks.  If you haven’t looked at it, please ask about it the next time you are in the clinic, or just go ahead and order your’s today from the HBC main website (click here).

Office parties: make your own sweets so you can resist the sugar.  Check out the Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies I posted over the weekend.  They have all 5 Flavors in them!  You can subsitute GWF Baking Mix plus a couple of TSP of stevia powder into almost any cookie recipe and cut out the sugar completely!  Just use the same amount of mix as flour is called for, and don’t worry about any other dry ingredients (except spices–add those).

Holiday dinners: if someone else is cooking, I always ask if they used sugar.  When you start paying attention, its just incredible how much we use, isn’t it?  If the main event is turkey–my favorite–skip the crispy skin (its fine, but I’d rather have my mini cheesecake later on).  White, dark, whatever you like, have some.  The vegies on the table (sans the marshmallowed sweet potatoes–my eyes are rolling) are probably fine (if it looks saucy, be suspect unless you know what’s in it).  And repeat after me: stuffing is NOT going to help me with my weight loss goal!  How I have always loved it, though.  Instead, I am going to make some of my GWF Herb Loaf–that has all of the same herbs we love so much in stuffing and will totally satisfy.  That recipe is in the GWF Recipe Book, also on the website.  Other great side dishes from the original HBC Recipe Book will be on my table, like Roasted Asparagus with Cranberries, Kale with Garlic and Bacon (recipe), and maybe even Roasted Brussel Sprouts .  Remember, if you cover the 5 Flavors in your dishes, you will be less likely to overeat.

As for desserts, how about a pumpkin pie using the Almond Flour crust (recipe), or Mini Cheescakes from the original HBC Recipe Book.  You can make these as your contribution to the office potluck so you know there’s no sugar in it.  For coffee afterward or a great gift idea try Chocolate Biscotti (recipe) or the HBC Truffles.

Make informed choices and you will be thankful that you feel great and are healthy for life.  Save that resolution for something else because you have your weight conquered!