Brownie Muffins [Hungry Girl]

Thought that these Hungry Girl Brownie Muffins looked so cute and are on the better side for a lighter dessert options.  Cut the calories in half by preparing them in mini muffin tins instead of the full size ones.    Check the recipe out here

Chocolate Rice Krispy Crunch-Lynn's Kitchen Adventures

I love Rice Krispy treats, but they can get kind of heavy on the caloric scale with all the butter that the recipe calls for.  Here is a recipe for Chocolate Rice Krispy Crunch from Lynn's Kitchen Adventures.  I like this because it can be a lower calorie snack with a delicious chocolatey crunch.  You can check her recipe out here 

BLT B-Fast Burrito from Hungry Girl

For those of you who love breakfast burritos, here is a delicious lightened up version from the ever lovely, Hungry Girl.

BLT B-fast Burrito

PER SERVING: (entire recipe, 1 burrito): 243 calories, 5g fat, 968mg sodium, 26g carbs, 7g fiber, 4.5g sugars, 23.5g protein -- PointsPlus® value 6*

Spinach plays the part of lettuce in this BLT breakfast. Get ready for a super-tasty morning burrito that's ready in mere minutes!




Ingredients:
1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters Original)
Dash each onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper
1 wedge The Laughing Cow Light Creamy Swiss cheese
1/4 cup diced tomato, patted dry
1 tbsp. precooked real crumbled bacon (like the kind by Oscar Mayer)
1 medium-large high-fiber flour tortilla with 110 calories or less (like the kinds by La Tortilla Factory)
1/2 cup spinach leaves
1 tbsp. chopped scallions

Directions:
Spray a large microwave-safe mug lightly with nonstick spray. Add egg substitute, spices, and cheese wedge, breaking the wedge into pieces as you add it. Microwave for 1 minute.

Add tomato and bacon to the mug, and gently stir. Microwave for 1 minute, or until scramble is just cooked. Set aside.

Lay tortilla flat on a microwave-safe plate, and warm in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Lay spinach leaves horizontally across the center of the tortilla, and evenly top with the scramble. Sprinkle with scallions.

Wrap tortilla up by first folding one side in (to keep filling from escaping), and then rolling it up from the bottom. Bite right into the open side!

MAKES 1 SERVING

HG's Better Bruschetta Chicken Salad

The most irritating thing about eating out at restaurants is when you decide to order a salad to be healthy; come to find out that the salad has more calories in it than the juciest burger with the most delicious fries. First of all, is it even fair to call those meals "salads"? Sneaky calorie traps is more like it. Check out Hungry Girl's take on Applebee's Brucshetta Chicken Salad...less calories and even more delicious, this is how restaurant salads should be made.

HG's Better Bruschetta Chicken Salad

Serving Size: 1 salad with dressing (entire recipe)
Calories: 360
Fat: 11g
Sodium: 988mg
Carbs: 26g
Fiber: 6.5g
Sugars: 12g
Protein: 37.5g

PointsPlus® value 9*

HG FYI: The recipe method of calculating PointsPlus® values counts the carbs, protein, etc., from vegetables -- even those with a value of 0*. If calculated without 0-value vegetables, this recipe has a PointsPlus® value of 6*.

We love the idea of a salad topped with chicken and a delicious tomato mixture, but the one at Applebee's is straight-up SILLY. Feast your eyes on our beauteous bowl of greens...

Ingredients:
Bruschetta Topping
1 cup chopped plum tomatoes (about 2 tomatoes)
1/4 cup chopped red onion (about 1/4th of an onion)
2 tbsp. drained and chopped roasted red peppers (packed in water)
2 tbsp. sliced black olives, finely chopped
1 tbsp. chopped fresh basil
1/2 tsp. chopped garlic

Salad
One 4-oz. raw boneless skinless lean chicken breast cutlet
Dash each salt and black pepper
4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
2 tsp. reduced-fat Parmesan-style grated topping
1 stick light string cheese, cut into coins
2 tbsp. fat-free or low-fat balsamic vinaigrette

Directions:
In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients for bruschetta topping and mix well. Cover and refrigerate.

Spray a grill pan (or skillet) with nonstick spray, and bring to medium heat on the stove. Season chicken with salt and pepper, and place in the pan. Cook for 4 - 5 minutes per side, until cooked through. Once cool enough to handle, slice chicken into strips and set aside.

Place lettuce on a large plate or in a large bowl. Add bruschetta topping and chicken. Sprinkle with Parm-style topping, and top with string cheese coins.

Top or serve salad with dressing. EAT!

MAKES 1 SERVING

Banana Split Milkshake-Lynn's Kitchen Adventures

Here is a simple and easy to make healthy milkshake recipe from Lynn's Kitchen Adventures. My mom used to make a version of this for my sister and I when we were younger and it was so good! Here's the recipe, have fun!

Freezy Movie Night Concession Stand-wiches-Hungry Girl

I saw these snacks on Hungry Girl and they look so good! It's kind of like a mish mosh shmorgasbord of movie theater snacks in one delicious snackwich. Check out this recipe for Freezy Movie Night Concession Stand-wiches.

Freezy Movie Night Concession Stand-wiches


PER SERVING (1/7th of recipe, 1 sandwich): 158 calories, 2g fat, 128mg sodium, 32g carbs, <0.5g fiber, 7g sugars, 2.5g protein -- PointsPlus® value 4*

These treats are packed with the flavors of your favorite movie-theater snacks, so you can enjoy said flavors without the high calorie count and kicks to the back of your seat. Lights, camera, SNACKTION!!!!


Ingredients:
One 8-oz. container Cool Whip Free, thawed
3 pieces Twizzlers Strawberry Twists, finely chopped
1 tbsp. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tbsp. chopped peanuts
14 Quaker Butter Popped Corn Rice Cakes (1 package)

Directions:
To make the filling, transfer Cool Whip to a medium-large bowl. Add chopped Twizzlers, chocolate chips, and chopped peanuts. Gently stir.

Set out 7 rice cakes, and evenly spoon filling over them, about a heaping 1/4 cup each.

Lightly place another rice cake over each filling-topped cake to form a sandwich, for a total of seven sandwiches.

Place in the freezer until filling is firm, at least 1 1/2 hours. (Use a few plates or a baking sheet, so the sandwiches are not stacked.) Eat up!

MAKES 7 SERVINGS

Blueberry Cobbler-Lynn's Kitchen Adventures

Check out a delicious and easy recipe for Blueberry and Strawberry cobble from Lynn at Lynn's Kitchen Adventures...found here

HG's Smokin' Hot B-fast Bacon-rito

Breakfast burritos are a really fun way to get a complete breakfast all wrapped together. Fast food breakfast burritos can get fattening really quickly; why not try making your own? Check out Hungry Girl's recipe for a bacon breakfast burrito.

HG's Smokin' Hot B-fast Bacon-rito

Serving Size: 1 burrito (entire recipe)
Calories: 250
Fat: 5g
Sodium: 1,047mg
Carbs: 33g
Fiber: 6.5g
Sugars: 5g
Protein: 24.5g

PointsPlus® value 7*

Don't get sucked in by fast-food breakfast items. With a little effort, you can make a morning meal that tastes just as good yet has way less fat and calories. Plus, you don't have to eat it in your car.

Ingredients:
2 tsp. fat-free sour cream
1 slice fat-free cheddar cheese
Dash cayenne pepper
1 slice center-cut bacon or turkey bacon
1/4 cup sliced onion (about 1/4th of an onion)
1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters Original)
1 medium-large high-fiber flour tortilla with 110 calories or less (like the kinds by La Tortilla Factory)
3 jarred jalapeño slices, chopped

Directions:
In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine sour cream, cheese, and cayenne pepper, breaking cheese into small pieces as you add it. Stir well and set aside.

Prepare bacon in a skillet sprayed with nonstick spray or on a microwave-safe plate in the microwave. (Refer to package instructions for exact cook time and temperature.) Once cool enough to handle, roughly chop and set aside.

Bring a skillet sprayed with nonstick spray to medium heat on the stove. Add onion and, stirring occasionally, cook until slightly softened, about 3 minutes.

Add egg substitute to the skillet with the onion and scramble until fully cooked, about 3 minutes. Set aside.

Place tortilla on a microwave-safe plate and warm in the microwave, about 10 seconds. Scoop egg scramble into the center of the tortilla and set aside.

Microwave the cheese mixture for 15 seconds, or until hot. Mix well, until mostly smooth, and immediately spoon over the egg scramble.

Top with bacon and jalapeño. Wrap tortilla up like a burrito, folding the sides in first, and then rolling it up from the bottom. Place burrito seam-side down on the microwave-safe plate, and microwave for 30 seconds, or until hot.

Slice it in half or bite right in. Enjoy!

MAKES 1 SERVING

Fiesta-Time Chicken Flautas

I absolutely love Mexican food, but it's so difficult to be disciplined enough to choose the healthy options when tacos, chips, and salsa are always calling my name. Check out Hungry Girl's Flauta recipe; it takes the guilt out of this normally fried meal.

Fiesta-Time Chicken Flautas


PER SERVING (1/2 of recipe, 2 flautas): 188 calories, 2g fat, 556mg sodium, 24.5g carbs, 3g fiber, 4g sugars, 17g protein -- PointsPlus® value 4*

With flavor like this, who needs a fryer? These zesty chicken rollups RULE!





Ingredients:
1/4 cup picante sauce (like the kind by Pace)
1/4 cup shredded fat-free cheddar cheese
3 oz. cooked and finely chopped skinless lean chicken breast
3 tbsp. diced onion
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. ground cumin
1/8 tsp. salt
Four 6-inch yellow corn tortillas
2 tsp. chopped cilantro

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet by spraying it with nonstick spray. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine picante sauce with cheese and mix well. In another bowl, combine chicken, diced onion, and seasonings; mix well. Set both bowls aside.

Dampen two paper towels, and place tortillas between them. Microwave for about 1 minute, until tortillas are warm and pliable. Set aside.

Place one tortilla flat on a clean dry surface (keep the rest between the paper towels), and spread 1/4th of the saucy cheese mixture (about 1 tbsp.) onto the bottom third of the tortilla. Top with 1/4th of the chicken mixture (about 3 tbsp.). Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. cilantro. Tightly roll tortilla up from the bottom around the filling. Repeat with remaining tortillas, cheese mixture, chicken mixture, and cilantro, for a total of 4 flautas.

Carefully transfer flautas to the baking sheet, seam side down. Spray the tops with nonstick spray. Bake in the oven until tortilla edges are lightly browned and crispy, 15 - 20 minutes.

Serve and enjoy!

MAKES 2 SERVINGS

Spicy Thai-Style No-Cook Stir-Fry

I absolutely love to make stir fries...They're a great way to get a complete meal and so easy to load up with veggies and make super healthy. Here is a Thai Style Stir Fry recipe from Hungry Girl for yall to try.

Spicy Thai-Style No-Cook Stir-Fry

PER SERVING (1/4th of recipe, about 1 1/2 cups): 165 calories, 3g fat, 440mg sodium, 14g carbs, 4g fiber, 7g sugars, 22g protein -- PointsPlus® value 4*

This dish is all stir and no fry! Just grab some precooked chicken from the market (or make use of those leftovers!), and you're on your way to delicious-ville...




Ingredients:
1/4 cup low-fat Thai peanut salad dressing or sauce (like the kind by Litehouse)
2 tbsp. seasoned rice vinegar
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
One 12-oz. bag (about 4 cups) broccoli cole slaw
10 oz. cooked and chopped skinless lean chicken breast
2 cups sugar snap peas, halved
1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Directions:
In a small bowl, combine salad dressing/sauce, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes. Mix thoroughly and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine all remaining ingredients and mix well. Add dressing/sauce mixture and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, at least 15 minutes. If you just can't wait, go ahead and dig in!

MAKES 4 SERVINGS

HG's Chilly Chocolate Mudslide

If you're craving a sinfully delicious chocolate treat after a long day at work, how about trying Hungry Girl's version of a Mississippi Mudslide. Less fat, less calories, but all of the deliciousness that you would expect from this dessert.

HG's Chilly Chocolate Mudslide

Serving Size: 1 mudslide (entire recipe)
Calories: 156
Fat: 0.5g
Sodium: 177mg
Carbs: 10g
Fiber: 1.25g
Sugars: 6g
Protein: 3g

PointsPlus® value 5*

HG Alternative: For a non-alcoholic version, just omit the vodka and add another 1 1/2 oz. (3 tbsp.) soymilk. TADA! Your virgin sipper will have just 66 calories and a PointsPlus® value of 2*. YAY!

Straight from the pages of Hungry Girl Happy Hour, a chocolate cocktail with a serious KICK... YEE-HAAA! Get ready for sippable bliss...

Ingredients:
One 25-calorie packet hot cocoa mix (like Swiss Miss Diet or Nestlé Fat Free)
2 no-calorie sweetener packets (like Splenda or Truvia)
2 oz. (1/4 cup) light vanilla soymilk
1 1/2 oz. (3 tbsp.) vodka
1/2 oz. (1 tbsp.) sugar-free calorie-free vanilla-flavored syrup (like the kind by Torani)
1 tsp. light chocolate syrup
1 cup crushed ice or 5 to 8 ice cubes
Optional topping: Fat Free Reddi-wip

Directions:
Combine cocoa mix with sweetener in a glass. Add 2 oz. (1/4 cup) hot water and stir to dissolve. Add soymilk and 1 oz. (2 tbsp.) cold water. Stir and transfer to a blender.

Add all other ingredients except optional topping to the blender, and blend at high speed until thoroughly mixed.

Pour and, if you like, top with a squirt of Fat Free Reddi-wip. Enjoy!

MAKES 1 SERVING

Creamy Cold Tomato Soup

I am sure you all can tell; I'm a huge fan of Lynn's Kitchen Adventures...here is yet another great soup recipe from her collection. Try this healthy and refreshing Creamy Cold Tomato Soup.

Hungry Girl's Turkey-rific Taco Bean Dip

Usually, dips are a waste of fat and calories and creamy goodness. I was pleasantly surprised when I found this dip recipe from Hungry Girl. It's a bean dip with ground turkey in it. With the ground turkey, this already fiber-full dip gets more lean protein added.


Turkey-rific Taco Bean Dip

PER SERVING (1/12th of recipe, about 1/2 cup): 131 calories, 2.5g fat, 453mg sodium, 16g carbs, 4g fiber, 2.5g sugars, 11g protein -- PointsPlus® value 3*

Get ready for some SERIOUS dunking -- this bean dip means business, people!

Ingredients:
10 oz. raw lean ground turkey
1 1/2 tsp. taco seasoning
2 cups diced plum tomatoes (about 4 tomatoes)
1 cup diced onion (about 1/2 large onion)
Two 16-oz. cans fat-free refried beans
Two 4-oz. cans diced green chiles
1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat Mexican-blend cheese
Serving suggestions: low-fat baked tortilla chips, sliced bell peppers

Directions:
Bring a large skillet sprayed with nonstick spray to medium-high heat on the stove. Add turkey and sprinkle with taco seasoning. Cook and finely crumble until turkey is fully cooked, about 6 minutes. Drain any excess liquid and transfer turkey to the crock pot.

Evenly top turkey with tomatoes, onion, beans, and chiles.

Cover and cook on high for 3 - 4 hours or on low for 7 - 8 hours.

Turn off crock pot and remove lid. Add cheese and stir well.

Serve with your guilt-free dippers of choice and enjoy!

MAKES 12 SERVINGS

Hot Fudge Ice Cream Sandwiches from Lynn's Kitchen Adventures

Here is a very simple and delicious dessert from Lynn's Kitchen Adventures. Make your own hot fudge ice cream sandwiches...to make this recipe healthier, make your cookies from scratch or buy the 100 calorie ready to bake cookies from Nestle or Pillsbury. You can also use frozen yogurt or sugar free ice cream for the filling. Here is the recipe! Enjoy!

Success Isn't Always Being Rich

Today, we all think that if we just had more money, we'd be happier and all of our problems would go away. While more money would cover the bills, rent, mortgage, and shopping trips, money cannot change the essence of our relationships and the hard work that it takes to make our dreams into a reality. Money can definitely take stress out of many areas in our lives and make things easier, but it does not mean success and it does not mean happiness.

I think that instead of only striving for success in business, we should strive for success in having a full, happy, and unique life. Money cannot buy either of those successes, but many people tend to forget the latter one. When asked where people want to see themselves in 10 years, they usually say married and successful in business. A lot of people forget about being happy with their life; they don't realize that being successful in their business might mean risking a lot of things that make you happy. People also forget that following their passions could make them successful but may not make them a lot of money.

I'm not saying don't try to be successful in business, I'm saying find the balance where you can be happy and do all of the things that you want to do. We have become a society obsessed with money and being rich, forgetting that the riches in life often are worth far more than the fortune we set out to earn at work. Try to find your passions in life; if you can't make them a career, be sure to keep them close to you in every way you can. Don't lose sight of yourself in trying to find a career; money isn't everything. As long as you work hard and put passion in to everything you do, you will be successful.

HG's Happy Birthday Cake Shake

Milkshakes are way too thick and way too sugary for me, so it's pretty easy for me to stay away from them when dessert comes around. When I saw that Hungry Girl had redone the shake, I got excited to try it. It looks delicious and like something that I would really love to try. Check out this recipe for a sweet shake that won't overload you with sugar and calories.

HG's Happy Birthday Cake Shake

Serving Size: 1 shake (entire recipe)
Calories: 215
Fat: 5.5g
Sodium: 395mg
Carbs: 36g
Fiber: 1g
Sugars: 20g
Protein: 4.5g

PointsPlus® value 6*

We're warning you now -- exposure to our Happy Birthday Cake Shake recipe may induce squeals of joy, a need to blend something, and the insatiable desire for a cake-inspired milkshake. Go for it!

Ingredients:
3 tbsp. Cool Whip Free, thawed
1/4 tsp. hot cocoa mix from a 25-calorie packet (like Swiss Miss Diet or Nestlé Fat Free)
1 tbsp. sugar-free French vanilla powdered creamer (like the kind by Coffee-mate)
1/2 cup light vanilla soymilk
1 tbsp. Jell-O Sugar Free Fat Free Vanilla Instant pudding mix
1/4 cup fat-free vanilla ice cream
1 1/2 cups crushed ice or 8 - 12 ice cubes
1 tbsp. rainbow sprinkles, or more for optional topping

Directions:
To make the chocolatey topping, in a small bowl, combine Cool Whip with cocoa mix. Stir until completely mixed. Cover and refrigerate.

In a tall glass, combine powdered creamer with 2 tbsp. hot water and stir to dissolve. Add soymilk and pudding mix. Stir until mostly dissolved. Transfer contents of the glass to a blender.

Add ice cream and ice to the blender. Blend at high speed until thoroughly mixed. If needed, remove blender from the base, stir mixture, and blend again.

Pour into the tall glass. Gently stir in the sprinkles.

If you want to get fancy with your chocolatey topping, spoon it into one of the bottom corners of a plastic bag; snip off the tip of that corner to create a small hole, and pipe the topping through the hole into a swirl over your shake. Or keep things simple and just spoon on the topping! If you like, top with a few extra sprinkles. Enjoy!

MAKES 1 SERVING

Dedication takes a lifetime, but dreams only last for a night.

This quote is from All Time Low's song, Stay Awake. We all have dreams about what we're going to do and who we're going to be as we grow up. We have this wonderful picture in our head that includes our dream career, love life, success, family, but just dreaming and thinking about these things are not enough. In order to get the life we want and become who we want to be, we have to dedicate ourselves to working hard to get there. We cannot expect things just to happen out of thin air...that one day I'll just wake up and be skinny, or I'll wake up with a boyfriend. No, that's not going to happen. I have to work out and eat healthily to lose weight. I have to put myself out there, date some douche bags, and find the man of my dreams. If we really want these fabulous lives that we deserve, we have to put our heart and soul and all into everything we do. One day, we'll get those things that we want, but we will never get them if we don't dedicate ourselves to making those dreams become a reality.

Chocolate Angel Food Cake

I absolutely love angel food cake. It's low in calories and tastes amazing with sorbet or fresh fruit. Check out this recipe for chocolate Angel Food Cake at Lynn's Kitchen Adventures.

What defines you is your priorities in life

Patti Stanger~Millionaire Matchmaker

Though Patti uses this in reference to finding love, the quote is really all about life and being ourselves. We always want people to think the best of us, but how can they do that if all we care about and concentrate on are the material and superficial aspects of life? There are other ways to show our desire and love for life than just money, success, and being on top. Though our passions may lend to these eventually, our passions should be our priorities, not being rich and being on top. As Patti also says, leading with your "business foot" gets you no where. People don't want to hear your brag about how well your business is doing or how much money you're making. That makes you look boring, self centered, and one dimensional. Talk about things that interest you, focus on your passions and make happiness a priority in life. Success will follow and you may find yourself in a better place all together.

HG' Bake-tastic Butternut Squash Fries

Butternut squash is a great substitute for potatoes in french fries...the squash can be difficult to prep, so after the recipe, check out other ideas for delicious french fry substitutes. All of these fabulous recipes are from Hungry Girl.

Bake-tastic Butternut Squash Fries

PER SERVING (entire recipe): 204
calories, <1g fat, 258mg sodium, 53g carbs,
9g fiber, 10g sugars, 4g protein --
PointsPlus™ value 0*

Prep: 25 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes

Ingredients:
1 butternut squash (large enough to yield 1 lb. once peeled & sliced)
1/8 tsp. coarse salt, or more to taste
Optional dip: ketchup

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Peel squash with a vegetable peeler. Slice the ends off the squash, and then cut it in
half width-wise. Cut the round bottom piece in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds.
Using a crinkle cutter or a knife, carefully cut squash into spears/French-fry shapes.
Thoroughly blot moisture away with paper towels, and sprinkle evenly with salt.
Spray a broiler pan, a baking rack placed over a baking sheet, or a baking sheet with
nonstick spray, and then place spears flat on it.
Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, and then carefully flip spears. Continue to bake until
tender on the inside and crispy on the outside, about 20 minutes longer.
If you like, sprinkle with additional salt and serve with ketchup for dipping. Enjoy!
MAKES 1 SERVING

Click here for Hungry Girl's french fry trials and try using one of these ingredients instead!

10 Easy Ways to Burn an Extra 100 Calories

1. Stand up.  Stand up for 10 minutes for every hour during your eight hour work day and you'll burn off an extra 100 calories
2. Give a massage. Give your partner a 20 minute massage and burn off 100 calories.
3. Take your coffee break on foot.  Walk to the nearest Starbucks and be sure to keep your coffee 'skinny' to avoid drinking those calories back.
4. Get on Facebook.  Updating your Facebook status or surfing burns calories also.  Clicking equals calories burned!
5. Give yourself a blowout.  Instead of going to the salon, blow-drying and straightening your own hair will zap another 100 calories.
6. Try a new recipe.  Baking can burn up to 100 calories before eating the meal.
7. Pace while you talk on the phone. Next time you talk on the phone, burn calories by walking back and forth. 
8. Clean your closet.  Clean, sort things you don't need anymore, and reorganize for 35 minutes and burn 100 calories.
9. Play tag.  Play a 20 minute game of tag with your kids (or siblings or cousins for those of us without kids) and burn more calories.
10. Go shopping.  Spend time walking around and trying on clothes and burn 100 calories.  (maybe even more!)

Summarized article by Jessica Smith from Red Book.
http://www.redbookmag.com/health-wellness/advice/burn-extra-calories-easy#fbIndex1

More on Simple and Complex Carbs

Again, How To Think gives us some helpful information about how to differentiate between simple and complex carbohydrates.

Read the labels. If the label lists sugar, sucrose, fructose, corn syrup, white or “wheat” flour, they contain simple carbohydrates. If these ingredients are at the top of the list, they may contain mostly simple carbohydrates, and little else. They should be avoided.

Look for foods that have not been highly processed or refined. Choose a piece of fruit instead of fruit juice, which is very high in naturally occurring simple sugars. Choose whole grain breads instead of white bread. Choose whole grain oatmeal instead of packaged cold cereals.

The closer you get to nature, the closer you get to health.

Simple carbohydrates, like sugar and corn syrup, are created in a factory – while complex carbohydrates in vegetables and whole grains are designed by nature, and help you maintain your health.

“Beauty isn’t judged by the size of your jeans"

Jack Barakat~All Time Low

A new year has just started...be honest, how many of us made "losing weight" or "get skinny" one of our resolutions? How many of us say that we are going to do these things and have our hearts set on these things all the time? Now has it ever occurred to anyone else that framing our health and our bodies this way says so much about what culture and society has done to us?

How about this year, instead of resolving to get skinny or get hott, let's resolve to get healthy and be happy. If you think about it, they're really the same goals, framed in a more positive light. I'm a curvy girl and I always say that I want to be skinny, but since I'm curvy, skinny and thin are not realities for me.

I believe that true beauty comes from within. A happy person radiates beauty from the inside, and that inner beauty is the only beauty that we can hold on to throughout our lives. Let's spend this year making ourselves truly beautiful: do what makes us happy, focus on our lives-whether it be school, a career, our family, and really put your all into where you want to be.

Happiness makes us feel so much better about ourselves. A person may be beautiful on the outside, but without happiness, self satisfaction, and confidence, that beauty fades fast.

This year, let's be the best that we can be and build ourselves up to be beautiful from the inside out.

HG's Sweet and Sour Chicken 1 2 3

I haven't met many people who would say no to Sweet and Sour Chicken from a Chinese restaurant. I have tried to stop myself because that dish is full of sugar and calories. Here is Hungry Girl's version of this delicious Chinese food staple that won't weigh you down.

HG's Sweet & Sour Chicken 1-2-3

Serving Size: 1/3rd of recipe, about 2 cups
Calories: 295
Fat: 2g
Sodium: 730mg
Carbs: 37g
Fiber: 5.25g
Sugars: 27g
Protein: 30g

PointsPlus® value 7*

Ingredients:
12 oz. raw boneless skinless lean chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper
1 1/2 cups broccoli florets
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 cup chopped celery
16 oz. canned pineapple chunks packed in juice (not drained)
1 tbsp. cornstarch
3 tbsp. seasoned rice vinegar
1 tbsp. ketchup
1 tbsp. reduced-sodium/lite soy sauce
1/2 tsp. chopped garlic
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
1/8 tsp. ground ginger
2 cups bean sprouts

Directions:
Bring a large skillet or wok sprayed with nonstick spray to medium-high heat on the stove. Season chicken with salt and black pepper and place in the skillet/wok.

Stirring occasionally, cook until chicken is no longer pink on the outside, about 3 minutes. Add broccoli florets, bell pepper, celery, and 2 tbsp. of water to the skillet/wok. Cover and cook until veggies are tender, about 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, to make the sauce, drain the juice from the canned pineapple into a small nonstick pot. Add cornstarch and stir to dissolve. Add vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, garlic, crushed red pepper, and ginger. Mix thoroughly. Bring to medium-high heat on the stove. Stirring frequently, cook until thickened, about 3 minutes.

To the skillet/wok, add pineapple chunks, bean sprouts, and sauce. Mix well. Continue to cook and stir until sprouts have softened and chicken is fully cooked, about 4 minutes.

Serve and enjoy!

MAKES 3 SERVINGS