July 4th Menu: The healthiest things to eat while celebrating independence.



July fourth weekend is the best excuse to spend time with the family, watch the fireworks, and cheat on your diet. With all the backyard barbecues and potluck cookouts, balancing a healthy meal becomes increasingly difficult when you indulge in all enticing smells surrounding you. Luckily for you, we comprised some of the most delicious looking recipes that are simple to make and pleasing to any diet. This way, everyone can enjoy their July 4th weekend without gaining an extra pound!

Dips:

Surprise everyone with anyone of these healthier dips from the writers at PopSugar Fitness. These recipes for low fat dips are the right step towards cutting back on the unhealthy holiday eating to maintain your beach body.

Main Course:

Burgers are perfect assets for backyard barbecues. If you are the kind to count calories, maybe a leaner or more vegetarian alternative is perfect for you. Go with an eggplant or lentil burger if you want to alternate from a meat option.

                    

Salad:

Sweeten your salad with this fruity idea. This watermelon and caprese salad by Nicole Perry from PopSugar will do just the trick! Refresh your taste palettes and get ready for your next meal.

Cold Treats:

Cool down and replenish your body with these cold treats. Not only are they low in calories, but serve as a great guilty pleasure after all that backyard eating. Try a cone full of fruit instead of ice cream and if you still want a cold treat, make your own fruit popsicles.
                       

Send us your recipes to info@modelmydiet.com and you can be featured in our blog!

What does 200 calories really look like?

As the saying goes, “you are what you eat.” and the guys from wiseGEEK made it easier for people on a diet to see exactly what 200 calories look like on a plate. The amount of calories seen on these plates will make anyone want to start changing their diet. Here are some surprising picks that are 200 calories. 

Gummy Bears



Bailey’s Irish Cream



Jack in the Box Cheeseburger 

Salted Pretzels



Celery


Coca-Cola



Fruit Loops 


Mini Bell Peppers


Click here to see the rest of the food items that are 200 calories.

Why Should You Replace Soda With Kombucha?


Last week, we tried our staff member’s recipe for a green apple smoothie and were pleasantly surprised with its natural sweet taste and velvet texture. It was the perfect snack for us to keep up with our day-to-day activities. 

It is easy to lose track of eating and drinking healthy. We value our time, so choosing the right diet means choosing healthy habits that work in your schedule. 

This is why it is important to modify your eating environment in order to adapt to your new healthy lifestyle. Building good healthy habits is the key to modifying that food environment. A good start is finding what is harming that environment.

 For me, it was soda. From its sweet taste to its bubbly texture, it is hard to abandon a soft drink that you were conditioned to love with everything you eat. 

In order for me to come up with a solution to my soda addiction, I had to re-evaluate why I liked soda to begin with; going back to the idea of its sweet taste and bubbly texture. The simple solution was to find a similar drink that also complimented my favourite foods. 

Recently I came across an article talking about the benefits of Kombucha. Kombucha is a sweet tea fermented with yeast and bacteria. Sounds tasty right? Of course I was skeptical, because I had this idea that it was going to be either sour or bitter, or worse that it was going to taste like acid! 

It was not until a friend offered a glass of Kambucha that I realized what all the rage was about. Imagine someone decided to mix your freshly brewed ice tea with sparkling water, that is the taste of Kombucha. Now how does it relate to weight loss?


Kombucha can help you control your sugar intake and help regulate your digestive system, which are some of people’s biggest struggles with losing excess weight; having a functioning digestive tract. 

Like water, it is best to drink at least two glasses of Kombucha 20 minutes before every meal. There are also a variety a flavours to choose from. You can find Kombucha at your local health food store or grocery store depending on the demand of it in your area. 


Most online forums will suggest you to make it yourself and there are kits available to guide you into making your first Kombucha brew. 

Building the habit of feeding your thirst before your hunger is essential to weight loss. By drinking Kombucha daily, just like drinking soda, you can satisfy some of sugar cravings without building up the additives in your body. 

Not only is Kombucha tasty, but low in calories, which will help you maintain your weight loss goals!

Alyssa, From Model My Diet

Smoothie of the Day: Green with Healthy




One of our developers and founders, Eric, is best known for losing countless hours of sleep to give the Model My Diet Community the best experience with their models.

Eric decided recently to join his users in their weight loss journey by making a lifestyle change of his own. After experimenting with an array of ingredients  he has come up with his favorite fruit smoothie concoctions to share with the community!  

 What separates his smoothies from the rest?

His green apple smoothie incorporates a different type of green to make your body happy. From Pineapple to Rainbow Chard leaf, his smoothie packs in the minerals without dialling down the taste; making your breakfast healthier than ever!

 See the recipe below to get started on your morning! 


Recipe:


Pineapple, Apple, Cashew Smoothie recipe:
200g Pineapple
1 medium apple
30g Cashew
10g Flax seed
1 Rainbow Chard leaf
1/2 cup Almond Milk

Add an ice cube or 2 at the end of the blend to cool down.
Yields roughly 500ml ~ 600ml and is 420 calories. 


Perfect for breakfast or at anytime!


Don’t have time to cut the ingredients? No problem! Freezer pack your ingredients to have ready daily. 


Why Drinking Water Keeps You On The Right Track


What do we know about water?

It is all around us. We are constantly reminded of the importance and value it has in our lives. You can get it bottled or filtered. Some are so lucky to travel the world encountering fresh springs of it. What you do not know are the wonders water does for your diet.

Other than the fact that it can replenish your skin and and hydrate your body, water can improve your immune system and your digestion. 

The more water you drink, the more toxins you can flush out of your body, but how does this all help with weight loss?




Water Can Satisfy Appetite Cravings


There have been plenty of times when you feel your stomach aching and you are about ready to give in to those hunger cravings. 

Although satisfying our hunger becomes top priority when we have those cravings, we should be aware of what our body is trying to communicate to us.


A lot times our bodies are just dehydrated and the craving is not for sustenance, but water.


The next time you feel your stomach ache, drink a glass of water, even if it is before a meal. Chances are are that you will be more inclined to take smaller portions after drinking a glass, thus being able to control your calorie intake. 

Do I really need eight glasses a day?

Although it is recommended that you should drink eight glasses a day, you can calculate the recommended amount that you would need depending on your body type and height.  

If you are still unsure, keep a carafe of water at your bedside or in your kitchen. This will be a constant reminder that you need to drink up.


Having your own water bottle (as opposed to the regular plastic) can also be motivating, because an efficient water bottle has the measurements of what you should be drinking daily.  

Make drinking your own bottle of water daily a fun mini challenge. The rewards can be shown in the info graph below.


Infographic and analysis from www.drinksoma.com.

Water can help reduce headaches, so you will not only see the progress in your skin, but you will start to see a change in your mood for the better!

Water Can Be Tasty and Beautiful

You can dress it up with rose petals, infuse it with mint, aromatize it with lemon, and naturally sweeten it with strawberries. There is no limit to how you can flavor your water with natural ingredients.

 If anything, you are introducing more vitamins and minerals to the body that can help with building the immune system, in addition to expelling toxins. 

It is great cold, but better warm. Warm water can ease the muscle walls in your digestive track allowing you to lose weight faster. It works great with lemon for clearing up wrinkles and blemishes.




So when will you be drinking water?

Before you wondered how you were going to manage eight glasses a day. Now you should assess the best time to absorb those eight glasses.

Drinking at least one warm glass of water in the beginning of the day can help prevent dehydration and fatigue. According to a recent study from Tufts University,  a person’s thinking can be impaired after losing 1-2 percent of their water weight.


So in order to stay active at work and throughout the day, always have a bottle of water with you. Customize your water to your own personal taste, so that you look forward to drinking it regularly. 

Make sure to drink water whenever you feel a little fatigue and hungry, because chances are your body is in need of a little replenishment! 


Top Five Borderline Vegetarian Dishes

You and your model are in the kitchen opening the fridge; you are debating what to eat. You want to eat healthy, but lack the time to prepare a fresh meal. So you go with the usual; spaghetti, hamburgers, or whatever you can find to make a fast and easy meal. Why do we revert to our old ways when it comes time to cleansing our body?


Weight loss is a struggle, but the biggest struggle is giving up on our favorite meals. It can be time consuming to prepare a meal based off of a Food Network recipe, especially after a long day at work. It is even more difficult when you have a family to feed. You do not want to exhaust yourself and your expenses to prepare separate meals that everyone can enjoy.

We looked at ways we could alternate our favorite dishes with plant-based alternatives that have easy-to-find ingredients, whether in the fridge or a local grocer. These are our five borderline vegetarian meals.

5. Switch Hashbrowns for Zucchini Fritters

Hash browns always make a great addition to the ultimate breakfast trio of eggs, bacon, and toast, but it is hard to commit to healthy eating if you are trying to deprive yourself. Look no further than Zucchini Fritters!

These little green patties are easy to make and can be enjoyed at any occasion. There is no need to shy away from using dairy and meat products, like parmesan and eggs, to make these fritters. Add a dollop of sour cream and your fritters are ready to serve.

Feeling ambitious? Challenge the conventional ingredients used like flour, eggs, and sour cream, instead substituting them for chick pea flour, vegetable oil, and cashew cream.Whether with sour cream or cashew cream, these recipes are both tasty and great additions to any meal or appetizer!

4. Try Bean Meatballs and Squash Noodles.

It is hard to give up Mama’s homemade meatballs, especially when the best part is the meatiness of the ball itself. If you do not want to give up the meat, then change the noodle!

What fascinated us about this recipe is that the noodles are beyond gluten-free. In fact, it is more affordable than any gluten-free pasta you can find, because it is made entirely of squash. This not only serves as a great substitute to your average noodle, but provides you with the right amount of fiber and is rich in Vitamin A and C.




If you do decide to go completely plant-based on this meal, there is the option to switch the meatballs for black beans or lentils. Not only are you conscious of your favourite meal, but you have found a new way to reinvent spaghetti and meatballs in your kitchen!

3. Creamy Vegetable Soups

Our next pick for great plant-based alternatives to our favorite meals are these hearty vegetable soups: Luxurious 7 Vegetable and Cheese Soup and the Roasted Garlic and Tomato. These soups are great to eat for lunch or as a mid-day snack. Eat them with flat bread or multigrain crackers!

Luxurious 7 Vegetable Cheese Soup is a puree of squash, carrots, broccoli and more. Bottle it up and store it in your fridge, so whenever you have a craving, you can warm it up right away!

From its coconut milk creamy texture to its smoky taste, the roasted garlic and tomato soup below is our second pick for creamy soup alternatives Tomato is a good vegetable for people trying to cut back on their sugar in take, because it has a high concentration of alpha-lipoic acid, which turns glucose into energy. 


You can either go with pureed provision-based soup or a thicker tomato based soup, either way your belly will be filled with warmth and delight!

2. Chick Pea and Portobello Mushroom Pizzas

Pizzas are almost everyone’s favorite dish and everyone tries to justify eating them, because they include all the food groups. However, sometimes we are left feeling as if we cheated on ourselves every time we take a bite. We need to change that way of thinking by introducing pizzas acceptable to our new healthy lifestyle. We would like to call these sets of pizzas the weekday pizza, the pizza you can eat all week without worrying about your figure.

The chick pea pizza on the right is made with sweet bbq plum sauce and dried with ranch dressing, but if you want to cut back on the calories, switch the drizzle to tahini instead. The Portobello mushroom pizza may not be your traditional pizza, but it definitely retains those flavors we recognize from the garlic seasoning to the tomato sauce.

These pizzas are nutritional, tasty, and filling. There is no limit to adding more to these pizzas and they allow you to be creative with your meals.

1. Red Lentil and Eggplant Burger

Burgers are the staples of American culture and anyone trying to watch their figure knows how tempting a 100% beef patty and two buns can be. So why deprive yourself when it is not necessary. Here are some healthy alternatives to that classic burger that your model will be proud of. Red lentils are good in fiber and iron, but they also have zero fat, so they digest easily in the body; another great way to boost your metabolism. Dress this burger with caramelized onions or pickled hot peppers to give your burger that extra kick.

We were excited about eggplant burgers, because they are great for retaining flavor and are high in fiber. Eggplant can absorb flavor, so you can really control the amount of salt you put in to it and maybe experiment with other kinds of seasoning.

Starting a new lifestyle change is all about trying new things, whether it is a new exercise or unconventional dish. Each dish will be different at first, but different is good. Different allows us to open ourselves to new possibilities, which is something you will accept once you and your model start shedding those pounds!

Alyssa, From Model My Diet

If you liked any of our choices let us know or visit our Pinterest board.

Sources:
1. Red Lentil Burger: http://www.veganricha.com/2013/03/red-lentil-cauliflower-burger-with.html
   Egg-plant Crunch Burger: http://www.onegreenplanet.org/plant-based-recipes/the-vegan-eggplant-crunchburger/
2. BBQ Chick Pea Pizza: http://keepinitkind.com/bbq-chickpea-flatbread-pizzas-with-jalapeno-plum-bbq-sauce/
    Portabello Mushroom Pizza: http://minimalistbaker.com/vegan-portobello-pizzas/#_a5y_p=2030068
3. 7 Vegetable and Cheese Soup: http://ohsheglows.com/2013/09/25/luxurious-7-vegetable-and-cheese-soup/
4. Vegan Meatballs: http://ohsheglows.com/2013/10/30/italian-bean-balls-spaghetti-squash-noodles/
5. Zucchini Fritters: http://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-food/zucchini-fritters-with-lemon-basil-cashew-cream/
http://damndelicious.net/2014/04/02/zucchini-fritters/


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