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“But I Can’t Cook!”

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Chicken breastsNutritional consultations are always interesting for me because I find out how truly weird some people’s eating habits are. Busy work and life schedules are often to blame for poor eating habits, but when I hear patients say that they are completely devoid of any cooking skills, I begin to wonder if they were ever encouraged to learn how to cook. I truly believe that every adult should have basic cooking skills. It is not that difficult to cook eggs in a skillet, throw meat on a broiler, cook oatmeal or bake a potato. It’s not as if any of those items require advanced culinary skills in order to make them tasty!

You should be able to cook different types of meat without much effort. Other than meat (and this includes red meat, poultry and fish), you can simply purchase frozen or fresh vegetables and eat them with minimal prep beforehand. Get a cookie sheet and some nonstick cooking spray. Take chicken breasts, pre-formed turkey or beef patties, or fish fillets and place them on the sprayed cookie sheet. With poultry and beef, you can broil these meats for about eight minutes, then flip over, broiling for another eight to ten minutes. If the chisken breasts are very thick, slice them lengthwise so that they cook more quickly and more evenly. Make sure the centers of the chicken breasts are cooked through and not pink. With fish, you are better off baking them at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for six to eight minutes, flipping over, then baking for another six to eight minutes. If you are feeling adventurous, you can add some light salt-free seasoning or salt and pepper.

It really isn’t that difficult to cook, so why not try cooking up some lean protein this week?

Building Muscle The Vegan Way

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By no means am I vegan or even vegetarian, but I appreciate the fact that many individuals have specific reasons for avoiding meat. Protein is an essential nutrient, but it is especially important for people looking to build muscle. Daily protein intake for the average individual should be around 0.8 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight, but I recommend a MUCH higher intake for weightlifters. For example, though I am 119 pounds, I currently consume 150 grams of protein per day, spread out among 6 meals. But if I were vegan, I would consume 8 meals per day instead of 6. This is due to the fact that it can be extremely challenging to consume sufficient amounts of protein, resulting in more frequent meals and a greater variety of protein sources. Another challenge which vegans face is the fact that nuts and seeds have a high caloric density and are packed with fat, so their consumption must be monitored.

Vegan foodBelow is a list of the best vegan protein sources.

Tofu

Tempeh

Lentils

Soybeans

Pinto, kidney, or black beans

Garbanzo beans

Quinoa

Almonds

Cashews

Walnuts

Peanuts

Sesame seeds

Avocado

Broccoli

Spinach

Kale

Sweet potatoes

Veggie burger

Veggie sausage

Soy Protein

Vegan Brownies

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I want to thank Denet Lewis for sharing his amazing Paleo Coconut Brownie recipe to his TV viewers and to me. They are absolutely delicious! However, they are very calorie dense, so I decided to make these brownies with applesauce instead of whole eggs and was delighted at what I ended up with. These brownies are not too sweet, very chocolatey and have a great brownie texture while still remaining pretty moist. This is, however, a drier brownie, so don’t expect an extremely moist version. If you are not concerned about the caloric content and you like the flavor of coconut, I have added the option of flaked coconut to my version of Denet’s recipe.

This recipe is ideal for vegans, but it also slashes some of the calories that whole eggs would provide. Part of me struggles with the fact that the protein content drops significantly due to the replacement of whole eggs with applesauce, and of course there is the issue of an additional 56 grams of carbohydrates in the entire dish, but this is a nice option for those more concerned about calorie content. Enjoy!

brownies

IFBB Pro Stacey Naito’s Version Of Denet Lewis’ Paleo Coconut Brownies

1-2/3 cups unsweetened applesauce
1 cup coconut sugar
½ cup coconut flour, sifted1/3 cup coconut oil
½ cup cocoa powder
½ tsp vanilla extract
1 cup 63% cocoa chips

OPTIONAL:
½ cup flaked coconut

DIRECTIONS:

Mix applesauce and sugar together, then slowly add in flour. Melt coconut oil and add cocoa powder slowly until mixed in, stirring constantly. Add oil mixture to applesauce mixture and stir, then add vanilla extract. Add chocolate chips to mixture. If desired, add coconut to mixture.

Pour mixture into greased baking pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

P28 And Muscle Egg French Toast

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A couple of days after I wrapped my Pro competition season for the year, I had a sudden craving for french toast which I could not shake. The only way to satisfy this craving was to indulge in it by combining Vanilla Flavor Muscle Egg with apple pie spice and immersing two slices of P28 Bread into the mixture, then cooking them in a pan. I placed them on a plate, added slivered almonds and fresh berries, then finished them off with a light drizzle of pure maple syrup. It only took one bite for me to become hooked. I have been indulging in this dish a couple of days per week with only mild guilt since the main ingredients deliver a healthy portion of protein. While it is true that I could omit the fresh berries and maple syrup, these additions make the experience complete and supremely enjoyable.

If you enjoy pancakes, french toast and waffles but avoid them due to their high carbohydrate and fat content, why not make french toast with P28 Bread and Muscle Egg? The two food products together are a match made in heaven!

Where to buy P28 Bread: https://www.p28foods.com/

Where to buy Muscle Egg: http://www.muscleegg.com/

French Toast P28

Evil Things In My Fridge

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2464239-fudge-brownies-cookies-and-candy-layed-out-on-fancy-table
One of the casualties of hosting holiday events is that I always find myself saddled with a plethora of desserts which are difficult to resist. For example, I still have homemade fudge, vegan brownies, and vegan banana bread sitting in my fridge which I cannot throw in the trash, because I know all too well how delicious they are. The strange thing is that I have only a small quantity of savory leftovers from Thanksgiving, so I never ran the risk of getting tired of eating turkey and stuffing. Years ago, I would have indulged in whatever leftovers remained without much consequence, but now that I am firmly entrenched in the fitness world, there is no possible way that I would risk unraveling my efforts to remain shoot ready year-round. I hope this proves to people that it is possible to have decadent desserts around without feeling the need to indulge in them. I am not saying that there is no temptation, but I try to ignore the fact that they are in my house. I have a photo shoot in five days and keep reminding myself that it is right around the corner!

Healthy Grocery Shopping

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Regular grocery stores in the United States are notorious for putting processed foods in alluring packages and displaying them prominently on grocery shelves. If you are in the habit of reading ingredient labels like I am, you probably know that the most processed foods are located along the aisles in the center of the store, while whole foods are found at the perimeter. As a result of this, I advise patients and clients to do the majority of their shopping around the perimeter in order to maximize the chances of making the healthiest food choices.

Grocery store junkThink about it. If a food item can be stored in a box, bag or can at room temperature, it means that it probably has preservatives which keep it from spoiling. Start reading ingredient labels and you might be shocked at what you find. If ingredient labels are excessively long or have long names which you can’t pronounce, you probably should steer clear. Remember that the least processed foods will be assimilated by your body the most readily.

Grocery stores are designed to lure you in like a rat in a maze, but instead of getting a reward at the end of the maze, you might be signing up for health issues if you are distracted by all the colorful advertising found on the most popular food items. You are far better off avoiding the maze and selecting fresh meats, produce, nuts and whole grains. Happy shopping!

How Can You Forget To Eat?

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ForgetfulnessEvery time I hear someone say that he or she forgets to eat, it blows my mind. I could never forget to eat because I am so in tune with when my body needs fuel that my body reminds me that it is time to eat. Such fine tuning only comes with feeding the body properly with the right foods at the right times. I understand that most of us lead very hectic lives and that it can be difficult to stop everything just to get a meal in. But I do not understand how some people can work for 6, 8, 10 hours straight without a meal and feel no immediate physical repercussions from it. What about the churning, growling stomach? What about the impaired concentration or slump in energy? I get GROUCHY when I haven’t eaten my scheduled meals, and my body yells at me to eat.

Every time you skip meals, you prime your body to devour the most readily available foods, which in most cases means a trip to a fast food drive-through window. By this time, you are probably so ravenous that you will end up ordering far more food than you should. In all likelihood you will dip one hand into the bag of food while holding onto the steering wheel with the other hand, munching away rapidly and mindlessly, without allowing your body to respond to its satiety cues. If you make such fast food runs a habit, you increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Why wreak havoc on your health by engaging in such behavior?

If you are prone to forgetting to eat regular meals throughout the day, do yourself a favor and reprogram your eating habits. Set a timer to go off every 3 to 4 hours to remind you to eat. When the timer goes off, don’t continue to work, but put everything down and make sure to eat a balanced meal. Pack healthy snacks and meals to take with you and make sure that you have easy access to them. Some of you may be wondering how many meals are ideal and when to eat those meals. If you can get 4 to 5 meals in per day, evenly spaced apart, you will optimize your energy levels and re-set your metabolism.

Orphan Thanksgiving

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For many years I have hosted what I refer to as Orphan Thanksgiving. I realize the nomenclature has a lonely connotation, but it is a wonderful event and I enjoy it thoroughly. I invite friends who don’t have a place to go for the holiday, usually because their relatives live far away. Though there is a considerable amount of food prep involved, I get a kick out of making each dish and roasting and carving the turkey. You might think that this desire to cook huge holiday meals and have people over is something that was handed down to me from my mother, but my mom never entertained guests in our home and did not cook. Her idea of cooking was to heat up Stouffer’s entrees or throw a piece of meat on the broiler, and when the holidays arrived, she made restaurant reservations instead of spending time in the kitchen. Somehow I had a natural affinity for cooking and baking, and I also quickly discovered how much I enjoyed hosting events.

Thanksgiving-Dinner-New-York-CityThis year I will continue the Orphan Thanksgiving tradition and make my secret recipe for stuffing, throw a turkey in the oven, make mashed potatoes and tempt my guests with homemade fudge, coconut brownies and vegan banana bread. Some selections are relatively clean, while others are fully decadent and challenge any contest prep meal plan. I fully believe in enjoying “normal” foods during the holidays, provided they are enjoyed in moderation. I feel the greatest comfort knowing that good friends will be in my home, celebrating life and enjoying good food.

Nutty For Nut Butters

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If I had to pick one class of food which is allowed in my kitchen but which is dangerous due to its calorie density, it would be all the nut butters which are safely sequestered in my cupboards. Though I do not enjoy shopping, I will stop dead in my tracks if I am in a grocery store and see a shelf of nut spreads, and will peruse the ingredient labels while imagining what flavor punch each one would yield. Thank goodness I do not have any nut allergies and can sample any type of nut butter that exists.

You may be wondering which nut butters are my favorites and have earned the right to sit on my kitchen shelves. I will start off by saying that basic peanut butter varieties usually will not make the cut, and are edged out by more exotic blends and different nuts. Without further ado, here is my list of favorites, in no particular order:

Dark Chocolate DreamsPeanut Butter & Co. Dark Chocolate Dreams – This is a mixture of dark chocolate and peanut butter and in my estimation is the most delectable of any dark or milk chocolate peanut butter I have every tried. I cannot live without this stuff! The following link has all the peanut butter varieties this company offers: http://ilovepeanutbutter.com/peanut-butter-1.html

P28 White Chocolate Peanut Butter – This nut spread is so addicting that it should almost be illegal. The balance of sweet white chocolate with peanuts is fantastic, and you get the added bonus of whey protein which boosts the protein content to 14 grams per serving. I also love all the other P28 varieties, and the other varieties have earned places on my shelf, but this one is my favorite. https://www.p28foods.com/baked-goods/p28-high-protein-peanut-butterP28 Nut Spreads

Almond Butter – I like several different brands, including Trader Joe’s, Once Again, and MaraNatha.

Food Porn

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Mouth and chocolate

If you have ever heard competitors talk about forbidden foods, you have most likely squirmed in your seat as these individuals moaned and squealed with obscene delight as they described favorite dishes in great detail. It is no surprise why fitness people refer to certain foods as “food porn” because they are so taboo. The highly restrictive nature of contest prep meal plans heightens the appeal of foods such as macaroni and cheese, chocolate cake, baby back ribs, French fries, burgers, pizza, etc. (I imagine that those of you who are involved in fitness are salivating after reading that list). Some people actually plan out a restaurant attack based on all the foods they want to eat post photo shoot or competition. I still find it amusing that The Cheesecake Factory has become almost the standard across the country for a post-contest cheat meal, because it has an enormous menu sure to please the palates of ravenous competitors who want to eat everything in sight after being deprived for so long.

Whenever I compete, I have a peculiar habit of keeping the hotel television turned on and set on the Food Network 24 hours a day. Whether it’s Cupcake Wars, Man Versus Food, Chopped, or Drivers, Diners and Dives, I love capturing glimpses of delectable offerings whenever I am in the room. The strange thing is that it isn’t torturous for me at all. It’s actually comforting in a bizarre and voyeuristic way, because I live vicariously through the individuals who indulge in foods that I could only dream of eating. I can sit there and imagine how a dish would smell and taste. Isn’t that how porn works too?

When competitors and people who diet are deprived of decadent foods and suddenly get a glimpse of the forbidden foods, the visual appeal can be staggering. Since we are also animals, we become more intrigued by the things we cannot have, whether it’s delicious food or sloppy sex. When we indulge in either of these activities, we tend to make sounds which reveal the bliss that we are experiencing in that moment. Scientifically, the pleasure centers in our brains are triggered strongly by a fantastic meal or incredible sex. It seems that the phrase “food porn” is quite fitting indeed.