There is a possibility to eat somewhat healthy at an Easter dinner.  If you start with ham and add some great vegetables, and maybe a sweet potato, your meal could be both tasty and nutritious.  I expect to enjoy the holiday with family and eat such food.

There is also the candy at Easter, and that can be an issue.  It’s way too easy to pick up a candy egg and pop it in your mouth.  Jellybeans seem pretty harmless (they’re small, right?), but they are full of sugar.  It can be a challenge to avoid those calorie-laden sweets.

EatingIntuitively.com is a paid affiliate of Nutrisystem, Inc.

If you are around kids on Easter, it is pretty difficult to eliminate the dangerous sweet treats.  A decision must be made.  Will you completely avoid them?  Will you have a limited amount?  Will you give your healthy eating plan a holiday?

Personally, I am going to try to show some restraint, but I will eat enough holiday foods to enjoy the holiday.  I realize I’ll probably consume more than 1500 calories.  In order to offset the additional calories, I am going to try to add some additional exercise this week.  Of course, I have “Climb Miami” a week from tomorrow.

What food are you eager to enjoy on Easter?  Is there a sweet treat you have to have (Cabury Eggs?)? 

Breakfast:  Lowfat Granola Cereal; Egg; Raisins; Bread, rye; Morning Coffee

Morning Snack:  Yogurt, nonfat; Applesauce, unsweetened

Lunch:  Pasta with Beef; Cucumber; FF Dressing

Afternoon Snack:  Honey Mustard Pretzel Sticks

Dinner:  Pasta Fagioli; Brussel Sprouts, cooked; Mandarin Oranges; Oil, canola, olive, peanut, safflower; Bread, oatmeal

Dessert:  Fudge Swirl Sundae

Drinks:  Crystal Light

Exercise:  none today.

Pedometer:  ?

For many years, I enjoyed a dish at Easter I thought to be called “Pizzaguine”.  That’s how I heard it, and that’s how I expected to see it in writing.  No such luck.

So, after an exhaustive search on the internet, I found out that the dish was actually probably “pizza chiena”.  Some people might called it Easter pie, pizza rustica, carnival pie, etc.  Whatever you call it, it is basically meat, cheese and eggs in a nice crust.

EatingIntuitively.com is a paid affiliate of Nutrisystem, Inc.

I figured out the name, but the other trick is determining which recipe is the right one.  Unfortunately, there are so many recipes, because “pizza chiena” means different things in different families.  Secondly, the nature of the recipe is that it has traditionally used leftover meats. 

With this information in mind, a friend and I set out to try to replicate the recipe we both know and love.  Remarkably, she and I had very similar ideas of what the dish should be.  Rather than slicing the meat, we would cut it into chunks.  Instead of layering the eggs and cheese mixture with the meats, we would mix it all together.  We even had similar ideas about the meat.

Tonight was the night to make the “pizza chiena”.  We ended up with four versions.  We used pie dough, pastry dough, and homemade dough for the crusts.  We used basically the same egg and cheese base with some “base” meats.  Each version was enhanced with variations of sharp and mild meats and cheeses. 

Here are most of the ingredients I used.  I need to get the recipe from my friend, then I’ll fill in the details.

• ricotta cheese
• mozzarella cheese
• parmesan cheese
• eggs
• mortadella
• ham
• capicola
• salami
• prosciutto

It’s not healthy eating, but it sure is delicious.  Have you made “pizza chiena”?  What is your recipe?  Do you call it something else?

Breakfast:  Lowfat Granola Cereal; Yogurt, nonfat; Raisins; Bread, rye; Morning Coffee

Morning Snack:  Ham, low-fat; Mandarin Oranges

Lunch:  Chicken and Pasta in Cacciatore Sauce; Cabbage, raw; FF Dressing

Afternoon Snack:  Zesty Herb Snack Mix

Dinner:  Chicken Pasta Parmesan; Brussel Sprouts, cooked; Mandarin Oranges; Oil, canola, olive, peanut, safflower; Pasta, cooked al dente

Dessert:  Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar

Drinks:  Crystal Light; diet soda

Exercise:  none today.

Pedometer:  ?

EatingIntuitively.com is a paid affiliate of Nutrisystem, Inc.

I did not take any pictures of the foods I ate tonight, but I am happy to share with you what I ate.  Hopefully, you can appreciate all of the great food.  I won’t bother to count the calories.  I’ll do that for tomorrow’s food.

• Boiled Egg
• Matzoh – unleavened bread, much like crackers, great with margerine or charoses
• Charoses – a mixture of apple, nuts, wine and cinnamon; chopped very finely; if I liked apples, I would enjoy this more
• Gefilte Fish – people seem to love or hate Gefilte Fish; ground fish shaped into oblong patties; I like them with horseradish and without any extra ”soup” in the jar.
• Vegetable Soup – simple vegetable soup; a little creamy; tasty, too.
• Brisket – I love brisket.  It’s tender and delicious usually with a nice tomato sauce.
• Turkey - Both dark and white was served.  I went for mostly dark meat.  It’s my favorite.  I had a little dark meat, too.
• Vegetable Kugel – sliced/chopped/ground vegetables with egg, oil and/or flour; I know carrots were in tonight’s recipe.  I’m not sure what else. 
• Potato Kugel – potatoes (grated?) with egg, oil and/or flour.  I really like potatoes like this, especially with nice brown crust.
• Fresh Vegetables  – cucumbers, carrots, peppers and cherry tomatoes.  I had the tomatoes.
• Wine – Concord Grape wine.  It is sweet and delicious.

Now that I list it out, it is a bunch of food.  I’m still not going to count the calories.

I’m celebrating Easter on Sunday, and I plan to eat “Pizza Chiena”.  My grandparents used to prepare it at Easter time.  It’s a tradition.  However, the recipes vary greatly.

I have settled on a base version of the recipe, and I plan to make a few variations.  Hopefully, the consistency will be what I remember.  If not, I’ll make adjustments.

Exercise is missing from my holiday plan, and I am not sure yet how to make it up. 

Which holiday(s) are you celebrating?  Which foods do you associate with the Passover or Easter holiday?

While there are some fattening foods to enjoy on St. Patrick’s Day, it’s not really a big day for candy, chocolate, and other indulgences.  People, at least those in my office, did not bring anything special to work like they did for Christmas and Halloween. 

EatingIntuitively.com is a paid affiliate of Nutrisystem, Inc.

Restaurants, other than Irish pubs, don’t really embrace the holiday either, with the exception of McDonald’s.  I do recall them promoting their Shamrock Shake.  Other than that, there is not a big push to promote foods for St. Patrick’s Day. 

So many holidays are centered around food, and you can easily associate certain foods with them.  St. Patrick’s day is no exception.  Even a somber holiday like Memorial Day is associated with barbecues and picnics.  Perhaps Veterans Day is the only holiday not associated with certain foods or a celebration centered around food.

What are your favorite holiday foods?  Are there different foods associated with each holiday you celebrate?  Do you agree that Veterans Day is not associated with any particular food?  What others are there?

Breakfast:  Cranberry Orange Pastry; Egg; Banana; Crackers, wholegrain; Morning Coffee

Morning Snack:  Chicken Breast; Banana

Lunch:  Pasta with Beef; Mushrooms, raw; FF Dressing

Afternoon Snack:  Zesty Herb Snack Mix

Dinner:  BBQ Sauce over Beef, Beans and Rice; Mandarin Oranges; Oil, canola, olive, peanut, safflower; Rice, brown, cooked; Bok Choy (Dole)

Dessert:  Golden Pound Cake

Drinks:  Crystal Light; water

Exercise:  30 minutes on the recumbent bike at 138 bpm.  That brings me to 33.33% of my weekly exercise goal.

Pedometer:  ?

EatingIntuitively.com is a paid affiliate of Nutrisystem, Inc.

I went to a famous Italian restaurant and had some really good food.  From the garlic bread to the ravioli with meat sauce to the chicken carbonara to the cassata cake for dessert, I ate it all.  Oh yeah, there were some vegetables in there, too.  A salad, some green beans, and some broccoli helped offset some of the other stuff. 

Here are the pictures:

My job is still interfering with my exercise plan, but I am determined to get my job under control, so I can get my weekends back.  I enjoy the weekend exercise the most, and I don’t want to miss it.

Life is going to get crazy, and it can be difficult to keep everything together.  I’m in one of those spots, but I am determined.  I will get everything back on track and soon!  What are your strategies for getting your life and/or schedule back on track when things get crazy?

Breakfast:  Pancake Mix; Egg Whites; Banana; Bread, multigrain; Morning Coffee

Morning Snack:  Fish, baked or broiled; Raisins

Lunch:  Red Beans and Rice with Sausage; Lettuce, green or red leaf; FF Dressing; Year Round Average Cherry Tomato; Canned Hearts Of Palm

Afternoon Snack:  Chocolate Chip Cookie

Dinner:  (see above)

Dessert:  (see above)

Drinks:  Crystal Light, iced tea

Exercise:  none

Pedometer:  ?

Happy Valentine’s Day!  For those who observe this holiday to celebrate love, in addition to celebrating love all year long, Valentine’s Day observers are prone to be tempted by unhealthy foods.  Restaurant eating is likely.  Chocolate is a must!  How do you celebrate the holiday and still eat healthy?

Like all holidays, careful planning is important.  There are a few strategies that will allow you to have a nice meal at a restaurant and even some chocolate (dark, of course).  Luckily, aside from chocolate, there are not some “must have” foods on Valentine’s Day.  Thanksgiving is another story.  You gotta have that green bean casserole or whatever reminds you of the holiday.

EatingIntuitively.com is a paid affiliate of Nutrisystem, Inc.

Since Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday this year, you can celebrate all day long.  Here are some options:

Morning:  Wake up early and enjoy a nice walk, hike or bike together.  Your together time can start as soon as you wake up.  After the exercise, plan a nice breakfast with whole grains, fresh fruit and healthy proteins.  A nice egg-white omelette with roasted vegetables and a whole-grain muffin sounds perfect.

Afternoon:  Find a nice little restaurant along the water with outdoor seating.  Have something light like a salad, or share something a little heavier like a sandwich or an entree.  You can probably share an appetizer and a dessert, too, without much negative effect.  After lunch, take a nice walk.  Make your destination a movie theatre, a museum, or a mall - a place that relaxes you both.

Evening:  Are you both gym buffs?  Would you enjoy a spinning class together?  What about a nice run before preparing for dinner?  If exercise before dinner is not your thing, a nice walk along the beach after dinner is always a Valentine’s Day favorite.  So, what do you do for dinner?  I think that fondue place is a great option.  There are healthy options, and the food comes slowly.  You’ll get full waiting for the food to cook. 

These are just three of my ideas, and it is too late to act upon them this year.  I’ll have to remember to share them a little earlier next year.  What did you do this year to eat healthy on Valentine’s Day?  What could you have done better?  Please tell your story in the Comments section below.

First, the Eating

On Christmas Eve, I followed the NutriSystem Advanced plan through the afternoon snack.  In the evening, my family and I went around town in a van looking at Christmas lights.  

We started here at my house, so I naturally prepared food for everybody to enjoy at the house and on the road.  From hot cocoa to cold cuts to fresh fruit to fresh vegetables, I tried to insert healthy options wherever I could.  At the same time, I wanted to enjoy the food and the lights.

On Christmas Day, I followed the NutriSystem plan until about 4pm.  At that time, I had a nice dinner with my family.  It included turkey breast, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, asparagus with hollandaise sauce, and cranberry sauce, of course.  It was absolutely delicious.

Dessert occurred in two locations.  After dinner, I enjoyed a slice of pecan pie at my parents’ house.  I then went to another family member’s house for the dessert portion of their holiday festivities.

I had just three things:  a moist and delicious cake, “Oreo balls”, and a tad bit of fudge.  The cake was my favorite, and I probably had a little more than I should have.  That’s okay, because I was able to contain the eating.

I was back on track today.  I followed the NutriSystem Advanced plan to a tee. 

EatingIntuitively.com is a paid affiliate of Nutrisystem, Inc.

Now, the Exercise

I am exercising more this week and next week, because I have time off, and I know I’ll be eating a little extra.

On Christmas Eve, I went to the gym with two rackets and some racquetballs.  I won’t say I played racquetball.  I am not at that point.  I just had a lot of fun hitting the ball hard and watching it bounce back and forth.  That lasted about one hour.

On Christmas Day, rain was a factor as I had planned to do some walking outdoors.  I decided to keep driving away from the clouds and rain until I found some sun.  I ended up about nineteen miles away from home.  It was a pleasant walk through a neighborhood near the ocean.  That was another hour.

Today was supposed to be basketball in the morning, but it became walking for an hour around the neighborhood.  I think I was still stuffed this morning from last night’s desserts.  Plus, it seemed more interesting to walk around and see more holiday lights.

What’s Left for 2008?

With five days left in 2008, I see smooth sailing ahead for my healthy eating plan.  However, on Monday the 29th, I weigh myself.   I am not sure what my weight will be, since I ate the extra calories over the last two days.

For the week leading up to my weigh day on January 5, 2009, I do not see any extra eating in my future, and I see lots of exercise.  I’m planning a hike on January 1st, and I think it will be about three hours of walking.  Those are the makings of a great weigh day.  We’ll see.

How are you making it through the holidays?

With all the food and partying, it can be difficult for someone on a healthy eating plan to stay on track.  So, what’s your approach for the holidays?  Even if you don’t have weight to lose, you probably don’t want to gain weight.  What’s your strategy?  The Comments section is a great place to share.

Breakfast:  Chocolate Chip Granola Bar; Egg Whites; Strawberries; Bread, oatmeal; Morning Coffee

Morning Snack:  Crabmeat; Pineapple, fresh

Lunch:  Chicken Salad; Cabbage, raw; FF Dressing; Crackers, wholegrain

Afternoon Snack:  Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar

Dinner:  Stroganoff Sauce with Beef and Noodles; Green Beans, cooked; Mandarin Oranges; Oil, canola, olive, peanut, safflower; Sweet Potato

Dessert:  Chocolatey Nougat Bar with Peanuts and Caramel

Drinks:  Crystal Light

Exercise:  one hour walk.  I’ve exercised for 210 minutes so far this week.  That’s 30 minutes more than my weekly goal.  I still plan two more hours of exercise before the week ends.

Pedometer:  ?

One of my cubicle neighbors surprised me today with a plateful of holiday goodies.  The plate was filled with meringue cookies, almond biscotti, chocolate candy and more great treats. 

This particular cubicle resident is probably the nicest in the neighborhood.  She is aware of my journey to lose weight, and she is aware of my success on NutriSystem Advanced.  So, she made the extra effort to put nutritional information on the card.  How nice and thoughtful!

Based on the calorie and fat information she included, I was able to make some smart choices about my selections from the plate.  I avoided the chocolate, and I’ll probably re-gift it.  I was able to enjoy the almond biscotti and one of the meringue cookies. 

Since not all holiday food gifts include nutritional information, it will be extremely important to navigate through them carefully, if you want to stay on track with a healthy eating plan.  Usually, the best way to make the holiday treats taste great is to add sugar and fat! 

I am looking for the creative cooks who make holiday treats that are lower in sugar and fat.  If you have a great recipe for the holidays that is compatible with eating healthy, please post it in the comments.  If you make one of the recipes, please write what you think.

EatingIntuitively.com is a paid affiliate of Nutrisystem, Inc.

Breakfast:  Lemon Poppyseed Muffin; Egg; Banana; Bread, whole-wheat; Morning Coffee

Morning Snack:  Crabmeat; Banana

Lunch:  Pasta with Beef; Mushrooms, raw; FF Dressing

Afternoon Snack:  Zesty Herb Snack Mix

Dinner:  Mashed Potatoes with Meatloaf and Tomato Sauce; Artichoke (Globe or French); Strawberries; Oil, canola, olive, peanut, safflower; Rice, brown, cooked

Dessert:  Chocolate Caramel Bar

Drinks:  Crystal Light; water

Exercise:  none today.  I took the day off, since I plan to exercise for five hours over the next five days.

Pedometer:  ?