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Healthy diet
delivery and gourmet meal service in New York and
Connecticut |
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Issue #
34 |
May
2011 |
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Greetings,

28 new
menu items!!!! We have been busy little
bees here and have come up with a
boatload of delicious new recipes to
suit even the pickiest of eaters. My
top picks for the month are Firecracker
salmon, Balsamic
roasted
pork tenderloin, Caribbean flank
steak, Cuban black bean soup, Picnic
potato and chicken salad, Moroccan
lentil salad, Sausage & peppers, Lump
crabmeat salad with lime zest, Blackened
shrimp & scallops, Chicken chili, Black
eyed pea salad, Five-spiced Cod...and
one of my favorites from the past -
Braised lamb stew with pignoli nuts.
The best part of the month has been
testing the dishes - as you know, I am
the designated taste-tester...and I LOVE
MY JOB!!!
Happy
Eating!

Monica Lynn
Nutritional expert and Founder of
5
Squares
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The Truth Behind Energy Drinks

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Energy products abound: in drinks, herbs,
bars, and even goo.
But do they do anything?
If the names of today's energy products have
any truth to them, vitality and endurance
are readily available in bars, drinks, gels,
ices, herbs, and supplements.
PowerBar. Red Bull. Amp. Gatorade.
Accelerade. Super Energizer. Energice.
Well they sure sound energizing. But
are they actually any better than a candy
bar or a bottle of soda? It depends on the
product and its consumer, say experts, who
note that the sheer variety make blanket
statements difficult.
To get the full story, WebMD investigated
the different kinds of energy edibles, their
ingredients, and general effects on the
body. Some products provide full nutritional
information, while others closely guard the
secrets of their proprietary blends. But
many of these products just haven't been
studied very well.
We also asked the experts whether these
products really add anything to our lives.
Are we all limping through life, suffering
from an energy crisis -- a crisis that
unwrapping a power bar can resolve? Or does
our obsession with edible energy have very
little to do with good nutrition?
Energy Bars and Gels
All energy bars, goos, and ices are not
created equal. Some pack in the
carbohydrates, proteins, or fats. Others
bring in vitamins and minerals. The flavors
are plentiful, too, with cookies and cream,
cappuccino, lemon poppy seed, and chocolate
raspberry fudge appealing to the taste buds.
John Allred, PhD, food science communicator
for the Institute of Food Technologists,
shakes his head at the mention of energy
products. "They are outrageously expensive
for what you are getting," he says. "There's
nothing magical about the ingredients."
The same nutrients could be found in a
banana, yogurt, or a chocolate bar, which
are cheaper options, Allred explains.
To be fair, the carbohydrate or protein
composition of some energy bars and gels may
provide a more sustained charge than
products that primarily use sugar or
caffeine. The power surge of sugar usually
lasts about 30 minutes to one hour, and
caffeine about two hours. The rush from
sugar and coffee is usually followed by an
energy low.
Energy bars and gels with carbohydrates will
definitely provide a boost, as carbs are the
body's preferred fuel source. It's ideal if
much of the carbohydrate source is fiber, as
the roughage takes longer to digest,
providing more sustained energy. This can be
especially helpful for people involved in
endurance events. Protein-rich products can
also provide staying power and strength. The
nutrient helps build muscle and regulates
energy production in the body.
Yet the bars, goos, and ices are no
substitute for real food. "Energy bars are
manufactured products," says Cindy Moore,
MSRD, director of nutrition therapy at
Cleveland Clinic. "What you're missing from
any kind of manufactured product are the
benefits from nature -- the chemicals that
aren't vitamins or minerals, but are
phytochemicals -- which are still beneficial
to our health..."
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Moroccan Lentil Salad
Makes 2 servings

1/2 cup dry
lentils
1 1/2 cups
water
1/2 (15 ounce)
can garbanzo beans, drained
2 tomatoes, chopped
4 green onions, chopped
2 minced hot green chile peppers
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 yellow bell pepper, chopped
1 lime, juiced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
salt to taste
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Place lentils and water in a pot. Bring
water to boil, reduce to simmer. Cook for 30
minutes or until tender.
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In a medium size mixing bowl combine
lentils, chickpeas, tomatoes, green onions,
green chilies, bell peppers, lime juice,
olive oil, cilantro, and salt to taste. Toss
well. Chill for 20 minutes. Serve chilled.
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4 Ways to Kickstart Your Diet
Diets start and stop - use these tips to keep
going.
1. Know Your Weight Loss Goals
Consider how much you need to lose before you decide
how to do it, recommends Brian C. Jacobson, MD, MPH,
assistant professor of medicine and a
gastroenterologist at Boston University Medical
Center in Massachusetts.
Very overweight or
obese. "For someone obese, I refer them to
our weight loss center," says Jacobson, who says
people with a lot of weight to lose can probably
benefit from a structured, supervised program.
If you're slightly or moderately overweight."I
advise controlling portion size," Jacobson says. "If
you control portion size, you cut calories."
To learn correct portion sizes, consult a registered
dietitian or take a look at the new food
pyramid at MyPyramid.gov.
Exercise also has to be part of your plan, Jacobson
tells the do-it-yourselfers. But that doesn't
necessarily mean joining a gym. "Buy a cheap
treadmill," he says, and when you're watching TV,
hop on and take a walk.
Before starting a new exercise regime or weight
loss plan, however, remember to talk with your
doctor.
2. Understand Your Weight Loss Personality
Personality plays a role in our attitude towards
food, says Thomas R. Przybeck, PhD, assistant
professor of psychiatry at Washington University
School of Medicine, St. Louis, who has published on
the topic of diet and personality. Know your
tendencies and tailor your plan to conquer the
unproductive inclinations.
Impulsive. "If you have a tendency
to be impulsive, you might see a pint of Ben &
Jerry's in the freezer and go for it," Przybeck
says. Clearly you are a dieter who needs to remove
those temptations.
Oblivious. If you tend to not pay
attention when you eat -- maybe you're a TV snacker?
-- you need to avoid such situations if you want to
control portions.
Uptight. "If you are highly
anxious, you will probably have more difficulty,"
Przybeck says. "Those who are anxious, nervous, and
depressed might eat to feel better."
Tenacious. Certain personalities
don't find it that difficult losing weight. "If you
are highly self-directed, cooperative, and have a
lot of stick-to-it-ive-ness, you are going to have
an easier time," Przybeck says.
Sociable. You tend to monitor your
food intake better than others, Przybeck found.
Read more
here |
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5 Squares™ healthy eating plan is a
weight management program
designed to help you manage your eating habits and achieve
personal weight and health goals. We take all of the
guesswork out of eating properly by eliminating the
opportunity to make wrong choices.
Our expert chefs prepare
guilt-free,
delicious food, which is delivered right to your door
before 6 a.m. Because you have your five meals for the day
(3 meals plus 2 snacks), you have the power to eat the right
foods, the right amount, and the best nutritional calories.
The 5 Squares monthly e-newsletter is a great resource for
nutritional advice;
quick, healthy-lifestyle tips; recipes; resources and
special offers; and
5 Squares promotions. |
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Email us:
Info@5Squares.com
Call us toll-free:
1.866.5.WE.COOK (1.866.593.2665)
Visit us:
www.5Squares.com
©2011 5 Squares, Inc. New Rochelle, NY
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