• Bring your favorite delicious and healthy dish to a party you might be attending. That way, you know there will be something you can enjoy without all the guilt
• Fill up on water when you arrive at the party to curb your appetite before you get into snack mode
• For every alcoholic drink you have, drink a glass of water afterward. It will hydrate you and won’t be full of empty calories
• Substitute high fat, creamy dips for low-fat and tasty hummus
• Replace your favorite refined white flour crackers for whole grain varieties. I’m a big fan of Mary’s Gone Crackers, delicious gluten-free crackers that pack a flavorful punch
• Want chips? Make your own! You can easily bake homemade potato or sweet potato chips that will satisfy almost any fan
• Kale chips anyone? These yummy treats can be made in minutes and the perfect way to add in some dark leafy greens that even kids will eat
• Grill mini turkey burgers. You can save calories and fat by substituting low fat turkey for beef
  Use low-fat cheese instead of the full fat variety
• Make a batch of cookies with whole grain flour and your favorite natural sweetener. They’ll satisfy a sugar craving and taste great too
• Whip up a pot of delicious veggie chili. It’s so good you won’t even miss the meat!

Having pounds of blueberries on your hands is exactly the motivation one needs to get creative.

In a post last week I mentioned that I was on  blueberry picking tear, having a great time with my mom and niece at our local farm.  But, that meant I had to do something with my newly acquired bounty.

What did I make? Lots of smoothies, blueberry ice cream, blueberries and fresh cream, and my new favorite recipe, blueberry, mango and watermelon popsicles.

I got the idea for the popsicles because when I was reading the latest issue of Nutrition Action Health Letter, my favorite source of unbiased health information, they had an article about just how much fat is in store bought ice cream. As you can imagine, it’s not easy on your arteries and I was looking for something I could whip up that would be cool, refreshing and take the place of high fat ice cream.  Plus, Bruce, my husband, has a wicked sweet tooth, so popsicles are a much better, healthier option for both he and I.

I made the recipe up as I went along, simply using what I had on hand. And I froze the popsicles in this handy mold that I bought at Bed, Bath and Beyond last year.

Here’s the recipe, adapt to your liking. I sweetened them only with agave nectar, no refined sugar so they’re much easier on your system.  I love using watermelon because of it’s high water content which makes it a natural for popsicles.

Blueberry, Mango and Watermelon Popsicles

1 cup blueberries
2 cups watermelon chunks
1 mango, diced
2 Tbsp. agave nectar

Mix all ingredients in blender and pour into popsicle mold.  Add water if necessary. Freeze for several hours.

Do you have a favorite homemade popsicle recipe? Do tell and share below.

Looking for fresh ideas for healthy, summer eating? Join me for my next teleclass,  ”Simple Summer Eating and Meal Planning” on Tuesday, August 4th at 8 pm ET. Get all the details here and join us for a fun, inspiring call designed to get you into action: http://budurl.com/sv6p

In today’s video, we’re making a simple dish that’s so good — the sesame seeds, toasted sesame oil and orange zest give it an amazing lift.

And you know what else? It’s low fat, heart healthy and super flavorful. Give it a try and enjoy!

What’s your favorite simple way to prepare fish? Please share your thoughts and favorite recipe.

Low in calories, with no fat or cholesterol, this veggie is the perfect addition to anyone watching their weight. But did you also know that asparagus has loads of folic acid, critical for pregnant women to help prevent birth defects? Or that asparagus has ample amounts of vitamins A and C, zinc and folic acid? And it’s also a helpful anti-inflammatory, welcome news these days since I have an inflamed knee.

A member of the Lily family, the history of asparagus can be traced to ancient Egypt, Syria and Greece.  These days asparagus is a versatile vegetable that you can prepare in a multitude of ways:

• Roast it with olive oil
• Saute in a stir fry
• Steam it
• Use raw in a soup. Easy to do if you have a Vitamix blender. I added an avocado and other veggies and it was so creamy and delicious.

Check out my latest video for more information on asparagus and how I like to prepare it. It’s so easy that it’s ready in less than 15 minutes. How’s that for fast and healthy?

Roasted Asparagus with Lemon Zest

Ingredients:
1 bunch asparagus
Olive oil
Juice of half lemon
1 tbsp. lemon zest

Directions:
1. Preheat over to 450 degrees.
2. Wash and break the tough ends off the asparagus.
3. Place in baking dish and brush with olive oil so asparagus is evenly coated.
4. Bake for 7-10 minutes, under slightly tender.
5. Finish with lemon juice, zest, salt and pepper.

What’s your favorite way to prepare asparagus? Have a favorite recipe? Do tell!

It’s a simple way to help avoid packing on the pounds because it’s fat-free. Check out this week’s video tip on easy ways to integrate zest into many of the foods you like that is easy on the waistline and all about the taste buds.

Tell us how you use zest to add flavor and interest to food and some of your favorite recipes.