What am I Eating? Cappello’s Grain Free Lasagna

What am I Eating? Cappello’s Grain Free Lasagna

Cappello’s is a line of grain-free alternatives to foods like pasta, pizza and cookie dough that I’ve been a fan of for the past several years. One of my favorite products is the no-boil lasagna sheets. They come frozen and all you have to do is defrost them in the fridge for a few hours and substitute them in your favorite no-boil lasagna recipe. Since there are a number of dietary restrictions in my family, I’ve experimented with everything from a traditional meat lasagna to a veggie lover’s version with vodka sauce and even a modified paleo version with minimal
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What am I eating? Hearts of Palm Pasta

What am I eating? Hearts of Palm Pasta

I’m back to share my latest find with you and it’s a good one! I recently saw Trader Joe’s new Hearts of Palm Pasta on the shelf and just had to try it. Since then, it’s been in regular rotation at my house and I’ve used it a few different ways. The PROS: It looks a lot like regular pasta and holds its shape during cooking, which is super quick. It has a neutral flavor that pairs well with many different preparations. The only ingredient is hearts of palm, which is a vegetable harvested from a palm tree, and it
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How to Handle Cravings

How to Handle Cravings

  Have you ever had a sudden urge to have a certain food or drink immediately or in a particular  moment? Such as, while watching your favorite TV show you felt the need to have a chocolate chip cookie. Yes – then you’ve experienced a craving. Here’s a look at what causes cravings, how to identify them and some effective ways to deal with them when they inevitably strike.    Common Causes of Cravings Fatigue  Lack of sleep and altered sleep patterns are among the top causes of cravings. Shift workers or those with chronic stress are just some of
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How to Handle Food Pushers and the Food Police

How to Handle Food Pushers and the Food Police

It goes without saying that the holiday season will be different this year due to the pandemic. Either way, food is a traditional part of  most celebrations, whether that’s in-person and socially-distanced or via zoom.  At some point after weight loss surgery, your changing relationship with food will not exist in the safety of a private bubble.  You will have to eat in front of others — with your new and improved eating habits on display.  While it would be nice to think family, friends and coworkers would be supportive of efforts to improve your health, it’s likely you will
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NJBC Eats: Healthy Apple Recipes

NJBC Eats: Healthy Apple Recipes

  My family has been going apple picking for as long as I can remember and it’s a tradition I have enjoyed continuing with my own kids. The best part? Apples are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and contain antioxidants. But what to do with all those apples when you get home? I love apple pie and I usually allow myself to bake one from scratch every year in the Fall and for the rest of our apple haul here are some healthy ways I use them in the kitchen.   Snacks Apples make great snacks! Think of apples as
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To Weigh or Not to Weigh

To Weigh or Not to Weigh

  If you switched to telemedicine appointments instead of office visits, regular weigh-ins during monthly pre-operative or medical weight loss may have been harder. If you don’t have a scale or you were trying to avoid seeing the number it may be tempting to think of this as a good thing, but the truth is avoiding the scale doesn’t help you meet your goals, and it may even hurt your chances of getting the most from your insurance benefits. For patients looking to have weight loss surgery or participating in a medical weight loss program, accurate weight is one of
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NJBC Eats: Zucchini Bread

NJBC Eats: Zucchini Bread

It’s that time of year again, when home gardens and farmer’s markets are bursting with zucchini and yellow squash. There are so many ways to use these two veggies including grilling, making zoodles and my favorite – zucchini bread. Traditionally high in refined flour and sugar, most zucchini breads wouldn’t make the cut as a staple in my house. My made-over version is packed with protein, fiber and is completely grain free making it a low-carb recipe too! To keep it low sugar, I use fruit and a small amount of maple syrup to sweeten. It’s delicious on its own
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Boost Immunity with Vitamins, Minerals and Probiotics Found in a Healthy Diet

Boost Immunity with Vitamins, Minerals and Probiotics Found in a Healthy Diet

Apart from getting enough sleep, eating a nutrient dense diet and finding ways to de-stress – keeping up with vitamins and supplements can have a positive effect on our immune response. There’s plenty of vitamins and supplement products on the market that claim to boost your immune system, but do they really help?  The selections that I share below have been studied and shown to be effective. The best part? They are all easily obtained through a healthy diet and lifestyle. Now more than ever, it’s important to do everything we can to keep our immune system in tip top
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NJBC Eats: Fish Tacos

NJBC Eats: Fish Tacos

Fish tacos are one of my favorite warm weather foods. and I’d like to share some swaps to make them healthier. Instead of a traditionally prepared fish taco made with battered and deep fried fish, try substituting seasoned grilled fish or shrimp as the protein. This can save calories and fat without sacrificing flavor. Veggies like shredded cabbage, tomatoes and avocado go great with fish tacos and up the crunch and fiber. You can go even ‘greener’ by ditching the tortillas altogether and serving tacos on top of salad or wrapped in lettuce leaves to save around 100 calories and
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Avoiding Unhealthy Foods on Your Next Road Trip

Avoiding Unhealthy Foods on Your Next Road Trip

With Summer winding down and another holiday weekend coming up, many of us are hitting the road in search of some fun and a change of scenery. While the pandemic has changed many things about how we travel, it hasn’t changed the temptation of unhealthy foods that awaits us on the road. Your best bet is to pack your own cooler with drinks, snacks and even a picnic depending on your travel plans. When I traveled with my family to upstate NY a few weeks ago, we found a great park just off the highway where we stopped for lunch
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