Go ahead, flaunt that muffin top!

OK, I know what you must be thinking...but I didn't mean it that way! The term "muffin top" has developed a bad reputation of late, due in part to the increasing popularity of the hip-hugging skinny jean. With only the skinniest of skinny able to wear them, it's no wonder the rest of the world experiences some some spill-over.

This season makes me crave comfort food like no other season. But I want to wear my favorite jeans, body-skimming sweaters and cute boots without looking like I'm stuffed into them -- or coming out over the top!

At some point over the past few years, bakery muffins got bigger. You may still own a standard-sized muffin tin, but you'll be hard pressed to find a standard sized muffin at your regular breakfast place, bakery or coffee house. Instead, you'll find giant, crumb-topped masterpieces that are sure to ruin any diet. In fact, you could have two doughnuts for the same calories as that muffin -- not that you should! While a muffin may seem like the healthier choice with its fruit and nut-filled goodness, don't be fooled!

I'm left with only one option, since I'm craving a muffin -- reinvent comfort foods! Hopefully this will become a series for fall, as I already have some ingenious recipes planned. The first, however, is one of my favorites -- my mom's blueberry muffins, reconfigured.

Let's get one thing straight. My mom is a wonderful cook and she's always kept a keen eye towards feeding us healthy food. She's my inspiration! Where she doesn't use substitutions to make the ingredients healthier, she is always careful to keep portions to a reasonable size. I've taken her recipe for this standard-sized muffin and made just a couple tweaks to make it even lighter! I hope you love it as much as we do -- this is one muffin top you can be proud of! And they're so easy, the kids whip them up by themselves on a regular basis!

Mom's Blueberry Muffins
Makes 1 dozen

1 tsp salt
1 cup sugar OR 1/2 cup stevia-based granular sweetener
2 cups flour (all purpose or whole wheat)
3 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 egg beaten
1 cup milk (skim or lowfat)
2 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen (if frozen, do not thaw)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine dry ingredients, cut in applesauce (it will give you a texture like meal, as cutting in a fat would), combine beaten egg with milk and turn liquids into the batter. Stir vigorously for about a minute, then fold in blueberries. Using a long-handled 1/4 cup measure, fill muffin cups (greased with cooking spray or lined with muffin cups) 2/3 full. Lightly sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 15-20 minutes in the center of the oven until the tops start to brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Play with the ingredients and see what you like! Using regular sugar in this recipe yields a muffin with about 150 calories and virtually no fat (just what's in the milk and egg). Using a sweetener instead of sugar cuts the calories in each muffin down to 100. Try it with both kinds of flour and see what you like -- the whole wheat will keep you feeling fuller longer! What I can tell you is that I've played with the combinations and one thing is certain -- you'll end up with a delicious, crackly-topped muffin that pairs perfectly with your morning coffee.

Enjoy!

The Svelte Gourmet: A Month of Main Courses cookbook is available at www.thesveltegourmet.com/products.html.

"The Svelte Gourmet, Lose Weight With Flavor -- a diet plan comparison by health guru Dwayne Ivey"

Thank you to all who voted for me in FoodBuzz's The Next Food Blog Star challenge! Unfortunately, I didn't make it this year -- I'll try again next year! Thank you for your support!

This process and my experiences blogging have elucidated a lot of things. One is that, while the "foodie" crowd is definitely an interest to me, they may not always agree with my less traditional approach to certain dishes. After all, I'm taking the fat out and altering the ingredients and techniques drastically. That's ok, I've never been one to follow the crowd. This blog was originally meant to help people learn to cook more healthfully, and I'm not going to compromise my mission!

Recently, I've had a lot of attention from the health and fitness gurus, and I couldn't be happier. Fitness blogger Dwayne Ivey recently discovered The Svelte Gourmet and reviewed my cookbook. Here's what he has to say. Thanks, Dwayne, I'm in some great company here!

While I'll still dabble in the foodie arena, I want you to know that these recipes and techniques are for the "every day" cook, and each one will help you on your road to better health. Thanks for reading!

THE SVELTE GOURMET, Lose Weight with Flavor: Diets & Weight Loss
by Dwayne Ivey, Staff Writer (Ranked #3 expert in Diet Programs)
http://factoidz.com/the-svelte-gourmet-lose-weight-with-flavor-diets-weight-loss/

DietFad diets are supposed to come and go like a breeze during the day. Some, however, have turned into religions for many.

Fad diets have a ton of followers and are typically riddled with questionable theories. Most have a M.D. backing their way of eating, and they cost you money to learn about or to do. What’s more, fad diets are rarely recommended by the food health professionals as a healthy approach to nutrition.

It seems like almost every year there is yet another fad diet craze going on. The media loves to exploit the emotional side of dieting because people are very interested about losing weight or getting into shape. I am going to tear apart some of the most popular fad diets over the last 20 years and that are still thriving as a sales force in the United States of America. Those such as Atkins www.atkins.com, The Zone Diet (http://www.zonediet.com/), South Beach Diet (http://www.southbeachdiet.com/), Weight Watchers (http://www.weightwatchers.com/), Jenny Craig (http://www.jennycraig.com/), The Subway Diet (us.macmillan.com/jaredthesubwayguy), The Svelte Gourmet (http://www.thesveltegourmet.com/), and Body for Life (http://www.bodyforlife.com/).

Many of these diets are full of great well-written handiwork. Some have absolutely die hard and wonderful content. Often, for some of the diets, full pages are written in a way that include healthy approaches and skewed thinking into one. This combination, to the untrained eye, can all seem very believable and doable, even exciting. Add the fact that many of you recommend what works to your friends and family and the word-of-mouth marketing becomes viral. So, even today, with all of the science that proves how the body works, there are many myths and untruths that are being touted as fact by herds of people.

In my first article factoidz.com/health-truth-about-diets-weight-loss-the-atkins-diet/, I exposed The Atkins Diet. In my second thru sixth articles, I exposed The Zone Diet (factoidz.com/the-zone-diet-diets-weight-loss/), The South Beach Diet (factoidz.com/the-south-beach-diet-diets-weight-loss/), Weight Watchers (factoidz.com/weight-watchers-diets-weight-loss/), Jenny Craig (factoidz.com/jenny-craig-on-the-hot-seat-diets-weight-loss/) and The Subway Diet (factoidz.com/the-subway-diet-does-it-work-oprah/). Now you get to examine The Svelte Gourmet (http://www.thesveltegourmet.com/) with me. You be the judge for yourself and choose for you, the most important person in your life.

THE SVELTE GOURMET:

Does The Svelte Gourmet approach work to lose body weight: Yes.

Is it a healthy approach? Yes

THE SVELTE GOURMET:

Svelte is defined as, “Slender or graceful in figure or outline; slim” by The American Heritage Dictionary (education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/svelte). After having reviewed The Svelte Gourmet, I thought the term ‘graceful’ was very fitting. The Svelte Gourmet first premiered in 2009 by Jennifer Fox. Fox stated, “My goal in creating The Svelte Gourmet was to put the flavor back in and show people how easy it can be,” as featured on ABC news. Though not a chef by trade, this writer knows enough about food to know a chef when he sees one and I will refer to Jennifer Fox as Chef Fox.

The Svelte Gourmet has been featured on ABC, NBC, and a variety of other media outlets. Their approach can be found in book form and online in a living Website (http://www.thesveltegourmet.com/) where the author offers regular tips (www.thesveltegourmet.blogspot.com/) and advice to members and visitors alike. Chef Fox offers new recipes to devour on her Website that seem to shake the foundation of kitchens everywhere.

The last 20 years in nutrition have produced countless methods and marketing ploys to attract your wallet like a 5 lb magnet would do to a tiny screw. Amidst the ambiguous infomercials and thousands of diets and exercise programs that are fluff more than they are practical & sincere approaches to nutrition; there are a few real diamonds to be shown. The Svelte Gourmet is a true gem-one to not just admire, but one to also handle like a carpenter will his hammer-kept close and used often.

THE SVELTE GOURMET: A diet or lifestyle?

The Svelte Gourmet, the book “A Month of Main Courses” will serve as the real meat and potatoes and backbone of any nutrition plan you create. When I began this 8 part diet series, I admit that I randomly chose the order for which I would write my 8 parts (after The Atkins Diet, that is) and fate has placed the order quite well, I must say.

The Svelte Gourmet very fittingly follows my last article on Jared, The Subway Guy which also fit very perfectly following my write ups on both Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig. The Svelte Gourmet is by far the most delicious of any of the nutrition plans written about thus far in this series. The Svelte Gourmet Signature Salad, for example, makes my mouth water at the mere mention of it.

The Svelte Gourmet is a healthy approach to eating savory real foods without tacking on unnecessary calories. Creating easy to prepare meals following the recipes as created, or modified slightly to taste, will allow anyone modifying their food intake the liberty to enjoy the food they eat, while also enjoying weight loss from a modified food plan. Forget the meal replacement bars! These fresh and quick meals make for not only satisfying meals, but also meals to look forward to. Usually, diets give you foods that are ill-tasting and leave you in want. The Svelte Gourmet was created with the idea of reducing the unneeded calories and specifically keeping the taste! I like that.

For those individuals who want to lose weight, I see The Svelte Gourmet as a great approach and one that will not overwhelm you. You will reach your desired weight loss goals with minimal frustration. You will replace poorly created meals, restaurant meals, or high sodium frozen dinners with quality fresh produce, meats, poultry and seafood. This modification of food consumption will also be a benefit to your heart. Take a read of The Svelte Gourmet’s book recipes ‘A Month of Main Courses’ and compare it to what the American Heart Association (http://www.heart.org/) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) (http://www.usda.gov/) have to say about overall health and obesity. You will find, as I did, that The Svelte Gourmet is a heart healthy approach to food consumption, in addition to tasting great.

The Svelte Gourmet does offer an online calorie tracker for those wishing to keep tabs on how much they consume, as well.

For athletes, on the flip-side of the weight equation (those trying to keep weight on for their sport,) and wishing to remain lean and get quality foods without having to dump on extra fat for calories; a simple increase in quantity will give the desired result: Eating in a healthy manner with the best ingredients available. As a cyclist and triathlete, I understand this dilemma all too well. The Svelte Gourmet allows me to expand my horizons and enjoy the process.

THE SVELTE GOURMET: A glimpse

You can see a pleasant video clip on NBC here of a 2009 interview with Chef Fox: (www2.counton2.com/lifestyles/2009/dec/29/my_news_2_simple_food_swaps_to_a_healthier_you-ar-536264/)

The Svelte Gourmet will make you feel good about food consumption and knowing that you are eating healthy, in spite of the fact that the food tastes unbelievable. To obtain weight loss, there are a few sacrifices that must be made. You cannot eat 10,000 calories in a day, not exercise, and expect to lose weight and wonder why you don’t when you skip one dessert. The Svelte Gourmet allows you to not also sacrifice the flavor as you modify your food consumption and begin to exercise. This is worth it’s weight in gold. I love food. I want to experience it and allow the fireworks to light up the sky every time I eat. I want this for you too.

If your goal is to lose weight, The Svelte Gourmet will aid in your endeavor and with a healthy foundation.

•A few recipes
As someone who must consume 3000-3500 calories per day to maintain my lean muscle mass, you would think that I would seek to request permission from the author to publish the delicious London Broil with Horseradish Sauce or Whole Roasted Chicken with Fresh Herbs recipes. Instead, I find that two of my favorite items from the Svelte Gourmet are their salad and “Faux”jito rum drink. And since both are great tasting and low on calories; those are what I will publish, permission obtained, of course.

•“The Svelte Gourmet Signature Salad (for 1 serving): thesveltegourmet.blogspot.com/2009/10/skinny-on-restaurant-salads.html
•1 handful spinach or baby spinach
•1/2 cucumber, sliced
•1/2 tomato, sliced
•1 tbsp green olives, sliced
•1/8 cup blue cheese or Gorgonzola crumbles
•1 tsp pine nuts
•Several shakes of Heinz Salad Vinegar
•Combine all ingredients, toss, let rest for 5 minutes.
•Enjoy! You can make this salad your own by adding other fresh produce with very little caloric impact.”
The healthy recipes are not only easy to make and amazing to view (vivid photographs tantalize your sight and accompany every recipe in the book!), they are nutritious too. In fact, I contacted the author to get permission to publish both the photo and recipe for the “Faux“jito as I’m a sucker for both mint and rum. Shhh, don’t tell anyone!

•Note: When it comes to getting results in your nutrition and exercise program, alcohol can be the single most detrimental element to your progress-I’ve watched it happen to several individuals. I am one to promote enjoyment of your life and typically not to the total exclusion of any one thing (except for maybe lard & a few other choice items.) The Svelte Gourmet offers a great low-calorie alternative to a typical 200 calorie Mojito type drink (only 69 calories!) Yum!
"Faux"jito (serves 1) (thesveltegourmet.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html)

•Mint leaves
•Lime wedges
•White rum
•Diet lemon-lime soda (such as Sprite Zero, Diet Sierra Mist or Diet 7-Up)
•Ice
•Sugar (just for the rim of the glass!)
•Muddle a few (3 or 4) mint leaves with 1 ounce white rum and the juice from 1 lime wedge (1/8th of the lime). Muddling is done by lightly crushing the mint (just until the leaves bruise) using a mortar and pestle, a muddler, or whatever you have on hand (a small wooden spoon would work just fine). Just don’t shred the mint! Run the squeezed lime wedge around the rim of the glass, then dip the top of the glass in a shallow plate of granulated sugar to coat the rim. Pour the muddled mixture into your glass, fill with crushed ice, and top off with the diet soda. Cheers!
•The Svelte Gourmet: A Month of Main Courses cookbook is available at (www.thesveltegourmet.com/products.html)

THE SVELTE GOURMET: Conclusion

The Svelte Gourmet is a healthy food addition to any weight loss program. It is not a ‘How to lose weight guide,’ it is a ‘This is a healthy & better way to eat’’ resource and one that is filled with flavor. The Svelte Gourmet was created as a lifestyle by a self-proclaimed ‘yo-yo’ dieter and became mainstream within the last two years. The Svelte Gourmet is a healthy and delicious approach to any food consumption plan. You get the flavor, but not the unwanted or unhealthy calories.

As you continue your journey into diets and nutrition, The Svelte Gourmet will be there for you on your hip like a pistola in the Old West. As Jared, The Subway Guy did not give a diet, but rather healthy antidotes for losing weight, The Svelte Gourmet adds to your foundation of knowledge by giving you an easy to follow reference guide that you can use daily for improved health and food consumption.

I can also envision both Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig easily adopting The Svelte Gourmet lifestyle and implementing the food choices for each of their programs. If I were a magician, I would blink my eyes and integrate some of the methods, thus far, of Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Jared, The Subway Guy, and The Svelte Gourmet all into one nice concise little book for a healthy and fun approach to weight loss.

Alas, I have one more analysis in this series! Body for Life is up next for close inspection and review. Continue with me and take out your microscope, we are about to get to work again!

Thank you for your time, your attention, and your votes! I wish you a Svelte Gourmet delicious filled evening, I may just have to make a “Faux”jito.