Happy Thursday

I am glad you took so well to my post yesterday. I loved reading all of your stories from Thanksgiving and I'm glad you could put the recipes to good use. It's so great to know that you're enjoying the meals. Spread the word, healthy food doesn't have to be bland.

As I sit here this afternoon and review my calendar for the next few days, I realize I have quite a busy weekend ahead!

My whole family will be joining me at my home for the first of many photo shoots for the upcoming Eat-Clean Diet Family and Kids book. I can't wait to see all of my little nieces and nephews, my brothers and sisters, and their spouses. It's been too long.

We've arranged to have a mini slumber party, a birthday party and a colouring event for the kids who are all under the age of 12. Should be a lot of fun... and a little messy, too.

The best part of my family is how much we like to get outside and get moving. Even though the snow has begun to fall up here we still like to battle the elements and go for a long walk through the woods behind my house. Our puppies love the exercise and so do the kids. Do you have any plans for getting outside this weekend?

As you can tell I'm very much looking forward to their visit. Of course, I have to make a run to the grocery store to stock up on wraps, chicken, hummus, veggies and fruit. And I will put a big pot of soup on tonight to prepare for their arrival.

I will fill you in next week with all the details of the shoot... kids do say the darndest things!

Grab Your Coffee

Hello Clean Eaters one and all,

I hope my American readers enjoyed Thanksgiving weekend. How did Eating Clean go? I'd love to know if any of you tried recipes from the cookbook and how they fared at your feast. Let me know.

Now, grab your coffee and settle in... I'd like to have a chat with you about Eating Clean...

This lifestyle follows the principles outlined in my 1st book: The Eat-Clean Diet. If you've read the book and have made or are beginning to make changes in your habits you know that calorie counting is NOT a part of this plan.

For many of you this will be a departure from all of the information you've heard/read/used in your life to date. Calories, calories, calories... everyone is worried about them, and let's face it we all know too many is not a good thing, BUT the main issue is CALORIE COUNTING. This impossible feat should be left to educated dieticians, nutritionists and doctors. I say this because it's almost impossible to get it right. Using online databases or computer software will inevitably leave you with the wrong count in most cases.

Your best solution is to forget it!

You don't need to calorie count, nor do you have the time.

Here's why (aside from the fact that it is extremely difficult to calculate accurately): If you follow the proper portion sizes outlined in the Eat-Clean Diet book you will be consuming exactly the right amount of fuel for your body.

Remember the measure are all based on your own body size:
Protein - size of your palm
Whole Grains - 1 handful
Whole Grains from Fruits and Vegetables - 2 handfuls

Incorporate these 3 elements into each meal and you DO NOT need to CALORIE COUNT!!! You'll be getting exactly the right amount of nutrition for your body.

So throw away your calculators and scales and computer programs and frustration. The Eating Clean way is here to stay and will make your life a lot easier.

Bottom Line: CALORIE COUNTING IS NOT PART OF CLEAN EATING

Turkey Day Temptations!

Good Morning Clean-Eaters,

Did I get your attention with the lovely piece of pie?? Tomorrow's the big day for those of you scattered across the United States. I heard on the radio this morning that today is the busiest travel day of the year in the US. You're all buzzing around the country to get to your homes or prepping the house for visitors of your own. Canadian Thanksgiving was 2 months ago, and let me tell you, it was a great Clean-Eating success.

Thanksgiving tends to be an extravagant holiday, so I am going to tell it to you straight:

THERE IS NO NEED TO FORGO ALL CLEAN-EATING HABITS!!!

Keep your portions in control, omit butters and sauces, and watch the dessert tray. Have berries as a healthy option instead of pies and ice cream and whipped cream, oh my! If the weather behaves, I would highly recommend a walk with your family either pre or post dinner.

Of course, if you do go crazy get right back on track. Lucky for you it's Black Friday at the malls on November 23rd... power shopping = calorie burning! And get right back to the gym.

Meeting Bobbi...

Well, it is a beautiful Thursday and as I write this to you I am sitting at the Toronto airport waiting to catch a plane to Newark, New Jersey. I used to live in lovely Chester, New Jersey years ago, but I am not going to visit. I am going for work. What work you ask? I am going to meet world-renowned cosmetic entrepreneur Bobbi Brown!

Ms. Brown Eats Clean and has asked me to address her wonderful team about this lifestyle. I am very excited... and a little nervous, of course. She believes that every woman can be beautiful with a few simple tools and tips. I feel the same. Clean Eating is for everyone. All you need is a few simple principles and you are on your way to the body and health you have always wanted and deserve to have.

Thank you to all of you for the support you have given me. It never goes unnoticed.

Wish me luck!!

Wired

Hello fellow Clean Eaters...

I apologize for the delay in blogging. I have been researching, researching, researching for my family and kids book. Thank you to those of you who have taken the time to fill out the Eat-Clean Diet Family Survey. If you haven't yet, or if you're new to the blog (WELCOME!), please take some time (literally, less than 10 minutes) to answer the questions. Remember, you could win a year-long subscription to the latest nutrition magazine Clean Eating.

My big blog today is about our kids. I attended my nephew's 11th birthday party on the weekend and received quite the shock. 90% of the children in attendance at the party were overweight! You hear the statistics and you read the articles in the paper, but when you see it so close to home it shakes you to the core. To make matters worse, the children were not playing soccer or running around the house. They were playing videogames. Each of them on their own handheld console. No interaction. Nothing! What is happening?

We are wired! And our wired world, which is supposed to be keeping us connected to a global community, is making us more and more cutoff.

Does anyone else notice this trend? I'd love to hear your comments...

Let's encourage our kids to not only eat healthy meals, but to "turn off" for a few hours and get outside, get active, get going! This isn't just about us anymore folks, it's about our families, too.

Let's set a good example... Eat Clean (and get active) for Health and for Life!

MOMS!!! DADS!!! I NEED YOUR HELP!!!

Get ready for my next book:

THE EAT-CLEAN DIET FOR FAMILY

In order to make this book the best it can be I want to hear what's going on in your family...

Please take a few minutes to fill out The Eat-Clean Family Survey.

It should take less than 10 minutes and you will automatically be entered into a draw to win a year-long subscription to Clean Eating magazine!!!

Thank you.

Guess What's For Supper??

I've got a really busy day today so I got up early and fired up the slow cooker. What Clean-Eating meal did I dream up?

I chopped up carrots, onions, sweet potatoes, baking potatoes, and garlic. I filled the crock pot with these fresh ingredients. I also added red lentils, 5 cups of chicken stock and precooked turkey breast meat, from a turkey I roasted this weekend. I jazzed it up with spices, put the lid on it, and pressed "go"! It will be ready by the time I get home.

If you ever think you don't have time to prep a meal, rely on the slow cooker and whatever fresh or frozen ingredients you have on hand to take the sting out of getting a meal on the table.

Gotta run! See you next time.

Tosca

Latest Update

I had a lot of time to reflect on the weekend this morning as I ran on my treadmill. I'm increasing my cardio efforts this week to switch up my workout routine and keep things fresh. I really notice when I make changes to my routine because I have new-found energy and a fresh outlook on my exercise schedule. It really helps me to avoid boredom... the number one killer of any workout regime!

It's rare that I get to spend a weekend at home, so I took full advantage of this opportunity. I spent Saturday doing research for my latest book. It will be focused on the family and kids. How can we make clean eating fun for everyone? It is my mission to help you achieve this within your own families. The matter of healthy children is close to my heart. I am so unhappy with the state of health affairs in today's society. We have to find a way to reverse this trend. As I have stated numerous times in my column and books "there is a very real possibility children will not outlive their parents." I know how important my children are to me and I want to see them grow and live the healthiest lives possible. Do you want the same for your children and family members?

On Sunday I spent most of the day preparing food to keep me Eating Clean for the rest of the week. I roasted a delicious turkey and made a bunch of veggies to accompany it. I use those really big aluminum catering pans and throw all my veggies in there with a splash on olive oil, garlic and other seasonings, such as rosemary. With so many people in and out of the house on varying schedules during the week it's easiest to have a lot of leftovers so they can take whatever they need for lunch. There are no lunchables in my house!

Welcome to the start of a new week! Join me as we Eat Clean for health and for life!

Welcome to November

The 11th month of the year is gracing us with its presence. I can't believe Christmas is upon us in only a few short weeks. I hope you all enjoyed your Halloween experience yesterday. We don't get very many Trick or Treaters in my area, but I did help my step daughter with her crazy costume.

I currently have a cold that has developed out of the blue, as they always do. I have been trying to heal it with lots of sleep and tea. I have discovered this lovely, all-natural immunity tea:

1 cup of hot water
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
Sliced ginger
1 clove of crushed garlic
1 tablespoon of honey (for taste and throat soothing)
Pinch of paprika (to energize the system)

You grow accustomed to the taste, which is mildly unpleasant, to say the least.

It's important to arm yourself with an arsenal of supplies to ward off the sickness that winter can present. Get lots of sleep, lots of exercise, and...of course... Eat Clean!

I'm going to go make some more tea...

Until next time, Eat Clean for Health and for Life!!