Lighten Up!

SEASON’S EATINGS: WEIGHT LOSS & THE HOLIDAY TABLE

November 27, 2019 Frank Mastrandrea Comments 1 comment

Holiday eating presents a seemingly insurmountable series of obstacles to remaining steadfast with any weight loss plan. It causes some people to pause their current weight loss strategies until “after the holidays”, and a large subset of those people to never return to their weight loss efforts. For others, holiday eating serves as another excuse to not even begin a weight loss program, as the magical “start of a new year” is just around the corner, bringing with it resolutions…

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Roasted Eggplant Meatballs

October 10, 2019 Frank Mastrandrea Comments 0 Comment

We frequently schedule meatballs as part of our weekly meal plan, as they are a great option when it comes to a weight loss program. First of all, one batch of meatballs serves you for several lunches and dinners. More importantly, once you realize that “spaghetti and…” are not actually the words that always precede “meatballs”, you’ll find that they can be a great source of protein, low in calories, and fit in with almost any weight loss plan. For…

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Meal Planning: A Key Part of Your Weight Loss Program

October 2, 2019 Frank Mastrandrea Comments 0 Comment

With the beginning of fall comes the return of routine. Kids are back to school, vacations are done, and everyone gets back on their regular schedule. Believe it or not, for some people (mostly parents), the start of a new school year comes as a welcome respite after an often chaotic summer. How does this relate to long-term weight loss? It’s simple. There is no part of your weight loss program that responds better to routine and scheduling than weekly…

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Mounds Overnight Oats

October 2, 2019 Frank Mastrandrea Comments 0 Comment

Here’s another in my series of classic candy or dessert-based overnight oats recipes, this one aimed squarely at those who, when presented with age-old TV advertising question of whether they “feel like a nut” or “don’t”… don’t. Mounds overnight oats combines chocolate and coconut to make this a tasty start to any day, while still containing the satisfying fiber from the oats which should take you most, if not all, of the way to lunch time! Ingredients (makes 4 servings)…

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Blueberry Mango Overnight Oats Parfait

August 2, 2019 Frank Mastrandrea Comments 0 Comment

For anyone who normally avoids oatmeal because they don’t like the texture, Blueberry Mango Overnight Oats Parfait might be a great “gateway drug.” Although it’s not based on any particular dessert like so many other of my overnight oats recipes, this one has the texture of a pudding or mousse! Just grab whatever small appliance you’ve got handy on your countertop for making purees, and you’re good to go! Ingredients (Serves 4) 1 cup, old-fashioned oats 1 cup, unsweetened vanilla…

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Banana Bread Overnight Oats

July 20, 2019 Frank Mastrandrea Comments 0 Comment

In the old days, when we had bananas that went past everyone in our household’s personal point of ripeness it was time to bake a banana bread or muffins. But now, we simply turn those freckled gems into smoothies or this overnight oat recipe! A 196-calorie serving of Banana Bread Overnight Oats is a healthy, filling breakfast or snack that mimics the flavors of a slice of your favorite banana bread! Plus it’s quick and easy to make! Ingredients (Serves…

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Raisinets Overnight Oats

July 17, 2019 Frank Mastrandrea Comments 0 Comment

Raisinets overnight oats is the latest recipe in my series based on popular desserts, and was by far the most difficult to get just right! Before arriving at the recipe you see here, I’ve gone through at least four or five different iterations. But I finally think this mix hits the correct blend of raisins and chocolate along with the proper oatmeal texture to start your day just right! Ingredients (Serves 4) 3 tbsp 100% cocoa powder 1 tbsp confectioners…

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Blueberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats

July 15, 2019 Frank Mastrandrea Comments 1 comment

One of the great things about overnight oat recipes is that their inspiration can literally come from anywhere. A favorite dessert, some fresh fruit you’ve got on hand, or your recipe for turkey meatballs. Yeah, I said meatballs. At this point I’ve probably experimented with more than 50 different overnight oat recipes. This Blueberry Cheesecake version, however, is definitely the first that owes its inspiration to meatballs, because one of the “secret” (I guess not anymore) ingredients in my meatballs…

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The Three R’s of Weight Loss

July 14, 2019 Frank Mastrandrea Comments 0 Comment

Learning the “three R’s” of weight loss has taught me the secrets to small, sustainable dietary changes which have been instrumental in my losing 150 pounds (and counting) over the last two years. If you’re as old as I am, you grew up learning the “three R’s” of education: reading, writing, and arithmetic. Personally, I always held a small grudge against an educational system which promoted a “three R” tool that featured only one R word, and I was especially…

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Roasted Corn, Zucchini & Black Bean Salad

July 2, 2019 Frank Mastrandrea Comments 0 Comment

Here’s a summer side dish that works well with any protein! There’s no reason to reach for the potato or macaroni salad when something this fresh, tasty and colorful is available as an alternative, especially at just over 50 calories for a 1/2 cup serving! Ingredients (Make 9 servings) 2 ears of sweet corn 2 medium zucchini 1 red bell pepper 1/2 cup of black beans 1 tbsp of lemon juice (or the juice of 1/2 of a lemon) 1…

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