Negative Calorie Foods! Do they really exist?

Negative Calorie Foods ~ Vegetables
asparagus
beets
broccoli
cabbage (green)
carrots
cauliflower
celery
chicory
chili peppers
cucumbers
endive
garlic
lettuce
onions
papayas
spinach
turnip
zucchini
Negative Calorie Foods ~ Fruit
apples
cranberries
grapefruit
lemons
mangos
oranges
pineapple
raspberries
strawberries
tangerines

The quote below came from the Negative Calorie Foods Site:

“All foods have some calories. No food is actually “negative calorie” food. BUT the overall effect of certain foods in our body is that of “negative calories”. Negative calorie foods are foods, which use more calories to digest than the calories the foods actually contain!

Calories from these foods are much harder for the body to breakdown and process. In other words, the body has to work harder in order to extract calories from these foods. This gives these foods a tremendous natural fat-burning advantage.

A piece of dessert consisting of 400 calories may require only 150 calories to be digested by our body, resulting in a net gain of 250 calories which is added to our body fat! According to this theory, for example, if you eat 100 calories of a food that requires 150 calories to digest, then you’ve burnt an additional 50 calories simply by eating that food.”

It is widely believed that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.   After not eating for 8 – 12 hours, it is important to start your day with a nutritious meal to refuel your body.   It’s easy to get bored with breakfast if you have the same thing every day and many people end up skipping it altogether.  Here are some easy, healthy breakfast recipes to make it simple and fun to begin your day with more interesting, appealing meals.

Easy Healthy Breakfast Recipe # 1

Chestnut mushroom with scrambled eggs

Serves 2

2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

2 large chestnut mushrooms (wiped and stalks removed)

2 spring onions chopped diagonally

2 large eggs

1 tbsp mustard

1 tbsp  chopped chives

black pepper

Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and gently sauté the mustard and spring onions.

Spread the mixture over the mushrooms and grill under a hot grill for about 5 minutes.

While this is grilling, scramble the eggs

Place a mushroom in the center of each plate and top with scrambled eggs.

Garnish with chopped chives and season with the freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Easy Healthy Breakfast Recipe # 2

2 eggs

1 c Santa Fe frozen mixed vegetables (black beans, peppers, and corn)

1 flour tortilla

1/2 c low-fat shredded Cheddar cheese

1/4 c salsa

Mix the eggs and vegetables and spread the mixture on a plate coated with nonstick spray. Cook in the microwave for 1 minute, stir with a fork, and microwave again until the eggs are cooked and the vegetables warm. Pile onto a flour tortilla, top with shredded Cheddar cheese and salsa, fold, and eat.

Per serving: 530 calories, 36 g protein, 53 g carbohydrates, 18 g total fat, 6 g fiber

Breakfast is especially important for kids and when they help prepare their own easy breakfast items, they are much more likely to eat them. These breakfast solutions are easy, fun to make and you and your children will enjoy making them together.

Easy Healthy Breakfast Recipe #3

Cinnamon-Sprinkled French Toast

2 Large eggs

2 tbsp milk, fat free

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp soft tub margarine

4 tsp light pancake syrup

Break two eggs into flat-bottomed bowl.

Thoroughly whisk in milk and cinnamon.

Dip bread slices, one at a time, into egg mixture in bowl

Make sure you wet both sides with the egg mixture.

Re-dip until all the egg mixture is absorbed into the bread.

Adults heat a large, non-stick skillet over medium heat and add butter.

Place dipped bread slices in skillet.

Cook for 2½-3 minutes per side, or until both sides are golden brown.

Kids: Drizzle the toast with syrup. Serve when warm.

Easy Healthy Breakfast Recipe # 4

Fruity Granola Yogurt Parfait

1/2 cup granola

3/4 cup vanilla or plain yogurt

1/2 cup fresh blueberries, raspberries, or sliced strawberries or bananas

You can use frozen if fresh is not available

Adults measure out all the ingredients and

Provide stemware or clear drinking glass or bowl.

Kids layer ingredients any which way you want in a glass, such as half of the

granola, yogurt, and fruit, then repeat.

Eat with a long spoon

Commercially available granola is often toasted with oil and honey, making it high in calories..