To celebrate getting back into the habit of blogging after a whirlwind month that included moving, I am giving you a salad that is both super simple and very delicious. I dare you to not love this salad. Its a healthful easy to make salad for the lettuce phobic or just someone tired of the same old romaine routine. Technically it doesnt even need a recipe just a combination of six ingredients you probably have in your kitchen on a regular basis.

Aside from the amazing minimalism of it this is a beautiful salad. The contrast between the blueberries and carrot in color is reveled only by the juxtaposition of the crunchy and then sweet soft berries. It was outstanding with a lean steak and a microbrewed local beer. This was the perfect meal to christen my kitchen with and I fully plan on preparing many more of the salads from this article in the New York Times. My life needs more simple, light, no fuss dishes and the dwindling days of summer seems like the right time to work my way through 101 salads.

Blueberry and Carrot Salad

2 carrots, ribboned or grated
1 handful fresh blue berries
1/2 handful sunflower seeds
equal parts olive oil and lemon juice
lots of black pepper

Grate or ribbon carrots into a bowl. Toss on blueberries and sunflower seeds.

Whisk oil, lemon juice and pepper together. Pour over carrot mixture. Toss to coat.

From a recipe suggestion by Mark Bittman in the New York Times The Minimalist column.

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How You Can Use The GM Diet To Lose Weight And Gain Wellness

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The GM Diet: (Commonly Known as General Motors Diet for Weight Loss)
A diet and health program was developed for employees and dependents of General Motors, Inc., in conjunction with a grant from U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, intended for their exclusive use.
It was field tested at the Johns Hopkins Research Centre and approved for distribution by the Board of Directors, General Motors Corp. at a general meeting on August 15, 1985. It is generally believed that General Motors Corp. endorses this program and makes it available to all employees and families.
This program is available at all General Motors Food Service Facilities to facilitate a wellness and fitness program for everyone.
This program is designed for a target weight loss of 10-17 lbs(4.5 Kg – 7 Kg) per week. Most followers of different weight loss regimes claim that it improves emotional clarity and attitude because of its systematic cleaning effects.
The effectiveness of this seven day plan is that the food eaten burn more calories than they give to the body in caloric value. The plan can be used without any fear of complications. It is designed to flush the system and give the dieter a feeling of well being. After seven days dieters will begin to feel lighter which will give the feeling of lightness, energy and an improved disposition.
The GM Diet
During the first seven days you must abstain from all alcohol and drink 10 glasses of water each day.

Day OneAll fruits except bananas. Your first day will consist of all the fruits you want. It is strongly suggested that you consume lots of melons the first day. Especially watermelon and a loupe. If you limit your fruit consumption to melons, your chances of losing three lbs. on first day are very good.

Day TwoAll vegetables. You are encouraged to eat until you are stuffed with all the raw or cooked vegetables of your choice. There is no limit on the amount or type. For your complex carbohydrate, you will start day two with a large baked potato for breakfast. You may top the potato with one pat of butter.

Day ThreeA mixture of fruits and vegetables of your choice. Any amount, any quantity. No bananas yet. No potatoes today.

Day FourBananas and milk. Today you will eat as many as eight bananas and drink three glasses of milk.

Day FiveToday is feast day. You will eat beef/(lean meat) and tomatoes. Eat two 10 oz. portions of lean beef. Hamburger is OK. Combine this with six whole tomatoes. On day five you must increase your water intake by one quart. This is to cleanse your system of the uric acid you will be producing.

Day SixBeef/(lean meat) and vegetables. Today you may eat an unlimited amount of beef and vegetables. Eat to your hearts content.

Day SevenToday your food intake will consist of brown rice, fruit juices and all the vegetables you care to consume.

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Normally, the recommendations also include a recipe for GM’s so-called Wonder Soup:

G.M.’S Wonder SoupThe following soup is intended as a supplement to your diet. It can be eaten any time of the day in virtually unlimited quantities. You are encouraged to consume large quantities of this soup.
28 oz, Water, 6 Large Onions, 2 Green Peppers, Whole Tomatoes (fresh or canned), 1 Head Cabbage, 1 Bunch Celery, 4 Envelopes Lipton Onion Soup Mix, Herbs and Flavoring as desired.
This soup is a supplement while on the program and it should be a pleasure to eat. However, since not everyone likes cabbage, green peppers, celery etc. the recipe is flexible.
People may substitute vegetables according to taste. Asparagus, Peas, Corn, Turnips, Green beans, Cauliflower, etc. can be added though the suggestion is to stay away from beans (lima, pinto, kidney, etc.) because they tend to be high in calories even though they are very good for nutrition.
Beverages that can be consumed while on the program : Water (flavored with lemon/lime if desired). Club Soda is OK. Black Coffee. No cream or cream substitute. No sugar or sweetness. Black Tea = Herb or Leaf. Absolutely nothing else except the fruit juices which are part of day seven. No fruit juices before day seven.

Indian Version of Diet – Vegetarian Substitute to beef could be Cottage Cheese or Red Kidney Beans or Low Fat Paneer or Spinach or Sprouts bean or Soy bean or tofu ~ bean curd or pulses or 1 Cup Rice – Not sure which one will work as a good Substitute. It’s up to you to choose one.

 == How and Why It Works? ==
Here’s How it Works
Day One: Prepare the system for the upcoming program. The only source of nutrition is fresh or canned fruits. Fruits are nature’s perfect food. They provide everything needed to sustain life with total balance and variety.
Day Two: Start with a fix of complex carbohydrates coupled with an oil dose. This is taken in the morning for energy and balance. The rest of day two consists of vegetables which are virtually calorie free and provide essential nutrients and fiber.
Day Three: Eliminate the potato because your carbohydrates now come from the fruits. The system is now prepared to start burning excess pounds. Dieters will still have cravings which should start to diminish by day four.
Day Four: Start with bananas, milk and soup to make up for the potassium you have lost and the sodium that dieters have missed the past three days. There is a definite loss of desire for sweets.
Day Five: The beef is for iron and proteins(Substitute to beef Cottage Cheese or Red Kidney Beans or Low Fat Paneer or Spinach or Sprouts bean or Soy bean or tofu), the tomatoes are for digestion and fiber. Lots and lots of water purifies the system. The RDA allowance calls for the equivalent of five “quarter ponders”. There is no need to eat all this beef but must eat the six tomatoes.
Day Six: Iron and proteins from beef, Vitamins and fiber from vegetables. By now the system is in a total weight loss inclination.
Day Seven: System under control and at least 7 – 8 pounds lighter from all the rinsing and flushing….
By keeping fit and gaining wellness, you can further excel beyond excellence!

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In case you thought I was kidding when I keep saying everything has sugar in it heres another thing to add to the list: chipotles in adobo sauce. Theyre a standard ingredient in our kitchen especially to add a nice kick to Tuesday crockpot meals. However after a month of searching we couldnt find a single grocery store can of them that wasnt full of brown sugar not even at Whole Foods. Not willing to live without them and not liking any of the smoky pepper sauce alternatives we tried the fella searched out a recipe. Gotta love him.

So on Sunday when I was out drinking beer with another man he stayed home and made adobo sauce. I came home and the house smelled like a smoky spicy heaven. Apparently it was one of the easiest things ever to make as its a toss it in the pan and forget it for hours type thing. And the final product was better than any canned adobo weve ever had. The fella tossed them in the crockpot chili he made today and my lips are still burning hours later.

Take that sugar weve once again found a way around you. Next stop: bacon.

Chipotles in Adobo Sauce

10-whole chipotle peppers
1/3 cup onion, diced
5 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 cloves garlic, sliced
4 tablespoons sugar free ketchup (found in the organic aisle)
3 cups water
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt

Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan.

Cook over a very low heat for 1 to 2 hours until the chilies are very soft and the liquid has been reduced to about 1-cup. Put in blender and process for a thicker sauce.

Will keep for a week in an air tight container when refrigerated.

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First of all, who is in charge? You or your food? Decide now how committed you are going to be in trying and extreme diet. The more committed and consistent you are, the faster and better results youll have.



There are necessary changes in your food choices that need to place. Make your decision now to go full out without looking back. Move forward while being in control of your habits and completely focused on your meal planning and preparation.

Set yourself up for weight loss success by limiting your involvement in other areas of your life. A good time to start is when your life is in balance. Choosing to switch to a new way of eating right before a wedding, in the middle of a move, or at the start of new job, probably are not the best times to change your food regime. It will be easier to keep organized if your life is at an even state without major life changes.

3 Things to know before you learn about extreme weight loss diets that work

1. Meal plan. Plan meals and snacks at least 2 weeks in advance. Planning will enable you to buy the necessary food for your meals.

2. Shopping list. Organize a shopping list for all of the foods, herbs, and spices you will need. Make sure your list is complete. If you are missing some items, it is easy to slip back into old habits because you were not prepared to eat what you had planned.

3. Prepare. Prep snacks and other meal items in advance. Cook double and save the rest for another day. Chop up fruits and veggies and place in easy to go bags or containers. Make a weeks worth of snacks.

3 Extreme Weight Loss Diets That Work

1. Sugar free. Sugar is an excellent food for fat cells. They love it and thrive on it. As soon as sugar is gone, the fat cells stop producing and the old ones melt away. Once off of sugar for at least 2 weeks, you will stop craving it as much. Check food labels for sugar or high fructose corn syrup. Beware of sugar filled beverages.

2. Raw food. A raw food diet eliminates sugar as well. Consuming mostly fruits and vegetables, you will gain energy while speeding up your metabolism.

3. Cleanse. A cleansing diet works quickly. This type only lasts for a week or so, it is not a lifestyle change. Although participating in a cleansing diet several times a year is very beneficial to your digestive tract. You will notice that bloating is significantly reduced.

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This article is by Sanjeev Kapoor(Very Famous Indian Chef). Im his fan and liked his tips on eating healthy.

There are many ways to enjoy some light Indian food. If you have roti and sabzi make sure that the roti is not laden with ghee and the sabzi is smartly made in a non stick pan with use of minimal oil. In fact, go ahead and have a bowl of skim milk yogurt, some dal and a bowl of brown rice. What about the salad – have it with a dash of lemon! So you can judge for yourself that is easy to have a balanced meal of light Indian food.

In case you are looking at skimming off calories through the day here are some tips:

Replace one cup of full cream milk with either half a cup or better still replace with same quantity or lesser of low-fat (skimmed) milk.

• Snack on an orange and a banana instead of something fried
• Have steamed vegetables once in a while instead of sautéed ones.
• If you are about to reach for a handful of caramel chocolates, look at dried fruit instead. When making a sandwich, use two slices of whole wheat bread instead of two slices of white bread.
• The nightcap of whole milk hot chocolate can be replaced with skimmed milk flavoured with a dash of elaichi.
• Cut back on sampling during cooking. All "tastes" have calories!
• Snack on a papaya instead of a packet of biscuits.
• On a hot day, quench your thirst with a glass of ice water with lemon or mint instead of a can of cola.
• Use one cup of fat-free cottage cheese instead of regular cottage cheese.
• Have a single scoop of ice cream instead of a double scoop.
• A good sandwich spread is made with mustard paste or green coriander chutney. So why use mayonnaise or butter?
• Once in a while one can have fried foods but there are possibilities of creating tastier versions using the grill, microwave or methods of steaming or baking.
• In case of cutlets and croquettes, which are deep-fried, ensure to drain them well and then keep on absorbent kitchen paper. This helps in removing the top oil.
• The list of wafers, chocolates, cakes, pastries and biscuits as snacks can be replaced. I suggest that once in a while you also try out fresh fruit, dry fruits, breadsticks or vegetable sticks whenever hunger pangs strike you in between meals.

By: www.sanjeevkapoor.com

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About- 6 Meals a day Diet plan (Indian Meal Plan):It works. I can say with confidence because me and my husband followed it and got results.

Especially my husband he lost 44lbs (20kgs). He had to reduce weight immediately as he was detected with very high Cholesterol. Doctor gave him 6months to lose weight. And he did following 6 Meals Diet Plan.

Weve many diet plans on net but very few are for Indian meal. And we know Indian meals are very yummy but at the same times its loaded with calories, fats, sugar, carbs and saturated fats.

So here is a meal plan which works. Go ahead and try it.

Rule: Drink 8 oz water before every meal.  Exercise/ Walk 5 times a week for 40min. 

Morning Breakfast (7am-8:00am)  :

Whole wheat Bread slice 2 toasted  and tea/milk.  OR 

Oat meal bowl ½ cup oatmeal boil with 1cup skimmed milk. Add some cut fruits e.g. apple or banana or grapes or strawberries.  OR

 2-3 Idlies with sambhar and very little chutney. It’s good to avoid coconut chutney. Instead try cilantro or mint or onion or tomato or cabbage chutney. OR

1 Boiled egg with Toasted Bread and tea.

Snack Time (9:30am - 10:30am):  

1 Orange OR

1 Cup yogurt/dahi with little cut fruits OR

Sliced carrots 1 Cup OR

Cucumber slices 1 Cup OR

1 Apple OR

2 Cups Water Mellon OR

Hand full Almonds (6-8 in count) OR

Walnut (6-8 Half in counts). OR

Combination of Almonds and Walnut

Lunch Time (12:00- 1:30pm):

2Phulka/Roti (without oil & ghee) , ½ Cup Vegetables curry, 1 Cup Dal, 1 Bowl Salad. OR

1 Cup Cooked Rice (without starch(Maad in Hindi) i.e drain starch from rice when its cooked half way) with  ½ Cup Vegetables curry, 1 Cup Dal, 1 Bowl Salad.

OR Chicken (try to make curries with 2teaspoon oil) Curry in 1Cup with 2 Phulka/Roti (without oil & ghee)  , 1 bowl salad.

Snack Time (3:30am - 4:30am):

1 Orange  OR

1 Cup yogurt with little cut fruits OR

Sliced carrots 1 Cup OR

Cucumber slices 1 Cup OR

1 Apple OR

2 Cups Water Mellon OR

Hand full Almonds (6-8 in count) OR

Walnut(6-8 Half in counts)

Combination of Almonds and Walnut

Dinner (7:00pm – 8:00pm): 1 Phulka/Roti (without oil & ghee), ½ Cup Vegetables curry, 1 Cup Dal, 1 Bowl Salad. OR

Rice (without starch) 1 Cup with, 1 Cup Dal, 1 Bowl Salad. OR

1Cup Chicken Curry (try to make curries with 2teaspoon oil only) with 1 Phulka/Roti (without oil & ghee),  1 bowl salad, ½ cup boiled rice(without starch).

Snack (10:30pm):

1 Glass butter milk OR

lime juice with salt and warm water OR

Water Mellon OR

Any seasonal fruit.

Important Tips:

·  Always try to keep Diet food Indian so you don’t have to compromise in flavor.

• Cook rice in vessel and not pressure cooker so it’s easy to throw rice starch.
• Add soy powder or palak or maythi or ½ cup moong dal in wheat flour while making dough so as to reduce carb intake.
• Add cut vegetables in  Rice to reduce carb intake.
• Plan your meal and snack previous night to avoid hassle or slippage next day.
• Keep oil in small bowl/kattori and put 1/2teaspoon measure oil spoon from measuring set or use tiny flat steel spoon.
• Use water to cook curries instead of oil. Mix garam masala in water add to curries and pressure cook. It’ll come out good.
• Use cooker to speed up cooking process and  use non-stick pan to use less oil.

Quick Tips to Loss 5lbs (2.3kgs) in two weeks:

·   Check weight every week to keep track of weight loss.

• Avoid emotional/pampered eating.  Avoid processed food e.g. Cookies, crackers, Diet Bars, Juices, Diet Cookies, Cakes, Bread.
• Try to eat food in original form. E.g eat fruit instead fruit juice.
• Avoid oily and sweet food.
• Be happy it helps.

Article By: Reena Sharma

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