breakfast-related stories
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Banana French Toast
Recipe Rehab with Tanya Zuckerbrot, Nutrition & Supplements
Celebrity dietitian and motivational life coach Tanya Zuckerbrot, author of www.ffactordiet.com and founder of www.skinnyandthecity.com, has helped thousands of people lose weight and keep it off with her program. Her philosophy? Tanya believes you should never sacrifice taste, even when you're eating healthy foods. Send us an email to reciperehab [AT] thatsfit [DOT] com to submit a recipe for a makeover!
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| Recipe may vary from photograph. Photo: juiterimages |
Nothing says brunch like warm, chewy French toast dripping with maple syrup. Although, with a typical serving -- containing over 600 calories and and 36 grams of fat -- it's far from the healthiest option if you are concerned about your families' nutrition. So I set out to tackle this brunch staple and came up with a recipe that's a hit with adults and kids alike.
If your kids are like my kids, they don't want any bread other than white. However, once cooked, any bread looks brown, making this switch much simpler. Swapping white bread for whole wheat bread bumps up the fiber content and helps to keep you feeling full all morning long. Furthermore, by replacing whole eggs and milk with egg whites and skim milk, you're still getting protein and calcium, but with half the calories and fat.
My Banana French Toast has become a regular in my house, with my husband, 6-year-old son and 3-year-old twin daughters. This recipe couldn't be easier and best of all -- it's so delicious, no one realizes how healthy it is!
Tanya's Tip: Don't like bananas? I've made this with strawberries and blueberries, and it was just as delicious!
Is Low GI Always a Good Thing?

Liz Neporent is a diet and fitness expert and author of 12 fitness bestsellers. She regularly appears on national TV programs and is the president of Wellness 360, a New-York based wellness provider.
Glycemic index was addressed yesterday in our Daily Fit Tip post, and here, we dig a little deeper on the pros and cons of eating a low GI diet. First, some basics: The glycemic index is a classification of carbohydrates, arranged according to how fast they raise blood glucose levels. Foods are rated on a scale from 1 to 100, indicating the rate at which 50 grams of carbs in a particular food is absorbed into the bloodstream as blood-sugar. Pure sugar is the benchmark at 100; foods that have a "GI" of more than 70 are considered high glycemic; foods that score a 54 GI or less are considered low glycemic. (You can get a comprehensive list of the GI of common foods at glycemicindex.com.)
The GI scale was originally created to help type-2 diabetics manage their blood sugar. Now some experts recommend it for anyone trying to control their weight. On balance, the approach seems promising. Studies show that dieters following a low GI plan experience fewer cravings, have an easier time controlling appetite and do a better job of keeping their eating habits under control, especially compared to dieters who follow a very low-carb diet. This means low GI followers are more likely to stick with the plan.
Eggs and Toast - The Better Breakfast
Eat a bagel for breakfast or opt for eggs and toast and you'll consume about the same amount of calories: 350. Specifically, that's one bagel with two tablespoons of cream cheese and a three-ounce serving of yogurt or two scrambled eggs and two slices of toast with jelly. Pretty Even Steven, huh? Yep. But one breakfast is better for fighting the flab. Dieters in one study who ate eggs and toast five days per week for eight weeks lost two pounds more than bagel-eaters. Egg-eaters had a 61 percent greater reduction in BMI and took off an extra half inch from their waists, without raising their cholesterol. Their energy was higher too.
What gives? The egg protein, probably, and the yolks' mix of fats too. The combination seems better at reducing hunger throughout the day. But only when combined with a weight-loss plan. Eating eggs while not otherwise cutting back will not do the trick.
Jack Black Eats Two Breakfasts
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Rotund funnyman Jack Black recently admitted to reporters that he eats two breakfasts a day -- no wonder he was told he's too big for Bergdorf Goodman! But don't be too quick to assume that he's filling up on bacon and eggs. His breakfast choices sounds kind of healthy: "My new thing is that I have oatmeal and ice green tea for breakfast," he says. "Then I have a second breakfast! I try to eat foods that give me energy to try to make it through the day."
Still, he adds that losing a few pounds isn't easy: "I try and work out but it's a losing battle with the fine food and good red wine that is available." As for fitness? "I do some special stretches, sit-ups and sometimes even some push-ups. But I think a good walk down the street is great workout."
Well, it's a start, I guess. But maybe Jack needs to add a few of these morning moves to his routine to help matters along.
Step Away From Your Desk
Christmas Morning - Don't Skip Breakfast
When you get up on Christmas morning, it might seem like a good idea to skip breakfast so you can eat more at dinner. Plus you've got all those shiny new presents to distract you from the innate need to seek sustenance. But skimping on your first meal can slow down your metabolism for the rest of the day, according to our friends at Fitsugar. And let's be honest -- that's the last thing you want when the spread is so fantastic. A better option? Prepare a platter of fresh fruit for breakfast and serve it alongside some low-fat yogurt, cottage cheese or oatmeal. Omelets are also a great option -- the more veggies the better.
What do you have for Christmas breakfast?
Breakfast - Get a Healthy Start Even If You're Not a Morning Person
We all know the benefits of breakfast -- it can help you control weight by managing your hunger, it improves focus, and it can give you the energy boost you need to get moving. But what if you're just not a morning person? The idea of pulling together a balanced breakfast when you can barely keep your eyes open isn't exactly realistic, is it? Cranky Fitness has a great post about how those of us who are much more like slugs than chipper birds in the morning can still get our healthy morning meal. Some of the tips:
- Make a batch of steel cut oats ahead of time, then just warm it in the microwave. Add some low-fat milk and some sliced bananas to sweeten it up.
- Hard boil a few eggs and keep them in your fridge for quick access.
- Fresh fruit is about the simplest and quickest breakfast you can have -- just grab and go.
Eggs - The Good News and the Bad News
Eggs have been the subject of a couple studies lately, and the reviews are mixed. First, there was a study telling us that eating eggs for breakfast can aid in weight loss. Now a new study states that eating eggs can raise your risk of type II diabetes. Nothing like a little bit of bad news with the good, huh?In the more recent study, researchers reviewed data on both men and women for many years (20 years for the men, 12 years for the women). During the follow up period, more than 4,000 participants developed type II diabetes. It was found that the development of type II diabetes was more likely in those who frequently ate eggs. For example, men who ate one or fewer eggs per week were 9 percent more likely to develop the condition; men who ate more than seven eggs per week were 58 percent more likely to develop type II diabetes.
So which is it? Do you eat eggs more frequently in hopes that they will help you lose weight? Or do you avoid them for fear that they'll contribute to your diabetes risk? Like most things, it's best to enjoy eggs in moderation. Maybe they do aid in weight loss -- but so do lots of other healthful foods.
Eat healthy with this time-saving menu
When you're crunched for time, you many find it difficult to prepare creative, healthful meals. I know that I resort to my old stand-by meals when I'm really busy. They're stand-by meals because they're quick, healthful, and tasty but after a while, they get a bit boring. One of my favorite tricks for cutting down on meal preparation time is to cook ahead. For example, if I'm going to be baking some chicken for dinner, I bake an extra piece or two for a different meal later in the week. Self magazine has a great sample menu that uses that same time-saving tip -- and the recipes are healthful, balanced, and sound positively yummy. Give it a try!
Salt for breakfast - sounds gross but that could be what you're eating in the AM
Fancy a big, heaping serving of salt on your breakfast plate? Yuck. I don't know about you, but the thought turns my stomach. However, recent studies show that many of us are getting our half and sometimes even a full day's worth of salt in our first meal of the day. What's even more alarming about this statistic is that this is true even for those of us who make our own breakfast at home. I think everyone accepts that a big breakfast of bacon, eggs and hash browns is a salty way to start the day but apparently, many seemingly inauspicious items are also high in salt -- things like Starbucks skinny muffins, as well as many pastries and croissants. Even some toast toppings have more sodium than bacon! Consider this -- a Skinny Blueberry Muffin from Starbucks has 2400 mg of sodium, while a slice of bacon has a mere 303mg.
Do your heart a favor: Check the labels and do what you can to make sure you're not getting too much sodium in the AM -- or any time of day. The daily RDI of sodium here in North America is 2300 mg.
Nutrition cliches - truth or myth?
You should always listen to what your momma tells you. Unless what she's telling you is just an old wives' tale. Ella from Ruby Room helps us decipher the truths from the myths:- Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. There aren't too many people who would dispute this. A good breakfast gives you the energy to get through your day and it can even help you lose weight.
- Hot milk will help you get to sleep. Milk contains melatonin and tryptophan so it can help you feel sleepier.
- Beans are the musical fruit. They certainly do produce a fair amount of gas while digesting. But they're a healthy addition to your diet ... so they're worth it.
- Mixing drinks will increase your hangover. I remember a little rhyme from when I was in college: "Beer before liquor, never been sicker. Liquor then beer, nothing to fear." The truth is, it's simply the level of alcohol in your blood and the amount of dehydration that creates a hangover.
- Carrots will help you see in the dark. Carrots are rich in vitamin A, which is beneficial for vision. But the direct link between carrots and eyesight is far more myth than fact.
8 ways to eat a better breakfast
- Cereal -- Choose one with at least five grams of fiber and no more than eight grams of sugar per serving. Watch out for granola. Sounds healthy but most are high in fat and sugar.
- Toppings -- Forget syrup and cream cheese. Instead, pick fresh fruit (or a 100% fruit spread), a little peanut butter, skim ricotta cheese, or a thin layer of almond butter.
- Breakfast Bars -- Some are no better than a candy bar. Substitute with whole-grain toast and a 100% fruit spread. Need something to go? Grab a trail mix of nuts, dried fruits, or dry cereal.
- Wheat -- Go with whole-wheat bread and small whole-grain bagels, not donuts, pastries, croissants, and biscuits.
- Substitute --For pancakes, use half whole-wheat flour and half white flour and add applesauce or grated fruit to the batter. For French toast, dip whole-grain bread into an egg substitute or a mixture of one whole egg and one to two egg whites (which also works for omelets).
- Meat -- Choose low-fat turkey bacon and ham or a nontraditional choice, like grilled chicken or salmon. Or go meatless.
- Fruits and Veggies -- Use them whenever you can, in omelets, cereal, yogurt, you name it.
- Smoothies -- Nix the full glass of juice and blend a half cup each of orange juice and plain low-fat yogurt with half a banana and some frozen berries.
Before or after eating your most important meal of the day, try these morning moves to wake up your core, hips, glutes, thighs, and more.
Peel away pounds with this breakfast food
Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
The eggs have it. What exactly do they have? The power to peel away pounds, that's what.Poached, scrambled, or sunny-side up, eggs are a do-good diet food. We know this because people in one study on a low-calorie weight loss plan who ate two scrambled eggs with unbuttered toast -- jelly was permitted -- for breakfast lost 65 percent more weight than dieters who ate a bagel with cream cheese.
Here's the point: Eggs are filling, which keeps us satisfied longer, which keeps us from snacking later in the day. Here's the caution: This study featured a low-calorie diet, and this means eating eggs for breakfast works ony if you're watching what and how much you eat for the rest of the day.
Week in Review: September 22 to 28
We're expecting our first frost next week, though it was 85 degrees today. Fall weather is unpredictable. If you're an outdoor exerciser, keep an eye on the weather and plan ahead for a safe workout. Find inspiration in this week's posts:
- Sure, those Spanx may make you look good. But are they good for you? Martha has the answer.
- You watched them lose the weight. Find out how your favorite Biggest Losers are doing now.
- Got hungry kids in the morning? Debra's got 10 healthy breakfasts for them ... and you.
- Looking to save some money on your grocery bill and eat healthier at the same time? Maggie tells you how.
- Kelly Osbourne cut out beer to lose weight. Find out what other tips she has to offer.
- Chris wants you to get up off your butt and make your workout work for you.
- Ever wondered what it's like to be an Olympian? Fitz gets the scoop from Nastia Liukin.
- Laura wants you to have bugs for lunch -- probiotics, that is.

























