The key to successfully jump starting your day, igniting your metabolism and energizing you through morning workouts is a smart and balanced breakfast. Here’s an “out of the box” crepe, of sorts, that is gluten-free, chock full of clean protein and contains…
Yes, the weather outside is becoming frightful, but that doesn’t mean we are to abandon healthy salads! Nature’s greens are nutrition powerhouses, providing lots of vitamins and fiber for minimal calories and fat, if you prepare them sensibly. This glorious…
If you like fall, and enjoy being warmed by a nice bowl of soup, this recipe is a must-make! Not only is it chock-full of vegetables, but it’s a perfectly balanced meal, and one the whole family will enjoy. Kids…
And so it begins…the dreaded weeks from Halloween to New Year’s, when diets go out the window, replaced with excuses and fun-size packs of M&Ms. While most people estimate their holiday weight gain at around 3-5 pounds, the National Institute of…
It’s officially fall and I’m in love with all of the orange sights and smells in every store. Pumpkins and harvest decor abounds, which means it’s time to break out the cooler weather recipes so that we all stay warm…
I got a special request this week from a very special R.I.P.P.E.D. participant. Our youngest regular here in the O.C. (she began coming religiously at the ripe old age of 15) excitedly came up to me and said, “I LOVE…
Who doesn’t love a BLT sandwich? Those watching their waistlines, however, might want to rehab this ever-popular meal by swapping the bread for a few croutons and adding a bit more protein and less fat. How do you do that, you…
When a friend told me about calorie-free noodles, I couldn’t wait to try them. I’d had similar low-calorie varieties in the past, but this new version, AKA the “miracle noodle” was completely calorie-free, and soy-free. After trying them with tomato…
I absolutely love bruschetta. A big piece of crusty bread diving into tangy balsamic with chunky tomatoes, garlic and basil might just be the most perfect bite known to man. It is this perfection that easily leads to an overindulgence…
The word casserole, to me, conjures up visions of weird, cheesy and unrecognizable goop in a rectangular dish. My parents were fantastic cooks of fresh and exotic foods, but they did have a few casseroles in their rotation while I…
So…did I have you at, “cheesecake?” Good! You need to click PRINT right now, because this recipe is going to knock your socks off and be your new favorite weekend breakfast. I’ve been tinkering with protein pancake recipes for a…
You’ve heard the commercials for years…”Pork, the other white meat.” Despite being as healthy as chicken, and no more difficult to cook (as I just discovered) it’s just never been a staple in my house. All that changed for me…
Let me start by saying these delightful two-bite sandwiches aren’t just for children. These perfectly balanced bites contain protein from the turkey, fat from the cheese and carbs from the bread, making them healthy for everyone! They couldn’t be more fun to make;…
Pizza. Doesn’t that word just make you smile? Well, let’s back up. It probably makes you smile ever so briefly as you remember the childhood nostalgia that goes hand in hand with pizza parties and late night college binges. Pizza…
Most of us have a favorite smoothie recipe. Let’s face it, it’s not rocket science to throw things into a blender and have them come out frothy, sweet and refreshing. However, what most people don’t realize (or choose to ignore)…
I love soup! Most soups are pretty healthy, and the ones I select are generally full of pureed vegetables. In the summer, only cold soup will do, so I came up with this quick and easy summer gazpacho and added…
Sometimes our best intentions end up, well, scrambled. Such is the case with this recipe. I intended to make pineapple stuffed chicken meatballs after reading about olive stuffed meatballs. Being the overachiever that I am, I decided to grind up my own…
As I pack up for my 3 days in a hotel, I’m reminded that my meals are just as important to pack as my clothes. I can’t stomach the idea of eating 6-7 restaurant meals knowing that food away from…
Alright, I know what you’re thinking…it’s just plain evil to post a cookie recipe on our R.I.P.P.E.D. “D” Blog, much less TWO. But, unless you are perfect 100% of the time (which I don’t know many who are), desserts are…
A friend turned me onto an amazing product called PB2. Regular peanut butter can thwart a dieter’s best intentions due to its creamy goodness that packs a whopping 200 calories and 17 grams of fat with each 2 tablespoon serving. I’m not…
