Author Archives: Maris

About Maris

Maris is a respected self-taught cook who's passionate about helping new cooks learn to prepare healthy, delicious meals and snacks. Quality chocolate, farmers markets, and homemade food are winners in her book.

Bob Harper Launches Smart Success Dietary Supplements

Bob Harper, who has been inspiring America as a TV trainer and author from NBC’s hit show The Biggest Loser since 2004, recently announced the launch of his newest endeavor, Bob Harper’s Smart Success. This line of weight loss products includes Bob Harper’s Smart Weight Loss Dietary Supplement, Bob Harper’s Smart Weight Loss Starter Kit and Bob Harper’s Smart 7-Day Cleanse.

The Smart Weight Loss Starter Kit includes a daytime formula, which contains naturally sourced caffeine to provide increased energy during the day, and an evening formula, which is caffeine-free. The kit also includes a DVD of Harper offering diet and motivational tips and a 30-minute smart workout. Additional products include Bob Harper’s Smart Weight Loss, a weight loss formula, and Bob Harper’s Smart 7-Day Cleanse, a dietary formula made with Senna and meant to “gently flush the system of digestive waste.”

“I have helped motivate people for over 20 years by showing them how to enhance their lives by providing the tools and knowledge to make it happen through healthy diet and an active lifestyle,” said Harper in an email. “I wanted to give people another way to succeed at achieving their goal weight.”

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Posted on February 2, 2024 by Maris

The Golden Globes Nominees’ Dinner Menu Inspired by Global Cuisine

Tonight, stars will line the red carpet for the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards. While most people will be focused on what the stars are wearing, we’ve been wondering what the stars will be eating when they sit down to dinner during the show.

Executive chef Suki Sugiura and pastry chef Thomas Henzi of the Beverly Hilton Hotel have spent six months developing a menu based upon the theme of “Global Food Harmony” to represent the global nature of the awards.

THE MENU:

Appetizer: Pistachio crusted pistou ravioli with wild arugula served with smoked tomato, kabocha compote and burrata.

Entree: Miso and sake lees marinated pacific sea bass with grilled king oyster mushroom and braised prime short rib of beef. To be served with porcini pine nut herb ragout in a light cream of sherry wine ginger tamari sauce and roasted fingerling potatoes, candy striped beets, baby bok choy and yellow baby carrots.

Dessert: A trio: chocolate delice almond crunch terrine and acacia honey, caramel and fresh berries, paired with a Moet & Changdon Grand Vintage 2002 magnum specially created for the event.

According to BizBash, the kitchen will employ 40 chefs and 110 kitchen staffers to prepare the meal. Despite all of this effort, will the A-listers in the audience stray from their meticulous diets for one night to indulge in the three-course meal? We decided to investigated which stars are dieting these days – and what types of healthy eating regimens we might expect from them at the awards.

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Posted on January 15, 2024 by Maris

Paula Deen Rumored to Have Diabetes [VIDEO]

UPDATE 1/18/12: Paula Deen confirms on Today Show that she has type 2 diabetes, and has for three years. She says the disease “is not a death sentence,” and is partnering with Diabetes in a New Light. She told Al Roker she’s “always encouraged moderation” when it comes to her cooking.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Cooking celebrity Paula Deen may be known for her high-calorie, butter-laden Southern cooking but she has alluded to health struggles in the past. Today, The Daily reported that the Food Network star, cookbook author and restauranteur famous for her 1500-calorie donut burger is about to reveal that she has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, a condition often associated with fatty foods and obesity.

The Georgia-born chef, who was once a single mother struggling to make ends meet has reportedly signed a multimillion dollar deal with Novartis to endorse the drug that she is taking to help control her condition.

Deen has faced past criticism, reportedly even from First Lady Michelle Obama, for her the high amounts of fat, salt and sugar in her dishes. Now that Deen has been diagnosed with a condition largely controlled by diet and exercise, sources are wondering whether her platform will change.

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Posted on January 13, 2024 by Maris

Eat Like Tim Tebow: Professionals Weigh in on Football Pros’ Diets

Tim Tebow, quarterback of the Denver Broncos, is one of the most talked-about NFL players this season. While sports commentators have questioned Tebow’s abilities as a quarterback, others have wondered exactly what it takes to stay in peak shape as a professional football player. For many professional athletes, including Tebow, maintaining an athletic physique is not something that comes naturally but is a result of years of dedication to strength training, cardiovascular exercise and maintaining a healthy balanced diet.

Though Tebow’s autobiography Through My Eyes states that he was raised on “Coke and Popsicles” at his uncle’s farm, it is unlikely that he maintains a high-sugar diet today.

“Every athlete will have different needs, but typically you’d like your athlete to eat cleanly all year long,” said New York-based performance coach Chris Matsui, who has worked with high-level athletes including the Carolina Panthers. “A football player’s diet shouldn’t change drastically in the week before a game, but what they specifically eat is dependent on their individual needs and food allergies or intolerances.”

For most of his clients, Matsui recommends fueling with plenty of lean meat (fish and chicken), healthy fats (avocado and nuts), fruit (blueberries and strawberries), vegetables (kale, broccoli and spinach) and complex carbohydrates (quinoa or brown rice).

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Posted on January 13, 2024 by Maris

Convenience Sushi at Walgreens Flagship Store Not Selling Chicago Residents

Today, Walgreens opened the doors to a “flagship” store in Chicago’s Loop neighborhood that touts healthier offerings, including made-to-order smoothies, self-serve frozen yogurt, sushi and juice bars, and a barista selling exclusive State & Randolph brand coffee.

The new Walgreens store will feature a clinic and an upscale cosmetics department that will provide makeovers and manicures. It will also sell wine and spirits and feature a cigar humidor.

While many Chicago residents are pleased to see the ubiquitous corner drug store expand its offerings to help them live a healthier lifestyle, some are also skeptical that retail giant will maintain a high standard of quality across all channels.

These new additions do not come as a surprise to frequent Walgreens customers who have seen fresh salads and groceries appear in stores across the U.S. The chain also offers blood pressure screenings, blood glucose and cholesterol screenings, free flu shots in low-income areas and has recently sponsored a number of national and local athletic events.

“I love when a store or brand expands its core business to healthy alternatives,” said Chicago resident and business owner Molly Lynch. “However, I think Walgreens is overextending itself by offering sushi. There are multiple reasons why sushi eaters (myself included) should be mindful when eating this delicious food. Health concerns abound and sushi should be served where it belongs: in sushi restaurants, preferably the ones that passed health codes.” (more…)

Posted on January 10, 2024 by Maris

Simple Recipe Guide for New DASH Diet Followers

This week, US News & World Report made its Best Diets 2024 announcement, naming the DASH (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension) Diet the best overall diet. There are a lot of choices for people who want to lose weight using a structured weight reduction plan, and while there is no “one-size fits all” approach, Diets In Review’s resident pharmacist Dr. Sarah Khan considers the DASH Diet an ideal weight loss plan for diabetics.

People who follow the DASH diet will work on lowering sodium intake to less than 2400 mg per day, eating fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, fish, chicken, whole grains and healthy fats like nuts and olive oil. With endorsements from the American Heart Association, The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the Mayo Clinic, the DASH diet is a great option for anyone who wants to lose weight, maintain a healthy weight or consume less sodium.

“We often recommend the DASH diet for diabetics,” said Dr. Khan. “Diabetics should also focus on a low-sodium diet with less than 2,000 mg of salt per day. High blood pressure tends to go hand in hand with diabetics and we are more aggressive with their blood pressure control because of all the complications it could cause if we let it become too high.”

When you’re beginning the DASH diet, be sure to stock your kitchen with plenty of fresh, unprocessed foods, especially fruits and vegetables. If you’re kicking off your diet in January, look for seasonal fruit like oranges, apples, pears, and pomegranates. Instead of sticking to salads, look for unusual or unique produce like kale, Brussels sprouts and kohlrabi to liven up your vegetable rotation. Stock the pantry with plenty of whole grains and avoid white or refined flour and sugar.

To help you kick off your DASH Diet we’ve pulled together some of our favorite breakfast, lunch and dinner recipes, including a few snacks, to help you start on the right track. (more…)

Posted on January 7, 2024 by Maris

Gwyneth Paltrow Promotes $425 GOOP Cleanse

In January, when people are dieting and exercising their way back into their skinny jeans, dietary cleanses that promise quick, effective weight loss can be tempting. In today’s edition of her GOOP newsletter, actress and health aficionado Gwyneth Paltrow promoted her new The GOOP Cleanse by Clean kit, which retails at $425.

The cleanse program instructs you to drink a special protein shake for breakfast, eat a balanced meal for lunch, a protein shake for dinner and take GOOP “clean” supplements throughout the day. Though popular cleanses like The Blueprint Cleanse, The Master Cleanse and The Zen Cleanse purport a number of health benefits, doctors have told Hollywood Life that there is no “scientific proven” value to cleanses.

While the cleanse kit is designed to give your digestive system a break, eliminate toxins, rebuild beneficial bacteria and give you more energy, NYC internist Dr. Robert Bos said that there is no medical evidence that your digestive system needs a break. (more…)

Posted on January 6, 2024 by Maris

The Big Waste Tackles a Big Food Problem in America

Obesity might be a rising problem in the United States today, but it isn’t the only tough issue that the Food Network will tackle this year. On Sunday January 8 at 10PM ET/PT, chefs Bobby Flay, Michael Symon, Anne Burrell and Alex Guarnaschelli will team up to face one of the most massive problems in food today: food waste.

On two teams, Bobby and Michael square off against Anne and Alex and with 48 hours on the clock, the chefs are challenged to create a multi-course gourmet banquet worthy of their great reputations, but with one major caveat: they can only use food that is on its way to the trash.

The chefs will shop grocery aisles, produce farms, orchard lines and garbage piles to source enough ingredients to feed a large crowd as they challenge common views of food waste and discuss how and why it is created.

According to Jonathan Bloom, creator of WastedFood.com, Americans waste as much as half of the food produced every year. In fact, between 160 and 295 billion pounds of food is thrown away each year -enough food to fill a 90,000 set football stadium every day.

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Posted on January 6, 2024 by Maris

Biggest Loser’s Brett Hoebel Joins Food Network’s Fat Chef

If you’ve ever wondered how chefs manage to work around food all day and maintain a healthy weight, you’ll want to tune into the new Food Network series The Fat Chef, which premieres on Thursday, January 26 at 10pm ET/PT. Though the media portrays images of slim chefs like Giada De Laurentiis and Sandra Lee, there are many who do not fit this stereotype but play a huge role in determining how and what people eat.

The six episode series will offer viewers a behind-the-scenes look the struggles chefs face when their love for food affects their health. Twelve overweight culinary professionals from Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio will be featured over the course of their four-month venture to overcome weight issues with the help of therapists, nutritionists, and personal trainers.

Each episode will showcase two chefs working with their health consultants, including nutritionist and author Christine Avant, fitness guru Robert Brace, and former Biggest Loser trainer Brett Hoebel as they work to overcome their abusive relationships with food.

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Posted on January 6, 2024 by Maris

Lead a Sedentary Lifestyle for Only 23.5 Hours Each Day, Says Dr. Mike Evans [VIDEO]

Some experts suggest that maintaining a healthy weight, eating five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, or drinking plenty of water could all rank as the single best thing a person can do for their health. Dr. Mike Evans, founder of the Health Design Lab at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, an Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of Toronto and a staff physician at St. Michael’s Hospital, would disagree.

According to Evans, the single best thing we can do to improve or maintain our health is to fit 30 minutes of exercise into each day. While this may not seem like a lot to some, the average adult in the United States spends five hours per day watching television or screens.

“Being sedentary is bad for your health,” said Evans in the following video, featuring some very intriguing white board art. “TV is a chronic disease. [Researcher] Lennert Veerman found that people who spend six hours per day watching TV can expect to live five years less than active people.”

To improve your health, Evans suggests limiting sedentary activities, like sitting and sleeping, to 23.5 hours per day. Evans believes that exercise is the most important form of preventative medicine. (more…)

Posted on January 3, 2024 by Maris

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