Are you an emotional eater?

Emotions can be deadly.

At least when it comes to eating.

And the VAST majority of us are "emotional eaters." And that leads to excess bodyfat.

We eat when we are stressed-out.

We eat when we are overly happy.

We eat when we are depressed.

And when you eat like this you can kiss your fatloss goodbye.

There's a 4-minute video that I want you to watch today.

It is touching, funny, and very powerful all at the same time.

And it will help you come to terms with emotional eating.

Go here --

--- > click-here:  http://bit.ly/13UJ6n

P.S. This is a very unique video. I know you will love it.

And I KNOW you will benefit from it.

Please share this with others too.

--- > click-here:  http://bit.ly/13UJ6n

More than Just Toast

Toast is one of the most popular of breakfast foods because it is easy to make and eat on the go. You can pop some bread down in the toaster while you’re applying your makeup or blow drying your hair. Your kids can even learn to make toast when they are old enough to remove it without getting burned. But, having boring old toast every day with butter can get old, so here are some suggestions to spice up an old standby.

Pizza Toast

Prepared in a toaster oven is the best way to make pizza toast. Before placing bread in toaster oven, top with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese and pepperoni. Of course you can top with whatever pizza toppings you have on hand. Broil pizza for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Not very breakfast-y, I know, but my kids love it and eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Plus it’s easy to eat on the go. Just make sure you don’t put too much pizza sauce, and take napkins.

Toasty Fruit Pizza

A twist to traditional fruit pizza is to use toasted bread for the crust and it makes for a healthy breakfast. Spread with cream cheese and your favorite slices of fruit for a healthy meal on the go. It helps save time preparing to have the fruit already sliced.

Easy Breakfast Sandwiches

When you have leftover bacon or sausage, make quick and easy breakfast sandwiches by placing a piece of cheese and meat between two pieces of toast.

Some other toast-topping suggestions that aren’t so traditional include:

· Cream cheese instead of butter

· Apple butter

· Peanut butter and bananas

· Peanut butter and apples

· Peanut butter and honey

· Cheese and mayonnaise

· Applesauce

· Lunchmeat and cheese

To make toast the healthiest possible, choose breads that are whole grain. Also, choose spreads that are low in sugar and fat.

Next time you get stressed out about making breakfast, just think “toast” and all these wonderful suggestions to make toast a bit more exciting!

16 Back-to-School Dinner Tips

Is school really just around the corner? You know what that means - early morning scrambles, after-school tizzies and ragged nerves at dinnertime.

It's still possible to have pleasant family mealtimes even after school has begun. Check out these back-to-school dinner tips for busy Moms:

1. Have a meal plan.

The most important key to having relaxed family dinners even on school nights is having a meal plan. This will simplify both food shopping and meal preparation, and help you save money to boot.

If you need help, check out Dine Without Whine's meal and grocery planning service.

2. Try freezer meals.

Cut down on cooking time by cooking large batches and then freezing them for future use.

3. Simplify your schedule.

With school comes extracurricular activities that could have you running - or driving around - like a headless chicken. Keep things to a minimum. Overloading children with too many after-school activities is not good for them. They need downtime too.

4. Get the kids involved in cooking.

Get some help by mobilizing your own troops - your husband and children - as your kitchen helpers. Cooking is an important life skill and now it's bonding time as well.

5. Have an emergency plan.

No matter how well you plan in advance, something always comes up. Plan for that as well. Always have emergency supplies in the pantry so you can throw together a home-cooked meal at a moment's notice.

It could be a frozen dinner you prepared during the weekend. Mine is pasta, a can of tomato sauce and whatever vegetables are in the refrigerator.

6. Post your family schedule.

Keep a large calendar on the wall where you can see every family member's schedule at a glance. It will also help you plan activities around your family dinner times.

7. Set a routine.

Decide on an earlier dinner time, bedtime and wake up time and start following them a few days before school officially begins. This way, everybody's adjusted when the real thing comes.

8. Stay flexible.

Sometimes you just can't afford disruptions to your meal times. An occasional missed family dinner is no big deal - when you know you'll have more throughout the week.

9. Consider school schedules.

Take note of school events and other activities in your family calendar - so you can plan your family dinners with them in mind.

10. Cook once, eat twice.

Every so often, cook a double batch of meals that can easily be transformed into another entree or side dish. For example, roast 2 chickens. Have one for tonight's dinner. Chop up the other for chicken salad for later in the week.

11. Organize your kitchen.

If you haven't done so yet, now's the time to take stock of your kitchen. Make sure the items you use most often are accessible from your food prep area. Replace the tools that are broken, and get those gadgets that will help you get dinner ready faster.

12. Have a special meal.

Make Friday night Teen's night - which means they plan and prepare the meal. That is, if you have teens or any child old enough to prepare meals. They'll learn how to cook, you get the night off (from cooking), and everybody has fun. The  only condition is: everybody has to eat what's prepared.

13. Make it educational.

This idea is for preschool-age kids. Make or buy a special placemat with letter or numbers. Laminate it with Con-Tact paper so it becomes a wipe-off board. Use it only for dinnertimes.

14. More mealtime learning opportunities.

Plan some meals to coincide with specific topics your child is studying in school. For example, on the night after a field trip to a pioneer town, have a pioneer-style meal.

15. Celebrate school successes at dinner.

Celebrate school successes with a special family meal. Prepare the child's favorite meal and prepare a nice dessert. It's more important to have a meal that's relaxed and delicious, than one that tool hours to prepare.

16. Nurture school relationships.

Get to know your children's closest school friends by inviting them to dinner once in a while.

Follow these tips to make family mealtimes simpler, easier and more fun. For meal planning and grocery shopping help, go to Dine Without Whine.

Your monthly subscription includes a weekly meal plan with recipes for main dishes, side dishes, 2 desserts and 2 brunches.

You'll also get a weekly grocery shopping list of everything you need to create the recipes. The list is categorized according to grocery sections, so your shopping will be easier and faster.

For a limited time, you can try Dine Without Whine for a penny. Click here to find out how.

5 Foods Men Should Be Eating

By Sean Barker

These 5 foods will make sure you are on your way to living a long and healthy life so you can be the strong dad you need to be to keep up with your family.

1. Tomatoes - This plump red FRUIT provides a powerful punch for men especially. Yes, it is a fruit, not a vegetable. If it has seeds, its considered a fruit. You might of heard of the powerful nutrient in tomatoes called lycopene. Lycopene has been show to be beneficial in preventing prostate cancer in men. To absorb this wonderful nutrient the tomatoes need to be broken down such as tomato sauce and tomato juice.

2. Oysters - Don't pass on these slimy sea mollusks just yet. Oysters are a high quality protein source which is great for building lean muscle. They also provide heart healthy omega 3's as well as another prized nutrient that every man should have in their diet. Oysters have been known for centuries as a libido enhancer. This is mainly from the high concentration of Zinc. Most men today are shown to be deficient in this vital nutrient. It aids in testosterone production which gives us men strength and energy in the gym as well as in the bedroom.

3. Brazil Nuts - Nuts are a great nutrient dense snack full of fiber, healthy fats and even protein. Brazil nuts especially are high in selenium. Brazil nuts may contain as much as 544 micrograms of selenium per ounce. Just one Brazil nut will give you your recommended daily allowance of the selenium. This mineral is crucial in antioxidant production in your body to fight off disease.

4. Broccoli - We all hear how good this green cruciferous vegetables is for us. But most men don't really know how beneficial broccoli really is for our health and longevity. More and more evidence is mounting showing the anti-cancer benefits in this super food. Look at broccoli as "nature's brooms" as they are high in fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that clean your arteries and keep your cells strong and healthy throughout your body.

5. Flaxseed - This little seed is loaded with nutrients. A lot of people know flaxseeds are a good source of healthy fats and fiber. But the mistake they make is eating the seeds whole. For your body to absorb the fats, flaxseeds need to be ground before they are eaten. A coffee grinder is great for this or you can buy organic milled flaxseed. Ground flaxseed is great to add to cereal, oatmeal, burgers, meatballs, shakes and stews. Store ground flaxseeds in the fridge to prevent oxidation of the healthy fats. With all the talk on plastics in our environment and the phytoestrogens they mimic, lignans in flaxseeds help the body get rid of these toxic compounds.

There you have it, The Top 5 Foods For Men that you may not be eating but should...

Learn the "The Truth On Fat Loss, How To Finally Lose That Beer Belly" in this FREE report from Sean Barker at www.dadfitness.com. Sean is a Certified Personal Trainer and a proud and busy Dad. Sean has been involved in the health and fitness industry for over 15 years and have appeared in High Performance Muscle Magazine, been on health and fitness radio shows and was selected as a sponsored athlete by one of the top supplement nutrition companies in the world. His popular Dad Fitness fat loss workouts have helped thousands of Dads around the world lose fat, gain muscle, and get lean in less than 3 hours per week. For more information on the Dad Fitness workouts that will help you burn fat without spending hours in the gym, visit http://dadfitness.rxsportz.com

Healthy Cold Breakfasts that Don’t Involve Cereal

I often don’t have time to make even a 5 minute batch of scrambled eggs, so having some stuff on hand to grab and go is a must in our home. Since eating a bowl of cereal is impossible while driving and I don’t want my kids having an open bowl with liquid in the car, I’ve come up with some healthy, cold breakfasts that are easy to eat on the go. I’m sure you will find them useful as well.

A super easy, no brainer idea is to have sliced fruit on hand. Simply slice up your favorite fruits and place in storage baggies in the fridge for ease and convenience. This takes a little prep ahead of time, but it is worth it on those mornings when you are in a rush. Fruit suggestions are: strawberries, grapes, kiwi, blackberries, raspberries, cantaloupe and other melon, apples and bananas (sprinkled with lemon juice to keep from turning brown) and cherries. Of course you can use whatever fruits your family likes.

Tortilla Roll Ups

A quick and easy way to eat on the go is to use flour tortillas. You can take just about any ingredients you and your family like and roll them in a tortilla. Some suggestions are:

• Peanut butter and jelly
• Cream cheese
• Chopped raw veggies
• Ham and cheese
• Sliced fruit and cream cheese
• Peanut butter and honey
• Sliced Cheese
• Pickles and Cheese
• Applesauce

Other things you should have on hand for those rushed mornings are graham crackers, granola bars, cereal bars, nuts and bagels. You can spread some cream cheese between two graham crackers for added protein and flavor. Nuts are nutritious and full of protein and fiber and are a great way to fill you up quickly. You can find fairly healthy cereal bars in the cereal aisle these days. Be sure to read the label for the sugar and fat content. If you don’t have time to spread some cream cheese on a bagel, eating them plain is still tasty and a good way to get filled up in the morning.

Another way to use up those leftover pieces of chicken or steak is to give them to your family in the morning. They usually taste great served cold and are a good source of protein.

You don’t have to skip breakfast when you don’t have time in the morning. Planning ahead and having items easy to grab will ensure you and your family get a healthy start to the day.

Healthy Breakfast When You Absolutely Don’t Have Time to Cook

Even when you’re in a hurry to get out the door in the morning, feeding your family a healthy breakfast is still important to you.  Instead of going through the drive through though, here are some suggestions you can use that are quick and healthy, on the go breakfast ideas.

The first thing to do is plan ahead. Planning makes any meal time so much easier, especially when you’re in a hurry. Healthy items to have on hand and that are easy to grab and go are:

· Healthy cereal bars

· Granola bars

· Baggies of whole grain cereal

· Graham crackers

· Bagels

· Sliced Cheese

· Sliced ham

· Nuts

· Sliced Fruit

· Flour tortillas

· Sliced whole grain bread

· Seedless Grapes

· Peanut butter

· Crackers

· Raw veggies such as celery stalks and baby carrots

· Raisins

When you have the above items on hand, you can either eat them alone or you can combine them quickly for a fast, healthy breakfast.

· Spread some cream cheese on graham crackers or bagels.

· Make a cheese sandwich

· Toast some bread and top with cream cheese and sliced fruit

· Spread some peanut butter over saltines

· Cream cheese on saltines is also good

· Celery stalks with peanut butter or cream cheese and raisins

· A slice of cheese and ham rolled together

The point is you don’t have to skip breakfast when you don’t have time to cook. And you don’t have to skimp on health by running through a drive through. Save time and money simply by using your imagination and with a little planning. Your kids will like the new ideas and may even begin to eat breakfast better.

Remember; don’t ask your kids what they want. Simply make it and hand it to them. They may think it’s weird at first, especially if it’s not a typical breakfast food. However, they will most likely think its fun to eat something a bit out of the ordinary. Make a game out of it and they’re sure to “bite.” Pretend you are on a deserted island or on a ship lost at sea. It’s the only food left on earth and you have to eat it or you won’t survive.

How to Overcome Emotional Eating

Eating is a part of life.  Your body gets its nutrients from food.  Sometimes we can go overboard with our eating habits and it can result in gaining weight.  One issue with food is emotional eating. 

The problem of emotional eating may end with the scale but it begins in the mind.  Stress takes its toll on your life.  When your defenses are compromised your health takes a hit and so do your emotions. 

Everyone has good days and bad days.  How we deal with the bad ones brings emotional eating into play.  You look for comfort for your hurts.  People who turn to food for comfort find a coping mechanism that won’t judge them, hurt them or tell them “no.” To complicate the issue, eating pleasurable foods can stimulate the release of endorphins just like exercise.  So, after you eat, you feel better.

Emotional eaters use food to relieve stress.  They hide behind the food instead of seeking solutions to the problems.  This is not uncommon when the stressor is something horrible such as physical abuse or a death.

But, how do you know you are using food in this way?  The first sign is obvious.  You will gain weight if you eat too much.  In light of the weight gain, examine other areas of your life:

* Have you been under stress lately at work or at home?
* Has anything traumatic happened in the last year?
* Are you dealing with a problem but haven’t found a solution?

Answering “yes” to any of these questions could mean that you are an emotional eater.  You eat but you are not necessarily hungry at the time.  The foods that you choose are what we term “comfort foods”:

* High fat foods like French fries, fried foods
* High carb foods like macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes
* Sugary foods like ice cream, donuts, cookies, cake

There is help for emotional eaters.  The first step is recognizing that you have a problem.  You’ll experience feelings of helplessness and guilt.  The guilt is over potentially ruining your health and the helplessness lies in the fact that you don’t see a way out.

Secondly, seek counseling.  There are many types of counselors out there that can meet your need.  Emotional eating has nothing to do with dieting or changing your eating habits but gaining control over your emotions. 

A counselor might suggest things like visualization, practicing problem solving skills, relaxation techniques and family support.  Visualization helps you to see your problems in a realistic way and not blown out of proportion.  You will also learn to see food as nutrition for the body and not an emotional crutch.

Thirdly, your family can learn your triggers for stress and be on the lookout for changes in your eating habits.  They can help you be aware of the foods you are eating, assist you in making healthy food choices and exercise along with you.  Proper diet and exercise increases immunity, blood flow and positive thinking.  Yoga enhances the mind/body connection so you don’t eat when you aren’t hungry.

Finding new ways to solve your problems and deal with stress will push food out of the equation.  You’ll feel good about finding solutions which will replace the dependence on food.

Top Ten Power Packed Foods

What is the secret to a long and healthy life?  It is in the food that we eat.  As you well know, all foods are not created equal.  Choosing and eating the right foods may help increase your life expectancy as well as the quality of your life.

Here are ten of the top power packed foods designed to give you energy, vitality and all around good health!

1. Beans – If they give you gas, take precautions before you eat them.  Soaking them first can help.  Beans of all kinds (kidney, navy, lentils, chickpeas, Northern) are high in protein.  This is plant protein so it contains very little fat, carbs and calories.  If fiber is a problem in your diet, eating a healthy portion of beans each day can keep your digestive system healthy.

2. Oatmeal – Oatmeal is coming into popularity as a food that lowers blood cholesterol.  You can make it yourself with rolled oats or eat the instant kind if you are in a hurry.  Oatmeal is a filling grain that also provides much needed fiber to keep hunger at bay and your blood sugar constant.

3. Fruits – Fruits are filled with antioxidants such as Vitamin C and A.  Antioxidants fight free radical damage in the body and reduce the risk of cancer.  Berries such as blueberries and grapes have the highest amount of antioxidants.  But choose an array of fruits in a wide variety of colors for maximum health.  The antioxidants in fruit boost the immune system to fight the effects of aging in the body.

4. Allium foods – This class of foods includes garlic, onions, leeks and shallots.  Garlic is known for lowering cholesterol.  Allium vegetables help guard the body against the risk of cancer and many other ailments.  They also help lower blood pressure and prevent blood clots.  Eating these power packed vegetables in their natural state especially garlic increases their health benefits. 

5. Salmon – Eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids reduces the risk of heart disease and other conditions like atherosclerosis.  Wild salmon is a fatty fish but it contains good fats that has been proven to improve health in children and adults.  Salmon is rich in protein which is of great use after an exercise session to build muscle tissue.

6. Flax seed – Like salmon it contains omega-3 fatty acids.  These seeds also contain omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids.  You get a lot of power to fight high cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes with this seed.  Ground flax seed can be added to fruit smoothies, sprinkled in yogurt, eaten with cereal or added to pancake mix to name a few.

7. Peppers – Peppers are colorful.  They contain antioxidants like beta-carotene and Vitamin C.  Peppers range from mild and sweet to so hot you’ll be calling the fire department.  All peppers contain a substance called capsaicin.  Capsaicin has the properties of an anti-inflammatory, a pain reliever, lowers cancer risk and heart disease.  They are good in salads, salsa and all sorts of dishes.

8. Nuts and seeds – Nuts are high in fat but those fats are the good kind.  Peanuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, walnuts and pistachios are all providers of good fats and protein.  Crush them into a fine powder and use as a coating instead of higher carb bread crumbs.  Nuts help to lower cholesterol.  Eat them right out of the shell with no additives.

9. Açai – This berry has been in the news lately.  It is rich in antioxidants and increases energy.  You can get more done and look better while doing it.  You can get Acai juice and supplements in your health food store.

10. Yogurt – The fat free variety is good for you.  Yogurt contains calcium, Vitamin B, and protein.  If you don’t drink milk, yogurt is an alternative to get your calcium in to build strong bones and teeth.  Live yogurt also contains friendly bacteria to help promote a healthy digestive system.

Building a better healthier body begins with what you eat.  Try these super foods to get started on the right foot.