New health products, including cookbooks, usually roll out in January, when everyone has the best intentions of eating healthy, losing weight or exercising more. In reality, we tend to do more about it in March and April, according to product sales and fitness center numbers, when the warmer weather and swim suit season is closer. (In MN, we don't know if spring will arrive at all this year.)
The Betty Crocker Win at Weight Loss Cookbook is a great guide, written as a game plan to help you and your family maintain or lose weight. Co-authored by Jim Hill, Professor of Pediatrics at University of Colorado and National Adviser on Obesity, Jim shared so much info in the book on his work with families working to lose weight. The book addresses typical kid behavior at certain ages, picky eaters, emotional eating and the secrets of successful families. There is a step counter for kids (yes, it's just as important for kids to be active), a 10-Day Menu Plan and food and fitnes tips from family members who've worked together to be more active and help each other eat healthier.
As food is my game, we planned the book to use on-hand pantry ingredients so people can use on-hand ingredients. Eating more fruits and vegetables, grains, beans and cutting fat in the kitchen are key messages, as well being aware of how much you're moving and ways to move more, particularly with your kids. The recipes are lower in fat, yet high in flavor, which is why we call for reduced-fat sharp Cheddar cheese in the spread, because you get more bang from sharp cheese. It's a fun cookbook with lots of great recipes.
I have so many recipe favorites in this cookbook, here are a couple that my kids really like:
Sunny Lemon-Raspberry Muffins
Three-Cheese and Bacon Spread
Start to Finish: 15 Minutes
1/3 cup shredded reduced-fat sharp Cheddar cheese
4 oz fat-free cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons fat-free (skim) milk
1/8 teaspoon paprika
Dash of pepper
2 tablespoons real bacon bits
2 tablespoons raisins
1 medium green onion, thinly sliced (1 tablespoon)
16 water crackers or melba toast rounds
1. In small bowl, beat Cheddar cheese, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, milk, paprika and pepper with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.
2. Stir in bacon bits, raisins and onion until well blended.
3. Serve spread on crackers.
8 servings (about 2 tablespoons spread and 4 crackers each)
1 Serving: Calories 90 (Calories from Fat 20); Total Fat 2.5g (Saturated Fat 1g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 250mg; Total Carbohydrate 13g (Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 2g); Protein 6g
% Daily Value: Vitamin A 4%; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 8%; Iron 4%
Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1/2 Lean Meat
Carbohydrate Choices: 1
Betty's Tip: Kids will love making and spreading this out-of-the-ordinary sweet-and-savory spread on crackers. To keep fat low, it's important to read labels to see what's in the crackers you buy. Look for reduced-fat and whole wheat or whole grain whenever you can. Any favorite recipe can be made lower in fat by using low-fat cheese, milk, sour cream or lean meat and by reducing butter and oil..