6 Secrets to Healthy Summer Entertaining

6 Secrets to Healthy Summer Entertaining

Article By: Laura Kalehoff


Get great, easy tips from a Hollywood party planner.

With swimsuit season in full swing, you won't win any hostess-with-the-mostess awards by stuffing your pals silly with heavy beef patties and franks. We asked David Tutera, star of WeTV's My Fair Wedding and celebrity party planner for Jennifer Lopez, Prince Charles and Elton John, to share his tips for throwing a healthy summer shindig.

With Tutera's advice, your friends will never know you've lightened the menu (unless they happen to get on the scale), and you won't sabotage your own plans to drop a few pounds.


Starters
Why offer the ubiquitous onion dip with limp potato chips (and watch your shady neighbor double-dip), when healthier, more flavorful options abound? Skewer shrimp and pineapple chunks on the grill for low-fat nibbles, or mix grape tomatoes and watermelon balls for a vibrantly colored first-course salad. Alternatively, Tutera suggests rolling newspaper, wax paper or white construction paper into cones to fill with grilled asparagus and green beans, so your friends can mingle as they nosh.
Sip lightly
Party drinks needn't be a choice between decadent piña coladas (mega calories, morning-after bloat) and deprivational diet soda (it's a party, after all). Strike a delicious compromise with white wine sangria brimming with fresh fruit. Or, try Tutera's signature swill: Blend Belvedere vodka, seltzer and a splash of diet lemonade. Garnish with mint.

Main courses
"You don't need to be at the beach to have a clambake," says Tutera, who steams lobster, mussels, clams, shrimp and low-fat turkey sausage along with corn, leeks and onions for a New England summer classic. You could also serve grilled mahi mahi or tuna brushed with honey on a bed of greens with a side of grilled fruit, fruit salsa or mango chutney. It's an entrée with a lot of plate appeal and without the hamburger hangover.

Sweeten the deal
Fruits and fresh berries topped with low-fat crème fraiche or low-fat whipped cream will satisfy your guests' sweet tooth without sending them into sugar shock, says Tutera. For a cool finale, scoop a trio of sorbets into a glass or an oblong dish and top them off with a sprig of mint or basil.

Set the scene
"A lot of people think summer parties are just about being outside," says Tutera, adding that in entertaining, as in life, it's the little things that count. So pick a fabulous tablecloth to set the mood, substitute your paper plates for colorful plastic, load up on candles (but keep smelly citronellas away from the food) and finish with pots of sunflowers or a tray of natural grass.

Get moving
"Music is the heartbeat of any party," says Tutera. Not only is it a salve for the dreaded awkward silence, but the right soundtrack is bound to get your friends burning off their meals faster than your can say merengue. Pop in a crowd-pleasing compilation like Buddha Bar, Aria 1 or 2, Hotel Coast or Pottery Barn's party mixes, and you're good to groove.

Zucchini Oat Muffins

ZUCCHINI OAT MUFFINS
makes 24, 3 PointsPlus each.
1/2 C rolled oats + 2T
1 1/2 C all-purpose flour
1 C whole wheat flour
1 C sugar
1 T baking powder
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
3 egg whites
1/2 C apple or pumpkin butter
1/4 C canola oil
2 C shredded zucchini


OPTIONAL mix ins, add 1 pt. per muffin for any two below:
1/4 C chopped pecans
1/4 C dried fruit such as raisins, blueberries, or dates
1/4 C dark chocolate


1. Preheat oven to 375. Spray 24 muffin cups with cooking spray or line with cupcake papers
2. In a large bowl, whisk together dry ingredients - oats, flours, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together wet ingredients - eggs, egg whites, apple butter, oil. When well combined stir in zucchini.
4. Add wet ingredients to dry, mixing until just combined. Stir in nuts, fruit or chocolate if desired.
5. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups until about 2/3 - 3/4 full. Sprinkle tops of muffins with remaining oats.
6. Bake 20 - 25 minutes until light golden and tester comes out clean.
7. Enjoy! These freeze great as well.

SUPER GOOD SMOOTHIES!!!

SUPER GOOD SMOOTHIES!!!

Give your weight loss journey a boost! Get the calcium you need with a Smoothie treat! You can also add milk instead of water to get your milks in for the day. Just remember to adjust the pointsPlus values!!

Vanilla Smoothie Mix:

Dreamsicle: (3 ppv) 1 pack vanilla blended with 8 oz tropican orange juice light.
Variation: Substitute 8 oz diet orange soda for orange juice = 2 point
Root Beer Float: (2 PPV) 1 pack vanilla blended with 8 oz diet root beer/ice
Pina Colada: (4 PPV) 1 pack vanilla blended with 1/8 tsp coconut and rum extracts, 1/3 cup crushed pineapple, 1 tbl frozen lemonade and 8 oz water/ice
Very Vanilla: (2 PPV) 1 pack vanilla blended with 1 vanilla bean and 8 oz water/ice
Café Latte: (2 PPV) 1 pack vanilla blended with 1 tsp instant coffee and 8 oz water/ice
Fruity Smoothie: (2 PPV) 1 pack vanilla blended with 1 cup frozen fruit and 8 oz water/ice
Chai Smoothie (2 PPV): Add ½ -1 teaspoon of chai mix shown below. Blend with 1 cup each water and ice.
Chai Tea Mix: 1/4 cup unsweetened instant tea (dry), 2 teaspoons ground ginger, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom, 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
Green Tea Smoothie (2 PPV): Add 1-2 teaspoons green tea powder. Blend with 1 cup each water and ice.
Moroccan Smoothie (2 PPV): Add a few drops of orange blossom water. Blend with 1 cup each water and ice. Sprinkle a bit of cinnamon on top.
Pumpkin Pie Smoothie (2 PPV): Add 1 cup each water and ice with 3T canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) and 1/2 t pumpkin pie spice.
Apple Pie Smoothie (2 PPV): Add 1 cup each unsweetened applesauce, water and ice. Sprinkle cinnamon to taste and blend. (Makes a big smoothie that can be shared.)
Piña Colada Smoothie (2 PPV): WW Vanilla Smoothie Mix, with ½ cup crushed pineapple (packed in its own juice) ¼ teaspoon coconut extract, 1 cup water, and 1 cup ice.
Peanut Butter Blizzard (6 PPV): WW Vanilla Smoothie Mix, with 1 cup fat-free milk, and 1 WW Peanut Butter Bliss Mini Bar, chopped.

Chocolate Smoothie Mix:

Mounds Bar: (2 PPV) 1 pack chocolate blended with 1/8 tsp coconut extract and 8 oz water/ice
Almond Joy: (2 PPV) 1 pack chocolate blended with 1/8 tsp coconut extract, 1/8 tsp almond extract and 8 oz water/ice
Mocha: (2 pt) 1 pack chocolate blended with 1 tsp instant coffee and 8 oz water/ice
Peanut Butter Cup: (4 PPV) 1 pack chocolate blended with 1 tbl low fate peanut butter and 8 oz water/ice
Chunky Monkey: ( 1 PPV) 1 pack chocolate blended with 1 small banana and 8 oz water/ice
Grasshopper: (2 PPV) 1 pack chocolate blended with 1/8 tsp mint extract and 8 oz water/ice
Fruity Smoothie: (2 PPV) 1 pack chocolate blended with 1 cup frozen fruit and 8 oz water/ice
Coffee Caramel Macchiato: (2 PPV) 1 pack chocolate blended with 1 tsp instant coffee, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tbsp SF FFcaramel topping and 8 oz water/ice = 1 point
Great Ape Smoothie : (2 PPV) Add a small banana. Blend and serve.
Chocolate Turtle Smoothie: (4 ppv) Prepare smoothie and top with 1 tablespoon fat-free caramel sauce and 1/2 tablespoon chopped pecans.
Peppermint Patty Smoothie: (4 ppv) 1 cup each skim milk and ice with 3-4 drops of peppermint extract.
Blizzard Smoothie: (6 PPV) 1 cup each skim milk and ice. Blend in 1 mint cookie crisp bar.

Getting the most of your veggies

Here are some great ideas that we shared this week at the meeting.
Enjoy them.

Diana

Salad Greens
Article By: Mark Scarbrough and Bruce Weinstein



There’s a lot more to salad greens than packaged mixes or a head of iceberg lettuce. Here’s the scoop on our favorite varieties.

Tips for Buying and Storing
•Look for compact heads without mushy spots or brown discoloration. Avoid microgreens or softer lettuces with squishy leaves.
•If you’re buying packaged greens, toss the package a few times to make sure there’s no hidden rot among the leaves.
•For storage of head lettuces, remove the root knot or ball, separate the leaves and place them in a cleaned sink filled with cold water. Give them a stir, then leave them for a couple minutes, stirring occasionally to let any grit fall off the leaves.
•If you have a salad spinner, scoop the wet leaves into it (leaving the water and grit behind), dry them by spinning, and then drain off the water in the spinner. Cover again and store the greens in the spinner in the refrigerator for up to a week.
•If you don’t have a salad spinner, scoop the wet leaves out of the sink and dry them between layers of paper towels. Roll the leaves up between dry layers of paper towels and seal them in a large plastic bag. Poke a few holes in the bag for aeration and store in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Beyond Salad: Other Things to Do with Greens
•Stronger microgreens like arugula and watercress are great on pizzas and in panini. You can also shred radicchio or endive for the same purpose.
•Escarole, sorrel and dandelion greens are great in soups and stews. Just chop the leaves and stir them in for the last 10 to 15 minutes of cooking time.
•Hearty lettuces like escarole, romaine, Belgian endive and radicchio can be halved or quartered through their roots (rather than chopped), sprayed with nonstick spray and then grilled. Cook them over direct heat for no more than 5 minutes, just until a little softened and warmed up.
•Larger leaves of romaine, radicchio, Boston or Bibb lettuce make nice cups for the likes of tuna salad or tabbouleh.
•Large soft leaves of Boston, red leaf or green leaf lettuce can become the wraps for savory fillings, summer rolls or newfangled burritos.
•The best greens on burgers? Watercress, romaine, mâche

Zucchini Oat Muffins

Skye made them and said they were delicious so let's try this new recipe this week.

ZUCCHINI OAT MUFFINS (Thank you Skye from Westiminster)
makes 24, 3 PointsPlus each.
1/2 C rolled oats + 2T
1 1/2 C all-purpose flour
1 C whole wheat flour
1 C sugar
1 T baking powder
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
3 egg whites
1/2 C apple or pumpkin butter
1/4 C canola oil
2 C shredded zucchini


OPTIONAL mix ins, add 1 pt. per muffin for any two below:
1/4 C chopped pecans
1/4 C dried fruit such as raisins, blueberries, or dates
1/4 C dark chocolate


1. Preheat oven to 375. Spray 24 muffin cups with cooking spray or line with cupcake papers
2. In a large bowl, whisk together dry ingredients - oats, flours, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together wet ingredients - eggs, egg whites, apple butter, oil. When well combined stir in zucchini.
4. Add wet ingredients to dry, mixing until just combined. Stir in nuts, fruit or chocolate if desired.
5. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups until about 2/3 - 3/4 full. Sprinkle tops of muffins with remaining oats.
6. Bake 20 - 25 minutes until light golden and tester comes out clean.
7. Enjoy! These freeze great as well.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Yield: 8 Servings

1 1/4 pounds skinless boneless chicken breasts
1 1/2 cups onions, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup beer
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 (28 ounce) can chopped tomatoes, drained
1/2 cup green onions, thinly sliced (divided)
2 (2 1/4 ounce) can sliced olives, drained (divided)
2 (4 ounce) cans chopped green chilies, drained
5 Tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander seed
2 cups 1% low fat milk
2 large egg whites, lightly beaten
3/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
6 (6-inch) corn tortillas, cut in half
1/2 cup fat free sour cream
1/2 cup salsa

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat 2 1/2 quart casserole dish with cooking spray.

2. Spray a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Place over medium heat until hot. Add chicken; cook 6 minutes on each side, or until done. Remove chicken from skillet and let cool. Shred chicken with 2 forks; set aside.

3. Re-coat skillet with cooking spray; place over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Add shredded chicken, beer, red pepper and tomatoes; cook 15 minutes, or until most of the liquid has evaporated. Remove from heat. Reserve 1 Tablespoon green onions and 1 Tablespoon olives for garnish. Stir in remaining green onions, olives and chilies into chicken mixture; set aside.

4. Combine flour, salt, cumin and coriander in medium saucepan. Gradually add milk, stirring with a whisk until blended. Place over medium heat; cook 7 minutes or until thick, stirring constantly. Gradually add hot milk mixture to egg whites, stirring constantly with whisk. Set aside.

5. Place cheeses in bowl; toss well and set aside.

6. Spread 1/2 cup white sauce in bottom of casserole dish. Arrange 4 tortilla halves over sauce; top with 2 cups chicken mixture, 1/2 cup sauce and 1/2 cup cheese mixture. Repeat layers twice, ending with sauce. Set aside remaining 1/2 cup cheese mixture.

7. Bake, uncovered, or 40 minutes or until hot. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese, reserved green onions and olives; bake an additional 5 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Serve with sour cream and salsa.


PointsPlus® Value: 7

Low Fat Sloppy Joes

Low Fat Sloppy Joes

Yield: 6 servings (3/4 cup meat + 1 bun)

1 teaspoon olive oil
2 cups finely chopped mushrooms
1 cup finely chopped sweet onion
1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped celery
1/4 cup finely chopped carrot
2 cloves garlic, minced
6 ounces lean ground turkey breast
6 ounces lean ground beef
1/4 cup ketchup
1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 Tablespoon worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
6 (1 1/2-ounce) whole-wheat hamburger buns, toasted

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and next 7 ingredients; sauté 5 minutes or until meat is browned, stirring to crumble. Stir in ketchup and next 6 ingredients; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Serve on toasted hamburger buns.
Tips:
*These are pretty good with a slice of sharp cheddar melted on top too. Add calories in :)

PointsPlus® Value per serving: 7

BBQ Points Plus

Points Plus for most common BBQ foods.

Hamburger (with bun) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Hot dog (with bun). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Corn dog. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Chili dog (with bun). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 11
Chicken satay (2 skewers, with peanut sauce). . . . 12
Barbecued chicken drumstick (with skin). . . . . . . . . . 3
Grilled veggies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 0
Shrimp (2 oz) and veggie kebob. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Potato salad (½ cup). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Macaroni salad (½ cup). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Coleslaw (½ cup). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Deviled egg (1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Corn on the cob (1 medium ear, plain). . . . . . . . . . . 2
Corn on the cob (with 2 Tbsp butter). . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Potato chips (14 chips) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Tortilla chips (12 chips). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Salsa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Guacamole (¼ cup) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Crudités . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Ranch dip (2 Tbsp). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Lemonade (1 cup). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Beer (12 oz) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Margarita . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Wine spritzer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Watermelon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Ice cream (½ cup). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Brownie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
S’mores . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Declaration of Thindependence

DECLARATION OF THINDEPENDENCE

I HAVE A RIGHT TO BE THIN.

I HAVE A RIGHT TO AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE.

I HAVE A RIGHT TO SAY “NO”.

I HAVE A RIGHT TO FEEL GOOD.

I HAVE A RIGHT TO TAKE CARE OF MYSELF.

I HAVE A RIGHT TO MAKE SENSIBLE CHOICES.


I HAVE A RIGHT TO BE THIN FROM WITHIN.

Avoid Vacation Amnesia

Avoid Vacation Amnesia

Don't let a week-long vacation turn into a six-month-long vacation from weight-loss.


Article By: Melissa Sperl

Watch out! There's a threat that can wreak havoc on your weight-loss plans. It's called Vacation Amnesia, and strikes when you take a break from work and forget about your weight-loss plans. The symptoms — abandonment of efforts, loss of motivation — can be contracted during any part of life, not just during vacation. They can creep into periods of stress, happiness, or even boredom. But they don't have to be fatal. Follow our 4-step "Avoid Vacation Amnesia" plan, and you'll come away from the scare still feeling good about the progress you're making toward your weight goals.

STEP 1: Choose Your Option
Setting a Winning Outcome — a powerful tool from Weight Watchers Tools For Living — is like setting a goal, and it's important to do it before any potential loss of motivation.

When you know that a difficult weight-loss situation (like a vacation) is approaching, choose whether you want to come out of it having lost weight, maintained the weight you've already lost, or having relaxed a little bit and maybe even gained. Knowing ahead of time what you want the outcome of your efforts to be will help you set up a plan of attack.

STEP 2: Determine Strategies
Consider what aspects of your upcoming vacation might make it difficult for you to stick with the Winning Outcome you set during Step 1? How will you manage offers of food and snacks? How will you eat out in restaurants? Will you be able to get online where you're going? How will you exercise?

STEP 3: Gather the Necessary Tools
Before you go away, you may find it easier to make a list of the things you'll need to pack; things that will make it easier for you to stay on track.

For example, what things will you need for your work-out? Do you have favorite healthy snacks that might be difficult to find where you're going? Are you prepared to track your PointsPlus™ values even while you're away from home, by logging in to Weight Watchers mobile, using our app, or a paper tracker?

STEP 4: Make a Post-Vacation Commitment
Vacation Amnesia can often linger for days or weeks after the actual vacation. Some people can feel like they fell so far off track while they were away, they might as well just keep eating a lot and start up again later. Decide before you go that no matter what happens, you'll pick up your efforts again the day you get back.