ANNIVERSARY CHOCOLATE CAKE

4 sq. (4 oz.) unsweetened chocolate


1/2 c. butter

2 c. sugar

2 eggs, beaten

2 c. flour

2 tsp. vanilla

1 c. chopped nuts

1 1/2 c. milk

Melt chocolate over hot water. Cream butter and sugar together. Add beaten eggs and chocolate. Add flour alternately with vanilla and milk mixture. Add nuts. Bake in two 9 inch square pans in 350 degree oven for 40 minutes or in three 9 inch round pans for 25 minutes. Frost with recipe below.

FROSTING:

1/4 c. butter

2 sq. (2 oz.) unsweetened chocolate

1 egg, beaten

1/8 tsp. salt

1 1/3 c. powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. lemon juice

1 c. chopped nuts

Melt butter and chocolate together. Add egg, salt, sugar, vanilla, lemon juice and nuts.

Enjoy!

TIPS FOR LOSING WEIGHT...

1. Pay attention while you eat. Many times, we snack while doing other things such as watching TV. Without even knowing it, we have consumed a few hundred extra calories. That may not seem like much, but it adds up.

2. Regulate your meal times. Pick times throughout the day when you can sit down and actually enjoy your breakfast, lunch and dinner. Stick to these this to allow your body to pick up on the times and allow it to get used to processing food at these times.

3. Get in the habit of eating healthily on a daily basis. Eat loads of fresh fruit and vegetables throughout the day. This is certainly going to help with your cravings for junk food and just after a few days you will be feeling much healthier and fitter.

4.Start and finish your eating for the day early. Eat breakfast as early as possible, and finish your day off with an early dinner and a no-eat-after-8pm. Your body is most active during the daytime, which means that it will burn more calories then than at night.

5.Avoid late night snacks as they can prevent you from losing weight. As said earlier, your body is less active at night, meaning that you have a greater chance of turning that slice of pizza into pure fat than burning it as a source of energy.

6.Eat your vegetables. Vegetables, especially raw ones, burn more calories than those packed in the vegetables themselves. Also, the fiber in vegetables gives a sense of fullness.

7.Be honest with yourself. If you know you have a weakness for chocolate chip cookies, buying a two-pound bag to keep in the house may give you more temptation than you can handle; if you know you do not have a lot of energy in the morning, it can be self-defeating to plan on jogging every morning before work.

EATING SMART: A KEYSTEP TOWARDS HEALTHY EATING...

Healthy eating begins with learning how to “eat smart”. It's not just what you eat, but how you eat. Paying attention to what you eat and choosing foods that are both nourishing and enjoyable helps support an overall healthy diet.

Take time to chew your food: Chew your food slowly, savoring every bite. We tend to rush though our meals, forgetting to actually taste the flavors and feel the textures of what is in our mouths. Reconnect with the joy of eating.

Avoid stress while eating: When we are stressed, our digestion can be compromised, causing problems like colitis and heartburn. Avoid eating while working, driving, arguing, or watching TV (especially disturbing programs or the news). Try taking some deep breaths prior to beginning your meal, or light candles and play soothing music to create a relaxing atmosphere.

Listen to your body: Ask yourself if you are really hungry. You may really be thirsty, so try drinking a glass of water first. During a meal, stop eating before you feel full. It actually takes a few minutes for your brain to tell your body that it has had enough food, so eat slowly. Eating just enough to satisfy your hunger will help you remain alert, relaxed and feeling your best, rather than stuffing yourself into a “food coma”!

Eat early, eat often: Starting your day with a healthy breakfast can jumpstart your metabolism, and eating the majority of your daily caloric allotment early in the day gives your body time to work those calories off. Also, eating small, healthy meals throughout the day, rather than the standard three large meals, can help keep your metabolism going and ward off snack attacks.

TIPS FOR A HEALTHY AND A BETTER NUTRITION...

Big picture strategies for healthy eating Eat enough calories but not too many. Maintain a balance between your calorie intake and calorie expenditure—that is, don't eat more food than your body uses. The average recommended daily allowance is 2,000 calories, but this depends on your age, sex, height, weight, and physical activity.

Eat a wide variety of foods. Healthy eating is an opportunity to expand your range of choices by trying foods—especially vegetables, whole grains, or fruits—that you don't normally eat.
Keep portions moderate, especially high-calorie foods. In recent years serving sizes have ballooned, particularly in restaurants. Choose a starter instead of an entrée, split a dish with a friend, and don’t order supersized anything.

Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes—foods high in complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, low in fat, and free of cholesterol. Try to get fresh, local produce
Drink more water. Our bodies are about 75% water. It is a vital part of a healthy diet. Water helps flush our systems, especially the kidneys and bladder, of waste products and toxins. A majority of Americans go through life dehydrated.

Limit sugary foods, salt, and refined-grain products. Sugar is added to a vast array of foods. In a year, just one daily 12-ounce can of soda (160 calories) can increase your weight by 16 pounds. See suggestions below for limiting salt and substituting whole grains for refined grains.

Don’t be the food police. You can enjoy your favorite sweets and fried foods in moderation, as long as they are an occasional part of your overall healthy diet. Food is a great source of pleasure, and pleasure is good for the heart – even if those French fries aren’t!

Get moving. A healthy diet improves your energy and feelings of well-being while reducing your risk of many diseases. Adding regular physical activity and exercise will make any healthy eating plan work even better.
Establishing new food habits is much easier if you focus on and take action on one food group or food fact at a time. WELCOME TO A NEW YEAR!