SWEET PEPPER NACHOS: Use baby sweet peppers as a chip base for nachos. Fun idea... just leave out the cheese (of find an IP friendly substitution like veggie cheese).

INGREDIENTS
1 pound grass fed beef
2 cloves garlic, pressed 1 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp white pepper
1 tsp ground cumin

About 10 to 12 small sweet baby bell peppers, halved
hot sauce, banana peppers, and Parmesan cheese (optional, Not IP Phase 1 approved. Ask your coach about other possible substitutions like veggie cheese if you require it)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Heat ground beef, garlic, and other spices in a pan over medium high heat. Cook until meat is no longer pink and then let simmer for a few minutes.

2. Cut baby peppers in half length-wise and cut out the middle (clearly by the picture I wasn't too worried about leaving some of the seeds in there). Lay out on a baking stone, or whatever you have, and spoon the cooked meat into the centers.

3. Top with banana peppers and grated cheese if desired.

4. Broil for about ten minutes then eat!

WOLFGANG PUCK'S GRILLED ROSEMARY GARLIC SHRIMP KEBABS: Summer is in full swing, so fire up your BBQ. In my opinion, Summer is one of the best times to diet, since you want to drink a lot of water and its so easy to grill up your meats and veggies for a wide variety of delicious, quick meals. Here is a great one for entertaining.

INGREDIENTS
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon lemon zest, grated
2 or 3 fresh basil leaves, cut into fine julienne strips
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 lemons, cut into 8 wedges, seeds removed
8 sturdy fresh rosemary sprigs, each 6 to 8 inches long
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS
1. In a large nonreactive bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, lemon zest, basil, and garlic.

2. Add the shrimp, stir to coat them evenly, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and no more than 3 hours.

3. Preheat an outdoor grill, an indoor double-sided grill or the broiler. Strip the leaves from each rosemary sprig, leaving just a tuft at one end. With the knife or gardening sheers, trim the opposite end of each branch to a point. Soak in water for 15 minutes.

4. With the tip of a small, sharp knife, carefully remove any visible seeds from the lemon wedges. Set the wedges aside.


5. Remove the shrimp from the marinade and skewer them on the rosemary sprigs, passing the point of each branch through both the head and tail end of each shrimp and alternating the shrimp with lemon wedges on the skewers.

6. When the grill or broiler is ready, season the shrimp on both sides with salt and pepper to taste. Place the skewers on the grill rack directly over the fire, or under the broiler, and cook until they turn bright pink all over, 1 to 2 minutes per side, turning the skewers once with long-handled tongs.

Serve immediately, encouraging guests to slide the shrimp and lemon wedges carefully off their skewers and squeeze the warm lemon wedges over the shrimp.

*Courtesy of Wolfgang Puck's "Wolfgang Puck Makes it Easy."

ASPARAGUS: Hints for perfect grilling! Spear with bamboo. All you need is a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, a spray of olive oil, and some freshly ground salt and pepper.

Study shows that as states spend more money on health care, obesity rates actually increase.


http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/261564.php

Study Shows Governmental Anti-Obesity Initiatives Are Not Working

www.medicalnewstoday.com

Americans are gaining weight at an alarming rate, with obesity increasing from 12 percent of the nation's population in 1990 to 23 percent by 2005, according to the 

"My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life, but doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment." - Oprah Winfrey

 For the body, simple and complex carbohydrates are its checking account, while fat is its savings account. Money can be withdrawn from a checking account or a savings account, but it is not spent in the same way. To lose weight we must learn to live off our savings account.

Eight sneaky sources of sugars to keep an eye on while on maintenance.

http://www.youbeauty.com/health/columns/beauty-equals-health/healthy-foods-with-high-sugar