The Summer season is fast approaching and for many that
spells fear. Why?
Bathing Suits!

If you’re one who wants to shed a few pounds you’ve packed
on due to the pandemic or the holidays and are thinking of
trying diet pills, rethink that and try spices instead.

Spices?
Yes, not your usual salt and pepper, but a wide array of spices
and herbs- like…basil, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, oregano,
turmeric, rosemary, etc.

Why Spices?
Researchers say that adding more spices not only make you
feel more satisfied, they can also boost metabolism,
decrease the amount of fat-storage hormones (in your body)
and block blood flow to fat tissue and lowers the formation of
new fat.

And there’s more- not only will spices and herbs help you slim down,
they also help keep cholesterol and blood pressure levels down, help
you prevent colds and flu, reduce your odds of getting certain cancers
and may even boost longevity.

So, if you’re ready to reduce your weight and live a little longer,
add the ingredients from the 2 recipes (listed below) to this
week’s grocery list.

a) Recipe No. 1-
The Skinny Spicy Pasta Bowl-
If you’ve given up pasta due to the calories, put it back on
the menu.
Ingredients:
Ground Turkey or chicken breast- 4 oz.
1/2 cup of your favorite healthy pasta sauce
1 to 2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp. dried hot pepper flakes
3/4 cup whole grain pasta *
2 Tbs. basil (dried or fresh)
To make:
*Pasta- Cook the pasta the day before and refrigerate it.
Doing this one trick, makes it (the pasta) a resistant-starch,
which means you’ll absorb far fewer calories.
Cook the turkey or chicken in a heated non-stick skillet;
add the pasta sauce, seasoning and hot pepper. Throw in the
pasta, and stir until pasta is coated. Add some fresh or dried basil.
Serve immediately, along with a salad, or a green- broccoli or
sauteed kale.

b) Recipe No. 2-
Skinny French Toast-
Is the French toast gone like the pasta?
Bring it back, cinnamon and other spices can help
lower the calorie count.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup egg whites
1/4 cup fat-free milk
2 tsps. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. of the sweet blend *
2 slices of gluten-free bread
or lite whole-grain bread
* Sweet Blend- you can buy a combination of
sweet spices or make your own. Pour some
pumpkin spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and
ground cloves into a small jar, shake well and store
in a dry, dark place.
Add a 1/2 tsp. to a baked good, oatmeal, tea, millet
brown rice or a smoothie.
To make:
Whisk together all ingredients except the bread. Add
the bread to the liquid mixture, until both sides
are coated. Heat up a skillet, add cooking spray or
a Tbs. of olive (or coconut oil) and then the bread.
Brown both sides of the bread, remove from the pan
and place on a plate.
Serve with low-calorie jam or syrup, or heat some
mixed berries in a small saucepan with some of the
sweet blend. Heat for 2 to 3 minutes.
Or add some of the sweet blend to plain yogurt
and use it as a topping.

One last tip:
You have a recipe for sweet blend, here’s one for
a savory blend: Mix together equal parts of dried
oregano, dill basil, garlic powder, onion powder,
black pepper, rosemary, thyme, parsley and coriander.
Use this in veggie stir-fries, soups, pepper steak, eggs,
potato and pasta dishes, rub on a steak before cooking it,
or add a tsp. to a cup of very hot
water and sip slowly like tea.