Expert advice tips with a practical spin!

I feel really guilty because I haven't posted, but I have been staying on the right track. I find that my hardest "habit" to keep under control is late night eating. I suggested drinking a glass of skim at night in an earlier post, but then I start to want some oreos to dip that in and it's not very effective at my weaker moments. I find drinking tea while I'm watching some late night television works wonders. I'm a big fan of teavana. They have some great flavored teas that really hit the sweet spot.

While we're on the topic of snaking here is some really cool advice I saw on the Women's Health Website:

The Advice: If You Must Drink While You Diet, Order a White-wine Spritzer.

Why it's useless: Despite the dainty name, it tastes just like what it is: watered-down wine.

The real deal: There's no weight-loss magic in a spritzer, a cup of wine diluted with calorie-free carbonated water. It's just another portion-control trick that trims your total calorie intake, Clark says. If you balk at the idea of outdated cocktails or weak-tasting grape juice, slowly sipping a glass of water between rounds of pinot grigio accomplishes the same goal.

I actually love this idea because I really enjoy a great glass of wine, and my family always seems to have sangria at parties. I am going to try this one. I also really like this piece of advice below because I've found myself deliberately chewing slower and not only do I taste my food longer, but I get full faster. The conjunction of eating slower and the tip below seem like great options:

The Advice: Put Half Your Entrée in a To-go Box Before You Start to Eat.

Why it's useless: You know you have portion-control issues, but that doesn't mean you want everyone else at your table to know it too. The real deal: A better way to cut back on restaurant binging is to pretend the breadbasket is sprinkled with cyanide and to double up on veggie sides instead of ordering fries. Also effective: putting your fork down between bites, which gives your stomach and brain time to register that you're full (which takes about 20 minutes). Once your gauge hits "F," ask the waiter to box up the rest of your food right away so you won't keep nibbling, Benzinger says.

So today I made different muffins. These do not have oil or butter, which I like. I added an extra banana to the recipe and 1/4 cup skim milk due to the suggestions under the recipe. These are Lighter Banana Muffins. They are a little chewy as compared to some other recipes, but I think it's worth sacrificing a little texture because otherwise these are delicious.

I also made Italian Style Meatballs. I use panko breadcrumbs instead of the suggested traditional breadcrumbs. They tend to have less calories and salt than traditional, and they are less absorbent; panko doesn't get as greasy as traditional bread crumbs. I've been searching for whole wheat panko, but I haven't been able to find it at any of my local supermarkets. If you can find it, that would be the obvious best option.

Lastly, my guiltiest pleasure, which isn't very guilty anymore, is the Caesar Salad I posted about a while back. It's delicious. We can't get enough of it in our house, and today I added a little pan seared tuna instead of chicken. I'm still on the search for other great salad dressing. Though I've posted some good ones, nothing compares to the Caesar yet.

Anyway, keep on keepin' on :)