You live to throw unique dinner parties, you own a blowtorch for crème brûlée and a mandolin for paper-thin garnishes. You can make delicate gazpacho 'pearls' from agar powder and you smoke your own meats at home with exotic woods. You are officially a card-carrying Foodie. Congratulations.
But if you are like most of us, you could stand to lose a few pounds. What is the guilty gourmand to do? Are weight loss and a highly developed palate a doomed combination? We say no way. Here are some tips to get slim while looking fabulous in front of your eight-burner Viking stove.
If you love good food and consider cooking and eating to be one of the great pleasures in life, weight loss can be especially difficult. Many traditional diets expect you to eat low-quality foods or rely upon shakes or bars that will not fit your lifestyle or preferences. You can succeed at weight loss with a diet that embraces beautiful, fresh produce, lean meats and gourmet techniques.
Ideally, you are looking to get healthier and not just fit in to your high school jeans again. I would suggest concentrating on two major risk factors first: stomach fat and high cholesterol. Fortunately, you can address these problems through eating correctly.
Experts agree that it is much more dangerous to your health if you have an apple shape versus a pear shape, meaning more weight around your middle. Extra inches on the waist imply the most dangerous kind of fat, inviting heart disease and possibly shortening your life. The best way to combat this type of fat is to eat regularly and to manage stress. Stressed out people tend to store fat on the waist. So don't skip meals and renew that yoga class card.
Everybody is concerned with their cholesterol level these days and the way it can impact a person’s overall health. We all know the high cholesterol foods to avoid, but you can also benefit from eating certain cholesterol lowering foods. Here is a list of foods that lower cholesterol that are both delicious and healthy: Avocados, Olive Oil, Walnuts & Almonds, Garlic, Oatmeal, Blueberries, Grapes, Broccoli and Soy. Research new recipes using these foods and incorporate them in to your lifestyle a little at a time.
Here are some other tips that will easily fit in to an epicurean gastronome's lifestyle.
Season, Spice and Experiment
As a food lover, trying new cuisines and ingredients is a passion. Keep exploring this year and empty out that spice rack. What a great excuse to buy more! Highly spiced food means that you will use less salt and fat for flavor. Make up your own spice mixes to go with all the new vegetables and whole grains you will be sampling.
Green Tea
Not only does green tea contain antioxidants to keep you healthy, it also raises metabolism for hours. Add in a dash of cayenne powder to give your heart an extra boost.
The B Word
We all know that eating breakfast jumps starts your day and prevents overeating later on. If, like me, you just can't stomach traditional breakfast foods in the morning, eat lunch or dinner foods instead. I enjoy fresh green beans sautéed in olive oil, garlic and dry sherry then sprinkled with toasted walnuts first thing in the morning. You get the idea - there are no rules, except the one that you must eat something (healthy) for breakfast everyday.
Apple Cider Vinegar
A teaspoon or two of unfiltered, raw apple cider vinegar has been shown to greatly reduce belly fat. Sprinkle it on vegetables, use in salad dressings or even add it to your tea. Just don't cook with it or you will lose some of its healthful properties.
Have a Cocktail Party Every Day
This should be a breeze for gourmets. I am not talking about downing six martinis every night; this is more about savoring every bite and slowing down. Think of appetizers at a cocktail party, they are beautiful, strong flavored mini-bites of deliciousness. Instead of dumping a huge spoonful of whatever onto your plate, try designing a few small items that are visually appealing as well as healthy. Use meat more as a condiment and play around with colors, flavors and textures. Use smaller, elegant plates, pour a glass of your favorite red, turn off the TV, put flowers on the table and eat slowly. Mindful eating will reward you with a sensual experience that will delight your inner hedonist.
Embrace the New Food Trends for 2011
You know that mini cupcakes are soooo 2010. Be the first of your friends to throw a gourmet popsicle party, they are low fat and delicious - try cucumber-chili, rosewater or how about chocolate-wasabi?
Also, take a jump on the local-is-better bandwagon. Buy organic, in-season produce from your local grower, or start your own garden. If you live in Mexico City, Sembradores Urbanos (Urban Sowers), located in Colonia Roma, can help you set up your own garden patch, even if you live on the 15th floor of a high-rise. Through buying products from organizations such as Productos de la Chinampa, you will support local farmers. This group is made up of farmers using the 1,000-year-old techniques still used on the floating gardens of Xochimilco. Eating locally and in season - you can't get more modern than that.
The more you do to spend time in the preparation of food, the greater your enjoyment of meals will be. We aren't born loving vegetables, fruits and whole grains, but they are tastes we can develop. Just like with children, it takes trying a new food about 10 - 15 times before we adopt it in to our repertoire. Fortunately, as a foodie, you are already open to trying new tastes and textures. You are way ahead in the weight loss game.
Juliet Lambert is the owner of Spice Catering in Mexico City. She may be reached at juliet@spicemexico.com
CAJA
Sembradores Urbanos
Workshops and advice on urban gardening
Callejón Durango - no number, corner of Plaza Romerita
Colinia Roma Norte
55.3674.8690
http://sembradoresurbanos.org
De La Chinampa
For a list of retail locations, or to inquire about home delivery:
contacto@delachinampa.com
http://www.delachinampa.com
