McDonald's Thrives, Employees Collect Food Stamps, Other Government Assistance - And You're Loving It!

I have a problem with big businesses like McDonalds. It's too big and their greatness is not reflected in their value as an employer. I know there will always be "big dogs" and "small fries" within any group of anything - and I am not mad at success - but can we at least get a good grip of what success entails?

McDonalds to Uncle Sam: You Scratch My Back, I'll Scratch My Back

McDonalds is a ginormous corporation that generates BILLIONS of dollars in profit annually (even quarterly), yet the employees are barely paid. How can McDonald's be a great American success story when it takes money out of the hands of Americans to subsidize the payment of wages to its employees?

Actually, in what world do we live in where there is a minimum wage and a living wage and we allow the minimum wage to be set so substantially lower than the living wage? If the minimum wage does not equal the living wage, it is mathematically impossible for anyone to thrive off the minimum wage, without working multiple jobs. What is the point of having a minimum wage if it means that 40 hours a week are simply not enough?

The problem that is created when the minimum wage is lower than the living wage is that companies are not doing anything illegal by watching their employees enroll into government assistance. Companies like McDonald's are aware of the number of employees seeking that assistance and can easily see within their own company that the wages paid are simply not enough to support the most basic needs of a huge percentage of their employees - and it is so much more lucrative for them to not care and do nothing.

At What Point Does "Taking" Tax Money Become Simple Theft?

McDonalds, and other megacorporations, could easily raise the wages of employees and still generate billions of dollars in profit, without ever collecting one cent from taxpayer dollars, and (I don't care what anybody says or calculates) without raising the price of that Big Mac made from Lord-knows-what (that people are obviously okay with eating, still, for whatever reason).

We cherish McDonald's in the country as a great American success story, but how many of the employees of McDonald's experience that same pride as an employee of one of the greatest business endeavors in this country? And as one of the greatest examples of business success in the world, how in the hell can McDonald's justify the use of tax payer money to basically pay what they are not paying to employees, when they are well aware of the economic situation of our country and their employees (unless of course the justification is to never reduce the profit margin for any reason, in which case it would make way more sense to do nothing and keep saving...)

I say saving because it obviously saves the corporation money. If McDonald's did increase the wages of employees (and this is not a sob story for corporate profits) it would cost them, obviously, the extra money they put into, and that would be compounded by employer contribution taxes, health care costs, and other liability costs like general liability and worker's compensation, and I'm sure in other ways, too.

I just don't care.

STOP FEELING BAD FOR CORPORATE PROFITS ALREADY - Are You Benefiting?

I am not saying McDonald's should go out of business (however, I personally do not understand why they are even in business as they current serve very little that I would actually ingest into my body - and pretty much nothing from their menu comes to mind...) but I am suggesting that, as is possible with any company, mistakes are being made. If they do not generate enough revenue to pay their employees a decent wage, they have a bad business model that requires some reworking.

Gasp, profits might need to drop a little (a little - we are talking BILLIONS GENERATED QUARTERLY - put away the tissues for corporate profits), maybe the price of a Big Mac does need to go up a little (I bet Burger King would enjoy a McDonald's price hike), because as with any company, the revenue from your products and services should support the overhead of the company.

By having employees who qualify and receive government assistance - at billions annually - there is obviously a problem with the wages and that part of the overhead is not being supported by the revenue from the products - although McDonalds generates more in profit quarterly than the amount of funds received by it's employees annually through government assistance.

McDonald's is robbing the poor (America - check our balance sheet) to finish paying the portion of the poor that they employ, and all while pocketing cash hand over fist.

If McDonald's could not thrive as a company by paying its employees enough that they did not qualify for government assistance, I still would not feel bad - but are you joking? These people pay millions of dollars for some air time on TV - adjusting the wages of the employees across the board will marginally effect profits, but could easily be compensated - causing no effect on profit margin - just by skipping some commercial advertisements at millions of dollars a piece here and there. Or whatever.

The bottom line, McDonald's wouldn't sweat if it doubled the wages of all its employees. I'm not an economist or analyst of finances, but I still don't give a damn what anybody says - these people are straight up crying wolf when they cry about profits or the imaginary need to increase items on the menu - and if they do, they do! Who's fault is anyway if the McDonald's business model (that includes fair compensation to its employees) is unprofitable?

If it really is, do the right thing and go out of business, McDonalds. But again - that is like, NEVER, going to happen. They could honestly double the wages AND provide whole, natural, organic food and STILL not even notice anything because they make so much money...

Sources for "McDonald's Thrives, Employees Collect Food Stamps, Other Government Assistance - And You're Loving It!":

"McDonald's Reports Solid Third Quarter 2013 Results" from McDonald's Press Release
http://news.mcdonalds.com/Corporate/Press-Releases/Financial-Release?xmlreleaseid=123038

"McDonald's Low Wages Cost Taxpayers $1.2 Billion Per Year: Study" by Jillian Berman, Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/15/mcdonalds-wages-taxpayers_n_4100866.html

Best Ever Freshly Squeezed Organic Texas Margarita de Oro (Gold)

Looking for a delicious, guilt-free cocktail (and light on the pansy)? This classic gold margarita recipe is all organic and made with real fresh fruit and organic agave nectar!

The taste of a freshly squeezed, organic margarita is so much better than artificially flavored and sweeten margaritas mixes (that give me an absolute headache del diablo). If you have never tried a freshly squeezed margarita, you just don't know what you are missing out on...

Organic Texas Margarita de Oro Ingredients:

• 4.5 ounces lime juice, freshly squeezed
• 1/2 orange juice, freshly squeezed
• 1 - 2 teaspoons organic agave nectar
• 1 ounce tequila of choice (make it 2 ounces for a fiesta strength margarita)
• (Optional) Simple syrup (1/2 water, 1/2 sugar mixture) to taste

Directions To Make Organic Texas Margarita de Oro:

1. Pour tequila over ice.
2. Squeeze in limes and orange half.
3. Add organic agave nectar
4. Shake and serve!

Power Up Your Morning Grits with Spinach & Mushrooms

Need a quick breakfast that is quick, fills you up, and full of powerful health benefits? Try this quick powerhouse grits breakfast with fresh mushrooms and spinach leaves.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups water
• 1 cup grits
• 1/2 cup fresh spinach
• 1/2 cup fresh mushroom pieces
• 2 teaspoons fresh garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• freshly ground sea salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Bring water to a boil.
2. Add fresh mushrooms to boiling water for about 30 seconds, then
3. Add grits and stir well.
4. As the grits thicken, add in the fresh spinach, minced garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, and ground sea salt and pepper to taste.

It's that simple! Enjoy this recipe as a complete breakfast or as a compliment to pork or beef dishes.

Natural Fruit Smoothie Recipe Featuring Strawberries, Spinach, & Chia Seeds

Looking for a delicious, healthy fruit smoothie to replace spent energy and gain vital nutrition? Try this all natural smoothie with fruit, spinach, and chia seeds for protein.

Since this delicious fruit smoothie contains spinach, it is also a green smoothie, although the color is not quite as green in this recipe. If you want to pump up the spinach for extra nutrition, it will certainly darken the smoothie!

Ingredients for this Natural Fruit Smoothie:

1 banana
1 medium apple
1/2 cup strawberries
1/4 cup raspberries
3 tablespoons chia seeds
1 cup spinach
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk, milk, or yogurt

Directions for this Natural Fruit Smoothie:

NOTES: You will want to use either a high powered blender or use a food processor to get a really smooth blend. This smoothie recipe yields about two servings.

Simply mix all the ingredients into a blender or food processor until well blended. Thicken the smoothie with an additional banana or thin the smoothie with extra coconut milk, milk, or water.

Make this healthy fruit smoothie as a meal replacement, a healthy afternoon treat, or as a source of energy before or after a workout.

Worried About the Perservative BHA or BHT in Your Foods?

It tricky keeping up with the dos and don'ts of preservatives and food additives (and food in general), but for those concerned, I do have some good news about the awkward looking BHA and BHT that is sometimes found on food nutrition labels: it's probably not that bad for you, and in theory, it's kind of good for you.

So What Exactly Is BHA & BHT?

At first glance of the nutrition label, you could quickly think that BHA or BHT looks like something to avoid, especially when it is commonly followed by "(as a preservative)". But it is basically sprayed, powdered antioxidants.

Technically, according to Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.,

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and the related compound butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are phenolic compounds that are often added to foods to preserve fats.

Oxygen reacts preferentially with BHA or BHT rather than oxidizing fats or oils, thereby protecting them from spoilage. In addition to being oxidizable, BHA and BHT are fat-soluble.

Cancer & BHA & BHT

There is a lot of conversation about the possible links between BHA and BHT and cancer and studies prove carcinogenic attributes, but it cannot be proved that the carcinogenic attributes that exist affect humans. BHA and BHT have been linked to causing tumors in rats, but it is in a part of their stomach that humans do not have. Some studies even suggest preventative benefits of BHA and BHT in that the antioxidant properties could slow or inhibit the grown of cancer.

The follow has been appended as of March 6, 2014 at approximately 10:00AM:

Bottom Line on BHA & BHT: Not Natural, Not Proved Harmful

To be fair, BHA nor BHT have actually been proven to cause harm to humans. It does possess carcinogenic and tumorigenic qualities, yet it also contains antioxidant qualities. Since the human body is not really affected by the cancerous aspects (which the antioxidant properties would help to counter), the antioxidants would become even more beneficial, probably making BHA and BHT more helpful than harmful - especially consider how long it really does extend the shelf life of food.

However, it is still an unnatural ingredient and that in itself is still aggravating to some, especially when something like vitamin E could be just as useful.

It as always a good idea to avoid unnatural foods and maintain a diet rich in whole, natural foods.

Sources for "Worried About the Perservative BHA or BHT in Your Foods?":

"BHA and BHT, Chemistry of BHA and BHT Food Preservatives" by Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
http://chemistry.about.com/od/foodcookingchemistry/a/bha-bht-preservatives.htm

"Fresh Look at Food Preservatives" by Judith E. Foulke
http://www.nettally.com/prusty/formj.htm

Complete Any Mexican Dish with this Pico de Gallo (Salsa Fresca) Recipe

Want to make that wonderful stuff that comes with all your favorite Mexican dishes at any restaurant?

Pico de gallo - literally rooster's beak - also known as salsa fresca - is a huge staple in Latin American cooking. It is an all natural and easy to make recipe, can be made organically, and is super good - it goes great with everything!

To Make Pico de Gallo (Salsa Fresca) You Will Need

1 medium tomato
1/2 medium white onion
1 small jalapeño
1 lime
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
cilantro to taste

Making Pico de Gallo (Salsa Fresca) Is Very Easy

If you have a food processor, it takes no time at all to make this pico de gallo. Even having to chop these ingredients by hand isn't going to take very long.

Dice up the tomato or place it in a food processor whole and pulse 2 or 3 times. Add in all of the other ingredients and pulse just a few more times or until it reaches the consistency that you like! That's all!

Fresh All Natural Roasted Garlic Salsa Recipe

Fresh all natural salsa prepared with roasted garlic, garden fresh tomatoes, and other natural ingredients is a delicious, healthy treat that takes no time to prepare!

Ingredients

• 3-4 medium tomatoes
• 1 medium jalapeño
• 4 medium garlic cloves
• 1/4 medium onion
• 1/2 cup cilantro
• 1 small lime (to be squeezed)
• 1 tablespoon honey

Directions

NOTE: This fresh, all natural roasted garlic salsa recipe will be a lot easier to prepare with a food processor! It's still simple to make without one, you just have to chop everything up by hand to the consistency you want.

1. Sauté whole garlic cloves in 2 tablespoons of olive oil until the outside of the cloves start to get well done. Remove from heat.
   
   You can actually roast the garlic cloves in the oven if you prefer, just remember to add olive oil when you mix in the food processor.
   
   
2. Place the tomatoes in the food processor.
   
   For smooth, well blended salsa, pulse the food processor several times until the tomatoes are starting to get smooth. Skip this step for a chunkier salsa.
   
   
3. Add the garlic and olive oil, jalapeño, onion, cilantro, honey, and lime juice to the tomatoes in the food processor and pulse until you reach the desired consistency.

Serve this fresh, all natural roasted garlic salsa with all natural chips as a Mexican style appetizer or use as a condiment on your favorite foods and Mexican dishes!

Fight Insomnia Naturally by Adding Valerian Root to Your Favorite Tea

Insomnia has been around since the time of ancient Greece and Rome, and so has their natural cure for it! Valerian root has long been hailed as a natural (and inexpensive) remedy for insomnia, thanks to its sedative, relaxing properties.

You can find valerian root at most grocery stores and definitely in Latino or other smaller ethnic stores.

If you have never tried valerian root, you may be initially surprised at the odor and strong taste. I definitely recommend you trying valerian root with a strong tea that you like for deep relaxation or fight insomnia naturally:

Recipe Instructions for Valerian Root Tea:

Ingredients: Valerian Root, Tea, Honey, Water

Cut off a small cube of valerian root and grind into small pieces. Boil in one to two servings of water for your tea. Place a bag of your favorite tea (or grind up a fresh mix of your own dried garden teas) in a mug and drizzle with one to two teaspoons of honey as a sweetener. Pour the boiling water over the tea and honey (straining so that the clumps of valerian root does not get in your tea) and allow the tea to steep for a few minutes.

Other natural uses for valerian root

Valerian root can also be used as a:

• sedative
• anticonvulsant
• migraine treatment
• natural pain reliever

Do not over do the valerian root!

Valerian root is very potent and can be classified as a drug. It's relaxing properties can be helpful and therapeutic for those with insomnia, but overuse can inebriate you as consuming alcohol or marijuana.

You should avoid some activities like driving and operating heavy machinery while consuming valerian root.

The FDA Announces New Nutrition Label Requirements - Are They Effective?

The (FDA) Food & Drug Administration announced changes to the nutrition labels on food products today, proving that the FDA does indeed function - people work there and they clock in and they make graphic changes to the food labels for a purpose.

I can't quite discern the purpose. There is an emphasis on updating serving sizes to be more realistic, which is indeed a good thing, but mainly the emphasis is on emphasizing the calories. So the serving sizes may increase slightly, and the calories will be printed larger and more dominantly, but what is this all suppose to prove again?

I guess these are good changes all in all, I just have very little doubt that this will effect most American's decision making when it comes to reducing intake. People who are concerned with nutrition labels are already making smarter choices, it's a lack of caring that affects most Americans.

Here is a breakdown of the changes that will be featured in the new nutrition label as mandated by the (FDA) Food & Drug Administration:

• The redesign would change how serving sizes are calculated and displayed.
• Percent daily values would shift to the left, making them easier to read. Some package sizes would be required to show both "per serving" and "per package" calorie and nutrition counts.
• Vitamin D and potassium counts would be required. Vitamins A and C would be optional.
• Calorie counts would be more prominent, and the existing "Calories from Fat" line would be removed.
• The new design would require information about added sugars.

Premium Fast Food - Can You Eat Healthy at McDonald's?

Well, not really.

Brian Marcel sits down at a McDonald's with some very interesting nutritional facts about the menu items and 11 month old french fries...

My Fast Food Replacement Meal

Today I was craving fast food; Arby’s specifically, I was craving the chicken, bacon, Swiss burger that I usually get with honey mustard and those curly fries that I love so much dipped in mounds of ketchup...

Then I remembered that the seasons are changing and I must fight the natural urge of my body to gain winter weight! This is the simple and quick meal I came up with instead of stopping at the drive-thru on the way home!

Each healthy choice is a step towards a healthier, happier you!



Estimated Calories

Half Steamed Broccoli	85
1/4 Steamed Yellow Bell Pepper	8
Small Corn On The Cobb	40
Grilled Chicken Breast	128
Medium Slice Pepper Jack Cheese	45
Wheat Sandwich Roll	150
	456

Healthy Snacking Good for Productivity, Weight Loss

When starting a weight loss diet, most people prepare to starve, but it is not good for the body or a weight loss diet! Not eating for long periods of time throughout the day can actually make the body retain more fat, not to mention sluggish, tired, and completely unproductive – you know, that 2:30 feeling?

Our bodies need a lot of energy to sustain our many functions and keep us focused and productive at work. We are physically and mentally active in our jobs and that takes a lot of energy out of us. Our bodies require fuel to keep us from getting sluggish in the afternoon and to allow our creative juices to flow.

When the body is hungry, we start to lose the focus and interest in our tasks. We start to feel bad, tired, and generally want to go home, which is never a good way to feel at work. Healthy snacking adds energy to the body, little by little, avoiding the common crash in energy and general loss of productivity we experience throughout the day.

Employee Managers Take Note

By creating a work environment that encourages and facilitates healthy snacking, productivity is also encouraged! When all team members are fully energized, excited about their work, and fully attentive, image how productive the whole team working together can be!

The key to the snacking, though, is keeping it light and healthy. The wrong kind of snacking will backfire and create a loss of concentration, sleepiness, and overall decreased productivity. Raw, unsalted nuts are a great, healthy snack food, but stick with ones that have already been shelled to avoid becoming preoccupied.

Other great snack foods include fresh fruits (avoid fruits in juices loaded with sugars and preservatives), berries, and cheese (limit diary intake; do not eat daily), to name a few.

Dark chocolate is also great to keep around the office because it is rich in antioxidants and is a stimulant, like nicotine or caffeine, energizing the brain. Snack lightly on the dark chocolate, though, the consequences of overeating it are obvious.

For weight loss dieting, try healthy snacking more through the day and reduce the portion of lunch and/or dinner to offset the calories. It should be easier to achieve your weight loss goals and the benefits of a clear, fully functioning mind can propel productivity and professional success!

10 Healthy Eating & Nutrition Tips

Most people are able to achieve and maintain weight goals by eating a well-balanced diet and taking moderate exercise. These 10 healthy eating and nutrition tips make a healthy daily diet easy and rewarding!

• Drink water to hydrate and replenish the body. Try to avoid sugary drinks and sodas and drink milk sparingly.
• Get enough calcium to promote good bone health. Milk is not the best source of calcium; leafy greens and dried beans are better sources of calcium.

• Avoid taking in too much salt. Eating more fresh foods versus processed foods is an easy way to reduce salt intake. Salt sparingly when seasoning.
• Eat fresh fruits and vegetables. Eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables of various colors is an excellent source of vitamins and antioxidants.
• Eat plenty of fiber, found in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
• Eat good carbohydrates and avoid bad carbohydrates. No carbohydrates in the diet is not the best solution for everyone; good carbohydrates like the ones found in whole grain are good for the body.
• Eat protein from fish, poultry, nuts, and beans.
• Eat healthy fats from plant oils, fish, and nuts, but limit saturated fats intake and try to avoid trans fats completely.
• Drink Alcohol or Wine Moderately. Drinking is not for everyone and you should talk with your doctor about drinking to see if it is good for you. For some, moderate drinking is recommended.
• Choose a good multivitamin to compliment your healthy diet choices.

---

Source: Harvard School of Public Health

Simple Eggs Florentine on Whole Wheat English Muffin (Without Hollandaise Sauce)

Here is a quick and simple take on Eggs Florentine served on half a whole wheat English muffin. This is a great breakfast about 179 calories and is easily modified to reduce calories. Take away the reduced fat provolone cheese and egg yolks and you have a fabulous breakfast at about 99 calories!

Ingredients:

1 Piece (Half) of Whole Wheat English Muffin
1 Tsp. Olive Oil
1/4 Medium Tomato
1 Cup Fresh Spinach
1 Whole Egg or 1 Egg White
1/2 Slice Reduced Fat Provolone Cheese

Preparation:

Toast one piece (half) of a whole wheat English muffin.

Measure out one cup of fresh spinach and dice one quarter of a fresh, medium sized tomato. Place a skillet on medium high heat and warm one tablespoon of olive oil. After heating for just a minute or two, add the diced tomatoes. As the tomatoes start to cook, toss in the spinach and sauté briefly.

Poach one egg, with or without the egg yolk, depending on your taste and the amount of calories you would like to consume.

For a quick and easy poached egg with the yolk, fill a bowl with about an inch of water, then add a whole raw egg – make sure the egg is covered slightly with water. Place in microwave and cook for about 1 minute and 20 seconds; microwave times will vary. Drain the water.

For a quick and easy poached egg without the yolk, place egg directly in bowl without water and cook for about a minute, or until cooked thoroughly.

Place the sautéed spinach and tomatoes on the toasted whole wheat English muffin slice. Lay poached egg over the sautéed spinach and tomatoes and cover with half a piece of provolone cheese.

Approximate Calories per Serving:

Whole Wheat English Muffin	60
Olive Oil	10
Tomato	6
Spincah	7
Whole Egg / Egg White	16 / 71
Reduced Fat Provolone Cheese	25
Total Calories per Serving	124 / 179

Authentic Mexican Guacamole Dip with Nabisco Reduced Fat Wheat Thins

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Our Authentic Mexican Guacamole Dip is a delicious, healthy snack, appetizer, or light lunch and goes great with Nabisco Reduced Fat Wheat Thins

Ingredients:

1 Medium Avocado
3 Medium Cherry Tomatoes
1/4 Medium Onion
1/2 Medium Fresh Lime
1 Tsp. Olive Oil
Valentina Salsa Picante (Optional)
Nabisco Reduced Fat Wheat Thins

Preparation:

Cut the avocado into two halves. Scoop the halves out of the avocado shell with a large spoon and remove the pit. Save the pit for leftovers as it will keep the Authentic Mexican Guacamole Dip from turning brown as fast. Slice the avocado into small pieces and place in mixing bowl, or directly into the bowl you will serve the Authentic Mexican Guacamole Dip in.

Rinse and chop the cherry tomatoes according to your desired thickness. If you like a very soft and smooth Authentic Mexican Guacamole Dip, be sure to chop the cherry tomatoes as finely as possible. Add the cherry tomatoes with the avocado.

Chop one quarter of an onion into pieces, again as large are as fine as desired, and add to the avocado and cherry tomatoes. Cut half of a lime into 2 or 3 wedges and squeeze the lime juice over the avocados, cherry tomatoes, and onions, then add the teaspoon of olive oil and optional Valentina Salsa Picante or your favorite hot sauce to give it a slightly spicy flare.

With a fork, mix everything up until the Authentic Mexican Guacamole Dip has reached the desired consistency. Enjoy with Nabisco Reduced Fat Wheat Thins!

Approximate Calories Per Serving:

Our Authentic Mexican Guacamole Dip with Reduced Fat Wheat Thins recipe makes four servings as a light snack or appetizer:

Avocado	69
Cherry Tomatoes	11
Onion	11
Fresh Cilantro	4
Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice	0
Olive Oil	10
Nabisco Reduced Fat Wheat Thins	65
Total Calories Per Serving	170

Our Authentic Mexican Guacamole Dip with Reduced Fat Wheat Thins recipe makes 2 servings as a light lunch or big snack:

Avocado	138
Cherry Tomatoes	21
Onion	22
Fresh Cilantro	7
Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice	0
Olive Oil	20
Nabisco Reduced Fat Wheat Thins	130
Total Calories Per Serving	338

Grilled Turkey, Portobello Mushroom, Spinach, and Swiss Cheese Burgers

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Ingredients:

Multigrain, Whole Wheat Bread Slices or Buns
Ground Turkey Meat (4oz per serving)
Freshly Diced Onion (Optional, 1/2oz per serving)
Freshly Diced Jalapeño Pepper (Optional, 1/2oz per serving)
Portobello Mushroom Caps (1, approximately 3oz, per serving)
Fresh Spinach (1/2 – 1oz per serving)
Sliced Swiss Cheese (1 slice, approximately 1oz, per serving)
Regular Mustard
Valentina Salsa Picante (Optional)

Preparation:

Start by shaping the ground turkey into patties – about 4 ounces per patty, 1 pound makes 4 patties. If you desire, mix freshly chopped onions and or jalapeño peppers in with the ground turkey before shaping the turkey patties for extra flavor and touch of spice.

Grill turkey patties and Portobello mushroom caps. The Portobello mushroom caps will cook much faster than the turkey patties, so wait until it is time to flip the turkey patties before placing the Portobello mushroom caps on the grill. Cook the turkey patties and Portobello mushroom caps evenly and make sure that the burgers are cooked thoroughly.

As the turkey patties and Portobello mushroom caps are finishing on the grill, place the inside sides of the multigrain, whole wheat bread slices or buns on the grill for just a couple of minutes until toasted.

To create the Grilled Turkey, Portobello Mushroom, Spinach, & Swiss Cheese Burgers, apply a little bit of mustard to the bottom piece of the multigrain, whole wheat bread slices or buns. For an extra kick of heat, mix a little bit of Valentina Salsa Picante in with the mustard. Add a thin layer of fresh spinach, place turkey patties over the spinach, then Portobello mushroom caps, and then slices of Swiss cheese.

Serve open to be enjoyed steak style or cover with another piece of multigrain, whole wheat bread slice or bun to serve sandwich style. This can be a standalone lunch or a complete dinner, well complimented with fresh baked sweet potatoes fries or grilled asparagus.

Approximate Calories Per Serving:

Multigrain, Whole Wheat Bread Slices or Buns	55 1 Slice / 110 2 Slices
Ground Turkey Meat	160
Freshly Diced Onion (Optional)	4
Freshly Diced Jalapeño Pepper (Optional)	1
Portobello Mushroom Caps	22
Fresh Spinach	1
Sliced Swiss Cheese	108
Regular Mustard	0
Valentina Salsa Picante	0
Total Approximate Calories per Serving	351 / 406

3 Great Nutrition and Weight Loss Programs That Work

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It can be very difficult to maintain a successful weight loss regimen, complete with healthy eating and moderate exercise. With the right tools and motivation though, it isn’t impossible. The following 3 nutrition and weight loss support programs are great tools to help you achieve your goals!

Bistro MD – Meals for a Lighter, Healthier You

This is a great nutrition and meal management system offering quick meal options for work week meals, weekly meals, or weekly meals with snacks! Meals are prepared by chefs under the supervision of Caroline Cederquist, M.D., ensuring the right balance of nutrients in each meal, all week long. Menus rotate every week and all dishes are prepared fresh and delivered frozen weekly.


Learn more about BistroMD – Meals for a Lighter, Healthier You

Smart for Life – The Healthy Way to Put Hunger on Hold

The Cookie Diet by Smart for Life is an awesome meal replacement system. Substitute meals for a delicious cookie, shake, muffin, soup, or other delicious Cookie Diet item made with all natural and 60% organic ingredients. The cookies are packed with nutrients and sustain your body, diminishing hunger!


Learn more about Smart for Life – The Healthy Way to Put Hunger on Hold

Diet-to-Go – Healthy Eating Made Easy

This is another great nutrition and meal management system offering low fat, vegetarian, and low carb meal plans. There are several options to choose, tailoring the program and cost to your needs and budget. If you live in the Washington DC, Greater Philadelphia, or San Francisco Bay areas, you can choose to pick-up fresh meals, or you choose to receive the meals delivered by FedEx.

Top 7 Dieting Mistakes You Should Avoid

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You've started a new diet. You've been good all week, making sensible meals, managing your portions, even exercising a little...then the weekend hits. You eat too much. You drink too much. You give up.

Not so fast! A couple of slipups won't undo all your hard work. The key is to know the dieting pitfalls you're likely to make and plan ahead to avoid them.

Here are the top seven dieting mistakes. How many are you making?

Skipping breakfast.

Research shows that people who don't eat breakfast actually weigh more than those who do. There's a mistaken belief that if you skip breakfast, you're saving calories. Problem is you end up snacking and eating more at other meals because you're body is so starved for food. Always begin your day with a healthy breakfast. Black coffee, an egg, whole wheat toast and a half grapefruit has only 250 calories and will stave off hunger pangs till lunch.

Too many liquid calories.

Did you know that a regular soda can pack on 15 pounds in one year? Not to mention lattes, fruit smoothies and alcohol. These liquid calories do little to satisfy any hunger and the calories add up fast.

Not exercising.

If 30 minutes is too much to even think about, start with 10 and see how it goes. If exercising is a drag to you, try something fun like bowling, playing ping-pong, or dancing. The idea is to get moving and have so much fun you'll stick with it.

Using extreme diets.

These don't work and can be very detrimental to your health. When you deprive your body of food two things happen: your metabolic rate slows down to make up for few calories and your desire to binge increases. In addition extreme dieting may lead to the bloating of fat cells, shrinking of muscle cells, accumulation of toxic fats and fatigue. Rather than thinking diet think lifestyle change.

Mindless munching.

Even if it's not on a plate, it sthealthy-eating-and-nutrition/top-7-dieting-mistakes-that-you-should-avoid.phpill counts. A couple of cheesy crackers before dinner, test-tasting a sauce, finishing food from your kids' plates while washing dishes, all adds up to more calories. On average figure 25 calories per bite. Do that 4 times in a day and you've just added 100 extra calories to your waistline without even realizing it.

Going overboard on low fat.

It's psychological. You pick a low-fat snack and you justify eating more of it because it IS low fat. Research backs this up. More food, even if it is non- or low-fat still means more calories.

Not taking vitamins and supplements.

In a perfect world, we'd get all the nutrition, vitamins and minerals from our three perfectly balanced daily meals. Truth is, few of us do. Even if you think you're eating right, modern food processing can deplete whatever nutrients were in the food originally. That's why many take daily vitamins and supplements. While it's important for everyone, it's especially important for those who are trying to lose or maintain weight. It starts with a good, high-quality multivitamin.

As quickly as the pounds add up, they can also come off. The key is knowing what your pitfalls are and how to avoid them.

[Editor's Note - For great vitamin choices, visit Botanic Choice.]

Our 3 Favorite Aҫaí Berry Treats

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There has been a lot of hype about the aҫaí berry – the so called super fruit – with claims that the fruit can cause weight loss and cure diseases, and it has even been highly endorsed by Oprah Winfrey! Although scientists cannot confirm that this fruit is super, they can confirm that it is loaded with antioxidants, containing more than strawberries, pomegranates, and other colorful berries that are known for their antioxidant value.

The benefits of eating foods with high antioxidants are many, so we try to include the aҫaí berry in our diet whenever possible! Below are our 3 favorite aҫaí berry treats!

Bom Dia Aҫaí +10 Superblend

We love the sweet taste of Bom Dia (Portueguese for Good Day) Aҫaí drinks! They are a great opportunity to make a healthy choice when you are suffering from that 2:30 feeling at work. Don’t grab a coffee or an energy drink, treat yourself to a beverage that gives your body the natural energy that it craves – and happens to be delicous!

Brookside Dark Chocolate Aҫaí with Blueberry

For those moments that you have to give in to a little chocolate bliss, you will love Brookside Dark Chocolate Aҫaí with Blueberry! These dark chocolate covered fruit bites are sure to tickle the fancy of even the pickiest of dark chocolate connoisseurs! It is hard to believe that something so sweet and delicious could be packed with so many healthy antioxidants!

Häagen-Dazs Reserve Brazilian Aҫaí Berry Sorbet

Another blissful way to enjoy the benefits of the aҫaí berry is with Häagen-Dazs Reserve Brazilian Aҫaí Berry Sorbet. The sweetness of the aҫaí berry and the silky smoothness of the sorbet is a delectable way to mix nutrition and guilt-free snacking!

Amy’s Kitchen – Our Answer to Microwaveable Dinners

We try to avoid eating microwaveable dinners because we know that nothing beats fresh – in taste or nutrient value! We also know that with many microwaveable dinners, there are preservatives and who knows what else in them that damage our bodies over time! But we do understand that a busy lifestyle demands sacrifices, and sometimes quick is on the menu for busy office lunches and late night dinners!

Don’t let the need for speed ruin your opportunity to make a healthy choice! We have found a microwaveable dinner that is healthy, organic, and absolutely delicious: Amy’s Organics! They have Indian and Mexican inspired dishes that are absolutely to die for and portions that never leave us craving for more just as soon as we put our forks down!

Amy’s Organics do tend to be a little pricier than other microwaveable dishes in the frozen food isle, but you really can’t find anything better and it is still cheaper than a trip to your favorite fast food restaurant!

If you are already a fan of Amy’s Organics, tell us your favorite dish or what you like about the Amy’s Organics brand! If you haven’t tried an Amy’s Organics entrée, we challenge you to do so and share your thoughts with us!