F Factor Cereal

Always on the hunt for high fiber cereal to munch on and especially ones without artificial sweeteners, I was thrilled to find F Factor Cereals at my local food co-op.

Created by F-Factor Diet guru, Tanya Becker, these cereals are loaded with fiber and none of the nasty fake stuff found in some brands.

I purchased all three varieties - High Fiber SKinnys, Skinnys n' Fruit and Mini Cinnamon O's with Raisins and Almonds.

All three are really great!

The Skinny's are just that - skinny strips of fiber filled cereal. I eat mine with unsweetened almond milk. They get soggy fast, but they are almost better that way!

The O's are crunchy, lightly sweetened yumminess that I've been slamming with cottage cheese for a filling, satisfying breakfast.

Do they taste like Cheerios or Honey Bunches of Oats? Um, hell no. But, the nutritional punch of a load of fiber makes them worth adding into your diet.

Learn more here: http://www.ffactorfoods.com/cereals.php

(Image from: http://ffactorfoods.com)

Yummo Huevos Rancheros

This is an uber-healthy, great start to any day!
I use quinoa instead of tortillas for a fiber and protein packed meal!
This meal works for lunch and dinner too!
Enjoy!

Yummo Huevos Rancheros

Ingredients:
Cooking spray
2 - eggs
1/2 cup cooked quinoa (I make a one cup dry batch and use throughout the week)
1/4 cup rinsed, canned black beans
Your favorite salsa (no sugar added)
2 tbsp guacamole (I use Trader Joe's prepared Fresh and Spicy)
Franks Red Hot Sauce (to taste)

1. Reheat quinoa and black beans in microwave
2. Cook eggs over medium in frying pan using cooking spray.
3. Layer ingredients starting with quinoa on bottom as follows:
quinoa, black beans, eggs, salsa, guacamole, hot sauce
4. Enjoy!

Smart Bran Cereal

Always looking for my fiber fix, I noticed two boxes of Nature's Path Organic Smart Bran Cereal on the front table at my local food coop.

The words, "organic" and "bran" caught my eye.

Upon examining the label I was tickled to find that a 2/3 cup serving has 90 calories, 1 g of fat, 3 g of protein and a fiberlicious 13 g of fiber!

I have found the perfect replacement for a very popular high fiber cereal I was eating that was nowhere near organic and to my horror - contains aspartame! Ewwww. For real - I thought that ended with Tab!

Back to Smart Bran ... it is delicious and wonderfully textured. The cereal is shaped in tiny little, crunchy nuggets perfect for topping yogurt, salads or straight out of the box.

Learn more and purchase Smart Bran here: http://www.naturespath.com/products/cold-cereals/smartbran-cereal

(image from: naturespath.com)

Foods Alive Flax Crackers

Often a sturdy, crunchy, flavorful vehicle is required to transport yummy cargo like tuna salad, peanut butter or guacamole into a hungry mouth.

Foods Alive (http://foodsalive.com)has created a flax based, organic, raw, vegan, gluten-free and kosher answer to the ordinary "cracker."

Mahatma Gandhi said, "Wherever Flaxseed becomes a regular food item among the people there will be better health."

Simply called, "Flax Crackers," Foods Alive makes eight flavors of these delicious, crispy, wonderfully textured treats.

At my request, the company sent me the Original, Onion Garlic, Hemp and Mustard flavors.

My eye always goes to the label before anything goes into my mouth.

I started with the Originals ... three ingredients. I like that. Simple. Five crackers contain 150 calories, 9 grams of fat (Omega 3's,)a whopping 11 grams of fiber and 6g of protein! Impressive ... stellar protein and fiber numbers ... for a cracker!

I tore open the resealable package to find an artisan product that I could immediately see was made in small batches with love.

I took my crackers straight, as a side to a lovely bowl of vegetable soup. The Original Flax Crackers have a hearty, nutty flavor that complements any meal or contends strongly on it's own.

The other flavors we delish as well - lightly seasoned with the labeled variety, but their nutritional content varies from the Original crackers a bit. The Original version has the most fiber and protein.

Foods Alive Flax Crackers are a great option for gluten sensitive individuals, those trying to avoid processed foods or anyone who just wants a savory snack or side dish option.

Foods Alive makes a variety of flax based and super food items.

Shop the entire Foods Alive line here: http://foodsalive.com

(image from: foodsalive.com)

The F Factor Diet

If you haven't jumped on the fiber train yet, Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist to the NYC and Miami elite, Tanya Zuckerbrot's book, "The F Factor Diet" will make you get on board. And I don't mean cardboard. Get ready for your perception of fiber to shift! Her plan's fiberlicious recipes will make you a fan and ultimately give you strategies to look damn good!

After I posted on GG Crackers, the company was kind enough to send me a copy of "The F Factor Diet" - as their crackers are a huge part of "The F Factor Diet" plan. Read the original post here: http://damn-ilookgood.blogspot.com/2009/10/gg-crackers.html

I am so glad they did - because EVERYONE should read this sensible, educational, easy to follow program that gets results. The great thing is nothing is off limits on this plan - even alcohol is allowed!

The gist of the program is to eat fiber and protein at four meals throughout the day. The fiber is mainly consumed through GG Crackers (5g each),Fiber One Cereal (14g per serving)and high fiber foods for a total of 30 - 40 g per day. The diet is divided into three phases, easily followed by xeroxing and filling out copies of food diary pages that the book provides.

As with all diets, the amount of calories consumed is going to be the determinate of weight lost, but the combination of fiber and protein leads to a satiety that makes it easy to control how much you eat.

This is a fantastic program to start now - before the holidays. The program is easily maintained through parties, eating out and social events, so why not get a slender leg up before January?

After you read the book, be sure to join the social communities for support at:
www.skinnyandthecity.com
www.twitter.com/skinnycity
And check out:
www.ffactordiet.com

You can buy "The F Factor Diet" ON SALE for $5.47 at www.Amazon.com and the GG Crackers here: www.brancrispbread.com

(photo from: ffactordiet.com)

GG Crackers

I am about to give you the greatest bit of nutritional information you will ever receive.
Hold your hands out and grab a large bottle of water - because you are going to need it to process the amount of fiber in this product.
GG Crackers.
Memorize it.
Learn to love them.
Go to their website and buy two cases right now:
www.brancrispbread.com
Eat eight per day and watch what happens ...
Let me tell you my personal experience with these little fibrous miracles.
I have an insatiable appetite. I mean it - I seriously lack the hormone that signals your brain that you are full. I should have a career in eating contests because I swear I could out eat anyone. If I didn't work out like a maniac I'd have a MAYJAH problem.
My truly adorable and fabulous step mom is an upper east side NYC mom ... yes, the real deal - not the made for TV Bravo kind.
Her friend and nutritionist Tanya Zuckerbrot introduced her and scores of other upper east side moms to GG Crackers through her F Factor Diet.
Hence, how they made their way into my mouth.
I have lost almost ten pounds in one month ... I haven't changed anything workout wise or really nutrition wise - except that I am eating whatever I want - no restrictions. But, I am eating less - because the GG Crackers make you full. Yes - they make even this truck driver's appetite stuck in the body of a 5'2 Jew feel satiated. I've come to love these crackers so much I eat them plain.
Here is a typical day of working eight crackers into my life:
Meal one: Protein shake, two GG Crackers, one to two eggs, two pieces of bacon
Meal two: Two GG Crackers with peanut butter and sugar free jam
Meal three: Chicken Breast with marinara and parmesan cheese, broccoli, dark chocolate
Meal four: Two GG Crackers with cottage cheese and hot sauce
Meal five: salmon, green veggies, two GG crackers with melted feta cheese
Meal six: ice cream or greek yogurt or chocolate chip cookies - something yummy
My body has completly shrunk. I know this because my clothes fit differently, people are noticing and saying things to me and I feel FABULOUS!!
Try them! You will love them!
(photo from brancrispbread.com)