Food4Thought Newsletters

Food4Thought Newsletter Seven

Here’s a trick question for you. If you consume 100 grams of meat, how many grams of protein does your body absorb? You’d think the answer was 100, right? Wrong!

Because 100 grams of meat contains 65 grams of water, connective tissue and saturated fat, your body ends up assimilating only about 10 to 12 grams of protein! Yikes!

So what’s a person to do? Packets of Ideal Protein foods each contain about 20 grams of high biological protein and your body absorbs virtually 90% of it. Do a calorie by

calorie comparison between meat and our protein packets and you’ll find you’d need to eat almost three times the calories in meat to get the same protein value.

Okay, enough already with the bio and the math! Long story short: our protein packets pack more protein punch than you’ll find anywhere else. And the Ideal Protein diet

depends on protein to melt away the pounds and whittle your waist. So relax and enjoy!

Have a happy week!!

Food4Thought Newsletter Six

Water, water everywhere! Our planet is 76% water. Your body is 70% water, your blood 83%, your brain 74%, and your liver an amazing 96%! Did you know all chemical reactions in the body depend on water? The bottom line is this: you can’t lose weight without water! Water flushes out the by-products of fat breakdown and boosts your metabolism.

We know you must sometimes feel water-logged with all the H2O we ask you to imbibe, but trust us! Water is an integral part of the Ideal Protein program. Here are a few tips:

· Drink your water through a straw – you’ll consume more water and less air!

· Have an 8 oz. glass of water before each meal. It helps fill you up.

· Substitute seltzer occasionally. Seltzer is carbonated water and comes in lots of flavors. Caveat: check to make sure your seltzer is calorie and sodium free.

· If you drink from a bottle, thoroughly clean or replace the bottle regularly. Every time you take a sip, bacteria from your mouth sneak into the bottle!

Weakness, dizziness and headaches are almost always caused by dehydration. So drink up, please! Not only will all that water help you lose weight, but you’ll also enjoy healthier skin, lubricated joints, clearer thinking, and a whole host of health benefits.

Let me know how you are doing.

Thinking of you!

Food4Thought Newsletter Five + Recipes

Fall is officially here! Stick with your Ideal Protein diet now and you’ll be sleek and svelte for the holidays. With a nip in the air, it’s the perfect time to curl up with a bowl of hot soup, chili, or stew. Try Ideal Protein’s Chicken, Mushroom, or Leek soup. Or sample our Vegetable Chili or Hearty Stew. Ready for Oktoberfest? Skip the beer and bratwurst and head straight for the sauerkraut! Sauerkraut is one of dozens of vegetables on the Ideal Protein select list. Never tried it? There’s no time like October!

If your sweet tooth is getting the better of you, try these two recipes contributed by Angeleec Davis: Raspberry Cream and Oatmeal Biscuits. Remember, you don’t have to deprive yourself with the Ideal Protein diet. After all, variety is the spice of life—and of diets! Lastly, don’t forget your teaspoon of salt every day. Without it you may feel dizzy and we don’t want you fainting in public.

Here’s cheers to Fall and seeing less of you!

Teri

Raspberry Cream

For All Stages of the Ideal Diet Protocol

Yield: 2 Ideal Protein portions

1 Ideal Protein Raspberry Gelatin packet
1 Ideal Protein Wild Berry Yogurt Drink packet
10 oz warm water

In a shaker cup or tightly closed bottle add 10 oz of warm water. Then add one Raspberry Gelatin packet and Wild Berry Yogurt Drink packet. Shake very well and divide into two snacks or meals. Refrigerate for 30 to 45 minutes.

Oatmeal Biscuits
For All Stages of the Ideal Diet Protocol (Only 6 biscuits per day for Stages 1 & 2)

These are one of the restricted foods.

(Equivalent to 2 Ideal Protein foods. Yield: approx. 12 biscuits)

2 packets of Ideal Protein Maple Oatmeal
1 large egg white
1-2 ounces of water

Directions: Beat egg then stir into oatmeal until mixed thoroughly. Add water to thin batter until spoonable - but not runny. Spoon onto non-stick baking sheet and bake about 10 minutes at 400°F (205°C) or until golden.

Food4Thought Newsletter Four

A calorie is a calorie is a calorie. True or False? We think the answer is False and Dr. Louis Aronne, longtime director of the Comprehensive Weight Loss Program at Cornell Medical Center in New York City, agrees. In a recent study, Dr. Aronne showed that those who ate a protein-rich breakfast (or consumed a protein shake) consumed fewer calories at lunch and were less hungry during the next 36 hours. According to Dr. Aronne, refined carbohydrates and foods with high sugar and fat content raise blood-sugar levels and actually make you feel hungrier! We couldn’t agree more! That’s just one reason that the Ideal Protein diet works.

Remember, protein does not have to be boring! Erma Bombeck once said, “I am not a glutton – I am an explorer of food.” We encourage you to explore all of the interesting foods on the Ideal Protein diet. Consider bison. Did you know bison is 30% higher in protein and has less calories and less cholesterol than beef? For you women, bison also has a higher iron content than traditional beef burgers. Slightly sweeter and rich in flavor, bison is rich in Omega-6 acids and CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid), both of which are very, very good for you. Can’t find bison at your local butcher or grocer? Check out the Where to Buy link at www.bisoncentral.com or consider stocking up online at sources like ww.buffalomeatUSA.com, www.highplainsbison.com, or www.bisonridgeranch.com.

Here’s to Home on the Range!

Food4Thought Newsletter Three

Jackie Gleason once quipped, “The second day of a diet is always easier than the first. By the second day, you’re off it.” We all know staying on a diet isn’t easy. But if you do give into an urge and fall off the diet wagon, please forgive yourself! No one is perfect. Like Scarlet O’Hara once said, “Tomorrow’s another day.”

Let’s talk cravings. If it’s sweets you desire, we’ve got a new product for you to try: Pink Lemonade! A mere 90 calories, our Pink Lemonade has 1g fiber, 18g protein, and 0 – yup 0 – carbs, fats, and sugars! Have you tried Ideal Protein’s luscious puddings yet? We’ve got chocolate, banana, lemon, vanilla, and butterscotch, all gluten free. Bet you didn’t know that September 19th is National Butterscotch Pudding Day! Stock up now and celebrate! Needing a carb fix? Consider one of our snack bars, available in five tempting flavors: Raspberry Crhunch, Caramel & Peanut, Vanilla Peanut, Lemon Poppy Seed, and Choco-Banana. Conquer two cravings—sweets and carbs—with one scrumptious treat! Keep a bar or two handy in your purse, desk at work, or glove compartment. When temptation rears its head, you’ll want a healthy alternative within reach.

When feeling weak, consider simply delaying gratification. Take a walk around the block. Drink a glass of water. Do a little yoga or deep breathing. You just might discover your craving has gone with the wind.

Diet on!

Food4Thought Newsletter Two

Hello Gorgeous! You look mar-ve-lous! Feels good, doesn’t it? Take a look in the mirror. We think you’ll notice little changes. Are you pants getting a little loose? Remember the old adage: Bigger snacks mean bigger snacks!

Seriously folks. Pat yourself on the back. You’re doing fantastic and we bet you’re not even going to bed hungry! After all, how could you with all of the delicious Ideal Protein products (Pina Colada Smoothie anyone?) and all of the good-for-you protein options? Speaking of which, if you’re planning your September menus, remember this: September is National Chicken month! Personally, I never figured out which came first—the chicken or the egg—but both make excellent dinner protein options. Consider, too, Ideal Protein’s Chicken Soup weighing in at a mere 100 calories. Looking for something to go with that skinless chicken? Opt for mushrooms! September is also National Mushroom Month.

Here’s to your diminishing waistline. Keep up the good work. Remember: on average, women lose 3 to 4 pounds per week and men 4 to 7 pounds per week on the Ideal Protein program. Till next week.

Encouragingly yours!

Food4Thought Newsletter One

Dieting is not a piece of cake. But then, again, it doesn’t have to be all celery and carrot sticks either! Anyone who has ever tried to lose a few pounds knows this: it ain’t easy! You’ve already made the commitment to lose weight by signing up for Ideal Protein. Now we at the Co-op would like to cheer you on. According to the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, simple email reminders can help you eat better, exercise more, and stay healthy! To that end, we’re launching Food4Thought – a short, weekly eblast from your friends at the Co-op with little nibbles of diet advice, food facts, helpful websites, maybe even a joke or two. Chew them over. Smile if you like. Take small bites and enjoy!

Here’s an idea for you. Try at least one new food a week. We bet if you read through our Phase 1 options you’ll find plenty of foods you’ve never tried. Consider Kohlrabi. Resembling ET, Kohlrabi is a cross between a turnip, broccoli and cabbage—only sweeter! Enjoy it raw or cooked. Either way, it’s low in calories, high in dietary fiber, and packed with potassium, vitamin A, and calcium. Speaking of vitamins, don’t forget to take yours! Remember you need to take one multi-vite, three liquid calcium with magnesium, and one potassium-calcium daily.

That’s all for now. Eat well. Think positive. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. But remember, if you’re in your first three weeks of the program, limit your exercise. Your body is still making adjustments. (When was the last time someone told you *not* to exercise?)

Here’s to the new you!

Teri

p.s. Don’t forget to visit www.idealprotein.com for recipe ideas.

Support and tips for Ideal Protein Dieters and anyone else watching the scale!  

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