The Revolving Diet

Recipes for use on 7 Day Color Diet (a little late...)

I wish Food Network had sent me these recipes while I was doing the 7 Day Color Diet….just got email today and these (3) would have been a nice mix to the equation!  Light and healthy with a bold splash of color!

Posting for your possible usage….they all look so good!!!  I kept these for future reference (maybe I can fit them in somewhere else along the diet trail!

Purple Potato Salad

Recipe courtesy Duff Goldman for Food Network Magazine

Prep Time:

20 min

Inactive Prep Time:

--

Cook Time:

10 min

Level:

Easy

Serves:

4 servings

 

Ingredients

• 2 pounds purple-skinned fingerling potatoes, quartered lengthwise
• 1 head garlic, halved crosswise
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• 5 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• Kosher salt
• 1 red onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 4 tablespoons sour cream
• 1/3 cup horseradish, drained
• 2 stalks celery, thinly sliced
• 4 half-sour dill or sweet pickles, diced
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• Freshly ground pepper

Directions

Combine the potatoes, garlic, red pepper flakes, 1 tablespoon vinegar and 1 tablespoon salt in a medium saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then simmer, uncovered, until the potatoes are tender but not mushy, 7 to 10 minutes. Add the onion and cook until almost tender, about 1 more minute. Drain, discarding the garlic. Let the potatoes cool.

Whisk the remaining 4 tablespoons vinegar, the sugar and 1 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Mix in the mayonnaise, sour cream and horseradish. Add the celery and pickles, then gently fold in the potatoes and chopped herbs. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until serving.

 

Red Bean Salad

Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray

Prep Time:

10 min

Inactive Prep Time:

--

Cook Time:

--

Level:

Easy

Serves:

1 1/2 quarts of salad, 6 servings

 

Ingredients

• 2 (15-ounce) cans dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained well
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 3 scallions, chopped, whites and greens
• 1 rib celery, chopped
• 1/4 cup (a couple of handfuls) chopped flat-leaf parsley  (one comment someone use fresh cilantro – great idea!)
• 1 cup sweet red pepper relish
• 2 tablespoons (2 turns around the bowl in a thin stream) light olive oil or vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon (2 splashes) white distilled vinegar
• Coarse salt and pepper

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and toss well; adjust seasonings.

 

Yellow Trio Salad

Recipe courtesy Food Network Magazine

Prep Time:

10 min

Inactive Prep Time:

--

Cook Time:

5 min

Level:

Easy

Serves:

Yield:

 Directons

Cut the kernels off an ear of corn; saute in olive oil with yellow squash slices. Toss with yellow grape tomatoes, basil, salt and pepper.

I had no idea there was yellow grape tomatoes (I have never seen in my local grocery store or farm market)

Day 178.2 ~ 7/17/11

As I told you yesterday - we have a wedding today.  I had a little bit bigger breakfast and a lighter lunch, so that I can enjoy the wedding.  We pre-picked out what we are having , so I was able to include it here:

Breakfast: Bacon, Egg and Cheese on white toast

Lunch: 2 cups mixed fruit salad (watermelon, cantelope, grapes)

Dinner: Chicken Saltimbucco, red bliss postatoes, side salad

Snack:  Most likely a slice of wedding cake

I want to post early as I have no idea what time we are getting home tonight and I have to get to bed early as I have an important meeting in the morning. 

Have a GREAT NIGHT!!!

 

Day 177.2 ~ 7/16/11

My quick update tonight! 

Yellow is the “anti-fever” color. Yellow color charges excellent mood. 

Yellow was much easier than yesterday!! Plus, I have to agree, yellow does brighten your day!  Come on the Sun is yellow (and orange and red) but it was a beautiful day outside and yellow food just fit the day!

Breakfast: 2 medium slices Cornbread with butter and a light drizzle of honey and 1 large yellow apple.

Lunch: Pushed the envelope here...Grilled cheese sandwich on Challah Bread (very yellow bread). Added 2 slices American cheese and  sliced yellow peppers with about 2 tablespoons ranch dip/dressing.

Dinner: Corn on the cob (2 fairly large ears of corn), 1 medium banana, 1 large yellow apple

Snack: 1 slice plain cornbread (it was so good I had to have another slice!!

Flourless Cornbread Recipe 

 (Made in frying pan - good portion of ingredients Yellow)
 

1	cups yellow cornmeal
1/4	teaspoon baking powder
1/4	teaspoon baking soda
2	tablespoons sugar
1	cup buttermilk
1	cup water
1	whole egg
1	egg white
2	tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients (except oil), mix well.  Coat the entire inside surface of a 9" cast iron skillet with oil. Place skillet in the oven for 5 minutes, remove skillet from oven and pour heated oil into batter, mixing well.  Pour batter into skillet and bake for 35 minutes or until nice golden brown.

I do not own a cast iron skillet...used my handy dandy Farberware frying pan.  My bread stuck a bit (not attractive) but the taste was very good, surprising that there was no flour in it!  I am sure you would get better results using a cast iron skillet!

Good day.  One event down and a wedding tomorrow!  Thankfully it is a RAINBOW day tomorrow and I won't have to be over watchful on what I eat (other than to update blog).

I did get very sad news today, my girlfriends mom passed last night.  She has been with her mom night and day for the last few weeks knowing the end was near. 

None of us really know how much time we have and when someone dies there is always that wake up call to look at our own lives and the people we connect with.  Taking care of yourself, being connected with loved ones and friends and being kind to those you come in contact with will make your life so much more fulfilled.  Don't let life pass you by because you feel your weight is holding you back.  Live the life you were given and screw anyone that looks at you differently because you might have a few extra pounds. 

Each one us us is given the opportunity of life.  Making the choice to do what our dreams drive us to do is what we choose, not anyone else's.  I am not strict on a fair amount of these diets and I tell you when, how and why I go off, but my belief is that I am living my life and things happen. The diet is not what defines me.  I define myself by being true to myself, my family and my friends.  Treating others as I would want to be treated.  Living my life happy and not judgemental.

Sorry for going on - but I am sad for my friend and her family and reflection on our limited time on this big blue marble of a planet tends to make me ramble!!

Have a WONDERFUL NIGHT!!!

People get what they want in life when they reach the point at which they can see themselves having what they seek.

 

Day 176.2 ~ 7/15/11

Today was the HARDEST day so far.  Limited by the COLOR PURPLE!

Violet -or -Purple.....Violet color slows metabolism and can be an analgesic. Since I am trying to lose weight, not looking to slow my metabolism and as far as an analgesic, I do not need any pain relief.

Breakfast:  1 Cup grapes, 2 plums    

Lunch: 1/2 cup grapes, 4 plums

Dinner:  1/2 Grilled & 1/2 Fried Eggplant,  1 cup grapes

Sort of a minimalist day.  I do not like berries of any kind - so I was limited.  Grilled some eggplant with sea salt and pepper - very good.  Fried some eggplant with italian bread crumbs in veggie oil.  A little off program but not too bad!

Even though I was limited, I am satisfied.  Not overly stuffed.

I have been unable to secure a copy of this diet from my library or a neighboring library.  So any further recipes, other than what I find on internet or whip up on my own are it.

Quick update tonight...and for the next two days.  Busy, out of the house weekend.  Birthday party tomorrow and a weddin gon Sunday (thankfully Sunday is a mix it up day!!)

I hope your week went well and your success this past week made you happy and if you happened to falter, you picked yourself up and continued back on track!

Have a wonderful night and a terrific Saturday!!

Life’s challenges are not supposed to stop you, they’re supposed to help you discover who you are.

 

 

Day 175.2 ~ 7/14/11

Got dressed and out the door for class last night and I was just about there (seriously only a block away) and just didn't feel like going.  I was tired.  Like a light switch was flipped and all of a sudden I just wanted to crawl into bed and sleep.  I turned around, stopped at grocery store for a couple of things for today's meal plan and just vegged out when I got home.

 

Tired when I got up and hoping that the entire GREEN day didn't do this to me!  Orange being my favorite color (it's just such a happy color) and today being ORANGE day for foods...I was stumped and  tried to work out a menu for the day that will be filling and satisfying.

 

Beta-carotene and licopene, have strong anti-cancerous properties. They work to prevent  aging. Orange color increases appetite. But no matter how much you ate you will lose weight! Itis believed that all orange protects against colds - maybe we should stick to an ORANGE diet in the winter?!?

 

Breakfast: Sliced mango and papaya

Lunch: 1 cup baby carrots, 3 sliced tomatoes with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, salt & pepper

Dinner: About 2 cups cubed watermelon

Snack:  (after kickboxing) 1 mango and 1 cup carrots

 

Skipped the salmon (just do not like it), wanted to have either pumpkin bread or pie but none available (not that time of year) and I know I will be too tired from kickboxing to start baking after class.

 

One of the items listed I had never heard of and thought I'd include what Wikipedia says about it...(gotta learn something new everyday...)

Sea-buckthorn berries are edible and nutritious, though very acidic and oily, unpleasant to eat raw, unless frosted to reduce the astringency and/or mixed as a juice with sweeter substances such as apple or grape juice.

When the berries are pressed, the resulting sea-buckthorn juice separates into three layers: on top is a thick, orange cream; in the middle, a layer containing sea-buckthorn's characteristic high content of saturated and polyunsaturated fats; and the bottom layer is sediment and juice. Containing fat sources applicable for cosmetic purposes, the upper two layers can be processed for skin creams and liniments, whereas the bottom layer can be used for edible products like syrup.

Nutrient and phytochemical constituents of sea-buckthorn berries have potential value to affect inflammatory disorders, cancer or other diseases, although no specific health benefits have yet been proven by clinical research in humans.

The fruit of the plant has a high vitamin C content – in a range of 114 to 1550 mg per 100 grams with an average content (695 mg per 100 grams) about 15 times greater than oranges (45 mg per 100 grams) – placing sea-buckthorn fruit among the most enriched plant sources of vitamin C. The fruit also contains dense contents of carotenoids, vitamin E, amino acids, dietary minerals, β-sitosterol and polyphenols. Flavonols were found to be the predominating polyphenols while phenolic acids and catechins represent minor components. Of the seven flavonols identified, isorhamnetin 3-O-glycosides were the most important representatives quantitatively.

Consumer products

Sea-buckthorn fruit can be used to make pies, jams, lotions and liquors. The juice or pulp has other potential applications in foods or beverages. For example, in Finland, it is used as a nutritional ingredient in baby food Fruit drinks were among the earliest seabuckthorn products developed in China. Seabuckthorn-based juice is popular in Germany and Scandinavian countries. It provides a nutritious beverage, rich in vitamin C and carotenes. A specialty beer called Tyrnilambic Baie d'Argousier has been produced at the Cantillon Brewery in Brussels exclusively for the Finnish Market.

The seed and pulp oils have nutritional properties that vary under different processing methods. Sea-buckthorn oils are used as a source for ingredients in several commercially available cosmetic products and nutritional supplements.

To overcome high acidity, juice made by adding five-parts water to one-part sea-buckthorn and sweetened to taste, put through a blender and strained, is said to taste like orange or peach juice, Sea-buckthorn leaves, dried and shredded, can be made into teas.

As you can probably tell - this week is about being creative and working in the foods that co-ordinate with the colored days.  The more prepared and creative you are the better equipped you are for this diet.

 

I hope your week is going well and you have been keeping hydrated!  These HOT summer days can cause you to retain water and do nasty things to your body, if you are not getting enough liquids in.

 

Have a GREAT NIGHT!!!

 

Just thinking about exercise does as much good for the body as dreaming about eating a nutritious meal.

Day 174.2 ~ 7/13/11

I took advantage of having red meat yesterday (it was not listed in the outline), but it was a RED DAY.  No kickboxing last night (I forgot to mention that – regular instructor off, replacement instructor I do not care for their class)...going to try a different class tonight (if I make it)

Going with GREEN today… Green color soothes, relaxes. But it does not help weight loss. As noted in outline green foods contain magnesium. 

Surprised by the  “does not help weight loss”…if you look at most diets – eating greens to fill up and satisfy to assist in weight loss is the norm. Magnesium is necessary for strengthening of nerves, muscles and maintenance of hormonal balance. 

 Breakfast: Green Tea, 1 Granny Smith Apple, 1/2 cup green grapes

Snack: Sliced Cucumber, Green Pepper Strips & Broccoli Florets with ranch dressing dip

Lunch: Grocery store bought Caesar Salad (no croutons), about 10 green olives

Dinner: Sautéed Green Beans (with garlic, ginger, sesame seeds) with a drizzle of garlic sauce (from local Chinese Take Out)

Gotta run...class tonight hope to make it I am running LATE!!!

Have an AWESOME night - Talk to you more tomorrow! 

 Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by what you bring to life.

Day 173.2 ~ 7/12/11

Yesterday, WHITE was supposed to give me energy (or meant energy).  Since a fairly large portion of carbs were consumed and I did feel a little less energetic than usual. More of a weighted down feeling, not necessarily lethargic.

 Only the second day and I am amazed at how much thought needs to go into meals…I am getting worried about the rest of the week!

Quick update tonight!  I have to run to Motor Vehicle Inspection (the only late night) for my Jeep, that is still hanging in there…we decided to drive her until she completely dies, so an investment at the mechanics over this past weekend is going to let her live (hopefully) a few more months!!

Today we are in the RED ZONE….The Red color increases blood pressure, treble muscle tone.

 Breakfast: 2 Red Apples

Lunch:  Approx 6 oz burger with ketchup, 1 sliced tomato, ½ cup red grapes

Dinner:  Grilled Beef Kabobs with steak cubes, red pepper, red onion and tomatoes with a side of beets and a glass of Red Wine….(I could have it – why not!!)   I lightly rubbed the kabobs with a mix of cayenne pepper & cinnamon for a little zip.

Have an AWESOME NIGHT!  If you are experiencing this MAJOR heat wave – stay hydrated!!!

 Niney-nine percent of failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses.

Day 172.2 ~ 7/11/11

FREE SLUPREE day at 7-11....just in case you didn't know!  Today being 7/11, the store of the same name 7/11 gives out FREE Slurpees (up to 5 million of them) today.

For me - today is a WHITE day.  Since my top 2 favorite Slurpee flavors are Blue Raspberry & Cherry - no way can I fit in the FREEBIE!

The WHITE day... White color cools, gives energy. From that small description - whatever I ate today was to give me energy.

I drank water as all my beverages since I used milk in my meals.

 Breakfast: Coconut Rice pudding (see recipe below), heated slightly in microwave - AWESOME!

Lunch: 2 Mozzerella Cheese sticks, 1 large baked (nuked) potato, 5 oz grilled chicken breast

Dinner: 5 oz grilled chicken breast over white rice with Basic White Sauce (see recipe below)and 1 cup cauliflower.

Dessert:  More coconut rice pudding (cold this time - just as good!)

 Basic White Sauce

2 Tablespoons unsalted butter

2 Tablespoons all purpose flour

1 cup hot milk

Sea salt & white pepper to taste

 In sauce pan, melt butter over medium-low heat (do not let butter brown).  Whisk in the flour and cook until a uniform paste is formed and no streaks of flour remain.  Slowly whisk in the hot milk in a steady stream.  Cook about 10 minutes, stirring until the sauce coats the back of a wooden spoon.  Use sea salt and white pepper to season to your taste.

 

Coconut Milk Rice Pudding

Ingredients:

    1 (16 ounce) can coconut milk
    sweetener, to taste (I used a little xylitol)
    1/4 cup coconut, optional
    2 cups cooked rice
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract
   
 
Directions:

1. Heat the coconut milk in a heavy saucepot, over medium heat, until it comes to a simmer.  Add sweetener and stir until dissolved.  Add coconut, if desired.

2. Add the cooked rice and heat through. Simmer until it thickens, but don't allow it to become too dry, the rice will continue to absorb the milk as it cools. 

3. Take off the heat and stir in the vanilla. Serve warm or chilled.

Looking at a plate of white with no other colors was weird.  It's different if you order a cup of vanilla ice cream - you know it's white...but EVERYTHING on your plate WHITE, no real color other than the tiny specks of black pepper on my potato at lunch and the grilled chicken - everything was white - should make for an interesting visit to the bathroom...it's going to be like a ghost poop (SO, SO,  S.O.R.R.Y!!!  -it's the first thing that popped into my head and my fingers just went with typing it)

This week is going to take work.  I was happy when I saw an ORANGE day - I thought for sure would be Cheese Puffs (Remember the rumor a few years back that Billy Bob Thorton only ate Orange food???) and Carrot Cake - - but those do not fall into the natural and healthy food catagories...this is going to take work.  Who would of thought that eating color coded food each day would be hard??

Have a WONDERFUL NIGHT!!!!

No matter how you fall, just think how to get up fast