A Closer Look at The Parisian Diet

Eat sumptuous food and lose weight? On The Parisian Diet you can do it.

La Duree

Parisian Diet mastermind Dr. Jean Michel-Cohen is a popular French nutrition expert. He released a cookbook Light French Recipes: A Parisian Diet Cookbook here in May.  There are three phases to the diet:

• The Cafe Phase - a kickstart, lasting 8-10 days which includes plenty of liquids
• The Bistro Phase - a 2-3 week period in which you consume fiber and protein-rich meals
• The Gourmet Phase - the longterm phase you maintain until you reach your ideal weight. 

The main tenets of his diet are simple:

• Quality, not quantity - meaning smaller portions of food.  No supersizing.
• Savor your food and avoid mindless eating.  A meal is a ritual in which to celebrate, not chow down at your desk.  I have a bad habit of doing this. 
• Don't deprive - skip a salad if you don't love it!  Instead eat a smaller portion of something you love rather than a large salad you'll hate consuming. 

It's somewhat along the lines of Mireille Guiliano's French Women Don't Get Fat.

I tend to lose weight when I visit France (and any other foreign country, for that matter).  But what's interesting when I visit France is that I indulge.  Granted, we usually walk about five or more miles a day but there isn't one bit of restraint.  We eat cheese, drink wine, eat desserts, macarons and sumptuous, multi-course meals.   Here's the thing: the portions are small and the ingredients are fresh.

Here is a typical Parisian vacation diet, in pictures.

Breakfast

I visited Eric Kayser every morning to pick up pastries. 

This was my daily breakfast which is a departure from my normal routine of a green smoothie, oatmeal or toast and peanut butter.  We would get four pastries: one for me, my husband, my daughter and one to share.  Notice how these aren't huge.

Lunch

Lunch at Ma Cocotte

This was a normal lunch.  We would usually also have salad and dessert....and a few more glasses of wine.

Dinner
The final meal of the day was either one of two things: a blowout dinner or not much at all.

Dinner at Maxim's

Dessert at Maxim's

Treating my daughter like a queen! 

We celebrated my birthday in 2013 at Maxim's at around 10pm one evening.  Sure it's touristy but it was a wonderful experience.

Crepes, cheese, champagne and fruit for dinner

On other nights, after having a large lunch we would eat a smaller dinner featuring what you see above.  The thing about dinners in Paris is that there is no late night snacking, something I struggle with at home.  Once the kitchen is closed, it's closed.  No more food after dinner.

The ubiquitous bottle of wine

We had wine at almost every meal.  Generally a bottle split between the two of us.

Oreos! Mon dieu!

Don't think the French are perfect.  Look what I found at the grocery store...processed food!

The Takeaway 
The Parisian Diet isn't a new concept.  It's one that most nutrition experts advocate: eat real food, smaller portions of it, be mindful when you eat and enjoy your food.

Whether in Paris or not, that's something most of us can do every day.

What foreign eating principles do you like? I love the Mediterranean approach to eating. Please share your favorite foreign diet concept in the comments section.

Buy the Books Mentioned in this Post:

Healthy Tex-Mex: Chicken Margarita Tacos

Inspired by the delicious meal I had at Rosario's in San Antonio on Friday, I'm in a Tex-Mex mood.  As many trips as I have made to San Antonio, I can't believe I just discovered this local gem in the King William Historic district.

Friday's lunch was full of chayote squash, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, peppers and more.  Amazing.

Tex-Mex doesn't have to be loaded full of fat, cheese and grease to be delicious.  Look at this wonderful Tex-Mex recipe I found from the Well Fed Newlyweds blog: Chicken Margarita Tacos.

I am not a huge Panko bread crumbs fan.  I would stick with simply grilled chicken.  Either way, it's fantastic.

Image via thewellfednewlyweds.blogspot.com

For the Tacos:

1/3 cup olive oil

1/3 cup tequila

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

Zest of 2 limes

1 tsp. ground coriander

Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced

3 cups panko bread crumbs

1/4 cup flour (I used whole wheat)

Zest of 3 limes

1 tsp. ground coriander

Corn tortillas, warmed

Fresh cilantro, chopped

For the Salsa:

1 avocado, diced

1 medium tomato, diced

6 to 8 large strawberries, chopped

1/4 red onion, finely chopped

Juice of half a lime

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

In a large bowl or baking dish, whisk together the olive oil, tequila, lime juice, zest of 2 limes, 1 tsp. coriander, salt, and pepper.

Are Some of Us Born to Loathe Exercise?

Forget love.  Do you have a hate relationship with exercise?  It might not be your fault.

Running the Jerusalem Half-Marathon in 2009

Apparently some of us are simply hardwired to loathe exercise.   Researchers at the University of Missouri bred pairs of rats that voluntarily spent a lot of time running on wheels in their cages and compared their baby rats with the offspring of rats that didn't seem to enjoy running.

The rats of "active parents" were likelier to exercise.  When scientists examined their brains, they found that the running rats' Nucleus Accumbens lit up while exercising.  WTH are Nucleus Accumbens?  Well, it's part of the brain that is associated with pleasure and enjoyment.

All of this is published in the Journal of Physiology and is better explained in Parade.

So are are you destined to hate exercise?  Not so much.  The lead researcher in the study, Missouri biomedical professor Frank Booth, Ph.D., indicated that no matter what deck of gene cards you're handed "people can decide to exercise".

Taking a barre class at exhale spa

C'est Vrai.  I personally believe I am one of the folks hardwired to love exercise.  As far back as I can remember, I loved running, riding bikes and horses.  That has translated into a lifestyle as an adult that enjoys participating in these activities as well as working out at the gym, taking classes and more.

Hardwired to exercise or not, it's one of the few things you can do that can instantly lift your mood.  Don't believe me?  Go for a walk for thirty minutes.  I dare you to tell me you don't feel better.

As I have gotten older, exercise isn't so much about looking better.  It's about feeling better.  This approach to exercise can work for you, too.  It's the one thing you can do to set the tone for the day and improve your outlook automatically.

More Good News on Green Tea

The good news on green tea just keeps coming.

Assam green tea/Image via Wikimedia

Drinking it on the job can help you stay sharper.  A recent study showed that green tea improves your working memory.  When you pair this news with green tea's anti-wrinkle and anti-inflammatory properties, it's a home run.

A small study recently done by biomedical researchers at the University of Basel found that participants performed a working memory task in which they had to watch letters flash on a screen and press a button if the letter was the same one that appeared on one or two trials prior to it.

Those who took a shot with 27.5 grams of green tea extract did better than the control group who didn't take the green tea shot.  Learn more about the study here.

I drink green tea iced or hot.  There are so many wonderful varieties of it.

Kusmi BB Detox Green Tea

I love Kusmi Teas and adore their BB Detox Green Grapefruit Tea.  I found them in Paris and order them online.

I also like Premium Stash's Ginger Peach Green Tea over ice.

Browse More Delicious Green Tea Selections Here: 

Is Your Afternoon Snack Making You Fat?

Do you have that love/hate relationship with the vending machine?  I do.  I'll be starving at 3 or 4 and, if I don't prepare for a snack attack, will let the vending machine win.  Whether it be a bag of M&M's bar (I could a party size one, btw) or bag of chips, vending machines usually offer crap.

A recent British study (granted, done by a berry company), noted that 4:12pm is the time of day most Brits are likely to wreck their diets.  This isn't much of a shock at all.  If you eat a 250 calorie sugar-filled candy bar or 300 calorie bag of chips and throw on a 150 calorie soda with that, you're doing some diet damage

So you how do you fight back?  Preparation is key!

Bring snacks to work.  Think of it as your Desk Diet.  Here are some snacks, which hold up to sitting unrefrigerated on your desk or in a cooler in your car, that won't sabotage your diet:

• Apple and string cheese - one of my favorite snacks
• Five dried apricots and a quarter cup of raw almonds
• A slice of whole wheat bread or pita with natural peanut butter and raisins
• A serving size of all-natural crackers with a piece of string cheese 

I like bars.  They're easy and portable.  You can buy an entire box of bars and stash them in your desk.  It's an easy "set it and forget" way to fight the vending machine.

Here is a selection of some of my favorites that are all under 250 calories: 

Also drink a lot of water or herbal tea throughout the day (I LOVE Kusmi Tea).  Staying hydrating really does help you ward off hunger.

The Most Fattening Food Around the World

Part of the fun of travel is eating.  I believe that you can learn so much about a foreign culture by simply popping into bar, ordering a local drink and appetizers and chatting up the bartender and patrons next to you.  Those are truly some of my best memories.

Banana Nutella Crepes/image via Wikimedia

Some of those memories are made with some of the world's most fattening foods.  I would live on Nutella and banana crepes if I could.  This is a calorie nightmare though: Two tablespoons of Nutella is 200 calories (110 calories from fat), the crepe itself is fry-cooked batter and usually topped with whipped cream.  At least there's some fruit, right?  I'm going with that.

Paris, 2010

Not a sweet fan?  Try gruyere crepes like the ones I had in Montmartre one night.  I died and went to food heaven.

Other fattening travel foodgasms I've had?  The expected, like a typical breakfast of Churros dunked in jello-thick chocolate in Spain.  The most random?  A cheese-wrapped hot dog (or polser as they're called in Denmark) stuffed in a bun from a street vendor in Copenhagen.  Don't judge.  It was fabulous.

Smarter Travel lists 10 of the most fattening foods around the world.  It's such food porn, it's worth discussing. Breakfast Churros dipped in chocolate and Nutella crepes are both on the list.

Georgian Khachapuri/Image via Wikimedia

How about Khachapuri from Georgia?  It's a bowl of bread stuffed with melted cheese, topped with an egg and a large pat of butter.  It actually looks pretty good.

Aligot/Image via Wikimedia

If you're in France, you MUST try Aligot.  It's a mashed potato dish with butter, cream, garlic and melted cheese whipped together in gorgeous thick dish.  Don't ask about the calories.  Just don't.

Jalebi/Image via Wikimedia

Jalebi - this is a deep-fried dough that is soaked in a sugary syrup.  Eh, not so much.

Deep Fried Mars Bar/Image via Wikimedia

Perhaps the lamest one on the list?  A Deep-Fried Mars Bar from Scotland.  Please....that's just an appetizer at the State Fair of Texas.

Read the complete list here.

What About You?
Share your favorite travel memory in the comments section!

Craving Chocolate? Try These Healthy, Easy Recipes

My daughter's new favorite catchphrase is "I Want Chocolate".

She can see a chocolate bar or Hershey's Kiss a mile away....and will walk the mile to eat it.

I'm a realist: she's not going to go through life avoiding Reese's Peanut Butter cups or Cadbury Hardshell eggs (both of which are my faves, btw).  Eating them on occasion is fine.

I wanted a healthier alternative for more frequent consumption and found two recipes that are home runs.

Copycat Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
You have to try Chocolate Covered-Katie's Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs recipe.  Oh. My. God. Ridiculously good. The recipe calls for any nut butter.  I had Jiff All-Natural Peanut Butter on hand.  I'm looking forward to experimenting with other brands and types of nut butters.

Peanut Butter & Powdered Sugar

Blended Peanut Butter & Powdered Sugar

Peanut Butter Balls, which must be frozen for about an hour before dipping in chocolate

The finished product!

They were fabulous.  Granted, they're not the most visually appealing but they ROCKED.  The recipe suggests making the chocolate coating with coconut oil, which gives it a slightly coconut hint.  I used Nutiva 100% coconut oil.

Raw Brownies 
Deliciously Ella has a deliciously easy raw brownie recipe.  It's the easiest thing I've made in a while.  I used agave nectar instead of maple syrup and added chia seeds to the recipe and will experiment with adding cinnamon for a more of a Mexican Chocolate flavor.

Blend in a food processor

Into the fridge to chill for about an hour

The finished product! 

The Verdict

My daughter love them!

The Takeaway
Both of the recipes were insanely good and easy to make.  The raw brownies took all of about 10 minutes to prepare.  I was surprised both recipes called for cocoa powder instead of chocolate bars that can be melted.

More importantly, they're a healthier alternative to store-bought, preservative filled chocolate treats.

Get the Ingredients 

Monday Motivation: Ditch the Junk Food & Adopt the Paris Diet

I hope you had a great weekend.  I hope you have an even greater week.

If you haven't heard, I'm trying to stick to an editorial calendar.  By going public with it, I'm hoping it has that "hold me accountable" effect.

From junk food truly jacking with your system to Parisian diet recipes (yes, please), here are some things I hope will help get you through the week:

Exercise Helps You Live Longer

There is no reason not to exercise.  Really.  Now there is solid proof it helps you live longer.  You CAN find the time to exercise for 30 minutes a day, even if it's just walking, dancing or hula hooping.  Do it.  Stop making excuses.

Junk Sucks
So junk food makes you lazy.  I could have told you that!  When I was 200 pounds and lived on M&M's & Diet Mountain Dew, I was always tired.  Now, here's science to support that.

Light French Recipes

Light French Recipes: A Parisian Diet Cookbook

Okay, I am ALL in on this....a LIGHT French recipe book: Light French Recipes: A Parisian Diet Cookbook. (Available May 13th.  Pre-order it here.)  Yes!

One can argue that those who love the Mediterranean side of France don't need this.  True.  For those of you who love northern French fare and are looking to lighten it, this is a Godsend.  To learn more about dieting with Parisian chic, check out Dr. Jean-Michel Cohen's other book, The Parisian Diet.  This book isn't about deprivation.  It's about delighting in food that's so beautifully prepared and of such high quality that you won't crave crap (like M&M's & Diet Mountain Dew).  Details on this and my other favorite French books below.

The Takeaway

Whatever you're planning right now, stop talking about it.  Start doing it.  Or at least start putting the ball in motion to begin your next big endeavor.  You'll feel better about being productive.  Promise.

Have a great week!

Buy The Parisian Diet & My Fave French Books Here:  

Professional Inspiration from Skin Authority CEO Celeste Hilling

Whether by force or by choice, stories of career reinvention intrigue me.  It takes balls moxie for someone to leave a career that is comfortable and stable in pursuit of something unknown yet fulfilling.  To emerge on the other side with a new and successful venture is an accomplishment both inspiring and worthy of sharing. 

Celeste Hilling and her daughter, Kiki

Fifty-five year old Celeste Hilling's career is one such story.  It is a lesson in perseverance, research, diligent work and checking your ego at the door. 

"You get a plan, you get a game plan and you put that plan out there," Celeste told me from her home base in San Diego.  "It's trial and error with a lot of roadblocks along the way."

The Backstory
Celeste made a career change in her 40's.  I joke that while most people are looking for the exit sign, she was starting an entirely new endeavor in a new industry.  She was the President of Compaq's Consumer Software Business Unit and the VP of Compaq's Consumer Division where she managed 42 countries and 14,000 people. Hilling left the high-tech world to work in the luxury spa industry where she was the President and CEO of the Day Spa Group for Steiner Leisure Ltd.  

While working in the spa industry, she saw a need in the market for skincare products rooted in science that offer real health benefits.  Skin Authority was born.  The thing that I like about Skin Authority is that it's not just about products.  The company believes that healthy, beautiful skin isn't solely the result of topical treatments (which certainly help...look what they did for my neck).  Skin Authority embraces a multi-pronged approach to beauty, understanding the importance of a quality diet and an overall healthy lifestyle as it relates to beauty.  That's something I appreciate.

Skin Authority Wrinkle Reversing Serum

Doing Homework
"When I resigned from Compaq, I didn't jump right into a business," she said.

"It was really about doing homework, going out and talking to people in the industry, everyone from Dr. Murad to Dr. Perricone, people who ran spas, asking 'If you were starting your business today what would you do differently?"

Her advice to someone who is considering a career change? 

"Really do that homework to educate yourself to determine where the real opportunity is," she suggests.

Check that Ego at the Door
Don't be afraid to learn where that opportunity lies, even if it might lead to awkward moments.

"It was tough because you go from doing something like being one of the first female officers of a high tech company to working the front desk of a 1,900 square foot spa in La Jolla," she admits. 

"I actually had an ex-Compaq employee who came in and looked at me like, 'Oh what a fall from grace!'  I thought 'No, I'm building a multimillion dollar company' but nobody looks at it that way," she notes.  

"At the end of the day, those are things you need to do to be successful.  You have to be willing to take a few steps back to educate yourself so that you can be effective and be a leader that understands where the marketplace is." 

Don't Fear Failure

As with any new venture or experience there will be failure.  I am learning this myself and it was nice to hear Celeste reinforce what I believe: failure is an opportunity but be smart about it. 

"When you're building a new model some things work and some things don't," Celeste says pragmatically. 

"When a part of the plan fails it doesn't mean that the plan isn't worth it.  I think you just have to have that fuel, that passion and that self-belief.  But also, you don't want to be ignorant when you fail.  You want to reevaluate." 

"Yes, I cried with my husband 'What did we do?' because you feel responsible for your money and your family." 

"You have so many dynamics that go into a successful business.  One is your people.  That's always a challenge in that you have amazing people but they rely on you to keep them pumped up and fired up as you're building a business.  That's energy you have to have to not only fuel yourself when you hit those bumps but fuel everyone following."  

And what about when that inevitable self-doubt creeps up? 

"You have to know your own voice," she says.  "If it hadn't been done before people will tell you it can't be done.  You just have to step out and be bold and make it happen."

The Takeaway

In this era of women seemingly hating other women in the workplace (trust me...I can tell you ALL about that), I believe it's important to celebrate success stories.  I hope you can glean some inspiration from her story like I did.

To learn about her beauty secrets, check out TheBestBeautySecrets.com.

Healthy Tex-Mex at Home

I'm on a mission to change the way we approach eating Tex-Mex food.  Sure, you can still enjoy quesadillas, nachos and chimichangas.  Occasionally.  If Tex-Mex is a staple of your diet, think 3-4 times per week, make it your goal to eat the healthier options that are available.

Don't believe that's possible?  You're wrong.  Try an all-natural margarita.  You won't go back to the fake, corn syrup-laden nuclear green garbage or skinny slop.

Eating out?  Enjoy these delicious appetizers.  What about your entree?  Here are multitude of options to satisfy your craving.

Don't want to deal with the hassle of going out?  Try some of these great at-home recipes.


Prepare Your Pico

Image via Hajor

Have a bowl pico de gallo on hand.  It's easy to make and a wonderful accompaniment to any Tex-Mex dish or as a topping for your salad.  The simpler the recipe the better.  This one is great.

Nacho Casserole

Recently I made a wonderful Nacho Casserole from Mind Over Munch.  I swapped lean ground turkey for the ground beef and baked blue corn tortillas for original.  It was awesome, impressing my hard-to-impress Tex-Mexpert of a brother.

Nachos
You can make a simple nacho recipe with baked chips, low-fat Mexican blend cheese, beans and jalapenos.  Add sliced grilled chicken.  Top with nonfat Greek yogurt and serve with salsa and guacamole or sliced avocado.

Enjoy Enchiladas
Craving enchiladas?  Cooking Light has a FABULOUS Cheesy Enchilada recipe.  I even blogged about how wonderful it was.

Image via CookingLight.com

Alas, I have lost my photos from the experiment.

A Healthier Quesadilla
I love quesadillas but not the calories and fat that accompany them.  You can make a wonderful version that is figure friendly.

La Tortilla Factory Low Carb Whole Wheat Tortilla

Try La Tortilla Factory Low Carb Whole Wheat Tortilla with either some low-fat Mexican blend cheese or shredded string cheese.  Add whatever veggies you like: broccoli, peppers, mushrooms, you get the idea.  Nuke it in the microwave for a minute.  Once it's done throw some spinach, avocado and salsa or pico de gallo on there.  Maybe some jalapenos.  It's better than you think.  Promise.

The Takeaway
From portion size to the stupidity of the menu items (bacon guacamole?) I am still trying to figure out how Tex-Mex got so out of control.  At it's core, Mexican food is comprised of wonderful produce and lean proteins.  Sure there are some starchy carbs in the form of corn tortillas and rice but think of those as complements to your meal, not the bulk of it.  Enjoy the cheese, too, but take the same approach with it as you do the starches: have it complement the the meal, not dominate it.

Once in a while blow it out.  Have those cheese enchiladas smothered in sauce, Bob Armstrong Dip or chile rellenos.  Enjoying those are a part of the Tex-Mex experience.  Don't make it a daily thing.

Healthy Options in Tex-Mex Restaurants: Entree Edition

Could you eat a jumbo chicken burrito slathered in queso every day?  How about cheese and spinach enchiladas with ranchero sauce?  Me?  Yes and yes.

But we know that eating that way on a consistent basis is not the foundation of a quality diet.  Given that we eat Tex-Mex so much in Texas, it is worth finding qualities staples at our favorite restaurants that keep our diets on track and don't have us eating 1000-calorie meals.

Image via FernandoMexicanCuisine.com

Monday we focused on margaritas.  Tuesday we tackled starters.  Now let's enjoy our entrees. You can eat relatively healthy entrees in Tex-Mex restaurants.  Order fajitas with light cheese and no sour cream or salads without cheese and fried tortilla strips are always a good choice.  Grilled fish tacos are also a nice option.

Always consider splitting an entree.  When you order a guacamole or other healthy appetizer, you have already enjoyed a fair amount of food.  The Tex-Mex portions are typically huge and big enough to share.

Let's dive a bit further with specific menu items at area restaurants:

Image via www.UncleJulios.com

Uncle Julio's 

• Ensalada Grande - delicious with the grilled portobello mushroom and salsa for dressing. 
• Soft Taco Plate - get black beans instead of refried.
• Vegetable Fajitas - ask for no butter.
• Mesquite Grilled Salmon 

Mi Cocina 

• Rico Salad - comes with fajita chicken or steak.  Try the spicy blue cheese dressing on the side or just enjoy salsa with your salad.  
• Tacos al Carbon - typically a good choice at any restaurant.
• Pauley's - sub the beef with chicken and borracho beans in place of refried beans.  
• Tilapia Vera Cruz or Salmon a la Parilla - both quality seafood dishes.
• Quinceañera Salad 

Fernando's 

• Tacos de Pescado - nix the cheese. 
• Pechugo de Pollo - again, nix the cheese, enjoy it with their delicious green salsa.
• Ensalada de Espinaca - enjoy with chicken or shrimp. 
• Jorge - get it with chicken and corn tortillas.
• Carne Asada - nix the sour cream.

Mattito's  - they make it easy with a ❤ next to their "healthier" items.

• Lite Fajitas - these are served with broccoli and cauliflower.  Delicious!
• De Marisco Salad - shrimp, salmon or scallops over a bed of greens.
• Pollo con Salsa Maiz - chicken with a tasty black bean sauce and a healthy serving of veggies.
• Enchiladas de Hongos - sauteed mushroom enchiladas served with a spicy Cascabel sauce, black beans and corn pepper salad.

Rafa's

• Veggie Enchilada Plate - order it with black beans and veggies, top with green tomatillo sauce.
• Pechuga Parilla - nix the cheese and substitute the refried beans for black or whole beans. 
• Veggie-Jitas - ask for black or whole beans instead of refried beans.
• Steve's Steak Tacos 
• Snapper a la Feliz

Blue Goose - I might have tried my very first margarita here...when I was 15....might.

• Chipotle Chicken - order with charra beans instead of refried. 
• Chicken Toluca Salad - nix the jack cheese and bacon. 
• Verde Enchiladas - this is big enough to split.

The Takeaway
Again, go ahead and enjoy quesadillas and nachos, once in a while.  If dining out in Tex-Mex restaurants is something you do a few times a week, make these healthier choices.  Your waistline will thank you.

How to Find Healthy Options at Tex-Mex Restaurants: Appetizers

Patio season is here and in Dallas/Fort Worth that also means the season of Tex-Mex and margaritas has officially arrived.  But if you're not careful, you can blow your calorie wad on frozen margaritas and chips before you even order your food.

The buzz about "The Tequila Diet" got my little pea brain swirling: how did Tex-Mex get so fatteningly wrong?

Mexican food, at its core, is pretty healthy.  A Mexican diet is full of beautiful produce, seafood and quality meats. Sure there is corn and fried chips but you can forgo them.  I was married in Mexico and actually lost weight the week I was there while enjoying wonderful food from authentic Mexican chefs.  Here is a sampling of what we enjoyed:

Steak, halibut and vegetables

Grilled shrimp with mango salsa

Salad with parmesan crisp

Ceviche 

Tex-Mex takes some liberties with cheese and fried items but I am fully convinced that you CAN find healthy Tex-Mex options and avoid a 1200 calorie meal at MOST restaurants if you look and ask nicely.

Let's start with starters 
I get it.  The fried tortilla chips come on the table and before you even order a drink, you have eaten a basket. You don't even want to know how many calories and fat that are in a basket of chips.

Corn Tortillas
Order non-fried corn tortillas to go along with your salsa and use that as your "starter".  If you really MUST have chips, take five (it's a nice simple number - that's the only reason I picked it) and break the chips in half.  Dunk each one in the salsa and savor it.  Eat slowly and you will enjoy the experience even more.

Guacamole
I order guacamole just about every time I eat Tex-Mex.  It's a wonderful starter.  I usually have that along with tortilla soup or a salad at most restaurants.  With your guacamole, employ the same corn tortilla strategy but tear your warm corn tortillas into quarters.  Top each quarter with some guacamole and salsa.  It's a delicious starter.

Want something even more calorie friendly?  Ask for a sliced tomato and enjoy that with your guacamole.  It's better than you think.

Seafood
Try ceviche.   Fernando's and Mi Cocina both offer great these amazing appetizers.  Mi Cocina's ceviche is a fresh, delicious blend of citrus juices, shrimp, avocado, mango and jicama.  YUM!

Another great starter is the shrimp appetizer so many restaurants serve.  Pepe & Mito's has a nice shrimp cocktail while La Calle Doce makes a delicious shrimp campechana.

Soups
Don't like seafood?  Soups are an outstanding option.  A cup of tortilla soup WITHOUT the cheese and tortilla strips is a great starter.  Matt's Rancho Martinez has a veggie laden tortilla soup that has big chunks of carrots and cauliflower.

The Takeaway
There is no problem indulging in nachos, quesadillas and queso occasionally.  As often as we eat Tex-Mex in Dallas/Fort Worth, it's not smart to indulge that way meal after meal.  Making the produce, seafood and lean meats the bulk of your Tex-Mex diet will help keep your weight in check while enjoying the patio, margaritas and people watching.

Wednesday we'll focus on Tex-Mex entrees.

The Tequila Diet? Really? Maybe.

Oh my.  This could be the diet that is custom made for patio-craving, Tex-Mex fans across the country, particularly in Dallas/Fort Worth.

Patron Silver

A new study has found that agavins, the natural sugar found in the agave plant (the plant that produces tequila) can aid in weight loss and help fight diabetes.

Researchers fed mice a standard diet but added agavins to their water.  The mice that consumed the agavin-laden water ate less and had lower overall blood glucose levels.  The study suggests that regular consumption of agavins, say in a sweetener, could help people battling diabetes and assist in weight loss.

There's no agavin sweetener (these sugars are different from agave syrup), so we'll just have to stick with tequila for now which isn't a bad way to indulge in alcohol.  Why?  Because if you're not doing teenage-style tequila shots, you can't slam it.  Tequila is a sipping cocktail.

A Healthier Margarita
Margaritas can be a full-on fat pill when you drink the syrupy sweet sugar bombs.  Additionally, those pre-made low-cal margaritas, sorry SkinnyGirl fans, are just terrible.  Any time I drink them, I have the worst hangovers.

Make an all-natural margarita, using good tequila, and you will never drink from a pre-made mix again.  All you need is three ingredients:

• 1.5 oz tequila
• 2 tsp agave nectar 
• 1 oz lime juice (approx 1/2 of a lime) 

Mix the ingredients by swirling or stirring, to dissolve the agave nectar.  Add enough ice to your favorite margarita glass.  Serve with a salted rim, if desired, and a lime wedge.