After finishing college, Tina Haupert found herself 20 pounds overweight. She knew she hadn’t been taking the best care of herself on a diet of nachos and beer and very little exercise. She took matters into her own hands and in the time since she has lost the weight, kept it off and began to run marathons.
Tina shares with us her favorite “Skinny” Cooking Tools this week. These are items that have made all the difference in not only losing the weight, but keeping it off.
Cuisinart Elite Collection 4-Cup Chopper/Grinder: This grinder is the best little gadget! It’s perfect for chopping extra veggies to throw into soup, an omelet, or casserole. But it’s also great for making my favorite low-calorie treats, like yummy, high-protein Almond Joy “Ice Cream”. I actually like this version better than real ice cream and it comes with a fraction of the calories and fat.
Old-fashioned oats: I eat old-fashioned oats almost every day—either for breakfast in a big bowl of oatmeal or as a snack, like in my 3-Minute Oatmeal Raisin Cookie. Old-fashioned oats are delicious and so satisfying, thanks to the 3 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein in each 150-calorie serving—and a little goes a long way! I’m never left wanting more after eating oats.
Teddie Peanut Butter: Where would my life be without peanut butter? Teddie is all natural and tastes just like smooth, ground peanuts. Even though peanut butter is relatively high in calories, Teddie Peanut Butter sticks to my ribs and keeps me full for hours. It’s worth the calories for the serious satisfaction factor! If I add a couple of spoonfuls to my morning bowl of oats, I’m not hungry until lunchtime.
Mario Batali Measuring Prep Bowls: These bowls have measuring cup numbers on the inside, so it’s easy to keep track of portion size—especially with high-calorie treats like ice cream. Plus, their small size makes snacks seem much more plentiful when they fill up the small bowl. In the end, I eat less, and the number on the scale stays the same.
Cuisinart 12-Cup Coffee Maker: Iced coffee with vanilla soy milk pretty much tastes like dessert to me. It’s the perfect low-calorie treat to satisfy my sweet tooth and it tastes so delicious on a warm, spring day. And, of course, an iced coffee is a wonderful pick-me-in in the morning or mid-afternoon.
What great tips Tina! Thank you so much! Be sure to learn more about Tina in the latest issue of Where Women Cook!
