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Archive for the ‘Diet & Food’ Category

Are Microwaves Safe?

Monday, September 26th, 2011

If you’ve been a reader, this title may seem a little off. It’s not about sex, health, kids, marriage, friendship, career, or anything like that. But, I did promise to cover all the issues that we women sit on the fence about. And wow, am I on the fence here! If you’re a busy WOMAN- single, married, divorced, kids, no kids, most of you own a microwave. In fact, over 90% of American homes have microwave ovens. Not just to reheat a bottle, but what about to reheat a quick leftover dinner? To heat up soup for your daughter’s thermos for school lunches?  To cook a lean cuisine, for crying out loud? (I’ve never had a lean cuisine in my life, but you get the point).

I admit, I am guilty. I USE my microwave. Like really use it. Very occasionally to defrost raw meet or poultry if I’ve run out of time. To heat up my son’s cheese bagel for breakfast this morning. To reheat the penne rosée for school lunches last week.  I definitely have decreased my microwave use over the years, resorting to the less lazy ways of heating things up (like my toaster oven, or stove top). And I even try to use a plate instead of a plastic splatter tray, but I still use this controversial machine. And I say controversial, because it really has been for many years.

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Wordless Wednesday: WHAT’S COOKING and FORBES 25 MOST INFLUENTIAL

Wednesday, August 24th, 2011

Can you say CHOCOLATE CHIP ZUCCHINI LOAF? Wa-wa-wee-wah!

Yes, I’m on a plane right now en-route to shoot an episode of What’s Cooking on City TV as the Celebrity Guest Chef. Considering I’m the biggest FOODIE around (no doubt), but ain’t the best COOK around, this should be interesting! :)   We’re making easy, tasty and fun recipes for the busy woman and mom on the go.  The episode airs October 8th, so stay tuned…

 

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21 Ways To Stress-Free Living and Decluttering Your Mind

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

So I woke up 5:30am Sunday morning, stomach in knots, and pretty anxiety-ridden. This upcoming week is a big one. I just launched The Erica Diamond Jewelry Collection for Ice, I’m missing back to school on Wednesday to shoot a TV segment out of town, and just the mommyhood, wifehood and life duties swirled around in my already cluttered brain. Perhaps you can relate to a frenetic pace as back to school approaches, work deadlines creep up, bills have to get paid, food has to make its way into your fridge, and laundry has to somehow magically get done. Perhaps you have a supportive partner who helps out. Perhaps you’re doing it alone.

I actually tweeted about my anxious state yesterday morning, and someone told me to try taking pills. Well, I don’t even take an Advil for a headache so that wouldn’t go over well. I did however, do yoga, then push-ups, then dips, then 2-minute planks, then ate a great healthy breakfast, and by 9:30, I was seriously 90% better. No joke. And a light-bulb went off in my brain, an ‘AHA moment,’… we are SO MUCH IN CONTROL OF OURSELVES AND OUR LIVES. We are in control of our health, our well-being, our mental state, our marriage, our children. Everything. It’s up to us to give ourselves the best life possible. No one else can do it for us, and truth is, it’s best when we can do it for ourselves. It was a powerful realization.

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Top 7 Foods To Keep You Fit

Monday, May 9th, 2011

I’m going with the rhythm of the people. You asked. I answered. Summer’s around the corner. Bathing suit season is almost upon us. The weather is improving. Comfort food is out. Healthy food is in.

But the truth is, now is usually the time we try and bust a move. Our snug jeans from the winter months of delicious pastas and warm cream soups, cannot be hidden anymore under a long or bulky sweater. The air is lighter. The sun is brighter. And it’s right about now, that we try to get re-motivated for the summer.

Today is about foods that help keep you fit. If you’ve been sitting on the fence about whether or not to continue in a slump, consider this your whack over the head with the frying pan (pardon the irony). It’s May. May is about rebirth, rejuvenation, and regrowth. So, if you’ve been a bad girl, give yourself permission to own that… and then let it go.

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Born Skinny

Thursday, May 5th, 2011

I gotta be honest. And don’t hate me. But I was born skinny. I can give you a list of flaws and faults that I’ve got from here to to China– bad skin, honker nose, only-child syndrome, and the list goes on and on. But I haven’t struggled with my weight for a day in my life. I put on 40 pounds with both pregnancies. It took me a year to take the weight off, but I did, both times, with little effort. I returned to my ever-steady, 5’8″ frame, 117 pounds. And the kicker? I eat like a horse.

(Since turning 35 last year, I have noticed a depressing change in my metabolism, but we’ll save that for another day).

But for the sake of this post…

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25 Healthy Snacks For Kids

Friday, November 5th, 2010

Everyday in the Diamond household, there are two kids’ lunches to prepare: A main meal, 3 snacks, water and juice (the juice only goes to my older one). I have noticed a steady decline lately in the quality of snacks in their lunches (obviously my fault, despite being a very healthy household), and it’s driving me bananas! My 3 year old loves foods like salmon, quiche and all things healthy. He’s quite a pleasure to feed. My big son is a little “trickier,” shall we say. Mealtime has been a huge problem for us, actually. If I’m serving salmon to the family, and my 7 year old refuses to eat it, and therefore I’m making him a grilled cheese, all of a sudden, my 3 year old hates salmon. And then I’m screwed! All healthy goes out the window. And lord knows, I ain’t no Martha Stewart.

So, what’s gone on here during mealtime, has also gone on with school lunches and more specifically their snacks. My little one will take yogourt, cheese, and other healthy snacks to school. My big one doesn’t like yogourt or cheese. And so the daily battle begins when we’re preparing school lunches. The kids go to the pantry to choose their snacks, and there begins the kvetch-a-thon and battle. Me pushing the healthy, them asking for things that their friends bring to school, that I will not buy.

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Keepin’ It Light

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

I thought today I’d do a collaboration of ALL the “On The Fence” topics you have suggested over the past year.

It turns out there are MANY.

Here is the top 35! I didn’t hold back. I have kept track of EVERY “On the fence request” since Day 1. Please feel free to voice your faves for further expanded Blog posts.

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Here is what you women sit on the fence about:

1. Vaginal coiffing: Full, trimmed, landing strip, Brazilian, The “Telly Savalas”

2. When I get married, whose last name do I use… mine or my husband’s?

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