01-29-10

How to enter the Life Balance Challenge

Here’s how to play and enter…

1. Each week we will post an entry to the Personal Gourmet Blog

2. Sometime shortly after we post we will ask a question on Facebook and Twitter directly related to the blog post

3. You will have 24 hours to respond from the time the question is posted – when you know the answer simply email it to rosereismanpg@gmail.com with the subject line: Life Balance

4. Each week’s winner will be randomly selected from the emails we receive that have answered the question correctly

In order to qualify…

1. You’ll need to be located in the Personal Gourmet Delivery Areas – click here to see the areas
2. You’ll need a valid email account so we can contact you (please include your phone number)
3. You’ll need to be a fan of Rose Reisman on Facebook

That’s all there is to it.

Good Luck!!!

01-28-10

Life Balance Challenge – Question #2

Here is this week’s Life Balance Challenge Question:

What is “mouth feel” a fancy term for?

Find the answer in this blog post.

Find out how to enter the Challenge here.

The cut-off to submit your answer is 5:00pm Friday, January 29, 2010

Good Luck!

01-28-10

5 Amazing Approaches to Cooking Lighter in 2010

Two weeks ago we launched our first posts in a series of Core Approaches to achieving a more balanced life. This week we’re thrilled to present the first in a series of Rose’s very hands-on, Approaches that focus on actual meal preparation, body care and beauty. So read on and learn 5 simply delicious, yet calorie-altering tips and techniques to cooking lighter everyday…

Approach #1: Keep it whole…

Most Canadians claim they cook from scratch at least once a day… but they actually don’t, they assemble using a variety of processed and raw, whole ingredients. Obviously for time-starved, busy families, augmenting meals with prepared foods is essential – ready to eat bagged lettuces, for instance, have become a meal mainstay.

But when it comes to processed foods, especially fully prepared sides and main dishes (either dehydrated or from the freezer case) beware of sky high sodium and fat levels, as well as sugar—it’s a little known fact that heavy doses of each deliberately crammed into a single serving can physiologically create cravings for more, and possibly food addictions.

Approach #2: Punch up the flavour…

In the same vein as cooking with whole, fresh foods, get reacquainted with the natural, potent flavours of citrus – whether from lemons, oranges, limes or grapefruits, acidity actually works much better than salt to sharpen the other flavours in your dish. Marinating boneless chicken, lean beef or pork in a simple marinade of lime or orange juice, plus the zest, cumin and garlic packs grill-ready, flavour punch. Also, ditch the lite, bottled salad dressings and make your own – try simply squeezing fresh lime or orange juice over a salad along with a quick drizzle of olive oil.

Approach #3: Take an aromatic journey

Because of the endless combinations and permutations of fresh and dry herbs and spices, nothing goes further in a recipe to create richness and decadence—even though it’s actually light and healthy! In addition to infusing simple, acid based marinades with dry herbs—think oregano, cumin, thyme—after grilling fish fillets or chicken breasts, scatter with a handful of roughly chopped fresh herbs.

Also use fresh herbs as actual components in your salad – one of the most wonderful combos (and perfect accompaniment to grilled fish) is topping chilled, torn romaine leaves with a heap of freshly chopped dill, green onions, liberal squeeze of lemon and dash of good olive oil.

Approach #4: It’s all in the ‘mouth feel’

Professional product developers call it, “mouth feel”, just a fancy term for texture, which makes or breaks the quality of any dish. The processed food industry also knows that fat goes a long way to create a very pleasing texture for a consumer’s palate. But when you cook from scratch, it’s easy to cheat. For example, for soups and sauces, which call for heavy cream, substitute with evaporated milk, or whisk in 2% dry milk powder.

In place of sour cream, use 2% plain, but Balkan style or Greek yogurt, which is strained and retains a wonderful, creamy texture. An easy way to de-fat sauces, soups and gravies is to pour them into a baggie, chill, then remove the hardened parts.

Approach #5: Have your cake and eat it too…

When making desserts use heart healthy oils instead of butter or vegetable shortening and substitute some pureed bananas, applesauce and light sour cream for some of the fat – for instance, if a muffin recipe calls for a cup of oil, use half the oil and the other puree. Use cocoa to replace some of the chocolate; cut back half the chocolate chips in cakes and cookies and use dark or flavored chips to enhance flavor.

01-21-10

Life Balance Challenge – Question #1

Here is this week’s Life Balance Challenge Question:

How many servings does a pint of ice cream (a Haagen Daaz container) contain?

Find the answer in this blog post.

Find out how to enter this week’s Challenge here.

The cut-off to submit your answer is 4:00pm Friday, January 22, 2010

Good Luck!

01-21-10

Gear Up For The Rose Reisman Life Balance Challenge!

Last week we launched the first in a series of Core Approach stories focused on helping our new and loyal fans jumpstart achieving their life-long weight loss goals… and life balance in 2010.

We’re thrilled so many of you have already tuned in and begun sharing your comments and ideas – and to really get our blog in full gear (and even more of you on board to better nutrition) we present our ongoing, Rose Reisman Life Balance Challenge!

The Challenge is a fun and engaging way to help our readers learn more about Rose Reisman’s specific, lifestyle approaches, tips and techniques to life-long health – and at the same time offer you chances to win a weekly prize of a 2-Day Sampler from Rose Reisman’s Personal Gourmet. The fresh and fabulous sampler includes 3 meals and 2 snacks for 2 Days… delivered right to your doorstep!

Here’s how to play and enter…

1. Each week we will post an entry to the Personal Gourmet Blog

2. Sometime shortly after we post we will ask a question on Facebook and Twitter directly related to the blog post

3. You will have 24 hours to respond from the time the question is posted – when you know the answer simply email it to rosereismanpg@gmail.com with the subject line: Life Balance

4. Each week’s winner will be randomly selected from the emails we receive that have answered the question correctly

In order to qualify…

1. You’ll need to be located in the Personal Gourmet Delivery Areas – click here to see the areas
2. You’ll need a valid email account so we can contact you (please include your phone number)
3. You’ll need to be a fan of either Rose Reisman or Rose Reisman’s Personal Gourmet on Facebook

That’s all there is to it.

Good Luck!!!

01-11-10

5 Core Approaches To Achieving Weight Loss Success in 2010

Make you New Year’s resolution to finally shed those extra pounds a life long resolution. It’s Rose’s proven belief that “life in balance” is not only the key to a sustainable, healthy weight, but to overall physical and mental happiness. There really are no secrets, just a conscious approach to tweaking, adjusting and re-learning how, what and when to eat. So, following we present our first 5, core Approaches to help you reach your goals…

Approach #1 – Eat For The Long Term
Meaning that there is no magic dieting bullet… in fact, the magic, is the cumulative results of consciously changing to good eating habits and learning to love food from a fresh, new perspective.

Approach #2 – Eat Often
When hunger attacks, the mind is not the most rationale, and we tend to reach for anything and everything in sight to quench it, with little regard to nutritional content. Eating regularly, which keeps blood sugar levels on an even keel, is the single most important remedy to curbing hunger, and healthy snacking between meals is a great way to stay on track throughout the day. And never, ever skip breakfast – it’s the single most important meal to kick-start your metabolism, and keep it going throughout the day.

Approach #3 – Variety Is Critical
We forget (or simply are not aware) that our bodies require 40 different nutrients for good health, so variety is not only key, but makes for a sustainable approach to shifting to healthier eating habits. Once you determine how many calories you need daily to either sustain your current weight, or to meet a weight loss objective (with which Rose Reisman Personal Gourmet is delighted to help you determine), the next step is to ensure those total calories are made up of a daily selection of foods that include dairy, whole grains, meat, fish and poultry and variety of vegetables and fruit.

Approach #4 – Beware of ‘Portion Sprawl’
Not only do portions grow out of control over the holiday season, ‘portion sprawl’ is endemic in North America. If you consciously keep portions to a reasonable size, you really can eat whatever you want… which, without question quashes any feelings of deprivation that often lead to back to unhealthy eating habits. Keep in mind portions are surprisingly smaller than which marketers have trained us to believe. For instance, a serving of cooked meat is 3oz., or roughly the size of a deck of cards. And beware: a single pint of ice cream (yes, a Haagen Daaz container) actually equals 4 servings!

Approach #5 – Keep Hydrated
Not only is water essential (8 or more glasses every day) for thorough digestion, aiding the liver and kidneys to flush out waste and fat, but it also serves as pre-meal appetite suppressant. Before each meal, have a glass of water and wait 2 to 3 minutes before eating – we guarantee you’ll slow down and appreciate the fresh, high quality food you’ve put effort into preparing, and you’ll likely eat less too!

01-08-10

Helping You Kick-Start Your 2010 Resolutions!

It’s hard to believe that 2010 has arrived! Holiday parties have come to end and New Year’s resolutions have kicked in! At Personal Gourmet we’re committed to help you kick start your New Year’s Resolutions… so we’re offering the following, very appetizing promotions to realize your weight loss goals…

1.  Sign up with a friend who hasn’t been on the program and both receive 10% off  (use promo code “newyears10″)

OR

2.  Sign up for a 28-day package and receive a $28.00 gift certificate for the Pickle Barrel

OR

3.  Sign up for a 60-day package and receive a $40.00 gift certificate for the Pickle Barrel

Give The Ultimate Belated Xmas Gift!

Did you miss someone on your gift-giving list this year? When you sign up for any package 14-days or more you’ll receive a 2-day sampler* to give to a friend!

* please note that the 2-day sampler cannot be applied towards your own package

One day sale this Thursday – Sign up for any package on Friday, January 7th and receive a free Rose Reisman cookbook.

We look forward to a fantastic 2010 and hope these offers get you started in the right direction.

To sign-up for any of the offers please click here.