Belly Fat Busters

Can you believe there is only one week left in January? That’s right, the month is almost over and before you know it summer will be here. You know I’m right. For those of you who have made the resolution to work out and get in the best shape of your life, don’t forget that nutrition is more important than exercise when it comes to weight loss. If you want results fast, there are certain foods you should eat that help melt belly fat. If you want it keep it little in the middle, incorporate the following foods in your daily diet.

• Protein Powders – These amino acids can be found in many forms. Try think Thin meal replacement bars which contain 20grams of protein per serving, are gluten-free and have 0 grams of sugar! The best think of all is that they taste amazing.

• Apples- They are packed with fiber and have the ability to fill you up and alleviate hunger pangs.

• Avocado – excellent source of fiber as well as mono-saturated fats. Your heart will love the healthy fats and it does wonders for the skin.

• Green Veggies – Packed with vitamins and minerals, these superfoods are also loaded with fiber to fill you up with fewer calories!

• Green Tea -  Rich in antioxidants, which speeds up metabolism. Drink plain for the best results. It raises the rate of burning calories about 6 percent.

• Fish – Rich in Omega 3 fatty acids is one of my favorite choices. They help regulate stress chemicals that lead to fat abs.

Just remember, balance is everything. Never deny yourself something, just eat it in moderation. If you have to lose weight in a short amount of time, I would suggest you eliminate some items to get the weight off faster. Until next time, stay focused on your goals.

Update:

I am guest posting on Sandra’s Easy Cooking

xoxo,

Chef Ameera

Invest in Yourself…

YOU Are The Best Investment You Can Make!!!

The true mark of an LA Girl is that she is fierce, sassy, and sexy at all times. Many women struggle with different aspects of their health. We are so immersed in caring for others that we neglect ourselves ( it’s our amazing selfless nature). Don’t put yourself on the back burner. If you want to continue caring for your loved ones and taking care of those around you, you have to take care of YOU first. It is not selfish, it is a reality. The best investment you can make is within yourself! So to prepare you for this self care regimen L.A Girls Do Cook is happily passing along our tried and true mini check list of things to aid you on your road to healthy.

1. A Mental Diagnostic- Many women spend very little time figuring out what exactly is causing their decline in health. For example, for many women it is overeating (ourselves included). Have you ever thought about why you overeat? Is it out of nervousness or social courtesy? Did someone tell you as a child to always finish your plate because other starving children would appreciate it more? Whatever the reason is for your ailment, many times if you give it some thought, you can pinpoint the culprit of your stressors. It is a great starting point! We suggest journaling to track your feelings and habits when you engage in unhealthy activities like over eating.

2. An Appointment- Don’t do it alone! There are huge advantages to seeing a medical professional to help in your journey. They can give you insight on what kind of legwork you have to do to remedy the problem. In the case of overeating, they can formulate a diet regimen for you to follow to attain your goals! The care plan is completely tailored to you, and is much safer than taking another person’s word for it.

 

3.Commitment to a Routine- Do you ever watch horror films and there is always that one character who doesn’t stick to the plan and their fate goes horribly awry? This is not the type of situation. Your habits are your habits and they take time to break, so give yourself wiggle room for a period of adjustment (be sensible). Make up your mind that you are going to put you first! Stick to the plan! The impending results will create a desire to continue in your routine.

 

 

There are infinite possibilities in you for displaying your best self! The world deserves a chance to bask in your presence while you are radiating your most attractive, positive energy! That’s what being an LA Girl is all about! 

How about a Mellow Yellow Party?

Looking to plan the perfect Summer birthday party?! Say HELLO to YELLOW! By choosing a colored theme like yellow you can incorporate so many fun ideas and create a blend of warm and sunny vibes for everyone to enjoy!

To prepare for your yellow party send out yellow-themed birthday invitations emphasizing that that yellow is the attire for the celebration too!

And you guessed it, the food and beverages will be yellow too, so plan to make some delicious lemonade. You can make all kinds of lemonade from strawberry and watermelon, to a cool minty drink. Mango and pineapple juice might be great additions as well. Beer and wine fit accordingly on the yellow menu, so include those if it fits in with your party. Yellow cakes, yellow cupcakes, and don’t forget those delicious sugar cookies! You can add fruit trays with pineapples and bananas, side dishes of banana pudding, and chips with mango salsa.  Sounds tasty, doesn’t it?

To add some party favors, get some different sized clear candy jars with yellow ribbons tied around them and fill them with yellow candy like lemon heads, yellow lollipops, sour patch kids, jellybeans, peeps and anything else your sweet tooth craves.

To add some extra fun into the mix, get a yellow piñata and make some yellow cocktails to really get the party started.

To add some extra fun into the mix, get a yellow piñata and make some yellow cocktails to really get the party started.

 Hope this blog post gave you some great ideas for your next fiesta! At my next color coded shin dig, I will definitely let you guys take a look at how Chef Ameera does things by posting pictures and video. I hope Have a great party! Don’t forget to share how your event went by sending pictures and video to my email or Twitter. Have a great party!

xoxo

Chef Ameera 

Trim in the Kitch

Products to help you stay fit and healthy

As we all know, its Summer, or what I like to call, “beach body season”. It’s that one time of year where having the perfect physique truly matters. Although an active lifestlye helps to keep your love handles at bay, a healthy diet plays a huge role in shedding any extra pounds you may be holding on to. For those of you trying to maintain your beach bod for the remainder of Summer, you should definitely consider buying any one of these products to help you stay fit and healthy. Haven’t started your “get fit” regimen yet? Don’t fret! Start off slow and ease in by changing your diet habits. It may be hard at first, but it’s well worth it. Remember, a healthy wholesome diet and a great workout regimen are the keys to reaching your physique’s true potential.

Breville ikon Multi-Speed Juice Fountain

Breville Digital Food Steamer

Zoku Quick Pop Maker

Vitamix 5200

Misto Olive Oil Sprayer

Cusinart Classic Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream, and Sorbet Maker

Oxo Salad Spinner

Chef’n Salad Dressing Emulsifier

Collapsible Silicone Lunch Box

These are just a few of those products that we love. Stay fit and healthy this Summer!!!!

xoxo

Hosting a Fab Memorial Day Soiree

Photo by Hosstess With The Mosstess

Summer is my favorite time of the year! It’s officially 29 days until the first official day of Summer and Memorial day marks the beginning of endless fabulous parties. Hostess with the Mostess shared a cute theme and free printables to make sure your party is memorable among your guests. To make sure you enjoy your party and to spend time with your guests, make do-it-yourself stations and let your guests create their own creations. I think themed parties are a lost art and when done right show the passion and sophistication that the host possess. Be a leader among the pack and show your guests how to party.

Along wit the decor, food, and drinks, a lady must dress the part.When you look your best, you feel you best and your confidence will bring all the boys to the yard or keep them there.
Planning a last minute party? Here are a few tips to make sure you and your guests have a fabulous time:

Stick to 1 or 2 signature cocktails and fill in the gaps with wine, beer and fruit infused water
Keep it Simple- The host should only be replenishing, NOT slaving away over a hot stove! Have a spread of assorted cheese, crackers, gourmet chips, dips and finger foods.
If you don’t have a DJ, make sure you have an impeccable play list. The music controls the flow of the party. Keep it sexy and skip the Top 40 tunes. Make sure the play list is several hours long and put it on repeat!
Skip the smokey hair and clean-up as you order a few dishes from a caterer or your favorite restaurant. Having a few items catered saves time and your sanity.You’ll thank me later!
If your guests ask can they bring something, tell them yes! Have them bring the selected spirit of choice for your themed drink or anything that will keep the party going. If you need extra bites to nosh have them stop and pick up a treat.
Include your guests in on the fun and opt for potluck style party. Your guests will not arrive at the same time so make sure you provide the key items.
Have fun and take lots of pictures. Parties are meant to be enjoyed and we all love looking back on priceless moments.

Photo by weddingpaperdivas

Photo by luciapaul

Photo by Marth Stewart

Photo by cooking

Photo by countryliving

Photo by topicden

Photo by brightboldbeautiful

Looking back on the best Memorial Day parties you’ve attended, what elements made it your pick for “Best Memorial Day Party?”

A Few Kitchen Tips to save Time & Money

I compiled a small list of kitchen tips that have been not only helpful to me, but to my friends and family. I few of them might seem familiar and you might know them  but, In my experience, we tend to forget the most simple things!

Here ya go:

1. The best time to clean out your fridge is before you go shopping for groceries. You’ll know exactly what you need and won’t have double items sitting in the fridge.

2. Before going to the store, make sure you have a LIST made from the meals you plan to prepare for the week. Time saver = Yes! Money saver = Heck Yeah!!!!! That leaves more money to save or snag a pair of shoes at the Barney sale!

3. When making your own chicken stock, keep the onion peel on the onion to lend a richer, more appetizing color to the stock. To make the stock fat-free, after it has chilled, skim the fat off the top!

4. You know not to wash your cast iron skillet with soap, right? Just give it a good rinse with water and make sure it’s dry. You want that seasoning to stay on the skillet so food won’t stick to it.

5. Using a digital food scale makes your baking better and faster. If you don’t know, I’m not a huge fan of baking because it requires such precise measurements. Using a scale will lead to consistent recipes every single time!

6.  Want a 2 for 1 deal out of dinner? Make sure you set aside your lunch portion first before you serve dinner.

7. When juicing, place a trash bag in the pulp collecting receptacle for easy clean-up.

8. Place used lemon peels in the garbage disposal to help clean and freshen your sink.

9. To keep celery fresh, trim it and put it in a container full of water in the fridge. It will last a long time while it’s covered with water.

10. To keeps herbs fresh in the fridge, wash and pat them dry. Place them in a small container fill with water and change the water every 3 days.

I’m always looking for additional ways to save time and money. What tips can you share that save you time and money?

xoxo

What to do when dinner is being made for you!!!!

Cooking is a special gesture! Think about how intimate, time consuming, and memorable it is for someone to share this talent (or developing talent) with you. More than likely, if someone is willing to cook for you, they are willing to share their space with you; in other words they are comfortable enough with your presence to invite you into their home.

If you know someone is preparing a dinner for you, it is in good taste to bring something with you, such as a bottle of wine, perhaps some flowers, or dessert. This shows that you are considerate.

It is also a good idea to let the in-house chef know what your allergies or medical dispositions are. It would be terrible shame for them to create a 5 course meal and you are not able to eat any of it because they used peanut oil in all of the dishes.

If they prepare something that doesn’t necessarily agree with your palate, be courteous and at least try a bite or two of whatever it is that they have created. Remember, it is the sentiment behind the gesture that counts. Highlight all the positives and if possible avoid talking about what you disliked, unless confronted. In this case, it is ok to communicate that you are unaccustomed to whatever it is that they have cooked and opt to eat other items they have prepared. Be sure to be sensitive to the other person’s feelings in letting them how much you enjoyed the meal.

Have a couple topics to bring up over dinner in the back of your mind to keep lines of communication open. Avoid, politics and religion unless you are in the mood for low grade confrontation, or you are aware that your positions are the same for both topics. Being ready with conversation topics is a good idea to avoid long spots of awkward silence… unless the food is so good that the silence is called for.

Lastly, ask if the meal is themed. Are you supposed to dress up? Is it a casual dinner? Is it a stilleto or flip flop kind of party? You don’t want to show up in your best shoes and a form fitting dress when he answers the door in jeans and a t-shirt.

Armed with the above, you should be more than ready to attend a special invite dinner. Most important of all, bring your smile and personality. It’s the best thing you can bring to the table! Enjoy!