PGX and Spaghetti Squash!

Written by Staff Writer - Posted on 2 July 2012

Try something new! How about spaghetti squash?

Ditch the simple carbs of pasta and get your veggies and fiber!

I love spaghetti. I love pasta. In fact I am a very happy camper when I have all sorts of simple carbs! Bread, cereal, toast, pasta, sweets…you name it! Unfortunately, having a smorgasbord of breads and pasta is really not the best idea for your health or waistline. Luckily I’ve got at least one very awesome alternative to pasta: Spaghetti Squash!

Putting on my infomercial voice: not only is it delicious and nutritious (details at Nutrition Data), it’s super easy to prepare! Here’s my method:

Cut the squash in half lengthwise and remove the seeds.

Place the halves, cut side up, in a large microwavable/oven safe container that has water in it.

Cover it with saran wrap and microwave until the squash is tender. This all depends on the strength of your microwave. It can take anywhere from sx to ten minutes.

When it’s finished cooking, scrape the squash with a fork and it will come apart in spaghetti-like strings.

There are an infinite number of ways to enjoy this squash. Prepare your favourite spaghetti sauce or try something new and mix.

Voila, it’s ready to eat!

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Meatballs with PGX Daily!

Written by Staff Writer - Posted on 3 June 2012

Looking for a delicious and healthy recipe for dinner?

Try this meatball recipe with PGX Daily Fiber!

The classic spaghetti and meatballs dish that could possibly become a kids favorite dinner dish. Served with a fresh green salad and homemade vinaigrette dressing to make it complete! Remember to choose high fiber pasta and choose to make your own tomato sauce or find organic pasta sauce that is low in sugar, sodium and fat.

Yield: 30-45 meatballs

Prep Time: 15-25 minutes

Total Time: 30-45 minutes

Ingredients

1 Egg
? tablespoon Paprika powder
? tsp Chili powder
? Sage powder
? tablespoon Garlic powder (or 1 medium size clove of crushed garlic)
2-3 tablespoon of Barbeque or marinating sauce (or ketchup)
? tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
? pound lean ground pork, (naturally raised-pastured)
? pound lean ground beef or bison (grass fed, organic)
1//3 cup oatmeal, dry
4 PGX Daily Singles sticks (PGX = 10 grams)

Ingredients (Optional)

Replace oatmeal with cooked brown rice (leftover from a previous meal)
1-2 tablespoons of fresh herbs such as basil, cilantro or chives
? cup finely chopped Swiss chard or kale leaves (no stems)
Sesame seeds: 1/3 sesame seeds on a flat plate. Once you form the meatball, roll it around the plate to coat it evenly with the seeds

Directions

Line 2 baking tray with tin foil.

Preheat oven to 400? F (204?C).

In a metal mixing bowl, add the first 7 ingredients and mix with a spoon or whisk.

In the same bowl, add the ground pork, beef, and oatmeal and if using PGX Daily Singles, add granules in at this time.

Use your hands to mix the remaining ingredients.

Take approximately 1 tablespoon of meat mixture between your palms and make a ball. Place on the foil lined baking tray. Leave ? inch space between meatballs on the baking sheet.

Bake 15-20 minutes or until the meat begins to slightly brown on the outside. Let cool for 5 minutes so they firm up before serving.

Beef and pork cooked temperature should reach 160-170? F (71.1-76.6? C) or until the meat?s juice runs clear.

And there you have it! Scrumptious and healthy, home-cooked meatballs! Bon appetit!

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Stress and Your Weight

Written by Staff Writer - Posted on 2 June 2012

PGX wants you to relieve your stress!

Your health, weight and stress: a bad combination.

Have you reached a plateau in your weight loss efforts? You may be surprised just how much stress has to do with that! Stress. Even the word sounds scary.

Stress causes our body to secrete cortisol which in turn, prompts our body to release stored glucose, increasing our blood sugar. Unfortunately for our waists, all the excess sugar that we don’t use gets stored as fat! Essentially, having too much stress in your life is like eating too much dessert, not too mention the sugar rush usually leads to food cravings. It seems a cruel and revealing trick of the English language that stressed spelled backwards is desserts!

Real Simple has three quick ways that you can relieve stress and, consequently, help you stay trim.

Work, school, family obligations, meetings and appointments, housework, projects… Life can get busy and overwhelming. So, my two main tips for this sunny Monday? Don’t stress the little things and get your daily fiber!

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At the Gym: Technique & Results

Written by Staff Writer - Posted on 7 April 2012

Welcome back to Weight-Wise Wednesday with a look at proper fitness technique at the gym!

PGX takes a look at how doing an exercise with the correct form could make all the difference to the outcome of your routine.

We’ve all been there. You’re eating well, you’re fitting in regular exercise sessions but for some reason, your workout routine is just not working for you. Chances are, a small mistake, such as not taking a long enough rest period, as explained by shape.com, is coming between all your hard work and the results you derserve! So, let’s master those moves!

Shape.com’s list includes:

Proper posture on cardio machines
How to correctly execute sit-ups on an exercise ball
Working on your core to improve your form in all areas of your workout
Proper kettleball technique

All it takes are a few tiny adjustments to your form. So, adjust, apply and get out there PGX’ers and show those exercises who’s boss!

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Weight-Wise Wednesday: Mediterranean diet

Written by Staff Writer - Posted on 8 January 2012

The Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean diet uses Mediterranean-style cooking and is considered a heart-healthy eating plan.

The Mediterranean diet is based on a healthy eating plan using the traditional cooking style of countries around the Mediterranean Sea.

Key components of the Mediterranean diet

The Mediterranean diet emphasizes:

Getting plenty of exercise
Eating primarily plant-based foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts
Replacing butter with healthy fats such as olive oil and canola oil
Using herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor foods
Limiting red meat to no more than a few times a month
Eating fish and poultry at least twice a week
Drinking red wine in moderation (optional)
Enjoying meals with family and friends

As the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid shows the diet includes plenty of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables! Many people who switch to this diet say they’d never eat another way! For more on the Mediterranean Diet check out the Mayo Clinic website.

Does this look like something you’d like to try out? Let us know in the comments below!

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PGX and Green Tea!

Written by Staff Writer - Posted on 3 January 2012

There are more ways than one to enjoy green tea!

PGX checks out new ways to enjoy green tea…

I’m sure by now you’ve heard about the health benefits of green tea: antioxidant power, cancer cell inhibitor, headache aid, weight loss benefits, harmful bacteria-killing properties… To sum it all up, green tea is good for you. But what if you don’t like the flavour? What if you aren’t really a tea drinker?

Here is a useful slideshow for those of us who aren’t fans of steeping leaves in our water. Shape Magazine shares 20 New Ways to Enjoy Green Tea.

Reap the benefits of green tea and cook with this super antioxidant power! And don’t forget to get your daily fiber!

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