Nannies, Weight, & Diet- Shake it up and nip that sweet tooth!

Tracey’s Tidbits
by Tracey Chipps

We have all been there! Well, most of us, and if you haven’t then you are certainly blessed with great genes, loads of self control, or both! Taking off pounds and keeping it off can be a chore. This is a common theme in the Nanny profession. We are natural nurturers and it seems as if nurturing and food go hand in hand in our culture.

Starting an exercise plan and new food lifestyle can be very exciting when you are initially starting. The new gym shoes, fresh workout clothes, and the latest tunes loaded on your iPod! Perhaps you have a workout partner or you have chosen a new gym to help keep you on track. You stock your fridge with healthy choices and start taking your lunch bag loaded with low carbohydrate, low cal meals and snacks to work so you won’t falter your plan. After a few months, the same food choices seem bland and boring and leave you pining for creative ideas. Sneaking bites of your charges high calorie meals and snacks is ever tempting. (Come on! I know I’m not the only one!)

I’ve been so proud to see many of my Nanny friends across the country losing weight due to a couple of weight loss challenges in our Nanny community. One is run by Stephanie Doyle. It goes for 12 weeks. The next one will start on April 14th (tent.). It is $25 and that is split between the top 3 weight loss percentages. It is women only. Stephanie started it a year ago and total pounds lost has been over 1500 lbs. This is run through a Facebook group. Contact Stephanie at stephylyn25 (at) aol (dot) com . You can also look at the online programs run through HealthyWage and dietbet. Both have other options available too.

Last year I had the privilege of accompanying a family member to the Duke Center for Metabolic & Weight Loss Surgery to be a source of support.

I was able to sit in on seminars that gave helpful tips for taking off weight and keeping it off. I would like to share with you a few recipes that will help you add some new flavor and excitement to your plan. The recipes I am providing are going to help you nip that sweet tooth whether you are craving chocolate, decadent chocolate covered cherries, or the tasty orange flavor of an old school Dreamsicle. Plan ahead. Stock up and have some of these ingredients on hand so when you are at your deepest phase of craving you will have a plan to keep yourself on track. Enjoy and keep it shakin’!

****Please note that I cannot take credit for these recipes. They were provided by Duke University and one of their many creative Nutritionists****

CHOCOLATE PROTEIN SHAKE (Great if you like chocolate cake batter!)

4 oz water
2 scoops chocolate whey protein powder
1 scoop pure soy protein
1-2 T No Sugar Added Nesquick chocolate powder

Add all dry ingredients to 4 oz water. Mix with spoon until it is the consistency of pudding. Add more water, if desired. Makes 1 serving. Protein: 30 grams per serving*

DREAMSICLE SHAKE

½ cups orange Crystal Light
½ skim milk
2 scoops vanilla protein powder prepared with above Crystal Light

Blend all ingredients together on high for 2 minutes. Makes 2 servings.

Protein: 17 grams per serving*

ROOT BEEER FLOAT

¼-1/2 tsp root beer extract
2 scoops Carb Solutions vanilla protein powder, prepared