Read Online I Can Make You Hot! by Kelly Killoren Bensimon - Free Book Online Page B

fruit when I needed fun, healthy snacks to pack in my kids’ camp lunch bags. Then I started eating it myself. Dried fruit is colorful and delicious. My attitude is that, if I can’t make it (or a version of it) myself, there may be something in it I shouldn’t be eating. So I did my research and bought a dehydrator. Mine is a NESCO American Harvest. It’s not the fanciest one on the market, but it’s a real workhorse. It does the job, and it hasn’t failed me yet. Since then, I’ve been making dried blueberries, strawberries, bananas, cucumbers, zucchini, eggplant, and anything else I can think of. My favorites are snow peas, pineapple (the best of the best), apples, blueberries, mangoes, and bananas. I’ve also experimented with avocados, but it didn’t work. Creamy, luscious avocados were just not meant to be dried. When you dehydrate fruits and vegetables, the flavor becomes incredibly concentrated; every bite packs a giant punch. Dehydrated fruits are fabulous as a snack, on top of salads, and vegetables add crunch—as in my Eggplant Lasagna . I’m not a big fan of Jerky, so I don’t dehydrate meats. But if you are, by all means go for it. My dehydrator is always in use, and the whole family eats snacks that are delicious and healthy. Really, you should buy one; I promise you won’t be sorry. It’s really easy to do. Just slice or dice the fruit or vegetable, put in the machine, and push the button. That’s all there is to it. Just remember to plan ahead, because dehydrating takes several hours or even overnight.
     
Now Teddy has her own “snack drawer” filled with baggies of dehydrated fruits and veggies. She can go to the drawer, pick her own snack, and I know it’s going to be healthy.
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    Here are a few more lean tricks I’ve learned along the way.
Drink a warm liquid at the beginning of a meal (try miso soup the way the Japanese diet).
Eat a salad before a meal (lettuce has a lot of water, which will help to fill you up without filling you out. Salads also taste great, so it’s a double whammy).
Eat water-rich fruits such as watermelon, pineapple, and apples.
Drink water throughout the day (not all at one sitting).
Eat beans and lentils (they’re high protein without all the fat of meats).
After dinner, have a glass of water with a squeeze of lemon, lime, or a piece of cucumber in it. Lemon is an antiscorbutic, meaning that it helps to prevent disease and assists in cleansing the system of impurities. Lemon also helps with digestion and relieves feelings of heartburn and bloating. (Afterward you can rub your sink with the rind to give it a fresh, clean aroma.) The health benefits of lime include weight loss, skin care, and good digestion. Cucumber is refreshing and is known as a calming vegetable that’s often used at spas. It also contains vitamin C and fiber and helps to lower blood pressure.

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Keep a big pitcher of water with lemon or lime slices, raspberries, blueberries, or cucumber slices in the refrigerator and pretend that you’re living in a very expensive spa.
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    Resources You Can Use
    Since I don’t expect you to carry this book wherever you go—as much as I would love that—here are a few phone apps and Web pages you can access on the go to boost or reinforce your KKBfit plan. Knowledge is key; the more you have, the better off you’ll be.
    My favorite phone apps (most of them are free; a couple cost 99 cents):
Sleep Cycle alarm clock:
    An alarm clock that analyzes your sleep patterns and wakes you in the lightest sleep phase; a natural way to wake up where you feel rested and relaxed.
Fitness Buddy: 1,000+ Exercises, Workouts, Ultimate Exercise Journal:
    Tabs categorize exercises by muscle. Choose the muscle mass you would like to exercise and find hundreds of ways to do it.
    Tutorials present an easy method of learning.
    Built-in calendar keeps you on a practical rotation to give each group time to rest throughout the week.
Pedometer 24/7:
    Accurately measures