Workin' The PC Combo

With a new year, comes new resolve to get into healthier eating habits!

I saw LA nutritionist Christine Avanti on a talk show a few weeks ago touting her PC Combo lifestyle and it really spoke to me. She advises eating a small meal (called a PC Combo (Protein/Carb Combination)every four hours, and that this meal should be under 400 calories and have a protein to carb ration of 1:2 . The purpose of eating like this is to keep your blood sugar at even levels since glucose (carbs) is absorbed more slowly into your body when you eat it with a protein. The other benefits include never really being hungry, thus lessening the risk of overeating at the end of the day. THAT right there is my MO. I come into work and have a special K bar and a coffee and then get so busy I have no time to eat so when dinner comes around I am starving and eat like 2 servings of everything. Not to mention I feel crabby all day and sick more often because my blood sugar is all over the place. If you're interested in learning more I highly recommend Christine's book. I found it to be very informative and entertaining as well. Not to mention the scads of awesome recipes.

So for an example: this is what our menu was for Saturday:

Breakfast 8AM: Artichoke Frittatta and a toasted whole wheat english muffin

Lunch #1 Noon: Reduced fat string cheese wrapped in smoked turkey and dipped in mustard with cucumbers on the side and 2 clementines.

Lunch #2 4PM : Cup of whole wheat pasta with spicy red sauce (that has ground turkey diced tomatioes, mushrooms, peppers, onions in it)

Dinner 8PM: We weren't super hungry so I chopped up a red pepper, some celery and some baby carrots, whipped some fat free cottage cheese in the food processor until smooth and made a dill dip with it. I had also food proccesed some mango and frozen it to make a sorbet so we had that as well! Oh Cuisinart! How I love you!

Of course you don't have to have all 4 meals, you might not want one. Or depending when you have breakfast you may not have time. Obviously the earlier you eat your breakfast, the better. There are also a bunch "free" food items that you can have whenever (mostly vegetables, some fruit, some 0 calorie beverages.

It's only been a few days but I like to keep track of how it's going and so will be using this blog to do so. And also to share "PC Combo" recipes we find that are hits! Like this artichoke frittata

Christine's Artichoke Frittata (Serves one)

1/2 cup egg whites

1/2 cup fat free milk

1 tbsp whole wheat flour

1/2 cup artichoke hearts (canned in water) drained and chopped

1 tbsp reduced fat Parmesan cheese

Salt and Pepper.

Whip eggs and milk and flour together. Fold in artichokes and parmesan cheese. Salt and Pepper and pour into a mini loaf pan. Bake at 350 for ten minutes, then cover with foil and back for another 5 minutes or so until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. It cooks up all puffy and delicious! Serve with a toasted whole grain english muffin on the side!