Healthy and Delicious Snack Tip

Here's a delicious and healthy snack that Ralph and I always have about an hour prior to going to bed. I always have a platter with a variety of fresh fruit so it's easy to make dessert.

When fruits are in season and in abundance, go get some! Recently strawberries were $4 or 5 pints! I freeze some and have fresh with oatmeal for breakfast cooked in my wok. We cook nearly everything in my cast iron wok which sits conveniently on my portable butane gas stove right on top of my electric coil. We never put ours away because if you don't see it, you won't use it.


We call it our "mini-meal", I have low sugar, inherited from my mom who has diabetes and my brother passed away from it. Over the years, I have donated a lot of WokStar cooking class certificates to the local Diabetes Research Institute and also invited many of the staff to attend. I hope they will be able to spread the word that having diabetes does not have to be doom and gloom. There are many quick, healthy, delicious foods we can eat. My doctor is pleased that my "diet" is so good that I don't need to be on drugs. I wrote a whole page about Health and Diet on my website.

I have to keep topped up but not with just fruit because it's all sugar. So, I was surprised and disappointed to see at local fundraising festivals, the Junior Diabetes booth was selling CANDY or cakes and said so. With childhood obesity such a huge problem, I am flabberghasted to read constantly in the papers chefs teaching kids how to bake cookies and cakes.

What works for me is balancing fruit with protein, otherwise you have a sugar high and deep dip. If I don't have this, I'm "starving" in the middle of the night and my tummy growls so loud, it wakes me up.

I add protein powder (Wholefoods brand is cheapest) and / or textured protein (bulk section at Wholefoods), then top with dollop of Cabot's Greek Style yogurt (has live active cultures, good for building up immune system, available at Publix and most supermarkets). I just discovered Cabot and love this, it's very creamy like double cream in England. Also, I feel like I'm supporting the dairy farmers in Vermont, cause it's owned by them, so show your support and try it.


Not done yet, add liberal sprinkling of ground flax seed (I grind myself, otherwise it's indigestible) which is good fiber, hit of granola (get bulk at Wholefoods, much cheaper than packaged), a few toasted almonds (I toast our own from Costco) for crunch, sometimes also add quinoa flakes and viola. We look forward to this every night.

Diets - Tips for Getting Started and Keeping Going

Every day there are more headlines on the escalating statistics of diabetes and obesity in children and adults. I discovered the importance of eating well from a young age. Because my mother's cooking was so delicious, I was never tempted by sweets as a child nor did I snack on junk food between meals. I've carried these eating habits into adulthood.

Junk food is loaded with salt, sugar, trans fat, preservatives, artificial coloring etc. So, when people question tamari's (or soy sauce) sodium content, I explain that this is my main salt intake for the day. My "no recipes, no measuring, no calorie counting" uses few and fresh ingredients with good brands of Asian sauces without MSG. BTW, many snack foods contain some form of MSG, that's why it's so addictive.

In recent reports and criticisms of "Chinese" restaurant food as being unhealthy my response is, "Just say NO to chop suey!" Most of these restaurants have two menus, one for the Chinese and one for the uneducated palette that craves and assumes Chinese food is salty, deep fried foods with thick goopy sauces. See my video in the side bar, Ho Wok Mei Intro.

The Miami Beach Pritikin Longevity Center's nutritionist hired me to develop tasty dishes with Asian flavors. I've used one of their techniques of cooking in sauce which is included in my Wok Star Kit DVD. Pritikin's "no fat" approach to cooking, combined with their strict food exchanges, was difficult for many of their clients to follow. People find my "Easy Style" very liberating and easy to accomplish.

My approach is adaptable to ANY diet.

Low carb dieters will love it (Weight Watchers, Atkins, Zone, etc. South Beach Diet, Sugar Busters etc.) because you just need to cut back or eliminate the starch and you've got an endless number of meals with the perfect combination of protein and fresh vegetables. This is how my husband, Ralph and I eat nearly everyday. Easy and quick to prepare, little to wash up.

Ralph only started cooking after 19 years of marriage. I never feel I need to rush home to cook dinner anymore. His amusing, "Wok Up and Smell the Coffee" on my "Easy Style" DVD will inspire and encourage you with yummy breakfast alternatives. You can also view in side bar, we uploaded to Youtube. He's had over 22,000 views and garnered some fabulous responses, feel free to add yours. Those of you who hate to cook, are you paying attention? It's never too late to start.

Wok cooking is a great way to engage the whole family especially children, who LOVE to help out (read "Cooking with Kids"). If you keep it to a simple one-dish meal, I KNOW you'll love wok cooking once you start. The saying, "It's the journey, not the destination" couldn't be more true. You'll enjoy your time in the kitchen as well as the meal.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you have. My brother passed away from diabetes, so I want to encourage and help anyone who is ready for a lifestyle change. It's EASY when you have the right tools and techniques. Now, read Ralph's personal story about weight loss.