Divabetic – Page 102 – Wellness with a Wow

02/16/201902/17/2019

Heart Healthy Food Swaps #1

February’s Diabetes Late Nite guest Lisa Young PhD, RDN, CDN is sharing heart hearty nutrition tips in partnership with Smart Lifebites in honor of American Heart Month (February).

“Heart disease can often be prevented with some simple healthy lifestyle modifications and smart food choices,” says Dr. Lisa Young.

Divabetic’s Heart Healthy Food Swap #1: Swap Your Hamburger for a Black Bean Burger

“Replacing meat with legumes is a simple swap which may contribute to a healthy heart,” says Dr. Lisa Young. “Legumes—including black beans, lentils, and split peas–are a terrific plant based protein option and also a good source of soluble fiber. Unlike a hamburger, bean burgers are also low in saturated fat which the American Heart Association and Dietary Guidelines recommend we limit. So, try going meatless, for at least a few days, this February.”

Dr. Lisa Young PhD, RDN, CDN is an internationally recognized nutritionist and portion control expert. She’s the the author of Finally Full, Finally Thin: 30 Days to Permanent Weight loss One Portion at a Time (Center Street/ Hachette Book Group) and The Portion Teller Plan: Eating, Cheating, and Losing Weight Permanently (Crown 2005) which was named one of six best health books by The Wall Street Journal and O, The Oprah Magazine.

Read more of Dr. Lisa Young’s some simple healthy lifestyle modifications and smart food choices for a heathy heart.

Listen to Mr. Divabetic’s full interview with Dr. Lisa Young PhD, RDN on February’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast with musical inspiration from Dolly Parton. LISTEN NOW

Do you that Heart Disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. with 1 in 4 deaths caused by heart disease each year?

Don’t miss Clued Inn:https://cluedinn.org/ Escape Room, the first-ever Escape Room Experience with a Heart Health twist on on National Diabetes Alert Day, Tuesday, March 26, 2019, 5- 10PM in New York City. BOOK NOW

02/13/201902/19/2019

Clued Inn Escape Room Takes the Mystery out of the Link Between Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease

Clued Inn Escape Room is the first-ever escape room experience with a heart health twist. It will be held at New York City’s top escape room venue on National Diabetes Alert Day on Tuesday, March 26, 2019, starting at 5:00 PM. This one-day wake-up call will take the mystery out of the link between diabetes and heart disease through an interactive gaming event.

Clued Inn is totally free for participants, courtesy of Boehringer Ingelheim. “We believe that education is the first step to action for millions of adults with diabetes, who are unaware of the potentially life-threatening complications associated with the condition,” said Graham Goodrich, vice president, CardioMetabolic Marketing, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. “Despite significant advances in its prevention and treatment over the past several decades, cardiovascular disease is still the leading cause of death for people with type 2 diabetes in the U.S. We are proud to sponsor Clued Inn as an engaging way to increase awareness of the impact of cardiovascular disease in people with type 2 diabetes.”

In many ways, type 2 diabetes is a puzzle since the most common symptoms vary from person to person. The same skills needed to succeed at the game are also necessary to prevent cardiovascular disease for people with type 2 diabetes. Players explore possibilities, think of creative solutions, ask questions, listen to answers, and try new ways of doing things. No one goes it alone and there’s more than one way to find a solution. Clued Inn offers a fun, learning experience for everyone to improve problem-solving skills and gives at-risk individuals and their families better knowledge of the questions and conversations to be conducted at the next appointment they have with their doctor.

Clued Inn was created by Divabetic, a national diabetes outreach organization, founded by Max Szadek after a personal situation. “My experience of working as Luther Vandross’s personal assistant unexpectedly thrust me into a diabetes health crisis with limited knowledge of the disease. I’ll never forget the moment when the admitting doctor told me Luther’s stroke could have been avoided,” says Max ‘Mr. Divabeic’ Szadek. “I realized then, as I do now, how essential it is for friends, family members and yes, even co-workers to be informed and involved in someone’s diabetes self-care. This is why Divabetic outreach projects like Clued Inn aim to appeal to people living with diabetes and their circle of friends and family members.”

Divabetic® is a national nonprofit diabetes outreach organization committed to changing attitudes in people at risk, affected by and living with diabetes. From their outreach programs and live events to their free monthly podcasts available on demand, Diabetes Late Nite, they strive to encourage prevention, early action and education in a fun new way that encompasses their motto, Glam More, Fear Less.

02/11/201902/11/2019

‘Self-Acceptance & Diabetes’ by Beverly S. Adler, PhD, CDE Clinical Psychologist and Certified Diabetes Educator

“Figure out who you are and do it on purpose” – Dolly Parton

This month’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast talks about self-acceptance and diabetes. Max “Mr. Divabetic” Szadek focuses attention on Julie Murphy’s book Dumplin’ and spotlighting the music of Dolly Parton who helped make the soundtrack for the Netflix movie. To summarize (and simplify) the story, it’s about a plus-size teenageddaughter of a former beauty queen, who learns how to accept her body and feel proud of who she is.

Self-acceptance can be an emotional struggle for many people, especially for women who judge their appearance critically. You fill in the blank: “I am too ______” short, tall, fat, skinny, young or old, etc. Let’s remember not to judge a book by its cover! Plus-size people can be superficially judged by their body type instead of what’s on the inside. It’s unfair, but you can’t change what others think. Try to remember to be yourself. People don’t have to like you, but you don’t have to care.

Some people are judged critically for having diabetes. It is assumed, and they are unfairly blamed and shamed, that they lead an unhealthy lifestyle (i.e. eating too many sweets, and being lazy). It’s hurtful to be so harshly judged, especially with no evidence to support those accusations. You know in your heart of hearts what is true and what is untrue. Remember that the most important relationship in your life is the one you have with yourself.

Benefits of Self-Acceptance

Self-acceptance is necessary for good mental health. A person who scores high on self-acceptance has a positive, non-judging attitude. A person treats themselves kindly, rather than harshly. A person allows themselves to be human, to make mistakes and learn from them. Know that as humans we are not perfect, nor should we be expected to act flawlessly.

Psychological benefits of self-acceptance include a decrease in depressive symptoms and an increase in positive emotions. Positive benefits include an increase in feelings of self-worth and self-esteem, and more self-kindness when mistakes occur. Self-acceptance is associated with more optimism and better recovery from stress. Other psychological benefits are a decrease in fear of failure, less desire to win the approval of others, and less self-criticism. Physical benefits include lower levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (a marker for glucose levels/insulin resistance).

Tips for Self-Acceptance

Use self-talk to encourage yourself. Tell yourself to keep trying and focus on positive aspects of what you did.

Forgive yourself. You have to accept your humanness and the fact that you are not perfect. If you hurt yourself through addictive behavior, avoidance, or otherwise behaving unwisely, make a coping plan for the next time you are in a similar situation so that you can begin to act differently. Remember, there are no failures, if you have learned and grown from your mistakes; there are only lessons learned.

Become mindful. Know what you think, feel and want. When you are mindful you can act on this knowledge rather than on what others want for you.

Practice good self-care. You can accept yourself more, when you take better care of your basic needs. Nourish yourself daily through healthy activities, like choosing healthful food choices, physical activity, sleep, intimacy, and healthy social interactions.

Final Thoughts

Challenge your negative thoughts about yourself. The underlying message of Dumplin is to figure out who you are and do it on purpose. Treat yourself with self-compassion. Tolerate yourself to be imperfect in some parts. We are deserving of love and respect just the way we are. Value yourself and all the things that make you unique. We are all works in progress.

Dr. Beverly S. Adler, aka “Dr. Bev”, is a clinical psychologist and Certified Diabetes Educator with a private practice in Baldwin, NY. She was honored in 2016 with the “Certified Diabetes Educator Entrepreneur of the Year Award.”

She is the author/editor of two diabetes self-help books which include insightful lessons of empowerment written by successful men and women with diabetes. She has published articles in print and online about diabetes management – always with the focus on emotional adjustment. Dr. Bev has been quoted in numerous magazines and contributed to a monthly diabetes advice column online. She is a frequent contributor to the Divabetic Diabetes Daily Wire, where she blogs about diabetes topics from the psychological perspective.

Dr. Bev has lived successfully with type 1 diabetes for 42 years. You can connect with her on her website www.AskDrBev.com and on Twitter @AskDrBev.

Don’t miss February’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast in support of the ‘Spare A Rose, Save A Child’campaign on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, 6 – 7:30 PM, EST. We’re talking about ‘SELF ACCEPTANCE & DIABETES’ with musical inspiration from Country Superstar, Dolly Parton. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Dr.Beverly S. Adler PhD, CDE, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP, Lisa R Young, PhD, RDN and more. Enjoy selected songs from Dolly Parton’s new album Dumplin’ Original Motion Picture Soundtrack courtesy of SONY Music. TUNE IN

02/08/201902/11/2019

Susan Lucci’s Real Life Health Drama Can Be Avoided

Soap Opera legend Susan Lucci underwent emergency heart surgery in October for a major blockage in her arteries that could have ended in a fatal heart attack.

She admitted in People magazine that she ignored the warning signs for three months.

Sometime last autumn, she had felt a tightness in her chest but “told myself, it’s nothing, it will go away. And it did.” Roughly 10 days later, the pain returned, “radiating around my rib cage. I thought maybe I had fastened my bra too tightly.”

Then on October 23, while at the Tory Burch boutique at the Americana Manhasset shopping center, the pain came back, intensified. “It felt like an elephant pressing down on my chest,” she told the magazine, adding that the store manager offered to drive her to Roslyn’s St. Francis Hospital, which specializes in cardiology.

The tests revealed that the actress had 90 percent blockage in the heart’s main artery, which doctors call “the widow maker,” and 70 percent blockage in another branch.

“Ninety percent blockage – I was shocked,” Lucci said.

The 72-year-old actress had to undergo surgery, during which her doctor inserted two stents into her arteries to help increase blood flow back to her heart.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women today, killing approximately 400,000 women a year, according to the latest statistics from the American Heart Association.

Susan Lucci who has devoted decades to a daily Pilates workout and a heart healthy Mediterranean diet, was unaware that her father’s heart disease meant she was also at risk. Her father, Victor Lucci, had suffered a heart attack in his late forties. “I always thought I had my mother’s genes,” says Lucci of her mother, Jeanette, now 101 years old.

Diabetes is a powerful risk factor for heart disease in women as reported on the American Diabetes Association’s website. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women with diabetes. Women with diabetes are 2 times as likely to have a second heart attack and 4 times more likely to have heart failure than women without diabetes.

Many women with type 2 diabetes already have heart disease when they are diagnosed or have many of the risk factors such as high lipids levels, high blood pressure, abdominal obesity, and abnormalities in blood vessel function.

Clued Inn is a TOTALLY free and TOTALLY unique way to learn about Diabetes & Heart Disease on National Diabetes Alert Day on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim. Our goal is for participants to have a fun, gaming adventure as we take the mystery out of the link between diabetes and heart health and encourage people to discover their risk for diabetes. Space Limited. BOOK NOW

02/05/201902/05/2019

#Cluesday

Does you have what it takes to Escape the Room?

Register now for Clued Inn, the first-ever diabetes and heart disease escape room experience presented by Divabetic on National Diabetes Alert Day, Tuesday, March 26, 2019 from 5 -10pm in New York City, NY.

“My experience of working as Luther Vandross’s personal assistant unexpectedly thrust me into a diabetes health crisis with limited knowledge of the disease. I’ll never forget the moment when the admitting doctor told me Luther’s stroke could have been avoided,” says Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek. “I realized then, as I do now, how essential it is for friends, family members and yes, even co-workers to be informed and involved in someone’s diabetes self-care. So, Divabetic’s outreach projects like Clued Inn aim to appeal to people living with diabetes and their circle of friends and family members.”

Clued Inn is totally FREE, and you’re encouraged to bring your friends and family members. After taking either the Diabetes Risk Test or Heart IQ Quiz on https://cluedinn.org/ you can choose your adventure from 6 popular escape room themes at NYC’s #1 escape room venue. Plus, special giveaways for teams who solve the diabetes and heart diabetes puzzles.

Space limited. Register now!

02/03/201902/03/2019

Diabetes Podcast Week 2019

Divabetic is proud to participate in the 4th year of Diabetes Podcast Week (startingFebruary 10) in support of the ‘Spare a Rose. Save A Rose’ campaign, to benefit Life for a Child.

Organizer Stacey Simms explains she got the idea after seeing an article about diabetes podcasts in the news site, Diabetes Mine in the summer of 2015. “I had just launched Diabetes Connections and I didn’t realize how many other D-podcasts there were,” she explains. “I started thinking about what we could do together to help the greater community.”

Spare a Rose – Save a Child (PRNewsFoto/Partnering for Diabetes Change ()

The idea behind Spare a Rose, Save a Child is simple: buy one less rose this Valentine’s Day and donate the value of that flower to children with diabetes. Donations go to Life for a Child, an International Diabetes Federation program which provides life-saving diabetes supplies, medication, and education that children in developing countries need to stay alive.

.For the first time, #DPodcast Week includes a Spanish-language podcast and one hosted by diabetes dads. The list also includes shows about sports, nutrition, general news and lots of great personal stories for people with diabetes. “There are new diabetes podcasts popping up all the time so I’m sure we’ve missed a few,” says Stacey Simms, who encourages other shows to reach out.

“I have so much respect and appreciation for everything that Stacey Simms does on behalf of the diabetes community,” says Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek. “My Diabetes Late Nite team is proud to particapte in #DPodcastWeek again this year! We’re encouraging all our listeners to take a page from Barbra Streisand‘s handbook and tell their significant others not to bring them flowers for Valentine’s Day but instead donate to a wonderful cause!”

Don’t miss February’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast in support of the ‘Spare A Rose, Save A Child’ campaign on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, 6 – 7:30 PM, EST. We’re talking about ‘SELF ACCEPTANCE & DIABETES’ with musical inspiration from Country Superstar, Dolly Parton. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Dr.Beverly S. Adler PhD, CDE, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP, Lisa R Young, PhD, RDN and more. Enjoy selected songs from Dolly Parton’s new album Dumplin’ Original Motion Picture Soundtrack courtesy of SONY Music. TUNE IN

02/02/201902/02/2019

Divabetic Remembers James Ingram

Two-time Grammy winner James Ingram, whose wonderful voice instantly evokes the classic R&B sound of the 1980s, has died. He was 66.

He died from a battle with a form of brain cancer reported TMZ. Sources close to the singer tell us James Ingram had been fighting the cancer for an extended period.

“He will always be cherished, loved and remembered for his genius, his love of family and his humanity. I am blessed to have been so close,” says actress Debbie Allen.

He was a staple of the romantic Quiet Storm R&B radio format, alongside Divabetic’s inspiration Luther Vandross and others such as George Benson, Anita Baker and Barry White. His collaborations with Patti Austin — 1981’s “Baby Come to Me” and “How Do You Keep The Music Playing” helped define adult contemporary R&B in the early ’80’s.

Originally raised in Akron, Ohio, a teenaged Ingram pounded the pavement in ’70s Los Angeles, making demos for a publishing company and churning out tunes for his band Revelation Funk. Comparing himself to his bandmates, Ingram underestimated his own vocal abilities. “I knew I couldn’t sing,” he said. “I wasn’t trying. I was just doing background.”

After the band broke up, James Ingram got great backup gigs, working with Marvin Gaye. He would sing and write demos at a studio on Sunset Boulevard for $50 per song. The studio had a relationship with veteran producer Quincy Jones, who heard Ingram’s recording of “Just Once.” Jones, impressed, called Ingram.

“I hung up on Quincy,” he told the Tribune. “I was never no singer. I never shopped a deal, none of that. My wife said, ‘James, that was Quincy.’ He called back, and we started talking. I said, ‘Yeah, that’s me.’ He put that on his album.”

James Ingram ended up singing that song and “One Hundred Ways” on Jones’ 1981 album, The Dude. Both songs ended up in the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100. His performance of “One Hundred Ways” won him the Grammy in 1981 for best male R&B performance. In 1984 he won his second Grammy, for “Yah Mo B There” with singer Michael McDonald. Throughout his career, Ingram was nominated for 14 Grammys.

He won back-to-back best original song Oscar nominations in 1993 and 1994, for co-writing the Dolly Parton (February’s Divabetic Inspiration) duet “The Day I Fall in Love,” from Beethoven’s 2nd, and Patty Smyth’s “Look What Love Has Done,” from Junior.

James Ingram won hearts with “Somewhere Out There,” his 1987 Peter Asher-produced duet with Linda Ronstadt. The song was featured in Don Bluth’s animated movie An American Tail, the emotion-tugging power ballad rose to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1987 and won the Grammy for song of the year.

Tune in to February’s Diabetes Late NIte podcast with musical inspiration from Dolly Parton on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, 6 PM, EST. We’re talking about ‘SELF ACCEPTANCE & DIABETES’ with Poet Lorraine Brooks, Dr.Beverly S. Adler PhD, CDE, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP, Lisa R Young, PhD, RDN and more. Enjoy selected songs from Dolly Parton’s new album Dumplin’ Original Motion Picture Soundtrack courtesy of SONY Music. TUNE IN

01/31/201901/31/2019

‘Finally Full, Finally Slim’ Book Giveaway on Diabetes Late Nite

We’re giving away copies of Lisa R. Young PhD, RD’s new book, ‘Finally Full, Finally Slim: 30 Days to Permanent Weight Loss One Portionh at a Time’ on February’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, 6 – 7:30 PM,EST.

“I believe all foods can fit into a healthy diet. However, while you can enjoy larger portions of certain foods (fruits and vegetables), you should pay attention to how big your portions are for others foods (breads, baked goods, red meat, candy and chips),” says Dr. Lisa Young.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average hamburger portion size in 1955 was 3.9 ounces and the average man weighed 166.3 pounds. By 2006, both had increased to 12 ounces and 194.7 pounds, respectively..

“Dr. Young’s emphasis is less on what you eat and more on how much you eat of any food, including those considered healthful”, writes Jane E. Brody. in the New York Times. She lost 40 pounds in two years following Dr. Young’s approach, and has kept the weight off ever since without dieting or deprivation.

Enter our Diabetes Late Nite Giveaway Now!

Correctly answer the portion question above to be automatically entered into our random drawing to win Lisa R. Young PhD, RD’s new book, ‘Finally Full, Finally Slim: 30 Days to Permanent Weight Loss One Portion at a Time’. E-mail answers to mrdivabetic@gmail.com

If you’re interested in becoming more mindful about portion control, Dr. Young suggests to start by paying attention to food label serving sizes along with the number of servings per container. She also suggests getting a measuring cup and food scale and from time to time weighing your typical portion to see how many servings are really on your plate.

01/29/201901/29/2019

‘Inch By Inch’ Poem By Lorraine Brooks

Slow and steady wins the race.
 Baby steps should set the pace.
 There’s no need to rush to win,
 Enjoy the journey that you’re in.

 Things don’t happen overnight.
 It takes time to get things right.
 Sometimes it may seem too slow
 To get to where you need to go.

 Dealing with a chronic ill,
 May seem like it’s all uphill.
 Getting better from a stroke
 Makes you feel like a slowpoke.

 Lowering your a1c
 May seem like an eternity.
 Trying hard to lose some weight
 Happens at a sluggish rate.

 Changes that we make today
 Won’t make a difference right away.
 But if we practice patiently,
 We’ll see results eventually.

 Inch by inch the goal gets near
 Even if it takes a year.
 So don’t stop when you’re halfway there.
 Set your sights, and persevere.

 Slow and steady, inch by inch -
 Do not blink and do not flinch.
 It won’t happen instantly...
 But in the end, you’ll win - you’ll see!

Hear Poet Lorraine Brooks read her poem, Inch by Inch, aloud on January’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast. Throughout the podcast we’re talking about ways to proceed with ‘CAUTION’ in 2019 with musical inspiration from the iconic Mariah Carey TUNE IN

Join us as we talk to experts about the link between Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD).

Do you know living with type 2 diabetes puts you at greater risk for heart disease and stroke? Unfortunately most people don’t. We want to help you get CLUED INN and make a healthy comeback worthy of Mariah Carey. Music critics agree that Mariah’s latest collection of songs not only maintains her status as one the best singer/songwriters in the game, but also eloquently displays her truth. She opens up about love, loneliness, and self-worth in a cautionary album that reminds us that she is still a force to be reckoned with after nearly three decades in the industry.

Diabetes Late Nite guests include: Poet Lorraine Brooks, Susan Weiner, MS RDN CDE FAADE, Mama Rose Marie, WeAreEatNeat.com’s Lloyd Owens, Type 2 Diabetes – What To Know Community member Nick Zevgolis, Yoga For Diabetes Director and Author Rachel Zinman and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach. Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from Mariah Carey’s “CAUTION” courtesy of SONY Music.

Diabetes Late Nite is a fast-paced, full-filled hour of diabetes education and wellness advice that encourages listeners to “laugh a little, learn a lot.”

Join Mr. Divabetic and cast of Diabetes Late NIte for the first-ever free and totally thrilling Diabetes & Cardiovascular Disease Escape Room Experience, Clued Inn,on National Diabetes Alert Day (Tuesday, March 26, 2019) in New York City sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim. BOOK NOW

01/24/201901/24/2019

Holly Clegg’s Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

All we can think about lately are dumplings as we gear up for February’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast featuring music from Dumplin’ (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Dolly Parton courtesy of SONY Music on Tuesday, February 12, 2019.

The film, Dumplin’ is based on the book of the same name by Julie Murphy. It tells the story of Willowdean “Dumplin'” Dickson (actress Danielle Macdonald), the plus-sized teenage daughter of former beauty queen Rosie Dickson (actress Jennifer Aniston), who signs up for her mom’s teenage pageant as a protest.

“Netflix’s Dumpin’ film has an emotionally impactful message of self-acceptance, wrapped in a charming coming-of-age story and steeped in Dolly Parton music,” says ScreenRant.

I reached out to my friend, Best-Selling Cookbook Author Holly Clegg for a healthy dumpling recipe.

“This ultimate comfort food and soothing soup is made with rotisserie chicken and chicken and drop dumplings and is ready in no time at all!,” says Holly Clegg.

Easy Chicken and Dumplings from Holly Clegg’s KITCHEN 101 cookbook

Ingredients

1 onion, chopped

1 cup baby carrots

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

6 cups fat-free low sodium chicken broth, divided

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves

2 cups chopped skinless rotisserie chicken breast

2 cups biscuit baking mix

2/3 cup skim milk

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. In large nonstick pot coated with nonstick cooking spray, sauté onion, carrots, and garlic over medium heat until tender.

2. In small cup, stir flour and 1/3 cup chicken broth, mixing until smooth. Gradually add flour mixture and remaining broth to pot; bring to boil. Add thyme and chicken.

3. In bowl, stir together biscuit baking mix and milk. Drop the mixture by spoonfuls into boiling broth.

4. Return to boil, reduce heat, and cook, covered, carefully stirring occasionally, 15-20 minutes or until dumplings are done. Season to taste. If soup is too thick, add more chicken broth.

Makes 8 (1-cup) servings

Nutritional information per serving: Calories 212, Calories from Fat 22%, Fat 5g, Saturated Fat 1g, Cholesterol 32mg, Sodium 563mg, Carbohydrates 26g, Dietary Fiber 2g, Total Sugars 4g, Protein 15g, Dietary Exchanges: 1 1/2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 1/2 lean meat

Terrific Tip: A short-cut for dumplings: cut flaky biscuits into fourths and drop into boiling broth or you can even use flour tortillas cut into fourths. You can slice carrots — but I find baby carrots a time-saver.

With over 1.5 million cookbooks sold, Holly Clegg has become a culinary expert on easy healthy everyday recipes through her nationally recognized best-selling trim &TERRIFIC®, Kitchen 101 and Eating Well cookbook series, including Eating Well Through Cancer, (English, Spanish and Chinese editions), Eating Well to Fight Arthritis and Diabetic Cooking with the American Diabetes Association. Holly Clegg attended the Cordon Bleu Cooking School, London. For more information, visit About Holly or The Healthy Cooking Blog for more recipes and tips.

LISTEN NOW: Mr. Divabetic shines the spotlight on author and chef, Holly Clegg, in this half-hour special edition of Diva Talk Radio. This fun-filled food frenzy will feature expert advice on quick, flavorful and healthy eating from Holly’s latest book, ‘Too Hot in the Kitchen: Secrets to Sizzle at Any Age’