21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart at Whole Foods Woodmere

Last month Whole Foods in Woodmere sponsored a 21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart program based on the eponymous new book by Neal Barnard, MD, president of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. It's a healthy whole food plant based program that's far more effective than traditional diets for shedding unwanted pounds. Participants raved about Ellen's (WF's Healthy Eating Specialist pictured with me here) favorite breakfast of steel cut oatmeal with tons of healthy toppings like dried fruit, maple syrup, nuts and seeds; and the fat-free dressing I demo'd with the loaded salad was a big hit!

To make Steel Cut Oatmeal a la Ellen: boil 1 1/3 cups water and add 1/3 cup steel cut oats, simmer 20 minutes, then remove from heat and add fresh or frozen fruit -- raspberries or blueberries are her favorites -- then add a heaping teaspoon of natural peanut or almond butter, 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup, and 6 almonds. Voila!