Dear Alice,

Any tips on how to avoid cheating on my diet? No matter how much I try to control myself I end up giving in. Any suggestions?

Alice responds:

Yes, we’re all human and all feel like cheating on our diet sometimes. Before you do cheat, however, try following these steps first to try to avoid giving in to the temptation and sabotaging your diet.

  1. Drink two glasses of cold water.
  2. Have a fruit or vegetable.
  3. Brush your teeth.
  4. Look into the mirror and remind yourself of your goals. 

Convince yourself that you ARE strong enough to do it!

I hope this helps, and remember: you can do it! If you cheated, it’s not the end. Continue following the diet without punishing yourself by skipping any meals or snacks. Transformation takes time but it’s worth it!

On another note...


Rosh Hashanah and dieting... how are they similar?

Tracking food is comparable to Vidduy – where we don’t just admit what we did wrong, we need to admit it out loud or, in our case, on paper.

Scales... they can weigh our food or our weight. Scales are also the symbolic icon of the Day of Judgment.

On Yom Kippur we make a lot of commitments to be better or even perfect, but then we quickly go back to our old ways unless we make small commitments that we stick to long after the inspiration is gone. The same with better eating. In order to make real changes and make our inspiration last we must make concrete, specific, and sustainable changes.

The same way we are accountable to Hashem, we are accountable to our bodies (even if we eat/sin in private). Hashem knows what we did wrong, and if we don’t correct it He can’t fully forgive us. So too, our bodies know what we ate and we are accountable for it. The only way to become better is to make a genuine change.

Say you cheat on your diet or sin... that doesn’t mean it’s all over; you repent and start again. 

May we all have a successful year in all aspects – mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Alice

Honey Zucchini Muffins


Ingredients

  • ⅔ cup olive oil
  • 1¼ cups honey
  • 3 cups peeled and grated fresh zucchini, drained
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
  • 2 eggs, beaten 
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 3 cups spelt flour
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional but recommended)


Directions

Place the peeled and grated zucchini in a colander and push down with a plate to drain out all the liquid. It should be as dry as possible. Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl combine the honey, eggs, applesauce, and vanilla. Stir in the grated

zucchini and then the olive oil. 

In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt. Stir these dry ingredients into the zucchini mixture. Stir in walnuts. Coat each muffin cup in your muffin pan with a little oil spray. Line with cupcake liners. Use a spoon to distribute the muffin mixture equally among the cups, filling the cups up completely. Bake on the middle rack until muffins are golden brown and the top of the muffin bounces back when you press on it (about 25-30 minutes). Test with a long toothpick to make sure the center of the muffins are done. Set on a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes. Remove muffins from pan and let cool for 20 minutes. Makes about 18-24 muffins, depending on the size of the muffin pans.

Count as: 1 fruit and half a treat or half a snack

Alice Harrosh, Alice Harrosh is a Nutrition Counselor and Manager at Nutrition by Tanya, with 12 locations, including one on Main street in Queens! Alice knows that making healthy choices is not always easy, as she has been through the struggle herself. As an optimistic person, Alice’s favorite quote is: “It’s never too late to start eating better. If you have a bad morning, make it a better afternoon.” For more information on Nutrition by Tanya or the TAP (Tanya-approved products) food line, please visit www.nutritionbytanya.com  or call 844-Tanya-Diet (844-826-9234). For daily tips and inspiration, you may follow @nutritionbytanya on Instagram.