Flexitarian Recipe Box

As the last bit of summer shines on, I want to be out enjoying the weather rather than fussing in a hot kitchen. Try two of my favorite end-of-summer dishes that are super fresh & easy:

Go to cookflexitarian.com for an archive of all Dawn's flexitarian recipes.

Ask Dawn

QUESTION: I am constantly craving sugar. In the past, if I’ve been able to stay away from it for three or four days, the cravings usually subside quite a bit. It’s making it through those initial days that I find so intolerable. Any advice?
 
ANSWER: The more sweet treats you eat, the more you want them so it is a good idea to cut back on the sugar to help get your cravings under control. I have three tips that work wonders when you are trying to tame your sweet tooth:
 
1) Keep Sweets Out of Sight. The first task is to remove all tempting treats from your home and office environment. If you can see them you will be tempted to eat them. You may also want to avoid certain places that tend to seduce you into buying sweets such as coffee shops, convenience stores and gas stations at least the first week or two while you are gaining better control of your sweet tooth.
 
2) Satisfy with Natural Sweets. We are born with a natural affinity and preference for sweet flavors so we should not completely deny ourselves sugary satisfaction. Opt for the natural sugar found in fruit to tame your cravings. Aim to have 2 cups/pieces of fruit each day.
 
3) Enjoy Social Sweets Only. Giving up sweet completely can backfire and cause you to overindulge down the road. A better solution is to plan on only having sweets in social situations since most people can control portions better in public than when they are home alone or in the office by themselves. Enjoy sweets such as birthday cake at a birthday party, split a dessert after a special dinner out or have a small scoop of ice cream at a local shop with your family and you can enjoy perfect portions of these treats without feeling guilty and without feeling like your sweet tooth has gotten out of control.

Hungry for more food & nutrition advice?
ON THE AIR: Listen to my new hour-long radio show -  I'll give nutrition advice & solve my listeners' food issues. Next show: Monday, September 17 @ 11:00am CST/ noon EST. Check for radio stations in your area or listen live here.

BLOG: Visit my Huffington Post blog here.

DRINK This

D.I.Y. Sports Drinks
If you’re gearing up for a fall marathon or race, this news is for you. Sports drinks are smart for anyone who is exercising/training 60 minutes or more because they provide a source of hydration, energy and electrolytes (such as sodium which is lost in sweat).
 
You can buy a bottle of sports drink, but it's actually easy to make your own with natural kitchen staples. To make my natural sports sipper, simply add three everyday ingredients to water. The outcome is ounce for ounce comparable to commercial sports drinks in calories, carbohydrates and sodium - all things your body needs for instant energy and to sustain stamina.
 
Blatner’s Homemade Hydrator (makes 4 servings, 8 ounces each):
3 1/2 cups water

1/2 cup 100% fruit juice
2 1/2 tablespoons honey

1/4 teaspoon salt

 
Per 8 ounce serving: 50 calories, 14 grams carbohydrate, 160 milligrams sodium