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Eat Right When Time is Tight with Patricia Bannan

Posted on 10/28/2010 by Niki D'Alonzo // Filed in lifestyle leaders // Leave a Comment

Patricia Bannan, MS, RD and friend of The Laughing Cow just released her book “Eat Right When Time is Tight,” providing 150 slim-down strategies and no-cook food fixes for people on the go. We had the opportunity to ask Patricia a few questions about her new book. Read on for a sneak peek into her book!

We’re so excited about your new book, “Eat Right When Time is Tight.” What inspired you to write it?

I’m not a seasoned chef or self-proclaimed diet guru with a fast-track plan to lose ten pounds in a week (and likely regain it!), but like most people, I’m busy but still want to eat as well as I can. I wrote this book to show people how simple it can be to make healthy choices even when they don’t have time to cook, or when they’re stuck at an airport, working 14-hour days, shuttling kids to soccer practice, or facing ten holiday parties (not to mention a tight-fitting cocktail dress!). Most of my clients want to make healthier choices, but feel that a lack of time gets in the way of them reaching their weight loss goals. I wrote this book for them.

Can you give us a glimpse of what readers can expect?

Most people barely have time to breathe, let alone worry about their nutritional intake. The typical person is likely to be eating on the run. Based on the latest research on health and nutrition, this book is packed with doable, practical, “no-time/no-brainer” meals and snacks to help people gain time and lose weight. The book outlines ten Master Strategies, such as eating aware, snacking every three to five hours, “AppeSizing” meals, and using relaxation techniques to find the slow in a life on the go. These strategies will help people improve their diet, increase their energy, boost their mood and productivity, and gain quality time in their life.
Inside Eat Right When Time Is Tight, readers will learn:
• The 10 Master Strategies to eat right when time is tight
• To beat the scale with a breakfast boost
• Eat-on-the-run lunch options
• Supper strategies that work
• How to supercharge snacks
• Tips for navigating holidays, travel and special occasions
• Meal plans for typical (and not-so-typical) days

Out of your “150 Slim-Down Strategies and No-Cook Food Fixes,” do you have a favorite?

Yes – “Recharge.” This is one of my ten Master Strategies in the book. Maybe I like it so much because it’s the one I have to remind myself to embrace most often. Stress can not only make people sick, it can make them fat as well. Since there’s no one-size fits-all approach to stress management, I provide numerous ways in my book to reduce stress so people can find what works best for them.

Here are three simple ways to “recharge” in five minutes or less:
• Take two minutes to simply stop what you’re doing and breathe. Inhale and completely fill your lungs so your belly swells. Then exhale completely. Even two minutes will slow your heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure, which creates a feeling of relaxation.
• Use laughter as medicine—the best medicine. Humor defuses stress and the stress hormones it produces. Surround yourself with light-hearted, funny people, watch a comedy, or “find the funny” in your daily life. The Laughing Cow certainly knows not to take life too seriously!
• Get a pet. Research shows pets calm us and lift our spirits.

What is your “no-time/no brainer” The Laughing Cow and/or Mini Babybel snack?

Another one of my ten Master Strategies is to include protein and fiber in every meal and snack for sustained energy. When people include protein and fiber every time they eat, they’ll feel fuller longer and maintain a more stable blood sugar level, which translates to less fatigue and fewer food cravings. Coupling fruit with a Mini Babybel or The Laughing Cow Cheese Wedge adds protein (and taste) for a satisfying snack that’s less than 200 calories. These cheeses are also great along with dried or fresh cut veggies.

We just asked our community members to share their favorite and awesomely cheesy 80s movie. What is your favorite?

Pretty in Pink! Duckie on Love: “When I really have it solid for a girl, I’ll ride by her house on my bike. I’ll do it like, a hundred times in a day. It’s really…it’s intense.”