Happy Holidays to you all! It’s cold outside and this is the time of year that I usually like to start eating and enjoying comfort food. Apple pie with hot cocoa! Just the thought of it makes me hungry. But I really don’t want to gain back any of the 80 lbs that I have lost. You see, I have the same struggle as you do. I like food, I am Diabetic and I am a stress eater. So, even though I am a Philadelphia weight loss doctor, I still have the same appetite and cravings that you do.

When I was first diagnosed with diabetes I had a difficult time following a diet plan that would help me lose weight. And more importantly, help with my diabetes. I just could not do it on my own. The weight loss pills, Phentermine was the only thing that helped control my appetite and cravings. Taking the Phentermine, along with a sensible diet plan and walking for my exercise plan helped me lose 80 lbs! And I have kept it off. I actually maintain this weight loss without continuing to take the diet pills. Appetite-suppressant medications help control your appetite and cravings but you still need to follow a proper meal plan. For me personally, the Phentermine just made the whole process much easier and doable.

Now I am able to maintain a proper diet and keep the weight off without taking Phentermine. So if you are like me, you shouldn’t have to take the weight loss medications forever. Now let’s get back to the comfort foods! Lucky for me, my wife Elyse, has been busy in the kitchen making new weight loss friendly recipes for some of my favorite foods and I’m going to share them with you today.

 Here are 8 of her recipes…

 Delicious Strawberry Smoothie Recipe

•  frozen strawberries – 4 oz
• Stevia or granulated monk fruit to taste
• Vanilla Stevia drops – 5
• Orange Stevia drops – 5
• Combine everything into your blender and blend until it’s your desired consistency.

Apple Cobbler

• Apple – 1 large cut it into slices
• Cinnamon – just a little pinch
• Pinch of cinnamon
• Granulated monk fruit – 1 teaspoon
• Mix everything together then place into an oven-safe dish. Next, place it in your oven and bake it for about 30 minutes at 350° Fahrenheit.
• You can top it with a teaspoon of cinnamon.

Yummy Sweet Treat Strawberry Sorbet

• Frozen strawberries – 4 ounces
• The juice of one large lemon
• Granulated monk fruit

Add everything to your blender and blend until it’s nice and smooth. Then just pour it into your glass and enjoy. If you like you can even add a bit of water to make the consistency a little bit less thick.

Apple Grape and Cucumber Salad

• Apple –  one large, make sure to remove the core and seeds and then cut it into cubes or slices whichever you prefer.
• Cucumber – 1 large, cut into slices
• Water – 1 tablespoon
• Apple cider vinegar – 2 tablespoons
• Salt – to your taste
• Garlic – to your taste
• Pepper – to your taste
• Granulated monk fruit

Slice the cucumber into thin slices and either slice or chop your apples. Combine the apple cider vinegar and the water together and next mix in the salt, garlic, pepper, and granulated monk fruit to your taste. Now all you have to do is combine all of the ingredients into a good size ball and enjoy.

Elyse’s Favorite Salad

• Romaine lettuce – 1/2 head, chopped
• Large apple – cored and seeded and chop or cut into wedges.
• Red onion- small sliced

Now, all we have to do is combine everything into a large bowl and enjoy. If you like you can make your own salad dressing with water, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, garlic, and a sugar substitute.

Homemade Chicken Broth

• chicken – about 24 ounces
• water – nine cups
• poultry seasoning – 1 teaspoon
• garlic powder – 1 teaspoon
• celery salt – 1 teaspoon
• pepper – 1 teaspoon
• onion salt – 1 teaspoon
• sea salt – 1 tbsp

This is a really great recipe and it’s so easy to make. Just combine all of the ingredients into a large pot. My Mother would have a pot specifically designated as her soup pot. Cook this until the chicken is done. When we make this recipe we usually cook it for about 40 minutes or a little bit less. Just make sure that your chicken is totally cooked because you do not want to eat uncooked chicken. when it’s finished cooking just take out for chicken and you can save that for some of your other meals. And just refrigerate or freeze the broth to be used later.

French onion soup

• onion – 1 vidalia onion
• garlic powder – one teaspoon
• beef broth – one cup of
• onion salt – one teaspoon
• pepper – one teaspoon

Take your onion and cut it into wedges. You can do this by using an apple slicer. Place the onion in a baking pan, place a piece of foil underneath it. and then season it with your garlic powder, onion salt, and pepper. Add about one-quarter cup of the beef broth and then wrap it in the foil. place the onion and the baking pan in the oven and bake it for about 60 Minutes at 350° Fahrenheit. When it is done place it into a soup bowl and add the rest of the beef broth. I usually like to enjoy this with a few slices of Melba toast.

Onion soup – green onion soup

• parsley – one teaspoon
• green onions – eleven
• dill –  one half teaspoon
• paprika –  one half teaspoon
• thyme – one half teaspoon
• parsley – one teaspoon
• salt –  one half teaspoon
• vegetable broth – two cups
• liquid stevia – three to five drops
• celery seed – one quarter teaspoon
• red pepper flakes – just a tiny pinch

Let’s start this delicious recipe by steaming the green onions and then chop them up and place them in a saucepan. Add some of the vegetable broth and the sauteed onions for about 3 minutes. Next add the red pepper flakes, celery seed, dill, thyme, paprika, parsley, salt, and liquid stevia and saute for about 3 minutes. Next, add the rest of the broth, reduce the heat and let simmer for approximately 35 minutes. When it is finished let it cool down a bit and enjoy.

So there you have it, 8 totally delicious recipes. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! You can lose weight and even maintain weight loss while eating delicious food. Moving forward from here each week I will be posting more great recipes.

If you are trying to lose weight and you need a helping hand I invite you to give us a call and schedule a free weight loss consultation. Call us at 215-821-7336 and we will gladly schedule you for your free weight loss consultation. Be safe, well, and happy!

Today I’m going to share with you 5 smoothie recipes that have passed my family’s taste buds test. The recipes are for our July 4^th, 2019 Smoothie Recipe, Banana Blueberry Mega Healthy Smoothie Recipe, Spa Day Smoothie Recipe, Keto Mango Smoothie Recipe, and one of my favorite recipes for our Super Berry Blast Smoothie Recipe. If you have been referred to us by a friend or from your Family Doctor for our Philadelphia Medical Weight Loss Program, please call us to schedule your complimentary Weight Loss Consultation. Just call us at 215-821-7336 and we can schedule your visit with us.

Here are the recipes:

July 4^th 2019 Smoothie Recipe

• blueberries – ¼ cup
• strawberries – ¼ cup
• Greek yogurt – ½ cup
• Unsweetened almond milk – ½ cup
• Combine everything into your high-powered blender – blend and enjoy!

Banana Blueberry Mega Healthy Smoothie Recipe

• banana – 1 small
• blueberries – 1/4 cup
• spinach – 1 handful
• cinnamon – ¼ teaspoon
• unsweetened almond milk – 1/2 cup
• Greek yogurt – 1/2 cup
• cacao – 1 teaspoon
• Combine everything into your high-powered blender – blend and enjoy!

Spa Day Smoothie Recipe

• Filtered water – 1 cup
• cucumber – 1 cup
• celery – 4 stalks
• lime – 1 small peeled
• strawberries – 1/4 cup
• Combine everything into your high-powered blender – blend and enjoy!

Keto Mango Smoothie Recipe

• Unsweetened almond milk – 1 cup
• avocado – 1 small
• mango – 1/4 cup
• Greek yogurt – ½ cup
• Chia seeds – 1 tablespoon
• Combine everything into your high-powered blender – blend and enjoy!

Super Berry Blast Smoothie Recipe

• banana – 1 small
• blueberries – 1/4 cup
• raspberries – 1/4 cup
• Greek yogurt – 1/2 cup
• spinach – 2 handfuls
• unsweetened almond milk – 1/2 cup
• Combine all of the above ingredients into a high-powered blender – blend and enjoy!

So, there you have it 5 great recipes to assist you in your weight loss, health and wellness goals.

I hope you enjoy these recipes.

If you, a friend, loved one or co-worker need help losing weight call us and schedule a free weight loss consultation. Call us at 215-821-7336 and we can schedule your appointment.