Cafe Maurice

We have a history of diabetes in the family. My paternal grandmother has it and now my father has it, even if he is still in denial that he has diabetes. He refuses to have his monthly blood work-up and the medical supplies we bought for him sits untouched. Now a friend of mine, at the young age of 30, has been diagnosed to have diabetes. And it came as a shock for me and an eye-opener for me to start staying away from sweets and lose weight or else I might be diagnosed with one too. She told me that those with more abdominal fat (visceral fat) are more prone to have diabetes, and my tummy has always looked like it is 9 months pregnant.

Better late than never! I am trying to really lose weight permanently this time!

Do you read food labels? I recommend you start reading them, even if you are not really conscious of what you eat or not counting calories. You NEED to know what you eat.

The Food and Drug Administration requires that all processed foods be labeled according to a set of guidelines. A label must list values for a 2000-calorie diet as well as limits for both a 2000 and a 2500-calorie diet. Serving sizes have been standardized based on how much of a food people eat. If manufacturers list an ingredient, they must also list the amount of that ingredient and what proportion of the recommended intake it represents.

Food manufacturers should also note when their products expire, and when it was manufactured. There are some who use stamps (heat stamped by machine) on their boxes but Custom Printed Labels last longer and are noticed more. And that’s what consumers need – they need to notice the label so that they will read it.

That is why Custom Labels are so in demand. Most companies start with needing a logo custom-made and then when it is approved, they are now made into different labels for attaching to their packaging to brand their products even more. Data Graphics Inc. has been in the industry for 25 years and have been making all kinds of labels, specifically Custom Label, for manufacturers and consumers.

This is what I have been eating for about a week now. I have been trying to live a healthier lifestyle and lose weight but have been unable to give up on carbs just yet. I compensate by moving a lot. I try to get up and do jumping jacks or dance every hour for five to ten minutes,  just to spark my metabolism. My goal is to be able to fit into my clothes before my two kids before I turn 30 10 months from now. If you think about it, if I am just consistent, that would be 10lbs a month – a 100lb loss! (That’s too much though, I might fit into baby clothes already – just kidding )

Anyway, back to the bread wraps, the wrap itself is still high in calories, but it leaves me fuller faster. Rice just makes me crave more.

These are the nutritional values for a whole wheat pita bread:

This was recommended by a friend who has been trying to live a healthier lifestyle. It has been in my iPhone for two weeks before I finally tinkered around with it and give it a try. It really works wonders – you get to track down what you eat, what you spend (calories) and they even have a date when you can attain your goal weight if you lose a certain number of pounds a week. This way, I wouldn’t need prototype 37-c for treating my wrinkles, as everything is there already.

Here is what it looks like:
A daily shot if you are within goal:

Daily Log:

Ever wanted to try something different besides cooking and baking?

Try pottery!

And now that it is summer, you can even take your kids along with you so they can learn along as you learn the ropes of pottery! Working with clay together is a great way to get some good quality time with your children. AMACO/Brent  has materials and equipments like potter’s wheels for you and your kids. They even have a special category in their web site for kids! They have the balsa foam that cuts like butter, perfect for kids.

You can also buy replacement potters wheel parts and self-hardening clays if you already have them.

To get started with your clay pottery together, simply place a small amount of clay on your Brent pottery wheels. The key thing to remember when working with your clay is to make sure that it is always wet. If your clay isn’t wet enough it will make working with it rather difficult. Keep a small bowl of water nearby to dip your fingers in.

Here are some points to consider in getting pottery wheels for your children:

1. Size: How old is your child? Make sure the wheel is the right size and can handle the stress they might put on it over the years.
2. Durability:  Make sure you choose a quality kids wheel and don’t just settle for the cheapest one, otherwise you might wind up purchasing several wheels over the years.
3. Safety: Make sure you choose a kids pottery wheel that has all of the proper safety precautions.