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Welcome to The Healthy Plate! This blog will continue to evolve. Enjoy!
November 8, 2017
Well, here in California we just set our clocks back one hour so it’s dark when we all get off work. To us it’s officially WINTER now! We are such wimps here with all our sunshiny days. But since we all now believe it’s truly the CHILLY season, we’re ready to prepare a great, tasty, comforting soup for dinner—our “Beer Cheese Soup”.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
November 1, 2017
Eating more fish is always a good source of omega-3s as well a vitamin B6 and magnesium, which are great nutrients for the synthesis of brain-signaling neurotransmitters…yes! We do want to eat for our health AND also enjoy every single bite, so we’re always looking for another great meal to share with both family and friends. This week we’re serving “Poached Halibut” for a perfect blended taste of good-for-you nutrients!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
October 25, 2017
As we near the end of October, my mind is beginning to look to the holidays for some new ideas for healthy warm treats. You know…it’s the little things that put a bright spot in any day and are always fun to share with family and friends. So this week we’re going for a “Warm Ginger Latte” to share over relaxing conversation and a kick-back moment during the hustle-bustle of the holiday season.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
October 18, 2017
I realize some of you are beginning to think about comfort food with temperatures dropping in many parts of our country this month. I personally just returned from a family event in Florida which was 85-90 degrees each day and now that I’m back in southern California it’s even warmer at 96! But I decided to assist those in cooler climates with a fall-season soup…”Coconut Shrimp Soup”. It’s creamy and delicious!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
October 11, 2017
Get those feet moving & grooving on the dance floor with some “Twist” and a shout! We want to keep the taste buds smiling while repelling toxins and making sure we’re on the health floor of life, shunning those nasty carbs. Who needs them? Kick them off the plate while you’re Twisting to the beat and enjoy this week’s dance party with your “Twisting Cod Supper”!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
October 4, 2017
Another powerful week of getting healthy is our focus and we have a guest instructor for your dancing pleasure. This week’s movements are the creation of Ryan Meyers and he is driven by great taste and simplicity and offers you his BEST “Chicken Free Step”. A quick movement, high energy freestyle number for a mouth-watering novelty!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
September 27, 2017
A great brunch dish is something we all desire in our repertoire to help us fill tummies and warm spirits while sharing love with family and friends. All the slicing, dicing and prep work can be completed in advance, allowing precious time to enjoy your invited guests. This week we introduce our ‘Enchanted Egg Bake” to be accompanied by nutmeg-topped cottage on a bed of lettuce or chilled asparagus. Your table is inviting, festive, and worthy of sharing your dedicated love.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
September 20, 2017
Wanting to stay healthy and avoiding some of my past favorites always has me on the hunt for replacements…so this week I am introducing you to a mighty, crispy new chip, I found for one of my favorite snacks—guacamole! I included both my recipe picture and a picture of the bag of chips to help you locate this new delight I’m introducing this week. Enjoy this weeks “Easy Guacamole Delight”.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
September 13, 2017
Some flavorful beef is in store for this week’s recipe—“Wine Steak”. Preparing them the day before, along with choosing a red wine you truly enjoy drinking, will benefit your creation and completely satisfy your taste buds. Some of my favorite choices are: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
September 6, 2017
Avocados…they just seem to go with every meal. Fallbrook, California is the avocado capital of the world…at least that’s what that city claims, and it’s just about 20 minutes from where I live. For that reason, I do have access to an abundant crop and enjoy incorporating them into meals at any time of day. So this week let’s do “Avocado-Lime Seared Scallops” and call it perfect.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
August 30, 2017
It’s blaz’n hot where I live right now, so I’m still thinking summer coolness as far as satisfying my palate. You’re correct…no cooking for me today, but I’m hungry and do want a snack-type meal rather than something heavy. I think a “Creamy Kale Dip” with some broccoli, baby carrots, cauliflower, and beets will fill me nicely!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
August 23, 2017
A delicious sauce can jazz up any simple grilled item…baby carrots, baby broccoli, chicken, fish, beef, pork…you get to choose. This week’s item is a Basil Lime sauce to experiment with at your own whim. Fun and tasty!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
August 16, 2017
I know, I know…sometimes I get into a small rut when I like something…so this week I decided on a second lettuce wrap experience for our enjoyment. Living in southern California beckons me to the outdoors, so I again took my iron skillet to the gas grill burner and fired it up for this week’s creation…”Beef Fajita Lettuce Wraps”
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
August 9, 2017
Let’s munch out on the patio today…you know, something light, something tasty, and something healthy all rolled into a single delicious dish. It’s perfect for enjoying alone or fun to share with our summer guests…”Avocado Turkey Lettuce Wraps” are perfectly filled for a summer meal!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
August 2, 2017
Why not do brunch this week? Summertime is a time for experimenting, being creative, and awakening some lazy taste buds. I recently had brunch with some relatives and they encouraged me to try something new and WOW, I truly enjoyed the awakening anddecided to work on re-creating the sensational delight. This week we have the “Maryland Crab Cake Brunch”!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
July 26, 2017
This week we’re going with a “Tangy Topper” to use as a sauce for any grilled meat, fishor vegetable or use as a dip for your favorite, fresh, sliced veggies. It truly is a cool and simple topper that just adds a perfect touch to dress up almost any of your favorite dishes!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
July 19, 2017
Juicy and delicious, quick & easy, and tantalizes your taste buds…what more could you want, right? This week we’re preparing the “Onion-Feta Burger” for outdoor grilling or indoor broiling, you choose. You know me though, I’m always outside on the patio with asmoking grill that is hot and ready!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
July 12, 2017
Let’s make it simple…I do get many inquiries as to what to use for salad dressing. Although, the tender, crisp taste of an organic salad really doesn’t “need dressing”, often times we just like a little drizzle to blend, enhance, perk-up or whatever…we’re looking for that “simple something” for the top-off, right? So this week we’ll create the “Mix-N-Match Top Off” for our salad.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
July 5, 2017
Hope your 4th of July celebration was amazing with some rest, relaxation, friends, family and a little time away from work to rekindle your enthusiasm for life! It was all thatfor me and now I’m heading out to the grill for a nice “Chimichurri London Broil” for this week’s delicacy…come join me!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
June 28, 2017
Fresh, fresh, fresh…it’s summer salad-season for sure, so we’re gonna make another great salad to nuzzle up to any grilled meat of your choice. Beets are a dark, delicious root, packed with nutrients and make a truly awesome salad with a delicate drizzle of delicious high-grade balsamic vinegar. We’re talking about a “Sweet- Beet-Combo Salad” this evening.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
June 21, 2017
Fantastic…another salad to enjoy together as we beat the summer warming trend and avoid the kitchen oven. Yes, a bit of patio stepping to the grill for a delightful “Grilled Shrimp Salad” which is simple, tasty, and packed with the protein we all need to keep up with our endless outdoor summer activities!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
June 14, 2017
Light, summery, delicious for a warm evening and easy fix’n! We want minimal time spent at the kitchen counter, so we can enjoy some outdoor dining on the patio this evening. It’s lighter later and we just feels kinda lazy after working in the office all day…so let’s enjoy the season together!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
June 7, 2017
Yes, morning is protein time…time to fill yourself with healthful energy! Let’s focus on a nice-n-easy “AM Electric Slide” to start our day. And, as you all know, I will be grilling mybeef patties out on my patio grill, so I can enjoy the early morning sunrise and coolness of the day…please, join me!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
May 31, 2017
Wow…this truly has been a very long month for me. I’ve had way too many projects on my plate which is okay, because the weather hasn’t really beckoned me out of the house for my favorite outdoor activities just yet. And, I truly got into the spring-cleaning this year for both my home and my office, so it’s time to step outdoors to catch my breath. A nice grill this week will put a smile on my face and yours as well, I hope, because we’re preparing some great “BBQ Chicken Marinade”!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
May 24, 2017
Tenderly roasted in a gas grill or in a conventional oven, the results are the same, as long as the temperature is preheated to 350 degrees and remains at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 50 minutes. That will sear and hold in all the juices for a perfectly browned, delectable bird that’s 3-3.75 pounds in beginning weight. Tonight we have our “Prime Roasted Chicken”.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
May 17, 2017
Okay…I understand—we need a yummy source of protein to complement our low-starch vegetable selection to complete our meal. This week we’ll be serving “Marinated Pork Chops” to satisfy our taste buds and enjoy another easy meal plan.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
May 10, 2017
It’s veggie time! During spring and summer there’s always an abundance of vegetables available, so a no-fuss, delicious quickie is perfect right now. Basically you can use any low-starch favorite, buy my honey loves his broccoli so that’s on our menu for tonight’s veggie dish—“No-fuss Roasted Broccoli”.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
May 3, 2017
Yes I do like simple, especially after all my hold-ups on getting my studio kitchen back up and running with its brand new plumbing, sheet rock, and gorgeous paint job! As I locate all my little niches for my cooking utensils and tools once again, I think an easy “Savory Chicken Supper” would be perfect for this evening’s meal…please join me at the creation counter once again!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
April 26, 2017
Hello fellow Qualitarian Foodies…you all know how I just love my iron skillet and we’ve also grown to love our single-pot/pan cooking, so this week I’ve combined the two for our “Egg-Bake Skillet”. Minimal clean-up, hearty breakfast meal, and you even have enough yummies left for “tomorrow”! It’s great to be back on the dance floor of creativity after all our home repairs—I did miss you!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
April 19, 2017
OMG…the plumbing is finally finished and I’m left with a very “holy” house…20 large pieces of sheet rock were removed…starting in my studio kitchen and moving around our home in, what appears to be, a very random pattern in order to place all the new plumbing. And…for another week I am banned from my cooking station while the wall repairs are being completed. However, I have truly appreciated my ProteinF1rst stand-by-pure-protein-choice for carrying me through this “bit” of stress. I just add some fresh cut-up organic veggies for munching with my drinks and meals are portable and a snap! Thanks again directionH for saving the day!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
April 5, 2017
The Healthy Plate Coach will be heading to Florida the first week of April for a bit of rest & relaxation, so our followers will be turning to their past creations for a delightful dining experience of their own choosing. Our coach has complete confidence in your capabilities, and she hopes to be dining on some fresh-caught Grouper from the Gulf Coast while she's away...it's a true favorite in Florida!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
March 29, 2017
Yes…you asked for it, so it’s yours! Another single-pot chicken delicacy…the “Adobo Chipotle Bird”! You will need an overnight marinade procedure but even that is quick, painless and only needs refrigeration and a large covered bowl. Next day is a snap with a single Dutch oven pot and requires less than 30 minutes of effort on your part…let’s do this!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
March 22, 2017
Don’t you just love a one-dish chicken dinner? This evening we’ll be combining America’s favorite dinner bird with a truly down-home recipe that is less fuss, easy clean-up and amazingly satisfying on the taste bud scale…tonight it’s the “Chicken Stroganoff Strut”!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
March 15, 2017
Take a bite of perfection…a single skillet experience that is mouth-watering delicious…our creation this week is our “Spinach Shrimp Skillet”. A simple array of ingredients tossed together for dinner in a flash for a quick-serve meal anytime. (Remember: if using frozen, cooked shrimp—they can be thawed quickly in a bowl of water!)
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
March 8, 2017
Making it flavorful is what it’s all about when creating a memorable soup. Sautéing aromatics, such as onions, garlic, and bell peppers before adding broth and other veggies gives depth of flavor to a finished soup. So this week we will gracefully create our Roasted Cauliflower Soup for a winding-down-winter meal!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
March 1, 2017
Let’s do a delicious little fish number this evening, “Asian Swordfish Steaks”. The marinade is an over-nighter, so the day of grilling is simple, quick, and oh so tasty. Wild caught swordfish is generally easy to find either at a fresh fish market or found in the frozen fish section of higher-end grocery markets. It’s a nice firm fish and grills to perfection over hot coals or on a gas grill set on high.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
February 22, 2017
Hmmm…not sure what you’re in the mood for tonight? Well, let me help you out with some new ingredients, some savory flavors, and enough of a meal to serve a second evening for two.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
February 15, 2017
Wow…I’m thinking decadent and dressing up a nice filet mignon for a mouth-watering meal to remember. Good for a Saturday night romantic dinner at home…add some candlelight, soft music and allow the evening to flow between the two of you. Tonight we’re creating our “Wine-Reduction Filet Mignon”.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
February 8, 2017
Is your heart pumping from your ongoing workout or because you’re thinking about that special holiday of love that’s just around the corner? Valentine’s Day is on Tuesday! How about surprising the love of your life with a Gourmet Breakfast Casserole! That’s right…lots of taste with a touch of spice to work into a day full of love. All for the one who means the world to you!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
February 1, 2017
That’s correct! It is officially the second month on the year 2017—how on earth did that happen? Sometimes life can be a blur as we move and groove from one activity into another without even catching a breath. But we’re not into spring just yet, so we’re still looking for comfort food for those cold evenings to take the chill off our bones. Let’s do atasty, “Herb-Roasted Pork Tenderloin” for a delicious little feast.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
January 25, 2017
The rain truly has been a blessing to my home state of California, and this type of weather makes me crave a hot and savory “Home Style Stew”. It warms me, satisfies me, and assures me of a great meal for a second day as well!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
January 18, 2017
Wow…another dance-partner specialty again this week...I'm getting spoiled! Thanks so much for sharing your creations…this comes from my loving husband who surprised with breakfast after my Saturday workout. “Sunrise Madness”, because he said he worked like mad to be sure he was able to ambush me with total surprise! And, he accomplished it beautifully and totally took me off guard…thanks honey, you’re truly amazing!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
January 4, 2017
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Let’s have a “Thanks Living” year…one where we concentrate on the many blessings in our lives and are thankful for every one…from the tiniest to the largest…being thankful and grateful actually promotes health in the body! With that in mind, let’s begin with a tiny treat that’s big on flavor…”Roasted Beets”, which serves as a great snack, side dish or salad condiment…and so easy to prepare with a magnificent taste!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
December 28, 2016
A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS to my directionH family! It is very difficult to believe, but for a second BIG holiday in 2016, I’ve had to vacate my kitchen studio in order to travel to visit both family AND friends this time. Again…no cooking for this lady and many surprises, as I was invited to attend the delicious creativity of others. It was memorable, enjoyable, and very relaxing to feel the care and love around me. May your NEW YEARbe filled with blessings as we usher in 2017 together!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
December 21, 2016
Something simple but packed with nutrients…it truly is good to think veggies instead of sweets this time of year. A hearty salad and nice piece of protein is a sure bet to move your eyes to healthy rather than harmful. Once your appetite is healthfully calmed your will-power with be better armed to repel the health-less fare that tries to taunt you. Stay on your toes and dance through this joyful time of year with success—try this week’s “Simply Salad”!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
December 14, 2016
Yep…we’re all on the run getting ready for celebrations, family, gifts, travel, etc., so why not have a make-ahead meal to just heat and serve when all are ready to take a break, sit together, and enjoy? So this week we’ll savor a nice hot “Beefy Goodness”.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
December 7, 2016
Really? It’s December already…where did 2016 go? I feel like it was just a flash before my eyes! It was a very good flash though…lots of healthy eating; lots of favorites with exercise like paddle boarding, water skiing, and cycling; time for rest & relaxation in order to keep the pace…all good! So let’s reward ourselves with a little, fun treat—“Mint Chocolate Supreme”.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
November 30, 2016
We’re starting to feel the chill of winter heading our way, so I’m thinking about beginningthe day with a BIG breakfast taste to move our feet (attached to our bodies of course) into a productive creation…Deep Limbo Wraps! This high-protein meal will give you thatstick-to-the-ribs meal satisfaction!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
November 23, 2016
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO MY directionH family! I have been swept out of my kitchento a distant location to be with my husband and children this year, which is truly a great blessing! “No cooking, Mom…we have a BIG surprise for you!”, so I am leaving the dance floor this week to be with family, catch up with each member, and dearly cherish every moment together. May your week also be filled with awesome family time!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
November 16, 2016
Let’s make something fun and festive for this week before the heavier holiday work begins…my family thought these were amazing and said “Yes!”…we do want these again and soon please! I call them “Lettuce Wrap Street Tacos” and they were truly a hit!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
November 9, 2016
Woo-hoo…getting close to turkey day—so what, if we’re starting a little early. This week we’re doing the “AM Turkey Hot Trot” to get our blood pumping ‘cause we have lots of holiday cooking ahead. Keep your feet moving with some fast trotting actions to get yourbody flowing on the dance floor. The evolution of your gourmet morning creation is perfect for a good morning kick-start!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
November 2, 2016
Crusty, bubbling around the edges, an aroma lilting through the house, and it’s all in a single deep dish...”Italiana Casserole”. Our family has down-sized to two remaining, hard-working adults, so I took advantage of this larger recipe and froze the extra meals for future hectic days, when taste was a must but fuss was not. I kicked in a great, green side salad of super greens (organic baby kale, baby chard, and baby spinach) and called it a perfect ending to a very busy day!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
October 26, 2016
I began thinking about chillier evenings and how we all savor a warm, yummy, beefy delight in the winter months. My organic butcher must have been thinking the same thing, cause low and behold, I saw the perfect chuck roast for my endeavor! It’s simple, tasty, and even great as a left-over…cooking once for multiple meals is my kind of easy!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
October 19, 2016
Hmmmm…guess I’m into “stuffing” this month…no, no, not Christmas stocking stuffers—it’s too early for that…instead, a stuffing of flavor to energize the buds in your mouth and offer them a scrumptious treat, while still chilling peacefully before the holiday madness begins. This week we have a “Stuffed Chop” with minimal footwork and a short-shop-list! What more could we ask for, right?
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
October 12, 2016
Where’s the beef? That’s right…something a little heartier for this week’s kitchen, fancy footwork. Our autumn weather brings into focus some slow cooking for a delicious, beefy taste with a nice sauce to top it all off! Our number this evening is a “Stuffed Flower Flank” and when made in advance, is even tastier.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
October 5, 2016
Yes...we are moving our feet—to that familiar beat…“Twist and Shout”! Our booties are moving—our buds are drooling…”Twist and Shout”! Making our way to the floor of dance—with hips twisting inside our pants…”Twist and Shout”! Success bringing smiles—cause we’re conquering trials…”Twist and Shout”! Tonight we enjoy “Twisting Cod Supper” for two!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
September 28, 2016
Some of us are still experiencing summer-like weather while others see the signs of fall on their horizon…no matter; we still have some outdoor activities ahead and want to relish those hours of nature rather than preparing complicated or time-consuming meals, am I right? So, after we’ve had our morning nature appreciation on a mountain hike, river stroll, cycle spin, or ocean swim, we want a simple but hearty breakfast, beginning with the extra grilled steak from last evening. We are going for the “Lindy Morning Steak Bake”, while we recuperate from our outdoor activity and browse the paper or hang on the patio with a cup of our favorite morning brew.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
September 21, 2016
Oh yea…a simple, tasty, quickie-meal for a busy week’s schedule is great to have on hand. My week fills so fast with “need-to” items, that I must have something in the oven,simmering to perfection, while I’m involved with putting out a fire of necessity. I call it healthy multi-tasking! I can delight in a healthy meal while dropping my work load down a few notches. It’s a win-win this week with Mellow Yellow Chicken.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
September 14, 2016
FOOD...do you use it just to cease your hunger pangs, or do you truly give thought to how every morsel that passes your lips helps or hinders the regulation of your appetite, your energy, your sex drive, your sleep, your weight and much more. Supplying our bodies with SMART food, both from directionH and from planned meals, keeps our hormones in balance & happy which regulate every aspect of our life. Remember, to plan low-starch, high-protein, healthy-fats to balance your hormones for a healthier metabolism. This morning we will plan and prepare a great “Morning Summer Sizzle”!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
September 7, 2016
Happy grilling on this gorgeous summer evening! Any wild-caught fish grilled to perfection on your backyard patio is truly one of the highlights of summer, in my opinion.Its simple elegance on your plate and makes for a “Sea Entrée Especial”! Mix it up trying salmon, Mahi, swordfish, halibut, etc., grilling hot and fast, searing in the juices, braising the outer layer and setting the mood for a light, elegant, summer meal. Top witha squeeze of fresh lemon, lime, or a smooth yogurt-dill creation...it’s all good!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
August 31, 2016
Good morning…today’s featured breakfast is brought to by my honey…he loves a hearty, filling, yummy meal and wanted to surprise me with his “Kings Breakfast”! Yep, he used all of his favorites, folded into a “heavy” omelet of delicious! It’s BIG and he wasdelighted to partake in helping me clean my plate...isn’t he just the best!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
August 24, 2016
What are you in the mood to eat this evening? It’s been so incredibly hot at home here in the Inland Valley California that I had to leave my patio cooking and head indoors to my air-conditioning. Hot, Hot, Hot…is all everyone’s focusing on these days, so with my kitchen vent running full blast, I turned on my indoor oven (I must be crazy!), so I didn’t have to stand over my fiery patio grill and created a new little number for this week’s evening meal…”The Darker Side”. Let’s share this dusky dinner meal together
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
August 17, 2016
Can you hear the music…is it calling your name? Come—dance, loosen up, enjoy this summer day…don’t let it slip away. We have a little footwork to keep us moving as the music releases our senses and relaxes the stress right off our bones! Now we can enjoy our “Decadent Burger Calypso” as the summer breeze splashes against our cheeks and lights our face with a smile.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
August 10, 2016
Something cool…something crunchy…something zesty! That just works for a summer meal sitting out on the patio enjoying the perfect outdoors. This week we have another tasty delight that’s created in a snap and still satisfies our longing for delicious! Choose your favorite grilled selection of fish, poultry, beef or pork and pair it with tonight’s “Summer Slaw” for another summer favorite!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
August 3, 2016
Another great number from our guest chef, Ryan, who does delight in TASTE…it’s not worth the effort if it isn’t over-flowing with “flavor” is his motto! His second requirement is SIMPLICITY! He creates with efficiency in mind, because he’s always on the run with life and has much to accomplish each and every day (sound familiar). This week let’s give a big round of applause to Ryan for his presentation of the “Chicken Shimmy”!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
July 27, 2016
Oh baby…we need some summer flavor…a grilling to remember with each and every bite…we are creating a “Carne Asada Fiesta” this week…a taste delight to put at the top of our grilling repertoire. It’s a prepare-in-advance masterpiece which delights both family and guests, so let’s do it together
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
July 20, 2016
Are you transforming into a Qualitarian Foodie?
What?...you ask…is a Qualitarian Foodie?
YOU…avoid highly processed, factory-manufactured Frankenfoods; those with pesticides, chemical fertilizers, hormones and GMO’s that poison your metabolism, diminish your thyroid function, lower your sex hormones, and…pollute your planet!
YOU…search for pasture-raised, grass-fed, antibiotic free, hormone-free and pesticide-free protein and vegetables!
YOU…rise to the good omega fates: nuts, coconut, avocados, olives, and even saturated fat from grass-fed, grass-finished raised animals!
YOU…indulge with organic spices and seasonings, choosing flavor because tastier foods prove to be more satisfying than bland ones!
YOU…free up medical costs by ingesting only toxin-free ingredients, lowering your need for expensive pharmaceuticals!
YOU…empower yourself with healthy choices…NOT the feeling of being deprived of genetically-engineered ingredients that promote disease in your body!
YOU…ARE the gatekeeper for what goes into your body…and if you want to make this world a better place…take a look in the mirror and make the CHANGE!
Now share your stories with directionH™ on how YOU…avoid, search, rise, indulge, free, and empower yourself to be the Gatekeeper of what goes into YOUR body and live as a Qualitarian Foodie!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
July 13, 2016
Have you taken time to ask yourself, “Am I eating enough of the RIGHT protein…the protein that aides my body’s cellular health and regeneration…the protein that ensures mental stamina and helps me feel ALIVE?” When your body isn’t fed the RIGHT protein,your cells become “tired” and old, which translates into illness, depression and your inability to cope with daily stresses. However, the RIGHT protein feeds the cells in all your tissues, bones & organs with regenerating, revitalizing nutrition to keep you young and strong. With the RIGHT protein your cells dance with new life…literally. This week our steps move us to create the RIGHT PROTEIN SALAD…organic meat, eggs, nuts and seeds. Watch out—your cells will be celebrating!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
July 6, 2016
We like a bit of down time during the summer…time to do the “fun stuff” that this time of year can offer us. We savor time without exerting a bunch of effort on a project…time to stay cool. Wait a minute—what’s for dinner tonight? Let’s avoid heating up the kitchen right now. We’ll focus on a cool summer delight with minor exertion for a great, summer,high-protein meal. Staying cool in the kitchen is what it’s all about today with our “Summer Cool Step”.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
June 22, 2016
Yes, we are having a great summer and keeping up our energy with the help of smart planning. This week we are going to Moon-Walk our way to another perfect performance in the kitchen. We all know practice makes perfect, and we just have to do it right. We’ll begin our sunny summer morning with a no-fuss “Morning Moonwalk”. Sliding your feet so smoothly truly inspires a big smile of success for our healthy morning start-up!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
June 15, 2016
Summer FUN means ON-THE-RUN! We all want to enjoy the great, long daylight hours and unintentionally often avoid the task of proper meal planning, which leads to bloating, low energy, sleeplessness, and psychological dissatisfaction with our overall self. Let’s not go there...remember we can indulge in a perfect meal on-the-run, using our Basic Smoothie Recipe (containing ProteinF1rst) and coupling it with our Beyond the Greens™...absolutely a perfect on-the-run summer energy provider. Thank you SuperSMARTFoods! Now I do have time to play, stay healthy, and be comfortable with my choices. Yes, I did resurrect our Basic Smoothie Recipe for all of us to once again indulge and enjoy! HAPPY SUMMER EVERYONE!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
June 8, 2016
Living in southern California truly allows me to enjoy a prominent outdoor life both for cooking and playing. So once again, I took my iron skillet to my gas grill burner and firedit up for an old favorite from a couple of years ago...my “Jazzy Salsa Salad”. That’s rightI dove into my archives for a tasty single-skillet meal that I was able to prepare outdoorsand it was truly a dance to admire. I have been cooped up indoors for a month on a huge project I undertook and now upon its completion, I am savoring my freedom once again…YES!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
June 1, 2016
There are only two types of food...food that LIFTS you to health or food that DEPRIVES you of health...which are you consuming each day? Often times we do not think about why we are eating a particular "food". The grocery market, the GMO industry, the government-recognized food pyramid, the TV commercials, the vitamin stores, or even food gurus often misdirect us to toxic, inflammatory "foods" which has moved our society to being the highest consumer of prescription drugs, trying to cover up all the symptoms from food that deprives the body of health. Western medicine focuses on the health-less disease not the healthful prevention. That's what is so magnificent about SuperSMARTFoods focusing on feeding the body real food that LIFTS you to health! Remember, to search through our many recipes for health-full meals!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
May 25, 2016
Step outside, take a deep breath, feel the fresh air on your cheeks—have you been focusing on healthy longevity and maximizing the expression of health within every cell of our body. Sometimes food-prep can seem boring, but I’ve discovered a truly delightfulway to start my day with an awesome wake-up meal! I am the proud owner of a gas grill, which lives on my patio and often calls my name for attention. I soon realized dinner was not the only meal for this wonderful side-kick of mine…stepping outside in the early morning is an amazing way to begin the day. I discovered a huge variety of birds grace my backyard trees and joyfully share their songs with me. I decided to fire up my grill’s side burner, set my iron skillet on top, threw in a few thinly-sliced organic, boneless pork chops and began a new morning ritual…single-skillet, camp-style cooking on my patio! Pork chops, two over-easy organic eggs, a fresh sprig of cilantro, some home-made salsa and the Rise ‘N’ Shine was born!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
May 18, 2016
This week we’re not going to think about preparing food but instead on preparing our psychological priorities. We cannot expect a different outcome doing the same, repetitive routine…we know better. I know better, but I still keep trying. The instructions on the label are clear: “Needs only indirect sun.” Our yard has blazing sun! But I like the flowers. I like its hue, the intricate shape of each leaf, the size, the scent. So I buy it, bring it home, plant it, and take excellent care of it, but this specimen is not happy at my house. My attention and care are not enough because it cannot thrive in direct sunlight. I am not providing what this plant needs. Our bodies are like my plant…they have specific needs too. Although we can survive for awhile in less-than-ideal conditions, we cannot thrive. We attempt to alleviate our hunger with insufficient, nutrient-poor meals, but our bodies remain malnourished and deteriorate from lack of proper attention. This week take time to write down everything that passes your lips to your stomach…are you promoting health with “indirect sun” or are you sitting in the “blazing sun” which is slowing diminishing your ability to thrive?
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
May 11, 2016
Our focus this month is healthy longevity and maximizing the expression of health withinevery cell of our body. Feeding our bodies toxic, bottom-grade Frankenfoods prohibits our bodies from producing the thousands of new healthy cells it relies on to fight infection, maximize immune efficiency, maintain organ & tissue reliability, and promote future well-being. With that in mind we move into our Morning War Dance, a tribal dancetraditionally performed before a battle…the battle to fight toxin-intake and move to cleaner eating!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
May 4, 2016
Another month gone by already…how did that happen?…we completely fill our lives with commitments and often times put ourselves and our well-being on the back burner until the burden comes tumbling down on us with a vengeance. Then…”oh my goodness, I really need to make some changes!” Let’s put our healthy longevity at the top of our list for May and focus the spotlight on healthier choices. Our dance this week is crisp, snappy, and completely fills the void of scrumptious…A Diamond in the Fresh!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
April 27, 2016
It’s personal, it’s commitment, it’s life-changing and it’s yours! That’s right, today’s steps are self-designed by you. You set the tempo, the rhythm, the intensity because you personally understand your goals. You require an effective detox. You want a smaller size. You need the lower weight. You demand better health! You’re tossing out all those bottles & bottles of synthetic vitamins, minerals, powders and mixes. You are replacing poor health with successful, real, organic, GMO-free, SUPERsmartFOODS™ and dancing yourself into being free of dis-ease in your life!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
April 20, 2016
It’s time for a little ragtime “Turkey Trot” from the early 1900’s to start your momentum for your evening feast. This dance with its embellished scissor-like kicks of the feet and fast trotting actions will get your blood moving as you head to the kitchen for the evolution of your gourmet creation. Let’s do this, dancers, and keep the healthy momentum moving forward!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
April 13, 2016
Let’s get some attention this week with our Cumbia Veggie Bowl. The Cumbia began as a courtship dance with lots of hip action, so it definitely is meant to gain attention. This bowl is sure to please a hungry appetite with its varied flavors, textures, and taste whichwill tempt all to heartily enjoy eating their veggies.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
April 6, 2016
Like the dance, our skillet creation is unstructured and wide open to interpretation, meaning your own creativity is the only limit to what you might include in the "Hully Gully Veggie Skillet". I like to go for both colorful and taste-bud-popping, so I use only fresh herbs rather than dried, but your time-budget will dictate your best path to perfection. This dance is especially delightful to set before guests because of the rainbow of color
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
March 30, 2016
Experience the savory, delectable flavor of perfectly-grilled, organic chicken on a relaxing weekend of warmer weather. We do need to just kickback and take a break from time to time to regenerate our very being. Grab a glass of your favorite beverage while you peacefully enjoy a calm afternoon of a perfect grill. That’s right…while you’re enjoying your quiet time…your well-seasoned bird is nicely browning to pair with a fresh green, organic salad as you create your “Chicken Calypso”. A perfect rhythm for your down time is yours to enjoy!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
March 23, 2016
This week’s “Waltz” is so very delicious and a great recipe to serve when you’re craving a delicate, tasty meal which has a marvelous eye-appeal, even before your very first bite. Movement, grace, and timing are all part of this delightful dance. Gather your ingredients together and be prepared for greatness with a perfect-presentation, mouth-watering, low-carb masterpiece—the Chicken Piccata Waltz!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
March 16, 2016
Yes, yes…I am listening…you are looking for some simple steps in order to perfect your moves. This week we’re going easy---four main ingredients. Keep it simple, gain some comfort with a protein-focus rather than a carbohydrate-based meal (toss the breakfast toast out—you will be satisfied!) We “can-can” lift ourselves from the carb-addiction cycle with some high kicking movement into the kitchen for a morning “Fajita Can-Can Omelet”!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
March 9, 2016
Let’s keep our feet moving on the dance floor with a “Morning Mint Twist”…a simple relaxed number to get a little zing of taste past our lips for a full day of getting-it-done! Keep those taste buds smiling while repelling toxins and making sure we’re on the health floor of life, shunning those inflaming carbs. Who needs them—kick them off the plate while you’re Twisting to the beat and enjoy this week’s dance party
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
March 2, 2016
Can you hear the music in the back of your mind as you begin moving toward the dance floor to kick up your heels to the Chicken Dance? What? Sure—we wanna have a little fun preparing a sunrise, morning meal…smiling, laughing and enjoying a silly time of our own preparing an easy, tasty breakfast. Let’s do it together!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
February 24, 2016
And this week we are privileged to again to have another GUEST RECIPE from our latest “Healthy Chef”, Ryan Meyers. This guy truly made a transformation from eating-on-the-run-whatever-was-closest TO making a real P-L-A-N* Putting Love and Attention where Needed. Health is truly a lifelong commitment…a commitment to enjoy life…pushing away the opportunity for disease to take over a weakened immune system…avoid diabetes, decrease heart disease, reduce obesity, strengthen the body’s natural ability to heal using directionH to focus on true commitment and educated choices. Avoid the use of endless new medications, flooding the market daily with their warnings, toxins, side effects, and contra-indications. Love your mind, body and soul by putting into it what you expect and want as a return
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
February 17, 2016
Does this winter seem long? Do those icy, chilly days keep coming, one after another? Let’s put the brakes on for a short while and dance a little quick-step for this week’s Chicken Chard Chula. The Chula is a Portuguese folkdance with a tempo and rhythm marked by a bass drum and cymbals, so it’s filled with energy to heat-up the long, winter days!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
February 10, 2016
This week we’re exploring the Running Man dance with its quick steps from the 80’s. It’s a change-up, because it is both a Phase II recipe and sent in by one our aspiring new chefs, Ryan Meyers with his—taste, time and treasure parameters! His demand is mouth-watering taste, busy-schedule-time-sensitive preparation, and fresh-treasured ingredients. This week we present his “Running Man Chicken Guac”!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
February 3, 2016
While I live in southern California and am privileged with mild winter weather, two of my three adult children are living in burdensome climates. Thus, my west coast location truly allows me to appreciate my spoiled existence, while hearing about their bitter cold experiences and burdensome travels on snow-covered roads. In understanding the harshness that winter can offer, I want to introduce you to a rich and hearty Scottish Reel Stew—a lively number to warm you through and through!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
January 27, 2016
Baby it’s cold outside and we need a body-warming “shag” to heat things up with some meaningful footwork and body movement! Let’s be faithful to ourselves and stay disciplined for the sake true health…building our immune system from the inside out and then savoring the high points of life. Health is a commitment to happiness and our ability to enjoy life well up into our larger-numbered birthdays. Is it worth the cost of quality health-building now to avoid the high cost of medication later? You are the only judge as we commit our footwork and full body movement this week to our “Beefy Time Warp” dance!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
January 20, 2016
Another powerful week of getting healthy is our focus and we have a guest instructor for your dancing pleasure. This week’s movements are the creation of Ryan Meyers, and he is driven by great taste and simplicity and offers you his BEST “Chicken Free Step”. A quick movement, high energy freestyle number for a mouth-watering novelty!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
January 13, 2016
WOW…what will this fresh New Year hold for you? Go after what you want—otherwise you you’ll never have it. Truly treat yourself to some private time to FOCUS…”What is my Direction for 2016 and how can I actually achieve my goals?” Ask yourself, “Am I willing to change my behavior for success?” Begin with a list of “baby steps” that will move you forward. Each step can move you anywhere if you simply go one step at a time. Healthy living takes effort but the reward lasts a lifetime! So take a step and dance with me this week to create the Spinach Marinara Zoppetto.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
January 6, 2016
HAPPY NEW YEAR! What is your resolution for this new beginning…will you be focusing on “Making Health a Habit Instead of an Event”? We all need the reminder that our health must last a lifetime if we want to enjoy it. It is time to PLAN…time to Put Love and Attention where Needed! PLAN to succeed with improving your lifestyle, PLAN to make healthy choices, PLAN when shopping for healthy-choice meals, PLAN to schedule time for exercise, rest, and relationships. Designing a PLAN will relieve stress, give you energy, positively motivate, and bring harmony to your well-being. Let us work together this New Year and live a healthy lifestyle!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
December 30, 2015
YES! What a wonderful celebration of sharing, caring, and paring. Sharing precious time with one another, caring with giving the perfect gifts, and paring the perfect meals with friends and family for lasting memories. It truly was a time of joy! This week we’re up, up, up on our toes…we’re getting lighter by training your body to use fat for fuel and shunning the carbohydrates. We’re ballerinas in the starting position…plié with a smile, realizing your success is inevitable with DirectionLean and your Healthy Plate coach standing nearby. I am committed to assisting you with balance, creativity, energy and refined movement so you will reach the stars…I plié your efforts!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
December 23, 2015
I realize most of my dancers are out of their home studios and currently mov’n and groov’n to holiday music, so I will not ask more of your time this week with learning new footwork. Instead, I am taking this opportunity to wish you all a very blessed Christmas. I hope you and your family share in great health, have the energy to fulfill all your dreams of the New Year ahead, and take time to savor your celebrations with family and friends. With great joy, thankfulness and love, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
December 16, 2015
WHEW! Some weeks are just so packed with obligations and activities, we barely have time to work on a new dance routine. This being one of those weeks for me means I’m keeping it very simple with the “Two Step”; a moderate rhythm, colorfully pleasing, and easy moves. One—two, one—two, and you have mastered this week’s dance!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
December 9, 2015
A little holiday-rock music for you this week…a dance with a lively tune that just puts a smile on your feet and keeps them moving. That’s right, we gotta keep moving so all those extra activities fit into our crowded schedules, but it’s all joyful and includes lots of family and friends with everyone caring and sharing. So we’ll begin our day with a great Rock’n Shrimp Frittata for breakfast to kick-start another day of action!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
December 2, 2015
Did you slide right into a perfect Thanksgiving holiday celebration with family & friends last week? Well now it’s time to take a breath, while continuing to stay light on our feet, as we enjoy some action in the warmth of our home studio kitchens. This week’s Electric Slide Creation is a mouthful to say and a mouthful of tasty nutrition, stuffed with protein for our Christmas shopping workouts straight ahead!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
November 25, 2015
Wow…we have BIG plans ahead, beginning the prep work for our Thanksgiving feast to set before our guests. So we’ll need a quick little number to keep us focused, packed full of protein, and a snap to prepare. Let’s kick-start our fast-paced holiday adventure with an energizing “Morning Jive”…let the footwork begin dancers!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
November 18, 2015
Dancers…we want the funk of the bump to motivate us in the kitchen this week. This 1970’s dance concentrates on the hips, which we are taming through our Direction Lean efforts. That’s why we’re gathering to create the “Beefy Bump” steps of taste. A simple one-pot stop is going to bring smiles and warmth for a cooler autumn day that’ll be difficult to resist. Let’s get moving and grooving in our kitchen studios to “bump” off those extra inches!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
November 11, 2015
Many of us have tucked away our grills and turned back to the oven with the cooler and shorter days upon us now. Our bodies are preparing for winter dance steps, using the warmth of baking in the oven to add warmth to our indoor family activities. Biting into a nice hot dish at the end of a cooler day can be as simple as using a single mixing bowl, a small cutting block and one glass baking dish. We start our cooler weather dances this season with the week’s “Chicken Cha Cha”.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
November 4, 2015
This time of year we focus on giving thanks for the many blessings in our lives. As a member of Direction H, I am thankful for the quality products and the support system offered by our company. Dr. Wilson and Pamala, our founders, have truly pushed themselves to serve each and every one of us. Our company has given us the opportunity to help so many individuals in our lives find the path to reducing metabolic and neurological stress and increasing health. With the proper building material found in our selection of products, our bodies have been strengthened and keep moving toward further healing. Take some time this month to express your thankfulness to those who make a positive difference in your life and strive to make an exceptional difference in other people’s lives around you! We can all share in a GREAT Thanksgiving together!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
October 28, 2015
Wow… we will be putting day-light-savings time to bed here in California this weekend, and it’s difficult to be peering into the holiday season just a few, fast-paced weeks away. Staying active probably won’t be a problem this time of year, but we still need to remember to plan ahead for healthy eating rather than the choose-as-you-cruise carb overload, which happens when we fail to plan. This week’s dance is easy… only quick steps needed for our “Deep Dip Disco”.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
October 21, 2015
I truly to not understand why this year is flying by at such a rapid pace. It surely will demand some cool moves and quick spins for creating our “Hip Hop Omelet” this week. We want to translate our dance skills and experience into perfect rhythm for our “uprock” moves while showcasing our healthy style! So dancers…let’s set our kitchen studios ablaze with some morning momentum!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
October 14, 2015
Our “Roasted Rock-It Chicken” is nicely spiced and will definitely move your body into a great flavorful rhythm. This week’s highlight is a great combination of citrus and spice and of course…everything nice! It pairs nicely with a medley of roasted tomatoes, zucchini, and yellow bell peppers to color your creative canvas.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
October 7, 2015
We have whipped into autumn, the sun is noticeably lower in the sky, and we are ready to begin leaving the patio grill for some new indoor dances. Our wok is a great piece of kitchen equipment for a tasty, quick meal. Our “Whip It Chicken” is simple, with a bit of crunch, and big on flavor. Let’s get down to it!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
September 30, 2015
That’s right…mom always reminded you that breakfast was the most important meal of the day and that is where we are headed this week. A comforting little number to kick-start your morning with a colorful, flavorful, protein plate of goodness. Our “Morning Comfort” is just perfect as a mom-pleaser and keeps your Phase 1 coach smiling as you continue to shed those nasty toxins. We’re all working together for healthier living!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
September 23, 2015
Good grief…summer is slipping right out the back door…one last grill is in order for this week as we begin bidding farewell to the longer, warmer days. As you probably realize by now, I am truly an outdoor dancer…I love patio rhythms next to my gas grill where I’m always ready for a hearty, protein grilled delight to compliment my tasty mix of leafy greens. This week’s Wild Watusi is fit for the hearty appetite—care to join me!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
September 16, 2015
Let’s just transport ourselves to a nice little tropical island this week where we’ll never have a bad day…just a character-building day as we master an enjoyable new dance…The Jerk Jamaican Chicken. A whole new taste, using a great combination of spices to lift our spirits to new heights of accomplishment requiring full-body movements and even some calorie burning. Smile—we’re stepping onto the sand right now!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
September 9, 2015
Good morning dancers…we’re gonna have some fun in our kitchen studios as we kick up our heels to the Morning Chicken Dance. We’ll enjoy this silly little number while it puts BIG smiles on our faces and starts the day off with some chuckles to relax our bodies. Can you hear that early chicken clatter…cluck, cluck, cluck we’re ready for our morning dining delight!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
September 2, 2015
Wow…taking time to rejuvenate, rest, and appreciate the world around us is truly a great blessing. My time away from routine was perfect…spending time with family and enjoying exceptional health made for a wonderful dance experience! And you…how did you do on your own this past week? Did you brave some new steps in the kitchen…venture out a bit on your own? I do hope you enjoyed your personal lead and are ready for dancing together once again with some cool moves and quick spins with this week’s Hip Hop Mahi with Basil. Let’s translate our skills and experience into perfect rhythm for our “uprock” moves while showing off our healthy style…we’re setting our kitchen studios ablaze with some awesome energy!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
August 26, 2015
Yes, I am taking a few days of vacation this week and will not be creating a recipe; however, as I may or may not be cooking while I am away, I will still be enjoying a healthy lifestyle while making myy food selections away from home. The carbs will just bog me down and zap my vacation energy, so I will focus on GIANT salads packed full of an array of veggies with two tablespoons of tasty dressing, tossed to evenly distributethat spark of flavor. Then to satisfy my high energy needs of an active time away, I’ll look for grilled or broiled lean meats with lots of seasonings…smoked paprika, fresh garlic, onion powder, Italian seasoning, chilies, endless possibilities once in the spice isle, and oh how I love fresh-cut basil, chopped tomatoes & onions on my grilled fish. I will enjoy my little dance away from home, and you can look forward to experimenting with some new steps of your own. I look forward to dancing together again next week!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
August 19, 2015
Dedication to healthy longevity is the name of the game for all of us in the Direction H family. Living life, doing whatever we love, staying active for years of enjoying all the world has to offer is what we aspire to as we gracefully dance through a healthy day. This evening we will be creating our meal to the pleasant sound of mariachi music whilewe prepare the Sundown Beef Olé Salad.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
August 12, 2015
During the summer we really don’t mind getting up in the morning. The weather is often times just perfect, especially as the sun is rising and you begin organizing the day ahead. So let’s take this special time of day to express ourselves with a seaside-type “Sunrise Shuffle”, filled with delightful shrimp and fresh veggies. Then your feet will be ready to carry you through the remainder of the day with a smile.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
August 5, 2015
Anytime you can do a bit of prep work for a meal the evening before, it means it’s a perfect summer dish, because it doesn’t distract from all your outdoor summer activities. So this evening as we hear the soothing sound of the Moroccan oboe, we’ll spend a tinybit of time in the kitchen for a HUGE tasty reward for tomorrow—our Moroccan Flavor Fusion!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
July 29, 2015
How old are you? What have you learned thus far in life? I’ve learned that life is too short and too fragile to continue to deprive myself of taste, satisfaction, and menu options, while I sit quietly, watching others experience an explosion of possibilities. I too want to dance in the kitchen with excitement, learn new moves, and enhance my health and longevity with the DirectionLean backup team. This week calls for an easy “Buffalo Jig” movement to ease into a relaxing summer evening…fed, nourished, satisfied and no toxin load to feel guilty about!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
July 22, 2015
Active education in the kitchen truly does give that room in the house a whole new perspective. We understand the long-term health benefits of ridding our bodies of the deep, trapped toxins and gray fat that have robbed us of energy and freedom of choice. Enjoying new tastes and delights are moving us to a new level of healthy living, eating, and DANCING! This bright summer morning we’ll move and groove with a little Italian “Zoppetto” as we perform the “Zoppetto Rise & Shine. Deliziosa!
July 8, 2015
Ooh, ooh…I can do this…my feet can move me to a nice little Cha-Cha beat while I gather together my ingredients for a great morning meal or fabulous Phase 1 brunch. Hips and feet are in motion for this one and having fun is the true directive here. May your plate smile as you display your colorful creation upon it!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
July 1, 2015
How about a “Boogie Bunch” meal sensation for the Fourth of July! Nice and easy…time to stay light on your feet entertaining guests for this holiday celebration. Here we keep our food choices in check with Phase 1 and still provide a tasty meal for all those visiting. This week’s simple menu pushes you out of the meal prep humdrum right into the opportunity of enjoying your family & friends together around the holiday table.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
June 24, 2015
Summer pushes our thoughts to seaside blissfulness and simple foot work. Our Shrimp Shuffle Kabob is a light carefree little dance; with minimal prep time but BIG on satisfaction for our Phase 1 appetites. Let’s enjoy a seaside fling together!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
June 17, 2015
We are warming up this week with a bit of extra movement…put on the sombrero and move toward a little Mexican flare! Keep in mind—great taste and complete enjoyment of every meal is our ultimate goal for every one of our moves. This week we clap, twirl, shout and savor the variety of seasonings in our beef preparation for our tantalizing Sombrero Beef Omelet…Olé!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
June 10, 2015
This week’s “Waltz” is a bit more challenging, but a great recipe to have available to impress your guests and still keep your Phase 1 success in place. Movement, grace, and timing are all apart of this delightful dance. Once you have all the ingredients on hand…you are prepared for greatness with a tasty, perfectpresentation, mouthwatering masterpiece—the Chicken Piccata Waltz!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
June 3, 2015
How’s the creativity expressing itself for you with your Phase 1 “dance” routines? Experimenting with new spices and seasonings can truly be a very pleasant surprise! This week I went with a Moroccan favorite…cinnamon! So, we are going for a bit of belly dancing, which I am calling the AM Moroccan Belly Bomber!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
May 27, 2015
Wow…we just finished up with Memorial Day Weekend! Was it great for you too? Sharing time with family and friends, tons of food and fun, hours to enjoy the outdoor warmer weather, and time to begin dreaming of favorite summer activities ahead. With all that in mind…this week our focus is the Basic Summer Smoothie with a list of on-hand musts and the step-by-step path to our new summer-on-the-go meal!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
May 20, 2015
Simple dance steps are always welcoming…so this week we’ll work on the Smooth Slide with a simple veggie platter to share. Asparagus are plentiful this time of year and it’s time to dress them up just a little bit for a great presentation and palate delight!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
May 13, 2015
Our spring weather can be rather fickle, which makes meal planning a bit challenging this time of year…should we grill a steak (oops it’s raining outside), broil the thing (oh no, too hot outside to start heating up the house) or just iron-pan braise the piece (weather really not an issue)? Whichever we choose, let’s just add a bit of flare with some sautéed bell peppers and onions, a side of steamed asparagus, and call it a delicious Phase 1 dance movement. Yes, I do like it for a tasty meal for one or enjoy it as an easy-fix delight with friends coming over for the evening. Let’s just call it our “Simple Spring Supper Steak”.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
May 6, 2015
It’s wonderful that you diligently work toward a healthier YOU! Being committed takes effort and once again a reminder of the “P” word…P-L-A-N! Put Love and Attention where Needed! If you plan your strategy for success, then you will succeed! We often cave to old habits when we’re hungry and did not take time to P-L-A-N for a healthy-choice meal in advance. Remember, Putting Love and Attention where Needed focuses on YOU and a healthier lifestyle! It’s YOUR health and you are its sole designer. I will beaway from my office this week, so let’s all design a week of success by resurrecting some of our old favorite “dances” from the previously posted Phase 1 recipes! Keep those feet moving!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
April 29, 2015
A great brunch dish is something we all desire in our repertoire to help us fill tummies and warm spirits while sharing love with family and friends. All the slicing, dicing and prep work can be completed in advance, allowing precious time to enjoy your invited guests. This week we introduce our ‘Enchanted Egg Bake” to be accompanied by slicedtomatoes, nutmeg-topped non-fat cottage on a bed of lettuce and chilled asparagus. Your table is inviting, festive, and worthy of sharing your temporary Phase 1 lifestyle.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
April 22, 2015
Today we are going simple with our "Simple Shrimp" recipe, which can actually be used with any protein choice...steak, chicken breast, or maybe mahi-mahi. Sometimes we just need a quick and tangy meal without any fuss--today is that day!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
April 15, 2015
Some energy is necessary for this Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers special...the "Carioca Meal". It requires some fancy, fast-paced footwork with the partners' foreheads touching, which is probably why it wasn't one of the greatest hits. With that being said, this week's creation is not quite as energy-expelling for us but still has a few extra steps for a delightful spring meal.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
April 8, 2015
Keeping it on the lighter side, today we're working on our "Hully Gully Side" dish structure with our twenty-count, four-wall line dance. Viewing the partner to our protein is our low-carb veggie, and we do want it flavorful and a good accompaniment in order to round off a perfect meal for our Phase 1 dancers.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
April 1, 2015
Let's FOOL our taste buds with a luxuriously, decadent-tasting liquid meal this week, while still remaining nearly fat-free, low-carb, high-protein and truly filling for a long-haul dance floor workout. This week we have "The Pony Shake" with some quick leg moves and the create-your-own-style arm action, making it fun and a true fat burner.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
March 25, 2015
Yes, yes, yes! Spring has sprung and we are now getting our bodies in shape for dancing in the sunshine…showing off our winter’s hard work! Each dance step moves us closer to our peak performance of a lean, hearty, energized lifestyle. It’s yours for thetaking…so this week we’re focused on fresh flavors and a gorgeous presentation with our Pomodoro Chicken.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
March 18, 2015
Well here in California, we have begun Daylight Savings Time, meaning longer days to do the activities we love, which may or may not include prep time in the kitchen. So with that in mind, our meal this week is super simple, tasty, and a snap to prepare. It's called "Iron Skillet Scallops" and is sure to delight your palate!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
March 11, 2015
Dancers! Do I have your attention? This week we are working on our dance attitude--personality, personal style/flavor to make it our own. That's right...5, 6, 7, 8 begin with feet shoulder-width apart, slight rise onto the balls of your feet off your heels, and pivot with hips shifting and a little bounce into the kitchen, letting your hands flow with the hip-hop beat. Alright then--this week we master the "Walk It Out Kung Pao"...a flavorful, make-it-your-own main course dinner delicacy.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
March 4, 2015
Morning is protein time…time to fill yourself with healthful energy! We are focusing on the nice’n’easy “AM Electric Slide” to entice your warm body out of the cozy bed and into another great day of healthy kitchen dancing.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
February 25, 2015
How you all doing dancers…ready for a bit of hip-hop action this week? That’s right, the “Chicken Dougie” will move your body through the kitchen in a shimmy style while passing your hands one at a time through or near your hair to complete the full action ofthis dance number. We all have to try new things and this week will burst you through your comfort zone and add a great shot of lemon zing into those smiling taste buds…let’s do it!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
February 18, 2015
Another week of healthy living…that’s what I like to see dancers! We’re staying active, pushing that deep down gray fat clear away from our lean, mean, healthy machine bodies…a great job that keeps our hearts, lungs, and organs free of dis-ease and readyfor this week’s “Cha Cha Slide”, a simple dance with easy, repetitious moves for all to join in and have a great time!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
February 11, 2015
This week has a very significant day in it...you do remember what’s happening on the 14th, correct? That’s right…and that’s why we are focusing on this week’s steps of the Cupid Shuffle. Nice ‘n easy side steps, a little heel kicking, and finish with the hip action turn. Here we go…the “Cupid Shuffle Pepper Platter”. Tantalizing your taste buds and getting you in the mood for some romance. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
January 28, 2015
This is the week for the BIG play…we’ve been waiting all season for the DAY! Super Bowl Sunday is heading right for us, and we are ready for our “End Zone Delights” with the best of the best! We want taste, we want variety and we want PROTEIN—so let’s get started and prepare a Phase 1 Super Bowl party with shrimp cocktail, deviled eggs, veggie tray with dip, and chicken bites!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
January 14, 2015
Are you rising above temptation with your P-L-A-N…Putting Love and Attention where Needed, as we focused on last week? Being committed to a healthier lifestyle does take work and action steps to succeed which is why we have each other for support. On a day to day basis, sometimes we only focus on the work involved instead of the rewards…a longevity with the ability to be active, vibrant, joyfully expressive and just loving life! What we are doing for ourselves today truly dictates our future well-being. Feeding every cell in your body with nutritious, quality, living nutrients strengthens your immune efficiency and organ vitality! Yea baby…that’s what we’re looking for!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
January 7, 2015
A joyous, happy, healthy, & prosperous New Year to each of you! We have all committed to a healthier lifestyle—correct? What will we need to fulfill that New Year commitment? It’s the “P” word…P-L-A-N! Put Love and Attention where Needed! If you plan your strategy for success, then you will succeed! We tend to cave to old habits when we’re hungry and didn’t take the time to P-L-A-N for healthy-choice meals in advance. So, Put Love and Attention where Needed—into YOU! It’s YOUR health and you are its sole designer. Plan your meals one week at a time. Shop accordingly for the lean proteins and low carb vegetables but remember the seasonings, so you are satisfied with scrumptious taste. If eating out, pocket your proper-food-choice list and order appropriately. If you are on the run…pre-package ProteinF1rst with Xylo Sweet, cinnamon, unsweetened cocoa powder or other favorites, so all you need is to add the water and shake it for a meal, or try fat-free cottage cheese or crunchy veggies and don’t forget to drink water, tea, etc. (invest in a small lunch cooler with re-usable ice packs)…gift yourself the tools for success! Be your #1 fan!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
December 31, 2014
This past 2014 has been a fantastic year! Many of us have made the ultimate life-enhancing decision to adhere to a healthier lifestyle and have reaped many fulfilling benefits from our decision over the past 12 months! So with this week's “Celebration Supper” we’ll dance into the wee hours of the morning—because we can! Congratulations to each and every one on you for moving into a healthier lifestyle…a lifestyle that will reward you and one you can share with others to help bring comfortable, enjoyable living back into their lives. I toast all you with my glass raised high!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
December 24, 2014
Wow…down to the wire with our time-crunch before Christmas. We need an easy, fun, festive dish to serve both family and guests…today we go with the “Reindeer Delight”. May your holiday season be filled with abundant blessings as your share, care and make cherished memories together during this delightful time of year.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
December 17, 2014
Today we are again looking at an easy learning repertoire of dance steps, so we’ve chosen a 5-step count with no turns—the “Beefy Hustle”. We want an easy fix’n, bone-warming, advanced taste recipe we can share with our partner or present to a group. Please enjoy a new creation to take the chill off your cold winter evening.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
December 10, 2014
Yes, yes, yes…we’re on the run with madness this time of year, yet we want to stay focused and “in line” with our healthy dietary needs. This week our dance is a simple “Boot Scootin Boogie Chicken”. It’s hearty for those colder afternoon and evening meals, yet not too difficult to prepare on the spot or in advance, if we’re that organized about it. Remember, P-L-A-N to succeed by planning your meals in advance and that way there’s no failing to fret about…keep the action going and burn the fat everyone!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
December 3, 2014
Wow…over the past, say, several decades, how many total pounds have you lost? Up and down like a yo-yo or a speedy roller coaster ride…just because we haven’t actually committed to changing our lifestyle and been offered that perfect opportunity to change our metabolism to BURN fat instead of storing it. That’s why we all love directionH™--our savior! Once we train our bodies, using the Phase 1 protocol of supplements and food choices, we begin to rejuvenate our cells and reprogram our body signals into a healthy little “Jig”. So dancers, this lively folk dance, composed in compound meter, is sure to keep you moving to a happy rhythm.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
November 26, 2014
Let’s all line up for a little fun this week with the “Achy Breaky Heart Beef Lineup”. We’re all thinking about family and friends and some quality Thanksgiving time together, so this is the perfect line dance for a group of people of all sizes, ages, and abilities…it’s just plain fun. It has lots of variations, so creativity is at its best, because you decide how to make this heart-warming dish your very own.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
November 19, 2014
Another holiday week will soon be upon us and we are in position to fire off another dance spectacular—the “Macarena”. We want a single pan, easy dish to be set apart from the BIG meal of the Thanksgiving week, right? Another advantage to this week’s movement is you can use any variety of meats…turkey (we all some leftovers), chicken, or beef. With the "Macarena" having a Latin flare and using a variant on the clave rhythm, we do need a bit of spice to liven this number up and to what degree is entirely up to your individual likeness. Maybe just a little warmth or possibly some real fire to assist in burning those holiday calories…let’s get started with this great spicy dance number!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
November 12, 2014
Well, for most of us around the country, we’re still trying to get used to the time change and deciding whether it’s time for sleeping, eating, or working. Well dancers, it’s all good…we did gain an extra hour and we’re moving into the holiday season and need some quick, sustainable energy to carry us through our busyness. With that being said, this week’s dance is the “Loco-Motion” with everyone placing their hands on the person in front and the whole group of us “chugging” along, producing awesome results!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
November 5, 2014
Thank you everyone who entered a recipe into our October Phase 1 Recipe Contest! Your excitement for this contest is greatly appreciated. We have a wonderful Member recipe for the final week. Congratulations to Sheryln Smith! Your turnip side dish, Fauxatoes, is sure to become a family favorite!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
October 29, 2014
Right on and thank you dancers for submitting your favorite Phase 1 recipes once again! We have our third week Recipe Contest winner…Jorene Meyers was chosen for her “Herb Crusted Chicken Marinara” movement. I like to call it my “Watusi Special”, because as a dancer you’re almost stationary with knees slightly bent, although you may move forward and back by one or two small rhythmic paces, the arms flail up and down in the vertical, creating this amazingly simple but extraordinarily tasty creation! Remember, these small movements do offer great rewards with the Phase 1 detox and deep fat reduction…let’s keep dancing!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
October 22, 2014
Well ladies and gentlemen dancers…it is with great pleasure that we introduce the winning recipe for week number two of our Healthy Plate Recipe Contest…we’ll go for a little hip action as we listen to the tropical sound of the ukulele and feast on Mr. Jassen Andrade’s “Island Chicken”. Jassen has given us time to just relax on the warm sand with a cool drink in hand, because his recipe is simple, quick and delectable!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
October 15, 2014
YES! The winner has been chosen for our first week’s recipe contest…Marjory Basso! Her “Kale Salad” Minuet will definitely become one of your favorites as it is now one of mine! Like the Minuet…it’s a nice controlled, ceremonious, graceful (just kidding) recipe. Actually, this is a get-your-hands-in-there and just make-it-happen opportunity for an awesome salad to put right alongside a nice grilled steak, broiled chicken breast, or whatever favorite protein tantalizes your taste buds! Thank you so very much Marjory for sharing with your fellow directionH associates…you’ll be generating many smiles with your wonderful dish!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
October 8, 2014
Wow…it’s fantastic to hear from so many healthy, happy, active associates regarding our October Recipe Contest! I want to express my gratitude for your enthusiasm and let your know, that next week will be the announcement of our first week’s winner. This week’s creation, though, still pulses from my own dance studio and will offer a fast, explosive Caribbean number – Calypso Scallops. The lively, friendly sound, with that ocean breeze, is actually a little sad as we acknowledge the passing summer months and now head toward the shortened hours of daylight. Please take time to enjoy this festive dance, moving into the new fall season of tastes and colors…remember, keep those recipes coming!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
September 24, 2014
Dancers…what are you looking for? The future holds so much greatness for each one of us. We have enjoyed working hard learning new steps…we have dedicated precious time for practicing and perfecting each meal. Success is ours as we cheer for newly discovered health and appreciate our now delightful silhouettes. Let’s take a short breather and move into a moderately slow tempo with this week’s easy Bolero Blend, which is truly refreshing any time of day!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
September 17, 2014
As we begin transitioning from summer to autumn and leave the carefree feel of the long, warm days, let’s have a little fun with this meal creation. This week’s specialty comes from a family member and delights the eye & excites the taste buds enough for serving guests, yet it is as care free as the dance title. It takes only a couple of easy-to-learn maneuvers, a newly introduced kitchen “toy”, and some already-in-the-house staples! Let’s begin…put your hand in, put your hand out, do the Hokey Pokey as you turn yourself about, with an easy smile for a truly pleasant platter!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
September 10, 2014
How do you change your lifestyle and what goals are you seeking for yourself? Do you think about change after a health crisis or do you want change for healthier longevity? When we choose to make healthy changes, we want to measure progress NOT focus on perfection. Change begins with one personal choice at a time. Creating a personal plan guarantees a path to success. Begin with step-one each day—breaking the morning fast (hence break-fast)—remember, our bodies fasted all night while we slept and demand recharging with a protein-rich meal. Our lively step-one footwork, fellow dancers, now moves us to the “Festive Frittata”!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
September 03, 2014
I am hoping that you kept that Latin American jazz movement going with the “Jazzy Salsa Salad”, because you are in for an easy-meal treat! We did not completely devour the salad meat-topping of that recipe and wanted to offer you an effortless way to recreate that tasty meaty treat for a great high-protein breakfast…the “Morning Jazzy Bake”. That’s correct…just chop, add, pour, bake. Truly a simple morning delight to protein-charge the day!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
August 27, 2014
Keep moving…that’s what we do to stay fit, chase away any negative thoughts, move toward healthier lives, and enjoy all life has to offer! This week we really move with some fast Latin American jazz-influenced dance…the Jazzy Salsa Salad. As a dancer we want to shift our weight by stepping and moving those hips. Now, incorporate some arm and shoulder movement, some rib cage motion, and you’re on the floor with the best! Oh baby…salsa is open to improvisation and just continuously evolves as each dancer develops their own technique…that’s right you’re devoted to individual style!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
August 20, 2014
An energizing, fun, quick step into the kitchen will create a great summer platter as you “swing” into the evening for a Phase 1 supper. These novice “swing” steps will not only delight your palate but offers a delicious meal for summer guests as well. It sizzles with its minimal prep time and fresh-ingredient eye appeal. May you dazzle all with this “Mahi Swing”!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
August 13, 2014
Is your summer just humming along like mine? We’re almost to the mid-point of August and still enjoying the long days and warm breezes of this favorite time of year. I’m always so motivated during this season and want to keep active both to stay in shape and avoid wasting those precious daylight hours. With that being said, I’m BIG on using our ProteinF1RST product to effectively keep away from long meal preps in the kitchen but still filled with amazing energy; therefore, this week we’ll delight in a “Mocha Express” together!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
August 6, 2014
We are well into summer and still enjoying the long days and busy weekends with family, friends, and outdoor activities. Our time is dedicated to fun, freedom and simple meals that won’t weigh us down. Let’s think about a little sinuous Polynesian, rhythmic hip movement as we dazzle our summer guests with a light, tasty, feast…the “Polynesian Dynamo”!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
July 30, 2014
How long has it been since your taste buds became “obsessed” with a refreshing liquid delight?
I wanted something different, light, tasty…yet simple for my on-the-go summer lifestyle. It took only a few minutes to rummage through my spice cabinet and there it was…my Pumpkin Pie Spice—a delicate blend of cinnamon, ginger, lemon peel, nutmeg, cloves and cardamom and begging for a new creation to share with my fellow dancers! Your summer taste buds will become more “obsessed” with every refreshing sip!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
July 23, 2014
Wow another week has gone by already…how did that happen? I’ve just been dancing the summer away with various outdoor routines. How about you? For me…run, run, run, busy, busy, busy—enjoying every moment possible out in the great summer weather. Spending time moving my body to stay in great shape and appreciating the reduced toxins and body size! Let’s catch our breath and calm it down just a bit for a slow, seductive Cuban dance this week—the “Habanera Feast”!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
July 16, 2014
During the summer we’re always looking for a little down time…time without exerting a bunch of effort on a project…time to stay cool. Wait a minute—what’s for dinner tonight? Let’s not heat up the kitchen right now. Oh yes…a cool summer delight with minor exertion for a great summer, high-protein meal is perfect. Staying cool in the kitchen is what it’s all about today with our “Summer Cool Step” meal!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
July 9, 2014
Is your summer relaxing, carefree, and miles away from routine? I realize many of us have to continue with our employment duties, but we also like to feel a little freedom during the summer months. You know what I mean—chuck the BIG meal prep and just enjoy the warmth lounging on the patio in the evening or going for a nice stroll, holding hands with that very special someone in our life. While feeling a bit more free and relaxed, we tend to look for a simpler way to eat smart and reap the benefits of good nutrition. For myself, I just keep going back to our ProteinF1RST product, because it offers me my summer freedom. This week we’ll partake in a “Summer Lift” in celebration of the sunshine months!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
June 25, 2014
Are you willing to do, now, what other people won’t do, in order to be able to do later, what other people can’t? I can hear your brain computing…what exactly does that mean? It’s a question about health. Are you willing to take healthy steps, now, removing yourself from the herd-mentality, in order to reap the benefits later, to enjoy a life free from inflammatory and immune deficient disabilities? If so, you are my partner for the dance of life! Together we’ll prepare the “AM Shimmy” and the “Shimmy Nightfall” as we dance to healthy living!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
June 18, 2014
African drumming, American rhythm and blues and jazz all intermingled are leading us this week into the ability of expressing ourselves through movement…do you hear the Caribbean calling your name? Remember your dance is an individual representation of a unique “you”…share the dance floor and generate your personal dance discussion of life. Now, set in motion the “Reggae Sunrise” and the “Reggae Sunset” as the music moves you.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
June 04, 2014
It’s official you know…Memorial Day is behind us, therefore, it is actually summer! Yes…time for grilling, time for great salads, time for enjoying family and friends gathering together, and time for combining favorites for some great meals. This week we are working on a couple of welcome- summer dances with our “Morning Summer Sizzle” and our “Combo Summer Salad”. Please do put on your dance shoes to allow those feet to be comfortable in both dance locations…the indoor kitchen platform and the outdoor patio grill area... are you ready?
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
May 28, 2014
Yep…I’m back! Time to get those feet moving & grooving back on the dance floor with some “Twist” and a shout! We want to keep the taste buds smiling while repelling toxins and making sure we’re on the health floor of life, shunning those nasty carbs. Who needs them?…kick them off the plate while you’re Twisting to the beat, and enjoy this week’s dance party with the “Morning Mint Twist” and the “Twisting Cod Supper”.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
May 21, 2014
It’s Spring Break time—and I will not be on my home dance floor this week. Please take some time to browse past blogs and recipes in order to stay active and creative. I look forward to dancing together again in about a week!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
May 14, 2014
Be sure to grab a partner—this week’s dance is a partner dance which is easy to learn with its three-count pattern. First, let’s choose the proper music…maybe a little retro disco track to start off the day. Next, we’ll work on some swanky yet elegant Hustle dance moves which can pay you with some sweet applause. And finally, we relax into our tempo and familiarize ourselves with the count…1, 2 and 3, moving with style toward our “AM Hustle” and our “Hustle Evening Grill”.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
May 7, 2014
This week is unique because we’re working on two DirectionLean exclusives…our “Veggie Dances”. Yes, you read that correctly…we need to concentrate on getting those important veggie nutrients into our regular dance routines with two new artistic styles: the “Salad in a Glass” and the “Veggie Medley” side dish…easy, colorful, tasty, and nutritious! Let’s savor those precious nutrients and rock your world with veggies!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
April 30, 2014
Thank you so very much for your enthusiasm with last week’s liquid feast ideas! Our goal at directonH is to keep our dancers excited and energized in the kitchen environment and present savory nourishment to quench our passion for healthy longevity. The “Bossa Nova” which literally means “new trend” is exactly what I am expressing today. Our new trend is true health, revealing defined figures and strong physiques, with awakened energy and refreshing vitality. Please enjoy our “Bossa Nova Wake-up” and our “Bossa Nova Veggie Skewers”.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
April 23, 2014
Dancing with nature in its raw, natural form and creating a liquid feast with our ProteinF1rst has been a request from many of my dancers recently. Remember, using organic, raw, fresh ingredients offers you the healthiest steps for each and every dance move. Whip yourself into a lively frenzy as you power your blender up to a high-pitched whirl. Today we fashion two whipped delicacies—the “Cocoa Morning Zip” and the “Veggie Flash”…quick, easy and packed with nutrients!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
April 16, 2014
This week we’ll work on a smooth, progressive dance characterized by long, continuous flowing movements across the kitchen floor. Turn on the big band music, think about a four-four rhythm and you’ll begin to understand this week’s creations of the “Foxtrot” Sunrise and the “Foxtrot” Supreme. You’ll be moving to the beat with a signature grace and style as the pounds continue to trot right off your healthy frame!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
April 9, 2014
What is dance? It’s a pattern of movements that you make with your feet and body, following the sound of music. It offers grace, evokes passion, demands refinement, and reveals majestic, natural uniqueness. Our personal learned routines have allowed us to perform on the main ballroom floor of kitchens across the continent and individually empowered us to be successful! We have refined our lifestyles, advanced our knowledge, renewed commitment, and injected vitality into our bodies. This week we softly sway from side to side just appreciating our transformation to healthier living with a “Savory Citrus Chicken” supper. Congratulations!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
April 2, 2014
If you are still in the chill zone of winter, then another BIG breakfast taste is in order with this week’s Deep "Limbo" Wrap, because hearty with protein is what you need. I do apologize that many of you are still buried under several feet of the white stuff, but living in California always has me in the mood for grilling. This makes me realize that even if you can’t yet grill outdoors, you can do some stove-top grilling or broiling to help you “think warm” and brush off that “back-breaking” winter anxiety…what do you think? Well okay then…our Lunch/Dinner presentation will be the “Limbo" Sword Combo, combining some high protein swordfish with roasted vegetables to create another perfect Phase 1 satisfier!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
March 26, 2014
Yes…it is officially Spring and time to begin thinking about entertaining and using the grill (or if still fighting winter—the broiler). Spring brings more liveliness to our schedules as we come out from the frozen tundra and into the extended daylight hours of this time of year. So…let’s step it up with a morning “Jitter Bug Frenzy” and an evening “Jitter Bug Filet”. We’ll keep those tiny taste buds rock ‘n’ rolling with great dancing delights!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
March 19, 2014
Hmmm…what does this week hold for each of us? Are we beginning to think about some outdoor activities or are we still fighting the winter weather and its unrelenting chill? Maybe some more warm comfort foods with a lively “Lindy Hop” twist will help us fight off the winter doldrums. This week for breakfast we’ll begin with the Lindy Morning Steak Bake and for our later meal, we’ll concentrate on a hearty Lindy Hop Cocoa Creation.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
March 12, 2014
Only five days away until a bit of St. Patrick’s Day celebrating, so we’ll need some green on our plate to stay in the spirit of the Irish. Now an easy, rhythmic motion with some side-stepping Irish laughs, dance us into our favorite home pub. There we’ve been marinating a nice little sirloin for a perfect grill or broil for an easy “St. Patty’s Delight”.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
March 5, 2014
What...it can’t be the third month of 2014, can it? We have danced through 59 days of the year already and lost hundreds of inches and pounds between all of us! Our diligent practice and training have truly exposed strong character, fantastic accomplishment, and delectable healthy living for each of us…congratulations are due for all as we now “Bop” into the month of March with a Phase 1 easy shrimp special.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
Rita
February 26, 2014
Thanks so much for all your feedback on your enjoyment for the simpler, quicker Phase 1 menu options during the past month. Looks like we’re all jiving through life and need some snappy patterns to keep us moving in the kitchen. Our swing-steps this week will include our “Morning Jive” and an “Easy Supper Jive”. Enjoy your performance creating these tasty delights!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
RITA
February 19, 2014
We’re going to add a little flare to our repertoire this week and put together our own super, saver seasoning the: “Mole Mexican Mix” and use it to create a nice “Mexican Polka Delight”. Can you hear the accordion playing that light, quick music to help move us into the next room…here we go to make a super supper in a flash of time!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
RITA
February 12, 2014
Is your heart pumping from your ongoing training or because you’re thinking about that special holiday of love this week? Yes, Friday is Valentine’s Day…how about some extra special delights to feast our eyes and our taste buds on this week? For breakfast we will be serving “Valentine Breakfast Wraps” and dinner should just tip you over the edge with the “Valentine Heart-Warmer With Cocoa”…yes, even during our Phase 1 we can indulge in a truly heart-warming feast! Feel your heart throbbing yet?
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
RITA
February 5, 2014
Up, up, up on those toes…you’re getting lighter; you’re training your body to use fat for fuel and shunning the carbs. You’re a petite ballerina in starting position…plié with a smile, knowing your success is inevitable with DirectionLEAN and your Healthy Plate Coach standing nearby. We are assisting your balance, creativity, energy, and feather-light movements. As with all successful endeavors…take time to practice, learn, master…in order to retain proficiency in understanding your body’s natural design and its inborn craving for genuine health. I plié your efforts by offering you the “Ballet Plié Omelet” and the “Plié Medley Plate”.
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
RITA
January 29, 2014
Oh yeah…heard lots of happiness last week for the simple-but-tasty high protein “dances”!
So we’ll continue to stay close to each other with the Conga…a dance performed in a line with each person’s hands on the hips (although diminishing in size with DirectionLEAN) of the person in front of them…and we again dance to the kitchen for this week’s performance of: the Conga Chick Omelet and the Conga Sirloin Supper…let’s move it---right off the hips!
Your Healthy Plate Coach,
RITA
January 22, 2014
Okay…I’m listening…you want some simple steps to learn in order to perfect your moves. This week we’re going easy—five main ingredients (maybe add some garnish or seasonings). Keep it simple, gain some comfort, warm the soul and fill with protein…we “can-can”. Line up dancers and get ready to lift and manipulate that apron-skirt with some high kicking and movement into the kitchen for some Can-can Comfort Soup and the Fajita Can-can Omelet
Your Healthy Plate Coach
RITA
January 15, 2014
Competitions in life are an opportunity for exceptional personal growth and transformation. The competition in choices is about you discovering healthy, responsible preferences with directionH taking a supportive role for you rather than an aggressive one. Choosing your own limitations is the most freeing thing you can do for yourself. Utilizing this health system allows you to live a dream and expose your new self to a higher energy level, better body, more fun and a life-time of accomplishment. Let’s enjoy our new balance in life and commit to another week of dancing to a new milestone of victory with the “Victory Skillet”!
Your Healthy Plate Coach
RITA
January 8, 2014!
Oh my gosh…a fresh new year is here! Go after what you want—otherwise you’ll never have it. Take a few moments and ask yourself…”What is my Direction for 2014?” Now, create your path to achieve it! Yes, YOU! If you do not step forward, you will always be in the same place. Now, define 2014…action steps produce amazing results! Planning is your first action step…it propels you forward and starts the momentum…but, you need to nourish yourself to produce that necessary energy. Let’s take action and “rumba” into the kitchen for some hip-popping excitement!
Your Healthy Plate Coach
RITA
December 30, 2013
The New Year Dance—it’s personal, it’s commitment, it’s life-changing and it’s yours! That’s right, today’s steps are self-designed by you. You set the tempo, the rhythm, the intensity because you personally understand your New Year goals! You require an effective detox. You want a smaller size. You need the lower weight. You demand better health! You’re tossing out all those bottles & bottles of synthetic vitamins, minerals, powders, and mixes. You’re replacing poor health with your successful New Year Dance—DirectionLEAN!
Your Healthy Plate Coach
RITA
December 18, 2013
Deck the halls with lots of yummies…fa la la la la, la, la, la, la…tis the season to be d’siring, fa la la la la, la, la, la, la. don we now our favorite goodies…fa la la la la, la, la, la, la…etc. So let’s get real here, we all need some eye-catching treats to set out which still keep us thinking healthy. This week we have three small plates of Yuletide treasures with a joyous, sweet dip to keep our holiday spirit in the mood for continuous size-melting into our new Christmas apparel. We have our Merry Measure Pepper Platter, Tis the Season Tomatoes, and Boughs of Brussels Delight all found under “Deck the Halls With Goodies” in the Lunch / Dinner section of DirectionH.
Your Healthy Plate Coach
RITA
December 11, 2013
A little “Jingle Bell Rock” for you this week…not truly a dance but a lively tune that just puts a smile on your feet and keeps them moving. That’s right we gotta keep moving so all our holiday activities are fit into our crowded schedules, but it’s all fun and includes lots of family and friends with everyone caring and sharing. This week we will put care into our menu selections with a Rock’n Shrimp Frittata for breakfast and a Rock’n Seafood Cioppino for dinner…”Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun…now the jingle hop has begun”… now you’ve got the music in your head, and you’re rock’n right on into the kitchen with the “Jingle Bell Rock”!
Your Healthy Plate Coach
RITA
December 4, 2013
Nice and easy…time to stay light on our feet with some “Boogie” action in the warmth of the kitchen. We want to keep the calories in check and still enjoy some healthy, tasty meals while staying active. Our Boogie Breakfast will warm your chilly bones in the morning and the simplicity of our later meal, the Boogie Bunch, will push you out of the kitchen early, giving you a head-start with some Boogie Woogie action in the mall for some holiday shopping!
Your Healthy Plate Coach
RITA
November 29, 2013
Was your turkey day a BIG success? Great…let’s take a breath now and slow it down a bit this week after the holiday excitement. A little “slow dancing” to some softer, lighter music and swaying to a relaxing rhythm while we transform our Turkey Trot broth into a delicious warm, embracing soup—“Turkey Comfort”. We’ll also embrace an easy, comfort breakfast with simple ingredients and sensual taste in our “Morning Comfort”. Enjoy your soothing delights!
Your Healthy Plate Coach
RITA
November 24, 2013 – Thanksgiving Special (See Breakfast)
YES! We want a quick “Fandango” of taste…lively, not too arrogant, just a little personal rush! Will a Fandango Pumpkin Muffin satisfy your holiday desire? We can hear the guitar, castanets and the exuberant excitement as we move to the baking area…for a healthy twist loaded with protein! Inhale and smell the spices—this Fandango is so convincing!
Your Healthy Plate Coach
RITA
November 20, 2013
It’s time for a little ragtime “Turkey Trot” from the early 1900’s to start your momentum for your holiday feasts. This dance with its embellished scissor-like flicks of the feet and fast trotting actions will get your blood moving as you head to the kitchen for the evolution of your gourmet creations—the Turkey Trot Omelet and the Master Turkey Trot. The excitement, the aroma, the holiday fun…all bring family and friends together in appreciation and thanksgiving for another year of blessings!
Your Healthy Plate Coach
RITA
November 13, 2013
Oh my gosh…we’re doing it…we are Moonwalking our way to another perfect performance in the kitchen—moving toward our BIG Turkey Day countdown! Practice makes perfect, and we just have to do it right. We’ll begin today with a no-fuss “Morning Moonwalk”…simple, nice-n-easy. Oh yea, sliding those feet so smoothly. Michael Jackson is smiling—you go now! Next, for our later-day meal we can pick up the pace to a “Moonwalk Madness” with some great combination flavors, treating our palates and perfecting our moves with those fluid, backward slides…very distinctive, very skilled!
Your Healthy Plate Coach
RITA
November 6, 2013
Heading into the holiday season will require some cool moves and quick spins—that’s what we’re talking about this week with our Hip Hop recipes! We want to translate our skills and experience into perfect rhythm for our “uprock” moves while showing off our healthy style! So dancers…let’s set our kitchen studios ablaze with some awesome energy!
Your Healthy Plate Coach
RITA
October 30, 2013
Are you having fun with learning the new dance routines? Education in the kitchen truly does give that very active room in the house a whole new perspective. We’re enthused with new tastes and delights, we’re excited about the toxins and fats leaving us for good, and we’re moving to a new level of healthy living, eating, and DANCING! This week we’ll move and groove with a little Italian “Zoppetto” as we learn the “Zoppetto” Rise & Shine together with the Spinach Marinara “Zoppetto”…deliziosa!
Your Healthy Plate Coach
RITA
October 23, 2013
We’re gonna have some fun in the kitchen while kicking up our heels to the Chicken Dance. Yes, you read that correctly…I’m sure you can hear that music in the back of your mind as you begin moving toward the dance floor…smiling, laughing and just enjoying a silly time. And, at the end of the dance everyone feels happy and relaxed. That’s our goal with our two chicken headliners for today…The Morning “Chicken Dance” and our “Chicken Dance” Fresca. We’ll be moving, creating and enjoying life together while having some fun!
Your Healthy Plate Coach
RITA
October 16, 2013
WHEW! Some weeks are so packed with movement that we barely have time to work on any new routines. So this week we’ll just concentrate on the simple “Two Step”…moderate rhythm, colorfully pleasing, and simple moves. One—two, one—two, and you have mastered the dance!
Your Healthy Plate Coach
RITA
October 9, 2013
This week, with summer fading and our last hopes of seaside blissfulness dropping off the calendar, replaced with the shorter days of winter ahead…we shall express ourselves with a couple of seaside “Shuffle” events. The Sunrise Shuffle and the Shrimp Shuffle Kabob are both simple little dances honoring our farewell to the longer, carefree summer days and preparing ourselves to welcome in the array comfort foods of winter. Let’s enjoy our little seaside fling together!
Your Healthy Plate Coach
RITA
October 2, 2013
Oh yeah…we’re getting warmed up this week with a little extra movement….put on the sombrero and move toward a little Mexican flare! Remember, great taste and complete enjoyment of every meal is the ultimate goal for each and every one of our moves! This week we twirl, clap, shout and enjoy the variety of seasonings in our beef preparation both for our breakfast and lunch/dinner meals…Olé!
Your Healthy Plate Coach
RITA
September 25, 2013
How’s the creativity going with your new dance routines? I’ve continued to experiment with our many spice choices and found a new delight to tantalize your taste buds…a Moroccan favorite…cinnamon! This week a little belling dance brought on two new creations…the Moroccan Belly Bomber (breakfast) and the Moroccan Belly Bust (lunch/dinner)!
Your Healthy Plate Coach
RITA
September 18, 2013
Your “dance routine” will require a designated “measure” of time each week:
First – search your spice cabinet – it’s a fact, we usually never discard our spices; remember, the ancients were buried with their spices and you probably already know which ones you’ll be taking with you when it’s time to go1, correct? Kidding aside, use this time to rediscover, clean-out, dust-off, or prepare a list of taste-enhancing “music” for your new “dances”. Some of my favorite “tunes” consist of both dry and fresh organic herbs and seasonings with a beginners list found in the DirectionLean Advancement booklet.
Second – planning breeds success! Plan for success by incorporating your “practice” time into your schedule. Make a list of the individual “routines—the meals” you will accomplish for the week. Next, you’ll need to purchase the proper “music” from the stores and farmers’ markets of your choice. Now plan the segments of “practice time—cook time” you’ll need…will it be three segments of time per day, will it be longer segments of “practice time” in just a few days each week. Decide how you can best “master the routines” on an individual basis.
Personally, I list my “routines”, purchase the appropriate “music” and complete a more in-depth practice at the beginning of each week, which grants me some slack time if my week causes any unexpected “soreness”. Personal preferences, fitting your personal life, will lead you to success!
Third – be creative with your routines…your individual grace will enhance each “movement” and your taste buds will applaud your new commitment – try the “jitterbug” of some red chili pepper flakes, cumin, curry, Cajun, smoked paprika, spicy mustard, etc., or maybe a “fox-trot” of raw coconut aminos, dill, thyme, oregano, rosemary, lemon or lime juice, onion powder, etc. Your new invigorating “workouts” will delight your senses!
Your Healthy Plate Coach
RITA
