Occasionally, Karen will be posting helpful cooking, foods and healthy ideas and tips. Here is an article posting that lists the ten best foods that help flatten your abdominals.

The 10 Best Foods for Flat Abs

Eat up for flatter abs — these waist-whittling foods give you a dose of ab-ulous nutrients in every bite.

The sad truth: You can crunch yourself into a coma and still have ab flab. If you really want a sleek, sexy midriff, you’ve got to tweak your diet. All of the best waist-whittling foods contain fiber to banish bloat, antioxidants to boost your abs routine’s effectiveness, and protein to help maintain a healthy metabolism. Here, the top 10 choices for flatter abs.

Almonds and Eggs
1. Almonds
These delicious and versatile nuts contain filling protein and fiber, not to mention vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant. They’re also a good source of magnesium, a mineral your body must have in order to produce energy, build and maintain muscle tissue, and regulate blood sugar. “A stable blood-sugar level helps prevent cravings that can lead to overeating and weight gain,” says David Katz, MD, a professor at the Yale University School of Medicine. But what makes almonds most interesting is their ability to block calories. Research indicates that the composition of their cell walls may help reduce the absorption of all of their fat, making them an extra-lean nut.

Try for: An ounce a day (about 23 almonds), with approximately 160 calories. An empty Altoids tin will hold your daily dose perfectly.

2. Eggs
You won’t find a more perfect protein source. Eggs are highly respected by dietitians because of their balance of essential amino acids (protein building blocks used by your body to manufacture everything from muscle fibers to brain chemicals). We like them because they keep our hands out of the cookie jar. Researchers at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center found that when people ate eggs in the morning, they felt less hungry throughout the day than when breakfast consisted of complex carbohydrates like bagels. “The protein and fat in the egg may be contributing to the feeling of satiety,” says lead researcher Nikhil V. Dhurandhar, PhD.

Try for: One egg a day, unless you have high blood cholesterol, in which case you should check with your doctor first. (One egg packs about 213 milligrams of cholesterol.)

Soy and Apples
3. Soy
Soybeans are a great source of antioxidants, fiber, and protein. Plus, they’re incredibly versatile.

Snack on dry-roasted soybeans, toss shelled edamame into soups, and slip a spoonful of silken tofu into your morning smoothie. Liquid soy also makes a good meal replacement: A study from the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that overweight subjects who drank a soy milk based meal replacement lost more weight than those who consumed a traditional dairy-based diet drink.

Try for: Twenty-five grams of whole (not isolated) soy protein daily. A half cup of steamed edamame contains about 130 calories and 11 grams of protein. Four ounces of tofu (94 calories) contain 10 grams. Choose whole soy foods over products packed with “isolated soy protein” — the latter may not provide all the benefits of whole soybeans.

4. Apples
A 2003 study in the journal Nutrition found that overweight women who consumed three apples or pears a day for three months lost more weight than their counterparts who were fed a similar diet with oat cookies instead of fruits. “A large apple has five grams of fiber, but it’s also nearly 85 percent water, which helps you feel full,” explains Elisa Zied, RD, author of So What Can I Eat?! (Wiley, 2006).

Apples also contain quercetin, a compound shown to help fight certain cancers, reduce cholesterol damage, and promote healthy lungs.

Try for: An apple (or two) a day. A study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that the Red Delicious, Cortland, and Northern Spy varieties had the highest antioxidant activity.

Berries and Leafy Greens
5. Berries
Most are loaded with fiber, every dieter’s best friend. The more fiber you eat — experts say that it’s best to get between 25 and 35 grams every day — the fewer calories you absorb from all the other stuff you put in your mouth. That’s because fiber traps food particles and shuttles them out of your system before they’re fully digested. Berries (and other fruits) are also high in antioxidants, which not only help protect you from chronic diseases like cancer but may also help you get more results from your workouts. “Antioxidants help improve blood flow, which can help muscles contract more efficiently,” says Dr. Katz.

Try for: At least half a cup daily, or about 30 calories’ worth. Don’t limit yourself to the usual suspects, like raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries. If you can find them, add boysenberries, gooseberries, and black currants to the mix for excitement.

6. Leafy Greens
Their cancer-preventing carotenoids won’t help shrink your waistline, but their low calorie count definitely will. One cup of spinach contains only about 40 calories, while a cup of broccoli has 55 calories and satisfies 20 percent of your day’s fiber requirement. Most leafy greens are also a good source of calcium, an essential ingredient for muscle contraction. In other words, they help fuel your workouts.

Try for: Three servings daily. Keep a bag of prewashed baby spinach in your fridge and toss a handful into soups, salads, pasta dishes, stir-fries, and sandwiches. When you get sick of spinach, reach for a bunch of arugula, broccoli rabe, or broccolini, a cross between broccoli and Chinese kale.

Yogurt and Veggie Soup
7. Yogurt
People who get their calcium from yogurt rather than from other sources may lose more weight around their midsection, according to a recent study published in the International Journal of Obesity.

The probiotic bacteria in most yogurts help keep your digestive system healthy, which translates into a lower incidence of gas, bloating, and constipation, which can keep your tummy looking flat.

Try for: One to three cups a day of low-fat or fat-free yogurt. Choose unsweetened yogurt that contains live active cultures. Add a handful of fresh chopped fruit for flavor and extra fiber.

8. Veggie Soup
Researchers at Pennsylvania State University found that people who ate broth-based (or low-fat cream-based) soups two times a day were more successful in losing weight than those who ate the same amount of calories in snack food. Soup eaters also maintained, on average, a total weight loss of 16 pounds after one year. “Plus, it’s a simple way to get your vegetables,” says Susan Kleiner, PhD, RD, author of Power Eating (Human Kinetics, 2001).

Try for: At least one cup of low-calorie, low-sodium vegetable soup every day.

Salmon and Quinoa
9. Salmon
Seafood, especially fatty fish like salmon, tuna, and mackerel, is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. These uber-healthy fats may help promote fat burning by making your metabolism more efficient, according to Kleiner. An Australian study showed that overweight people who ate fish daily improved their glucose-insulin response. Translated, this means that seafood may help slow digestion and prevent cravings. If that doesn’t hook you, consider this: Seafood is an excellent source of abs-friendly protein.

Try for: Two four-ounce servings per week. Wild salmon, though pricey, contains more omega-3 fatty acids than farm-raised. (If it doesn’t say wild, it’s farm-raised.) If seafood’s not your thing, you can get your omega-3’s from flax seed (grind and sprinkle on your cereal) or walnuts.

10. Quinoa
Never heard of it? Pronounced KEEN-wah, this whole grain contains 5 grams of fiber and 11 grams of protein per half cup. Cook it as you would any other grain (although some brands require rinsing).

Quinoa’s nutty flavor and crunchy-yet-chewy texture are like a cross between whole-wheat couscous and short-grain brown rice.

Try for: At least one half-cup serving (a third of your whole-grain requirements) per day. Try substituting AltiPlano Gold brand instant quinoa hot cereal (160 to 210 calories per packet), in Chai Almond and Spiced Apple Raisin, for oatmeal. Look for it in health-food stores.

Originally published in Fitness magazine, June 2006.

Karen’s Note: Try these wonderful recipes for flatter abs…Frank’s Cedar Plank Smoked Salmon, Karen’s Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad (which has three best foods for flat abs) or “Spring-into-Summer” Italian Veggie Soup!

This wonderful recipe is from a school friend of mine. It is a Shredded Italian Beef (or Italian Pot Roast) given to me by John Armato. A recipe handed down to him from Lenore Messina to Millie Armato to John Armato…Enjoy!

3 – 4 lb. rump roast, trimmed of all visible fat
2 pkgs. Good Seasoning Italian dressing mix-1 “zesty” and 1 regular
1 16 oz. jar pepperoncini peppers, undrained
1 beef bouillon cube dissolved in 2 cups boiling water
1 large yellow sweet or Vidalia onion, sliced
6 medium russet or Yukon potatoes, peeled and chunked
2-3 carrots, peeled and cut into discs or use 1/2 c. baby carrots
1-1/2 Tbsp. garlic, minced
1-1/2 c. red wine (optional)
1-1/2 c. canned green beans, drained (optional)
1 cup sliced fresh button mushrooms (optional)

Put all ingredients in CrockPot (Slow Cooker) in order listed, except for (optional|) green beans and mushrooms.

Cover and cook on high for approximately 8 hours or low for approx. 14 hours.

Add optional green beans and sliced mushrooms the last 2 hours of cooking.*

After the slow cooking, the meat will fall apart at the touch of a fork, while shredding or slicing easily. Serve on Italian rolls with a side of the broth for dipping a la a French Dip, or simply pile on a plate for forkfuls of goodness.

Note from John: This is the basic recipe. Variations are endless. I’ve added onions, fresh garlic, carrots, mushrooms and small Yukon gold potatoes with great success. Add those or similarly hearty veggies from the start. *More delicate veggies such as (optional) green beans may be best added part way through the cooking to keep them from becoming too “mushy”.

Also, a cup or so of red wine gives the broth an even richer flavor.

The pepperoncini peppers and zesty dressing mix give the roast a spicy edge. Go easy on the peppers/juice or try 2 regular dressing packets instead of 1 zesty and 1 regular to make it milder.

This is a fantastically simple recipe and absolutely delicious. The interplay of the pepperoncini’s vinegary bite and the spices in the dressing mixes keep the flavor alive and tingling on your tongue well after each bite.

Many thanks to Lenore (now “Aunt CrockPot” to me) for the recipe, and mom for giving me it’s first taste.

​Karen’s Note:  This is definitely comfort food all the way and though it isn’t low in fats, sodium or carbohydrates, I believe this to be a good food if portioned correctly into regular sized portions and not eaten all at once. Make it over the weekend and enjoy reheating and serving it right out of the fridge the following week. Thank you, John, for such a wonderful family recipe!

Makes 2 pies or 18 serving slices

You’ll need:
1 can (29 oz.) 100% pure pumpkin
2 cans fat-free evaporated milk
1/2 c. egg substitute or tofu
1-1/4 c. brown sugar or Splenda brown sugar
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 tsp. ground cloves
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground ginger
Cooking spray, butter flavored

Completely spray the inside of 2 glass pie plates with cooking spray.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a large mixing bowl, on medium-low speed, mix well all ingredients thoroughly together.

Pour pumpkin mixture into 2 pie plates filling each half-way full.

Bake 40-45 minutes, until pies are completely set and knife inserted into the center of each pie comes out practically clean.

Allow pies to completely cool. Cover and refrigerate, until ready to serve.

Serving suggestion:  When ready to serve right out of the refrigerator…slice each Crustless Pumpkin Pie into 9 slices and top each slice with a dollop of fat-free Cool Whip topping.

​Karen’s Note:  This is one of my dad’s favorite recipes, because he dislikes pie crust. The best thing about this Crustless Pumpkin Pie recipe is that it is low in fat and carbohydrates!