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The 30 Foods To Avoid

The 30 Worst Foods in America

It doesn’t matter how religiously you diet. It doesn’t matter how intensely you exercise. And even if you try to make the smartest choices, pick the healthiest foods, and watch what you eat at every meal, all it takes to sabotage your weight loss goals is one simple mistake. That’s why we’re here to help you – a little bit of awareness can make those mistakes never happen.
 
Today’s food marketers have loaded many of their offerings with so much fat, sugar, and sodium that any single food in this slideshow can destroy all your hard work and best intentions. Welcome any one of these nutritional neutron bombs into your diet just once a month, and you could add nearly 7 pounds of flab to your frame in the coming year. Luckily, Eat This Not That has rounded up equally delicious alternatives at much lower caloric cost. Make these monster swaps each time you eat out, and you could lose 10, 20, or even 30 pounds in a year!

To read the entire list, click here.

Change Direction

As we move from those lazy, casual days of summer back into the school and work routine, Life Coach Cheryl Richardson has some great advice. (For more great inspiration, visit Cheryl's website at  www.cherylrichardson.com.)

Act Now! "Only one thing has to change for us to know happiness in our lives: where we focus our attention." --Greg Anderson

We all have those days when life hands us one frustration after another, as though we've been possessed by some kind of negative force that brings mayhem to even the simplest tasks.  I'm sure you know what I mean.  You're running late for a meeting when your child's school calls to say your little boy is sick.  You grab your paperwork on the way out the door, trip and drop the files all over the parking lot, curse yourself and rush to the car (and of course, you can't seem to get the key in the ignition fast enough). Finally, on your way to pick up your son, you get stopped for speeding and realize that you left your wallet back at the office. By this time it feels like you can't do anything right. Sometimes the tailspin begins with something small like an upsetting phone call or an e-mail that pushes your buttons. One moment everything seems fine, and the next thing you know, your mood has quickly taken a turn for the worse. Fortunately there are things you can do to change your mental direction. When you find yourself feeling out of sorts, try one of the following actions and see what happens: 1. Clear the air. Do something to shift your energy.  Take a shower, change your clothes, or tidy up your office.  If you're at home, vacuum the living room, open a window, or even change the sheets on your bed.  As you take these simple actions, imagine yourself clearing energy blocks that might be fueling the bad cycle. 2. Get into motion.  One of the quickest ways to change your mental state is to get up and move your body.  For example, when you're feeling overwhelmed, resist the temptation to work even harder to get organized. Instead, take a brisk walk or go for a bike ride.  When you do, you'll find that exercise enhances your ability to focus making you better able to tackle your situation later on with clarity and ease. 3. Shift your thinking. If it's true that our thoughts create our circumstances, then you'll want to shift your negative thoughts to positive ones as quickly as you can.  Recall a favorite childhood song and start singing it out loud (Trust me, "Row, row, row your boat" or "Twinkle, twinkle little star" will make you laugh).  Or, you could pick up an inspirational book, open to any page and start reading.  For some people, taking a nap can do the trick.  Sometimes it helps to shut down your mind for a while, so you can wake up feeling refreshed and clear-headed. 4.  Put on some music.  There's nothing that shifts my mood quicker than music.  I still remember the days when I felt stuck or anxious while writing "Take Time for Your Life" and I'd put on the "Mambo Kings" and dance around my office.  The wild rhythms were like a secret prayer that always restored my creative power. Finally, while there are many things you can do to shift a temporary bad mood, sometimes we need to honor the fact that a low mood may be an indication of something deeper.  For example, if you've experienced a recent loss, you may need to have a good, long cry.  Or, if you feel frustrated or angry about a negative pattern in an important relationship, you might need to rant and rave before engaging in a discussion with your loved one.  Just like a wound that needs time to heal, sometimes our moods are an indication that our heart needs space, rest, or the loving support of someone who cares.

Learning To Cook For Students

Our friends at Learn Great Foods have a great event coming up for teens and young adults. 

Do you know any students (15-25 yrs old) that would appreciate a cooking class in Petoskey? Max Sussman, of "Freshman in the Kitchen" will be doing a cooking demo at the Crooked Tree Arts Center kitchen Aug 17 from 5pm-7pm! He and his brother Eli have put together some recipes and cooking tips, making it easier for college students to eat well on a decent budget! Registration required 231-758-3407.

Festival On The Bay Is August 14-16

Looking for a great weekend filled with free music, great food, family entertainment and beautiful scenery? Look no further than Festival on the Bay, August 14 through 16 on the beautiful Little Traverse Bay in downtown Petoskey. A wide variety of food and beverages, family activities including a children’s game area, airboat and canoe rides, and much more.  Eleven bands perform noon to midnight on Friday and Saturday. Friday night music features include Jelly Roll Blues Band, the Petoskey Steel Drum Band and Blue Moon Blues Band. Saturday entertainment includes Charlie’s Root Fusion. See the whole music and festival schedule at www.petoskeyfestival.com.

And if you'd like to volunteer, the Festival still needs people at most venues. It's a fun way to meet new friends and be part of a great time! For more info, click here.

Great Burgers For The Backyard Party

If you've got a backyard party on your schedule, this recipe for Gorgonzola Pancetta Burgers will wow the crowd!

When making burgers, handle the meat as little as possible; a few pats with wet hands is all that's necessary to shape the patties.
RECIPE INGREDIENTS
For the Burgers:
1 1/2 pounds ground sirloin or chuck
Salt and freshly ground pepper
8 thin slices pancetta
Four 3/4-inch-thick slices gorgonzola cheese (4 ounces)
For the Buns:
4 hamburger buns or kaiser rolls, split
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

romaine lettuce leaves, tomato slices and paper-thin sweet onion slices

DIRECTIONS
FOR THE BURGERS:
Light a grill. Shape the meat into 4 patties and season on both sides with salt and pepper. Wrap each hamburger with 2 slices of pancetta. Grill the burgers over a medium-hot fire for about 4 minutes, or until nicely browned on the bottom. Flip the burgers and top them with the Gorgonzola. Grill for about 4 minutes longer, or until nicely browned and cooked through.

FOR THE BUNS:
Meanwhile, brush the cut sides of the buns with the butter and grill them, cut side down, until lightly toasted.

TO SERVE:
Set the burgers on the bun bottoms and top with the lettuce, tomato and onion. Serve at once.

BEER RECOMMENDATION:
Beer is all that's needed between bites of this rich burger--a flavorful brew, such as Catamount Gold, would be ideal.

Recipe reprinted by permission of Food and Wine. All rights reserved.
Date Added: 01/01/2008

Hot Summer Reads For The Beach

If you're looking for a great book to take to the beach, Leighanne Law from McLean and Eakin Booksellers in Petoskey has some great recommendations. These four books run the gambit of Beach Reads:  from pure escapism to delightful distraction, there is something for every taste and inclination.

The Opposite of Love, by Julie Buxbaum $15.00
From Publisher’s Weekly: “Buxbaum makes an appealing debut with this tale of Yale law graduate Emily Haxby, eager to break through the emotional and professional ties that bind her.’ It's like you get pleasure out of breaking your own heart’, best friend Jess tells Emily after her bustup with her doctor boyfriend. But Emily isn't through self-destructing; she also implodes over her fast-failing Grandpa Jack, from whom Emily learned everything... about life; chilly relations with her lieutenant governor father, Kirk; and a precarious career as a litigator defending big, evil corporations for a Manhattan law firm. This single-gal-in-the-city finds her white-knuckle hold on life and love slowly slipping as it dawns on her that the opposite of love isn't hate, it's emptiness.”

Real Life and Liars, by Kristina Riggle $13.99
This book is set in Charlevoix! “Mirabelle and Max Zielinski’s children have returned home for their parents’ thirtieth anniversary. Mirabelle must tell them that she was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer, but they’re preoccupied with their own crises. Katya, the eldest, hides behind a perfectly controlled front, but her marriage and affluent lifestyle are in jeopardy. Ivan, the moody middle child, keeps pursuing the wrong women and can’t get his songwriting career off the ground. The youngest, Irina, shows up with a surprise husband and pregnancy. Faced with her mortality, Mirabelle is stricken by how her children have diverged from her hippie upbringing and wonders if they still need her. Riggle crafts a moving and accomplished first novel about a family coming to terms with change."

The Black Dagger Brotherhood series, by J.R. Ward $7.99
Adult Twilight junkies will find this adventure/fantasy/romance series to be positively addictive. Ward’s characters are fully realized, yet flawed, heart throbs. Her dialogue is punchy, the tempo is snappy and the plot is just plain fun.  The first in the series, Dark Lover takes us to Caldwell, New York where there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing more than Wrath, the leader of The Black Dagger Brotherhood.

The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed-leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate-Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead-a world of sensuality beyond her wildest dreams.

Finger-Lickin’ Fifteen, by Janet Evanovich $27.95
From Publisher’s Weekly: When Stephanie Plum’s wheelman Lula inadvertently witnesses the beheading of culinary TV star Stanley Chipotle in a Trenton, N.J., alley, Stephanie's on-again off-again boyfriend, cop Joe Morelli, reluctantly takes the case. Lula, with the help of Grandma Mazur, enters the same barbequing competition Chipotle was in town to promote, hoping to lure the murderers out of hiding. Meanwhile, Ranger has recruited Stephanie to help solve a series of break-ins at properties under the protection of Rangeman Security. The inevitable sparks fly between Stephanie and Ranger, with Morelli grumbling on the sidelines. Evanovich dishes up…a mixture of shoot-'em-up action (numerous cars explode) and quirky characters (notably a neighborhood flasher with a devoted following) in her newest book.

Cool Sweets For Your Summer Picnic

Looking for a great yet simple dessert to take your next summer get together? This Pina Colada pie is outstanding and is easy to make. And if you have a great summer recipe to share with the Lite 96.3 Family, email it to me at diane@lite96.com. Enjoy!

Pina Colada Pie

Ingredients
3/4 cup pineapple-coconut nectar (recommended: Kern's)
1 cup light coconut milk (recommended: Thai Kitchen)
1 1/2 teaspoons rum extract, divided
1 (3.4-ounce) box instant vanilla pudding and pie filling (recommended: Jell-O)
1 cup shredded coconut meat
8 ounces whipped topping, divided
1 (9-inch) pie crust, baked (recommended: Marie Callender's)
1/4 cup shredded coconut meat, toasted, for garnish
Directions
In a large bowl, combine nectar, coconut milk, and 1 teaspoon rum extract. Sprinkle pudding mix over liquid and whisk for 2 minutes. Fold in coconut and 1/2 of the whipped topping.

Pour into pre-baked pie crust and chill in refrigerator for at least 3 hours.

Combine remaining whipped topping with 1/2 teaspoon rum extract. Top chilled pie with whipped topping and toasted coconut.

It's Farmer's Market Time!

There is nothing better than fresh food. Our local strawberries,fresh salad greens and many other veggies are just beginning to ripen and make their way to your neighborhood farmer's market. Upnorthfoodies.com is a great blog to read about making the local difference. Here is their list of farmer's markets for you as you plan your summer gourmet adventures.

Emmet County
Harbor Springs Farmers Market
Harbor Springs
M 119 across from Bay Bluffs Care Facility, Harbor Springs
8 am - noon, Saturdays, mid-June thru October
8 am - noon, Wednesdays, July thru September

Downtown Petoskey Farmers Market
Petoskey
Howard St., between JC Penney and Julienne Tomatoes
9 am - 12:30 pm, Fridays, June 19 - September

Grand Traverse County
Farmers Market at the Village at Grand Traverse Commons
Traverse City
West off Division onto 11th St., across from Left Foot Charley
2 pm - 6 pm, Fridays, June 5 -

Interlochen Farmers Market
Interlochen
Earth & Hearth, south of Interlochen Corners on M-137
9 am - 1 pm, Sundays, May 24 - September

Sara Hardy Downtown Farmers Market
Traverse City
Parking lot along Grandview Parkway between Cass & Union Streets
8 am - noon, Saturdays, May 9 - October 24
8 am - noon, Wednesdays, June 13 - September 26
During National Cherry Festival, July 5 - 12 held at barns behind Grand Traverse Commons

The Market at Railroad Place
Traverse City
Traverse City Railway Station, corner of 8th & Woodmere
8 am - 2 pm, Saturdays, May 9 - Fall

Streamside Farmers Market
Acme
4160 M-72, Stained Glass Cabinet Co.
9 am - 1 pm, Saturdays, mid June - Fall

Kalkaska
Kalkaska Farmers Market
9 am - 1 pm Wednesdays, mid June
Municipal parking lot on Third St.

Rapid City Farmers Market
9 am - 1 pm Thursdays, mid June
New Horizons Clubhouse

Springfield Recreation Area Farmers Market
5 miles southeast of Fife Lake at Lund and Creighton Rds.
3 pm - 7pm, Thursdays, May 14 - O

Antrim County
Antrim Farmers Market
Bellaire
Behind senior center on M-88, across from county courthouse
8 am - noon, Fridays, May 29 - October

Elk Rapids Area Farmers Market
Elk Rapids
US 31 - Elk Rapids Chamber of Commerce
9 am - noon, Fridays, June 5 - October 30

Ellsworth Farmers Market
On the downtown breezeway
8 am - 1 pm, Saturdays, July 4

Charlevoix County
Boyne City Farmers Market
Boyne City
Old City Park, River St.
8 am - 12 noon, Wednesdays & Saturdays, May 2 - October

Charlevoix Farmers Market
Charlevoix
Downtown
9 am - 1 pm, Thursday, June 25 - October

East Jordan Farmers Market
East Jordan
Sportsman's Park
9 am - 1 pm, Thursdays, May 14 - October

Leelanau County
Empire Farmers Market
Empire
Downtown near post office
9 am - 1 pm, Saturdays, June 13 - September 26

Glen Arbor Farmers Market
Glen Arbor
Behind township hall at 6394 Western Ave.
9 am - 1 pm, Tuesdays, June 16 - September 1

Leland Farmers Market
Leland
Parking lot across from The Bluebird Restaurant
9 am - 12 noon, Thursdays, June 18 - September 3
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Northport Farmers Market
Northport
Lawn in front of the Depot next to the marina
9 am - 1 pm, Friday, June 19 - September 18

Suttons Bay Farmers Market
Suttons Bay
Corner of Broadway and Lincoln
9 am - 1 pm, Saturdays, May 16 - October 17

Summer Means It's Girl Scout Camping Time!

One of my fondest memories from childhood is Girl Scout Camp. I loved the campfire, all the fun songs and sleeping in a tent with my other giggling friends. If you're looking for something fun and educational for your daughter this summer, Naomi Lawson sent us all the details on Girl Scout Camp 2009.

Summer is here!  It’s Girl Scout Camp Time!

The weather is warming up and flowers are in bloom, the first signs of summer have appeared.  Are your children cooped up inside watching television or playing video games?  Well look no further – it’s Girl Scout Camp time!

Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore is proud to offer resident camp at two different locations this year:  Camp Anna Behrens in Greenville, Michigan, and Camp Sakakawea in Traverse City, Michigan.  Both camps are equally beautiful and have so much to offer.  Girls grades K-12 can enjoy horseback riding, archery, canoeing, swimming, arts and crafts, tennis, outdoor cooking, hiking, and much more! 

Girls attending resident camp will come home with so many memorable experiences and friendships that will last a lifetime.  Whether they prefer to sleep under the stars, create a work of art, or go horseback riding, we have something for everybody!  “Some girls come to camp who have never camped before, and they are thrilled to see the beautiful clear lakes, nesting loons and eagles, and so many other outdoor experiences that they will carry with them for a lifetime”, said Jenn Cook, Camp Director.

All Camp Staff are highly experienced and certified in CPR, First Aid, Life Guarding, and Diversity Training.  Also, both Camp Anna Behrens and Camp Sakakawea are licensed by the State of Michigan and GSUSA Safety-Wise.  Transportation is available to both camps from many different areas and is very flexible to fit your individual needs.

To register your girl for camp, simply call the service center at 1-866-566-7434 for a registration form, or check out our website at www.gsmists.org for more information and the Summer Fun Guide.  Happy Camping!

It's Time To Kick Off Summer Fun

There are some great fun events coming up and we wanted to Share It with you. Winter's over, everything is green... so get out and enjoy!

Spring Open House in downtown Petoskey, Friday, June 5, from 6-9 p.m. This year’s Open House promises to be the best one yet, with new and exciting events happening throughout the downtown district, drawing even more attendees than ever before. As always, everyone is invited to come downtown, where the streets will be closed, a variety of entertainment will be available, retailers will be open to share summer wares and host visitors in their stores, and sidewalk dining options will be available at many of our Downtown restaurants. The mini-farmers market will feature nine farms.

The buskers (street performers) will be back again to entertain throughout Downtown. Look for juggler Tommy Tropic, Jania the Magic Lady, Twister Joe, northern Michigan’s favorite balloon twister, the Steel Drum Band trio, hula hoop artists and more. New this year will be a stage in the Park and musicians set up to lead the community in song. Song books will be provided. Open sing-a-longs and buskers will be performing from 6-8 p.m. At 8:15 p.m. in Pennsylvania Park, there will be an open jam for musicians. Bring your guitar, banjo, violin, clarinet – any instrument – and join in the jam in the park. This is a really fun event and great for the whole family.

Trillium Salon in downtown Petoskey invites you to come get pampered at its fundraiser on Fri. June 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Whether we cut your hair, do your nails, remove unwanted hair or give you a message, all salon service proceeds from June 5 will be donated to Beautiful Survivor. The proceeds will be used to purchase wigs and scarves and other tools for cancer patients. Beautiful Survivors is a newly-formed nonprofit organization to help cancer survivors through a difficult time with compassion and understanding. Call Trillium to make your appointment and be a part of the very first fundraiser, 439-0051.

Maestro Matthew Hazelwood will lead the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra and Chorus in concert performances of Haydn’s Missa in Angustiis “Lord Nelson Mass” on May 30, 7:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Harbor Springs and on May 31, 4:00 p.m. at the Cross in the Woods, Indian River. Tickets may be purchased on line at Treatickets.com, at the orchestra office, 438 E. Lake Street, or by calling 231-487-0010. Tickets are also available in Petoskey at the Crooked Tree Art Center, McLean and Eakin Booksellers, Horizon Books, and bookstores in Charlevoix, Harbor Springs, and local Chambers of Commerce. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for students. A fee is added for the convenience of on-line purchase.

Don’t miss the second free community seminar “Building Stronger Moms” on Thurs., June 4 from 6:30 – 8 p.m. at the Community Health Education Center. Building Stronger Moms will focus on the importance of exercise to help adapt to the demands of motherhood. Exercising after pregnancy can benefit a mother in many ways. Regular exercise, with the approval of your physician, can often help to minimize the physical discomforts of pregnancy and help with the recovery after the baby is born. For more call Northern Michigan Sports Medicine Center, 231-347-9300.

Support The Manna Food Project and Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra by attending their "Christmas In June" event in Charlevoix on Saturday, June 6.  On display at this private home will be an amazing display of Dept. 56 Snow Villages unlike any other display available for public viewing.  Tickets are $15 for adults and $3 for children ages 3-10.  For additional information and for tickets, please call 231-347-8852 or visit www.mannafoodproject.org.  Also be sure to save the date for the September 21 Golf Fore Manna golf outing at Hidden River Golf and Casting Club!

Here is your chance to see Dr. Wayne W. Dyer's movie, AMBITION TO MEANING Finding Your Life's Purpose, at Crooked Tree Arts Center, and help support Northwest Michigan Habitat for Humanity. Brought to you by The Spa at The Inn at Bay Harbor, Crooked Tree Arts Center, and CMU Public Broadcasting. The movie is Wed., June 24, 2009 with Hors d'oeuvres at 7:00 p.m. and movie at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $10 per person. All proceeds to benefit the Northwest Michigan Habitat for Humanity.  To order tickets please contact the Crooked Tree Box Office at 231-347-4337 or online at crookedtree.org. View the movie trailer at www.ambitiontomeaning.com.

The Blissfest Music Organization has announced the performers for the 29th annual Blissfest Music Festival to be held July 10, 11, and 12 at the Blissfest Festival Farm north of Harbor Springs, off of State Road This year's celebration will feature Blues, Cajun, Celtic, Bluegrass, Folk, Jazz, Latin, African, Jam band and World music and dance. Over 40 local, regional, national and international artists will entertain on 3 stages and 4 workshop areas during the weekend event.  For additional information and for tickets, please visit www.blissfest.org.