Moderation Bandwagon.

While moderation might sound a little bland at first, it sure has a better ring than dieting doesn't it?  Come on, stay with me here and let's see if we can't make it sound a little more appetizing.

Let's start with some limit on simple sugars in favor of complex carbohydrates. Then, let's try to skip saturated fats and in favor of omega 3s in fish and monounsaturated fats, that occur in foods like nuts, California Ripe Olives and avocados. Most importantly, remember to take the time to prepare, sit down and enjoy flavorful foods, rather than nibbling through twice as many calories on the go. The reward is you'll feel great, look as fabulous as ever and have lots more energy in the end. But, hey, if that's not good enough, I say, go buy yourself a new pair of shoes, sometimes it helps to splurge after a little moderation.

Snappy Olive Snapper

• 2 Tbsp. Olive oil
• 1/4 cup Sliced almonds
• 1 tsp. Minced garlic
• 1 (15 oz.) can Chick peas, rinsed and drained
• 3/4 cup Cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 Tbsp. Lemon juice
• 1/4 cup Chopped cilantro
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 4 (5-6 oz.) fillets Snapper
• 1 medium Avocado, diced

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a medium sized sauté pan. Add almonds and cook for 1 minute. Add garlic and cook for an additional minute. Stir in chick peas and tomatoes and cook just until heated through. Season with lemon juice, cilantro and salt and pepper. Cover and set aside.

Heat remaining oil in a clean sauté pan. Season snapper with salt and pepper and place in pan for 2-3 minutes until lightly browned on one side. Flip over and cook on remaining side for 2-3 minutes until cooked through. Plate on top of chick peas and sprinkle diced avocados. Serves 4.

One Last Mouthful of Moderation

O.K., it won't get you to drop a pant size in five days or lose ten pounds over the course of a week. On the other hand, if you commit to a healthy lifestyle, full of exercise, rest and moderate amounts of the right kinds of foods, you'll enjoy the benefits of a fit body and trim figure all year long. Remember, too little of a good thing and you'll die of boredom, too much and there's a whole list of things that can go wrong.

Use this list to stock up your fridge and pantry and you'll see how delicious moderation can be.

Winter Vegetable Wheatberries

• 1 lb. Yams, peeled and diced into 1-inch chunks
• 8 oz. Brussels sprouts, halved (tough outer leaves removed)
• 8 oz. Red onion, diced into 1-inch pieces
• 2 Tbsp. Olive oil
• 2 tsp. Chopped thyme
• Salt, black pepper and cayenne to taste
• 3 cups Cooked wheatberries
• 3/4 cup California Ripe Olives, halved
• 1 Tbsp. Red wine vinegar

Combine yams, Brussels sprouts and red onion in a large mixing bowl. Toss with olive oil and thyme and season to taste with salt and pepper. Spread onto two baking sheets (so that pieces are in one layer not overlapping) and roast in a 425 degree oven for 20-25 minutes until tender.

Remove from oven and transfer to mixing bowl. Toss with wheatberries, California Ripe Olives and vinegar. Check seasoning and add cayenne if desired. Serves 4.