Healthy Living

Saturday, November 28, 2009

I Can't Believe It--Peanut Butter-Stuffed French Toast for a Flat Belly?

0821-frenchtoast_sm.jpg
Let’s talk about our beloved bellies. Are you trying to lose belly fat? I am! My stomach is super-resistant to weight loss. But check this out: According to the experts at Prevention who wrote The Flat Belly Diet! Cookbook, yummy ingredients like peanut butter and chocolate will help you lose weight around your middle.

The major premise of the plan is to incorporate monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) into every meal. This good fat is what will help you lose fat specifically around your middle”. MUFAs are present in oils, nuts and seeds, avocado, olives, and chocolate. The Flat Belly Diet! suggests you eat one serving of any one of those types of MUFAs with every meal. Could you manage? I don’t think I would have a hard time doing that!

Check out this recipe for peanut butter-stuffed French toast. Just the thought of it makes my mouth water! (And for an even skinnier version, I think it would be safe to dip the toast in egg whites.)

Peanut Butter-Stuffed French Toast
40 minutes 4 servings 418 calories MUFA : Peanut Butter


1/4 cup maple syrup
2 cups sliced strawberries
1/2 cup creamy natural unsalted peanut butter
8 slices light whole wheat bread
3 eggs
2 tablespoons 1% milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat the over to 350°F. Coat in baking sheet with butter-flavored cooking spray.
2. Place the syrup in a medium glass bowl and microwave on high for 30 seconds or until simmering. Add the strawberries and set aside.
3. Spread 2 tablespoons of the peanut butter on each of 4 bread slices and cover with the remaining 4 slices, making sandwiches.
4. Beat the eggs, milk and vanilla extract in a 13” X 9” baking dish. Soak the sandwiches in the egg mixture, turning once. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
5. Bake for 25 minutes or until browned, turning once. Top with the reserved strawberry mixture.

Nutrition per Serving : 418 calories, 17 g protein, 21 g fat, 3 g saturated fat, 159 mg cholesterol, 299 mg sodium, 11 g fiber

What do you think of this recipe? I think it's a little too decadent to have regularly, but I would definitely try it for a weekend brunch! So tell me, is your belly your trouble spot, or do you have some other zone you have to work really hard to tone? And do you already incorporate MUFAs into your diet regularly? If you had to pick one of the five types (oils, nuts and seeds, avocado, olives, and chocolate) would you go for first? I think I would have a tie between nuts and seeds (my trigger!) and chocolate! But please, tell me what your faves are!

Plus:
5 Low-calorie (and delicious!) recipes to make for a skinnier stomach:

Find out what types of oils you should be eating to lose weight.

Try this recipe for fiber-rich banana pancakes from Body by Glamour nutritionist, Rachel Beller, R.D.

MORE FROM KARINA SHAPES UP:

Syndication:

From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 15
  • vixenvena's Avatar
    Posted by vixenvena Tue Sep 1, 2009 3:33pm PDT

    418 calories and 21 g fat in only *two* slices of french toast with maple syrup is not going to help you lose weight. That's about the caloric and fat content of a cheeseburger. It's not so healthy and isn't likely to help you loose weight. Karina, if you want to loose weight there are healthier options out there like cereal or oatmeal. Putting a small amount of peanut butter on some bread or toasted bread, no butter, is also much healthier. Pay attention to the calories and fat. It's not a magic formula or are there magic foods to loosing weight. You just have to eat less than you burn each day. I lost 25 lbs and haven't gained it back in 15 years by eliminating peanut butter, cheese, butter, and mayo from my diet - I.E. high calorie, high energy dense foods. Those are great when you're running a marathon or exercising a lot but in your day to day nutrition, it's better to avoid energy dense foods or minimize the amount you eat.

    Report Abuse
  • jelly s's Avatar
    Posted by jelly s Tue Sep 1, 2009 4:11pm PDT

    I tried this diet for a while, and the food is really yummy, but the plan is around 1600 calories per day which for me just maintained my weight didn't help me lose.

    Report Abuse
  • Gizmo1's Avatar
    Posted by Gizmo1 Tue Sep 1, 2009 4:45pm PDT

    HA! If only peanut butter or chocolate could flatten your belly, mine would be CONCAVE by now!!

    Report Abuse
  • Fiffie's Avatar
    Posted by Fiffie Tue Sep 1, 2009 4:52pm PDT

    unlikely considering the high calorie count :/

    Report Abuse
  • Dia's Avatar
    Posted by Dia Wed Sep 2, 2009 7:38am PDT

    tried it but didnt help for me.

    Report Abuse
  • Sally S's Avatar
    Posted by Sally S Wed Sep 2, 2009 8:21am PDT

    This is making me super hungry! I'm pretty sure it is not going to help me lose my belly fat though! I could only Wish! : )

    Report Abuse
  • Hilary's Avatar
    Posted by Hilary Wed Sep 2, 2009 9:40am PDT

    The calorie count is not that high. Your breakfast is supposed to be at least 500 calories. Of any of the meals, it should have a high calorie, carb, and protein count.Add some fresh fruit to that french toast and you're fine. Just make sure that the rest of your meals and snacks are much leaner.

    Report Abuse
  • Gabi's Avatar
    Posted by Gabi Wed Sep 2, 2009 10:46am PDT

    It may be (as some suggest) a not that high calorie breakfast as long as you eat leaner lunch and dinner but it depends on the person and his lifestyle. If, like me, in your whole life you have been having light breakfasts (almost always consisting of fruit and liquid) and high protein lunches and warm mixed carb-protein dinners, then you'd definitely wouldn't be able to stick to having this breakfast and something less for the other 2 meals. I read the article but didn't even for a second question whether I should not go on this plan. I know it is not for me.

    Report Abuse
  • Gabi's Avatar
    Posted by Gabi Wed Sep 2, 2009 10:46am PDT

    It may be (as some suggest) a not that high calorie breakfast as long as you eat leaner lunch and dinner but it depends on the person and his lifestyle. If, like me, in your whole life you have been having light breakfasts (almost always consisting of fruit and liquid) and high protein lunches and warm mixed carb-protein dinners, then you'd definitely wouldn't be able to stick to having this breakfast and something less for the other 2 meals. I read the article but didn't even for a second question whether I should not go on this plan. I know it is not for me.

    Report Abuse
  • Miss's Avatar
    Posted by Miss Wed Sep 2, 2009 12:22pm PDT

    I struggle with my belly too. Very tasty recipe, but I think it's all about calories in, calories out (diet & exercise), and that's what I try to do. http://www.sportsncs.com/rd_p?p=186122&t=9536&a=28291-shine&gift=28291

    Report Abuse
Comments 1-10 of 15

leave your comment

You must sign in to post a comment

Sign In for personalized information

New User? Sign Up

Health Byte

Who doesn't want to look hot at all those holiday parties? ExerciseTV shares how to get in skinny jeans-shape -- and quickly!