By now, we all know we need to stay away from Trans-Fat for our health and to maximize weight loss…But do you know where to find them?

Pop-Secret Kettle Corn (4 cups popped)
180 calories
13 g fat (6 g trans)

The only “secret” here is that they use partially hydrogenated oil to pop their kernels, turning this snack into a nutritional nightmare of heart-wrenching proportions. This box has 3 bags of popcorn, which means every time you buy it, you’re bringing 54 grams of dangerous trans fat into your house. There’s not an easier—or more important—swap to make. Another reason to switch out your bed-night snack of popcorn is that it is contributing to a stall in weight loss. In one popular low-fat diet program, they consider, 5 cups of air-popped popcorn to = 1 point…Yeah, it is very low in calories, but it is ALL SUGAR!

38 grams of carbohydrates = 9.5 teaspoons of sugar in our blood, which is way too much. There is no fat to slow the insulin spike from happening (which is why I always use full-fat real foods). Our Brain Neurotransmitters also get out of balance when we have chronic high insulin levels…cravings, moodiness, depression, anxiety or fatigue.

This is how weight gain happens…

1. First, insulin tells your body to eat, particularly sugar or carbohydrates.

2. If you follow cravings, insulin rewards you with extreme gratification (dopamine).

3. Second, insulin escorts the energy from these foods, which is low blood sugar, to wherever it is needed in the body.

4. It tells the liver to turn any extra carbohydrate into triglycerides, to be stored in the fat cells.

5. And third, it orders the body to keep the food energy locked inside the fat cells, not burning it for energy, but storing it…increasing triglyceride levels!

Cheesy Dehydrated Popcorn
1 head of cauliflower, broken into 1 “ florets
1-2 TBS Butter or coconut oil, melted
1/4 cup walnuts, or sunflower seeds
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (or nutritional yeast)
1 tsp Celtic sea salt

Place cauliflower “popcorn” pieces into a large ziplock bag and coat with melted butter. In a food processor add nuts (or seeds), Parmesan (or nutritional yeast) and sea salt, process until finely ground. Pour over florets and close top. Shake bag until cauliflower is coated. Place in a dehydrator. Dehydrate at 110 degrees for 6 hours, or until slightly crunchy. If you want it really crunchy, dehydrate for 10 hours. If you fully dehydrate the cauliflower, it will have a week shelf life! What a great camping trip food!

Nutritional yeast has 47 calories, 5 carbs, and 4g fiber, and 8g protein for each heaping 1-1/2 Tablespoon. It also provides you with 1% of the RDA of calcium and 3% RDA of iron. Nutritional yeast is loaded with the B vitamins and is one of the only vegan sources of vitamin B-12.

Crispy Cauliflower Popcorn
1 pound fresh cauliflower
2 TBS butter
4 tsp Mrs. Dash Table Blend seasoning
Salt, to taste
Pinch granular Swerve, to taste, optional

Cut the cauliflower into “popcorn”-size pieces. Put in a large ziplock bag. Drizzle the melted butter over the cauliflower and sprinkle with Mrs. Dash and a little salt. Close bag and shake until “popcorn” is coated. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with nonstick foil. Bake at 400º 50-60 minutes, turning them over every 15 minutes. Bake until dark brown, but not burnt. Taste and add salt, if needed, and a light sprinkle of Swerve, if desired. The Swerve cuts the bitterness of the charred cauliflower. This recipe was found at Linda’s Low Carb Website: http://genaw.com/lowcarb/cauliflower_popcorn.html. LOTS of great ideas there!

NUTRITIONAL INFO: 4 servings (Per Serving): 97 Calories; 7g Fat; 3g Protein; 7g Carbohydrate; 3g Dietary Fiber; 4g Net Carbs

Testimony of the Day

“Hi Maria, You have been helping me get my life back by getting healthy. My main request was to help me get pregnant. Since starting your way less than 3 months ago I have lost 31 pounds and am off all my autoimmune disease medications. And today, I can tell you that I found out I am expecting. I am only a few weeks along and so I can’t share with everyone yet but I owe you my gratitude. After a year-long emotional journey, your way restored my body back to health.” Carrie

Get started on your path to health today with the recently improved 30-day accelerated package! Now every day has calculations for percent of fat/protein/carbs. It has never been easier to follow the keto-adapted lifestyle.

“This last year I lost 65 pounds (following low carb-keto genic dieting, ) that I had diligently carried around with me since before I had adopted my two little girls, about 8-10 years.  The yo-yo dieting was rough and enough was enough!  Other than pre-menopausal symptoms, I had not really suffered from any ailments to speak of, but losing the weight has definitely helped me boost my self-confidence and regain vigor again.  My skin is the best that it has ever been!  I am so very grateful that I have found Maria’s site, and I am continually blessed when I read of other success stories and how ketogenic dieting has changed so many people’s lives and health for the better.  I look forward to taking the last 10-15 vanity pounds off the Maria way, and indulging in all her yummy recipes! And dare say it, take up yoga on a regular basis! I posted one before and 2 most recent pictures from this year’s end. Blessings to all!”