Read an Excerpt
The Shred Diet Cookbook
By Ian K. Smith St. Martin's Press
Copyright © 2015 Ian K. Smith, M.D.
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4668-6685-0
CHAPTER 1
EATING THE SHRED WAY
SHRED and SUPER SHRED are more than just popular diet programs; they are a way of life. When I envisioned these programs, I had three rules in mind. First, they must be inexpensive. Second, they must be realistic. Third, they must not ask for perfection. With these three cornerstones as a foundation, the SHRED lifestyle was born. So many SHREDDERs have emailed, tweeted, or posted Facebook messages saying they would like a cookbook of SHRED-approved meals that would help them continue to lose weight while at the same time not compromising taste. People who are trying to lose weight want to have fun, delicious meals just like everyone else, maybe more than everyone else. Getting banished to the diet aisle in the grocery store is no one's idea of a good time. The SHRED Diet Cookbook is my scrumptious answer to your desire to eat great food and lose weight.
What many SHREDDERs find appealing is that the foods that are suggested on the programs are real, affordable foods that you can find in almost any grocery store. There are plenty of tasty, healthy foods that are not organic or carrying some barely unpronounceable name. Many of the foods that we've been eating since we were children are completely acceptable, but SHRED teaches you how to prepare them in a healthier way so that they don't lose their flavor and their calorie counts don't add unwanted pounds.
The idea that a person might live the rest of their life without having a slice of pizza is crazy. Pizza, burgers, and pasta are fun, tasty foods that also can be quite nutritious depending on how they're prepared and the size of the portions. It is only realistic to expect that people are going to have these foods as well as ice cream and cake and other favorites. The SHRED lifestyle doesn't ban these foods, nor does it punish you for having them. Instead, it teaches you how to literally have your cake and eat it too. You'll satisfy your craving, but at the same time not increase those numbers on the scale. Everything in moderation is really something that a SHREDDER can live by as long as the balance leans toward clean, healthy eating.
Although many believe that losing weight means a strict diet of whole grains, fiber, and super foods, the truth of the matter is that no one is nor can be expected to be perfect when it comes to making nutrition and exercise decisions. Sometimes the portion might be bigger than suggested. You might have a couple of glasses of wine instead of one. You might not make it to the gym to work out on your scheduled day. The SHRED lifestyle acknowledges that you will not be perfect. SHRED and SUPER SHRED don't penalize you for being human.
SHRED: The Revolutionary Diet is the original program that works in six-week cycles. After completing the six weeks, you cycle back and do another six weeks but in a different sequence. The program is based on three major components: spacing out your meals; eating four small- to moderate-sized meals a day; and diet confusion for which you vary the types and quantity of foods. The average results from this six-week program are 20 pounds, 4 inches, and two sizes. Although the timing of meals and snacks can be different for everyone based on when you get up to start your day, a typical eating day on the SHRED program might look something like this:
8:30 A.M. 10:00 A.M. 11:30 A.M. 1:00 P.M. 3:30 P.M. 7:00 P.M. 8:30 P.M.
Meal 1
Snack 1
Meal 2
Snack 2
Meal 3
Meal 4
Snack 3
This is an example of what day 1 week 2 on SHRED might look like:
MEAL 1
1 banana
Smoked Salmon and Egg Sandwich
½ cup of apple juice (not from concentrate)
SNACK 1
Artichoke-Basil Dip and Celery
MEAL 2
1 cup of Smoky Lentil Soup
Unlimited plain water (flat or fizzy)
SNACK 2
Mediterranean Popcorn
MEAL 3
Small green garden salad (Only 3 tablespoons of fat-free dressing, no bacon bits, no croutons. Keep it clean.)
Herbed Goat Cheese-Stuffed Chicken Breasts with steamed broccoli
1 cup of unsweetened iced tea
MEAL 4
1 bowl of Tomato and White Bean Soup
1 serving of Simple, Gorgeous Glazed Carrots
1 cup of lemonade and 1 cup of plain water
SNACK 3
Smoky Kale Chips
SUPER SHRED: The Big Results Diet is the accelerated version of SHRED. This is a program designed for people who want to lose weight quickly, but in a healthy manner. Many who have reached a weight-loss plateau or who need to get the weight off quickly because they are going on vacation or have an event to attend soon will use this four-week accelerated program. The average result after these four weeks is an astounding 20-pound weight loss. Some people will do a cycle of SHRED, then a cycle of SUPER SHRED and all types of combinations, mixing up the routine to keep their weight loss going.
SUPER SHRED's primary concepts are Negative Energy Balance (energy consumed is less than the energy expended), Calorie Disruption (varying the quantity of calories you consume each day), and Sliding Nutrient Density (eating more plant-based meals during the latter part of the day). Each of the four weeks of SUPER SHRED is dramatically different, but here is what a typical day of week 1 might look like:
7:30 A.M. 8:30 A.M. 10:00 A.M. 11:30 A.M. 12:30 A.M. 4:30 P.M. 7:30 P.M.
Awake
Meal 1
Snack 1
Snack 2
Meal 2
Meal 3
Meal 4
This is an example of what day 1 week 1 on SUPER SHRED might look like:
MEAL 1
½ cup of blueberries
1 cup of apple-walnut grits
1 cup of fresh orange juice or 1 cup of coffee (limit sugar to 1 packet; limit milk or half-and-half to 1 tablespoon)
SNACK 1
Mexican Pita Chips
SNACK 2
1 bag of White Cheddar SHRED POP popcorn (www.shredlife.com)
MEAL 2
Vigorous Green Smoothie
MEAL 3
Bowl of Uncle Johnny's Black-Eyed Pea Salad
1 cup of lemonade
MEAL 4
Start with 1 cup of water
Grilled Garlic-Lemon Sea Bass and steamed vegetables
1 cup unsweetened iced tea
The core of the SHRED lifestyle is also the core of The SHRED Diet Cookbook. These recipes are meant to be fun, tasty, healthy, easy, and satisfying. Some of the recipes are simplified, healthier versions of old standards, whereas others will have ingredients that you might not have tried before and that will open your palate to something new and wonderful. Just like the SHRED diet programs, I have arranged this book to be easy and to the point. If you're following one of the programs, you might alter a recipe to fit the recommendations for a calorie count for that particular meal. There are lots of creative, tasty recipes in this book, so be adventurous and try out as many of them as possible. Some you will eventually identify as your go-to recipes; others you might decide to save for special occasions when you want something unique and satisfying. The bottom line is that you don't have to be a James Beard Award-winning chef to cook and enjoy these recipes. You simply need an open mind, a few ingredients, a few well-used pots and pans, and a willingness to have fun. Enjoy!
CHAPTER 2
BREAKFAST RECIPES: A Strong Start to the Day
Energy Blast Yogurt
Healthy Granola
Red Pepper and Scallion Scramble
Pumpkin-Pecan Oatmeal
Grilled Cheese Greatness
Breakfast Quinoa
Herbed Egg-White Wraps
Turkey Sausage Frittata
Whole-Wheat Pancakes with Blueberry-Lemon Compote
Gramma's Old-Fashioned Pancakes
Smoked Salmon and Egg Sandwich
Mediterranean Breakfast Pita Pockets
Individual Mushroom-and-Swiss Quiches
Kale Baked Eggs
Buckwheat Crêpes with Cinnamon Honey
Chia-Pomegranate Breakfast Pudding
Green-Chile-and-Egg Quesadillas
Melon-Berry Cups
Apple-Walnut Grits
Chocolate Whole-Grain Waffles with Strawberry Syrup
Broiled Almond-Banana Toast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially in the SHRED lifestyle. Your body has not been nourished for the last 8 hours and needs to be refueled to start the day. Many make the mistake of thinking that breakfast is a chance to save on calories, so they skip it altogether or they barely eat anything at all.
I like to use a car analogy when I describe the importance of breakfast. Imagine that you've had a busy day driving around running errands and by the time you finally pull into your garage, your car's fuel gauge is just a hair away from being empty. The next day, you have a 200-mile drive planned. Would you hit the road the next morning without getting gas? Of course not. You would refuel first thing so that you have at least enough gas to get to your destination. The same is true of your body's need for fuel in the morning. You need calories and nutrients as a source of fuel to get your day off to a good start.
Make sure you eat breakfast within an hour of getting up. Going too long without nourishment deprives your body and is counterproductive to physical and mental functioning. You will be eating your first snack of the day approximately 90 minutes after having breakfast, so don't wait too late to get in your first meal and throw off the rest of your meal schedule for the day.
Meal spacing can be just as important as what you eat, how much you eat, and the calories you consume. Research has shown that how one spaces their meals can be advantageous to weight loss. Regular eating can have a direct impact on hormones such as insulin and cortisol. These hormones in turn can have an impact on how much and where the body stores fat. Keeping hormone levels as consistent as possible and avoiding spikes in their release as well as their concentration in blood levels can be an added benefit when trying to maintain or lose weight.
The SHRED lifestyle means that there's as much attention paid to when you're eating as there is to what you're eating. Many people trying to lose weight don't find success because they are not being mindful of when they eat. They go for long periods of time without eating and then indulge in a large meal or snack when they can't take the hunger pains any longer. It's important to avoid this type of sporadic, over-indulgent eating pattern. Distributing calories as evenly as possible throughout the day is an important strategy for optimal nutrition.
The type of fuel you load up on in the morning is equally important when it comes to creating your best opportunity for a healthy and satisfying day of nourishment. Fiber, protein, and a full complement of vitamins are important when choosing a breakfast in the morning. Ideally, you will want to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables combined, so starting the day with one or two servings of fruit is an easy way to make sure you reach this goal on a daily basis. You can eat a piece of fruit as well as a glass of fresh juice or even a smoothie. Don't be afraid to be creative when figuring out a way to get in your fruit.
The following breakfast recipes have been chosen because they check off a lot of boxes. They are easy to prepare, inexpensive, extremely tasty, and pack a powerful nutritional punch. Feel free to make smart substitutions with some of the ingredients, but be mindful of how this might alter the calorie counts as well as other nutritional components of the meal.
ENERGY BLAST YOGURT
The best breakfast to start the day includes fresh, eye-opening flavors that will get you up and moving without making you feel full or setting you up for a midmorning crash. Combining the staying power of oats, a blast of sweetness from fruit and honey, and the pleasing smoothness of yogurt, this one-bowl treat will get you off on the right foot. You can even count on a big helping of antioxidants along with those mouthwatering blueberries!
SERVES 1
One 5.3-ounce container plain nonfat Greek yogurt
½ teaspoon honey
Pinch ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons rolled oats
Zest of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon dried blueberries
1 teaspoon roasted unsalted sunflower seeds
In a small bowl, combine the yogurt, honey, cinnamon, oats, and lemon zest and stir to mix. Let stand about 5 minutes to soften the oats. Sprinkle the blueberries and sunflower seeds over the top and enjoy.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION Per Serving: 181 cal., 2 g fat, 0 g sat. fat, 24 g carb., 16 g protein, 70 mg sodium, 10 g sugar, 3 g fiber.
HEALTHY GRANOLA
The name says it all. This is a grab-and-go boost to your immune system, full of usable calories to see you through to lunch without hunger pangs, plus a nice dose of fiber. That's the good news. The better news? All that healthiness comes wrapped in tons of flavor from the nutty almonds, the sweet apple juice, and the sparkle of cinnamon and ginger. It's also a tremendous option as a snack anytime you're in a rush.
SERVES 2 (ABOUT 2 CUPS)
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
2 tablespoons slivered almonds
1 plain rice cake, crushed into small pieces in a resealable plastic bag
1 tablespoon flaxseed meal
¼ cup apple juice
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons canola oil
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground ginger
Pinch salt
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Combine the oats, almonds, rice cake, and flaxseed meal in a medium bowl and toss. In another small bowl, whisk together the apple juice, 2 tablespoons of water, the honey, canola oil, vanilla extract, cinnamon, ginger, and salt until combined.
3. Pour the liquid mixture over the dry ingredients and toss well to combine. Spread in a single, even layer on the lined baking sheet.
4. Bake, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, until golden brown and crisp, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, stir in the cranberries, and let stand until completely cool.
5. Serve with yogurt or milk, and store any extra in an airtight container at room temperature.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION Per Serving: 301 cal., 8 g fat, 1 g sat. fat, 8 g carb., 8 g protein, 171 mg sodium, 19 g sugar, 4 g fiber.
RED PEPPER AND SCALLION SCRAMBLE
A simple scramble can be a great, protein-rich way to start off your morning, more so if it includes garden-fresh vegetables. The bell peppers and onions perk up the eggs in this dish and are cooked just until they soften so that they go well with the texture of the scramble but not so much that they lose their nutrient value. A little sweet paprika throws in a flavor twist that makes the dish even better.
SERVES 4
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
½ large red bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped
6 scallions, white and green parts separated and sliced
4 large eggs
4 large egg whites
¼ 1/4 teaspoon sweet paprika
4 slices whole-grain bread, toasted
2 teaspoons whole-grain mustard
1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bell pepper and scallion whites and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low.
2. While they cook, whisk the eggs and egg whites together in a small bowl until combined. Add the paprika, salt and pepper to taste, and whisk to blend.
3. Pour the eggs into the skillet over the bell pepper and onions and cook until the eggs are set and scrambled, 3 to 4 minutes.
4. Spread a thin layer of mustard on each toast slice. Divide the eggs among the toasted bread slices, sprinkle the scallion greens over the top and serve.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION Per Serving: 259 cal., 14 g fat, 3 g sat. fat, 21 g carb., 16 g protein, 353 mg sodium, 2 g sugar, 5 g fiber.
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Excerpted from The Shred Diet Cookbook by Ian K. Smith. Copyright © 2015 Ian K. Smith, M.D.. Excerpted by permission of St. Martin's Press.
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