Summer treats, eat gourmet smoked ham and lose weight

July 8, 1:56 PMNutrition ExaminerCarol Bardelli

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Ham can be a healthy part of your summer cuisine.

Summer is the perfect time for sandwiches. It's easy to make these no cook meals gourmet. Premium meats are a must for delicious sandwiches the whole family will enjoy. Your grocery store's deli department has decadent, yet healthy, options like lean roast beef and turkey.

To take your sandwiches to the next level, try a delicious ham from iGourmet.com. A top seller with grand appeal and versatility is their Le Cochon d'Or Smoked Ham. Available in Black Forest and honey varieties, these gourmet hams are a sandwich lovers dream. They also go well with eggs, salads, cheeses, and stand alone as a ham steak.

Fine ham is not just for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. And lean hams are extremely diet friendly. Simply by switching out a lean 4 ounce sirloin steak at 200 calories for a 4 ounce ham steak at 100 calories, you save 100 calories. This allows you to chop roughly 300 calories a day from your usual diet if you eat three 4 ounce servings of meat a day. Throw in a few hours of swimming or tennis, and you've got a pain free formula for summertime weight loss. Go hammy and you'll get a leaner figure. Just make sure the ham you choose is low in fat and calories. Nutrition information can vary widely from one brand to another.

iGourmet.com describes this ham as a "premium Canadian ham prepared in the classic French tradition in Cap-de-la-Madeleine, a small town that lies between Quebec City and Montreal. The hogs in Cap-de-la-Madeleine are naturally raised with no growth hormones or steroids, which is a rare occurrence these days."

iGourmet's premium-quality hams are all high quality products, but these Le Cochon d'Or Smoked Hams are "hard-carved from the leanest, most tender part of the animal and are 99% fat free. They are delicately coated with unique blends of herbed and spiced marinades and slow cured to develop a full rich flavor and uniform pink color. We offer three popular flavors - Baked Black Forest, Honey, and Cracked Black Pepper."

Each ham weighs approximately seven pounds, a size that lends itself perfectly to a week of goourmet faire, be it a single Sunday dinner for a large crowd, or party hors d'oeuvres and snacks. Make your 'no cook' weekend meals extraordinary, or take that team picnic to the next level, all while staying on your healthy diet. Varieties sold separately. Price: $36.99

Tips for healthy sandwiches: don't skimp on the veggies, limit high fat condiments like mayonnaise to control calories, use variety or specialty  mustards and relishes for added flavor. Stay away from highly processed and high carbohydrate buns and breads, and stick to whole grain products that are high in fiber. If you're limiting carbs, try lettuce leaves as a sandwich wrap in place of bread. Try thinly sliced meats and cheeses to save calories. And remember portion control and moderation are always key to successful weight loss and weight control.

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