Fast food salads are often calorie and sodium bombs in disguise. Case in point, Arby's Market Fresh Santa Fe Salad sounds healthy but weighs in at 655 calories and 1,300 milligrams of sodium, about half of your daily requirement in one sitting! Wendy's Southwest Taco Salad is the equivalent of a greasy hamburger at 850 calories and Taco Bell's Fiesta "salad" has 1,690 milligrams of sodium, more than the recommend 1,500 milligrams for someone with heart disease. It's enough to make the conscientious but hurried diner cringe. But fear not, Dr.Joey Shulman, DC, a Toronto-based registered holistic nutritionist has the fix. Shulman, who is founder of the reknowned Shulman Weight Loss Clinics, specializes in re-programming people's metabolisms for steady, sustainable weight loss by teaching them how to eat metabolism-boosting meals that help control cravings and balance blood sugar levels.
But, what does a metabolism-boosting meal look like? It's no peice of cardboard washed down with brown sludge that calls itself a meal replacement smoothie. Check out this fabulous salad, designed by Shulman herself for Freshii, a fast food joint like none other that lets you customize your own salad, wrap, bowl or soup.
With the flavourful combination of goat's cheese, aged balsamic and fresh mango, you can tell that nutrition isn't the only thing on Shulman's mind. Sweet, sour, salty - there's something for every palate on this plate. However, it's the macronutrient balance of this creation that's truly brillant. For a mere 255 calories, you get a whooping 22 grams of protein from four different lean food sources intermingled with healthy fat and low glycemic carbohydrates. Anyone who has ever been serious about losing weight can tell you about the improtance of adequate protein - it kills your hunger and fills you up.
There are several nuances to this salad that make it extremely marketable to the diverse Toronto crowd. For instance, use of goat's cheese instead of cow's cheese lowers the lactose content for those who are intolerant. The spackling of soy protein from edamame is a quiet nod to those of the Asian persuasion. And of course, riding on the current gluten-free trend, grain is omitted but you don't miss it because of the carrots, mango and beans. All these virtues, and we haven't even mentioned the antioxidants, vitamins and minerals!
Vitamins and minerals are co-factors in every metabolic process in your body, including the processes of carbohydrate and fat metabolism. They also bolster your body from the effects of stress, which is a huge factor in the weight loss equation. Shulman and her clinicians are well aware of how stress can prevent maximal results as clients fall pry to emotional eating. Eighty-five percent of Shulman Weight Loss Clinic members are emotional eaters, and, guess what - 85 percent of them successfully lose weight under the guidance of the Shulman nutritionists. Numerous proven strategies, like how to choose a healthy salad at a fast food joint, as well as meal plans and wellness seminars encourage permanent lifestyle changes in these successful losers.
By designing this Freshii Metabolism Boosting Diet Salad, Shulman is given everyone a taste of weight loss success. If you like what you taste, check out the book by the same name (The Metabolism Boosting Diet, Harper Collins, 2012) or, according to www.shulmanweightloss.com, Dr.Shulman also does free consultations if you want to talk about your fat loss with her in person. Eat the salad, get the book, meet the doc. That's what I call a holistic weight loss approach.
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