Low-Carb Blogiversary Contest Prize Bundle #5

It seems like I've been announcing all the FREE PRIZES you can win in my 2nd Annual Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Blogiversary Giveaway Contest for weeks, but it's only been a little more than one week. And today is the last bundle of fantastic prizes you can win just for being a reader of the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog as I celebrate two years of blogging about diet, health, and low-carb.

Just in case you missed all the other prizes, here they are again:

- Our GRAND PRIZE--A Deluxe Vermont Castings Grill
- Low-Carb Blogiversary Contest Prize Bundle #1
- Low-Carb Blogiversary Contest Prize Bundle #2
- Low-Carb Blogiversary Contest Prize Bundle #3
- Low-Carb Blogiversary Contest Prize Bundle #4

Special thanks to all of these companies who totally blew me away by so willingly providing these prizes for all of you to enjoy. I am amazed by their generosity and sincerely hope you will show your appreciation to them for supporting my blogiversary celebration. Here are the last five prize packages that you can win in the giveaway:

FREE NANO O2 SUPRA AIR PURIFIER SYSTEM


Cleaning the air in your home will make you healthier

Are you worried about how clean the air is in your house? Then you will be so excited to be able to win this fantastic high-quality air purifier from a company called Pharmatropic--the NANO O2. I own this unit myself and wrote a glowing review of how well it really does clean the air in your home. It's AMAZING! Now you can win the SUPRA model for yourself if your name is drawn for this stupendous prize! Please visit the NANO O2 web site for more information about this unit.

COMPLETE AUTOGRAPHED DIET DETECTIVE LIBRARY


Charles Stuart Platkin is known as "The Diet Detective"

You've read his nationally-syndicated column in your newspaper and recognize him as "The Diet Detective." His name is Charles Stuart Platkin and he is one of America's foremost authorities on diet, health, and fitness. Although I have had my disagreements with him regarding his diet philosophy, we both agree obesity needs to be addressed in practical ways whether it is with low-fat, low-carb, or whatever. Platkin was kind enough to donate an autographed Complete Diet Detective Library, including Breaking The Pattern, Breaking The Fat Pattern, Lighten Up (Teenagers), and The Diet Detective's Count Down (which I recently reviewed). You won't want to miss more from Platkin and other leading voices in the weight loss world at DietDetective.com.

AN ENTIRE CASE OF LOW-CARB FUZE SLENDERIZE
AN ENTIRE CASE OF LOW-CARB FUZE SLENDERIZE
AN ENTIRE CASE OF LOW-CARB FUZE SLENDERIZE
AN ENTIRE CASE OF LOW-CARB FUZE SLENDERIZE
AN ENTIRE CASE OF LOW-CARB FUZE SLENDERIZE


The FUZE Slenderize line is a deliciously low-carb drink

I just found out about the fantastic Slenderize line of low-carb beverage products called FUZE earlier this year. They've been out for a while, but are mostly a regional drink not widely available nationwide. Well, all that's about to change now that The Coca-Cola Company has signed up to distribute this outstanding product to a store near your. Check out my personal review of this product that five of you will have a chance to win an entire case of to try for yourself. Be sure to visit DrinkFuze.com to learn more about this awesome low-carb beverage.

AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ENLITENED KOSHER COOKING
AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ENLITENED KOSHER COOKING
AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ENLITENED KOSHER COOKING


Nechama Cohen has some superb kosher low-carb recipes

Shalom! I just love recipe books and three of you will win an autographed copy of a great big one that I reviewed last year called EnLITEned Kosher Cooking by Nechama Cohen. This book is fantastic for low-carbers and diabetics alike and will be an excellent prize for the winners. Learn more about Cohen and her recipes at JewishDiabetes.org.

2 CAL-CARB CLICKERS FOR YOU AND A FRIEND
2 CAL-CARB CLICKERS FOR YOU AND A FRIEND
2 CAL-CARB CLICKERS FOR YOU AND A FRIEND
2 CAL-CARB CLICKERS FOR YOU AND A FRIEND
2 CAL-CARB CLICKERS FOR YOU AND A FRIEND


Lindee Lee Bingham and Sandy Martucci invented Cal-Carb Clicker

Finally, I'm pleased to offer the Cal-Carb Clicker to five people in my blogiversary giveaway contest. I just reviewed this little gadget this week and was very impressed with this invention by sisters Lindee Lee Bingham and Sandy Martucci. Now YOU have an chance to win two of these--one for you and one to give away to a friend or loved one. Keep track of your calories, carbs, and water intake with this handy-dandy little clicker. Find out more at CalCarbClicker.com.

That's it everyone! No more prizes to tell you about. But there are PLENTY of them to go around that you have an EXCELLENT chance at winning SOMETHING during my 2nd Annual Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Blogiversary Giveaway Contest. Be sure to get me your entry soon so you can become eligible to win. GOOD LUCK to everyone who enters! And thanks for reading the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog. I appreciate you guys so much! :)

Healthy Isn't Hard When You Are EnLITEned

Good-carb, healthy-fat and sugar-free recipes--AND KOSHER, TOO!

Shalom! I come to you today in the name of peace among the nations of low-fat and low-carb by offering to the citizens on both sides of the dietary spectrum an honest and sincere accord that should please them both. It's a brand new recipe book written by Nechama Cohen called EnLITEned Kosher Cooking.

Cohen is a Jewish woman who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes two decades ago just when she was beginning her journey as wife and mother. But instead of bemoaning this and shaking her fist at God for allowing something so devastating to make her bitter about her life, she turned her energy towards keeping a positive attitude, furthered her education by eventually studying nutrition and nursing, and never letting go of the hope for a happier, healthier and more productive life.

Additionally, Cohen was so determined to help other people with diabetes that she started a support group for Jewish women suffering from Type 1 diabetes which eventually became what is known today as the largest Jewish diabetes organization in the world--The Jewish Diabetes Network. She is the CEO of that incredible organization and plays a very active role in spreading good information about preventing diabetes, educating people on how to better manage their diabetes, and to bring it under control through smart choices in their diet and lifestyle choices.

One of the things Cohen was most concerned about what the lack of clarity about what "healthy" living was supposed to look like. All the books on low-fat and low-carb have done is stir up debate in the world of weight loss, but what about converging the best ideas of both worlds by creating a recipe book that works for both diets? That's exactly what EnLITEned Kosher Cooking is all about.

Rather than debating whether low-fat or low-carb is right, Cohen says people should have a positive attitude and educate themselves better about what is truly healthy for them. She is dedicated to this principle of self-awareness and taking back control of your life by implementing strategic changes to improve your weight and diseases such as diabetes. This includes looking at the good carbs and the healthy fats that are essential for anyone desiring better health.

EnLITEned Kosher Cooking is a gargantuan 420-page book (it has to weigh at least 50 pounds!) and is stuffed with the most gorgeous pictures and easy-to-understand recipes you'll ever find in a cookbook. I REALLY enjoyed the labeling Cohen did for each recipe, describing them in the table of contents as "low carb," "reduced carb," "carb free," "low fat," "reduced fat," or "fat-free." These convenient labels will let you zero in on the kind of recipe YOU are interested in. And there are over 250 yummy ones to choose from, too!

An extremely unique feature of EnLITEned Kosher Cooking is the fact that Cohen often gives alternative recipe instructions about how you can further lower the carbohydrates in a recipe if you are livin' la vida low-carb. I personally appreciated that aspect of this cookbook because some "other" authors simply would not have cared about the carbs. Cohen genuinely does and I credit her for understanding how important this is to so many of us watching our carb counts.

The recipes are divided into soups, salads, dips, dressing & spreads, vegetables & side dishes, dairy, fish, meat & poultry, baking LITE, pies & desserts, snacks & beverages, and, of course, she includes special recipes for Passover celebrating her rich heritage. The Nutrition Facts are listed for every recipe, including calories, protein, carbs, fat, cholesterol, sodium, calcium and fiber. Additionally, she lists the fat, starch, and protein exchanges for each recipe as well.

Before she gives you the recipes, Cohen explains why she believes in lifestyle change over dieting by explaining the reasons why carbohydrate-restriction in combination with lots of fiber, watching the glycemic index, and the right kinds of fats (like flaxseed, walnuts, and olive oil) will lead to better health management. She touches on the low-fat/low-carb debate and gives you her "bottom line" conclusion about it based on the evidence which may just surprise supporters of BOTH sides!

As for avoiding sugar in her recipes (for obvious reasons since she is diabetic), Cohen breaks down all the latest and greatest sweeteners that people should use as part of their new healthy lifestyle and are featured in her recipes, including saccharine, ACE-K, aspartame, sucralose (Splenda), sugar alcohols, and stevia. These sweeteners are a must since sugar is NOT an option.

Okay, enough with the preliminary information, what about the recipes themselves?! Oh my goodness, these are all so fantastic, I can hardly wait for you to try them. How about a quick sneak peek at a few, shall we?


CREAMY PUMPKIN SOUP

This vibrant orange recipe is perfect on a cold Winter's night to warm up your body without filling it up with unnecessary carbohydrates. A 2-cup serving has just 53 calories, 6g carbs, and 2.4g fat. Mmmm, great use for pumpkin, don't ya think?


PORTABELLO MUSHROOM CAPS

Exotic and flavorful portobello mushrooms make this recipe a favorite among low-fat or low-carb diners as a meal in itself. Each stuffed mushroom contains only 98 calories, 5.3g carbs, and 3.9g fat. It also contains 5.5g protein to help fill you up!

HALIBUT STEAKS IN POUCHES

If you like fish, then this light and easy recipe will make your mouth water. For low-carbers, instead of mashed potatoes, you can use mashed cauliflower instead. It contains 170 calories, 0.7g carbs, and 3.3g fat for each steak. Mouth-watering good!

What more can I say about EnLITEned Kosher Cooking other than GO GET IT and pick up extra copies for your friends and family members who need to eat healthier. You don't have to be Jewish to enjoy this amazing new book, but you will sense the gracious heart of Nechama Cohen as you cook up each and every recipe she so freely shares.

Low-fat and low-carb advocates, prepare to be EnLITEned!