Cyd Notter

Author and Nutrition Educator, Founder of The "Plan A" Diet™

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      • 3 Big Reasons to Include Berries in Your Diet
      • Success Tips for Changing Your Diet
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      • The Slippery Slope of “Eating in Moderation”
      • A Nutrition Pop Quiz
      • Protein and Calcium
      • Aren’t Starches Fattening
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        • Coconut Oil – Yes or No
        • Oils – what you should know
      • Eating Enough Fruits and Veggies?
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      • Making Only One Change?
      • America’s Love Affair with Bacon
      • Is it Safe to Eat Soy?
      • Are gluten-free diets for everyone?
      • Planning to diet this January? Do this instead.
      • Fabulous Flax Seed Has it All
      • How Important is the Glycemic Index?
      • Eating Out at Restaurants or Parties
    • Health Topics
      • 4 Things Necessary for a Successful, Healthy Diet
      • Habits – Good or Bad?
      • Is it too late to start eating healthy?
      • Making Small Changes but Expecting Big Results
      • Family and Social Pressure
      • Genes, Schmenes – It’s most likely the food
      • Is a Plant-Based Diet Safe for Children?
      • Which Food is a Top-Rated Cancer Causer?
      • Gut Bacteria and Our Diets
      • Diet & Breast Cancer Prevention
      • Statins – Don’t Believe Everything you Read
      • Diabetes – “Manage” or Reverse?
      • The Health Benefits of (a little) Unprotected Sun
      • Making Changes Stick
      • Evaluating Research
      • Vitamin D and Sunshine
    • Faith Related
      • Addressing Biblical Objections to a Plant-Based Diet
      • The mathematical odds that Jesus is who He said He is…
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    • Amanda G. – Loses Digestive Issues and 115 lbs.
    • Tim P. – Off all 8 Meds!
    • Cindi R. – Reversed Blocked Carotid
    • Doug M. – Doc says “Cured!”
    • Denise V. – At Peace with Food and Body Image
    • Linda Z. – Autoimmune Skin Disorder now Dormant
    • Olga A. – Improved Cognitive Function
    • Kim C. – Relief from “Getting Older”
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Flexible Sheet Pan Dinners

December 1, 2020 By Cyd Notter Leave a Comment

I received an article today about one pan meals that are ready in 40 minutes. I’m interested!

I’d never heard of a Sheet Pan Dinner (or ‘tray bake’ according to the article). But I can certainly see the benefits!

By combining an uncooked grain, freshly cut veggies, a can of beans or peas, spices, and veggie broth/water on a baking tray, you can have a complete, nutrient-filled meal in 40 minutes. Add in your favorite sauces or dressings if desired, as well as optional nuts, seeds, or nutritional yeast.

Here’s the entire article (along with recipes) on the Forks over Knives website.

I was leery that my baking tray would hold 3.5 cups of liquid, so I did a test and it surely does. I typically use a silicone baking sheet liner (or at the very least, a piece of parchment paper) when roasting or baking, but that may not be necessary with this type of dish. I plan to make the “curry and rice” recipe first, but the flexibility of Sheet Pan Dinners offers countless possibilities!

Minimal effort, minimal clean-up, flexible recipes, and foods which are packed with protein, calcium, and other vital nutrients. What’s not to love?

P.S. Want to make quick, Roasted Veggie Pasta? Watch my video here on how to roast the veggies – without oil! Then serve the roasted veggies over whole grain pasta which is topped with a healthy pasta sauce (Aldi has oil-free, organic pasta sauce for under $2 a jar). Everyone loves it!

Let me know if you try the Sheet Pan Dinners (or the Roasted Veggie Pasta)!


Other helpful resources:

A free class: 3 Reasons Dieters Regain the Weight 

A free copy of The 21-Day Meal Plan

Most popular class: Inflammation & Your Diet

Dieting this January? Instead, get this course now and be ready for a permanent change.

Need a gift idea? A signed copy of The “Plan A” Diet would be a great stocking stuffer!

 

Filed Under: My Blog Tagged With: 'Plan A' Diet, Christian, diet, faith based, faith based diet, no oil, oil free, Pasta, Plant Based Diet, plant based recipes, plant-based nutrition, Sheet Pan Recipe, whole food plant based

EASY Plant-Based Recipes for Busy Holiday Months

November 2, 2020 By Cyd Notter 2 Comments

We’re officially in the season of dread for those trying to stay on-track with their diets. The 63 days from Halloween to New Year’s Day is typically when we give ourselves unspoken permission to over-indulge…it’s the holidays, after all!

Plus, it’s hard to stay diligent when you’re surrounded by candies, baked goods, and high-calorie beverages.

So what can you do? Two things come to mind:

  1. You can make your “holiday game plan” now. By planning out a few targeted goals, you can still enjoy the holidays without compromising your health. Read more about it here.
  2. Don’t add to your stress by planning elaborate meals during the week. Eat simply by making these quick, easy meals which are featured in The 21-Day Meal Plan.  Another way to save time in the kitchen is by batch cooking once or twice a week. Watch this video for my batch cooking suggestions.

Remember, surviving the holidays is not about deprivation! It’s about forming a strategy to eat healthy, delicious foods while avoiding the temptation of all those high-calorie, high-fat weight- and health-busters. As an extra bonus, you’ll avoid the guilt AND the bloat when the holidays are over. 🙂

A sensible person sees trouble and hides,
but naive people keep going and pay the penalty. (Proverbs 27:12, EHV)

 

Great Christmas gift! Order a signed copy of the book 🙂

Free Webinar: 3 Reasons Dieters Regain the Weight

Online Course: Inflammation & Your Diet

Online Course: The “Plan A” Diet (6-week) Transition Course

 

Filed Under: My Blog Tagged With: easy recipes, faith based diet, holiday game plan, Holiday weight gain, holidays, plant based recipes, plant-based nutrition, The Plan A Diet, vegan, vegetarian, whole food plant based

Score a Win-Win with that Leftover Halloween Candy

October 31, 2020 By Cyd Notter Leave a Comment

Have you heard about the national Halloween Candy Buy Back (HCBB) program? It was started back in 2005 by a dentist, Dr. Chris Kammer, with the goal of getting the surplus candy ‘off the streets’ and reducing the over consumption of sugar by children. 

Not only does the program “buy back” the candy, the collected treats are then sent to our troops abroad as a token of appreciation for serving to keep us safe.

 

Since the time HCBB was founded, dental offices across the nation have responded in increasing numbers, and hundreds of tons of candy have been collected over the years. HCBB has been featured by dozens of local news outlets and was even featured by Diane Sawyer on ABC News. 

Dental offices generally pay the kids $1 per pound for the candy (usually a 5 lb. limit), and then send it to Move America Forward or Operation Shoebox, organizations who sort/package/ship it to the troops abroad along with other necessities. 

Not only do the kiddos benefit from eating less sugar and getting a lesson in generosity, the troops abroad get a nice treat as well. Definitely a win-win!

To find a participating dental office near you who’ll buy back your candy, go to the HCBB website and type in your zip code. 

When you’re given a box of candy, don’t gulp it all down; eat too much chocolate

and you’ll make yourself sick. (Proverbs 25:16, MSG)

Filed Under: My Blog Tagged With: 'Plan A' Diet, buy back, candy, candy for troops, faith based diet, halloween, Plant Based Diet, vegan, vegetarian, whole food plant based

Can Weight Loss Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer?

October 20, 2020 By Cyd Notter 2 Comments

In light of Breast Cancer Awareness month, I’d like to share some very interesting facts that Dr. Kristi Funk presented on a recent YouTube interview hosted by Chef AJ.

Dr. Funk is a breast cancer surgeon who happens to be extremely energetic and passionate about what she does!

Here are a few things she covered:

  • Red flags for the BRCA gene mutation; when to be tested, and what it means it you have it
  • Being overweight is the highest preventable risk factor. Think of your weight at age 18, and then consider these statistics according to your current weight: Those who gain under 8 pounds stay at normal risk; a weight gain of between 8-14 pounds increases breast cancer risk 25%; a weight gain of 14-29 pounds = a 60% risk increase; over 29 lbs = a 90% increased risk.
  • That’s because fat cells contain/lead to increased estrogen levels.
  • BUT, anyone that loses weight can reverse the trend.
  • Which foods are so anti-estrogen that they block cancer? Whole SOY foods, because of the genistein content. She recommends daily consumption (and shares all the soy stats).
  • Ground flax seed are also super cancer fighters, because of their LIGNAN content; lignans are anti-estrogen.
  • Broccoli (raw or lightly steamed) – the sulforaphane is another powerful cancer fighter.
  • Cacao powder – at least 70% cacao – a breast cancer superfood.
  • Alcohol should be reduced or eliminated – even moderate drinking raises cancer risk.

I highly recommend watching the entire video!

She shares the weight gain statistics “not to PANIC anyone, but to incentivize them.”

At the time of this writing, there are three seats left in my “Intro to Safe, Permanent Weight Loss” being offered through Joliet Junior College (online using Zoom). The class will be held November 16 from 6:30 – 8:00 CST. Read more about it here and consider joining us!

PS: Be sure to check out this FREE class, too: 3 Reasons Dieters Regain the Weight

 

 

Filed Under: My Blog Tagged With: breast cancer, Cancer risk, faith based diet, Plant Based Diet, plant-based nutrition, The Plan A Diet, vegan, vegetarian, weight gain, whole food plant based

Cholesterol and Breast Cancer – is there a connection?

October 7, 2020 By Cyd Notter Leave a Comment

Another October has rolled around, and it’s time once again for all things PINK.

October is commonly known as “Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” a campaign that was founded over 30 years ago as a team effort between the American Cancer Society and a pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca.

Except for skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, and their second leading cause of cancer death (only lung cancer kills more women each year).

It’s my personal opinion – and one that I express every October – that the campaign’s focus of “awareness” is sadly misplaced. Instead of mainly focusing on early detection and subsequent treatment, let’s bring more awareness to the area of prevention since breast cancer is largely a lifestyle-related disease.

To do otherwise is like constantly mopping up the water under the sink while neglecting to turn off the faucet.

A woman’s lifestyle choices matter more to her health than toxins, environmental chemicals, and genetics…

…which brings us to the question initially posed. Cholesterol and breast cancer – is there a connection?

There absolutely is. Oxidized cholesterol (concentrated in products containing eggs, processed meat, and parmesan cheese) has cancer-fueling estrogenic effects on human breast cancer. Read more about it here.

The good news is that there is MUCH you can do to tremendously reduce your risk of breast cancer. This previous blog post provides more dietary tips that all women should consider.

 

Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. 

(Romans 12:2, MSG)

 

 

Filed Under: My Blog Tagged With: breast cancer awareness, breast cancer prevention, diet and breast cancer, faith based diet, Plant Based Diet, plant-based nutrition, The Plan A Diet, vegan, vegetarian, whole food plant based

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Recent Posts

  • Maple Glazed Vegan Ham
  • How to NOT gain weight during the holidays
  • Flexible Sheet Pan Dinners
  • My Top 6 Favorite Pumpkin Recipes
  • EASY Plant-Based Recipes for Busy Holiday Months
  • Score a Win-Win with that Leftover Halloween Candy
  • Can Weight Loss Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer?
  • Cholesterol and Breast Cancer – is there a connection?
  • Sopa de Fideo – soup or spaghetti?
  • 4 Things Necessary for a Successful, Healthy Diet

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