Author Archives: Vanessa Wood

Start the Day on the Right Foot: Positive Thoughts Yield Positive Results!

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Vanessa Wood

I like to start the day on the right foot! The first thing I do every morning is read a page from one of my books of positive affirmations. This sets the tone for my day. I repeat whatever the … Continue reading →

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Healthy Italian-American Meatballs

Posted on April 14, 2014 by Vanessa Wood

Makes approximately 15 meatballs. 1 slice white or whole wheat sandwich bread ¼ cup of skim milk 1 1/2 pounds ground lean sirloin or round (May substitute ground turkey, a mixture of light and dark meat. Other options are ground … Continue reading →

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Escarole and Beans

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Vanessa Wood

Escarole and Beans in Red Sauce 1 lb dried cannellini beans (or canned- see note) 5 garlic cloves 2 tbs extra virgin olive oil 2 heads escarole, rough chop 4 cups tomato sauce 4 cups diced/chopped tomatoes (fresh or canned) … Continue reading →

Posted in Entrees, Recipes | Tagged beans, escarole, healthy pasta | Comments Off

San Marzano Sauce

Posted on March 21, 2014 by Vanessa Wood

2 cans imported San Marzano tomatoes, break tomatoes roughly by hand, remove the core 2 cans tomato puree 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 yellow onion, chopped 1 cup water (rinse out the cans) 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 cups fresh … Continue reading →

Posted in Pastas and Sauces | Tagged easy sauce, fresh tomatoes | Comments Off

The Naysayers

Posted on March 20, 2014 by Vanessa Wood

Sadly, even after being at my healthy weight for over three years and having run four full and one half marathons, and having my story reported online for the world to see, I still frequently hear gossip and rumors behind … Continue reading →