Bread is a favorite of many, but its high carbohydrate content can make it unsuitable for those on a diet. If you're looking for a sweet bread that can be eaten on a diet, we've got the perfect recipe for you. This apricot-orange bread is delicious, and it won't set your diet back! Let's get into this recipe.
Ingredients:
1 package (6 oz) dried apricots, cut into small pieces
2 cups water
2 Tablespoons trans-free tub margarine
1 cup sugar
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 Tablespoon orange peel, freshly grated
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1/2 cup fat free dry milk powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil two 9- by 5-inch loaf pans.
2. Cook apricots in water in covered medium-size saucepan for 10–15 minutes, or until tender but not mushy. Drain and reserve 3/4 cup liquid. Set apricots aside to cool.
3. Cream together margarine and sugar. By hand, beat in egg and orange peel.
4. Sift together flour, dry milk, baking powder, soda, and salt. Add to creamed mixture alternately with reserved apricot liquid and orange juice.
5. Stir apricot pieces and pecans into batter.
6. Turn batter into prepared pans.
7. Bake for 40–45 minutes or until bread springs back when lightly touched in center.
8. Cool for 5 minutes in pans. Remove from pans and completely cool on wire rack before slicing.
Yield: 2 loaves
Serving size: 1/2-inch slice
Each serving provides:
Calories: 97
Total fat: 2 g
Saturated fat: less than 1 g
Cholesterol: 6 mg
Sodium: 113 mg
Total fiber: 1 g
Protein: 2 g
Carbohydrates: 18 g
Potassium: 110 mg
Tips for Losing Weight
Losing weight can be a challenge for many people. You might find that you just can't seem to shake off those final few pounds, or that you aren't able to keep the weight off once you lose it. If you're stuck in a rut losing weight, check out these tips.
Put yourself in a calorie deficit. This is critical to losing weight and keeping it off. You should be eating fewer calories than you're burning. By doing this, your body will have to turn to existing fat stores for energy. This will help you lose weight, and keep it off once you lose it. In order to be in a calorie deficit, you'll need to be exercising at least moderately. Walking for 45 minutes a day is a good place to start.
Try intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting means that you spend a period of time, usually 12-16 hours, not eating anything at all each day. Then, you eat during the remaining part of the day. This method forces your body to turn to fat stores for energy. The longer you can go in a fast period without eating, the better. You can, and should, drink water during this time. Intermittent fasting is not recommended for diabetics or those with a history of anorexia or bulimia.
Make sure you aren't taking cheat days too frequently. If you're taking frequent cheat days, that can cause you to slide backwards in your progress. You should aim to take no more than one cheat day every other week. Remember that dieting doesn't mean you have to give up your favorite foods; it just means that you have to re-invent them to be lower in calories and fat. If you find that you're taking a lot of cheat days, it could mean that you're unhappy with your diet and you need to readjust.
Remember that your weight can fluctuate each day. Everyone's weight fluctuates throughout the day. You may see up to a five pound fluctuation from day to day, depending on when you weigh yourself. It's important to stay consistent with the time of day that you weigh yourself to help avoid these fluctuations impacting your understanding of your weight. It's recommended that you only weigh yourself once a week, since any more than that and you'll likely fall victim to normal weight fluctuations making you think you're failing at your diet.