Seven oatmeal recipes that go beyond your average oats
 Let’s face it: these slushy, arctic mornings offer no incentive to get out of bed. But where weather fails, breakfast prevails—especially if you’re making one of these tasty oatmeal recipes. Here’s to warming up from the inside-out.
Apple-Berry Baked Oatmeal
via Whole Foods Market
Vanilla extract and vanilla yogurt make this baked breakfast treat full of winter-blues-fighting flavor. You can sub in different fruit according to what you have on hand, and the cake-like texture means you can take a slice along for a breakfast on the go.
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Pumpkin puree adds a sweet twist to this classic cold-weather dish.
 Brrr, its cold outside! This recipe is great for these brutal January days. It’s hearty and spicy, yet sweet at the same time. And it’s packed with protein and fiber to last you throughout the day. The key to this recipe’s sweetness is replacing half of the crushed tomatoes with pumpkin puree. It’s a great change up on an old classic. If you like it even sweeter, try adding even more roasted butternut squash. Enjoy!
Pumpkin and Squash Chili
Serves eight
1 pound Ground beef
1 can (16 oz) Black beans
1 can (16 oz) Kidney beans
3 cups Beef stock
1½ cans (15 oz) Muir Glen Fire Roasted Tomatoes
1½ cans (15 oz) Pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 cup Butternut squash, cubed
1 medium Yellow onion, diced
1 Red bell pepper, diced
1 Anaheim chili, diced
1/3 cup Fresh cilantro, chopped
1/3 cup Scallions, sliced
1 tbsp Fresh garlic, minced
1 tbsp Ground cumin
1 tbsp Dried oregano
1 tsp Chili powder
1 tsp Red pepper flakes (for heat—optional)
Sea salt and pepper, to taste
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Hosting a New Year's Eve bash? No sweat—we've got your menu covered. From drinks to dessert to everything in between, here are our favorite recipes for a killer New Year's Eve cocktail party.
 Drinks
>> Low-cal holiday cocktails
If you’re going to drink (and we totally think you should), you might as well be smart about it. Here are five festive cocktail recipes for under 200 calories.
>> Spiced Skinny Cocktail
Today’s secret ingredient: coconut water. Trust us—it makes for one delicious (and potent!) drink.
Appetizers
>> Artichoke and ‘Shroom Bruschetta
We love this interesting twist on a classic favorite. And the artichokes, mushrooms and spinach pack a serious punch, veggie-wise.
>> Chipotle Butternut Squash Soup Shooters
Here’s what you do: Get a bunch of those plastic, shot-glass-size cups, make a big batch of this good-for-you soup, and bam—the classy hors d’oeuvres your friends won’t stop talking about.
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A tasty first course or easy lunch option
Remember way back in November when Be Well Philly wrapped up the Office Challenge, and announced that West Chester contenders Advanced Audio Visual Sales would take home the grand prize? Part of that prize package was a dinner for the team catered by yours truly at COOK. Well, last week the team cashed in on that part of the prize, and afterwards, several asked for the recipe for one of the courses I whipped up. That’s what you’ll find below: my recipe for a healthy chipotle butternut squash soup. I hope you enjoy it as much as the Orange Team did!
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If you're going to drink (and we totally think you should), you might as well be smart about it.
 What’s a holiday party without a festive cocktail? Below, I’ve rounded up some tasty sips that won’t leave you with a stockingful of guilt on Christmas Day.
An easy concoction I’d like to try: So Delicious Coconut Milk Nog (I kid you not, it tastes reeeeeeally close to the real thing, but with just 3 fat grams a serving), with a shot of rum and topped with fresh grated nutmeg. What are you sipping this season?
Pomegranate Champagne Punch
via Eating Well
Now, this is what I’m talking about: champagne, pomegranate juice, seltzer, vodka. All those bubbles clock in at just 128 calories a serving, and the pom juice adds a splash of antioxidants to the mix.
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Apparently, a lot of you. I have a recipe that will change your mind.
 Discover Magazine’s Discoblog is doing an ode to college professor/researcher/self-described “informal” numbers cruncher John W. Trinkaus this week. Until about 15 minutes ago, I’d never heard of the guy. But a few Google searches later, I turned up this 2004 profile from Fortune Magazine, which explains that Trinkaus has made a bit of career out of quantifying human behavior—counting a show of hands, so to speak—on all sorts of subjects: grocery checkout habits, stop sign compliance, waiting times at doctors offices. You get the picture.
Discoblog unearthed a 1991 Trinkaus report which looked at the preference for Brussels sprouts among business school students. A very specific sample set, yes, but I’m assuming it was the best one he had at his disposal at the time. Anyway, his research found that half of respondents found the veggie to be “very repulsive” or “somewhat repulsive,” 40 percent were indifferent, and about 10 percent (that’s rounding up!) actually liked them.
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Our favorites dishes to create a healthy Thanksgiving meal, from appetizers to entrées to delicious leftovers
 Congratulations, you’re cooking Thanksgiving dinner! Not only must you juggle a platter of appetizers, four pots on the stove and three dishes in the oven, you also have to remember that Grandpa likes his mashed potatoes extra creamy, Mom refuses to eat pie on her new diet and Aunt Marge needs a cocktail ASAP.
Luckily, we’ve compiled a menu from our favorite fall recipes that’s sure to please every palate. Plus, our dishes are easy to whip up and will keep holiday weight gain at bay. You’re so very welcome.
Appetizers
Pumpkin Seed Sweet Potato Fries
Loaded with spices but short on fat and calories, these bright and crunchy fries are a great precursor to the feast ahead that won’t stuff your dinner guests too soon. You can prepare the complementary sage dipping sauce up to three days in advance to ease up Turkey Day crunch time.
Artichoke and Mushroom Bruschetta
You’ll get a good dose of veggies plus ample serving sizes (three pieces!) out of this dish. The leftover topping mixture can be used atop chicken or tossed with pasta, too.
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The perfect recipe for holiday entertaining
 Can you believe it’s that time of year already? The holiday season brings with it a host of holiday parties. It’s great to be festive and spend time with family and friends, but one of the biggest complaints I hear is that people are stressed about gaining weight. And they want tips and secrets about how to avoid the jolly-belly Santa look. Well, to be honest, there is no top-secret info that’s going to keep you svelte except to maintain your exercise regimen and don’t over do it with treats. But there is one thing I do every year for every party: I bring something! Yup, the surefire way to ensure you’re eating better at these soirées is to make a dish yourself that’s more wholesome and nosh on that. ‘Tis the season!
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With dark chocolate and raisins in the mix, this granola recipe is sure to satisfy.
 It’s the final week over in the Office Challenge, and our contest is going out with a culinary bang. Last week, our challengers made a skinny cocktail—with rum and coconut milk—that clocked in at just 120 calories. This week, Maura Manzo came up with a tasty five-grain granola recipe that has five grams of protein and dietary fiber. In other words, it’ll fill you up.
Check out the recipe over here. And if you make it at home, let us know how it turns out!
Want to keep track of all the Office Challenge fun? Join the conversation on Twitter by following @BeWellPhilly or search for the hashtag #BWPOfficeChallenge.
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At just 120 calories a pop, what's not to love?
 Everybody needs a good cocktail every now and then. But is it worth guzzling a martini if it means sacrificing your healthy eating goals?
Over on the Office Challenge, our resident nutritionist Maura Manzo asked the contestants what they’d like to see in the contest’s final two recipes. Perhaps not surprisingly, a number of them requested a healthier take on a cocktail. Boy, did she deliver.
Maura concocted a rum based drink using citrus, club soda and a little something that’s the rage right now among the health and fitness set: coconut water. With a lot less sugar and calories than a typical mixed drink, the Spiced Skinny one worth toasting. Cheers!
Want to keep track of all the Office Challenge fun? Join the conversation on Twitter by following@BeWellPhilly or search for the hashtag #BWPOfficeChallenge.
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