Get fit for summer with Michelle Dudash

Registered dietitian and chef Michelle Dudash shows us how to get for summer by eating what she eats!

She was also named a finalist to become a blogger for SELF magazine and Michelle needs your votes. Michelle know that preparing healthy meals can be challenging and time consuming. That is one of the reasons she says she is competing in a blog-off for SELF Magazine to contribute simple and delicious ideas for dealing with this ongoing struggle.

Michelle says "I was selected by SELF editors as one of only four finalists nationwide to have the chance to become their next blogger for Eat Like Me, which is their most popular blog. I will be writing about and taking photos of everything I eat, from breakfast to dinner and dessert, and everything in between. I hope to provide readers with new ideas on how they can eat healthier everyday with foods that taste delicious."

What Michelle Eats
Overall, Michelle says she bases most of her meals and snacks around whole grains, a protein, and fruit or vegetable. This provides sustained energy to keep her satisfied and energized throughout the day for her on-the-go lifestyle.

Breakfast: In the morning she plans her breakfast around whole grains, a protein, and fruit. She also drinks one cup of coffee with a touch of raw sugar and a splash of whole milk. During the week, much of her time is spent at her desk writing and planning, where she sips a glass of filtered tap water to stay hydrated.

A.M. Snack: Mid morning she has a snack, which is usually a Greek yogurt cup with granola or handful of nuts and dried fruit.

Lunch: Lunch is a wildcard for Michelle and consists of either yummy leftovers from the night before, or a big salad with lettuce, cheese, nuts, dried fruit, and vegetables. She admits to heating up a natural foods frozen entrée if she hasn't been to the store in a few days.

P.M. Snack: In the late afternoon she refreshes with sparkling iced tea or homemade iced coffee and a sweet snack such as a rice cake topped with natural peanut butter and dark chocolate chips and honey. She says this helps energize her evening workouts at the gym. If she craves something salty she reaches for whole grain crackers topped with reduced fat cheese.

Dinner: Michelle keeps suppers simple so she can spend time with her family. Grilled salmon and asparagus with roasted potatoes or rice pilaf remain popular in her house. On most nights she enjoys a glass of red or white wine and maybe a small square of dark chocolate. She enjoys flavored sparkling water as a drink alternate on the wine less evenings.

Michelle Needs Your Votes to Win!
The winner will be 100% decided by the greatest number of votes received. Click here to vote and here to read Michelle's blog posts. You can vote as many times as you like now through June 10. Read her blogs from May 18 and 19, and come back to see her May 30 and 31, and June 8 posts.

To celebrate this blog-off you can "like" Michelle on her Facebook page , as she posts photographs of everything she eats now through June 10.

Chef Dudash Nutrition
Gilbert, AZ
www.michelledudash.com
480-907-6948