Are you familiar with fitness celebrity Tosca Reno? She’s a Canadian fitness model who used to be an overweight housewife. About 10 years ago she revamped her diet and fitness routine, and pioneered her “Eat Clean” diet. She has published several books about the diet, and has a regular column in Oxygen magazine. It also bears mentioning that she’s married to Robert Kennedy, whose publishing company puts out her books and the magazine. This cozy relationship kinda makes me want to question her credibility, but the proof is in the pudding. She looks great, competes in “fitness” (read body-building) competitions, and her books are full of smart, healthful recipes. 

I purchased her Eat Clean Diet Cookbook about a year ago, and I recently ordered its predecessor, the Eat Clean Diet. The clean eating principles include:

• Eating 5-6 small meals throughout the day, as well as eating every few hours
• Combining lean protein and complex carbs
• Drinking lots of water and avoiding sodas, alcohol, and juice
• Avoiding overprocessed foods, sugar, and trans fats and eating lots of fruits and veggies

It’s not that her ideas are revolutionary; it’s just that she presents them clearly and logically. Her books are full of colorful photographs, and she offers a variety of recipes, including tons of soups, breakfast cookies, salads, and one pot meals. I especially appreciate that, despite her emphasis on protein, she doesn’t put a heavy emphasis on meat, and offers meals with a variety of protein sources.

She even has suggestions for healthful holiday meals, which is particularly handy this time of year. I’m excited to make the Pomegranate Fizz, which can be made three different ways, depending on how much alcohol you want to use, and how healthy you want your drink to be. I like the lightest version:

• 2 oz pomegranate juice
• 5 oz chilled sparkling water
• Squeeze of fresh lemon juice
• 6-8 pomegranate seeds
• Grated lemon zest to float in the glass

I definitely want to bring this to my next holiday party!