Lisa Lillien lost about 30 pounds seven years ago.
In May 2004, she started to send e-mail newsletters with diet tips and recipes to a handful of weight watching friends.
Four years later, her “Hungry Girl” missives reach 450,000 subscribers daily.
Now that newsletter and its Web site spinoff — Hungry-Girl.com (“Tips &Tricks For Hungry Chicks!”) — have spawned a mini-industry, including product endorsements and a new cookbook.
Nothing is off-limits for the Hungry Girl. Tuna melts, twice-baked potatoes, brownies and banana bread are all on the menu. Lillien believes there’s a smart way to indulge in just about anything.
Her way is neither extreme nor based on denial. She uses the Weight Watchers points values as a guide, and some of her recipes are developed along with Weight Watchers.
“It’s just about finding guilt-free versions of the foods that you love,” Lillien said, “and finding a way to incorporate things like pizza and onion rings and ice cream on a regular basis and still fit into your pants.
For the Associated Press
FAJITA STEAK SALAD
3ounces raw boneless lean top sirloin, thinly sliced
4ounces Diet Coke
1/2small yellow onion, sliced
1/2medium yellow bell pepper, sliced
1/2medium red bell pepper, sliced
3cup chopped romaine lettuce
4baked tortilla chips, crushed
1/4cup salsa
2tablespoons fat-free sour cream
In a small bowl, combine the steak slices and Diet Coke. Refrigerate for 30 minutes
Coat a nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium-high. Add the steak slices and all of the soda marinade to the skillet.
Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the surface of the steak is no longer pink. Transfer the meat to a plate (leaving the marinade in the pan) and set aside.
Reduce the heat to medium. Add the onion to the skillet and sautè for about 2 minutes. Add the yellow and red bell pepper and cook for another minute.
Return the steak to the skillet and cook for another minute.
To serve, arrange the lettuce in a large bowl and top with the steak and vegetable mixture. Top tortilla chips, salsa and sour cream.
Makes 1 salad; 253 calories.
Lisa Lillien’s “Hungry Girl”
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