AMERICAN IDOL NOTES
American Idol sent another would-be superstar packing last night. With Jim Carrey in the audience plugging his new movie Horton Hears a Who, the Top 12 opened with a medley of Beatles songs. Former Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee and her collaborator, Grammy-winning pianist and composer David Foster, gave a show-stopping performance of the Fab Four's "Yesterday." The bottom three this week were Syesha Mercado, who did "Gotta Get You Into My Life;" Kristy Lee Cook, who gave a country-fied performance of "Eight Days a Week;" and David Hernandez, who turned in a '50s-style version of "I Saw Her Standing There." All three judges felt that America had gotten the voting right, but the two ladies will be back -- David received the lowest vote total. The theme next week? The Beatles. No, that's not a typo.
WORK THE ROOM
Are you the person no one remembers at the party? That's because you're doing it wrong. In the new book, Everything but the Kitchen Sink: What Every Modern Woman Needs to Know, author Francesca Beauman gives a timed circulation plan that'll ensure you hit all the socializing hotspots at a party ...
Minute 0: Tour the room and do reconnaissance. See what important people are in attendance.
Minute 5: Say hello to the host.
Minute 10: Briefly chat up the hottest guy there and lay a foundation to pounce later.
Minute 15: Connect with friends.
Minute 35: Talk to people you don't know but want to. Continue this pattern until departure looms. Give yourself time to execute the pounce on the hot guy -- which should happen before you have your coats on.
TOP HEALTHY FAST FOOD BREAKFASTS
You know those time-crunched mornings when you're starving and an Egg McMuffin seems like the only fast-enough solution? But you know it's a 300-calorie, 12-grams-of-fat freeway to diet disaster?
Turn into the McDonald's anyway (or a handy facsimile). There actually are fast-food ways to start the day that won't wreck your waistline.
These choices will tame your appetite (with extra protein), curb afternoon cravings (with a hit of fiber), and even help you concentrate (that protein-fiber combo supplies the brain with a steady stream of energy). Use this cheat sheet when you need a wakeup fast.
McDonald's
There are a couple of options with enough fiber and protein to fill you up and keep you going:
§ Fruit n' Yogurt Parfait with Granola 160 calories, 2g fat (1g saturated), 5mg cholesterol, 85mg sodium, 1g fiber, 4g protein
§ Snack Size Fruit and Walnut Salad 210 calories, 8g fat (1.5g saturated), 5mg cholesterol, 60mg sodium, 2g fiber, 4g protein
Starbucks
You'll find two good high-flavor choices here:
§ Spinach, Roasted Tomato, Feta, and Egg Wrap -- it's a little high in fat but compensates with lots of fiber and protein. 240 calories, 10g fat (3.5g saturated), 140mg cholesterol, 730mg sodium, 7g fiber, 13g protein
§ A Skinny Latte and a package of SB's dried fruit and nut mix. The latte's made with nonfat milk and a shot of sugar-free syrup. (Try the caramel or hazelnut: yum!)Latte (12-oz. "tall"): 90 calories, 0g fat (0g saturated), 5mg cholesterol, 125mg sodium, 0g fiber, 0g protein Fruit/nut packet: 150 calories, 9g fat (1g saturated), 0mg cholesterol, 100mg sodium, 2g fiber, 4g protein
Jamba Juice
Two groups of smoothies will be your wake-up call as long as you add a soy protein booster. For just 30 more calories you'll get an extra 7g of tummy-taming, brain-fueling protein.
§ Any 16-oz. "Jamba Light" smoothie150-160 calories, 0-0.5g fat (0g saturated), 5mg cholesterol, 210-220mg sodium, 2-3g fiber, 6g protein
§ Any 16-oz. "All Fruit" smoothie200-220 calories, 0-0.5g fat (0g saturated), 0mg cholesterol, 5-20mg sodium, 4g fiber, 1-2g protein
Dunkin' Donuts
Make this your last resort but if it's the only choice, go for:
§ Egg and Cheese English Muffin Sandwich 280 calories, 9g fat (4.5g saturated), 140mg cholesterol, 1010mg sodium (yikes -- that's why it's your last resort), 1g fiber, 15g protein
§ If the smell of doughnuts gets to your head, order 4 Powdered Cake doughnut holes (Munchkins in DD-speak). 260 calories, 15g fat, 7g saturated fat, 10mg cholesterol, 210mg sodium, 2g fiber, 3g protein
Burger King
Keep driving until the competition appears. BK is behind on banning risky trans fats, and we recommend avoiding it until the place smartens up.
Is breakfast really worth the bother? You bet. Not only does eating it help keep you slimmer and smarter, but skipping it can make your RealAge as much as 3 years older. So it's definitely worth knowing your best AM road-food options.
