Belly Fat Fighting Foods: ‘The Calendar Diet’ Recipes (Access Hollywood Live)

As summer fast approaches, getting beach body ready is on many people’s mind.

Access Hollywood Live is inspiring folks to get in shape with its weeklong Best Beach Bodies series.

One of the most common trouble spots is a flabby middle. To help banish the belly fat, nutrition expert and author of “The Calendar Diet”, Dr. Melina Jampolis, dropped by Access Hollywood Live to share her favorite foods to fight belly fat.

Here’s her recipe for a belly flattening dish:

Curried Quinoa with Chickpeas and Apricots

(serves 2)

Ingredients:

1 tsp. olive oil

1/4 cup chopped onion

1 cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth

1/2 cup dry quinoa

1/4 tsp. curry powder

Large pinch cinnamon

Salt

1 tsp. orange zest

1/4 cup chopped dried apricots

1 cup chickpeas (no salt added), rinsed and drained

Heat olive oil in medium stockpot over medium-low heat. Add onion and sauté for 2 minutes. Add broth. Raise heat and bring to boil. Add quinoa, curry, cinnamon and salt. Cover and reduce heat to low. Cook for 10 minutes.

Uncover and stir in orange zest and apricots. Cover and continue to cook for five additional minutes. Remove from heat and add chickpeas. Toss well, cover and let stand 5 minutes before serving.