Dining Out

We all love to go out to eat.  One of my favorite lunch spots is Panda Express.  In order to me to keep my PointPlus value for lunch at 12 PointsPlus, I choose:

String Bean chicken breast 5 PointsPlus
Pot stickers 6 PointsPlus
Veggies 1 PointsPlus (for the oil used)

I absolutely love pot stickers, so I substitute the chow mien for the pot stickers.  You can choose chow mien as one of your entrees, but ONLY if you choose 1/2 chow mien and 1/2 veggies for a total of 6 PointsPlus.

Periodically, I will include other dining out choices.  Tell me some of your favorite dining out choices and tell me why.

Five Fab Finds

Part of the reason people hate the word “diet” is because it holds a stigma to it.  Everyone thinks the food is bland.  Well it can be, but you have to know how to spice it up, without adding any fat.  Here are Five of my Fab Finds…

Condiments or sauces with little or no PointsPlus value

• TJ’s Pico de Gallo.  A 0 PointsPlus value. 

• Best Foods Dijonnaise – 2 tablespoons is 0 PointsPlus.  Use this for your egg salad sandwich instead of mayonnaise

• TJ’s Guacamole Hummus – 2 tablespoons is 1 PointsPlus – This was great on top of my turkey burger. 

TJ’s Low fat Parmesan Ranch Dressing – 2 tablespoons 1 PointsPlus.  Yes you can put it on your salads, but try it on top of your turkey burger, or mixed with shredded lettuce for your tacos

Litehouse Sesame Ginger Salad Dressing – 2 tablespoons is 1 PointsPlus – Again, it doesn’t have to be limited to dressing your salad.  Heat it up and dip your TJ’s lowfat battered shrimp in it. 6 shrimp is 5 PointPlus.  Serve your battered shrimp with seasonal veggies or add one cup of steamed rice (white or brown) for and additional 4 PointsPlus

I have an honorable mention to this list and that is Fage non-fat Greek Yogurt – 1 cup is 3 PointsPlus - so versatile, the combinations are endless.  Use in your tuna salad, make your coleslaw with it, just to name a few.

Let me know what your fab finds are.

Sunday - Funday

Happy Sunday – Funday!

Sundays, the only day I can truly sleep in and I still manage to get up before 8:30 a.m.  Sunday means “hair-day, “read the newspaper day, sip a cup a tea day” for me.  It also means a trip to Target with my hubby. 

Ah traditions. We got in the car heading towards Target when we both realized, we really needed to go to Safeway instead.  As we were driving, somehow we got onto the subject of coleslaw and the hubby said the only slaw he has ever liked is from KFC.  That got me thinking, I should try to make my own.

I came across this Sweet and Spicy Slaw recipe and decided to give it a try.

1 package of coleslaw

¼ cup chopped red onion

2/3 cup fat-free plain yogurt

¼ cup honey

2 tablespoons cider vinegar

2 tablespoons chopped jalapeño pepper, rinsed and seeded.

Combine the slaw and onion. Set aside.

Stir together the yogurt, honey, vinegar and jalapeño.  Pour over slaw.  Season with salt and pepper.  Chill and serve. 1 cup serving is 2 PointsPlus (this recipe makes 6 servings)

 My hubby absolutely loved my fresh apple salsa, and asked me to make another batch for him today.  He is a “sweet” guy and not a “spicy” kind of guy.  So he asked that I eliminate the cilantro and jalapeño from the recipe.  I think not!  But I did set aside a small batch without those key ingredients.

So that was my Sunday-Funday!

Until tomorrow….

The recipe find of the day....

Good Afternoon people.

I wanted to mention that this morning’s WW meeting was a success.  There were about 35 people today. 

As I sit in the back completing my tally, I just love hearing our members share their successes with the group, as well as listen to those who are trying to discover what is going to work best for them.  Our leader really gets our members involved.

Remember, if you come to one of my meetings, and enroll, you will receive a free gift, but you must mention my blog.

• Saturday mornings 8:45 a.m. Pleasant Hill YMCA or
• Monday evenings 5:30 p.m. Concord and Park and Shop

This is my recipe find of the day…. I absolutely love the sweet and spicy taste.

Fresh Apple Salsa

This sweet-tart condiment uses crisp granny smith apples,. Serve with pork tenderloin or roast chicken.  Or, if you are like me, I had a bowl of it, like I would a dessert.  You can also serve with pita chips.  The best part of this recipe is the entire recipe is valued at only 2 Points Plus.  That’s right, the whole recipe, which yields about 3 cups.

Ingredients

·        2 cups  diced peeled Spartan apple (about 3/4 pound)

·        1/2  cup  diced red bell pepper

·        1/3  cup  fresh lime juice

·        1/4  cup  diced red onion

·        1/4  cup  minced fresh cilantro

·        1 tablespoon  honey

·        1/4  teaspoon  salt

·        1/4  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper

·        jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced

Combine all ingredients, stirring well – Enjoy!  Please let me know what you think about my blog and my recipes.  I look forward to hearing from all of you.

Going Green

The color of the day is green.  Greens are a great power food.  I would like to share with you some ways to make green your favorite color.

First, I want to mention that a lot of us lead busy lives and fast-food is an easy way to get food when you are on the run.

If you have to visit a fast food restaurant, there are definitely some great choices.    Weight Watchers has a great article called The Fast Food Survival Guide.  It contains some excellent alternatives when visiting fast food restaurants.

A great twist on traditional tuna salad

12 oz albacore tuna, 1 cup corn, a can of navy beans, drained and rinsed, jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped, lemon juice, salt to taste. Mix with ½ cup Greek Yogurt instead of mayo.  Serve on top of a spring salad mix.  4 Points Plus

Green doesn’t always mean having a salad.

Cook your favorite fish and serve with this version of “creamed” spinach.

Canola oil about 1 teaspoon

Baby spinach

Scallions thinly sliced

Shallots chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

Light cream cheese about 2 oz.

Heat the pan then add the oil. Saute the shallots and scallions.  Toss in your spinach until it wilts.  Remove it from the heat and add your cream cheese.  Season with salt and pepper.  ½ cup serving is 2 points plus

So so out there and "green" your day.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

Today I started thinking about some of my favorite food finds that I like to keep stocked  at all times. I thought I would list some of my favorite must haves for my kitchen.

• Lucerne brand light vanilla yogurt 6 oz, 2points plus.  I add fresh berries and 1 tablespoon Special K low fat granola, 1 points plus.  I get a 3 points plus breakfast at my desk. I usually have this when I go into the office, because it’s easier than making that “scrambled” egg.

• Eggs - one egg is 2 points plus and a great protein choice to start off your day. I actually take an egg, salt, pepper and a dash of water, whisk it good and throw it I the microwave for about 45 seconds. YUM.

• Trader Joe’s Crispy Chicken Tenders – You can find them in the frozen food section.  Each tender is 3 points plus.  They are delicious.

• Kuerig – Cafe Express Mocha 1 points plus.  I love it after my “scrambled” egg.  I actually take an egg, salt, pepper and a dash of water whisk it good and throw it I the microwave for about 45 seconds.

• Nature Valley Granola Thins  2 points plus each  I love this snack with a cup of Celestial Seasonings Spice Indian Chi 0 points plus

Weight Watchers or  Laughing Cow 1 wedge is 1 points plus.  I top a turkey burger with Parmesan peppercorn.

ground turkey patty (4 points plus), shredded cabbage, 1 tablespoon TJ low fat Parmesan ranch dressing .5 points plus), 1 tablespoon guacamole .5 points plus), 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce (1 points plus),  and 1 wedge of laughing cow Parmesan peppercorn cheese (1 points plus), 12 tater tots (4 points plus) total of 11 points plus

Enjoy these great food finds as much as me.  Let me know what you think.

Carry on ...Kitchen Remodel Continues

As I was cleaning the pantry for my own healthy shelf, I was laughing out loud at some of the interesting things lurking behind that closed door.  I cleared out all three shelves and then re-stocked them.  I threw away lots of junk, that even the junk food junkies in my house wouldn't eat. 

I have so many cook books with only a few recipes I like in each book.  I came across @Friends4WtLoss  They are giving away the Green Lite Bites Cook Book.  I hope I win it.  Check out the site.  Its awesome.

So here it a picture of my new healthy shelf

It's just a start, but it definitely energized me.  Don't forget to stop by on Saturday morning at the YMCA in Pleasant Hill.  Meeting start time is 8:45.  Weigh-in starts at 8:15.  If you join, you will receive a free gift.

So, get into your kitchen and "Get er done"....