Uhhgg!!!
Posted in on 8:42 PM by ValindaSo I was parusing the web looking for kindred spirits in the blog world that are trying to loose weight and get healthy, I googled "weight loss blogs" and got about 40 million results back, but anywho so I start clicking away looking for a good blog, new ideas just to connect you know what blogs are for right?
First blog I click on cute girl losing weight, funny, smart yada yada, I liked it! Click blog #2 advertisement for some lose weight fast gimick, ok I get that click blog #3 advertisement for some lose weight fast gimick . . .hmmmmmm ok click blog #4 advertisement for some lose weight fast gimick! WTF so I strat clicking like a crazy person, click click click crap crap crap!! I found only 2 blog that were actual people sharing their stories the rest was scams! This is why we are so messed up when it comes to being healthy! We don't know what the heck to believe!
It's confusing, do this cleanse, eat this magic cookie, take 40 of these pills with every meal, it goes on and on and on. I was so pissed by the time I was done I wanted to eat a Snickers! Really folks there is no one thing that is going to make you thinner, the only person that has control of that is you! Decide what is important to you and then research eatubg healthy NOT dieting. You must change your lifestyle, your attitude your life, period. Thats the only thing that will really work and the best part?? It's FREE! You don't have to buy special food everyday or consistantly by pills or shakes, you can just eat regular food just make better choices.
So that's my rant for today! See you all tomorrow! 3 day weekend!!!!
Valinda
I'M BACK!
Posted in on 2:35 PM by Valinda
Hello blog readers!
I know it has been way too long since I did an update! I am sorry!
I lost my motivation.
There I said it, when I first started this blog I promised to be raw and honest, and I have been. I just haven’t been able to write because I didn’t want to lie and say everything was good a rah rah and all of that stuff, but I also didn’t want to tell you that I haven’t exercised consistently in 2 weeks, have been eating poorly and have gained 4lbs back.
I didn’t want to tell you that so I stayed quite.
Not anymore! I am once again back on the hippo, it is difficult, I ate cake and ice cream and candy and burgers and everything that I shouldn’t have. Now my body wants it and I have to re train it not to want it anymore. I am embarrassed, ashamed of myself and sad but it’s ok because I am back on the hippo! I plateau’d and that was the catalyst for me to break stride and go back to my old ways. I wasn’t moving up or down but the biggest problem was that I knew what I needed to do, exercise more lower my calories to get out of that rut and I did the exact opposite!
I am not perfect, that’s why I do this blog to show you that a chubby girl can turn her health and weight around, but it is HARD and it has it’s ups and downs. I am not going to be able to be 100% all the time, I need support just like everyone else but I know I have it in me to be successful! And so do you!
Have you been having a rough go of it? Then let this be the time that you start to feel better about yourself, let’s work through this together, we can do it! We can be successful! I promise that no matter what is happening good or bad with my weight I will continue to write I believe that this also contributed to my lackadaisical attitude I just didn’t write about it didn’t verbalize what I was feeling or doing. This blog is very therapeutic for me, I feel like I have someone to answer to at the end of the day. So that’s why the absence I will do better, thank you for sticking with me!
Valinda
I know it has been way too long since I did an update! I am sorry!
I lost my motivation.
There I said it, when I first started this blog I promised to be raw and honest, and I have been. I just haven’t been able to write because I didn’t want to lie and say everything was good a rah rah and all of that stuff, but I also didn’t want to tell you that I haven’t exercised consistently in 2 weeks, have been eating poorly and have gained 4lbs back.
I didn’t want to tell you that so I stayed quite.
Not anymore! I am once again back on the hippo, it is difficult, I ate cake and ice cream and candy and burgers and everything that I shouldn’t have. Now my body wants it and I have to re train it not to want it anymore. I am embarrassed, ashamed of myself and sad but it’s ok because I am back on the hippo! I plateau’d and that was the catalyst for me to break stride and go back to my old ways. I wasn’t moving up or down but the biggest problem was that I knew what I needed to do, exercise more lower my calories to get out of that rut and I did the exact opposite!
I am not perfect, that’s why I do this blog to show you that a chubby girl can turn her health and weight around, but it is HARD and it has it’s ups and downs. I am not going to be able to be 100% all the time, I need support just like everyone else but I know I have it in me to be successful! And so do you!
Have you been having a rough go of it? Then let this be the time that you start to feel better about yourself, let’s work through this together, we can do it! We can be successful! I promise that no matter what is happening good or bad with my weight I will continue to write I believe that this also contributed to my lackadaisical attitude I just didn’t write about it didn’t verbalize what I was feeling or doing. This blog is very therapeutic for me, I feel like I have someone to answer to at the end of the day. So that’s why the absence I will do better, thank you for sticking with me!
Valinda
One day . . .
Posted in on 12:08 PM by Valinda
One day I will be gone from this earth, what I have done while I was here will be my legacy. I want to be remembered for being a good wife and mother, I want to be known for my kindness, love and compassion. I want all those in my life that I love to know that I love them fiercely, with my whole being.
I don't think I am known for these things yet, I am changing this now, I will be the person I want to be regardless of what others think or say, one day they too will meet their maker and will they be happy with the choices they made?
I will not live with regrets any longer, my God is strong and powerful and kind and forgiving, I am opening up my heart to him now, a heart that has been closed to his word for far too long. I pray that he will enter and dwell in my heart forever. . . .
Valinda
I don't think I am known for these things yet, I am changing this now, I will be the person I want to be regardless of what others think or say, one day they too will meet their maker and will they be happy with the choices they made?
I will not live with regrets any longer, my God is strong and powerful and kind and forgiving, I am opening up my heart to him now, a heart that has been closed to his word for far too long. I pray that he will enter and dwell in my heart forever. . . .
Valinda
Allergies
Posted in on 8:13 PM by Valinda
I have been suffering from allergies for over a month now. They are really bad this last two weeks I have been switching off from Benedryl and Clariton but I can not function like this for much longer, I am too tired to exercise because of the medication, I physically can not do it. Somethings gotta give.
I feel like crap when I don't exercise. I have tried tonight to do it but my body wont let me do anything cardio so I opted for stregnth training tonight but even that was hard to get through.
This is the first year my allergies have ever been this bad I can't even believe that I am still functioning honestly I am tired all day because of the Benedryl but when I go to bed I can't sleep it sucks.
I had and egg white and turkey sasuage english muffin for dinner tonight it was YUMMY! (not that I can taste much anyway) but the hubby said it was good lol! I also bought some weight watchers ice cream candy bars which are delightful!
Well I better try to get some sleep up at 4:30 am tomorrow.
Sleep well,
Valinda
I feel like crap when I don't exercise. I have tried tonight to do it but my body wont let me do anything cardio so I opted for stregnth training tonight but even that was hard to get through.
This is the first year my allergies have ever been this bad I can't even believe that I am still functioning honestly I am tired all day because of the Benedryl but when I go to bed I can't sleep it sucks.
I had and egg white and turkey sasuage english muffin for dinner tonight it was YUMMY! (not that I can taste much anyway) but the hubby said it was good lol! I also bought some weight watchers ice cream candy bars which are delightful!
Well I better try to get some sleep up at 4:30 am tomorrow.
Sleep well,
Valinda
This one's for you Priscilla!
Posted in on 8:09 PM by Valinda
For my BFF! Stay Strong Sista! We will beat the fat together!
Love Valinda
Struggling to get back on the Hippo
Posted in on 12:19 PM by Valinda
Well I certainly couldn't be getting back on the horse, that is too cliche!! Not me! I will try to mount *he he snort snort* this huge hippo in my life and get back on track. To say I have been struggling is really an understatement I have been drowning.
I just can't seem to get over this plateau I am on, not losing not gaining just staying the same, which will be perfect when I am actually at the weight I want to be at but since I am still quite a ways away from that goal I would like to start losing, please and thank you.
I have started to lose my motivation, this is because I feel better, I look better and in general people are not on me about my weight as much. It is so hard to stay motivated it's just one of those things we all are going to struggle with. This is a learning experience, you need to find out what works for you.
There is not any one thing that is going to work for any one person. Our bodies are all different so is our chemical make up and our metabolisms. But beyond that no one person likes the same things, feels comfortable doing the same things etc. The true way to lose weight is trial and error, not fad diets or pills.
I would be lying if I said that the thought hasn't crossed my mind to try some diet pills you know just to jump start my progress again. You know just a little bit. Have I convinced you yet? I almost had myself convinced . . . almost.
But I resisted the urge because I don't want to swallow 100 pills a day and natural supplements are not regulated or tested by the FDA, also as stated above you don't know how your body is going to react because we are all different.
So I am saddling up my hippo as I type this and am getting ready to get motivated to start losing again, I can do it!
Hugs,
Valinda
Neglectful
Posted in on 1:58 PM by Valinda
I have been neglectful! I haven't updated and I apologize! It was a really busy weekend for me and my kids went back to school today so I haven't had a minute to sit down and gather my thoughts! But I have a moment right now so I better get this out there while I can.
How are you all doing? Are you seeing the results of your hard work yet? You may, or you may not and if you are not seeing the results yet that is ok. Some people's metabolism is just slower to get in gear, remember that it hasn't been properly used for sometime and it's a slow learner so don't get discouraged because even of you don't see it I bet you feel it and that's just as important.
Have any of you plateaued yet? I went through a couple of bad weeks where I had stayed the same it seemed and it really got me down. I didn't know what to do.
But now I am back on track seems I learn something new everyday! Seems like as your body gets used to your routine your metabolism slows because your body is used to doing your exercises and such, so to avoid that you need to start working out longer, I am up to an hour now and it is hard but I am back on the losing side again and so it's worth the extra push!
You would think that the above would be common sense right? But it wasn't for me I thought well my body hasn't been this active before so I guess I'm ok but that's just not true, you must consistently challenge your body with new things so that it doesn't get bored, so to speak. And i guess mine was bored even though it didn't feel that way I could tell that my exercised were getting easier so there you have it.
I am really enjoying this journey folks, it is hard but what is life isn't right? If we always did what was easy we really wouldn't do anything. So even though this is hard, it is also fun and energizing! I love putting on a pair of jeans that are too big! What a rush to be able to fit in clothes I haven't been able to wear for years! I also had some brand new things that never fit (I don't usually try stuff on) that now fit and in some cases are too big so it's like I get to go shopping in my own closet!
I am not at my goal yet but I am on the right track once again.
Anyone interested in a challenge? If you are comment ( anonymous if you don't have a google account ) and if there is enough interest I'll come up with a really great prize that will be awarded to the winner, I am thinking a 6 week challenge this time open to anyone what do you think??
Valinda
How are you all doing? Are you seeing the results of your hard work yet? You may, or you may not and if you are not seeing the results yet that is ok. Some people's metabolism is just slower to get in gear, remember that it hasn't been properly used for sometime and it's a slow learner so don't get discouraged because even of you don't see it I bet you feel it and that's just as important.
Have any of you plateaued yet? I went through a couple of bad weeks where I had stayed the same it seemed and it really got me down. I didn't know what to do.
But now I am back on track seems I learn something new everyday! Seems like as your body gets used to your routine your metabolism slows because your body is used to doing your exercises and such, so to avoid that you need to start working out longer, I am up to an hour now and it is hard but I am back on the losing side again and so it's worth the extra push!
You would think that the above would be common sense right? But it wasn't for me I thought well my body hasn't been this active before so I guess I'm ok but that's just not true, you must consistently challenge your body with new things so that it doesn't get bored, so to speak. And i guess mine was bored even though it didn't feel that way I could tell that my exercised were getting easier so there you have it.
I am really enjoying this journey folks, it is hard but what is life isn't right? If we always did what was easy we really wouldn't do anything. So even though this is hard, it is also fun and energizing! I love putting on a pair of jeans that are too big! What a rush to be able to fit in clothes I haven't been able to wear for years! I also had some brand new things that never fit (I don't usually try stuff on) that now fit and in some cases are too big so it's like I get to go shopping in my own closet!
I am not at my goal yet but I am on the right track once again.
Anyone interested in a challenge? If you are comment ( anonymous if you don't have a google account ) and if there is enough interest I'll come up with a really great prize that will be awarded to the winner, I am thinking a 6 week challenge this time open to anyone what do you think??
Valinda
Recipes!
Posted in on 1:29 PM by Valinda
It's been awhile since I have posted some yummy recipes so here you go!
Appetizers:
Crisp Garlic Potato Skins
Here's a low-fat, low-sodium version of a popular restaurant-style appetizer.
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients:
2 large baking potatoes
2 teaspoons olive oil or cooking oil
2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/4 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese
One day or several hours ahead, prick potatoes with a fork. Bake in a 425 degree
oven for 40 to 50 minutes or till tender. Cool, Wrap and store in refrigerator.
At serving time, cut baking potatoes into quarters. Scoop out the insides
(reserve for another use), leaving 1/2 inch thick shells. Lightly brush both
sides of potato skins with olive oil. Place, cut side up, on a large baking sheet.
Bake at 425 degrees about 15 minutes or till crisp. Meanwhile, in a small bowl
combine the chopped tomatoes, basil, and garlic powder. Spoon some of the tomato
mixture into each potato quarter. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake for 2 to 3
more minutes until heated through.
POINTS: 2.5
PER SERVING: 107 Calories, 3 g Total Fat, 1 g Saturated Fat,
1 mg Cholesterol, 27 mg Sodium, 19 g Total Carbohydrate,
0 g Dietary Fiber, 2 g Protein
Mama Mia Meatballs
Makes 50 Appetizers
Ingredients:
1 1/4 pounds ground turkey breast or 96% lean ground beef
1/2 cup dried Italian bread crumbs
1/3 cup grated nonfat Parmesan cheese
2 egg whites
1 onion, finely chopped
1 teaspoon crushed fresh garlic
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
1 1/2 teaspoons whole fennel seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
Sauce
1 1/2 cups fat-free bottled marinara sauce
Combine the meatball ingredients in a medium-sized bowl, and mix thoroughly.
Coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Shape the meatball mixture into
50 (1 inch) balls, and place the meatballs on the baking sheet. Bake the meatballs
at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes, or until thoroughly cooked. Transfer the
meatballs to a chafing dish or Crock-Pot heated casserole to keep warm. Place
the marinara sauce in a small saucepan, and simmer over medium-low heat just until
hot. Pour the sauce over the meatballs, toss gently to mix, and serve.
SERVING SIZE: 1 appetizer
POINTS: .5
PER SERVING: 23 Calories, 3.2 g Protein, 0.1 Fiber, 0.2 g Fat g,
40 mg Sodium, 8 mg Cholesterol
Caramel Apple Crisps
Makes 6 servings
Ingredients:
6 (4-inch) fat-free caramel-flavored popcorn cakes
1 medium apple, cored and thinly sliced (recommend Red Delicious or Golden Delicious)
1 1/2 tablespoons fat-free caramel-flavored sundae syrup
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Place popcorn cakes on a baking sheet. Top evenly with sliced apple; drizzle
caramel syrup evenly over apple. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon;
sprinkle evenly over each serving. Broil 3 minutes. Serve immediately.
SERVING SIZE: 1 popcorn cake
POINTS: 2
PER SERVING: 84 Calories, 0.1 g Total Fat, 0.8 g Fiber
Spicy Barbecue Meatballs
Makes 60 Appetizers
Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs. ground turkey breast or 96% lean ground beef
3/4 cup quick-cooking oats
2 egg whites
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 1/2 teaspoons crushed fresh garlic
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons beef bouillon granules
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Sauce
1 can (8 oz) unsalted tomato sauce
3 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons spicy mustard
1 1/4 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco pepper sauce
Combine the meatball ingredients in a medium-sized bowl, and mix thoroughly.
Coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Shape the meatball mixture
into 60 (1") balls, and place meatballs on the baking sheet. Bake the meatballs
at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes, or until thoroughly cooked. Transfer
the meatballs to a chafing dish or Crock-Pot heated casserole to keep warm.
Combine the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan, and simmer over medium-low
heat just until hot. Pour the sauce over the meatballs, toss gently to mix, and serve.
SERVING SIZE: 1 appetizer
POINTS: .5
PER SERVING: 24 Calories, 3.3 g Protein, 0.2 Fiber, 0.2 g Fat g,
35 mg Sodium, 7 mg Cholesterol
Main Meals:
Chicken Broth with Angel Hair Pasta
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
4 cups coarsely chopped escarole
2 cups sliced carrots
5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
4 1/2 ounces angel-hair pasta (capellini)
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon grated Parmesan cheese
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Fill medium saucepan with 1" water; set steamer rack in saucepan. Place escarole
and carrots on rack. Bring water to a boil; reduce heat to low. Steam vegetables
over simmering water, covered, 15 minutes, until tender. In separate medium
saucepan, bring broth to a boil. Reduce heat to low; let simmer until ready to use.
In large pot of boiling water, cook angel hair 3 minutes, until tender. Drain;
return pasta to pot. Add 1 cup of the simmering broth; stir to keep pasta from
sticking together. Divide pasta mixture evenly among 4 soup bowls; add an equal
amount of escarole, carrots and remaining broth to each bowl. Sprinkle each
portion with 1 teaspoon Parmesan cheese, then the pepper.
SERVING SIZE: 3 cups
POINTS: 3.5
SELECTIONS: 3 Vegetables, 1 1/2 Breads, 35 Optional Calories
PER SERVING: 196 Calories, 3 g Total Fat, 1 g Saturated Fat,
0 mg Cholesterol, 130 mg Sodium, 33 g Total Carbohydrate,
4 g Dietary Fiber, 9 g Protein, 69 mg Calcium
Mozzarella, Tomato & Basil Pizza
This most basic pizza, known as Pizza Margherita in Italy, proves the
old adage that less is more. Use the freshest basil and tomatoes you can find.
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 small plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
1 recipe Pizza Dough (see recipe below)
2 tablespoons finely chopped shallots
1/4 cup whole fresh basil leaves, firmly packed
1 1/2 ounces skim-milk mozzarella cheese, finely shredded
Prepare grill for a hot fire, using direct method (When the coals are ready, arrange
for direct cooking. In the direct method, coals are spread out in the middle of the
grill and the food is cooked directly above. This method cooks food quickly,
resulting in more browning on the outside of the food. Direct cooking is best
suited for smaller pieces of food such as kabobs, steaks, chops, burgers or vegetables.)
Sprinkle work surface with flour. With rolling pin, roll out dough to two 8" circles,
approximately 1/8" thick. Carefully lift dough directly into grill rack. Grill about
2 minutes, until dough bubbles and begins to char on bottom; turn. Sprinkle crusts
evenly with shallots; evenly distribute one-fourth of the cheese over each. Arrange
tomato slices and basil leaves evenly over cheese and top with remaining cheese.
Close grill cover or tent with foil. Grill 3-5 minutes, until cheese is melted and
crust is crisp. Cut into quarters and serve.
SERVING SIZE: 1/2 of 8" pie
POINTS: 5
SELECTIONS: 1/4 Fat, 1/4 Vegetable, 1/2 Protein, 2 Breads,
8 Optional Calories.
PER SERVING: 231 Calories, 4 g Total Fat, 1 g Saturated Fat,
6 mg Cholesterol, 328 mg Sodium, 40 g Total Carbohydrate,
2 g Dietary Fiber, 8 g Protein, 107 mg Calcium
Carolina Barbecued Chicken
In the Carolinas, folks mix the barbecue sauce with vinegar, plenty of
spices and a dash of sugar--but no tomato. We've re-created this sauce,
which gives a great taste to chicken.
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
1 cup finely chopped onions
1 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
1 cup cider vinegar
3 tablespoons firmly packed light or dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
One 2-pound 4-ounce chicken, skinned and cut into 8 equal pieces
Preheat outdoor barbecue grill according to manufacturer's directions, or
preheat broiler and spray rack in broiler pan with nonstick cooking spray.
In small saucepan, combine onions, bell pepper, vinegar, brown sugar, juice,
salt, dry mustard, pepper flakes and black pepper; stirring constantly,
bring liquid to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer, stirring occasionally,
20 minutes, until flavors are blended. Grill chicken over hot coals or place
onto prepared rack in broiler pan and broil 4" from heat, turning as needed
and basting with some of the onion mixture, 20 minutes, until browned and
juices run clear when pierced with fork. Transfer chicken to serving platter;
top with remaining onion mixture.
SERVING SIZE: 3 Ounces Chicken, 1/4 Onion Mixture
POINTS: 5
SELECTIONS: 1 Vegetable, 3 Proteins, 35 Optional Calories.
PER SERVING: 233 Calories, 6 g Total Fat, 2 g Saturated Fat,
76 mg Cholesterol, 353 mg Sodium, 19 g Total Carbohydrate,
1 g Dietary Fiber, 25 g Protein, 39 mg Calcium
Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
4 sun dried tomatoes, packed in oil or dried
1 tsp lemon zest, grated
1 tbsp plus 1 tsp. unsalted butter
2 tbsp parsley, minced
1/8 tsp salt
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
If using oil packed tomatoes, drain and finely chop. If using dried tomatoes,
cover tomatoes with boiling water in a bowl. Let stand 5 minutes. Drain and
finely chop. Place 2 tbsp chopped tomatoes and half the lemon zest in a small
bowl. Add butter, parsley and salt. Mix thoroughly and set aside. Combine
remaining tomatoes and zest in another bowl and mix thoroughly. Using a
sharp knife, cut horizontally through the center of each chicken breast to
form a pocket. Do not cut all the way through. Divide tomato and lemon zest
mixture into equal portions and spread in pocket of each chicken breast.
Turn on broiler. Arrange chicken on a broiler pan and place 4 inches from
heat source. Broil 5 minutes. Turn and broil another 4 minutes. Spread tomato
and butter mixture over chicken breasts. Broil another 1-2 minutes or until
chicken is opaque throughout.
POINTS: 4.5
PER SERVING: 174 Calories, 6.9 g Total Fat, 2 g Saturated Fat,
82 mg Cholesterol, 131 mg Sodium, 0.3 g Total Carbohydrate,
0.1 g Dietary Fiber, 26.4 g Protein
Garlic Pork Balsamico
Ten cloves of garlic may sound like a lot, but after cooking garlic's
pungent flavor mellows to give the chops a mild, slightly sweet taste.
Makes 4 Servings
Ingredients
1 small bulb garlic (about 10 cloves)
1 cup water
12 ounces boneless pork loin, cut into 8 slices
1 tsp dried rosemary, crushed
1 tsp olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp water
1 tbsp honey-mustard
Fresh rosemary sprigs (optional)
Separate garlic bulb into cloves. Do Not peel. In a small saucepan combine garlic
cloves and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes. Drain; cool slightly.
Peel cloves and set aside. Sprinkle both sides of pork slices with rosemary,
pressing into surface of the meat. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet. Cook half
of pork and garlic cloves over medium heat for 6 to 7 minutes or till no pink
remains and juices run clear, turning meat over after half the cooking time.
Remove from skillet; keep warm. Repeat with remaining pork and garlic. For sauce,
stir together vinegar, 2 tbsp water, and honey-mustard. Add to garlic in skillet,
stirring to scrape up any browned bits. Bring mixture just to boiling. Reduce
heat. Simmer for 1 to 2 minutes or till sauce becomes slightly thickened. To serve,
spoon sauce over pork. Garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs, if desired.
POINTS: 3.5
PER SERVING: 143 Calories, 13 g Protein, 7 g Fat, 2 g Saturated Fat,
6 g Carbohydrate, 128 mg Sodium, 38 mg Cholesterol, 0 g Dietary Fiber
Appetizers:
Crisp Garlic Potato Skins
Here's a low-fat, low-sodium version of a popular restaurant-style appetizer.
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients:
2 large baking potatoes
2 teaspoons olive oil or cooking oil
2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/4 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese
One day or several hours ahead, prick potatoes with a fork. Bake in a 425 degree
oven for 40 to 50 minutes or till tender. Cool, Wrap and store in refrigerator.
At serving time, cut baking potatoes into quarters. Scoop out the insides
(reserve for another use), leaving 1/2 inch thick shells. Lightly brush both
sides of potato skins with olive oil. Place, cut side up, on a large baking sheet.
Bake at 425 degrees about 15 minutes or till crisp. Meanwhile, in a small bowl
combine the chopped tomatoes, basil, and garlic powder. Spoon some of the tomato
mixture into each potato quarter. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake for 2 to 3
more minutes until heated through.
POINTS: 2.5
PER SERVING: 107 Calories, 3 g Total Fat, 1 g Saturated Fat,
1 mg Cholesterol, 27 mg Sodium, 19 g Total Carbohydrate,
0 g Dietary Fiber, 2 g Protein
Mama Mia Meatballs
Makes 50 Appetizers
Ingredients:
1 1/4 pounds ground turkey breast or 96% lean ground beef
1/2 cup dried Italian bread crumbs
1/3 cup grated nonfat Parmesan cheese
2 egg whites
1 onion, finely chopped
1 teaspoon crushed fresh garlic
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
1 1/2 teaspoons whole fennel seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
Sauce
1 1/2 cups fat-free bottled marinara sauce
Combine the meatball ingredients in a medium-sized bowl, and mix thoroughly.
Coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Shape the meatball mixture into
50 (1 inch) balls, and place the meatballs on the baking sheet. Bake the meatballs
at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes, or until thoroughly cooked. Transfer the
meatballs to a chafing dish or Crock-Pot heated casserole to keep warm. Place
the marinara sauce in a small saucepan, and simmer over medium-low heat just until
hot. Pour the sauce over the meatballs, toss gently to mix, and serve.
SERVING SIZE: 1 appetizer
POINTS: .5
PER SERVING: 23 Calories, 3.2 g Protein, 0.1 Fiber, 0.2 g Fat g,
40 mg Sodium, 8 mg Cholesterol
Caramel Apple Crisps
Makes 6 servings
Ingredients:
6 (4-inch) fat-free caramel-flavored popcorn cakes
1 medium apple, cored and thinly sliced (recommend Red Delicious or Golden Delicious)
1 1/2 tablespoons fat-free caramel-flavored sundae syrup
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Place popcorn cakes on a baking sheet. Top evenly with sliced apple; drizzle
caramel syrup evenly over apple. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon;
sprinkle evenly over each serving. Broil 3 minutes. Serve immediately.
SERVING SIZE: 1 popcorn cake
POINTS: 2
PER SERVING: 84 Calories, 0.1 g Total Fat, 0.8 g Fiber
Spicy Barbecue Meatballs
Makes 60 Appetizers
Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs. ground turkey breast or 96% lean ground beef
3/4 cup quick-cooking oats
2 egg whites
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 1/2 teaspoons crushed fresh garlic
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons beef bouillon granules
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Sauce
1 can (8 oz) unsalted tomato sauce
3 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons spicy mustard
1 1/4 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco pepper sauce
Combine the meatball ingredients in a medium-sized bowl, and mix thoroughly.
Coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Shape the meatball mixture
into 60 (1") balls, and place meatballs on the baking sheet. Bake the meatballs
at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes, or until thoroughly cooked. Transfer
the meatballs to a chafing dish or Crock-Pot heated casserole to keep warm.
Combine the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan, and simmer over medium-low
heat just until hot. Pour the sauce over the meatballs, toss gently to mix, and serve.
SERVING SIZE: 1 appetizer
POINTS: .5
PER SERVING: 24 Calories, 3.3 g Protein, 0.2 Fiber, 0.2 g Fat g,
35 mg Sodium, 7 mg Cholesterol
Main Meals:
Chicken Broth with Angel Hair Pasta
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
4 cups coarsely chopped escarole
2 cups sliced carrots
5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
4 1/2 ounces angel-hair pasta (capellini)
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon grated Parmesan cheese
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Fill medium saucepan with 1" water; set steamer rack in saucepan. Place escarole
and carrots on rack. Bring water to a boil; reduce heat to low. Steam vegetables
over simmering water, covered, 15 minutes, until tender. In separate medium
saucepan, bring broth to a boil. Reduce heat to low; let simmer until ready to use.
In large pot of boiling water, cook angel hair 3 minutes, until tender. Drain;
return pasta to pot. Add 1 cup of the simmering broth; stir to keep pasta from
sticking together. Divide pasta mixture evenly among 4 soup bowls; add an equal
amount of escarole, carrots and remaining broth to each bowl. Sprinkle each
portion with 1 teaspoon Parmesan cheese, then the pepper.
SERVING SIZE: 3 cups
POINTS: 3.5
SELECTIONS: 3 Vegetables, 1 1/2 Breads, 35 Optional Calories
PER SERVING: 196 Calories, 3 g Total Fat, 1 g Saturated Fat,
0 mg Cholesterol, 130 mg Sodium, 33 g Total Carbohydrate,
4 g Dietary Fiber, 9 g Protein, 69 mg Calcium
Mozzarella, Tomato & Basil Pizza
This most basic pizza, known as Pizza Margherita in Italy, proves the
old adage that less is more. Use the freshest basil and tomatoes you can find.
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 small plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
1 recipe Pizza Dough (see recipe below)
2 tablespoons finely chopped shallots
1/4 cup whole fresh basil leaves, firmly packed
1 1/2 ounces skim-milk mozzarella cheese, finely shredded
Prepare grill for a hot fire, using direct method (When the coals are ready, arrange
for direct cooking. In the direct method, coals are spread out in the middle of the
grill and the food is cooked directly above. This method cooks food quickly,
resulting in more browning on the outside of the food. Direct cooking is best
suited for smaller pieces of food such as kabobs, steaks, chops, burgers or vegetables.)
Sprinkle work surface with flour. With rolling pin, roll out dough to two 8" circles,
approximately 1/8" thick. Carefully lift dough directly into grill rack. Grill about
2 minutes, until dough bubbles and begins to char on bottom; turn. Sprinkle crusts
evenly with shallots; evenly distribute one-fourth of the cheese over each. Arrange
tomato slices and basil leaves evenly over cheese and top with remaining cheese.
Close grill cover or tent with foil. Grill 3-5 minutes, until cheese is melted and
crust is crisp. Cut into quarters and serve.
SERVING SIZE: 1/2 of 8" pie
POINTS: 5
SELECTIONS: 1/4 Fat, 1/4 Vegetable, 1/2 Protein, 2 Breads,
8 Optional Calories.
PER SERVING: 231 Calories, 4 g Total Fat, 1 g Saturated Fat,
6 mg Cholesterol, 328 mg Sodium, 40 g Total Carbohydrate,
2 g Dietary Fiber, 8 g Protein, 107 mg Calcium
Carolina Barbecued Chicken
In the Carolinas, folks mix the barbecue sauce with vinegar, plenty of
spices and a dash of sugar--but no tomato. We've re-created this sauce,
which gives a great taste to chicken.
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
1 cup finely chopped onions
1 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
1 cup cider vinegar
3 tablespoons firmly packed light or dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
One 2-pound 4-ounce chicken, skinned and cut into 8 equal pieces
Preheat outdoor barbecue grill according to manufacturer's directions, or
preheat broiler and spray rack in broiler pan with nonstick cooking spray.
In small saucepan, combine onions, bell pepper, vinegar, brown sugar, juice,
salt, dry mustard, pepper flakes and black pepper; stirring constantly,
bring liquid to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer, stirring occasionally,
20 minutes, until flavors are blended. Grill chicken over hot coals or place
onto prepared rack in broiler pan and broil 4" from heat, turning as needed
and basting with some of the onion mixture, 20 minutes, until browned and
juices run clear when pierced with fork. Transfer chicken to serving platter;
top with remaining onion mixture.
SERVING SIZE: 3 Ounces Chicken, 1/4 Onion Mixture
POINTS: 5
SELECTIONS: 1 Vegetable, 3 Proteins, 35 Optional Calories.
PER SERVING: 233 Calories, 6 g Total Fat, 2 g Saturated Fat,
76 mg Cholesterol, 353 mg Sodium, 19 g Total Carbohydrate,
1 g Dietary Fiber, 25 g Protein, 39 mg Calcium
Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
4 sun dried tomatoes, packed in oil or dried
1 tsp lemon zest, grated
1 tbsp plus 1 tsp. unsalted butter
2 tbsp parsley, minced
1/8 tsp salt
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
If using oil packed tomatoes, drain and finely chop. If using dried tomatoes,
cover tomatoes with boiling water in a bowl. Let stand 5 minutes. Drain and
finely chop. Place 2 tbsp chopped tomatoes and half the lemon zest in a small
bowl. Add butter, parsley and salt. Mix thoroughly and set aside. Combine
remaining tomatoes and zest in another bowl and mix thoroughly. Using a
sharp knife, cut horizontally through the center of each chicken breast to
form a pocket. Do not cut all the way through. Divide tomato and lemon zest
mixture into equal portions and spread in pocket of each chicken breast.
Turn on broiler. Arrange chicken on a broiler pan and place 4 inches from
heat source. Broil 5 minutes. Turn and broil another 4 minutes. Spread tomato
and butter mixture over chicken breasts. Broil another 1-2 minutes or until
chicken is opaque throughout.
POINTS: 4.5
PER SERVING: 174 Calories, 6.9 g Total Fat, 2 g Saturated Fat,
82 mg Cholesterol, 131 mg Sodium, 0.3 g Total Carbohydrate,
0.1 g Dietary Fiber, 26.4 g Protein
Garlic Pork Balsamico
Ten cloves of garlic may sound like a lot, but after cooking garlic's
pungent flavor mellows to give the chops a mild, slightly sweet taste.
Makes 4 Servings
Ingredients
1 small bulb garlic (about 10 cloves)
1 cup water
12 ounces boneless pork loin, cut into 8 slices
1 tsp dried rosemary, crushed
1 tsp olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp water
1 tbsp honey-mustard
Fresh rosemary sprigs (optional)
Separate garlic bulb into cloves. Do Not peel. In a small saucepan combine garlic
cloves and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes. Drain; cool slightly.
Peel cloves and set aside. Sprinkle both sides of pork slices with rosemary,
pressing into surface of the meat. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet. Cook half
of pork and garlic cloves over medium heat for 6 to 7 minutes or till no pink
remains and juices run clear, turning meat over after half the cooking time.
Remove from skillet; keep warm. Repeat with remaining pork and garlic. For sauce,
stir together vinegar, 2 tbsp water, and honey-mustard. Add to garlic in skillet,
stirring to scrape up any browned bits. Bring mixture just to boiling. Reduce
heat. Simmer for 1 to 2 minutes or till sauce becomes slightly thickened. To serve,
spoon sauce over pork. Garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs, if desired.
POINTS: 3.5
PER SERVING: 143 Calories, 13 g Protein, 7 g Fat, 2 g Saturated Fat,
6 g Carbohydrate, 128 mg Sodium, 38 mg Cholesterol, 0 g Dietary Fiber
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