This week I was actually down a bit (a VERY little bit)…but a loss is a loss, even though I am still in the red. Yes, I am frustrated, but NO I am not quitting. This too shall pass. The upside is that I showed a loss over the Thanksgiving holiday, which in itself is a victory. It’s also about time to have Steve take my measurements again. I try to do this at least once per month to keep my motivation going, especially since the scale and I are on the outs of late!
I did enjoy cooking my Thanksgiving dinner this year. I did want to make a couple of corrections on last week’s email.
- The POINT® count on the cranberry sauce is 1 point per ¼ cup serving. I left that off.
- The POINT® count on the sweet potatoes is 3 per 1 cup serving. I left that off too.
As many of you may know, I am out on Facebook. My husband suggested it back in October of last year, and now I am in apparent need of a 12-step program to help me quit! J. I have been able to reconnect with many friends going as far back as my elementary school days on Long Island , NY to Graduate School classmates in Orlando
I am striving each day to make good choices and to get in my activity, even when it’s hard to do it. I have established healthy habits along this journey and I know that I will do what I need to in order to continue on track. Like I said, not perfect, just on a mission. We all fall from time to time. The great thing about this program? It’s okay to fall occasionally.
Since the official beginning of the holiday party season is upon us, I wanted to share with you some party navigation strategies. These next few come from my good friend Sonya:
Eat something filling beforehand (some soup or some veggies/fruit) At the party, load up on the veggies. Use small plates Use the strategy of treating your portions like islands rather than continents. Keep the rim as decoration! Drink spritzers instead of full glasses of wine Take something healthy to the party, if you are asked to contributeBelow are some of Hungry Girl’s strategies for party navigation!
What's the rush?
Don't start chewing until you've been at the party for at least 30 to 45 minutes. By then, you'll be so involved with the festivities you'll be less likely to go food-crazy.
Don't get caught empty handed
Keep a diet soda, glass of water — and maybe a cute purse — in your hands at all times. You'll be less likely to overeat if you keep your hands full.
Be generous
Did someone give you a box of chocolates or a basket of goodies for the holidays? Take them to a party so you can share the deliciousness — and the calories.
Fork it over
Instead of grabbing something each time the tray passes you by, fill a small plate once and use a fork. It's easier to control your intake when you can see how much you're actually eating.
Cocktail party super sippers
Diet soda
Water
Wine
Vodka shot with club soda/diet soda
My | My |
Roasted chestnuts | Eggnog |
Gingersnap cookies | Hot-buttered rum |
Shrimp cocktail | Mini egg rolls |
Candy canes | Mini quiches |
Grilled chicken or beef skewers (no sauce) | Pigs in a blanket |
Week 4 of the 7-Day Challenge is to once again eat three different colors of fruits/veggies each day for the week. Not that daunting of a task if you think about it!
Today’s recipes deal with the utilization of holiday leftovers. I made both of these and they are fantastic. Wanted to share with you all.
I want to leave you with this quote. It’s one that I live by. I am NOT perfect, but I don’t give up. Hope you find it inspiring!
Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
GLUTEN FREE CORNER;
During one of the Central Market freebie promotions (one where you buy a product and you get some others at no extra cost), I got free soup from Imagine. The packaging indicated that the soup was Gluten-Free. Best part? The soup was 1 POINT® per cup, and it was absolutely delicious! The website is: http://www.imaginefoods.com/. Check it out. We also have the butternut squash soup to try out as well. I had the creamy tomato, and it was fantastic! We just made a meal out of the soup, and it was great. We split the container, and for over 2 cups of soup, it worked out to 2 ½ POINTS® -- so not bad!
RECIPES
Cranberry-Nut Turkey
This recipe was posted in the meeting room as a way to use up leftover turkey. I actually had all ingredients on hand except for the lettuce, so I made the recipe sans lettuce, and we had on Sandwich Thins. For a sandwich, you don’t even need much more than ½ cup and the points would be cut by 2/3! Definitely a great use for any leftover poultry. I’d even use this recipe with rotisserie chicken meat! Give this one a try. SO worth it! As the Weight Watchers site said, this recipe definitely beats the endless parade of ordinary turkey sandwiches!
Yield: 4 (1 ½ cup) servings at a POINTS® Value of 5 Per Serving
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cup(s) roasted skinless turkey, chopped or diced
1/3 cup(s) fat-free mayonnaise
1/4 cup(s) low-fat plain yogurt
1/4 cup(s) scallion(s), chopped
1/4 cup(s) chopped walnuts, toasted
2 Tbsp dried cranberries
1 Tbsp Dijon
1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
4 cup(s) romaine lettuce, torn
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients, except lettuce, in a medium bowl; mix well and serve over
lettuce. Yields about 1 1/2 cups per serving. If serving on a sandwich? Cut back to 1/2 cup of the mixture and save 2/3 of the POINTS®!
Herbed Sweet Potato Cheese Puff
This recipe was another great find. I had some leftover sweet potatoes in the fridge, and wanted to repurpose them. This seemed like the perfect recipe!
Yield: Makes 8 servings at a POINTS® Value of 2 per serving
Ingredients:
2 cups mashed sweet potatoes
1 (8 ounce) package low fat cream cheese, softened (I used fat free and it worked out fine!)
1/4 cup milk
2 large eggs
1/2 cup sliced green onion
1/2 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Sour Cream, for garnish (optional…I left it out!)
Fresh sprig thyme or parsley, for garnish
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Place all ingredients in a mixing bowl and blend with electric mixer at medium speed until well combined. Then beat on high until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Spoon mixture into a greased oven-to-table casserole dish.
Bake uncovered for 35 to 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 2 to 3 minutes.
Optional: Garnish with a dollop of sour cream and a sprig of fresh thyme or parsley. Serve immediately.
Makes 8 servings.
calories 126 protein 6 g. carbohydrate 11 g. fat 7 g. cholesterol 71 mg. sodium 356 mg. Vitamin A 7,000 IU fiber 1g
