Pick your UNpoison, AKA Always Wear a Condiment

I DID NOT FORGET MY WEIGH IN! I promise, I will post the results tomorrow. I did my weigh in and then later noticed that my scale was not zeroed properly, so I want to reweigh tomorrow before I post! 

 Condiment, condiment and condiment my friends. You must pick a low/no calorie condiment that is an easy GO TO for flavor. We ALL love ranch dressing and mayonnaise, but they just aren't good for us and frankly, the low fat/Low calorie versions are revolting! But we NEED flavor...I would never ask you to give up the YUM factor in your food. I love eating too much! I will share with you a few of my easy no/low cal condiments: 

 VINEGAR! I love ALL kinds of vinegar. I eat cucumber slices with red wine vinegar and salt in place of fattening chips. I use balsamic vinegar for the same thing sometimes, or drizzled over tomatoes and low fat ricotta cheese for a delicious protein rich side dish. I even sometimes use it as a substitute for salad dressing. If I am indulging in whole wheat bread, it is delicious as a dipping sauce instead of butter! 

 HOT SAUCE/SALSA! I use hot sauce or salsa over scrambled eggs made from egg substitute w one whole egg - and sometimes wrap it in a whole wheat low carb tortilla for breakfast. I use it in bean dished for flavor instead of cheese. I add it to sandwiches, salad dressings, over the top of boneless skinless chicken breasts. And don't forget all of the variations available - find one YOU love. There are sauces ranging from MILK to BLOW YOUR DRAWERS OUT HOT! Some are thick, some thin...some chunky, some smooth. I keep a variety on hand. 

PICKLES/JALAPENOS/PEPPERONCINIS! I love tuna salads and egg salads, but typically they are loaded with calories from mayonnaise and there are just no good substitutes on the market. BUT - what you CAN do to cut back on calories is use LESS mayo - and add some flavor and bulk in with some healthy additions. If weight loss is not a concern and you are just trying to eat healthy - add some mashed avocado in place of part of the mayo. Or some chopped black olives! If calories ARE a concern (as they are for me), add tons of chopped celery, onion, bell peppers and FLAVOR PACKED dill pickles, pepperoncinis and spicy jarred jalapenos! I sometimes use jalapenos pickled in a jar, I OFTEN use canned jalapenos pickled with carrot slices for Mexican dishes and I enjoy FRESH jalapenos sliced thin and blistered in a touch of coconut oil in a hot pan. 

 PESTO! Ok, so pesto isn't THE lowest calorie condiment around, but when you make it fresh you can control what goes in it and get a LOT of flavor into a small portion of it. My favorite way to make it is to pop open my food processor and add in a few hand fulls of shelled walnuts, an entire bunch of CILANTRO (Yes, cilantro - it is AMAZING!), and some fresh garlic. I start the processor and drizzle in olive oil JUST until the pesto is well blended. I use JUST A TABLESPOON on top of roasted chicken dishes or vegetables. I have used it over low fat cream cheese stuffed mini bell peppers roasted in the oven. GET CREATIVE! Portion size is key because this condiment DOES have a lot of calories, but when you make it at home the calories all come from HEALTHY fats (Nuts and olive oil), so in moderation you can ENJOY! 

 Do YOU have some ideas to add to the list? Email me at itsjustmeusee@gmail.com and I will add them!

I ATE ICE CREAM! Well, Not Really.

I am in love.  If you have never tried this and you are super skeptical, good.  I challenge you to try it ONCE.

Faux Banana Ice Cream

TRY IT.

I always have spare ripe bananas around - I have kids.  Sometimes they love the bananas, and sometimes they let them sit and refuse to eat them.  Sometimes, I just buy too much for my unpredictable clan.  Also, I often use just half a banana in oatmeal or cereal and I don't want the additional calories of the other half of a banana when I don't really WANT it.  SO - I started a freezer bad for bananas.  I use my over ripe bananas sometimes for my banana carrot walnut whole wheat ginger muffins, but when I don't feel like baking or have time for baking or already have muffins frozen, I take my bananas and break them in half or quarters and throw them in a freezer bag in the freezer.  If I use just half of a banana - pop into the bag.

Eventually, I end up with a nice collection of frozen bananas in a bag.

THIS IS SO EASY - take those frozen bananas and toss them in a food processor or blender.  Use a dribble of milk or some plain yogurt to get them moving in there.  BE PATIENT - they will take a while to blenderize.  Keep opening, stirring/moving them until they get smooth.  If you add too much milk you will get a more soft serve ice cream, but it will still be DELICIOUS!

Now, taste.  It is amazing, no?  CREAMY and sweet - and so cold and tasty.  It is JUST like ice cream!  Now, if it isn't quite sweet enough for you, add a little honey or sugar or splenda.  Whatever you like.  Or try adding some chocolate protein powder or chopped walnuts or cinnamon...whatever floats your boat!

This is a super tasty indulgent HEALTHY treat that you can enjoy alone, or with your family.  GUILT FREE!

Week 8 - I ate and ate... 8(

Sad to once again report that I lost not ONE pound this week, but it hardly surprises me considering I didn't really try.  I mean, I got a grilled chicken chili lime wrap at McDonalds instead of a quarter pounder, but that's not exactly healthy eating.

The GOOD news is, I woke up this morning FINALLY feeling reinvigorated and excited about my health journey.  For some reason, my motivation had been flagging, but after this mornings weigh in at 186 I realized...I MISS feeling good.  I miss my healthy foods!  I miss trying new, wholesome recipes.  Why am I being lazy?  I like being lazy LESS - so, it isn't a REWARD.  It is a punishment.

So, this morning I had a bowl of healthy cereal for breakfast, and for lunch I had a super big delicious salad and I have chicken breasts defrosting in the fridge.  I am about to go look for a new recipe to try tonight!

LETS DO THIS!!!

Wait...its Wednesday?!?

Well, the gluttony now must end.  The holiday is in the past and the leftovers are running out.

I stepped on the scale today quite pleased that by some Easter miracle, I am still 185 lbs.

Oh, happy hamday.

So, now with a renewed sense of purpose and fruit salad-less fridge the attack on my unhealthy eating habits recommences!!!

Happy Easter Healthies!

Sorry I am a day late!  Partly because I have nothing positive to report from the scale - I gained a pound.  But also partly because I have been insanely busy. 

My son recently changed schools and his new school just had a performance night and is currently on spring break.  So, the corndogs and hot pockets have been flying.

I have still been eating healthier than I would have before starting this journey, but I am guessing that the sodium and stress are showing on the scale.

After Easter, things should calm back down so I can recommit!

I have also been directing a lot of energy to my Maple Marmalade Boutique business, which can sometimes cause me to skip meals or have to eat something on the fly.

Happy Easter everyone!!!  See you on the other side!!!

PS that picture is of an amazing Indina dish using ground turkey and an eggplant dish!  I will post the recipes after the break!

Better Than a #!!!

THESE are size 12 jeans that I bought and never could wear.  I put them in the donate bag about 6 months ago.

I saw them out in the garage when I was spring cleaning.  And...lookit me now!

I had to take pics everywhere.  They are almost baggy!!!

Better than a # on the scale!!!

A day in the Life

So, maybe some of you are wondering what I might eat in a typical day.  I have posted lots of tips and recipes, but no real meal plans.

I took some pictures of my food over the last few days to show you what a typical day might look like.  Remember, in life there are probably just as many atypical days as typical ones!  But this gives you an idea of how and what I eat.

Breakfast:  

My breakfast is pretty well set.   I usually take one real egg and scramble it with egg substitute salt and pepper.  It makes enough for about 3 servings, so I use a Tupperware for the rest in the fridge.  I then eat it on a warmed whole wheat low carb tortilla PILED with fresh deli salsa.  Alternately if I am in a rush I may have a whole wheat double fiber English muffin with cream cheese and chia seeds.  On a weekend I may use my egg poacher to poach egg substitute, add a THIN slice of deli cheese and some turkey bacon or turkey sausage on a whole wheat double fiber english muffin that has been toasted for a breakfast sandwich.  If I am ever still hungry I add a piece of fruit or a low calor Greek yogurt.

I always have a coffee in some form.  I recently switched to using Agave in the Raw sweetener in it.

Lunch:

Lunch is pretty standardized as well, unless we have healthy dinner left overs.  I either make a sandwich wrap with lunch meat and veggies on a whole wheat low carb tortilla or a tuna salad wrap or a salad.  I make my tuna salad with a smaller amount of real mayo, as I cant stand the light version.  I add onion, celery, pepperoncinnis, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper, and whatever else I have....bell peppers, jalapeno...whatever sounds good.   I lay down a piece of romaine lettuce and put some of the mix on top and add cherry tomatoes or carrot shreds etc.  If I am having salad I incorporate a protein like hard boiled egg or lunch meat or cottage cheese or walnuts and use a vinegar based dressing.

Dinner:

For dinner I usually aim for a lean protein like chicken or fish paired with a TON of veggies and sometimes a grain like quinoa.  I like to have what I think of as one freebie food.  That is a food with little to no calories like steamed or sauteed asparagas, spinach, zucchini or broccoli that I can eat in unlimited quantities.  This way I KNOW ahead of time that I WILL be able to get full, so it keeps me from over eating the other elements.   I can keep a reasonable portion size for my meat and grains, knowing that I will not have tp leave the table still hungry.   If I am having an extra lean protein like boneless skinless chicken breasts it gives me more leway to have a grain or starch or add some cheese to the veggies etc.  If I am having a more calorie dense main dish like beef or pork, I keep the side dishes lighter like two kinds of steamed veggies. I just TRY to keep it balanced.  I often cut up some fruit to accompany it for the kids and eat a small portion myself.

Snacks:

I almost always have a snack or two during the day and one is usually fruit or yogurt.  The other one is usually in the evening when I want a "desert".  I may have a "healthy" cereal like Kashi or a toasted whole wheat english muffinwith peanutbutter and honey or banana.  I may have a Jello 100 calorie tapioca.  Generally it includes some type of whole grain and proteine if I can manage it because that is what I happen to crave.