Calling All Eaters!!!

Let's get this rolling again! When and how can we tailor this to make it work for everyone? If it means regular weigh-ins at the same place each week or if it is independent weigh-ins at your convenience, comment about it and let's do this!

Question for Bree... Is the protein powder in the pancakes made with whey?

My trick to eating healthy

I think that eating right is all about being prepared. It's when you have to make last minute choices about dinner (or any meal or snack) that you find yourself making horrible decisions. It's just like grocery shopping when you are hungry... don't do it! If you sit down as a family, with just your husband, or by yourself on Sunday night and plan out all of your meals for the week, it makes it super easy to make better choices. I try to plan out several weeks at a time 'cause it's more fun that way. By doing this, I've noticed several things: I spend less money at the grocery store, less food goes to waste, I'm eating lots more veggies and I'm trying lots of new dishes. I don't know about you, but if I don't keep track or plan ahead, I tend to eat the same 5 dinners over and over again. BOR-ING! This way, not only am I branching out with my cooking, but the family and I are trying new things. Winning! ;) HAHAHA. Just had to do that. I actually try to plan for all meals. That way we aren't eating cereal every morning (expensive much!?)

Here's what my dinner chart looks like:

If you pull out and gather all our your recipes, then you can take inventory on monday morning and go shopping for what you need. Also, try to get some healthy snacks and things to nibble on so you won't be tempted to eat and buy junk food. This chart is also a great way to see if you are getting in all of your fruits and veggies and if you are eating a well balanced diet. You will notice that your shopping cart should be full of much more healthy choices, and you won't just be cruisin' the aisles and putting random crap in it. Yay!

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Another great thing about this is that you can cook once and eat twice. Like for instance, make grilled chicken one night but cook extra. Then the next night or so you can have chicken fajitas. Cook once, eat twice. It's a wonderful thing, Martha.

-Bree

Guiltless Alfredo Sauce

I'm one of those people that can't stop eating good food. It doesn't matter if I'm ''on a diet''. For me, eating isn't meant to be painful, it is to be enjoyed. So I try my best to adjust (or find adjustments) for my favorite foods and recipes, and try to make them as healthy as possible. I won't restrict what I eat, but I will try my darndest to make it more healthy for me, that and limiting the amount I do eat. I think that this Giultless Alfredo Sauce recipe is just the ticket. I mean, I am Italian after all. How can I go without pasta dishes for the rest of my life?! Hello! ;) Talk about Mission: Impossible.

I heard about this recipe from Whit, who got it from Our Best Bites. It is a lower fat alfredo sauce recipe, and Whit and Jordan say it's delicious. I'll know by tonight and tell you what I think. ;)

Guiltless Alfredo Sauce
2 C low-fat milk
1/3 C (3 oz) low fat cream cheese
2 TBSP flour
1 tsp salt
1 TBSP butter
3 garlic cloves
1 C grated Parmesan cheese

Toss the milk, cream cheese, flour, and salt in a blender.
Process until smooth and set aside.
In a non-stick sauce pan, melt butter on med-high heat and add garlic. Let the garlic saute for about 30 seconds, be careful not to burn it. But is should be oh so fragrant!
Then add milk mixture to the pan. Stir constantly for about 3 or 4 minutes or until it just comes to a simmer. Keep stirring and let it cook for a few minutes more. It should be much thicker now.
When it’s nice and thickened remove the pan from the heat. Add the cheese, stir it up and then cover immediately. Let stand for at least 10 minutes before using. It will continue to thicken upon standing. Also, if you have leftovers in the fridge, the sauce will thicken almost into a solid. Just re-heat and add a little milk and it will be back to normal again.
-recipe and instructions from our best bites


I like to add freshly cracked black pepper and Salad Elegance to my Alfredo sauce. My idea for this sauce, pour over whole wheat pasta, shrimp, crab and clams and make it really worth it! I'm not gonna lie, whole wheat pasta takes some getting used to- it's not gross, just different. Josh still has a hard time with it (he's stubborn like that), but the kids don't seem to mind it much. Healthy eating is a lifestyle change, new foods take getting used to. I think that every little thing counts, and when we add up all those little steps towards eating right, then BOOM next thing you know, we're standing in Florida wearing a string bikini lookin' SMOKIN'! Ok, not really the string bikini thing, cause that's gross, but still... you get what I mean.

-Bree

Bree's Protein Packed Blender 'Cakes

Ok. So I said that I would try the blender 'cakes with applesauce, and I did. And it was amazing! But, I kinda shook things up a bit. I changed around the recipe and added a few things. People are always trying to play up healthy foods and pretending that a healthy recipe is good, when in fact it tastes like cardboard- or worse. But truly, honestly to goodness... this recipe is so freakin' good! And super healthy and even has protein in it! Who woulda' thought right?! Even Alli and Kennidee were coming back for seconds, and then asking if we could have it for lunch (and I hadn't even put the topping on yet). If kids like it, you know it has to be good. And it so is...

Bree's Protein Packed Blender 'Cakes:
1 1/3 c fat free milk (plus a few TBSPs if needed)
1 c whole wheat (I used hard red wheat - bought from Wal-Marts food storage area)
4 egg whites
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 TBSP no sugar added applesauce
2 TBSP Splenda (or other no-calorie sweetener) (you can also use honey or sugar)
2 scoops of your favorite brand of protein powder (vanilla flavored)

1. Blend the milk and wheat for 4-5 minutes on high in your blender (until smooth. Any less time, and you will have crunchy cakes)
2. Combine the remaining ingredients in a smaller bowl.
3. Add the eggs mixture to the wheat mix in your blender and process on low. You may need to add a little more milk at this point (like TBSPs at a time). The wheat absorbs the milk pretty quickly, but then again, it's all about preference.
4. Pour batter onto hot skillet/griddle (about 300-350 degrees) using a 1/4 cup measuring cup.
5. Flip when bubbles begin to form on the top of the pancake, and cook two more minutes or until pancake is cooked through.

yield: about 14 pancakes (using a slightly thinner batter)

Fruit topping:
mash your fruits of choice and then add Splenda (or honey or sugar) and cinnamon to your liking.

*Oh yeah, the picture is of the pancakes I made today. I devoured them in about 5 minutes after this photo was taken, and they were so good that I didn't even use butter on them (which I almost consider a SIN). That's sayin something.


Cinnamon has a lot of health benefits. It helps ease arthritis, manage type II diabetes, lower LDL cholesterol and many other things. Look it up and research for your self, it's pretty awesome stuff. Unfortunately the really good stuff (you buy at health food stores) is more expensive, but I think it is worth the cost. The taste is also quite a bit different (in a good way).

I add cinnamon to my breakfast smoothies and it is SO GOOD! Try it, you'll like it... promise.

-Bree

P.S. If you try it, leave me a comment telling me what you think or how you might have done it different. :)

Green Smoothie Girl

2 days done! The excitement hasn't worn off yet! My work outs have consisted of playing with kids at work and packing and moving boxes.. What is the best quick workout?

So here is a link to the "Green Smoothie Girl's" website. http://www.greensmoothiegirl.com/
She has a 12 step program (which goes so well with the AA we have going.) She basically says to blend up a bunch of veggies, chard, spinach, romaine, carrots and any veggies you can think of and have them for breakfast. A girl at work does it and I tried it and it is really not that bad. You can add fruit but since they digest differently it isnt the best option I guess. Anyway, it is great because it keeps you full and you can get like 8 servings of veggies for breakfast! Booya.

So try a green smoothie.. I am going to make one tomorrow morning.. i will let you know how it goes..

Ps. I totally bought all these fruits and veggeis from Scoresby Farms and then went to Winco where everything was way less than what I paid.. Either way I think the cheapest way to go is Bountiful Baskets..

whit

Help Around the Blogging World

So, I have a friend who is super fit and totally into healthy eating and all that crap (hahaha ;) That's her on the left (and no, I didn't take that picture obviously) Anyways, she has loads of tips and tricks, and recipes on her blog. Go and check it out! Yes, that is an order! Her name is Stephanie and she is a personal trainer and training to be in body building competitions and all that sort of thing, so you know she's legit (plus you can trust me can't you?!). Stephanie is totally cut, so just a warning... don't let her teeny body piss you off. :) I'm still working on that.