[Sara Arell]

I went to the new Amish Veggie Market this afternoon and we had such a yummy supper - it was hot out and so we had just veggies (one of our fav things to do) - we had yellow squash sauteed with lots and lots of onions, baby acorn squash baked, sliced tomatoes and okra. I know that sounds like two many squashes at one meal, but we really are huge fans of both kinds and we love it when we can have a veggie supper! Iced tea and I had a skinny cow bar for dessert.

But, now Teecee has me thinking about M&M's, ..............sure glad I just sent my bag of them off to her so I won't be tempted! Remember to only eat 5 of them, Theresa! hahahaha! (I couldn't do that!)

[tiza126]

As I mentioned in the Shred Thread....I'm gearing up to start on South Beach Diet. I bought the newest version of the plan, the South Beach Diet Supercharged (from 2008). I also got the "Super Quick Cookbook" that goes along with the rules of the plan. And it looks like all the recipes take an average of 30 minutes to prepare (perfect for me). Plus, it doesn't look like I'll be suffering too bad...

During the "strict" Phase 1....recipes allowed on this phase include Goat Cheese & Arugula-Stuffed Chicken Breasts, Striped Bass Roasted with Cauliflower, Lemon, and Olives, White Chipotle Chicken Chili, and Coconut Panna Cotta. OOooh...that's like cruise food! I'm gonna enjoy this diet.

[Bride]

Those do sound yummy Tiza!!

[CRS]

I've just read through this whole thread and there is a lot of great info on here. My biggest problems are sweets and not liking many veggies. I get sick of the ones I do like quickly. I do the grocery shopping and I get weak! I have discovered the Skinny Cow candies and that seems to help me restrict my sweets intake.

I'd like to lose 15 pounds by Thanksgiving when dh comes home again. I know I'm tired because of my food choices and I need to work on that. Dh is a big motivator when it comes to food. I'm maintaining my weight but I feel that if I eat healthier, the weight will drop. I think I'll try a food journal.

I have made some changes in my diet over the past year. I only drink diet soda but I'd rather drink my sugar free koolaid. I was a Mountai Dew addict! I'm not a fan of plain water or green tea. I buy lite ice cream for the girls just in case I decide to have some. Small changes here, but if they stick, that's the main goal!

[tiza126]

Carla, you should check out The Sneaky Chef or Deceptively Delicous. They all about ways to sneak vegetables into dishes without them being noticeable, so it's a great way to get the nutritional value if you (or your kids) don't like the taste of vegetables.


I actually made a pasta dish recently that used a combination of white bean puree and shredded cheese as the sauce, instead of the usual alfredo or marinara. But it didn't taste very "beany". So that bumped up the protein factor of the dish. And if I had used whole grain pasta instead of white, that would have been even better. You can find that recipe here.

[Sara Arell]

For all of you who love the Skinny Cow goodies, there's a free coupon just for liking it http://bogo.skinnyco...mpaign=SCConf11 here and adding a FB friend!

I do like the Skinny Cow candies - I think there are 5 to a little pkg and I can eat just a couple and have my chocolate craving satisfied!


(I hope it's okay to link this here)

[Sara Arell]

We are eating so many veggies I think we are going to turn green or red or orange! We are down to having meat only a couple times a week and we feel so much better! We are huge veggie lovers so it's pretty easy for us. And with all of the fresh veggies available right now, there are so many from which to choose!

Many of our meals are totally veggie meals and I cook them all fat free so I know we are eating healthy. The inches are coming off - I can see a huge difference. No fancy stuff really - just lots and lots of fresh veggies!

I've made so many pots of soup and have my freezer packed with them!

[tiza126]

Sara Arell, on 25 August 2011 - 04:51 AM, said:

We are eating so many veggies I think we are going to turn green or red or orange! We are down to having meat only a couple times a week and we feel so much better! We are huge veggie lovers so it's pretty easy for us. And with all of the fresh veggies available right now, there are so many from which to choose!

Many of our meals are totally veggie meals and I cook them all fat free so I know we are eating healthy. The inches are coming off - I can see a huge difference. No fancy stuff really - just lots and lots of fresh veggies!

I've made so many pots of soup and have my freezer packed with them!

Are you still getting enough protein??

[Sara Arell]

tiza126, on 25 August 2011 - 07:36 AM, said:

Sara Arell, on 25 August 2011 - 04:51 AM, said:

We are eating so many veggies I think we are going to turn green or red or orange! We are down to having meat only a couple times a week and we feel so much better! We are huge veggie lovers so it's pretty easy for us. And with all of the fresh veggies available right now, there are so many from which to choose!

Many of our meals are totally veggie meals and I cook them all fat free so I know we are eating healthy. The inches are coming off - I can see a huge difference. No fancy stuff really - just lots and lots of fresh veggies!

I've made so many pots of soup and have my freezer packed with them!

Are you still getting enough protein??

Probably not, Tiza. Juggling that part and is the hard part for me. But it's like with sugar, you know. Once I go without it a few days I just don't want it any more and I kind of think my body doesn't care about the protein either now and you are right. That's probably not a good thing. I need a live in dietician! Sometimes I wish I didn't love to cook so much. I'm now a gourmet veggie cook if there is such a thing.

[tiza126]

Your body need the protein!!! It helps the muscles recover and grow. Protein also takes longer to digest so you will feel fuller longer.

Quote

"Contrary to carbohydrates and fats, which are primarily energy sources, proteins play vital roles within the body: building, repairing and providing the structural building blocks of virtually every cell in your body. They are the basic structural material of all cells. Your muscles, organs and many of your hormones are made up of protein. Protein is used in the manufacture of hemoglobin (the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen to your body). Protein is needed for the manufacture of antibodies that fight infection and disease. It is also central to your body's blood clotting ability (i.e. stops you from bleeding). "

Add a little shredded chicken or some high-protein beans to your pot of soup. Have a handful of nuts during the afternoon (but limit yourself, because they do have fat).
Eggs (in moderation), lean cuts of meat, fish, beans, peanut butter, tofu, quinoa, soy nuts, Luna bars...all good sources of protein. I think even some cheese and whole grain bread has protein. So just look at what you are eating and make sure you are still getting at least some protein, even if it isn't from meat.

Quote

"In a study published in Nutrition Metabolism, dieters who increased their protein intake to 30 percent of their diet ate nearly 450 fewer calories a day and lost about 11 pounds over the 12-week study without employing any other dietary measures.

And if, like most successful dieters, you're burning calories as well as counting them, protein is doubly essential for making sure you lose fat, not muscle. Your body uses the amino acids in protein to build lean muscle, which not only makes you stronger and more toned but also fries calories even when you're not active—unlike lazy fat. Ultimately, this keeps your metabolism humming along at high speed so you can burn off the occasional cookie, no problem. "

I do know how difficult it is to juggle everything, which is one reason I'm starting back up on an eating plan to try and retrain my mind to eat the right balance of proteins, good carbs, and vitamins.

[Bride]

T - how is the new SB coming? You said you bought the book ... have you started to cook out of it yet?

Sara - 3 oz of protein is not a huge amount ... if you could shoot for 3 oz for lunch and another 3 oz for dinner you would be doing good!

Carla - a food journal really helps!!

[tiza126]

My hope is to start on SB on Monday. I need to finish reading the book, eat up all the fruit in the apartment, and do a big clean-out (and restocking) of my kitchen.

[Sara Arell]

tiza126, on 25 August 2011 - 08:17 AM, said:

Your body need the protein!!! It helps the muscles recover and grow. Protein also takes longer to digest so you will feel fuller longer.

Quote

"Contrary to carbohydrates and fats, which are primarily energy sources, proteins play vital roles within the body: building, repairing and providing the structural building blocks of virtually every cell in your body. They are the basic structural material of all cells. Your muscles, organs and many of your hormones are made up of protein. Protein is used in the manufacture of hemoglobin (the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen to your body). Protein is needed for the manufacture of antibodies that fight infection and disease. It is also central to your body's blood clotting ability (i.e. stops you from bleeding). "

Add a little shredded chicken or some high-protein beans to your pot of soup. Have a handful of nuts during the afternoon (but limit yourself, because they do have fat).
Eggs (in moderation), lean cuts of meat, fish, beans, peanut butter, tofu, quinoa, soy nuts, Luna bars...all good sources of protein. I think even some cheese and whole grain bread has protein. So just look at what you are eating and make sure you are still getting at least some protein, even if it isn't from meat.

Quote

"In a study published in Nutrition Metabolism, dieters who increased their protein intake to 30 percent of their diet ate nearly 450 fewer calories a day and lost about 11 pounds over the 12-week study without employing any other dietary measures.

And if, like most successful dieters, you're burning calories as well as counting them, protein is doubly essential for making sure you lose fat, not muscle. Your body uses the amino acids in protein to build lean muscle, which not only makes you stronger and more toned but also fries calories even when you're not active—unlike lazy fat. Ultimately, this keeps your metabolism humming along at high speed so you can burn off the occasional cookie, no problem. "

I do know how difficult it is to juggle everything, which is one reason I'm starting back up on an eating plan to try and retrain my mind to eat the right balance of proteins, good carbs, and vitamins.

Actually adding chicken is a great idea! And I can do that when I use the soup from the freezer - I usually let it simmer on the stove for awhile anyway just to get that homemade aroma throughout the house again!

And I can also add some chicken to my salads - and eggs - I guess. I could live with that.

Thanks for the advice! You are sure keeping up with the research - I need to do better at that!

[Sara Arell]

Bride, on 25 August 2011 - 08:43 AM, said:

T - how is the new SB coming? You said you bought the book ... have you started to cook out of it yet?

Sara - 3 oz of protein is not a huge amount ... if you could shoot for 3 oz for lunch and another 3 oz for dinner you would be doing good!

Carla - a food journal really helps!!

True, Lei - and I think tuna is a source of protein, is it not? I do like to add chicken to my salads - I could start doing that again.

And oh, yes, Carla - my food journal has helped me see what I'm eating so clearly now! I was not being honest with myself before I started writing it down - I really was just kidding myself all along - now I seeeeeeeeeee the light!

[tiza126]

Sara Arell, on 25 August 2011 - 10:56 AM, said:

Actually adding chicken is a great idea! And I can do that when I use the soup from the freezer - I usually let it simmer on the stove for awhile anyway just to get that homemade aroma throughout the house again!

And I can also add some chicken to my salads - and eggs - I guess. I could live with that.

Thanks for the advice! You are sure keeping up with the research - I need to do better at that!

You can always poach a large batch of chicken breasts, let them cool, and then shred the chicken. Split the shredded chicken into smaller Ziploc baggies and freeze them. Then when you need some chicken to add to salads, soups, stir fry, pastas, etc., you can just thaw out a bag and the chicken is already cooked and ready to eat. It's a time-saver!

[CRS]

Thanks for all the links, Theresa! Dh is a huge alfredo fan, but maybe I can sneak that bean sauce past him. I'm off to check out those links now!

[tiza126]

CRS, on 25 August 2011 - 11:41 AM, said:

Thanks for all the links, Theresa! Dh is a huge alfredo fan, but maybe I can sneak that bean sauce past him. I'm off to check out those links now!

You could probably add a little milk/cream and some extra cheese to the bean sauce to make it a little thinner and closer to alfredo.
Or if you used a jarred alfredo sauce, you could sneak a puree of Great Northern Beans (which have a delicate flavor) into the sauce, just to add extra amounts of fiber and iron

[Sara Arell]

tiza126, on 25 August 2011 - 11:24 AM, said:

Sara Arell, on 25 August 2011 - 10:56 AM, said:

Actually adding chicken is a great idea! And I can do that when I use the soup from the freezer - I usually let it simmer on the stove for awhile anyway just to get that homemade aroma throughout the house again!

And I can also add some chicken to my salads - and eggs - I guess. I could live with that.

Thanks for the advice! You are sure keeping up with the research - I need to do better at that!

You can always poach a large batch of chicken breasts, let them cool, and then shred the chicken. Split the shredded chicken into smaller Ziploc baggies and freeze them. Then when you need some chicken to add to salads, soups, stir fry, pastas, etc., you can just thaw out a bag and the chicken is already cooked and ready to eat. It's a time-saver!

You are just full of the best ideas, Tiza! Honest! I would never have thought of poaching chicken and freezing it! OK - you're the official SG advisor now! Thanks for all the links and the great ideas!

[Sara Arell]

Sara Arell, on 25 August 2011 - 12:43 PM, said:

tiza126, on 25 August 2011 - 11:24 AM, said:

Sara Arell, on 25 August 2011 - 10:56 AM, said:

Actually adding chicken is a great idea! And I can do that when I use the soup from the freezer - I usually let it simmer on the stove for awhile anyway just to get that homemade aroma throughout the house again!

And I can also add some chicken to my salads - and eggs - I guess. I could live with that.

Thanks for the advice! You are sure keeping up with the research - I need to do better at that!

You can always poach a large batch of chicken breasts, let them cool, and then shred the chicken. Split the shredded chicken into smaller Ziploc baggies and freeze them. Then when you need some chicken to add to salads, soups, stir fry, pastas, etc., you can just thaw out a bag and the chicken is already cooked and ready to eat. It's a time-saver!

You are just full of the best ideas, Tiza! Honest! I would never have thought of poaching chicken and freezing it! OK - you're the official SG advisor now! Thanks for all the links and the great ideas!

One thing I used to do and will do again now that I've been convinced that it's okay to eat some chicken on my salads is add the fresh pineapple back to it too - there is nothing better than the combo of chicken and fresh pineapple! Oh, yum!

[tiza126]

Sara Arell, on 25 August 2011 - 12:43 PM, said:

tiza126, on 25 August 2011 - 11:24 AM, said:

You can always poach a large batch of chicken breasts, let them cool, and then shred the chicken. Split the shredded chicken into smaller Ziploc baggies and freeze them. Then when you need some chicken to add to salads, soups, stir fry, pastas, etc., you can just thaw out a bag and the chicken is already cooked and ready to eat. It's a time-saver!

You are just full of the best ideas, Tiza! Honest! I would never have thought of poaching chicken and freezing it! OK - you're the official SG advisor now! Thanks for all the links and the great ideas!

I can't take credit for that idea. I was online the other night looking for directions on how to poach chicken (so I could let it cook while I exercised), and another user had commented with the freezer idea.

[Sara Arell]

tiza126, on 25 August 2011 - 01:32 PM, said:

Sara Arell, on 25 August 2011 - 12:43 PM, said:

tiza126, on 25 August 2011 - 11:24 AM, said:

You can always poach a large batch of chicken breasts, let them cool, and then shred the chicken. Split the shredded chicken into smaller Ziploc baggies and freeze them. Then when you need some chicken to add to salads, soups, stir fry, pastas, etc., you can just thaw out a bag and the chicken is already cooked and ready to eat. It's a time-saver!

You are just full of the best ideas, Tiza! Honest! I would never have thought of poaching chicken and freezing it! OK - you're the official SG advisor now! Thanks for all the links and the great ideas!

I can't take credit for that idea. I was online the other night looking for directions on how to poach chicken (so I could let it cook while I exercised), and another user had commented with the freezer idea.

Well, shoot! You can take credit then for suggesting it on here since you did "discover" that someone else somewhere else commented on it!

[Sara Arell]

This sounded like it might be good to me - got it in my daily email from AllRecipes. - only 128 calories yall! Whatcha think?

Blueberry Walnut Salad

Ingredients

1 (10 ounce) package mixed salad greens
1 pint fresh blueberries
1/4 cup walnuts
1/2 cup raspberry vinaigrette salad dressing
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

Directions

In a large bowl, toss the salad greens with the blueberries, walnuts, and raspberry vinaigrette. Top with feta cheese to serve.
Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving Calories: 128 | Total Fat: 5.8g | Cholesterol: 9mg

[tiza126]

That sounds good Sara. And the walnuts will provide a little protein for you too.

[Sara Arell]

tiza126, on 25 August 2011 - 07:37 PM, said:

That sounds good Sara. And the walnuts will provide a little protein for you too.

There ya go, Tiza! See, what you said really did get through to me!

[tiza126]

I would also suggestion to be careful of the raspberry vinaigrette dressing that you used...some of them can have LOTS of unwanted sugar.

[Sara Arell]

tiza126, on 25 August 2011 - 07:49 PM, said:

I would also suggestion to be careful of the raspberry vinaigrette dressing that you used...some of them can have LOTS of unwanted sugar.

Now that is very true! I have a bottle of it in my frig and checked it and it is full of sugar! Don't care too much for the last "diet" one I tried so will have to look around and see what other kind I can find. Or maybe I could make my own? Maybe! I am doing too well avoiding sugar to spoil it and this is too yummy a recipe and too wonderful in low calorie to spoil it with high sugar content. Surely I will figure something else out!

[tiza126]

Sara Arell, on 25 August 2011 - 07:53 PM, said:

tiza126, on 25 August 2011 - 07:49 PM, said:

I would also suggestion to be careful of the raspberry vinaigrette dressing that you used...some of them can have LOTS of unwanted sugar.

Now that is very true! I have a bottle of it in my frig and checked it and it is full of sugar! Don't care too much for the last "diet" one I tried so will have to look around and see what other kind I can find. Or maybe I could make my own? Maybe! I am doing too well avoiding sugar to spoil it and this is too yummy a recipe and too wonderful in low calorie to spoil it with high sugar content. Surely I will figure something else out!

See if your store carries Walden Farms Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing. It's calorie free, carb free, fat free, gluten free, and cholesterol free.....but still tastes good!! I think I first learned about the Walden Farms line of dressings when I was on WW many years ago.

[PolkaDot]

That salad sound YUMMY!!

[Sara Arell]

tiza126, on 25 August 2011 - 07:58 PM, said:

Sara Arell, on 25 August 2011 - 07:53 PM, said:

tiza126, on 25 August 2011 - 07:49 PM, said:

I would also suggestion to be careful of the raspberry vinaigrette dressing that you used...some of them can have LOTS of unwanted sugar.

Now that is very true! I have a bottle of it in my frig and checked it and it is full of sugar! Don't care too much for the last "diet" one I tried so will have to look around and see what other kind I can find. Or maybe I could make my own? Maybe! I am doing too well avoiding sugar to spoil it and this is too yummy a recipe and too wonderful in low calorie to spoil it with high sugar content. Surely I will figure something else out!

See if your store carries Walden Farms Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing. It's calorie free, carb free, fat free, gluten free, and cholesterol free.....but still tastes good!! I think I first learned about the Walden Farms line of dressings when I was on WW many years ago.

Thanks, Tiza. I will look for Walden Farms - if my regular grocery store doesn't carry it then I would bet Fresh Market would - they have all kinds of things the normal groceries don't have.

We also eat alot of hummus - we love it - I make it at home or buy it with roasted red peppers. Chick peas are very good for you and can also be added whole to salads and soups and almost anything. I read this online and copied a portion of it to post here.

"....adding about half a cup of chickpeas to your daily diet can cut cravings for salty, sugary, and fatty snacks, according to research.

Fabulously Filling Fiber
That's exactly what happened in a recent study where adults made chickpeas a part of their normal diet for 4 weeks. They were given a variety of tasty chickpea recipes to use and were instructed to keep a food diary. And the study participants not only reported a nosedive in hunger and overall calorie intake but also ate far fewer bad-for-the-waistline processed snack foods as well. The researchers think the naturally occurring drop in snacking was most likely due to the high-fiber content in chickpeas."

[Sara Arell]

PolkaDot, on 25 August 2011 - 09:21 PM, said:

That salad sound YUMMY!!

Doesn't it though? I'm going to the ingredients today and give it a try!