Thursday:
Breakfast:  Yogurt and berries.
Lunch:  Chicken and fruit salad.
Snack:  Luna Chocolate dipped coconut bar.
Dinner:  Marie Callendar's Turkey Dinner.
Snack:  Two squares chocolate and air popped corn.
Ran 2 miles in the cold and snow, came home and puked cause I couldn't breathe.  I hope I can get used to cold weather running.

Friday:
Breakfast:  Oatmeal and fruit.
Lunch:  Panera Broccolli soup with french bread.
Dinner:  Panera chicken ceasar sandwich half, reduced guilt chips, orange.
And here is where it gets bad.  I was feeling strong.  I split my lunch between lunch and dinner, resisted other mall and Panera temptations, including a huge cinnamon roll I got my niece, at my dinner, then took the kids to Culvers fully expecting to eat nothing, but my son offered me an onion ring three times and finally I took one, that opened the flood gates:
Mind Trail:
I ate an onion ring, I might as well:
Eat my son's entire bag of fries he left behind.  I ate a bag of fries, I might as well:
Order a caramel cashew sundae.  I ate a sundae, I might as well:
Add extra butter to my nightly popcorn.  I had extra butter, oh hell throw caution to the wind, get in the car and buy a bag of munchos and a six pack of Mike's hard lemonade...

SNACKS:  1 onion ring, 1 small order of fries, one scoop caramel cashew sundae, popcorn with 2 T butter, 2 to 3 servings Munchos, 2 Mike's.

Ugggh, day 11 a success, day 12  epic fail, but that is okay.  One off day in 17 will be a huge improvement, ONE. 

Day 10 Dessert for Breakfast

252 page views in one day?  I usually get a couple.  So, how does that happen?  Who the heck is reading this dribble?  Strange.

My secret to fitting in dessert?  Eating it as a meal for breakfast.  Works like a charm.  When I think of my perfect breakfast I think of Meemaw's chocolate pie.  Mmmmm.  Technically, I guess a muffin is breakfast food, but when it includes chocolate chips and brown sugar crunch topping, I put it in the dessert category.  I can't decide if I am happy or sad those muffins are gone, but one thing is for sure, I will be making them again. They are too good not to share, but I already have four kids I have to share with, so make your own!

BREAKFAST:  Banana muffin, strawberries.
LUNCH:  2 chicken and fruit salad roll ups, sweet potato fries.
DINNER:  2 chicken soft tacos.
SNACK:  You guessed it, air popped corn with 1 T of real butter.

BANANA CRUMB MUFFINS (ADAPTED FROM RECIPE ON ALLRECIPE)

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tsp cinnamon

3 bananas, mashed

1/2 cup white sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/3 cup butter, melted

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup chocolate chips

TOPPING INGREDIENTS

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon butter

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease 12 muffin cups, or line with muffin papers.
2. In a large bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. In another bowl, beat together bananas, sugar, egg and melted butter, vanilla and chocolate chips. Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.
3. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and cinnamon. Cut in 1 tablespoon butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle topping over muffins.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.

P.S.  I never, ever bother with using seperate bowls for wet and dry ingredients.  First I mix all the wet, then add the dry ingredients minus the flour and incorporate them well, then add the flour at the end to avoid overmixing.

Day 9 Oranges are Candy From Trees

Oranges are so delicious this time of year!  I bought four a week and a half ago.  I try to eat my fruits according to what needs to be eaten first, berries only last a couple days, pineapple, grapes, and bananas slightly longer, and finally oranges and apples.  So all four oranges have sat in the produce drawer for over a week untouched.  I sliced myself one for a snack yesterday and suddenly I had three boys and one girl buzzing about needing one of their own, three oranges, four kids....luckily they were large.  The same oranges that have sat in the drawer for the past 10 days without a second glance were now a precious commodity.Eating healthy foods around our children 100% affects our kid's food choices.
BREAKFAST:  Banana muffin, strawberries.
LUNCH:  2 chicken and fruit salad roll ups.
SNACK:  Orange, string cheese.
DINNER:  Leftover hash.....1-1/2 cups shredded potato, 3 oz chicken, 2 oz ham, 1/3 cup corn, onion, 1 T olive oil, 2 T shredded cheese.  A big plate of yummy!
SNACK:  Popcorn with 1 T butter.

Saying Yes, When It's Worth It

Some treats are worth it.  And you know what, if I eat a single sized portion, there aren't too many foods that I have to say no to.  I made "the kids" homemade banana muffins with the over-ripened bananas on my counter.  They smelled heavenly, and when my niece saw them come out of the oven she yelled "HAPPY!!!"   That is what she calls cupcakes and chocolate.  When I made them, I truly believed they were for "the kids."  But once they were baked I asked myself...

Now how does one resist the temptation of warm, homemade banana muffins with brown sugar crunch topping?

And the answer was immediately clear.......one doesn't!

At about 235 calories and 7 grams of fat, I don't have to feel guilt, because I ate just one, and it was delicious and tasted exactly like "HAPPY" would if it had a taste.

BREAKFAST:  Chobani honey yogurt, pineapple, raspberries, and strawberries.

LUNCH:  3 oz lightly breaded chicken cutlet, sweet potato fries, raw carrots.

SNACK:  Banana muffin.

DINNER:  3 to 4 oz ham, brussel sprouts, 1 cup brown rice.

SNACK:  Air popped corn with 1 T butter.

8 days down, 9 to go!

Weekend Temptations

The weekend was full of temptations, but I am very proud to say I made it through unscathed!  First, my fiance called on Friday night asking if I wanted him to pick me up anything on the way home.  I had already eaten and said no thanks.  He came home with a BBQ chicken pizza-size large and triple cheese breadsticks, then tried to persuade me to eat it.  I resisted, barely.  Saturday he called me on his way home again and asked me what I would like from his favorite Chinese place, the place he claims is better than anywhere else, the place he ended up waiting at for nearly an hour for take-out.  Good thing I had already eaten by the time he had called both nights, so he wasn't asking me on an empty stomach.  THEN I had Sunday morning to deal with.  He usually makes us breakfast, but I was hungry and he was still sleeping, so I ate my breakfast.  Normally, I would partake in Sunday breakfast, just in smaller amounts, but I had already eaten my yogurt and was secretely annoyed by the barage of temptations, so I skipped it even with some more attempted persuasion by my fiance.  Finally, I said look, do you see me trying to get you to eat fruits, vegetables, and chicken breast?  He stopped waving the bacon in my face.
BLUNCH:  Chobani lemon yogurt, raspberries, strawberries, pineapple.
EARLY DINNER:  1/2 roasted chicken breast with skin, 1 chicken leg, 1 cup brown rice, salad (romaine, 2 T yogurt based Ceasar dressing, parmesan cheese, cucumber, and tomato.)
SNACKS:  Air-popped corn with 1 T butter, grapes, 1/2 cup lemon gingersnap ice cream.

The final temptation of the weekend was my doing.  I bought a pumpkin pie and whipped cream and brought it to my parent's house for dessert with my boys.  I ended up passing on the pie, even though it is a reasonable snack, but it is not my favorite, and I would much rather have the ice cream.

I made it through!  I have never been so relieved to see a Monday!  One week down, 10 more days until Turkey Day Challenge is successfully completed!

Even the Hard Runs Feel Good

I have a bunch of excuses for not running the past two weeks, one is legit.  I had a bad cold and I couldn't breathe for much of those two weeks.  Plus my other excuses that could be overcome with some willpower...I am working 12 hours days; I'm exhausted and have no time.  I was running around the field at football practice, now if I want to run, I have to leave my boys home supervised by my 13-year-old son.  And finally, the time change makes it dark too early.

But yesterday was Saturday, I had no work, my kids were at their dad's, and my congestion is tolerable-tolerable, not gone.  So, I laced em up and headed out.  It was tough.  My nose started running right away, I was spitting (ewwww) cause my throat was clogged, and I nearly threw up at mile 1.5, that is when I decided to run home, exactly 2 miles, 2 hard fought miles.  I ran straight to my deck and sat down for a moment, which immediately turned into laying down for a minute, which somehow turned into laying on the wooden planks for 45 minutes basking in the sun thinking how good even a bad run is, meditation.

Lying on the deck, post-run.  I am shocked by how flat my stomach appears.  It is an optical illusion.  If only I could live my life lying down my pooch would flatten.  LOL

BLUNCH:  Chobani lemon yogurt with fruit.

DINNER:  Leftover chicken parmesan, carrots, cucumbers.

SNACKS:   Air-popped corn, 2 squares dark chocolate with sea salt.

I'm On a Roll (And Not a Cinnamon Roll This Time)

BREAKFAST:  Egg, bacon, and cheese muffin, which sounds worse than it is at about 250 calories.  Every so often, I get in the mood for an egg, and then I have one and realize once again that I really do not like eggs.  Also had some blackberries, raspberries, grapes, and strawberries.

LUNCH:  Ceasar salad.  It looks delicious right?  It was, but something was missing.....can you find what's missing?  Croutons.  I need some crunch in my Ceasar salad, but that crunch would come at the cost of 35 calories for THREE croutons, and who eats three croutons?  No one.  So I ate no croutons, 0 calories.

DINNER:  3 oz breaded chicken cutlet (leftover from chicken parmesan night), sweet potato fries, raw carrots and cucumbers.

SNACK:  Air popped corn with 1 T butter, ONE Dib.



Chicken Parmesan and Day 4

Four days of healthier eating, my longest stretch in awhile.  Even though I was the only one home for dinner last night, I decided to make the chicken parmesan.   I already made the sauce and the chicken was already thawed, so I figured I might as well.  Mmmmmmm, it was well worth the effort.  One of my favorite dishes.  I kept some aside for my love to eat when he got home later and dropped the rest off at my parent's house.
BREAKFAST:  Chobani pineapple yogurt with fresh blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and pineapple.
LUNCH:  Sweet potato fries and two chicken and fruit salad roll-ups.
DINNER:  Chicken parmesan (1.5 cups spaghetti, 3/4 cup sauce, 3 oz chicken breast, 1/2 slice swiss cheese.)
SNACK:  Air-popped corn with 1 T butter.



Homemade Pasta Sauce (adapted from Cooking Light Recipe with my personal changes to suit my tastes.)

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 small can tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
  
  
• 2 tsp dried parsley

Heat oil in a saucepan or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté 5 minutes. Stir in balsamic and next 6 ingredients (balsamic through tomatoes), and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and cook, uncovered, about 15 minutes, (but I always end up cooking it for an hour or two. Stir in parsley.

Chicken Parmesan Cooking Light September 1998

• 4 (4-ounce) skinned, boned chicken breast halves
• 1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 large egg whites, lightly beaten2 teaspoons olive oil
• 4 cups hot cooked spaghetti (about 8 ounces uncooked pasta)
• 3 cups tomato sauce
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Preparation

Place each chicken breast half between 2 sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap; flatten to 1/4-inch thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin.
Combine breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and pepper in a shallow dish. Dredge 1 chicken breast half in flour. Dip in egg whites; dredge in breadcrumb mixture. Repeat procedure with remaining chicken, flour, egg whites, and breadcrumb mixture.
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 5 minutes on each side or until done.
Place 1 cup spaghetti in each of 4 gratin dishes. Spoon 1/2 cup Ultimate Quick-and-Easy Pasta Sauce over each serving. Top each with 1 chicken breast half. Spoon 1/4 cup sauce over each serving. Sprinkle each serving with 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese.
Preheat broiler. Place gratin dishes on a baking sheet; broil 3 minutes or until cheese melts. Garnish with basil sprigs, if desired.

Sweet Potato Fries

French fries are one of my favorite foods.  A food I refuse to give up, which completely eliminates all varieties of low carb diets.  Thankfully, I don't have to give them up.  Many years ago, during her skinny years, Oprah had her chef on her show, and they made oven baked french fries.  The secret ingredient in making great oven fries is egg whites!  It makes them crispy and delicious.  Recently, I tried making sweet potato fries in the same manner and they are equally as fabulous, and I am not a sweet potato fan because of the stringy texture, not a problem with fries.

1/2 a peeled sweet potato cut into strips
1 egg white
Seasoned salt, pepper, and cayenne.  (I have also tried cinnamon, but I prefer the savory sweet combo.)

Simply beat the egg white, add the spices, coat the potatoes with the mixture, place in a single layer on a pan sprayed with Pam, put into a preheated 475 degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes.

Sweet potato fries with a fruit and chicken salad rollup.  YUM!

Challenge Proves to be...Challenging.

I was hungry yesterday, but I made it through the day meeting my goal of eating healthier and eating less.  I planned on making an old favorite recipe of mine, Cooking Light Chicken Parmesan, homemade sauce and all.  I had the sauce simmering on the stove when my fiance called and asked if it was okay if he subbed for his work's bowling team.  "Sure, whatever you want to do."  Was what came out of my mouth, while my mind said, but I haven't seen you since Sunday, except for when you get into bed at night and out of bed in the morning.  I have been nannying for my two baby nieces for 10 hours a day, taking care of my own three boys, playing taxi, taking care of the house, laundry, cooking, etc., and then working my second job for a couple hours in the evening after the kids go to bed.  Forgive me for being a tad bit overwhelmed.  Then I think no wonder I eat junk and way too much of it, but then that is just another excuse, so the pasta sauce became pizza sauce and we had a much simpler meal of mini pizzas, still on plan.
BREAKFAST:  Chobani strawberry yogurt with fresh pineapple, strawberries, blackberries and raspberries.
LUNCH:  Chicken and fruit salad wraps (Two LaTortilla factory high fiber tortillas, 4 oz rotisserie chicken, 7 grapes, 1/4 cup pineapple, romaine lettuce, and 1 T Ken's poppyseed dressing.)  YUM.
SNACK:  Grapes, strawberries, Trader Joes Chocolate Chip Brownie Oat Bar.
DINNER:  2 homemade mini cheese pizzas.
SNACK:  Air popped corn with 1 T butter.

Turkey Day Challenge

This Monday I began a personal short challenge.  It is simple, eating better and eating less until Thanksgiving, 17 days.  Okay, so nothing is simple when it comes to my weight and eating habits.   Intellectually, it is straightforward.  The difference healthy eating makes in my energy levels, mood, and overall wellness should make it worth it alone, vanity aside.  So why is it so damn hard?  Eating better will mean eating plenty of fruits and vegetables-the refigerator was completely bare of these items with the exception of some apples and five mushy raspberries.  I am going to think about what I want versus what my body needs and how delicious the foods my body needs actually taste.  Seriously, Pringles taste like powered cheese covered paper, oranges taste like natures candy, so why do I choose the Pringles?  Equally important, I am going to eat single servings of foods.  AND I am going to record my choices here.  I didn't get to grocery shopping until Tuesday night,but the fridge is packed with healthy foods now.  This isn't going to be perfect, but it is going to be better,- It is going to be honest with myself, the good, the not so good, and the downright ugly.  17 days, -2, 15 more to go.

MONDAY:
BREAKFAST:  1/4 cup steel cut oats, 1/2 T natural pb, cinnamon, vanilla, splenda.
LUNCH:  Trader Joes Reduced Guilt Mac and Cheese.
DINNER:  Cajun spiced chicken breast, brown rice, broccoli and cauliflower, olive oil.

TUESDAY:
BREAKFAST:  1/4 cup steel cut oats, 1/2 T natural pb, cinnamon, vanilla, splenda.
LUNCH:  Yesterday's dinner leftovers.
SNACK:  6 Triscuits, 1 oz goat cheese.
DINNER:  Rotisserie chicken breast with skin, Romaine salad with strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, pineapple, and 2 T Ken's light poppyseed dressing.
SNACK:  1/4 cup air-popped corn with 1 T of butter.