Veggie Dip Zero Points

 

DO NOT LIKE THIS AFTER ALL.  NOT THE TASTE I DESIRE FOR VEGGIE DIP.

I found this recipe on Drizzle Me Skinny when I was looking for an alternative to store bought Ranch Dip.  Although it doesn't taste like  ranch dip it is very good with a fresh zesty taste and zero points for a cupful which is much better than 2 points or more for 2 tablespoons.  I just made my first batch of this and will be making more.  I made 3 more batch full of just the spices and herbs and bagged them and threw them in the freezer.  When I make this again in a few days I can just measure out the yogurt and milk and empty a pre-made baggie full of the goodies and mix it up quick. Here is the recipe: 

• 1 cup non fat plain greek yogurt
• 2 Tbsp milk I used almond milk
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• 1 tsp dried chives
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp dill weed
• 1/4 tsp paprika

I chilled it for an hour before eating it. Love it.

Weight In and goals

In spite of my attempts to sabotage myself this past week, I lost 0.2 pounds.  I planned well one day and the rest went to shit.  That is honesty!  I was too damn lazy to do anything else.  I will do better this week.  I am willing to do that

At the meeting I saw old friends and really enjoyed myself.  We discussed goals.  One phrase one member shared was, "I can do anything, but what am I willing to do?"  I chose to track all my food that I eat.  I am willing to do that.  I am willing to take food to work at least twice.  That is one more day than last week.  I want to do better then that.

I found the 2 pod casts that were discussed at last Friday's meeting.  I listened to the first podcast of Stop Binging and It's Never Too Late to Lose Weight.  It is a little too soon to give them thumbs ups or downs but I have heard 2 WW members rave about them.

The above are 2 recipes which sound very good and use regular ingredients.  The pancake recipe is the back of the meeting card we got.  WW doesn't have the weekly magazines anymore, they have these cards.

So let's work on having a positive week and let God work thru me.

A new start

I am tired, tired of my bones aching so badly this winter.  It won't get any better I am afraid.  So early this week I took the plunge and rejoined the weight loss battle by enrolling in Weight Watchers again.  I did it on-line and boy have things changed there.  I got excited and am still excited.

Today I went to my first meeting since August 6, 2016.  A funny thing happened.  I weighted 277.4 that day, today I weighted 272.2 which is a 4.8 pound loss from that glum August day.  I took a bit of a delight in that.

I really enjoyed the meeting today.  Dianna, the group leader at the "studio", formerly known as the "meeting" was energetic and funny and quite delightful.  I won't be able to attend on Fridays very often due to work, however I do plan on going on Saturdays or Sundays.

On my way home from my studio gathering (meeting is a no-no word) I stopped and bought some good things on sale like chicken breasts (99¢/lb.), strawberries (1.49/lb.), green bell peppers (89¢ each), turkey kielbasa (2.50) and of course my Diet Pepsi (2.50 per six pack).  I know I need to get more items but this is a start.

I am waiting for my order today from Wal-Mart.  I bought a digital scale, a mini chopper and a George Foreman grill.  I want to set up on cabinet in the kitchen my cooking corner with my WW appliances for ease of access and use.

So with no further adieu, on with this show...

Meeting notes, recipes and Secrets of Thin People

Feed one's self with pleasures other then food!

Ice Cream-From meeting

2 cups frozen fruit
½ cup non fat cottage cheese
2-3 pkgs of zero calorie sweetner
2T milk

Blend until the consistency of ice cream.  2 smart points.



Chicken on Rice-From Nancy's newsletter 

6 servings @ 7 SmartPoints per serving  
1 can Healthy Request cream of mushroom soup
2 cups skim milk
3/4 cup uncooked brown rice
1/2 envelope dry onion soup mix
**optional 4-oz. can of mushroom pieces
30 ounces skinless, boneless uncooked chicken breast, cut into 6 pieces

Heat oven to 350°.  Blend soup and milk, reserve 1/2 cup of mixture.  Add rice; place on bottom of baking dish.  Place chicken on top, pour the reserved mixture over the top.  Bake for 1 hour or until chicken is done.

Easy Cheeseburger Pie-From Nancy's newsletter 

6 servings @ 5 SmartPoints per serving 
8 ounces cooked, 93% ground beef
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup reduced-fat, shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 cup HeartSmart Bisquick baking mix
3/4 cup skim milk
2 large eggs

Heat oven to 350°.  Grease 9” pie plate.  Sauté chopped onion until tender, add cooked ground beef, stir in salt.  Spread in pie plate; sprinkle with cheese.  Stir remaining ingredients until blended.  Pour into top.  Bake 25 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. 

Notes from www.realsimple.com "The Secrets of Thin People"

People who start out with a sizable soup or salad eat less for the rest of the meal.  It subtracts about 12% of the calories from the meal eaten.

Thin people watch portion sizes such as buying single serving worth of food.

People who keep weight off tend to eat 5 small meals day rather than 3 larger meals.

Thin people put themselves first.

Thin people have thin parents. 30% of being thin is genetics, the rest is environmental.

Thin people don't skip meals. Skipping meals tends to make one ravenous and less likely to control impulses to over eat.

Thin people limit their options.  The more types of foods we have available them more we tend to eat.

Colorado has the highest percentage of people with normal weight.

Thin people don't sit still.

Thin people weigh themselves regularly.

Thin people do not skip breakfast. If one skips meals they tend to make it up later.

Thin people enjoy food. They eat without reproach or guilt.

Thin people practice early intervention.  Thin people tend to limit the quantity or frequency of food when the numbers on the scale creep up.

Thin people do what works. Those that don't gain have com up with effective, specific and personal ways to keep their weight in check.

When good habits are integrated into your life, something shifts.  More than 90% of those who have mastered weight maintenance feel like they are not dieting, it has become a way of life.

Spaghetti with spaghetti squash noodles

My dinner was delicious! I love the spaghetti squash! I don't miss the pasta at all and I figured 29 points for the whole pan of spaghetti and 4 huge servings, 8 points each. There was 19oz of ground turkey and the whole jar of pasta sauce was 10 points. The onion, mushrooms and squash were ZERO. I sprinkled parmesan and some salt on top. 

I think next time I will try to cook out the water in the squash after I scrape it out.  I will throw it in the fry pan with some salt and pepper and maybe a little garlic. 

Recently purchased groceries and ideas for good eats

 

 I hesitated trying any chocolate flavored yogurt, I had this just minutes ago and it is really good.  2 points plus and it was on sale 90¢.

 This product was purchased at Aldi's, I don't have the price.  I have not tried the Priano brand sauces.  I am going to make spaghetti with spaghetti squash rather than pasta.  This product is 2 points per ½ cup and the jar is 6 servings.  That is pretty good point wise.  I will add some mushrooms to it.  I expect it to be very good.

 So I had a brilliant idea for a pounded chicken crust pizza.  Instead of using the grated mozzarella I would use this thin cut mozzarella on top.  It is 1 point per thin slice. The price per package was 3.49  A serving size is 3 slices but 1 point per slice for real cheese is great.

 I was thinking these would be great crumbled up as a crust for a pudding pie. 1 cracker is 2 points and 2 crackers are 3 points.  These were on sale for $2.50.

This was purchased at Aldi's and I don't have the price.  I also have not tried these preserves yet.  1 tablespoonful is 10 calories and 1 point.  2 tablespoonsful is 1 point also.  When you go up to 3 tablespoonsful then the points value increases to 2 points.

HyVee has a very good light whipped topping similar to Cool Whip but it is much cheaper.  This 8 ounce container was $1.38. 1 point per 2 tablespoonsful and increases to 2 points at 3 tablespoonsful. 

This Sugar Free Jello pudding is 2 points per container.  The 4 pack cost $2.28.  I am going to make a mini cream pie with ½ of a graham cracker, pudding and whip topping for 4 points.  Yum.

 

These wraps are 2 points each. They were $3.99 at HyVee.  I am thinking a wonderful pizza could be made with these.  I would toast it in the oven on my pizza stone and the load it with sauce and veggies and one of the slim slices of mozzarella!

I grabbed these thinking about banana pudding. I didn't realize they were reduced fat until I put them in my basket. The box was $3.98.  They are 3 points per 8 cookies, 2 points per 6 cookies and 2 cookies per point.  These also could be crushed up for a cream pie crust.

Another mad idea I had was crushed graham cracker crumbs on top of the pudding instead of a crust. 2.5 tablespoonsful is 2 points.  $3.19 a box.

 





Apple Angel Food Cake, 4 points of yumsters!

Absolutely delicious!  Easy to make and my only criticism would be the apples sink to the bottom.  My husband is tearing it up!

Apple Angel Food Cake

 
1 can of Sugar Free Apple Pie Filling
1 box of Pillsbury Angel Food Cake Mix

Preheat oven to 350°.  Spray the bottom of a 9½"x13" cake pan.  Mix the cake mix and the pie filling together and pour into the prepared pan.  Bake 20-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Slice into 12 equal pieces.  Each serving (1/12th) is 4 points.