Food And Family

It was another early morning. I really wanted to sleep in a bit, but for some reason I am waking up at 6:30 a.m.! I'm still on Florida exercise time. So, it was up and at 'em. I caught up on some blogs, then headed to the treadmill for 5K Saturday. Sadly, I only made it 2 1/2 miles due to an aching ankle. Don't know what's up with that, so I didn't want to push it. I may try again tomorrow if time permits.



After my run, I ventured to the scale for the "after vacation weigh in". I was up .2 lbs. I was completely pissed for a minute. I thought after all that walking, extra morning exercise and basically making healthy choices that I might lose a little. But, after mulling it over, I can't be mad. I didn't journal, count POINTS, drink my regular amount of water and eat my normal portions of food, so I really shouldn't complain or be upset! Just being so close to goal is making me nutty! I want to GET THERE!!!!!! Alright, enough of my boo-hoo-ing; let's GET to the food...



As you can tell lately, I am in love with Ezekiel buns/muffins. While I was in Trader Joe's yesterday, I found this "Ezekiel" knockoff...







The nutritionals are great (click on the picture to see ...)




I toasted up 2 slices and topped it with 1 tbsp. lite cream cheese. Mmmmm! Loved this 3 POINT brekkie...

I spent the rest of the morning making marinara sauce and prepping for dinner this evening. I finally got around to lunch which was another Trader Joe's find...

I never met a canned soup that I loved until this one! It is so delicious and only 2 POINTS per serving...

Along with the soup, I had a tasting plate of carrots, Kashi TLC crackers and a light string cheese for 3 POINTS...

It was such a filling lunch, I made it all the way to dinner without a snack! I am noticing since I have been trying to eat "cleaner" and more of what Weight Watchers calls "filling foods", I have had less cravings for junky things, have a lot more energy and have been sleeping better/more deeply. I really like the way my body is feeling eating this way!

I invited my in-laws over for dinner tonight. I decided to try out a recipe from a Weight Watchers cookbook, Simply the Best Italian. It was Rigatoni with Three Cheeses. I used ziti since I had some on hand and it was delish! Like a mac n cheese, but not as creamy. Everyone liked it! I liked that it was only 5 POINTS!! I doubled the recipe so it served 8. Now I have some leftovers for later in the week. I would definitely make this again, next time with whole wheat pasta...

I also made the family favorite, chicken cutlets...

and Gram's green beans...

Can't forget the rustic Italian bread...

The family table...

My plate...

I also snagged a slice of bread. I tried to resist, but it jumped out of the basket and on to my plate! It landed in the juice from the green beans/tomato, so I had to eat it ;)

For dessert, I made No Pudge Brownies. I seriously love these. They are all natural and taste so rich and fudgy, just like a brownie should! I paired mine with some strawberries and a tbsp. of freshly whipped cream for 4 POINTS...

I ended the night with some coffee and Wii Bowling which I supremely stink at :( Well, I'm off to spend some time with the husband. Have a great night =)

This Is My Last Night Blogging

But, only until next Thurs.!!! Sorry, you can't get rid of me that easily! I've become addicted to boring the pants off of you all with the food diary of my life! However, we are going to Florida (Disney) on a family vacation and I don't think I will be able to fit in blogging amongst all the craziness. So, I will look forward to catching up with all of your blogs when I get back !

I have a million more things to do to get ready, so I'll make this quick. Breakfast was an open faced omelette using 3 egg whites, 2 slices of canadian bacon, handful of baby spinach and a slice of 2 % cheese for a delicious 3 POINTS...


Even though I had a ton to do, I wanted to make sure I fit in my exercise. I did a 40 weighted (18 lbs.) minutes on the elliptical and 20 tricep dips.

When lunch rolled around, I wanted to make sure to use up some of the leftover chicken. My first thought was Heather's BBQ Chicken Salad. It was so good! I used a little less chicken so, mine came to 6 POINTS...

I also had some Kashi TLC 7 grain crackers for 2 POINTS...

For an afternoon snack, I had a bowl of yummy strawberries (1 POINT)...

While I was sprucing up the house, I did grab a handful of Peanut Butter Puffins, too!

Dinner was easy tonight: hot dogs and whatever veggies left in the fridge! I decided to have a lonely Spinach, Fontina and Roasted Garlic Chicken Sausage from the freezer instead of a dog. I sauteed a side of baby spinach and topped with some pine nuts and made a side of "baked tofu fries", too. A tasty 8 POINT dinner...

I felt pretty full, so no big dessert tonight. I actually took out a Vitatop and was ready to defrost it, but then realized it wasn't necessary. I decided to just go with a "taste" of something sweet...

It was perfect! Well, I'm off to finish packing. I have to say that I will really miss blogging and reading all of your wonderful blogs this week! If I have some time, I'll try to check in mid-week, but if not, I look forward to seeing you all on the 9th for a recap of my trip. I'm going to try my very best to make healthy choices while I'm there. Hopefully, there will BE healthy choices! I'm counting on all the walking to be my saving grace!

See you all next week!!!! Stay healthy =)

Awards And The Carb Party!

I received this terrific award from my buddy, Kelly over at Happy Texans and I was so excited! What a great way to start the day!!


When receiving this award, you must list 7 things you love and pass the award on to 7 bloggers. My list of loves goes like this...

1. the husband
2. the kids
3. all the family
4. cooking
5. blogging!
6. reading
7. exercising (huh???-a new love for me!)

Blogging and being a part of the blog community has been such a blast! There are so many great ones; here's a few that I'm passing the award to...

• Cooking with Kate
• Fat Fitness Food
• Living Life Happy and Healthy
• Mom on the Run
• My Journey
• Snippets and Bites
• The Incredible Shrinking Family

Now that the award show is over, let's get to the party! The carb party that is. I have been craving carbs all day! It started with breakfast...

A Kim's Light Everything Bagel with Laughing Cow Cheese and a small dish of cantaloupe and blueberries for 4 POINTS...

Then I hit the treadmill for a 20 min.weighted walk (18 lbs.!) and another 20 min. weighted elliptical workout. I also did 20 tricep dips off my weight bench - whew, those are tough!

I put off my errands because it was just too dreary and rainy to go out today! The cold and dampness really gets to me lately. I hung around the house and worked on my closet of "expired" clothes! I have been getting rid of 13 years of clothes that don't fit any longer. Kinda fun, but kinda scary at the same time.

When lunchtime rolled around, I definitely wanted some type of sandwich. I decided on an eggplant meatball wrap made with Dominex eggplant meatballs, 1 tbsp. marinara sauce, 2 tbsp. lite shredded mozzarella in a La Tortilla Factory Smart and Delicious Wrap. I paired it with 2 oz. leftover sweet potato fries (and ketchup!) and a fuji apple for a yummy 7 POINT lunch...



Dreary days = munchies. This afternoon they were in full force. I decided to have a snack with lot of crunch (and carbs); Kashi TLC 7 Grain Crackers and 2 tbsp. PB2 for 3 POINTS...

It was dance night with little daughter, so breakfast for dinner was the way to go. I wasn't in the mood to fuss with making something fancy for myself, so I had the same. I went with a "fried" whole egg plus one white, center cut bacon, an Arnold Sandwich Thin with Laughing Cow Cheese and 1 c. cantaloupe for a 6 POINT brinner....

Mmmm...I forgot how awesome whole eggs are; haven't had one in a while! I'm posting a bit earlier than normal tonight, so no dessert pic. Not sure if I'll have one or not. Maybe I'll just have more BREAD!!!! Mmmmm......I heart Carbs <3

Have a great night!!!