It's Sunday Already?

I can't believe how the weeks and especially the weekends are flying by! I didn't have time to post yesterday because of the fantastic Luau party we went to and let's just say, I'm not too sad about not taking food pics while I was there. It was a food fest like you've never seen and I "tried" to make some healthy choices, but there was definitely some baked brie and one too many brownies that landed on my plate or just right into my mouth. It was a good time and for once, I am feeling no guilt about what I ate. Maybe because I woke up and got right back on track without giving it a second thought. I think I finally realize that overeating on a regular basis isn't my "norm" anymore. I don't like it. I can't do it all the time. I enjoy my healthy eating plan and I begin to crave it when I stray a little. Wow, could I finally be getting this? If so, it's a good feeling and gives me hope that long term maintenance might not be so scary after all...





I felt a bit tired this morning, but really wanted to get in a run. I wasn't able to do it yesterday because I had some weird dizzy spell that put me back to bed for a couple of hours. I felt a lot better this morning, so I hit the treadmill. After 5 minutes, I wanted to quit. I just wasn't feeling it, but I kept talking myself out of quitting and before I knew it, I was 40 minutes into my run and felt like I could have kept running for an hour! Running really is a mind game!





After my run, I had a great breakfast of 1/2 c. Trader Joe's Nonfat Greek Yogurt, 1/2 c. mixed fresh berries (stolen from the party!) and a crumbled Quaker Blueberry Muffin Bar for 4 POINTS...




Breakfast held me over fairly well, but at the first sign of a grumble, I got to making lunch. I have been wanting to use this for a while...



The whole package is barely 3 POINTS (click pic to enlarge)...


I decided to make Salmon and Egg Salad...

• 1 packet of salmon
• 2 hard boiled egg whites, chopped
• 1/4 c. chopped celery
• 1/8 c. diced red onion
• 2 tbsp. Kraft Mayo with Olive Oil
• s + p
  
  

I served it in a Weight Watcher Whole Wheat Pita with some spring mix along with some Sea Salt and Pepper Rice Chips and Rainier cherries. A filling 7 POINT lunch...

Later in the afternoon, I felt like doing some baking. I wanted to use up some of the cooked quinoa that I had in the fridge and after doing some research on the internet, I put together a recipe for quinoa muffins...

Quinoa Cranberry Bran Muffins

• 2 c. quinoa, cooked
• 1/4 c. applesauce, unsweetened
• 3/4 c. skim milk
• 1 egg
• 1/2 c. brown sugar, unpacked
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 c. oat bran, dry
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 c. dried cranberries

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 12 cup muffin tin with cooking spray or line with paper baking cups.
2. In a large bowl, mix first 6 ingredients (quinoa through vanilla) until well combined.
3. In another bowl, combine oat bran, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.
4. Add dry ingredients to quinoa mixture stirring until fully incorporated.
5. Mix in dried cranberries.
6. Fill muffin cups to the top with batter (about a heaping 1/4 c. per muffin cup).
7. Bake for about 20-25 minutes. Cool on a wire rack and store in a tight container or plastic zip bag.

Makes 12 muffins. Each muffin is 134 calories, 2 grams fat, 3 grams fiber, 5 grams protein. (* I calculated nutritional information using www.calorieking.com).

I thought this would be a unique way to use up some of the quinoa that I had cooked for breakfast the other day! These are some hearty muffins...

Of course I had to try one for a snack! Only 2 POINTS and also a nice dose of potassium (234 mg.) and calcium (78 mg.)...

Although, I tried to chase the husband and daughters around the yard to taste my healthy muffins, they weren't going for it. The husband did want to "save" them for his breakfast tomorrow, so I'll let you know if they passed the pain in the *ss picky eater test ;)

I decided to be nice and not torture them with a healthy dinner. They requested Flatbread Pizza again and I agreed. I made plain for them (can we expand our horizons a little, people that live here????) and I decided to mix mine up a bit. I made a whole wheat crust using the ever easy Quick Flatbread Dough recipe, rolled it out and topped it two ways...

• 1 tsp. garlic oil
• sliced tomato
• 1 oz. part skim mozzarella
• fresh basil, shredded

and...

• 1 tsp. garlic oil
• 1/4 c. sliced roasted pepper and onion
• 1 oz. goat cheese, crumbled
• 3 Kalamata olives, sliced
• fresh basil, shredded

The tomato/mozzarella half came to 7 POINTS and the pepper/goat cheese half came to 9 POINTS...

I had a slice of each and a side salad ...

and I couldn't resist another slice which made for a 12 POINT dinner...

I was full, but later wanted a cold one...

A fruit bar that is! These Trader Joe's Mango and Cream Fruit Bars are a great 1 POINT treat.

I'm doing the Sunday night wind down. Hope you all had a terrific weekend =)

Forgetful

I was a forgetful blogger today. I ran out the door this morning to my WW meeting (for my first weigh-in *wink, wink) and I grabbed breakfast to eat after the meeting, but forgot to take a pic! Thankfully, I had a whole box at home, so here's my "after" shot...


I found these on clearance at my supermarket. I think I know why! They are just o.k. A little on the dry side and not much staying power. I think you're supposed to microwave them, but I don't know that it would have made a huge difference. I do think they would be nice crumbled on top of some yogurt, oatmeal or ice cream, though. Each muffin bar has 140 cal., 3.5 gr. fat and 4 gr. fiber, but only 2 gr. protein. An o.k. 2 POINT breakfast...

After the meeting, I stopped home to change out of my "weigh-in clothes" and headed to meet up with my mother-in-law and sis-in-law for lunch. Again, I forgot my camera! I ordered a spinach salad with mushrooms, bacon. olives, red onion , hard boiled eggs and tomatoes. No dressing since I brought my own! At least I remembered that. This salad was ginormous! I asked the server to bring me a take-home box before I added my dressing because I knew I wouldn't finish this guy....

Along with my salad, I had a nice sized roll. I had only planned on eating half, but kept picking at it until I eventually ate the whole thing. Altogether, I'm guessing it to be an 8 POINT lunch.

For an afternoon snack, I cut up a beautifully ripe fresh pineapple for 1 POINT...

Then I realized I forgot to take my antibiotic this morning! Ugh! Must be this chubby cheek affecting my brain cells!

I originally planned on having pizza tonight, but decided I would use up the rest of my salad instead. My dinner salad consisted of 3 oz. grilled chicken breast, 1 tbsp. dried cranberries, 1 tbsp. sliced almonds and the remainder of the salad mix dressed with light balsamic vinagrette for another 8 POINTS...

For dessert, I tried a recipe that my friend, Donna sent to me. She just started WW in March and has already lost nearly 20 lbs.!!! You go, Donna!!! The recipe is for Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Orange Glaze. Here's what you'll need:

• 1 lb., 2.25 oz. box of spice cake mix
• 15 oz. canned pumpkin
• 1/2 c. egg substitute

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine ingredients in bowl. Beat with a mixer on low until well blended. Then, beat on medium for 2 minutes. Divide evenly among muffin tins lined with paper baking cups. Bake for 18 minutes. Let cool completely.

For the orange glaze, combine 1 cup sifted powdered sugar with 1/4 tsp. grated orange rind and 2 tbsp. orange juice. Dip cupcake tops in orange glaze.

This makes 24 cupcakes at 2 POINTS each.

I ate mine al fresco with some new reading material...

I think Jil would approve!

Oh, and I almost forgot to say that I lost 4.6 lbs. this week! Not bad for my first week - heheh ;)

Have a great night =)