Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Top 10 Ways to a Skinnier You in 2009


If losing weight is at the top of your New Year's Resolution for 2009, you are not alone. After October's candy corns and chocolates, November's turkey and pumpkin pies and December's cookies and eggnog, have you put on weight? Well let's start taking it off today!

1. Go Shopping! Stock your refrigerator and cupboards with healthy, high fiber foods. Buy low fat cheese, skim milk, light mayonnaise, lots of vegetables, fruit, lean meat and poultry, cooking spray, whole grain bread and legumes. Have a plan and know what you will be cooking for the week before you go to the supermarket so you will have everything you need. Having nothing to eat in your house is the best way to ruin your diet.

2. Cook Your Own Meals. Not only will you save money, but you will have complete control over what you eat. When you eat out, you have no idea how much fat is going into your food. Restaurants cook with a lot of butter and oil and the portions are larger than you should be eating.

3. Have Leftovers for Lunch.
When I cook dinner, I like to make enough for leftovers the next day. This makes figuring out the points easy since you already know the point value from the night before. Warming up a nice bowl of homemade soup with a salad the next day beats getting take out or heating frozen meals.

4. Get Moving! Exercise doesn't only burn calories, it motivates you and gets you out of a funk. Either join a gym or work out at home. I can't stress the importance of exercise. If gyms are not for you, take dancing lessons, karate, or zumba classes. Find ways to burn extra calories in your day. Turn up the music when you are home and dance! Go for a post meal walk each every night or walk to the nearby store instead of driving there.

5. Don't Starve. If you are hungry, chances are you will over eat at your next meal or make poor choices. Never skip meals and always carry healthy snacks with you like a piece of fruit or a bag of popcorn to hold you over till your next meal.

6. Bring A Dish To a Party. When I get invited to a party, I always volunteer to bring a dish. Bring a tray of crudites, a healthy salad or fruit salad for dessert. Not only will the host appreciate you bringing something, it will give you a healthy option as well.

7. Don't Eliminate Your Favorite Foods. Instead, eat a lighter version of it. If you love pizza, make it with whole wheat crust and reduced fat cheese. Replace whole fat products with reduced fat versions like light mayonnaise, reduced fat milk and cheese. Broil or bake your meat instead of frying. Substitute some of the fat when baking cakes or breads with low fat buttermilk, nonfat yogurt, apple sauce or canned pumpkin. Even pureed baby food such as prunes or apricot can make a great substitution.

8. Keep a Food Journal. Write down everything you eat. You can't keep track of your points if you are not writing it down. This also helps you to see where your bad eating habits are.

9. Break One Bad Eating Habit A Day. Each day make a commitment to yourself to break your bad eating habits. If you drink soda, start drinking water or tea. If you like cheese doodles, replace them with a healthier snack. Instead of changing everything all at once, do it gradually.

10. Downsize Drinks. Soda, smoothies, mocha lattes, and alcohol could add hundreds of calories to your day. Opt for water, seltzer and tea whenever possible. Make wine spritzers or drink light beer instead of sweet mixed drinks. And don't forget to drink at least 6 cups of water a day.

For more tips on how to lose weight, read these Helpful Tips To Lose Weight.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Banana Apricot Turnovers




Here's an easy dessert recipe that is simple to make. This recipe will kill your sweet tooth. Even makes a yummy breakfast.

Banana Apricot Turnovers
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 9 servings Total Time: 40 minutes Old Points: 4 pts Points+: 7 pts
  • 1 pkg. Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Sheets (2 sheets)
  • 1 large banana cut into 9 pieces
  • 9 tbsp apricot preserves
  • Pam buttered flavor cooking spray
Preheat oven to 350°.

Cut each pastry sheet into 9 equal squares. (18 total)

Place 1 tablespoon of apricot preserves in the center each of the 9 squares. Place one slice of banana on top of the preserves. Place another pastry square on top and seal edges with a fork.

Spray cookie sheet with baking spray. Transfer the pastries onto the cookie sheet with a spatula.

Bake at 350° until golden brown, approximately 35 minutes.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Skinny Italian Turkey Meatballs




My Italian hubby loves these meatballs. He normally prefers ground beef to ground turkey but honestly says you can't tell the difference. I agree and since these meatballs are so healthy and low in points, I no longer make my meatballs with beef. It is best to make these meatballs small so they hold together. These little meatballs make a great appetizer with toothpicks inserted, or have them for lunch with good Italian bread, or dinner over pasta. 

I've slightly changed this recipe after making this a few times, so if you have an old printout I suggest you re-print this out. 

Click Here To See The Full Recipe...

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Tuna Salad Wraps




Serving tuna salad on fresh spinach leaves and adding broccoli was the creative genius of Jill from Simple Daily Recipes. I love my tuna salad with chopped red onion and a little red wine vinegar. The addition of vegetables makes this healthy and filling. This is an easy low point lunch recipe!

Click Here To See The Full Recipe...

Monday, December 8, 2008

Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad with Capers in Lemon Vinaigrette


A quick and easy salad, perfect for the warmer weather or if you're looking for a different way to make broccoli.

This lemon vinaigrette makes any vegetable taste delicous. I love it over carrots, or even over arugula or a grilled chicken salad. You can add more lemon juice if you like a tangier taste.

Click Here To See The Full Recipe...

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Low Fat Blueberry Scones




I have been meaning to make scones for a long time because I feel they make a perfect Sunday morning breakfast with a nice hot cup of tea. Blueberries are considered a super fruit and are rich in antioxidants. This easy recipe is adapted from What Matters Most. These scones came out light and fluffy, and the aroma of fresh baked goodness filled my home. (Hubby ate 3!!)

Low Fat Blueberry Scones
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 8 servings Calories: 216 Points: 4.5 pts Points+:6  pts
  • 2 cups unbleached flour
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1/4 (half stick) cup frozen butter
  • 3/4 cups light buttermilk
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup fresh blueberries
Preheat the oven to 400°.

In a large bowl, mix all the dry ingredients.

Using the large holes of a cheese grater, grate the frozen butter into the flour. Mix well with flour.

In a medium bowl, mix the buttermilk, egg and vanilla.

Using a fork, slowly stir in the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, until all the mixture is moistened.

Do not over work the dough. Fold in the blueberries.

Line a cookie sheet with a Silpat, or parchment paper. Drop large spoonfuls onto the cookie sheet (to avoid tough scones, do not press or compact). Bake in the center rack 18 minutes. Remove and let them cool about 5 minutes before eating.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Pasta Fagioli (Pasta and Beans)


A great tasting, thick, hearty Italian soup, that is rich in fiber and nutritious. Great to make on a cold weeknight because it's super quick and easy to prepare.

I like pureeing the beans to get my picky kid to eat this, but if you prefer your beans whole, you can skip that step. Leftovers can be frozen. Serve this with a piece of Italian bread on the side and top with your favorite grated cheese. For an extra special treat, top this with a slice of melted Alpine Lace Swiss, delicious! Vegetarians can use vegetable broth instead.

This can also be frozen and reheated at a later time for make-ahead meals.



Click Here To See The Full Recipe...

Monday, December 1, 2008

Diet Soda Cake




That's right, not a typo. I believe it was the smart folks at Weight Watchers who figured out you can make any box cake low in points, simply by replacing the oil and eggs with diet soda. Sounds strange and I have always been curious about this. Today I decided to give it a shot.

I used Stewart's Diet Cream Soda with a Betty Crocker Super Moist Cake Mix. I also used two egg whites to make the cake fluffier. Wow, what a delicious low fat, low point cake. I topped mine with some fat free whipped cream. Here's the recipe. Making cupcakes is probably your best option for better portion control and lower points. Keep in mind, 2 cupcakes would be 5 points. Points might vary depending on the brand of cake mix.

Diet Soda Cake
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 12 pieces Serving Size: 1 slice Old Points: 4 pts Points+: 5 pts

Diet Soda Cupcakes
Servings: 24 Serving Size: 1 cupcake Old Points: 2 pts Points+: 2 pts
  • 1 dry box cake, any flavor
  • 10 oz diet soda, any flavor
  • 2 egg whites
  • Baking spray
Preheat oven according to box directions. Spray 9 x 13 pan.

Beat cake mix, diet soda and egg whites. Pour into pan.

Bake as directed on box, or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted.

Let cake cool about 10 minutes before cutting. Cut into 12 pieces. Top with fat free whipped cream if you wish.