Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Quick and Easy Recipes for Dinner!

One Recipe, Two Meals: 2-in-1 Dinner Recipes

Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Peter Ardito
Make Him Addicted To You
9 Magic Words You Must Say To Make Him Fall Deeply In Love.
HaveTheRelationshipYouWant.com

Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Reheat shredded chicken in a small saucepan, adding a bit of water to loosen if necessary. Place 1/4 cup warmed chicken and 2 tablespoons broccoli slaw mix in the center of each of 4 lettuce leaves. Top with lime juice and a splash of hot sauce. Serves 2.

Nutrition facts per serving: 284 calories, 35g protein, 26g carbohydrate, 4g fat (0.9g saturated), 3g fiber

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Saturday, February 11, 2012

EGF BLOGGING IS OVER!

We have decided that after 5 weeks of blogging...THE THRILL IS GONE!

Things we have learned about ourselves:

*We eat a lot of the same things over and over.
LESSON LEARNED: More variety is better.

*The hidden calories in dining out is astonishing.
LESSON LEARNED: Split meals, try to eat at home more often, plan ahead.

*Watch out for Starbucks (and any other liquids you are addicted to)
LESSON LEARNED: They just add more calories to your day.

Other things we know or have realized:

*NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU EXERCISE, most women cannot eat whatever they want, whenever they want, for as much as they want. PERIOD. Nor should they...for other health reasons besides weight gain. Think about fueling your body with every bite you take...not
just satisfying a momentary craving.

*Sugar is the devil (not the girl scouts or their cookies) and has to be treated as something that is toxic and addictive. It's in all processed foods, most restaurant dishes, and even in simple condiments like ketchup. Artificial sweeteners just tend to increase your craving for sugar. LIMIT IT OR CUT IT OUT COMPLETELY (empty, non-nutritious, and wasted calories)!!!

Things we have learned about our campers:

*Some of you don't care what we eat (and may even think we are lying).

*Many of you have told us that you are more aware of what you are eating and are keeping up with your calorie intake and calories burned through various methods like My Fitness Pal, etc. We think this is AWESOME...keep it up!

*A lot of you have healthy recipes to share-thank you!!!

On that note, our next six week blog will be about quick and healthy dinners. Please let us know of any recipes that you may have that work for you and your family.





Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Day 30 Red Meat

How do we all feel about red meat these days? Some people oppose it because of its cholesterol and fat content. Others oppose eating it for animal ethical reasons. One vegetarian wrote in his blog " mankind will never have world peace while men are declaring war on other life forms". I am not sure about all that. I just know sometimes I really want some meat, red meat in particular. I eat red meat maybe once a week. A lean cut of red meat can provide amino acids for muscle building, zinc, iron, and vitamin B. Of course, it is also a great source of protein. Today was one of those days-I just wanted some meat! Working backwards: dinner beef and broccoli stir fry(400-500) coffee(120) Lunch whole wheat english muffin, tomato, poached egg, bacon crumbles(350) 1/2 cup of oatmeal with blueberries(180) breakfast two scrambled eggs with cheese (350).

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

DAY 29 - The Opinion of "Some" of the Bloggers...

on this blog site are not necessarily shared by the other bloggers and/or EveryGirlFitness, LLC! Look, I personally like the girl scouts and think their cookies are yummy (in moderation). Looks like Leigh will be out of luck next year when those thin mints come around again!!!
Also, it has been brought to my attention that I tend to ramble on my days to blog so here is my day, short and sweet (how's that sassy St Stephen's 915 gals???):

430 am - Bar 110 cal
700 am - Banana 95 cal, Coffee 130 cal
1100 am - Turkey, haverti cheese, lite cream cheese, tomato roll up with 3 big strawberries (approx 350 cal)
And yes, I had two thin mints after lunch (80 cal)
3pm - Bar 110 cal
5pm - More coffee 130 cal
730 pm - 1 cup cooked whole wheat spaghetti with meat sauce (300 cal-saved 80 cal by eating whole wheat pasta and it has more fiber), spinach dijon salad (280 cal). NO BREAD! AND NO MORE COOKIES!!! Thinking of having one glass of wine (red 120 cal) since I am not teaching the 525 in the morning. There! Done!!!

Day 28 I hate the girl scouts...

not really, just their cookies. Next year when some adorable little girl asks me to buy her cookies, I will yell GET AWAY SATAN! Kidding. Kidding. Sugar is the devil, not your sweet girl scout. The day started well-greek yogurt and berries (180). Starbucks coffee (120). I had a sick child and she wanted Panera chicken noodle, so for lunch I had their Pesto Veggie soup (150) and half an Asiago Cheese Bagel (165). Also, picked up an Asian chicken green salad (400) for dinner. But before dinner, I managed to eat 4 thin mints (160) and two tagalongs (140). You can understand why I am mad at the girl scouts. This raising funds through cookie sales must be stopped for the good of my rear end (and maybe all of mankind). So I ate the salad for dinner (half 200) and was still hungry later. I ended having some 100 calorie popcorn after dinner and one 1 oz piece of dark chocolate...see, the cookies just started the whole carb/sugar crazy cravings!!! You may say (Gretel)..."how about some personal responsibility..." and I would say..."NO, I BLAME THE GIRL SCOUTS!!!"
PS-This is all from Leigh...

Sunday, February 5, 2012

DAY 27 - Orzo is the new Mac-N-Cheese!

Ok, so got a little lip last night at the VCC...met up with about 25 other Mtn Brook couples who are also members of Vestavia Country Club, with us Windles. It was a fun night AND I did not have to blog-although I was still being good and mindful of what I ate. I think that is really the key to this whole blogging thing...think about everything you put in your mouth and decide if it will fuel your fitness or just be empty calories. Ok, enough about that...on to Sunday...

8am Bar (110cal) and water
11am 3 Egg Omelet with mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach (no cheese), asparagus spears x 15, strawberries and blackberries (300 cal for the eggs plus another 150 cal or so for the rest)
3pm Bar (110)
5pm Thin Mint cookies x 4 (160 cal)...I blame Cathy T and her sweet daughter who made me buy those cookies from her troop! So yummy...
7pm Hamburger patty (1/4 pound) with mustard (160 cal), orzo 1 cup cooked (200 cal), apple slices (50 cal), and glass of wine (120 cal)

So I compared orzo to mac-n-cheese and the calories in a cup of cooked M and C is 350 to 400 while it is half that amount in the orzo (200 cal). PLUS, there is less fat in orzo and I use mozerella and parmesan instead of yellow cheese. It is so yummy and I recommend that you try substituting it for your pasta next meal. Oh, forgot to mention that I did have a venti skinny vanilla latte after church around noon (140 cal).

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Day 26 What's Up With The Goats?

After another visit to The Pantry, I started wondering about the whole goat cheese craze. What is the deal? I started my research (googled it) and found out that goat's milk compared to cow's milk is lower in fat, calories and cholesterol. SOLD! Use goat cheese instead of cream cheese in any dish, or on a bagel, or cracker. Chevre is french for goat...officially the name should refer to only french goats but is often applied to any ol' goat. Having said that I did not have any goat cheese today. Instead, I struggled with my E.T.A.C. (eating to avoid cleaning) problem. Come on...I know I am not the only one. Give me a shout out if you are with me on this!
I am making progress though. 7:00 - yogurt and toasted whole wheat bread with cheese (250), coffee(50). Another coffee(50) and then at 10:30 chips and salsa (150) ?? 11:30- strawberries and blackberries (60) turkey rolled up with cheese(200) sometime later dark chocolate square(50) wine (130) Dinner was supposed to be stir fry but it was pouring rain and I opted out of the grocery store visit. Had pork loin, salad, peas and a couple of bites of potatoes (500-600) Maybe having another glass of wine(130). Alot of calories today but my house is clean...well cleaner.

Friday, February 3, 2012

DAY 26 - Yes Lesley, I can give you that recipe!

Yes...that place may have frozen over and maybe pigs really do fly!!! Lesley D (former bootcamper from MBP) actually called me, ME, to get a recipe! I have really come a long way from that girl who was content in setting the table for dinner and not learning how to make my grandmother's cornbread (or any other dish for that matter). My mother would be so proud. I learned a few other things today from my friends at Publix...will get to that in a bit.

430am- Think Thin bar (190 cal) with few sips of diet coke and water
730am - Banana (95 cal) and more water
Lunch - turkey, haverti cheese, avocado, tomato roll-up (450 cal because of the avocado). This was awesome and so filling...did not need any condiments or dressing. Also had 3 or 4 strawberries-yum! So the avocados were buy one, get one free. I bought a ripe one and then one that was green. It will ripen in 2 days or so. The cashier at Publix said that if you put the avocado in a brown paper bag, it will ripen quicker.
Afternoon snack - piece of dark chocolate (50 cal), a 12 oz diet coke (yes Kristen, I do still drink them from time to time), and some pistachios. Pistachios are 4 cal per nut...I think I had quite a few. Should have counted them but did not.
Dinner 7pm - chicken kabob, hummus, salad, a few bites or rice (from Pita Stop).
Having a glass of wine now as I blog...it's the weekend and don't have to get up at 430-yay!

***On a side note, turned in the forms for our BellRunners! I am so proud of our group and can't thank everyone enough for running for this very worthwhile cause.




Thursday, February 2, 2012

Day 25 Crazy Busy Day

Four bootcamps, two meetings, two basketball games. What did I eat? It's a blur. Not really...did not do too badly after all. 4:30 bar (140 cal) plus water water water. 7:00 coffee from Starbucks (130 cal) water water water. 11:00 two cups of kale chips- not kidding (50 cal) . 11:30 chicken and tabouli salad with a square or two of pita (350-400 cal). Paula and I shared a plate from Olive Branch. Paula and I eat lunch together most days after bootcamp and we have decided plate sharing is the way to go. Sharing saves money and calories! 2:15 1/2 bar and another coffee at Starbucks (180 cal) and, you guessed it...water water water. For dinner having more chicken, leftover tabouli and fruit (400 cal). I know I am getting boring with the lack of variety in my diet...working on that for next blog. Don't give up on me! I am still new at this working Mom thing and Everygirlfitness has turned into a full time job. I love doing it and thank you all for letting me have this never boring, always fun job!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

DAY 24 - Seeds are the new nut!

I happened upon a new, delicious snack today while I was shopping at Whole Foods...it's yummy, full of protein, and has half the fat of almonds. It's called Somersaults Pacific Sea Salt crunchy nuggets, made with sunflower seeds and toasted grains. One serving (14 small crackers) has 150 calories, 3g of fiber, 6g of protein, and 8g of fat. Pick some up next time you are shopping at WF and try it out...lots of flavors to choose from! Ok, on to my day of food...

430am - Think Thin crunch bar (190 cal), few sips of diet coke

715am - Carrot and Celery slices (about 3-4 slices of each) - not sure of the calories but I think you actually burn more calories eating celery than you consume!

1045am - Coffee (no, not Starbucks - 50 cal) and Babybel cheese lite (50 cal)

Lunch (1245) was a piece of spinach, mushroom and cheese pizza from Whole Foods (yes, that is why I was there) and a small spinach salad with walnuts, cranberries, pears, and a little bit of blue cheese crumbled on top. I drizzled about a tablespoon of poppyseed dressing on it as well. The pizza was around 400 cal (according to the WF gal). I didn't eat the pizza 'bone' but I did eat every bit of the cheese...was craving it and decided to go ahead and have it for lunch. I am guessing the salad couldn't have been more that 150 calories (4 cups of raw spinach has a whopping 20 calories in it!). Interesting thing about the salad...I picked it up for dinner last night, ate about 1/3 of it, Leigh and I BOTH had some with the pizza for lunch, and then I finished it off tonight for dinner. THAT'S JUST CRAZY. There were 4 meals in that salad and that is right in line with the conversations we have been having about restaurants and how they over serve us! Needed some caffeine so had diet coke with lunch (but drank water all day long).

So dinner was the last of the salad (added some grilled chicken to it so was probably closer to 300 cal now), and about 1/2 cup of leftover veggie soup.

OH and my mid-afternoon snack was the Somersaults sunflower seed crackers (150 cal may give up almonds for them-they are that good) and a grande skinny vanilla latte (130 cal). Only down side to the crackers...a 6 oz bag is 5 bucks!!! May have to give up my daily Starbucks or go up on bootcamp rates! :)

***On a side note, Leigh and I hope that our 6 weeks of blogging is helpful to you! We mainly want to emphasize the importance of being aware of what and how much you eat so you can do it as healthily as possible!!! I talked to one of our campers who has had issues with calorie counting and food disorders in the past and realized that what we are doing is not healthy for everyone. It's important to make good choices and think about everything you eat as being fuel for your body...but don't get bogged down in the numbers and become a slave to them (we all deviate from the plan from time to time...80/20...enjoy the 20)!