Some Healthy Food/Recipes

I don't get to do food shopping often because I can't bring my son Parker into stores yet, but on Friday I had a chance to go. I love food shopping. I wish I had more advance notice that I was able to go, I would've had a better list put together, but I got a lot of healthy food and organic food for my son.

 

flax/chia seed blend, ground chicken, organic quinoa, frozen veggies/steamables, organic bananas, organic green beans, frozen fruit, greek yogurts, organic apples, mushrooms, black bean organic pasta, zucchini & weight watchers string cheese

 

 

Here are some QUICK & healthy meals I made this week:

 



whole wheat penne with an avocado sauce I made which
was avocado, a little parm cheese, olive oil & pepper.

mushroom/spinach omelette with one ww string cheese
inspiration by a readers dinner the other night.







Another recipe was something my mom made in the crock pot. I wasn't feeeling well on Saturday and my parents came over so they brought dinner. It is a 3 point Weight Watcher chicken recipe.

See link for recipe!

This was breakfast this morning. A blueberry, strawberry smoothie. It was a bit sweet for my taste, but it was still good. I am going to try another kind tomorrow!

 

 

The recipe calls for:

1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 cup frozen strawberries
1 tbs chia/flax seed blend
1/2 cup 1% milk
5.3oz fat-free blueberry greek yogurt

Total: 290 calories

Next time I am not going to use a flavored yogurt and try water, not milk. This should help make it less sweet and not as thick. To cut more calories use fat-free milk instead. I would've but I didn't have it on hand. The non-flavored greek yogurt is also less calories. Banana smoothie is next!

Spaghetti (Squash) Arrabbiata

The recipe calls for:
2 tbsp olive oil
fresh basil
4 garlic cloves, chopped
4 cups spaghetti squash
1 cup Giada's Spicy Arrabbiata sauce
grated parmesan cheese (optional)

-- Heat the olive oil and chopped garlic cloves in a big pan.  Once the garlic is a little brown add the sauce.  Heat the sauce for awhile then add the fresh basil leaves.  Lastly add the spaghetti squash and mix.

This recipe is abosolutely delicious!  One of my favorite recipes I have created.  It's like you are eating at an italian restaurant when you enjoy this dish, but without all the extra calories and fat, but still with the great taste!  Pasta doesn't have a lot of flavor, neither does spaghetti squash.  It is all about the flavors that you add to them to make the dish special.

Only about 3 Weight Watchers Points for half of this.  The only thing that is points is 2 points for a cup of sauce, the olive oil is a probably a couple and if you add cheese.  The grated cheese I have is 1 point for a tablespoon.

ENJOY!!!

Breakfast For Dinner

This is a very healthy filling meal for only 4 Weight Watcher points.  Two vegetables, protein and fat free egg substitute that is just as good as the real thing when seasoned well.  Add or substitute any vegetables to what you prefer or have around the house.  Eat it for any meal!  It's easy and quick to make for a busy family.

The recipe calls for:

1 cup egg beaters

green pepper, chopped

fresh spinach

garlic powder

onion powder

salt & pepper to taste

2 light multi grain english muffins

spray butter

cooking spray

-- Spray a pan with  cooking oil and add all of the ingredients above except for the english muffins.  Cook while mixing occasionally to make scrabbled eggs.  Toast the english muffins and spray some butter on them.

ENJOY!!!

Healthy Grilled Cheese

The recipe calls for:

1 light multi grain english muffin

fresh spinach

1 laughing cow cheese triangle

cooking spray

panini maker

-- Turn on & spray the panini maker with cooking spray.

-- Cut the english muffin in half & spread half of the cheese triangle on each half.  Add a bunch of fresh spinach to one of the halves, then top it with the other.

-- Put the sandwich on the panini make, close & let it sit for about 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted/creamy.

Use whatever flavor of cheese you prefer, there are many different kinds to pick from.  I used mozzarella sundried-tomato & basil because that's what I had.  I will definitely be trying this with other flavors.  You can also use the 100 calorie thins if you like those better.

This is only 2 Weight Watcher points, approximately 140 calories & super delicious!  Enjoy!

Craving Ice Cream?

A great substitute to a pint of Ben & Jerry's or buying a tub of ice cream is something I started doing years ago.  Shoprite has there own brand of cool whip.  There is a fat-free kind that when you freeze it tastes like you're eating ice cream.  You could use any brand of cool whip & even use light or the regular kind, all better than the  1,000 calorie pints people buy.  And we all know when we buy them it's very hard to not eat the whole thing in one sitting, myself included.  Sometimes you need to splurge, but with summer right around the corner this is a great way to enjoy ice cream more frequently & to stay cool.





Some toppings you can add are fruit, granola or one of those 100 packs of cookies crumbled up.  You can also just use sprinkles or chocolate syrup since the "ice cream" itself isn't very high in calories or high in weight watcher points.



Graham Cracker Ice Cream Sandwich:

-- Break one graham cracker in half.  Any kind of your choice, regular/cinnamon/chocolate.  They also have light options at Shoprite.  I prefer the chocolate Shoprite brand.
-- Add a spoonful of the fat-free cool whip to one of the halves & put the other half on top.
-- Wrap the sandwich in saran wrap & place them in the freezer until frozen.  It's a great treat!

What's For Dinner Tonight?

The recipe calls for:

brown rice
asparagus
minced garlic
garlic powder
soy sauce
tofu "chicken" patty (optional)




-- Spray a cooking pan & add all of the ingredients above, except for the patty.  I didn't use measurements. I added about a tablespoon of minced garlic, sprinkled some garlic powder as well (I LOVE GARLIC!) & just a little soy sauce for taste.
-- The tofu "chicken" patty is the Morning Star brand.  I put it in the toaster oven on 375 degrees for 18 minutes or follow the cooking directions on the box.  Most people aren't fans of tofu, but these really do taste like chicken.  They are 140 calories each.  You can put a little soy sauce on top of the patty to give that more flavor too or you can substitute the patty with whatever you prefer, a chicken breast or any other meat.

The total calories for this meal is about 350 or 6 points on the old Weight Watchers points system.

White Pizza With A Healthy Twist

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White Pizza

Set the oven to 350 degrees.  Cut the english muffin(s) in half then place them on foil on a baking pan.  Spread some of the savory garlic Philadephia cooking creme on each half & top it with some shredded mozzarella cheese.  Put it in the oven for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted & the english muffins are toasted.  The recipe is about 425 calories or 6-7 points on the old Weight Watchers point system for 4 halves.

It's a great way to get your pizza fix!

Healthy Baked Chicken Parm

This baked chicken parm recipe is a great way to enjoy a classic favorite of many, but with a healthy twist that still manages to make it taste completely delicious!  If you follow the original Weight Watchers, each piece is 5.5 points if you cut a full breast in half, less points if you use the thin chicken cutlets.  The cutlets I used were only 100 calories each piece.

The recipe calls for:

4 chicken breasts (sliced in half) or thin chicken cutlets (which I used)

3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese (optional)

2 tbs of melted butter or I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spray (which I used, less calories) 

3/4 cup of shredded part skim mozzarella cheese

1 cup of marinara sauce

-- Preheat the oven to 450, spray the baking dish with cooking oil.

-- Combine breadcrumbs & parmesan cheese in a bowl.

-- Lightly brush or spray the chicken with butter then dip them into the breadcrumb mixture.  Place the chicken in the baking dish & repeat with the rest of the chicken.

-- Lightly spray the top of the chicken with cooking spray & put it in the oven for 20 minutes. (or less for the thin chicken cutlets)  After the time is up, turn the chicken over & bake for another 5-10 minutes.

-- When time is up, take the chicken out of the oven, spoon a little marinara sauce on each piece of chicken & top it with a little bit of the mozzarella cheese.

-- Put the chicken back in the oven until the cheese is melted & then it's ready!  Serve it with a vegetable on the side to keep the meal healthy.