A Colorful Snack

I made it easy today for everyone to

"eat a rainbow."

I also made a yummy dip to go along with it:

Marshmallow Fruit Dip

Blend the following ingredients together:

1 pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 7-oz. marshmallow cream
2 Tb. orange juice concentrate

Dip your favorite fruit, enjoy!

Grab 'n Go Snack

I've been feeling thinking a lot about stress lately.  Or rather, stress, distress, and my reactions.   Basically, feeling too much stress I become overwhelmed and I eat much more than I need.  When I feel in distress, I don't eat.  I'm just not hungry.  Neither is good.  I mean, losing weight to a lack of appetite would mean the weight would return when the appetite returns so I need better coping strategies. 

I've decided the big one would be to just

be more prepared. 

Having healthy snacks on hand is one thing, but having them already prepared in a way that I can grab and go (like I would grab a handful of goldfish that always seem to be laying around), has got to be

the single most important thing

I can do for myself

if I want to be healthy.

And because I do, the next biggest thing would be to remember what I truly want in the moment: to eat more than I need to satisfy a fleeting feeling, or to be healthy?  

I really need to get in the habit of bringing what I want into focus in times of stress. 

So here's something I'm trying this week, a grab and go snack full of a variety of nutrients.  A bag of this mixture came home untouched from Hailey's school.  There is this awesome parent of one of the kids in her class that volunteered to make healthy (and gluten-free for her son) snacks for the 3rd graders for each day of their standardized testing.  So when Hailey brought this home I took one look at it and knew she wasn't saving it for later. 

It isn't particularly eye-catching or even salty or anything but it met my snacking craving - you know, the one where you just want to bite down and munch, munch, munch?  The cereal meets that crunchy need, the raisins meet the desire for something a little sweet, and the nuts provide lots of protein, fiber and fat to really satisfy hunger.  Here's the break down:

1/2 cup rice Chex cereal (50 calories - as opposed to 150 calories of that amount of goldfish crackers)
1/4 cup golden raisins (130 calories)
1/4 cup natural almonds (160 calories)

Mix ingredients together, separate into two small snack bags or containers for later snacking or leave it all in a bowl on the counter to grab on the go!

I'm thinking I could use this idea as a base and substitute different dried fruit, nuts and cereal for variety.  Feel free to leave a comment with your combination ideas!

Cookbook by Easter!!!

{Ok.  So this week was not the best for me in the eating department so I am already starting to plan meals and snacks for next week.  I'm hoping that will make a difference.  My feet aren't doing horrible - of course, I'm about to get on the bike again, so maybe I shouldn't speak too soon, but exercising will be coming along.}

Now, about that cookbook:  I know one of the things that's so hard about it for me (besides the fact that I'm very good at procrastinating) - there is always another great recipe around the corner.  And now the Internet provides for any and all you could ever imagine.  But there are a few standard recipes I will always go for and so many were shared with me way back when that I want to try them as well.  So I plan on finishing the book by Easter.  I'll see then how much it will cost me to get them printed and bound.

I want to say a big *Thank You* to a few of you out there.  I obviously am not doing this for the comments and prestige but it does help to know that I'm not talking to myself.  So thank you for your letters, phone calls, and texts.  Your support and friendship are deeply appreciated!

Here are a couple plans for posts next week:
A Great Gift Idea from a Birthmother
A Super Easy and Healthy Make-Ahead Snack

I'll be back Monday!

Alright, on with the bike...

Easy Meals Pinterest Group Board

For anyone interested, I am setting up a group board on Pinterest to share easy meal ideas like freezer cooking and once a month cooking recipes.  Here is the link to the board:

Make Ahead and Easy Meal Ideas

To "pin" you need to be a "follower" and let me know you want to be added to the group board.  Hope to see you there!

I am also reminded of a certain cookbook I was trying to put together... Tomorrow I will post a goal date for that to be finished because it will take me at least that long to figure out where I am with it, but for now I must go work on laundry....

The Most Filling Oatmeal Breakfast

Update 4-22-13: 

I feel I must say that I NEVER eat like this anymore!  After struggling to lose weight and researching nutrition and food intolerances I've come to the conclusion that this is not a healthy choice for me.  I've discovered that grains tend to aggravate my system, not to mention the carb-induced cravings, and after trying to figure out how to eat "whole foods" and less processed foods - I realized that separating the egg white from the yolk probably isn't the way nature intended.  

I have since adopted a mostly grain-free diet and try to eat whole, less processed foods.  My calories and fat grams have gone up while my carb level has decreased.  I am 10 pounds lighter to date and feel much better overall.  

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This is what I cook myself for breakfast at least 6 times a week. It's quick and easy to make, filling, tastes good, and at almost 350 calories it fits into the day perfectly.

The Most Filling Oatmeal Breakfast

Ingredients:

1/2 cup dry old fashioned oatmeal
1 cup water
1/4 - 1/2 cup egg whites or 1 egg
1 banana
1/2 cup nonfat milk

Directions:

Combine oatmeal and water in a medium to large microwaveable bowl and microwave for 1 minute.  Stir in egg whites and cook for another minute.  Add mashed or chopped banana and stir in milk.

Sometimes I change it up a bit like adding cinnamon, a handful of chopped walnuts, replace the banana with blueberries or a chopped apple.  And sometimes I'll make a big batch of steel cut oats and freeze individual servings.

There is seriously nothing more filling for so few calories. 

I love cold cereal but I've learned that it's just too easy to pour a second bowl.

(And by second I mean fourth.)

Speaking of my little busy bees....

When do kids sleep through the night?!  If it's not one, it's the other - or both - keeping me awake at night.  I'm a light sleeper and it can take a long time for me to fall back to sleep once awake.  Lack of sleep has been shown to mess up hormones that register hunger and fullness to the brain.  I know this is one of my big problems with weight, but it's not exactly something I can change, is it? Maybe being aware of it will help me?

I made my most filling meal this morning, it usually works like a charm to fill me up through lunch, but not so much today.  Part of me is just too tired to get up and make anything or to care.

Yesterday {Day 7}, being Valentine's Day went by in a blur of sugar and extra pain from a trip to the physical therapist.  I didn't track calories and now I wish I had because I'm curious how I did.  The only chocolate I had was one Dove dark chocolate from Hailey.  I didn't buy chocolate this year.  Now that is a major feat!  The third frosted pink lemonade cookie was probably a bit too much, though. : D  Thank goodness I gave the rest away!

Oh, and we made this delicious "Pink Drink." 

I poured mine in a very small glass and stopped. 

After seconds. 

The idea was something I saw on Pinterest (of course!).  We just mixed equal parts 7-up and pink lemondade with a little raspberry sherbert.  Yum!

A Monster "Thank You"



As my thank you to everyone that brought gifts for Braden's birthday party I wanted to do something cookie-related so I made Monster Cookies.  (Sorry out-of-towners, you'll have to get by with a blogosphere "thanks"  and the recipe below -the gifts were VERY appreciated!  I amso impressed with your thoughtfullness!) 

I LOVE these cookies and I'm so happy I have a recipe for them now.  You see, when I was little I remember my mom in the kitchen starting to make something and I asked her what it was.  In a teasing kind of way she said, "Monster Coookies!"  The only thing I remember specifically about them is they were made with M&M chocolate candies.  I always wondered if there was such a thing as Monster Cookies or if she was just kidding.  I asked her years ago but she didn't remember.  Well, apparently there is.  Amid the bazillian recipes on the web for these cookies, the following recipe is the one I settled on with my adjustments.  They turned out great!  If you don't want to make them "monster" size, just measure by the tablespoonful and lower the time to about 8 to 10 minutes. (At least, I think.  Better watch them for that "slightly golden" color.  I made mine monster-sized and Warren was really good about tearing off just a piece and eating that...I, however, had to have the WHOLE cookie, so: Baker-Beware!)

Enjoy!

Monster Cookies

1 1/4 cups peanut butter
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
3 large eggs, beaten
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon corn syrup
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
4 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup M&M's plain chocolate candy

Heat oven to 350°.  Cream butter, peanut butter and the granulated and brown sugar together.  Add beaten eggs, baking soda, corn syrup and vanilla.  Mix well. Stir in oats, chocolate chips, and M&M's.  Drop by ¼ cup sized balls onto cookie sheets.  Bake 12-15 minutes, or just until slightly golden brown.