Snack Ideas + My Work Out Wednesday Update

I had a request last week from my dear friend Jennifer to offer up some snack-on-the-go ideas.  I'm soooo boring with snacks and don't really snack much - - I swear.  I mean, there's times when I graze on everything in my cupboard (which isn't much), but that's not PLANNED snacking.

Just the same, I'm going to offer three tips today for snacking and then ask the readers to give us some of their best "throw-it-in-the-bag-to-eat-for-later" ideas.  Sound good?  I need everyone to participate (especially YOU, because you never leave comments!)

1.  NEVER EAT THE WHOLE MEAL ALL AT ONCE
What the heck does that mean?  So, let's say it's lunchtime and you order one of these bad boys.


Subway Veggie Delite on Wheat toasted with Pepper Jack = Mouth Watering

You're going to be tempted to get chips.  (Note:  I TRY to get chips ONLY if they have Baked Cheddar and Sour Cream Ruffles.  Other chips pale in comparison.)  So, if you get said chips, you NEVER eat them with the sandwich.  You save them for later and eat them as a snack.  Same can be applied with a side of fruit that comes with lunch, or even save half of your sandwich.  It works.  Small "meals" keep you from getting hungry and diving into the junk.

2.  A NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

I used to believe that Fiber One bars were the only granola bar out there for this girl.  I mean, they come in Peanut Butter and Chocolate for 90 Calories a bar, and they even have those yummy brownies. 

What I didn't realize was that this NEW FLAVOR had emerged.  HOLY HANNAH! 

If you can't read the fine print, it says CARAMEL COCONUT FUDGE.  That might sound like another little cookie you know and love... one that comes around once a year.  Yes, yes.  You HAVE to try these.  I've become quickly obsessed and believe that the 140 calories per bar is A-OK and totally worth it.  Toss one of these bad boys in your bag, Jenn.

3.  WHEN IN DOUBT, LATTE IT OUT



As a bonus, they have Vday cups which I LOVE.



When I need a snack and I'm not eligible for any eating, I hit up Starbucks.  I get a Skinny Latte (any flavor) and enjoy 16 ounces of tasty goodness for about 100 calories (depending on the flavor and toppings).  There's something about coffee that makes me not hungry.  Not sure what it is, but it works.

I also love honeycrisp apples any time of day and tend to throw some lunchbox no-sugar applesauce cups in my suitcase when I travel. They both are delish... and keep the doctor away at the same time.

Now, it's your turn!  What snacking strategies work best for you?

Onto Work Out Wednesday

I had a good week at the gym, but the lazy no-sweat days are creeping up on me.  I will say that there was a snow storm last week that kicked our butts in Denver and that stole one day from me... as for the other days, I plead the fifth and look to this quote for inspiration this week.

Year-to-Date Workout Stats

An average week with three days at the gym, and Team Green is still winning!



Work Out Days: 20

No Sweat Days: 18

For the Love of Wednesday...

Let the travel games begin!  I'm off to Idaho for a few days and begrudgingly packed a suitcase today.  How will I survive without my fridge full of veggies and my heated mattress pad??  Oh, I've become spoiled.  Traveling is what I do though.  So, here we go again...

ONE

WHEN YOU GOTTA GO, YOU GOTTA GO

If you've never been to a movie with someone who walks out in the last 15 minutes, you've never been to see The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo with THIS GIRL.  I went to see this movie last weekend with some friends.  I've read the book, so I knew what was coming.  However, I wasn't ready for all that twistedness to be up there on the screen in full-color and surround sound.  If you've read the book (or saw the movie), I left when Martin got home and found Mikael in his house.  Yep, that was my cue to exit.  Allegedly, there were only 15 minutes left, but I didn't need to see them!  


When I got home, I made my friend Jaede stay on the phone with me while I checked all the rooms and closets for creepy, perverse serial killers.  (Yes, I just confessed that.)  Bottom line:  Creepy Movies + Me are not a good combination.


TWO
I AM DRINKING TEA AGAIN
I started drinking tea last year when I first joined Jenny.  It seemed like a sweetish treat I could enjoy at the end of the night that had no calories.  It also was a new healthy habit, and I have been trying to collect those for about 13 months now.


I bought two teas that I never tried when summer rolled along.  I've officially tried both, and I'm in love!  Republic of Tea makes a Red Velvet Chocolate tea and a Peppermint Chocolate tea.  I've become a HUGE fan of both and you can find them at Whole Foods in their ENORMOUS tea section.


Pictured on the above right is a cup of the Red Velvet Tea because I loved the color!  Do me a favor, don't expect it to taste EXACTLY like the cake + frosting, but TRY IT.  You'll like it... I promise!

THREE

I LAUGHED SUPER HARD AT BIGGEST LOSER LAST NIGHT

Bob Harper was KILLING me last night, and Dolvett had a few zingers, too. (i.e. "I have a Golden Girl (on my team) and Santa Claus.")   I love, LOVE that show.  So far, my favorites are the two ladies that used to be athletes.  That weight lifter is going to be a fierce competitor! New faves always emerge over time, of course.  Stay tuned!  

FOUR

UH-OH...

I ate the VERY last JC Cinnamon Roll package that was in my freezer on New Year's Day.  PLEASE Jenny bring back the Cinnamon Rolls sooner rather than later!  They said it would be a few months.  Not sure I'll make it that long. Seriously.

FIVE

SLOW DOWN!

Time is completely flying by... and next Tuesday, that 35 won't only be the speed limit in some residential areas, but it will also represent my age!  Eeks!  I'll officially be MID-THIRTIES.  However, dear readers, I'll still refer to myself as "thirty-something" likely until the end of time... you won't mind, will you?


I'm having dinner with friends to celebrate this weekend and considering making a famous "diet cake" that I had for my 22nd birthday during one of my rounds on WW.  (Thanks, Linda Lou, for the introduction to this tasty treat.)  I know it's strange to bring your own cake to your birthday dinner, but I might be baking this weekend.  Don't worry, I'll save you a slice.

Cheers to a Great Wednesday!

Holy Kale Chips, Batman!

 After I returned my boots that didn’t fit to DSW, I slipped next door to Whole Foods to see if they had a snack I’d been looking for - - Rhythm Foods Kale Chips!

I love making my own Kale Chips, but the convenience of a bagged kale chip had me intrigued!  And, they come in crazy flavors - - Kool Ranch, Bombay Curry, Zesty Nacho, Texas BBQ & Mango Habanero. 

The calorie count varies slightly by flavor, and I was able to find the Zesty Nacho and Bombay Curry at my local Whole Foods Market!  I only bought the Zesty Nacho because I wanted to make sure I liked them before I invested.

Um, I didn’t like them…. I loved them!!!!

They’re much more crispy and crunchy than the ones I make at home and tons more flavorful!  The Zesty Nacho had a slight kick to them, which I loved as well.  SERIOUSLY delish, for only 106 calories per serving!

I’ll definitely be looking for more of these!  Yum-O

A Surprisingly Good Burger

As soon as I got back to Colorado, I hit SuperTarget to get some veggies and whatnot.  


Keep in mind, I didn't buy this... but since when did they sell Red Velvet Chocolate Milk???

As you can tell, I was still craving bad food from my weekend in Ohio.  And, I kinda wanted a burger.  I knew that I couldn't continue eating like this... so, I thought I'd try something new.

BOCA BURGER!

I recognize that I'm probably the last person in America to try the Boca Burger, but I reaaaaalllly like them.  I was in Target a few weeks ago and tried a sample of the burger and was pleasantly surprised!  The sampling lady suggested that I try the Flame-Grilled version for best flavor, and that's exactly what I picked up!


I defrosted the burger in the microwave and then cooked it on my grill pan.  I'd love to try it on the grill, but it's chilly out tonight so that will have to wait for another night!


I also toasted a Wonder Bread 80 Calorie Whole Wheat Bun on the grill pan.  When the burger was done, I added some ketchup and onions.  SO DELISH!

I paired this delicious dinner with a really yummy garden salad.  Have you tried Marzetti's Light Balsalmic salad dressing?  It's 50 calories for 2 Tbsp and is found in the refrigerated dressing section.  TRY IT!

I ate this burger on Saturday and Sunday nights and could seriously eat it again tonight if I wasn't on the road.  200 calories for the burger and bun.  Such a tasty dinner!  I definitely recommend it!

Do-Over Day One + A Super Snack!

Day One... and I'm doing great!


Breakfast was my delicious JC Cinnamon Rolls and lunch was on-plan as well!  I had Panda Express' Panda Bowl with Broccoli Beef + Mixed Veggies (instead of rice) for 220 calories!  Score!  Dinner will be JC Mesquite Chicken in just a moment!

As usual, it's always better on Fiesta...

I LOVE that I so quickly fall back into my normal routine and eat well.  It really makes me realize that I can do maintenance.  I can do this!


Introduction of a Super Snack


I've got a product find for you today that you are going to LOOOOOVE.  Have you ever heard of Wasa Crackerbread?  

I had seen it, but never bought it before.  After a quick conversation with my friend Laurel, I knew I needed to try these!  She suggested pairing it with (gasp) Laughing Cow Cheese??  I was so in.


The crackers aren't addictive amazing like Wheat Thins or Kashi's Tasty Little Crackers, but they're REALLY GOOD.  The problem with those two other crackers is that I have ZERO control with them.  Oh, the days of sitting in front of the TV with a box of Wheat Thins.  Thank goodness those have passed!  These Wasa crackers are HUGE (like the size of a graham cracker) so you feel like you get to eat a lot.  And, the Crisp and Light variety is quite flaky and airy.  Yum-Yum!  


Tonight, I had them as a snack.  I had THREE Wasa Crisp and Light 7 Grain Crackers + 2 Laughing Cow Cheese Wedges (I chose Garlic and Herb + Queso Fresco.)  The Garlic and Herb was clearly the best!

I got these at my local Sunflower Market (think Whole Foods, but smaller), but I know that they have them at Kroger/King Soopers locations too.  Try them out and let me know what you think!


Question:  Do you have any super snacks?  Inquiring minds want to know...

Sampling a Superfood + A New Way to Get Extra Calcium

After a grueling spin/yoga class yesterday, I needed a pick me up.  We had a substitute instructor, who I'm pretty sure I heard say that she was pregnant, so the class wouldn't be as intense as usual.


Um... that was a lie.


I've decided I like my standard instructors, no subs.  I literally hated class this week, and that's a first.  I think I made the decision to detest this class when she did a crow pose during the yoga part of the class.  UGH!

She did this, and other poses "just to play around a little."  REALLY?

Remember, I LOVE Yoga.  I finally get yoga.  I don't really know what happened during that 30 minute class.  Seriously.  All I could think of was that Gen would be back next week, and that it's not polite to bust out laughing in a serious class like this. 

So, I decided to do what any girl would do after a torturous class... I went to get myself some delicious lunch to refuel.  AND... there just happened to be a Whole Foods right near where I was at.  (I promise, this will eventually stop.) And, no big surprise, I had a delightful dish that looks a lot like something I've blogged about before.


I am a HUGE fan of Peanut Butter Fingers, and have enjoyed reading about Julie's adventures and healthy eating for some time.  She's talked about two things several times that I've always wanted to try.  Why not try them today?

Chia Seeds + Adora Calcium Supplements

ADORA CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS
I'm shocked I made it home without trying the calcium supplements.  I'd tried the calcium chew type supplements (i.e. Viactiv), but nothing could have prepared me for how delicious the Adora supplements are.  I now wish I had gotten the dark chocolate ones, too!

They're LITERALLY little chocolate disks.  OH MY GOODNESS.  They're about the size of a quarter (maybe a little bit larger.)  The packaging suggests that you eat one with every meal.  Um...OK!  I think I'm going to have a harder time eating just three two a day, as is recommended for my age. They're REALLY good.  Each one has 30 calories and 2g of fat.  Cheers!


CHIA SEEDS
Julie from PBF does all sorts of cool things with these little guys and recently did a freelance article for Shape Magazine about them.  I've also read recently that Chia Seeds are being called a Superfood. Incorporating them into my meals somehow sounds like a good idea.  They bring extra fiber into your world, and I'm going to have to do some research on their other benefits. 

For today, I just tried them plain and they taste a little nutty.  I think it's hilarious to think that they are the real deal Chia Pet seeds, and I'm planning to eat them. 

Check out Julie's page for all the great ways she uses them.  In granola, cereal, yogurt, smoothies, pancakes... the possibilities are endless.  I'll keep you posted on what I decide to do with them too!

Two New Products and a Near Fire

I tasted two delicious new items this week that I thought everyone might like:


SPOTTED AT SUBWAY
Has anyone tried these yet?


I found them in Subway in Spanish Fork, Utah.  Super TINY town, they had this and a new Oven Crisp Chicken Sandwich that I wanted to try but said NO to.


I've enjoyed their fresh apples slices for a long time, but sometimes I just want a CHIP.  (I'm chip-sessed, remember?)  And this is a GREAT alternative.  Crunchy dried apples!  A fruit serving and very chip-like. 


SNATCHED UP AT SUPERTARGET
I mentioned a few weeks back that I LOVE, LOVE the Crystal Light water packets.  Well, since getting into these little packets, I've been sampling new flavors.


FAVORITE:  Pure Lemonade
TASTY BUT HAS ISSUES:  Pomegranate Lemonade (turns my teeth red)
LEAST FAVORITE: Pure Strawberry Kiwi  (the small boy didn't like it either)


Well... I found a new flavor that you HAVE to try!  ANYONE INTERESTED IN A MARGARITA??

It's SOOOOO good, and so many fewer calories than a real marg.  I bet you could make them frosty, and I bet you could make them with (ahem) tequila... The back of the box actually has suggestions on how to add alcohol.  What a great idea from these companies though!  We use so many calories on margs, it's insane.  The brand above is Target's Market Pantry store brand.


ABOUT THE FIRE THAT ALMOST HAPPENED BUT DIDN'T, BUT WAS CLOSE
Not sure I've mentioned it before, but I'm NOT a morning person.  This week, I had an 8am flight out of Denver. On Monday mornings, this usually means mayhem.  Even with all my frequent traveler stuff, I detest the crowds and animosity that comes with Monday at the airport.  People are just grouchier (including me!)


So... picture it, 5:30am on Monday morning.  I'm awake and getting ready to walk out the door.  I have pulled a precious Diet Coke out of the fridge (because I NEED it when it's early like this) and I pop my JC Banana Nut Loaf into the microwave to defrost.  I'm going to defrost it and then slice it.  My plan is to munch on it in the car while listening to Wake Up with Taylor.  Sounds perfect!

Here's the B-Bread I Know and Love (BEFORE)

I quickly press 30 seconds on the microwave and head to my room to add last minute items to my bag and zip it up.  I do this a lot, but after a few minutes I realize that I didn't hear the microwave ding.


I walk into the kitchen and I see the microwave is still going and there's black smoke inside.  UH-OH.


Of course, I open up the microwave.  BAD IDEA.  It's so smelly and so smoky... I open the door to my outside patio and turn on the vent for the stove.  I know at this point that I am NOT in the mood for smoke alarms to go off...

RIP Little Loaf (AFTER)

Time check:  It's MAYBE 5:35 by this point.  And... what goes through my mind?  "Is this real life??"  I'm literally exhausted and befuddled by this point.  I grab a potholder and throw the bread on the porch.  Of course, I clean the microwave (removed burnt plastic) and defrost another banana loaf (I mean, a girl's gotta eat.)


ALL BEFORE 6AM.  SERIOUSLY.


Also, I swear I could smell burnt bananas for the next 24 hours.  I thought maybe the smell had attached to me or burned itself into my nose. So gross.  Don't let it happen to you.


MORAL of the STORY:  Be precise in your button pushing, or you could end up in a hot mess (literally).

What's the 4th of July without Ice Cream???

We all know that Jenny Craig has some delicious frozen treats for us to enjoy.... but for some bizarre reason, she hasn't created any ice cream!


I personally didn't want to go into this holiday weekend without a delicious bit of ice cream to enjoy.  I went to the local grocery store and to the freezer section to see what my options were.  Here, I found my good ol' friend Skinny Cow.  Back in my Weight Watchers days, I really enjoyed these ice cream sandwiches... and it looks like the brand has exploded from there.


I grabbed a box of these bad boys....Skinny Cow's Low Fat Ice Cream Cone in the Vanilla with Caramel flavor.


Whoa!  Holy deliciousness... I'm in love.

The stats are pretty good, too.  Comparable to the average JC snack, and the CREAMY, DELICIOUS ice cream was something I'd been craving.


Now, I like a softer ice cream... so I set it out on the counter for about 10-15 minutes before I ate it.  Total Perfection!


Something else I noticed.  It's been YEARS since I had a cone like this.  I never really liked them back in the day because the cone was all soggy.  Um... not anymore.  Way to go, ice cream makers, you've perfected the crunchy frozen cone, and I love you for it.  The inside of the cone is coated with chocolate, with the chocolate plug at the bottom of the cone to stop the ice cream from leaking out.


Snack time just became my favorite part of the day... If you haven't tried these, get out there and get some!  They also come in Mint with Fudge and Chocolate with Fudge.  


Happy 4th, Ya'll!