Not Gonna Settle!

Wow, I'm feeling it today. I'm really tired and I supposedly got 7 hours of sleep...I think I may need more due to the hardcore working out...perhaps that's the secret? Interesting how you're capability to make good choices is affected by how tired and stressed you are. Currently I'm trying to keep it together until May 15th which is the official date that Opera season is over for me(unless I pick up some other gigs during the summer...hahaha...) I'll be able to stop for a bit and breathe, and perhaps rest and get my apartment in order. Being tired and having all these end of season stresses on me, makes it hard to stick with everything else I'm doing. For example, the past couple of days I've really wanted a bagel and even considered having one today...yep I almost had a "f#%k it" moment. Generally when I'm recharged and rested, I can overcome almost any temptation...but being tired and stressed as I mention before, I'm really finding it difficult. Even as I type this, I just want to scrap my lunchtime work-out...but if I don't do it at lunch, then I won't get one today because I'm going straight to the theatre after the day job and working until God knows when? I do like how I just wrote the previous phrase...that if I don't go I won't GET one today...like it's a treat or something...that's a good way to think of a work-out...don't you think? Perhaps I'm just rambling, but oh well.

Ok...so today's plan: Continue to forge through. Eat my authorized meals, take my vitamins (doing that right now...ok), drink my water, work-out and get as much rest as possible!!!

I thought I'd add some great snack ideas for those who might have some special needs right now for junk like snacks but need to stay on their diets:


Kale "Potato Chips" -- Lightly mist olive oil on some kale, then bake at 350 for ten minutes. Sound crazy? Try it and see! You've Got Kale!

Pay attention, potato chip-lovers. Baked kale (similar to its cousins spinach & lettuce, but far less popular) is a great swap for chips. We know it sounds weird, but this is a fun snack to munch on while watching TV. Here's what you do. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Wash and cut up a bunch of kale. Toss onto a baking sheet and drizzle with some olive oil. Top with whatever seasonings you like -- Mrs. Dash, salt, pepper, BBQ seasonings -- your call. Bake for 10 minutes. You don't believe us? Try it.


Radish "Hash Browns" -- Sauté sliced radishes and onions with salt & pepper. A perfect companion for your egg white omelet.


Cauliflower "Mashed Potatoes"
-- Cook cauliflower (to death), mash with fat free margarine, fat free cheese, salt, pepper and garlic.


Baked Apple "Pie"
Don't want all the fat and calories in a big honkin' slice of apple pie? Try this: Core a Rome (or Rome Beauty) apple, pour some sugar free black cherry soda over it and sprinkle with lots of Splenda & cinnamon. Bake at 375 degrees for around 40 minutes. Serve cold or hot with some low fat ice cream and/or a blob of fat free Cool Whip on top.


Bean Sprout Pasta
This one sounds odd but it's insanely good. Stir-fry some bean sprouts, mushrooms and onions, making a faux pasta. Top with fat free spaghetti sauce and low fat parmesan cheese. Try this -- it's almost as good as real pasta!


Snazzy Substitutes...
Sauté Veggies in chicken (or vegetable) broth instead of oil. You'll add flavor with almost no calories.

When baking, use applesauce instead of oil in your recipes. It cuts lots of fat.

Fat free yogurt can be used instead of sour cream in dips, on potatoes and in recipes. Then bye-bye, Flab!


Turkey Roll-ups
Take a slice of turkey breast and roll it up with a nice crunchy lettuce leaf, a pickle slice and some Dijonnaise, and have a hunger-kickin' protein snack for way under 100 calories!


Fettuccine Hungry Girlfredo!(80.5 Calories, 3g Fat, 9 Carbs, 4g Protein, 4g Fiber = 1 Point!!!)

This recipe will rock your world. Share it with everyone you know...ASAP!

Ingredients:

1 Package Tofu Shirataki Fettuccine Shaped Tofu Noodles
1/2 Wedge The Laughing Cow Light Cheese
1 teaspoon Fat Free Sour Cream
2 teaspoons Kraft Reduced Fat Parmesan Cheese
Salt & Pepper (if desired)

Rinse fettuccine noodles VERY well. Microwave them for one minute, then drain them and pat dry. Add cheeses and sour cream. Mix thoroughly. Microwave to help melt cheese further, and mix some more. Add salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy. Serves 1.

This Fettuccine Hungry Girlfredo has just 80 calories per serving, and is only 1 point on Weight Watchers (if you're counting). This is the guilt-free recipe of the century! After you try it, send us an email to let us know how you liked it.


Guilt-free Spinach Dip of your dreams!
Gooey, cheesy spinach dip and tortilla chips -- it's one of the most delicious appetizers you can order. It's also one of the most fattening (Please don't be one of those people that pretends anything made with spinach can't possibly be bad for your diet!). So how can something contain mayo, cheese and sour cream, and still be guilt-free? Is it magic? Nah, just some clever substitution action, courtesy of the swap-mistress herself, Hungry Girl.

HG's Rockin' Restaurant Spinach Dip

(1/8 recipe, approx. 3-4 Tbsp. - 70 calories, 0.5g fat, 305mg sodium, 7.5g carbs, 0.5g fiber, 2g sugars, 6.5g protein = 1 Point)

Ingredients:
4 oz. Lifetime Fat Free Monterey Jack Cheese (or another fat-free white hard cheese, like Muenster or Mozzarella)
4 tbsp. fat-free sour cream
10 tsp. Kraft Reduced Fat Parmesan Cheese
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tbsp. shallots, chopped finely
6 tbsp. fat-free mayo
1 oz. light soy milk
1 – 10 oz. pkg. chopped spinach, thawed and drained
4 oz. water chestnuts, chopped

Directions:
In a medium-sized saucepan, melt your Monterey Jack over a low flame. In a separate pan, sauté garlic and shallots with some nonstick cooking spray. Add soy milk to melted cheese, stirring continuously. Next, add mayo, sour cream and parmesan into your cheese mixture, still stirring over low heat. Add your sautéed garlic and shallots, as well as water chestnuts. Add your well-drained, chopped spinach and mix thoroughly. Spoon your dip into a medium-sized casserole dish and bake in a preheated 325-degree oven for 20-25 minutes. Voila! Your spinach-y masterpiece is complete. You may add salt and/or pepper if desired. Serves 6-8.

Serving suggestions:

1. My ABSOLUTE favorite is to stuff this into mushrooms and bake it for another 20 minutes...it's soooo good!

2. This dip is AWESOME with Guiltless Gourmet Baked Tortilla Chips or homemade baked pita chips made from Western Bagel's Alternative Pita.

3. Add a couple of tablespoons of this stuff to scrambled egg whites. It ROCKS!

4. Spoon a few tablespoons of it into well-drained Shirataki noodles; nuke for about a minute and stir well. Your cheesy spinach noodle dish will be so good it'll make you CRY!

Chocolate dipped Bananas

Another great thing is to take dark chocolate 70 or 85% melt it in a double boiler and then dip banana pieces and freeze for a nice chocolatey treat :D

Enjoy and have a great day!
-Bex