Healthy Recipe: Fruity Lemonade Slush

It's been a while since we've had this - but it is so good! And simple, too. Perfect time for this now that warmer weather is here. I got the recipe from a Kraft ad years ago.

Fruity Lemonade Slush

Country Time Lemonade Drink Mix
1 cup water
2 cups ice cubes, divided
1/2 cup each fresh strawberries and frozen sliced peaches

1. Measure drink mix into cap just to 1-quart line.

2. Place drink mix, water and 1 cup of the ice cubes in blender; cover. Blend on high speed until smooth. Add remaining ice cubes and fruit; cover. Blend using on/off action until smooth. Serve immediately. Store leftover slush in freezer. Makes 4 servings.

Can use Country Time Lite (approx 1-2 pts per serving)

Enjoy!

Lisa :)

Still Going...

OK, definitely a slower week - lost .8 lbs. But that's still yay 'cause I lost weight! And I still had chocolate - ha,ha! I did have trouble this week with snacking and eating too many things I didn't need to have. I needed to be better prepared for the week.

I am feeling good though! I want to do better this week and follow through with all of my weekly goals (listed on the sidebar). This blog is helping because my goals are right there for me to see and remind myself.

One of my toughest is drinking water - I don't like to do it! I know, for you people that have no problem with water, it's like saying, "I don't like to breathe air." I have been making decaf iced tea and drinking it with a splash of lemonade which can count as some of my water. We are actually working on replacing diet soda in our house. We now have 3-4 a week, I think, but are trying to eliminate it completely.

Any tips on how to make drinking water easier? Should I try making myself drink a glass before every meal? Even consistently drinking one glass a day is an improvement for me, but I need to better than that.

Hope all of you are having a great healthy week!

Lisa :)

Healthy Recipe: Tony's Breakfast Couscous

OK, another couscous recipe - but for breakfast this time! Again, a great recipe from Cooking Light. This feels like comfort food and it's healthy. It's a yummy way to start the day and it's good leftover, too. You can eat it warm or cold and it's easy to double.

Tony's Breakfast Couscous

1-1/4 cups water
1/2 cup nonfat dry milk
1/2 cup uncooked couscous
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup raisins (I like to use dried currants)
1/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt

1. Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan; stir in milk and remaining ingredients. Remove from heat. Cover; let stand 10 minutes. (Mixture will thicken as it cools.)

3 servings (2/3 cup each), 305 cal., 6.9 g fat, 3.3 g fiber (approx. 6 pts)

If you need even lower calories and fat, you could eliminate one of the dried fruits and use half the walnuts and half the sugar - it would still be yummy! Try it for breakfast this week and let me know what you think. I love it!

Lisa :)

Memorial Day, 2008

Remember...freedom isn't free.
Thank you to all the men and women who have served and now serve our country.

Healthy Recipe: Vegetable Couscous Salad

I'm thinking about good recipes for picnics and potlucks. One great way to help yourself stay healthy while attending these events is to take a healthy dish yourself! I try to find healthy recipes that appeal to many people.

This recipe came from a Cooking Light magazine. You can even take this camping - you prepare it at home and put it in a plastic bag. Keep it in the cooler and pull it out to eat. It keeps well and the flavor just keeps developing.

Vegetable Couscous Salad

Dressing:
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup sherry or balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 (.6 oz.) envelope Italian dressing mix (such as Good Seasons)

Salad:
1-1/2 cups water
1 cup uncooked couscous
2 cups chopped red bell pepper
2 cups chopped tomato
1/2 cup (2 oz.) crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup finely chopped green onions
1/4 cup chopped pitted kalamata olives (I leave these out - sorry, not a fan)
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

1. Combine the first 4 ingredients in a jar. Cover tightly, and shake vigorously.
2. Bring 1-1/2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan; gradually stir in couscous. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Combine couscous, bell pepper, and remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Add the dressing mixture. Toss couscous mixture gently to coat. Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 1 cup).

169 cal., 5.6 g fat, 2.7 g fiber (3 pts.)

Probably not a recipe that too many kids will like, but most grownups enjoy it. My hubby & I love it! Let me know what you think...

Lisa :)

Woo-Hoo!

Well, I had my weigh-in after 1 week. You've figured out by the title that the news is good! I am down...yes, down, for once...3.4 pounds!! Don't be thinking that I'll lose that much every week. It's typical on WW to lose a lot the first week, then slow down. The nice thing is that I didn't feel restricted. Included in my week of weight loss were: In & Out burger & fries, blended coffee drinks, chocolate, and some homemade sugar cookies. Um...I'm not recommending these as part of a healthy diet, but occasional (or more often!) treats are a part of my life.

I know that weight loss isn't the most important part, but that's the part that motivates me. I can't feel my possibility of future type 2 diabetes decreasing, but I can feel my clothes getting looser. And I did notice that I felt just a hair less uncomfortable after that loss! :)

I am very happy and that gives me a boost to keep going. I have to say that this blog has been key. Part way through the week, I wasn't tracking my food yet - since I had written out my weekly goals on here, I forced myself to do them - how could I fail the general public?!

I did actually eat some fresh fruit and drink more water this week (both are not my natural food/drink choices). And I didn't exercise, but did succeed in making some less lazy choices!

So, on to week 2!

Have you had any healthy successes this week?

Lisa :)

Healthy Recipe: Oriental Green Beans

This is my favorite green bean recipe. Healthy and company loves it! I got it from Weight Watchers a long time ago.

Oriental Green Beans

1 1/2 pounds green beans, trimmed
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon oriental sesame oil
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
6 garlic cloves, minced

1. In a large pot of boiling water, cook green beans until just tender, 4-5 min.
2. While beans are cooking, in small bowl combine soy sauce, oil, and sugar; set aside.
3. Drain beans; set aside.
4. Spray wok or 10" skillet with nonstick cooking spray; place over med-high heat. Add garlic; cook, stirring constantly, until softened, 20-30 seconds. Add green beans; cook, stirring and turning constantly, until well-coated, about 2 min.
5. Add soy sauce mixture; continue to stir and turn until most of the liquid is absorbed, 1-2 min.

6 servings, 68 cal, 2.4 g fat, 4 g fiber (1 pt.)


Easy and yummy! Try it out and let me know what you think...

And, by the way, I am accomplishing my goals for the week so far. We'll see if that makes a difference by Wed. I do feel mentally better just knowing that I am trying to be healthier.

And I even had chocolate! :)

Lisa :)

Start Making Changes

My other blog is called Stop and Smell the Chocolates, but when I stop and smell the chocolates, I grab the box and run off with it. Is that a problem?

I am determined that now is the time to permanently make some healthy lifestyle changes before I get any older. I'm overweight but still medically healthy...for now.

I have had success in the past with Weight Watchers, so that's the easiest thing for me to go back to. I rejoined yesterday! I like the focus on: portion control; eating only until satisfied; and adding in fruits/veggies, water, some dairy, healthy fats, and exercise. It's a program that can be tailored to your own life and doesn't have to be restrictive. I get good tips and encouragement from the meetings, and the weigh-ins help keep me accountable.

I'm at my highest weight I've ever been, which is depressing and uncomfortable. I am looking forward to change for the better! Since I just started in the world of blogging, I thought this would be a great way to encourage myself and keep me more accountable. I'm not going to give you the number that the scale said yesterday, but I will let you know each week what change took place. I plan to post 2-3 times a week with my progress, successes or failures, ideas, and healthy recipes.

I hope you'll join me so we can encourage each other and share tips, ideas and recipes!

Lisa :)