Experiences with cereal...

Well, I haven't been looking forward to trying Nutrisystem's cereal to say the least, but I am hoping to eventually review every item they sell and as many discontinued ones as I can find. It's not that I thought their cereal would be bad, it's just that I don't like any cereal at all so why would I like "diet" cereal?

Nutriflakes (Breakfast):


It's hard for me to give this an honest review. I'm sure they were just regular bran flakes. I didn't care for them much at all, as expected. I'm sure some people love them though.


Crispy Rice Cereal (Breakfast):


Now this was more fun! For quite some time, I've been brainstorming what to do with it. Of course, actually eating it was never an option I considered! First I thought I'd try making a rice krispie square. Unfortunately, I found out that the amount of marshmallows that I could use for a free food was simply not enough to cover all the cereal. I suppose you could make a small one and eat the rest of the cereal with milk or yogurt but that wasn't really what I wanted.

Then I thought of another versatile food- the Nutrichocolates! Would there be enough melted chocolate to do something with the Crispy Rice Cereal? I decided to give it a try and there was! I also mixed in dried cranberries and almonds to make something like a chocolate cereal bar. Of course, since you are using two Nutrisystem items, this becomes two servings but it is still very large- much bigger than their normal granola bars (the picture is ONE serving- the other half is still in the fridge)! I poured the cereal mixture into silicone loaf pans and let it set in the freezer for fifteen minutes and then it was ready to pop out and eat. This counts as a breakfast or dessert entree plus whatever add ins you use- here it would be a fat serving and a fruit serving. Oh, and don't forget you can have an additional half dairy serving at some point during the day to replace the milk you didn't have with the cereal!

I wonder if this would work with the lowfat granola cereal as well if I crushed it? Something I'll have to try another day- I need more Nutrichocolates!

Progress!

I lost 2.2lbs this week to bring my total loss in 25 weeks to 53lbs total. Things have been slowing down a bit and I'm getting closer to the average 2lbs a week, but that's OK. 2lbs a week really adds up over the long run! I still have hopes of meeting my mini goal of 70lbs by my son's birthday but I'm starting to think that may be a little ambitious. Oh well- if not by then, it won't be long afterwards!

Only 7lbs to go to my next Nutribear!

Feeling more positive

Lately I've been feeling a little better about my weight loss. I think the 50lb marker was big for me even though it doesn't have any real significance. It sure sounds like a lot of weight, doesn't it?

I have some new entrees to review but I just haven't gotten around to eating them yet. I'm a little nervous to try things that I'm not sure I'll like, so they just sit in my cupboard. Just watch- they'll end up being some of my favourite meals I bet and I'll regret having waited this long, just like the Trail Mix Bar!


Chicken with Almonds, Rice, and Vegetables (Dinner):


This is a discontinued dinner I managed to snag on eBay. They're frequently in big lots and the last thing I want to do is buy a lot of very likely expired meals (since they have discontinued ones, they're probably all old). There are a few more I'd like to review but I just can't seem to get my hands on them. If my readers happen to have any discontinued meals that you haven't seen me review, I'd be happy to buy one of each from you just so I can write it up here.

I actually really liked this meal. It looks quite unappetizing (very gray) so I poured it over a bowl of colourful stir fry veggies. The almond slivers gave it a satisfying crunch and the sauce was yummy. If this was still on the menu, I'd have it on my reorder list.


Red Beans & Rice with Sausage (lunch):


I decided to make something similar but slightly different than the gumbo I made last time- it was yummy but a little too soupy for me. I wanted to make it more casserole like this time, and give it a little more kick.

1 pkg NS Red Beans & Rice with Sausage
1/2 cup beef broth
1/2 cup Aylmer Accents Spicy Red Pepper Tomatoes
1/2 small green pepper, diced
2 green onions, diced

That's it- so simple and so delicious. I love the Aylmer Accents- they are so flavourful! These really had a zesty kick to them so if you don't like spice, then choose another flavour. I didn't need any other seasonings in the meal- it was delicious just the way it was. I just mixed everything together in a pot and let it simmer for ten minutes before eating. Yum!


Flex Meals (Breakfast):


This is an old classic meal I'm sure you ate all the time before starting program, and didn't consider that you could still have it on Nutrisystem!


Cherry French Toast:

2 slices low calorie whole wheat bread
1/2 cup Egg Beaters (or 1 egg + some fat free milk- one isn't quite enough)
sugarfree syrup or your favourite fruit topping

Dip the bread in the egg mixture and pan fry until crispy and brown. Top with sugarfree syrup and maybe a little squirt of whipped cream. This counts as an entree, so you still add fruit and dairy!


Caramel Popcorn (Dessert):


OK, I'll say it. Nutrisystem, you were absolutely insane to discontinue this item. I figured it must be good when 3 years after discontinuation it was still selling for $5-$7 PER PACKAGE on eBay, but I didn't imagine that it would be delicious even long after it should be stale. Was it a little soggy? Yeah, but I still liked it! And it's only 100 calories, people!

I actually wound up dividing it in half and opening a pack of Chocolate Rainbow Delights and using half of that to make my trail mix. The Caramel Popcorn was a really nice addition. Too bad I only have 2 packs left and I'm not going to try hunting it down at the rates it goes for. Apparently Nutrisystem is introducing a new popcorn item this fall which I am looking forward to trying.


Harvest Nut Bar (Breakfast):


I was really expecting not to like this. It's just as small as the Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bar (which is pretty darn small) but has that gooey look of the ultra-sweet Apple Strudel bar. I took a bite, though, and it was very reminiscent of the trail mix bar. I loved the big chunks of nuts. I am not sure how frequently I'll order this because I really am a pastry kind of gal, but it's not something I'm going to avoid if I find another one in my cupboard.

Onwards and Upwards!

After tackling McDonalds yesterday, I took a shot at KFC today. My husband and I always make jokes about KFC because it has got to be the worst possible thing you can eat. When we were on our road trip in Indiana, we discovered that KFC actually has a buffet! We wondered if morgue service was included.

In the past, however, KFC's chicken bowl has always tempted me.



Mashed potatoes, fried chicken, corn, and cheese, swimming in gravy. Yum! Could there possibly be a way to make this NS friendly?

KFC Chicken Bowl:


1 pkg Cheesy Homestyle Potatoes
1/2 serving chicken
1/2 serving shredded cheese
1/4 cup corn
1/4 cup gravy
1 tbsp breadcrumbs

Prepare the Cheesy Homestyle Potatoes as normal and set aside. Cut your chicken into chunks and dip into Eggbeaters just to moisten, then dip into breadcrumbs. Fry with cooking spray or else use your favourite fat serving for a little extra flavour. Spoon the mashed potatoes into a bowl, top with chicken, corn, and cheese, and pour gravy on top. Enjoy!

This counts as your lunch entree, 1 dairy/protein serving, 1 veggie, and 2 free foods. I wouldn't eat it very often since you're combining your free foods plus using a starchy veggie, but if you are craving fast food it's a nice treat! As I mentioned in my last post- the NS dieticians have said that it is acceptable occasionally to substitute one serving of a starchy veggie for 2 veggie servings. Here I used half a corn serving so I counted it as one veggie. If you prefer, you can substitute out the corn for a different veggie like green beans and I am sure that would be delicious too!

One serving has 375 calories, 47g of carbs, 10g of fat, and a massive 27g of protein. It is very filling and delicious! Compare that to KFC's stats- 700 calories, 32g of fat, and 77g of carbs and enjoy this guilt free!

Two for two!

I tried two new ideas today and both of them were yummy!

Pancake Mix (Breakfast):


As you can probably tell from my blog, I love making healthy versions of fast food. I love things that taste like they're awful for me and it makes me happier to know they are not. So without further ado- the McDonalds McGriddle.

McGriddle Breakfast Sandwich:

1 pkg Nutrisystem Pancake Mix
4 tbsp fat free milk
1 tbsp sugarfree maple syrup
1 egg
1 slice fat free cheese
2 slices chicken bacon (I prefer this to turkey bacon- it crisps better and has more flavour)

First, prepare the pancake mix as directed on the package. I actually added the syrup first and then added the milk 1 tbsp at a time because I wanted the pancakes to be a little thicker than usual so that they would be nice and puffy for the sandwich. Definitely don't overdo the milk! Set the pancakes aside and cook your egg and bacon (or sausage). Then assemble your sandwich and enjoy! It's incredibly filling and delicious, and the syrup taste in the pancakes makes it just like Mickey D's.


Flex Meals (Lunch):


This recipe is a modification of a yummy pasta salad my father always made for BBQs. I loved it and I'm so happy I can still have it while following Nutrisystem! This counts as a flex lunch + veggies.

Seafood Pasta Salad:

1 serving of small sized pasta (80 calories, 15g of carbs)
2 oz imitation lobster meat (or real if you can get it!)
1 oz baby shrimp
2 tbsp fat free Kraft Zesty Italian dressing
1/4 cup no sodium niblet corn
diced red pepper, green pepper, red onion, green onion, and tomatoes

Prepare your pasta, rinse and pour into a Tupperware. Add all the other ingredients, cover, and shake until the dressing is evenly spread. Pour into a bowl and enjoy!

Yes- corn normally does count as a carb. However, the Nutrisystem dieticians have said that occasionally you can count 1 serving of a starchy veggie as 2 veggies. For this salad, you really only need half a serving so it counts as one veggie, plus the other ones in the salad. The stats for one serving are: 223 calories, 39g of carbs, 2g of fat, and 15g of protein.

I made it!

Woohoo! Over 50lbs since I started Nutrisystem, 75 since I had my son! I know I'm still not even halfway there but it's a damn good start.

I'm really excited to get my violet Nutribear!

Pleasantly Surprised...

I was eating my Mexican Lasagna last night and thinking about how I missed refried beans but wasn't willing to give up a carb serving to have them. Then I looked at my stack of Black Bean Tortilla Soups sitting in the pile of food that I figure I'll probably eat during a natural disaster, and the wheels started churning and I came up with this idea.


Black Bean Tortilla Soup (Lunch):


1 pkg Black Bean Tortilla Soup
1 egg
shredded cheese (I just used a little to make a free food)
1 tbsp sour cream
1 tbsp enchilada sauce
diced green onion

Boil water, and pour in just enough hot water to moisten the beans. Stir it and ensure all the powder is wet and thickening but not soupy. Cover and set aside. Prepare your egg however you like it (I like mine over hard with cooking spray). Check on the beans; add more water if necessary and heat piping hot in the microwave. Spoon onto a plate and top with egg; garnish with cheese, sour cream, enchilada sauce, and green onion. Enjoy!

I wasn't sure I'd actually like this but it was yummy. The only problem it creates for me is that it really "feels" like a breakfast item but it uses a NS lunch. My solution was to eat it for breakfast and then to use the breakfast Flex planner to make a lunch for myself, since I didn't want to have a pastry or cereal then.


Honey Mustard Pretzel Sticks (Dessert):


I like honey mustard, so despite not really enjoying the salty snacks, I had hopes for this one. I was immediately put off by their appearance, though. My Nacho Crisps never come crushed like that but every bag of salty snacks I have tried has been crumbs. It's not very appealing. I had one bite and found the taste to be a little strong for me. My husband ate them though- he said they weren't great but they were okay for snacking on, so they must not be that bad.

Motivation

Sometimes it's easy to just feel down in the dumps. The 50lb barrier is lurking tantalizingly ahead of me but I'm afraid I won't reach it this week either. No real reason why- I'm just scared for some reason. And then I just look at my ticker and see how I'm not even halfway there and it brings me down.

Fortunately, today's Daily Dose was geared for me! I have to remember to keep looking forward, because there is nothing I can do to change the past. I let myself get this way- I can't undo it. I can only try to fix my mistake and become a healthier person. That's what I need to focus on right now.

I've got a few new recipe ideas I'm planning to try out in the next couple of days, including some for food items that I previously detested. We'll see if I like them any better prepared a new way. Check back soon!

Snack Ideas

Snacks are often the hardest thing that I have to come up with. I usually get bored and end up eating the same old string cheese or yogurt with some fruit.

When I went to the US a few weeks ago on my road trip, I stopped in a Walmart and was looking for something to eat with my lunch bar. I was pleasantly surprised to see these little kits for $2 that included whole grain crackers, turkey slices, and low fat herb and garlic cream cheese (just don't eat the mini Toblerone that comes with it!). I bought several of them and ate one a day and they were absolutely delicious! They don't sell kits like that here, but I figured I could make them myself for a tasty and filling snack.

Herbed Turkey & Cheese Crackers:


I bought Philadelphia Ultra Low Fat Herb & Garlic cream cheese and fat free turkey deli slices. You can call the cream cheese a free food or put that and the turkey together to count as a dairy/protein serving as long as it's below 100 calories (it'll definitely be more than 7g of protein). I like to use Breton Multigrain crackers with this- 3 crackers is a lot and it fits into the requirements for a carb serving. If you don't get extra carbs, you can choose a lunch or dinner that gets one and skip it then. And you still get your fruit serving with this! The dieticians do say that once in a while, you can substitute a carb serving for a fruit serving, so you can choose to do that occasionally as well as long as you don't make a habit of it.

This is more the kind of thing I'd eat for a snack before starting Nutrisystem, so I found it psychologically much more satisfying than what I've been eating lately.


Chocolate Cake (Dessert):


I tried an easy twist on the chocolate cake. I chopped up a fruit serving worth of fresh strawberries and diced the cake into little pieces and put it on top. Then I added 4 tbsp of whipped cream (free food) and it was delicious!

Oh well!

Sadly, I actually gained weight this week. I didn't go off plan, but since we're in the middle of a record breaking heat wave and my wedding rings are so tight I can't get them off, I'm going to attribute this one to water retention. I gained 0.7lbs this week. With luck (and a lot of water!) I'll hit that 50lb milestone next Sunday.

I wanted to talk a little about eating away from home again. Usually, I don't have a problem finding a meal at a restaurant that I can enjoy and that won't torpedo my weight loss. Sometimes, you even get lucky and find a whole menu to choose from! I love Applebee's 550 calorie or less menu. There are a number of delicious selections that sound like they couldn't possibly be healthy, but they are! Both times I've ordered one, the table agreed that my entree was the best even though they ordered the usual calorie and fat laden concoctions off the rest of the menu. So far, my favourite has been the Dijon chicken with Asiago cheese.

I have run into a few restaurants where they were absolutely unwilling to work with me though, and that was incredibly frustrating since three of them were last week. I was very unhappy but I made the decision to stick with my program and not to indulge just because there was pressure to do so. The first restaurant was out socially with friends (they chose the place) and there was only one entree on the entire menu that seemed suitable- a garden salad with grilled chicken or fish on top. I asked about salad dressing and they had ZERO options that were fat free. I just asked for vinegar and lemon to squeeze on top instead. Note to self: carry fat free dressing pouches! The second was a little breakfast place that made eggs. I asked them if they could give me egg whites and they said no. Then I asked if they could cook them with very little butter or oil, and they said no. Well, gee, thanks! I actually walked out and found something else. The last straw was going to visit my mother and some friends of hers and they wanted to go to a local place. I took one look at the menu and groaned inside. We were still waiting for some people so I just ordered dinner for my son- I requested steamed vegetables. When the server brought them out, they were drowned in butter. At that point, I just politely excused myself and said there was nothing to feed my baby and that I'd have to go home. I didn't really like leaving but I didn't want to eat there nor did I want to feed him that meal either, so it was better for us this way.

It's kind of frustrating that after sticking to my guns in three situations that I still gained weight, but I know it's normal to have little stalls along the way so hopefully I'll have a big loss next week.

But what I do have to keep me positive is knowing that I can get through temptation and social pressure and still do what is best for me!

A little late again...

I'm visiting my mother for a few days so I haven't had as much computer time as I usually do. We also went to a local casino for the weekend which was a lot of fun. I've actually been eating very little NS food lately and doing a lot of flexing in restaurants. I did choose to have a drink on Saturday night and I'm OK with that choice. It's my first alcohol since I started doing Nutrisystem and I enjoyed it. I also had a few bites of a shared dessert. I did miss ice cream, especially since we're in the middle of a heat wave!

I am thrilled to say that I still lost 2.3lbs this past week! I'm very close to my next Nutribear and I am hoping to achieve that this week.

I hope you all had a fantastic holiday weekend and were able to cope with temptation!

Tomato Lovers!

We used to eat pasta and things with tomato sauce at least twice a week, which helped contribute to me looking the way I do! It's so easy to overeat on pasta because it's shockingly high in calories, even when you choose whole wheat. The box says a "serving" is over 300 calories, and that's before you add meat, cheese, and whatever else you like! I am looking forward to getting my hands on some Fiber Gourmet pasta, which is lower in calories and carbs than regular pasta. That way I can have a little more flexibility with my pasta meals.

The modifications I made in today's recipes are very simple but they tasted so much better than simply eating the entree alone!

Chili with Beans (Dinner):


OK, who doesn't love a good chili dog? I just heated up the chili like normal in the microwave, and then cooked a veggie dog and placed it in a whole wheat roll. Top with the chili and 1/2 serving of cheese, maybe some onions and whatever else you like on a chili dog, and enjoy! You'll still have chili left over to eat from the bowl as well.


Cheese Tortellini (Lunch):


I saw this modification on the Nutrisystem boards and decided to give it a try because I'm finding that I don't enjoy the Cheese Tortellini nearly as much as I used to. On the limited Canadian menu, it was great. Now I have lots of things to choose from that I enjoy so this has dropped way down my list.

Cheesy Pepperoni Bake
1 pkg NS Cheese Tortellini
1/2 cup no salt added diced tomatoes
1/2 serving turkey pepperoni
1/2 serving shredded cheese
chopped onions and whatever other veggies you like
basil, oregano, garlic, and black pepper to taste

Pour the tomatoes into a glass baking dish and add the tortellini and stir to blend. Add the spices and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Remove dish from oven, add chopped pepperoni and stir, top with shredded cheese, and bake for another 10 minutes.

This was infinitely better than just eating the tortellini out of the can. It's still not my favourite lunch but now I can find it more palatable.

Lasagna with Meat Sauce (Dinner):


My husband requested I make him lasagna for dinner, and after looking at the pan I made for him the "old way", dripping with meat and cheese and sauce, I decided to try and perk up my sad little tray of lasagna a little bit.

I took a glass baking dish and added 1/4 cup of no salt added tomato sauce (counts as a veggie serving without the sodium), and chopped up onions, mushrooms, and bell peppers. I topped the veggies with 1 tbsp low fat ricotta cheese (free food). I opened the lasagna and chopped it up, and put half on top. I then added 1/4 cup fat free cottage cheese (1/2 protein) and spread it around. I added the remaining lasagna pieces and sauce from the tray and topped with 1/2 oz shredded mozzerella cheese (1/2 protein).

It was SO filling and while it didn't have that heavy pasta taste that I do still miss, I really enjoyed it and I'm so stuffed that I couldn't eat another bite. It was definitely an improvement on just heating the little tray!