Hope you are all surviving the holidays! I've made the choice to go off plan to enjoy what I want for the break and I will pay the price afterwards. It's not the world's smartest decision, but I am okay with that. Come January 2, I will be back nose to the grindstone.
Here is a little holiday treat for you, and it will work on your auto delivery as long as you have an item in your a la carte (even if it's free!), or on any a la carte order. Put in promo code 10OFF to save $10!
Saturday, December 28, 2019
Sunday, December 8, 2019
Triggers
We all have them. No one just woke up one morning and suddenly had gained 20 or 30 or more pounds, right? Sometimes there is a medical reason, like a medication you're taking or a change of life that affects how your body metabolizes calories, and sometimes it's an emotional reason where we use food to self soothe.
I can't help with menopause or medication or those type of factors, but we can try to break down why we eat emotionally and work on what we can do to stop it.
North American culture certainly feeds into this concept of emotional eating. We see it in movies all the time- if the protagonist is upset, we'll see her in her pajamas with a pint of Ben & Jerrys, right? It's supposed to be a generally acceptable way to deal with our feelings. We use food for so many reasons beyond nourishment. It becomes a reward when we've accomplished something, which is why we see so many people saying, Yay I've lost 10 pounds, I'm going to treat myself to a dinner out! Hopefully you can see why this is counterproductive!
Those kind of issues are places where we can try to build a better relationship with food. Not only does it help put us in touch with our emotional state and actually deal with the issues that are bothering us rather than wrapping them in salt, sugar, and fat- but it keeps those extra pounds off the scale.
However, there are some other things that you may not immediately think of that are underlying factors which increase our likelihood to go off plan. A big one for me? Exhaustion. I have chronic health issues, and because of that I run out of energy much more quickly than a well person. One of the benefits of the Nutrisystem program for me is convenience. While I do like playing with my food and coming up with interesting recipes, sometimes I just want to heat and eat and there are several entrees I do enjoy just as they are (hello, white cheddar mac & cheese!).
On my tired days though, I still have to fight the urge to order takeaway, even when I know that I could have a NS entrée on the table in less time than it would take me to actually place the order. I know my resistance is down and it's easier to cave. Those are the moments I need to be mindful of, so I can get through the cravings for comfort food and stick with it. The pride I feel in myself after winning that battle is so worth it.
What are your underlying factors? Are there things that lower your willpower? Take some time to think about it and make a plan of attack to get you through next time it happens. I promise, it's worth it!
I can't help with menopause or medication or those type of factors, but we can try to break down why we eat emotionally and work on what we can do to stop it.
North American culture certainly feeds into this concept of emotional eating. We see it in movies all the time- if the protagonist is upset, we'll see her in her pajamas with a pint of Ben & Jerrys, right? It's supposed to be a generally acceptable way to deal with our feelings. We use food for so many reasons beyond nourishment. It becomes a reward when we've accomplished something, which is why we see so many people saying, Yay I've lost 10 pounds, I'm going to treat myself to a dinner out! Hopefully you can see why this is counterproductive!
Those kind of issues are places where we can try to build a better relationship with food. Not only does it help put us in touch with our emotional state and actually deal with the issues that are bothering us rather than wrapping them in salt, sugar, and fat- but it keeps those extra pounds off the scale.
However, there are some other things that you may not immediately think of that are underlying factors which increase our likelihood to go off plan. A big one for me? Exhaustion. I have chronic health issues, and because of that I run out of energy much more quickly than a well person. One of the benefits of the Nutrisystem program for me is convenience. While I do like playing with my food and coming up with interesting recipes, sometimes I just want to heat and eat and there are several entrees I do enjoy just as they are (hello, white cheddar mac & cheese!).
On my tired days though, I still have to fight the urge to order takeaway, even when I know that I could have a NS entrée on the table in less time than it would take me to actually place the order. I know my resistance is down and it's easier to cave. Those are the moments I need to be mindful of, so I can get through the cravings for comfort food and stick with it. The pride I feel in myself after winning that battle is so worth it.
What are your underlying factors? Are there things that lower your willpower? Take some time to think about it and make a plan of attack to get you through next time it happens. I promise, it's worth it!
Friday, December 6, 2019
WOW for stacking promotions!
So if you didn't know already, Nutrisystem is having their 50% off sale right now. It's on a la carte items with the usual exclusions (hamburger, buttermilk waffles, ice cream sandwich, grilled chicken sandwich, multipacks, etc).
What you may not know is that you can stack multiple promotions on your a la carte order! Right now you can use the 50% off sale plus enter code CYBERPARTY to get a free frozen pizza pack, plus you can add SAVE10 to save $10 as well! Also, free shipping on a frozen order over $75 (before discount!). And you can pay with Costco gift cards, so you are saving a lot of money off sticker price! Now is a great time to stock up.
But here's the fun part- if you're an existing member, you know most of the great deals are for new members only. Here's a little Christmas gift for you all- enter SAVE10 on your auto delivery for a little something something :)
What you may not know is that you can stack multiple promotions on your a la carte order! Right now you can use the 50% off sale plus enter code CYBERPARTY to get a free frozen pizza pack, plus you can add SAVE10 to save $10 as well! Also, free shipping on a frozen order over $75 (before discount!). And you can pay with Costco gift cards, so you are saving a lot of money off sticker price! Now is a great time to stock up.
But here's the fun part- if you're an existing member, you know most of the great deals are for new members only. Here's a little Christmas gift for you all- enter SAVE10 on your auto delivery for a little something something :)
Saturday, November 30, 2019
Deals & Discontinuations
Well, if you missed out on the last Salad Shaker giveaway (or even if you didn't this code is new so you can have a spare when yours is in the dishwasher!), enter code TYU26MN on your a la carte order, or else on your auto delivery if you have anything in the a la carte section (even a Numi freebie!).
I was also sad to hear of some more discontinued items. There has been a lot of turnover of items lately and I hope that Nutrisystem continues to add more items, especially shelf stable items. Remember that us Canadians as well as customers in Alaska and Hawaii can't get the frozen, and we need to have some variety to choose from!
The latest discontinued items are the Turkey Pot Pie Melt, Mushroom Risotto, Creamy Beef Alfredo, Blueberry Lemon Baked Bar, and the Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal. None of them were my particular favourites but I did like the Creamy Beef Alfredo. I think that Nutrisystem generally does well with their pasta dishes and I don't think that there's a direct analogue for this one, although I would like to see some non pasta and non bar lunches- surely there are other options they could come up with.
On the other hand, I've tried some of the new frozen items and I'm super happy with them! I didn't get a photo because they disappeared too quickly, but I'll be sure to add some soon. I absolutely love the Mushroom Stuffed Chicken Breast- it tastes like the mushrooms are in a red wine sauce and I think it's so good. I've also liked the two new snack cupcakes- the Strawberry Shortcake Cupcake is SO good, especially the crumble on top. And the Cream Filled Chocolate Cupcake reminds me of a Hostess cupcake, but a lot less sweet so I think people will find it less off putting. If you haven't tried these yet, I would definitely add a few to your order!
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
And Even More Freebies!
It seems like an odd thing to give away, but Nutrisystem has put out a promotion code for free earbuds.
I suspect I'll be unhappier than most people here, since I don't think the Fiesta Macaroni & Cheese was all that popular, but I did receive notification that it has been discontinued. While I didn't want to eat it all the time, I thought it was a nice change and the sauce was thick enough that it was easy to add veggies and seasonings to change the flavour profile. I will miss it.
I hope NS will be bringing out more shelf stable dinners soon!
I guess if you don't have your own set, perhaps they'll encourage you to workout a little more? Or else they'll make a good backup set.
To claim your free earbuds, enter the following promotion code C8YW9AB on any a la carte order, or else in the a la carte section on your auto delivery order if you have even one other item listed there- even a free Numi Reward!
I suspect I'll be unhappier than most people here, since I don't think the Fiesta Macaroni & Cheese was all that popular, but I did receive notification that it has been discontinued. While I didn't want to eat it all the time, I thought it was a nice change and the sauce was thick enough that it was easy to add veggies and seasonings to change the flavour profile. I will miss it.
I hope NS will be bringing out more shelf stable dinners soon!
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
More Freebies!
If you missed out on the last cutting board giveaway from Nutrisystem, you're in luck! They released another promo code to add one free to your next order! You can add it to your auto delivery as long as you have at least one item in the a la carte section- even if it's free! Otherwise, it can be added to any a la carte order.
While it's a very small cutting board, it's useful for chopping veggies for one person and doesn't take up a lot of space to store. I probably wouldn't have purchased one, but it's a nice freebie gift from Nutrisystem.
Enter promo code XTA4EBS to receive yours free!
Thursday, November 7, 2019
What Makes A Carb Smart?
I know I've written a little about this before, but I think it's worth revisiting again.
We generally have a pretty good idea of what kinds of foods constitute carbohydrates, although they can be a little sneaky sometimes! The Nutrisystem Grocery Guide will give you some great ideas of items you can use for SmartCarb servings for when you are flexing or when an entrée instructs you to add a SmartCarb (like the Turkey Ham & Cheese Omelette, the Tuna Salad, and the BBQ Seasoned Chicken).
So how do we decide what can be used for a SmartCarb? Nutrisystem has given us a very simple test to use, where they state it must be 80-120 calories and at least 1g of fiber. Is that it? No!
Keep in mind that this plan is designed around the Glycemic Index. SmartCarbs are considered "smart" because they are low glycemic. Unfortunately, working out where things stand on the glycemic index can be complicated, which is why I believe Nutrisystem is giving out the current information. However, it states right in the Grocery Guide that SmartCarbs are low glycemic carbohydrate servings, which means it is our responsibility to determine what is appropriate. Then, once we decide that an item is in fact a low GI carb, then we apply the second test to make sure the food will fit as one of our add in portions.
If you don't check first to see that a food actually is a low glycemic carbohydrate, you can wind up making some large errors that will make the program less effective. As an example, try this:
Take 1/2 cup white rice, which is considered a high glycemic index food at a score of 89. Then add a couple of nonstarchy veggies to it, and calculate the nutritionals as a whole (or add a little unflavoured fiber powder). If you look at the serving as a whole, suddenly it fits the loose standard of a SmartCarb since it's between 80-120 calories and has 1g fiber. But is it in fact a smart choice?
Definitely not. High glycemic foods defeat the purpose of the program. They will cause blood sugar spikes which give you cravings, and you will feel less full and be more likely to give into those cravings. It's important to choose foods which are within the spirit of the program and not misinterpret the definitions to add in foods which don't belong on the plan.
Again, I don't think there is anything wrong with making a mindful decision to go off plan for a meal and then going right back on afterwards. Where I think problems lie is when people try to make a food fit into the program when it does not, because then they are likely eating is far more often than they should.
Likewise, when you're evaluating an item for a flex meal and looking at it as a Powerfuel/SmartCarb combination, often I have seen people asking if they can use items that really don't include SmartCarbs at all. For example, I've seen egg frittatas talked about. Because they have vegetables in them, they do have that required gram of fiber. But is there a low glycemic carbohydrate serving in there? No- it's a protein serving that happens to have some vegetables in it. While the rules for flex guidelines make it "easy" to figure out if something is on plan, don't forget to evaluate the food on its merits and make sure it actually has the components it is supposed to have, and that it fits on plan- don't just read the label.
So remember- when you're choosing a SmartCarb, make sure that it belongs on the program before you apply the calorie count/fiber test!
We generally have a pretty good idea of what kinds of foods constitute carbohydrates, although they can be a little sneaky sometimes! The Nutrisystem Grocery Guide will give you some great ideas of items you can use for SmartCarb servings for when you are flexing or when an entrée instructs you to add a SmartCarb (like the Turkey Ham & Cheese Omelette, the Tuna Salad, and the BBQ Seasoned Chicken).
So how do we decide what can be used for a SmartCarb? Nutrisystem has given us a very simple test to use, where they state it must be 80-120 calories and at least 1g of fiber. Is that it? No!
Keep in mind that this plan is designed around the Glycemic Index. SmartCarbs are considered "smart" because they are low glycemic. Unfortunately, working out where things stand on the glycemic index can be complicated, which is why I believe Nutrisystem is giving out the current information. However, it states right in the Grocery Guide that SmartCarbs are low glycemic carbohydrate servings, which means it is our responsibility to determine what is appropriate. Then, once we decide that an item is in fact a low GI carb, then we apply the second test to make sure the food will fit as one of our add in portions.
If you don't check first to see that a food actually is a low glycemic carbohydrate, you can wind up making some large errors that will make the program less effective. As an example, try this:
Take 1/2 cup white rice, which is considered a high glycemic index food at a score of 89. Then add a couple of nonstarchy veggies to it, and calculate the nutritionals as a whole (or add a little unflavoured fiber powder). If you look at the serving as a whole, suddenly it fits the loose standard of a SmartCarb since it's between 80-120 calories and has 1g fiber. But is it in fact a smart choice?
Definitely not. High glycemic foods defeat the purpose of the program. They will cause blood sugar spikes which give you cravings, and you will feel less full and be more likely to give into those cravings. It's important to choose foods which are within the spirit of the program and not misinterpret the definitions to add in foods which don't belong on the plan.
Again, I don't think there is anything wrong with making a mindful decision to go off plan for a meal and then going right back on afterwards. Where I think problems lie is when people try to make a food fit into the program when it does not, because then they are likely eating is far more often than they should.
Likewise, when you're evaluating an item for a flex meal and looking at it as a Powerfuel/SmartCarb combination, often I have seen people asking if they can use items that really don't include SmartCarbs at all. For example, I've seen egg frittatas talked about. Because they have vegetables in them, they do have that required gram of fiber. But is there a low glycemic carbohydrate serving in there? No- it's a protein serving that happens to have some vegetables in it. While the rules for flex guidelines make it "easy" to figure out if something is on plan, don't forget to evaluate the food on its merits and make sure it actually has the components it is supposed to have, and that it fits on plan- don't just read the label.
So remember- when you're choosing a SmartCarb, make sure that it belongs on the program before you apply the calorie count/fiber test!
Friday, November 1, 2019
More Freebies!
Nutrisystem is giving away another free gift to customers! You can use this one either on any a la carte order, or else on your auto delivery as long as you have at least one item in the a la carte section.
Use promo code SPOOKY and get a free Nutrisystem 3 piece Salad Shaker set! You don't need to add the shaker to your cart- just put in the promo code and it will be added automatically.
This set is pretty useful. It keeps your salad dressing separate so that the veggies don't get soggy, plus a fork clips right into the lid so everything is handy. It's a useful item for taking your favourite salad on the go.
Enjoy!
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Another Date Night Special!
I love coming up with special meals that taste wonderful and fit into the program. Diet food doesn't all have to be boring old grilled chicken breast with salad
Tonight's recipe inspiration came from Goodfood, one of the meal box delivery services I occasionally order from. Not all their recipes will fit into the Nutrisystem program, but if you are careful choosing you can try some really fantastic foods. The flavours in this dish blend together perfectly, and I don't even like kale, to be honest with you. I'd highly recommend this recipe! It might not be picturesque, but it's delicious.
Shrimp with Toasted Couscous & Black Garlic Aioli (Flex Meals):
10oz shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 yellow onion, diced
2 cups kale, chopped roughly
1 Portobello mushroom, cut into 1/2" thick slices
1 clove of black garlic (you can substitute regular if you can't obtain black)
1 tbsp. white wine vinegar
2 tbsp. tomato paste
1 cup cooked toasted pearl couscous
2 tbsp. plain Greek yogurt
fresh parsley, roughly chopped
Spanish seasoning blend (or make your own with turmeric, onion powder, paprika, garlic, rosemary, and a dash of Cayenne pepper)
Before you cook the couscous, toast it in a large, dry pan until it turns golden brown (2-4 minutes). Place the toasted couscous in a pot of salted boiling water until tender. Drain, and set aside. Mince the black garlic finely, and mix it with the Greek yogurt, and set aside for flavours to blend. Spray your pan with cooking spray, and add the mushroom slices. Sprinkle the seasoning blend onto the shrimp, and add them to the pan. Add the onions and kale, and cook until the kale starts to wilt and the shrimp are opaque and cooked throughout. Add the tomato paste and vinegar, and stir frequently until the sauce is well blended.
Place 1/2 cup of cooked couscous on each plate. Top with 1/2 the shrimp and vegetable mixture, and sprinkle with parsley. Top with a dollop of the black garlic aioli. Makes two servings.
Believe it or not, this fantastic flavourful dish counts as a Nutrisystem lunch entrée plus 2 vegetables. The vinegar and tomato paste are free foods, and so is the Greek yogurt (in this amount). If you want to spend an extra, I'd recommend using a tsp of garlic infused olive oil to cook the shrimp and vegetables, but it is not necessary.
While kale is often bitter, the wonderful taste of the black garlic aioli really cuts that and works well with the Spanish style flavours. If you try this dish, I'd love to hear how you like it!
Tonight's recipe inspiration came from Goodfood, one of the meal box delivery services I occasionally order from. Not all their recipes will fit into the Nutrisystem program, but if you are careful choosing you can try some really fantastic foods. The flavours in this dish blend together perfectly, and I don't even like kale, to be honest with you. I'd highly recommend this recipe! It might not be picturesque, but it's delicious.
Shrimp with Toasted Couscous & Black Garlic Aioli (Flex Meals):
10oz shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 yellow onion, diced
2 cups kale, chopped roughly
1 Portobello mushroom, cut into 1/2" thick slices
1 clove of black garlic (you can substitute regular if you can't obtain black)
1 tbsp. white wine vinegar
2 tbsp. tomato paste
1 cup cooked toasted pearl couscous
2 tbsp. plain Greek yogurt
fresh parsley, roughly chopped
Spanish seasoning blend (or make your own with turmeric, onion powder, paprika, garlic, rosemary, and a dash of Cayenne pepper)
Before you cook the couscous, toast it in a large, dry pan until it turns golden brown (2-4 minutes). Place the toasted couscous in a pot of salted boiling water until tender. Drain, and set aside. Mince the black garlic finely, and mix it with the Greek yogurt, and set aside for flavours to blend. Spray your pan with cooking spray, and add the mushroom slices. Sprinkle the seasoning blend onto the shrimp, and add them to the pan. Add the onions and kale, and cook until the kale starts to wilt and the shrimp are opaque and cooked throughout. Add the tomato paste and vinegar, and stir frequently until the sauce is well blended.
Place 1/2 cup of cooked couscous on each plate. Top with 1/2 the shrimp and vegetable mixture, and sprinkle with parsley. Top with a dollop of the black garlic aioli. Makes two servings.
Believe it or not, this fantastic flavourful dish counts as a Nutrisystem lunch entrée plus 2 vegetables. The vinegar and tomato paste are free foods, and so is the Greek yogurt (in this amount). If you want to spend an extra, I'd recommend using a tsp of garlic infused olive oil to cook the shrimp and vegetables, but it is not necessary.
While kale is often bitter, the wonderful taste of the black garlic aioli really cuts that and works well with the Spanish style flavours. If you try this dish, I'd love to hear how you like it!
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Out With The Old...
With all the new additions, Nutrisystem is quietly discontinuing a few more items. A few of them surprise me, and I'll definitely be sorry to see them go! I hope we have a few more new ones coming soon to help make up for it.
The list of items they sent out to be discontinued includes the following:
Cheese Tortellini
Chicken Vegetable Stir Fry
Garlic Parmesan Snack A Rounds
Hickory Smoke Flavored Beef Patty
Italian Herb Flatbread Pizza
Salt & Vinegar Snack A Rounds
Stuffed Apple Pie
Whole Grain Soft Pretzel
If any of these are your favourites, I would try to place an order immediately so that you can grab the remaining stock before it's gone!
I have to admit that a few of them surprise me. The Italian Herb Flatbread pizza, I think is far the superior of the two shelf stable pizzas. It looks larger and tastes better than the Thick Crust Pizza, in my opinion. But I'm not the one seeing sales and cost figures, so I am sure Nutrisystem has a better idea of what they are doing.
I'm also surprised to see so many of the savory snacks be removed. While I have a sweet tooth, I know that not everyone does, and the variety of salty items gave more choice to the snack options. Especially the soft pretzel- I thought that was pretty cool and fun to jazz up. I will miss it. I liked the apple pie, too, but fortunately I still have a few of those in the freezer.
I hope that more new items will be added soon to compensate, because that is a lot of items that have been removed lately!
The list of items they sent out to be discontinued includes the following:
Cheese Tortellini
Chicken Vegetable Stir Fry
Garlic Parmesan Snack A Rounds
Hickory Smoke Flavored Beef Patty
Italian Herb Flatbread Pizza
Salt & Vinegar Snack A Rounds
Stuffed Apple Pie
Whole Grain Soft Pretzel
If any of these are your favourites, I would try to place an order immediately so that you can grab the remaining stock before it's gone!
I have to admit that a few of them surprise me. The Italian Herb Flatbread pizza, I think is far the superior of the two shelf stable pizzas. It looks larger and tastes better than the Thick Crust Pizza, in my opinion. But I'm not the one seeing sales and cost figures, so I am sure Nutrisystem has a better idea of what they are doing.
I'm also surprised to see so many of the savory snacks be removed. While I have a sweet tooth, I know that not everyone does, and the variety of salty items gave more choice to the snack options. Especially the soft pretzel- I thought that was pretty cool and fun to jazz up. I will miss it. I liked the apple pie, too, but fortunately I still have a few of those in the freezer.
I hope that more new items will be added soon to compensate, because that is a lot of items that have been removed lately!
Thursday, October 10, 2019
More New Items!
Don't forget to check the menu before your next auto delivery ships! Nutrisystem has released some further new items, which I'm excited to try.
I was really, really happy when I saw that Nutrisystem has brought back a pancake mix. If you've been following my blog, you'll know that I made a ton of recipes using their Pancake Mix in 2010. It is so versatile and can be used for much more than pancakes! Definitely check out my recipe file for some creative ideas. While I haven't yet tried the new High Protein Pancake Mix, I'm looking forward to making my Cheesy Egg & Bacon Biscuits with it!
I like toffee, and I also like the Harvest Nut Bar, so I am betting I will also like this Toffee Nut Bar. I'm curious as to how different it will be, since the Harvest Nut Bar is already very sweet. Guess I will find out shortly!
This Garlic Cheese Flatbread is a shelf stable lunch entree, and it comes from the South Beach Diet program. If you didn't know, Nutrisystem and South Beach are owned by the same company. While the macros in the two programs are different, both do focus on the glycemic index and building a healthy balance of fats, protein, and carbs. I've been curious to try some of the South Beach entrees myself, and I actually recently placed an order for some when they were 50% off. I appear to have jumped the gun though since they are now available from Nutrisystem! This particular entree doesn't get great reviews, but I'm curious to try it anyway. I always say to give everything a chance because you never know what you will like. We all have different tastes, after all!
I was really, really happy when I saw that Nutrisystem has brought back a pancake mix. If you've been following my blog, you'll know that I made a ton of recipes using their Pancake Mix in 2010. It is so versatile and can be used for much more than pancakes! Definitely check out my recipe file for some creative ideas. While I haven't yet tried the new High Protein Pancake Mix, I'm looking forward to making my Cheesy Egg & Bacon Biscuits with it!
I love the Nutrisystem Granola Cereal, so I'm expecting good things from this entree as well. One of my favourite ways to use the Granola is to put it over sugar free apple pie filling with some cinnamon (don't forget to add 1/2 Powerfuel elsewhere to your day if you do this- it's considered part of the entree and is required!!), which counts as an extra (10-35 calories). I suspect that Apple Cinnamon Granola Cereal will be even more perfect for this use! I don't drink milk, but I think this will likely also go well in yogurt and I can't wait to try it.
I love seafood, but I was a little surprised to see the Shrimp & Chicken Stir Fry on the menu since shrimp is so expensive. I wonder how small they are, or how few you get in the portion. Either way though, I am looking forward to giving it a try.
I will admit that I found this dinner entree to be a bit of a surprise as well. Nutrisystem already has two chili options that are quite good, why would they add in another? Adding veggies is already a relatively simple thing for us once we have the base entree. It makes me speculate that perhaps they plan to discontinue the Vegetariam Chili in favour of this Chockful of Veggie Chili, but who knows? I don't plan to order this one personally since I think the shelf stable options are good enough for me, but I'm interested in hearing how other people like it.
Again, I wonder how different these Nacho Puffs are from the current Cheese Puffs, which I love. I have liked both versions of the Cheese Puffs, both the big ones that look like cheesies, and the little ones. Does this new item mean that the Cheese Puffs are now on the chopping block? I hope not. There are a few of these on my next order for comparison purposes!
I am not the biggest fan of marshmallow, but I plan to try at least one of these S'mores Pies just to see how they taste. If the marshmallow taste isn't so prominent, then maybe I'll enjoy it. I do like the Stuffed Apple Pie so this one could be a winner as well.
What have you tried of the new menu items, and what are you hoping to try? Are there new ideas you would like Nutrisystem to create or bring back?
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Love the Loaded Potato!
I see so many comments on the Nutrisystem Facebook group about people who dislike the Loaded Potato. I can understand that the idea of having mashed potatoes for lunch sounds unappealing. After all, mashed potatoes sounds like a side dish, right? But if you let those creative juices start flowing, you'll realize that this entrée can be made into so many different meals! It's a great way to keep your meals changed up and keep things fresh.
The easiest way of all to eat these is to prepare as directed (although I still recommend using boiling water and then covering rather than preparing in the microwave!), and then just eat them as a side dish with your favourite Powerfuel. I often enjoy this with a 100 calorie piece of salmon (save your morning PF for this!), or 3oz of grilled chicken. Add a salad or some roasted vegetables, and your plate looks like a regular lunch.
Want to get a little fancier? Try my Baked Crab Florets or Crab Cakes. Want a picnic favourite? Have you tried making Potato Salad? Want a nice bowl of rich soup for lunch? Try my Clam Chowder or Creamy Potato Soup. If you're looking up recipes I've made with the Loaded Potato, don't forget to check my blog tags for the Cheesy Homestyle Potatoes, which was the previous name for a very similar entrée that Nutrisystem offered in the past.
And speaking of soup, I decided to do a second version of my Potato Leek Soup to bring the recipe up to date with the new Nutrisystem program requirements, since things have changed since 2011. It is so rich and full of flavour, and I think you'll find it a satisfying choice on a brisk fall day. It also makes a huge portion, so it will help keep the hungries away!
Potato Leek Soup (Lunch):
1 pkg Nutrisystem Loaded Potato
1 leek, chopped
2 cups no sodium chicken broth
pepper, garlic to taste
1/2 tbsp. bacon bits (optional)
1/2 tbsp. low fat shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Spray a small pot with Pam spray, and sautee your leeks over medium heat for 5-7 minutes or until they start to soften. If they start to stick to the pan, add a tiny bit of the chicken broth. Add the pepper and garlic. While you are cooking the leeks, prepare the Loaded Potato with boiling water and cover until it sets. When leeks are tender, add the chicken broth to the pan and turn the heat up to high. When the soup is bubbling, add the Loaded Potato and stir well to make it smooth and creamy.
Serve in a large bowl, as this is a generous portion! If desired, add the cheese and bacon bits as garnish.
This soup is so flavourful and delicious, quick and easy to make, and fits right into your Nutrisystem program. Count this entire large bowl as a Nutrisystem lunch entrée, 2 veggie servings, a free food (the broth), and if you use the cheese and bacon it would count as one extra total (the cheese is 14 calories, the bacon bits are 15 calories).
Bon appetit!
The easiest way of all to eat these is to prepare as directed (although I still recommend using boiling water and then covering rather than preparing in the microwave!), and then just eat them as a side dish with your favourite Powerfuel. I often enjoy this with a 100 calorie piece of salmon (save your morning PF for this!), or 3oz of grilled chicken. Add a salad or some roasted vegetables, and your plate looks like a regular lunch.
Want to get a little fancier? Try my Baked Crab Florets or Crab Cakes. Want a picnic favourite? Have you tried making Potato Salad? Want a nice bowl of rich soup for lunch? Try my Clam Chowder or Creamy Potato Soup. If you're looking up recipes I've made with the Loaded Potato, don't forget to check my blog tags for the Cheesy Homestyle Potatoes, which was the previous name for a very similar entrée that Nutrisystem offered in the past.
And speaking of soup, I decided to do a second version of my Potato Leek Soup to bring the recipe up to date with the new Nutrisystem program requirements, since things have changed since 2011. It is so rich and full of flavour, and I think you'll find it a satisfying choice on a brisk fall day. It also makes a huge portion, so it will help keep the hungries away!
Potato Leek Soup (Lunch):
1 pkg Nutrisystem Loaded Potato
1 leek, chopped
2 cups no sodium chicken broth
pepper, garlic to taste
1/2 tbsp. bacon bits (optional)
1/2 tbsp. low fat shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Spray a small pot with Pam spray, and sautee your leeks over medium heat for 5-7 minutes or until they start to soften. If they start to stick to the pan, add a tiny bit of the chicken broth. Add the pepper and garlic. While you are cooking the leeks, prepare the Loaded Potato with boiling water and cover until it sets. When leeks are tender, add the chicken broth to the pan and turn the heat up to high. When the soup is bubbling, add the Loaded Potato and stir well to make it smooth and creamy.
Serve in a large bowl, as this is a generous portion! If desired, add the cheese and bacon bits as garnish.
This soup is so flavourful and delicious, quick and easy to make, and fits right into your Nutrisystem program. Count this entire large bowl as a Nutrisystem lunch entrée, 2 veggie servings, a free food (the broth), and if you use the cheese and bacon it would count as one extra total (the cheese is 14 calories, the bacon bits are 15 calories).
Bon appetit!
Monday, September 30, 2019
Bulk It Up!
I really enjoy eggplant, and fortunately it's one of Nutrisystem's unlimited non starchy veggies. I've made lots of flex meals with eggplant before, since it's a great pasta substitute. If you haven't tried my Eggplant Rollatini, I definitely suggest giving it a try.
If you don't feel like putting that much work into a flex meal, though, I think you'll find that this stuffed eggplant recipe is very bulky for those hungry days, and also tastes delicious.
Lasagna Stuffed Eggplant (Dinner):
1 eggplant, thinly sliced into long pieces
1 Nutrisystem Lasagna with Meat Sauce or Vegetable Lasagna
1/3 cup no sodium tomato sauce (35 calories or less total)
diced mushrooms, onions, bell pepper (or your favourite veggies)
1/2 oz shredded cheese (optional)
2 tbsp. FF ricotta cheese (optional)
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and spread out the eggplant on a baking tray. Spray lightly with cooking spray and sprinkle with basil and oregano. Bake for approximately 7 minutes or until eggplant is soft and edges are starting to brown.
While eggplant is cooking, chop up the lasagna into little pieces and pour it into a bowl. Add your chopped veggies, and if you are using the ricotta, add it now. Mix everything until it is blended uniformly.
When the eggplant is ready, place a large spoonful of the filling in the base of each slice of eggplant, and roll it closed. Place into a baking dish seam side down. When all the filling is inside the eggplant slices, top with your tomato sauce. Add the shredded cheese if desired, and bake for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted.
This makes an absolutely huge meal- if you are having a day when you want to eat everything in sight, I highly recommend this dinner! This baking dish is ONE serving!!!
Count this as one Nutrisystem dinner entrée, three servings of unlimited veggies, one extra (the tomato sauce), and if you used the ricotta and shredded cheese, count one Powerfuel.
You could try this with any of the other pasta dishes, minced up. Try it with the Penne Bolognese or the Rotini with Meatballs and let me know how you like it!
If you don't feel like putting that much work into a flex meal, though, I think you'll find that this stuffed eggplant recipe is very bulky for those hungry days, and also tastes delicious.
Lasagna Stuffed Eggplant (Dinner):
1 eggplant, thinly sliced into long pieces
1 Nutrisystem Lasagna with Meat Sauce or Vegetable Lasagna
1/3 cup no sodium tomato sauce (35 calories or less total)
diced mushrooms, onions, bell pepper (or your favourite veggies)
1/2 oz shredded cheese (optional)
2 tbsp. FF ricotta cheese (optional)
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and spread out the eggplant on a baking tray. Spray lightly with cooking spray and sprinkle with basil and oregano. Bake for approximately 7 minutes or until eggplant is soft and edges are starting to brown.
While eggplant is cooking, chop up the lasagna into little pieces and pour it into a bowl. Add your chopped veggies, and if you are using the ricotta, add it now. Mix everything until it is blended uniformly.
When the eggplant is ready, place a large spoonful of the filling in the base of each slice of eggplant, and roll it closed. Place into a baking dish seam side down. When all the filling is inside the eggplant slices, top with your tomato sauce. Add the shredded cheese if desired, and bake for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted.
This makes an absolutely huge meal- if you are having a day when you want to eat everything in sight, I highly recommend this dinner! This baking dish is ONE serving!!!
Count this as one Nutrisystem dinner entrée, three servings of unlimited veggies, one extra (the tomato sauce), and if you used the ricotta and shredded cheese, count one Powerfuel.
You could try this with any of the other pasta dishes, minced up. Try it with the Penne Bolognese or the Rotini with Meatballs and let me know how you like it!
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Creative Powerfuels
While food's primary purpose is for sustenance, it's no secret that many of us eat with our eyes and enjoy food as a pleasure and not just fuel. The more creative recipes you can come up with, the less likely you are to want to go off plan!
Are you getting bored with cheese sticks and hard boiled eggs for your morning Powerfuel? Try this creative idea- filling, delicious, simple, and it feels gourmet!
Hasselbeck Caprese Salad (Powerfuel):
2 fresh Roma tomatoes, whole
1 oz fresh mozzarella cheese
6 fresh basil leaves
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Wash your tomatoes thoroughly, and slice the top end off where the stem was. Slice your mozzarella cheese into 6 thin slices. Tear each basil leaf in half.
Turn your tomato sideways, and make three cuts evenly spaced through the tomato but do not cut all the way through! Repeat with the second tomato. In each of the little "pockets", place a slice of cheese and a basil leaf. Drizzle 1/2 tbsp balsamic vinegar over each tomato, and enjoy!
This recipe counts as 1 Powerfuel, 1 vegetable, and 1 extra.
Try some variations! Do you prefer your tomatoes cooked? Bake it at 350 degrees for 10 minutes and enjoy the cheese all gooey and melted. Are you a BLT fan? Take a combination of turkey bacon and cheddar cheese to equal 1 Powerfuel (80-120 calories combined and minimum 5g protein) and stuff your tomatoes with that! How about using ham & Swiss cheese to make a tomato melt?
What is your favourite variation?
Are you getting bored with cheese sticks and hard boiled eggs for your morning Powerfuel? Try this creative idea- filling, delicious, simple, and it feels gourmet!
Hasselbeck Caprese Salad (Powerfuel):
2 fresh Roma tomatoes, whole
1 oz fresh mozzarella cheese
6 fresh basil leaves
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Wash your tomatoes thoroughly, and slice the top end off where the stem was. Slice your mozzarella cheese into 6 thin slices. Tear each basil leaf in half.
Turn your tomato sideways, and make three cuts evenly spaced through the tomato but do not cut all the way through! Repeat with the second tomato. In each of the little "pockets", place a slice of cheese and a basil leaf. Drizzle 1/2 tbsp balsamic vinegar over each tomato, and enjoy!
This recipe counts as 1 Powerfuel, 1 vegetable, and 1 extra.
Try some variations! Do you prefer your tomatoes cooked? Bake it at 350 degrees for 10 minutes and enjoy the cheese all gooey and melted. Are you a BLT fan? Take a combination of turkey bacon and cheddar cheese to equal 1 Powerfuel (80-120 calories combined and minimum 5g protein) and stuff your tomatoes with that! How about using ham & Swiss cheese to make a tomato melt?
What is your favourite variation?
Friday, September 20, 2019
New Menu Items!
It looks like Nutrisystem has started to release new menu items, which is great! They haven't made an announcement yet, so hopefully more items are still to roll out. Definitely check your auto delivery before it ships and have a look at what's been added. So far there's been an item or two every couple of days over the past week.
They also announced two more discontinued items, sadly, the Sesame Ginger Chicken and the Black Bean Polenta Enchilada. I was disappointed to hear this because that particular enchilada was one of my favourite frozen meals for just plain ol' heating and eating. I loved the zesty spicy flavour even if it looked absolutely nothing like on the box. The Sesame Ginger Chicken was a really great base for adding cauliflower rice and I'd save a SmartCarb to add orange segments and make a version of orange ginger chicken (kind of like what I used to do with the discontinued Nutrisystem Orange Chicken). I will definitely miss that.
But, onwards and upwards- I'm looking forward to trying these new items!
The new breakfast item is the Strawberry Baked Bar.
So far I haven't seen any new lunches. There is a frozen dinner which has reappeared (marked limited time only, so check it out if you're interested!)- the Pork Tenderloins.
I looked at the previous reviews, and several commenters say it is spicy, so I am looking forward to trying one of these.
It also looks like the Mushroom Stuffed Chicken Breast is back! I love the stuffed chicken breasts. They are low calorie, filling, and really makes it feel like I'm eating a "normal" dinner with my family.
So far, there are also two new snacks; the Chocolate Lovers' Cake Mug Mix and the Confetti Cake Mug Mix.
They also announced two more discontinued items, sadly, the Sesame Ginger Chicken and the Black Bean Polenta Enchilada. I was disappointed to hear this because that particular enchilada was one of my favourite frozen meals for just plain ol' heating and eating. I loved the zesty spicy flavour even if it looked absolutely nothing like on the box. The Sesame Ginger Chicken was a really great base for adding cauliflower rice and I'd save a SmartCarb to add orange segments and make a version of orange ginger chicken (kind of like what I used to do with the discontinued Nutrisystem Orange Chicken). I will definitely miss that.
But, onwards and upwards- I'm looking forward to trying these new items!
The new breakfast item is the Strawberry Baked Bar.
I haven't been all that impressed with the baked bars in general, this time around on Nutrisystem. When I did the program back in 2010-2011, I generally loved the bars. These ones, not so much. They honestly have tasted to me like cardboard with a very artificial flavouring. The Blueberry Lemon Baked Bar had my hopes up because I remembered the old Blueberry Lemon Bar, but no dice there. So I am not sure how much better this new breakfast bar will be. Granted, I do believe that the baked bars are more filling than the granola-type bars, but it's just not worth it to me when I can eat something that tastes much better. When I actually get my hands on one of these, I'll definitely write a review and let you know how I find it!
So far I haven't seen any new lunches. There is a frozen dinner which has reappeared (marked limited time only, so check it out if you're interested!)- the Pork Tenderloins.
It also looks like the Mushroom Stuffed Chicken Breast is back! I love the stuffed chicken breasts. They are low calorie, filling, and really makes it feel like I'm eating a "normal" dinner with my family.
So far, there are also two new snacks; the Chocolate Lovers' Cake Mug Mix and the Confetti Cake Mug Mix.
I'm really hoping that this one will be reminiscent of the old Microwave Chocolate Cake Mix. I loved making that one into Lava Cake with the Nutrichocolates! That made a deliciously decadent meal. I know that the mixes are a little more work than just heating and eating, but any time you get a mix item like this it opens up so many possibilities to customize a dessert to make it your own. I'm imagining this one as dessert puffs, maybe with a raspberry in the centre, or making a filling out of cream cheese. I think I'm going to have a lot of fun playing with it!
This one looks like a lot of fun, too. I'm not quite sure what I want to do with it yet, but I'm sure I'll get some ideas. If nothing else, it looks like a great birthday treat- or an Unbirthday treat since it doesn't have to be a special occasion to eat cake!
Is there a discontinued item that you wish Nutrisystem would bring back? I really miss the Caramel Popcorn- omg that was delicious! And the Beef Taco was my all time favourite Nutrisystem dinner. I know tacos aren't difficult to flex well, but this made it easy and delicious to have one of my favourite meals. The Vegetable Fajita was not the most attractive looking meal, but it was so yummy and the most filling dinner. Nutrisystem really does tend to do the Mexican style entrees very well- I miss the Chicken Quesadilla, too! And what about the shelf stable dinner Macaroni & Cheese instant cups- OMG Kraft dinner or Hamburger Helper if you picked the one with beef! Don't forget some of the amazing snacks like the Nacho Crisps, Chocolate Crunch Bar, and the Chocolatey Rainbow Delights! There have been so many meals that I have really enjoyed and would happily keep buying!
What new items are you hoping that Nutrisystem will release or bring back?
Monday, September 16, 2019
Light Lunch
I have to be honest in that Nutrisystem generally has struck out on their Asian entrees. I have just generally found them to be lacking in flavour. They used to have a lot more, and as someone who adores Asian food, I was optimistic... and then disappointed. So, I came up with more of my own Asian flex recipes myself.
When I tried the Spicy Kung Pao Noodles for the first time, I wasn't a big fan. However, I saw that entrée definitely has potential to be worked into a variety of different dishes! I love lo mein noodles and there are so many ways to use them. One of my favourites, though, is in ramen soup. It's lovely on a cold day, and easy to make it your own with different veggies or protein additives. Definitely give it a try if you enjoy ramen soup!
Spicy Kung Pao Ramen Soup (Lunch):
1 pkg Nutrisystem Spicy Kung Pao Noodles
2 cups low sodium chicken broth
2 cups frozen Asian stir fry vegetables
1/4 cup PB2 (or 1 tbsp. peanut butter)
This one is so quick and easy. Bring your chicken broth to a boil on your stove, and add the frozen vegetables. When they are softened, add the Nutrisystem seasoning packet and the dry noodles (no need to prepare separately!). Let the soup boil for 2 min, then turn down to simmer. Mix up your PB2 and stir it into the soup until well blended. Serve immediately.
Make sure if you're using Asian veggies, you try not to get a bag with baby corn since that counts as an SC and not a vegetable! Or if you prefer to add your own veggies, try a mix with mushrooms, onions, water chestnuts, bell pepper, and snow peas- all unlimited veggies.
I happen to like the peanut butter as an additional protein in the soup, but it would be just fine without, or you could instead substitute your favourite Powerfuel. Try it with hard boiled egg slices, shrimp, chicken, or thinly sliced lean beef!
This counts as one Nutrisystem lunch entrée plus 2 servings of unlimited veggies, 1 free food (the chicken broth), and a Powerfuel if you added one. You could also count it as dinner plus 2 veggies and a free food if you don't want to save a Powerfuel.
What do you like in your ramen soup?
When I tried the Spicy Kung Pao Noodles for the first time, I wasn't a big fan. However, I saw that entrée definitely has potential to be worked into a variety of different dishes! I love lo mein noodles and there are so many ways to use them. One of my favourites, though, is in ramen soup. It's lovely on a cold day, and easy to make it your own with different veggies or protein additives. Definitely give it a try if you enjoy ramen soup!
Spicy Kung Pao Ramen Soup (Lunch):
1 pkg Nutrisystem Spicy Kung Pao Noodles
2 cups low sodium chicken broth
2 cups frozen Asian stir fry vegetables
1/4 cup PB2 (or 1 tbsp. peanut butter)
This one is so quick and easy. Bring your chicken broth to a boil on your stove, and add the frozen vegetables. When they are softened, add the Nutrisystem seasoning packet and the dry noodles (no need to prepare separately!). Let the soup boil for 2 min, then turn down to simmer. Mix up your PB2 and stir it into the soup until well blended. Serve immediately.
Make sure if you're using Asian veggies, you try not to get a bag with baby corn since that counts as an SC and not a vegetable! Or if you prefer to add your own veggies, try a mix with mushrooms, onions, water chestnuts, bell pepper, and snow peas- all unlimited veggies.
I happen to like the peanut butter as an additional protein in the soup, but it would be just fine without, or you could instead substitute your favourite Powerfuel. Try it with hard boiled egg slices, shrimp, chicken, or thinly sliced lean beef!
This counts as one Nutrisystem lunch entrée plus 2 servings of unlimited veggies, 1 free food (the chicken broth), and a Powerfuel if you added one. You could also count it as dinner plus 2 veggies and a free food if you don't want to save a Powerfuel.
What do you like in your ramen soup?
Saturday, September 7, 2019
Another Freebie!
Nutrisystem has just released another free code that's available to anyone! Add the Sports Water Bottle (you'll find it under Lifestyle) to your auto delivery or a la carte order (remember that you will pay shipping unless you put it on auto delivery, have the Advantage membership, or already had shelf stable items in your a la carte order!).
Then enter the code NUMIGIFT and have it sent to you for free!
Friday, September 6, 2019
Dessert for Breakfast
If you aren't new to the program, you probably know that Nutrisystem dessert and breakfast entrees can be used interchangeably. So you really can have cookies for breakfast if that's something you want, and still add any additional portions that you get on your individual Nutrisystem program.
But sometimes, maybe you want something that is over the top decadent. Something that makes you feel like you've gone to a restaurant and had something fancy. And in this case, something fancy that you can whip up in less than five minutes.
This breakfast fits perfectly into the Nutrisystem guidelines, is loaded with protein and fiber, and tastes amazing. You're welcome!
Breakfast Banana Split (Flex Meals):
1 medium ripe banana, split in half lengthwise
1 serving of your favourite flavour of fat free Greek yogurt (80-120 calories, 5+g of protein)
2 tbsp chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, peanuts, almonds, or mixed- whatever you like!)
1/4 cup your favourite mixed berries for garnish (optional)
Place your banana halves into a long dish, and mound the Greek yogurt down the middle (for creativity points, use 1/3 serving each of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry Greek yogurt!). Sprinkle the chopped nuts evenly on top, and garnish with the berries if desired. It's that simple!
Once again, let your creativity guide you. The garnish is an extra, so if you feel like something a little different, go for it! How about 1 tbsp. mini dark chocolate chips, or 1 tbsp. unsweetened coconut? As long as you keep it under 35 calories, feel free to use whatever you would like for the extra. Or if you are happy with just the nuts, no need to use an extra at all.
This counts as a complete flex breakfast, or a breakfast entree plus a Powerfuel. The banana is your SmartCarb, the Greek yogurt is one Powerfuel, and the chopped nuts are a second Powerfuel. If you use a garnish, remember to count it as an extra.
What are your favourite banana split toppings?
But sometimes, maybe you want something that is over the top decadent. Something that makes you feel like you've gone to a restaurant and had something fancy. And in this case, something fancy that you can whip up in less than five minutes.
This breakfast fits perfectly into the Nutrisystem guidelines, is loaded with protein and fiber, and tastes amazing. You're welcome!
Breakfast Banana Split (Flex Meals):
1 medium ripe banana, split in half lengthwise
1 serving of your favourite flavour of fat free Greek yogurt (80-120 calories, 5+g of protein)
2 tbsp chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, peanuts, almonds, or mixed- whatever you like!)
1/4 cup your favourite mixed berries for garnish (optional)
Place your banana halves into a long dish, and mound the Greek yogurt down the middle (for creativity points, use 1/3 serving each of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry Greek yogurt!). Sprinkle the chopped nuts evenly on top, and garnish with the berries if desired. It's that simple!
Once again, let your creativity guide you. The garnish is an extra, so if you feel like something a little different, go for it! How about 1 tbsp. mini dark chocolate chips, or 1 tbsp. unsweetened coconut? As long as you keep it under 35 calories, feel free to use whatever you would like for the extra. Or if you are happy with just the nuts, no need to use an extra at all.
This counts as a complete flex breakfast, or a breakfast entree plus a Powerfuel. The banana is your SmartCarb, the Greek yogurt is one Powerfuel, and the chopped nuts are a second Powerfuel. If you use a garnish, remember to count it as an extra.
What are your favourite banana split toppings?
Thursday, September 5, 2019
Blank Canvas
Sometimes I think that people don't give the Nutrisystem shelf stable items enough credit. I do agree that the frozen foods are generally pretty good, but I find that when I choose them, I am mostly just heating and eating. I might add some vegetables or some seasoning, but that's about it.
The shelf stable items are so much easier to jazz up! It's easy to turn one meal into several different meals, depending on what you're in the mood for and how much work you want to put into it. So on the days where I am tired and don't feel like much, I tend to gravitate towards my frozen items. On the days where I am feeling creative, I go rummaging through my shelf stable pantry.
The Nutrisystem White Cheddar Mac & Cheese is probably my favourite entrée. I've always thought that NS does the shelf stable macaroni dishes particularly well, and I still very much miss the dinner shelf stable orange macaroni & cheese and macaroni & cheese with beef. They tasted just like KD, and were far superior to the current Mac & Cheese with Turkey Sausage, which I think sadly has gotten ruined in the last reformulation. Nutrisystem, bring back the dry cup dinner mac n cheese, please!
But I digress. The lunch cup is not only super tasty all on its own, but because the flavour is mild, it's so easy to treat it as a blank canvas for whatever you feel in the mood for that day. I need to remember to snap pics for the blog, because I must have made a dozen recipes with it this year and I haven't shared any yet!
If you're a seafood lover, you'll enjoy this version. You can swap out the crab for tuna, lobster, or whatever lean protein is appealing to you that day. Then bulk it up with some veggies, add your favourite spices, and this simple macaroni & cheese can be so many different things!
Crabby Mac & Cheese (Lunch/Dinner):
1 pkg Nutrisystem White Cheddar Mac & Cheese
3oz crab meat
mushrooms, onions, bell pepper, diced
Old Bay seasoning, garlic, black pepper to taste
Add a little water to a small deep saucepan and sautee your vegetables until they start to soften. Boil a kettle of water. Remove the cheddar sauce packet from the cup, and fill the mac n cheese to the fill line. Stir the cup to mix, then pour the water and uncooked noodles in with the veggies and turn heat to medium high. As the noodles start to absorb the water, stir in the cheese powder and spices. When your noodles are done, the dish is ready to serve.
I prepared the dish like this so that the sauce would spread evenly over the veggies too. If you use a lot of veggies, you may want to use one triangle of Laughing Cow white cheddar to make some extra cheese sauce.
The best part of this dish is its versatility. Since lunch is 1 Powerfuel + 1 SmartCarb, and dinner is 2 Powerfuels + 1 SmartCarb, you can eat this dish at dinnertime and just count it as your dinner entrée plus veggies (and an extra if you use the Laughing Cow). If you want it at lunch, count it as lunch entrée plus a Powerfuel plus veggies (and the optional extra).
What is your favourite way to eat the White Cheddar Mac & Cheese?
The shelf stable items are so much easier to jazz up! It's easy to turn one meal into several different meals, depending on what you're in the mood for and how much work you want to put into it. So on the days where I am tired and don't feel like much, I tend to gravitate towards my frozen items. On the days where I am feeling creative, I go rummaging through my shelf stable pantry.
The Nutrisystem White Cheddar Mac & Cheese is probably my favourite entrée. I've always thought that NS does the shelf stable macaroni dishes particularly well, and I still very much miss the dinner shelf stable orange macaroni & cheese and macaroni & cheese with beef. They tasted just like KD, and were far superior to the current Mac & Cheese with Turkey Sausage, which I think sadly has gotten ruined in the last reformulation. Nutrisystem, bring back the dry cup dinner mac n cheese, please!
But I digress. The lunch cup is not only super tasty all on its own, but because the flavour is mild, it's so easy to treat it as a blank canvas for whatever you feel in the mood for that day. I need to remember to snap pics for the blog, because I must have made a dozen recipes with it this year and I haven't shared any yet!
If you're a seafood lover, you'll enjoy this version. You can swap out the crab for tuna, lobster, or whatever lean protein is appealing to you that day. Then bulk it up with some veggies, add your favourite spices, and this simple macaroni & cheese can be so many different things!
Crabby Mac & Cheese (Lunch/Dinner):
1 pkg Nutrisystem White Cheddar Mac & Cheese
3oz crab meat
mushrooms, onions, bell pepper, diced
Old Bay seasoning, garlic, black pepper to taste
Add a little water to a small deep saucepan and sautee your vegetables until they start to soften. Boil a kettle of water. Remove the cheddar sauce packet from the cup, and fill the mac n cheese to the fill line. Stir the cup to mix, then pour the water and uncooked noodles in with the veggies and turn heat to medium high. As the noodles start to absorb the water, stir in the cheese powder and spices. When your noodles are done, the dish is ready to serve.
I prepared the dish like this so that the sauce would spread evenly over the veggies too. If you use a lot of veggies, you may want to use one triangle of Laughing Cow white cheddar to make some extra cheese sauce.
The best part of this dish is its versatility. Since lunch is 1 Powerfuel + 1 SmartCarb, and dinner is 2 Powerfuels + 1 SmartCarb, you can eat this dish at dinnertime and just count it as your dinner entrée plus veggies (and an extra if you use the Laughing Cow). If you want it at lunch, count it as lunch entrée plus a Powerfuel plus veggies (and the optional extra).
What is your favourite way to eat the White Cheddar Mac & Cheese?
Sunday, September 1, 2019
Italian Flavours
It's funny how my food cravings tend to run in cycles- am I the only one? I've been finding over the last few days that I am really craving Italian food. Fortunately, Nutrisystem makes it easy to satisfy this craving!
Normally when I am picking a pasta dinner, the Rotini & Meatballs is my go-to. The Penne Bolognese didn't exist in 2010 when I first started Nutrisystem, and so I just ordered what I remembered. Today, I finally gave the Penne a try and really enjoyed it! I think with the meat actually in the sauce instead of being in meatballs, it helps stretch the sauce further over the veggies that I added. Either way- dinner was quick, simple, totally on plan and so filling!
Penne Bolognese with Meat Sauce (Dinner):
1 pkg Nutrisystem Penne Bolognese with Meat Sauce
1/2 cup cottage cheese (optional)
1/2 cup no sodium tomato sauce (up to 35 calories) (optional)
your favourite pasta veggies, diced
Italian seasoning
I started by taking out my mandolin, and chopping up zucchini, cremini mushrooms, onion, and yellow bell pepper. I sautéed them in the tomato sauce until they were softening, and added the Italian seasoning. Then I added the NS Penne, and continued cooking over medium heat until it was warm throughout. Right before I was about to plate it, I added the cottage cheese to give the sauce that rich cheesy flavour.
This meal counts as a Nutrisystem dinner entrée plus veggies. If you choose to use the cottage cheese, it counts as a Powerfuel (and is well worth saving one!). The tomato sauce counts as an extra. If you don't want to use an extra for it, canned crushed tomatoes with no sodium would be free.
Definitely beats my pasta cravings and with a whopping 35g of protein, I know I won't be hungry for a while!
Normally when I am picking a pasta dinner, the Rotini & Meatballs is my go-to. The Penne Bolognese didn't exist in 2010 when I first started Nutrisystem, and so I just ordered what I remembered. Today, I finally gave the Penne a try and really enjoyed it! I think with the meat actually in the sauce instead of being in meatballs, it helps stretch the sauce further over the veggies that I added. Either way- dinner was quick, simple, totally on plan and so filling!
Penne Bolognese with Meat Sauce (Dinner):
1 pkg Nutrisystem Penne Bolognese with Meat Sauce
1/2 cup cottage cheese (optional)
1/2 cup no sodium tomato sauce (up to 35 calories) (optional)
your favourite pasta veggies, diced
Italian seasoning
I started by taking out my mandolin, and chopping up zucchini, cremini mushrooms, onion, and yellow bell pepper. I sautéed them in the tomato sauce until they were softening, and added the Italian seasoning. Then I added the NS Penne, and continued cooking over medium heat until it was warm throughout. Right before I was about to plate it, I added the cottage cheese to give the sauce that rich cheesy flavour.
This meal counts as a Nutrisystem dinner entrée plus veggies. If you choose to use the cottage cheese, it counts as a Powerfuel (and is well worth saving one!). The tomato sauce counts as an extra. If you don't want to use an extra for it, canned crushed tomatoes with no sodium would be free.
Definitely beats my pasta cravings and with a whopping 35g of protein, I know I won't be hungry for a while!
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Fairs & Festivals
I know my writing here at Stomach Rumblings comes in peaks and valleys. My health hasn't been great lately, so I haven't been up to posting. I have such a long list of recipes that are Nutrisystem compliant that I want to make and share with you all, and I'll do my best to keep plowing through it!
In case it isn't totally obvious, I love being creative and playing with food. One of the factors that I believe will make you successful on the program is finding ways to have your favourite foods in a healthier way. It's not that we have to decide that some foods are going to be forever forbidden to us; weight loss isn't just a diet phase and then it's over- we then have the harder task of maintaining that loss. It's not realistic to assume you'll never eat French fries or cheesecake again, and if we go back to eating the way we used to, we're going to go back to the size we used to be.
So while it's nice to have the real thing for a treat sometimes, I think that learning to find a way to satisfy the same craving with fewer calories will really help during the maintenance phase- not to mention keeping us happy and satisfied during the weight loss phase!
I love wandering around at local fairs and festivals, but I always feel a little bit of anxiety when I do because every other booth is selling something that smells wonderful. And of course there's nothing wrong with having a treat once in a while, but in my neck of the woods there is a fair nearly every weekend and indulging that often just won't work out for me.
So how can we solve this problem? Why, by finding ways to make a festival treat fit right into our Nutrisystem plan. I saw this delicious breakfast at one of our local fairs and put some time into making a version that tasted just as delicious without the four figure calories. You can either eat it before you go so that you know you've had your treat and you are full, or you can wrap it up and eat it there when you get that craving. It will be a little less crisp, but I don't think the flavour will disappoint at all!
Food Truck Breakfast Waffle (Flex Meals):
1 package Nutrisystem Buttermilk Waffles (or substitute 2 waffles that each meet SmartCarb standards of 80-120 calories and 1 or more grams of fiber)
1 large egg
2 slices of cooked Canadian bacon (or substitute with 1/2 Powerfuel of your preference of ham or turkey bacon)
2 tbsp. shredded cheddar cheese (approximately 14 grams)
2 large slices tomato
fresh ground black pepper, to taste
1 1/2 tsp fat free mayonnaise
3/4 tsp sugar free maple syrup
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard (coarse grain is best)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees and spray a baking tray with cooking spray. Lay the waffles out on the baking tray. Whisk together the egg and pepper, and pour evenly over the waffles, filling each cavity.
Bake for approximately 15 minutes or until egg is set.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, mustard, and maple syrup and stir until blended. Set aside.
Top each waffle with a slice of tomato and bacon, and half the cheese. Return to the oven for about 1 minute or until the cheese melts. Drizzle with the maple-mustard mayo and enjoy!
Please note that this recipe makes two servings of one waffle each.
So the breakdown for this is a little more complicated, but stay with me :) Nutrisystem Dietary Services has said it's fine to use 1 Buttermilk Waffle as a SmartCarb serving, and at 80 calories and 1.5g of fiber, you'll see they fit perfectly into that range. So we have the waffle as our SmartCarb, and then our Powerfuel is the combination of 1/2 egg, 1 slice Canadian bacon, and 1 tbsp. cheddar cheese for a total of 108 calories). The tomato is a free veggie, and the maple mustard mayo comes in at 9 calories so it is a free food.
If that seems like too much work to calculate, you can evaluate it as a flex meal and see that it has 196 calories, 8g fat, 14g of carbs, 1.5g fiber, and 14g of protein. It's a perfect flex breakfast entrée, and that means you can still add whatever is required on your Nutrisystem program to complete your meal. On the Women's regular program, that means you still get an extra Powerfuel in addition!
And they call this a diet?
In case it isn't totally obvious, I love being creative and playing with food. One of the factors that I believe will make you successful on the program is finding ways to have your favourite foods in a healthier way. It's not that we have to decide that some foods are going to be forever forbidden to us; weight loss isn't just a diet phase and then it's over- we then have the harder task of maintaining that loss. It's not realistic to assume you'll never eat French fries or cheesecake again, and if we go back to eating the way we used to, we're going to go back to the size we used to be.
So while it's nice to have the real thing for a treat sometimes, I think that learning to find a way to satisfy the same craving with fewer calories will really help during the maintenance phase- not to mention keeping us happy and satisfied during the weight loss phase!
I love wandering around at local fairs and festivals, but I always feel a little bit of anxiety when I do because every other booth is selling something that smells wonderful. And of course there's nothing wrong with having a treat once in a while, but in my neck of the woods there is a fair nearly every weekend and indulging that often just won't work out for me.
So how can we solve this problem? Why, by finding ways to make a festival treat fit right into our Nutrisystem plan. I saw this delicious breakfast at one of our local fairs and put some time into making a version that tasted just as delicious without the four figure calories. You can either eat it before you go so that you know you've had your treat and you are full, or you can wrap it up and eat it there when you get that craving. It will be a little less crisp, but I don't think the flavour will disappoint at all!
Food Truck Breakfast Waffle (Flex Meals):
1 package Nutrisystem Buttermilk Waffles (or substitute 2 waffles that each meet SmartCarb standards of 80-120 calories and 1 or more grams of fiber)
1 large egg
2 slices of cooked Canadian bacon (or substitute with 1/2 Powerfuel of your preference of ham or turkey bacon)
2 tbsp. shredded cheddar cheese (approximately 14 grams)
2 large slices tomato
fresh ground black pepper, to taste
1 1/2 tsp fat free mayonnaise
3/4 tsp sugar free maple syrup
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard (coarse grain is best)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees and spray a baking tray with cooking spray. Lay the waffles out on the baking tray. Whisk together the egg and pepper, and pour evenly over the waffles, filling each cavity.
Bake for approximately 15 minutes or until egg is set.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, mustard, and maple syrup and stir until blended. Set aside.
Top each waffle with a slice of tomato and bacon, and half the cheese. Return to the oven for about 1 minute or until the cheese melts. Drizzle with the maple-mustard mayo and enjoy!
Please note that this recipe makes two servings of one waffle each.
So the breakdown for this is a little more complicated, but stay with me :) Nutrisystem Dietary Services has said it's fine to use 1 Buttermilk Waffle as a SmartCarb serving, and at 80 calories and 1.5g of fiber, you'll see they fit perfectly into that range. So we have the waffle as our SmartCarb, and then our Powerfuel is the combination of 1/2 egg, 1 slice Canadian bacon, and 1 tbsp. cheddar cheese for a total of 108 calories). The tomato is a free veggie, and the maple mustard mayo comes in at 9 calories so it is a free food.
If that seems like too much work to calculate, you can evaluate it as a flex meal and see that it has 196 calories, 8g fat, 14g of carbs, 1.5g fiber, and 14g of protein. It's a perfect flex breakfast entrée, and that means you can still add whatever is required on your Nutrisystem program to complete your meal. On the Women's regular program, that means you still get an extra Powerfuel in addition!
And they call this a diet?
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Bar Food
I can't be the only person who loved to go to the bar and eat greasy food with a cold beer, right? But of course, the average bar appetizer has four figures of calories, not to mention more than a day's worth of fat and sodium! So, while it's a nice treat, it wouldn't be a thing to do often.
Wouldn't it be nice to be able to have a delicious, gooey meal, completely guilt free? You can even save your extras and have this on your patio with a light alcoholic beverage if you feel like a splurge! I don't think anyone would guess that this meal is totally on the Nutrisystem program- I still can't believe it is, and I'm eating it right now!
Cactus Cut Potato Nachos (Dinner):
1 pkg Nutrisystem BBQ Seasoned Chicken
1 small white potato
1 oz shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
1/2 cup diced onion
2 tbsp. plain greek yogurt with 1 tsp dry Ranch powder
spices- chipotle pepper, garlic/roasted pepper seasoning, seasoning salt (optional)
This recipe requires a little more prep work than the average dinner, but it is SO worth it. First, slice your potato into extremely thin slices with a mandolin. Put them in a bowl of water and soak them for an hour.
In an hour, come back and pat the potato slices dry with a paper towel. Spray the slices with cooking spray, and sprinkle them with spices to taste. Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees, and bake the potato slices for 12 minutes or until brown and crispy.
In the meantime, spray a frying pan with a little cooking spray, and cook your onion and bell pepper until they start to soften. Add the package of Nutrisystem BBQ Seasoned Chicken, and continue to cook until all ingredients are heated through and well mixed.
Layer your potato slices on a plate, and top with the chicken and vegetable mixture. Sprinkle the cheese on top, and microwave for 30 seconds or until cheese is melted. Top with the plain greek yogurt and enjoy!
Count this as your Nutrisystem dinner entrée (the potato is the SmartCarb serving that you add to complete the entrée- it does not count as a separate SmartCarb serving), plus a Powerfuel for the cheese, 2 vegetable servings, and an extra for the Greek yogurt dip (or use just 1 tbsp. and call it a free food!).
I'd love to hear some feedback on this one- I think it's going to become one of my new favourite dinners!
Wouldn't it be nice to be able to have a delicious, gooey meal, completely guilt free? You can even save your extras and have this on your patio with a light alcoholic beverage if you feel like a splurge! I don't think anyone would guess that this meal is totally on the Nutrisystem program- I still can't believe it is, and I'm eating it right now!
Cactus Cut Potato Nachos (Dinner):
1 pkg Nutrisystem BBQ Seasoned Chicken
1 small white potato
1 oz shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
1/2 cup diced onion
2 tbsp. plain greek yogurt with 1 tsp dry Ranch powder
spices- chipotle pepper, garlic/roasted pepper seasoning, seasoning salt (optional)
This recipe requires a little more prep work than the average dinner, but it is SO worth it. First, slice your potato into extremely thin slices with a mandolin. Put them in a bowl of water and soak them for an hour.
In an hour, come back and pat the potato slices dry with a paper towel. Spray the slices with cooking spray, and sprinkle them with spices to taste. Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees, and bake the potato slices for 12 minutes or until brown and crispy.
In the meantime, spray a frying pan with a little cooking spray, and cook your onion and bell pepper until they start to soften. Add the package of Nutrisystem BBQ Seasoned Chicken, and continue to cook until all ingredients are heated through and well mixed.
Layer your potato slices on a plate, and top with the chicken and vegetable mixture. Sprinkle the cheese on top, and microwave for 30 seconds or until cheese is melted. Top with the plain greek yogurt and enjoy!
Count this as your Nutrisystem dinner entrée (the potato is the SmartCarb serving that you add to complete the entrée- it does not count as a separate SmartCarb serving), plus a Powerfuel for the cheese, 2 vegetable servings, and an extra for the Greek yogurt dip (or use just 1 tbsp. and call it a free food!).
I'd love to hear some feedback on this one- I think it's going to become one of my new favourite dinners!
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Discontinued Items
Just a quick post to remind everyone to check your order. Nutrisystem has just announced that they are discontinuing several items, so if you have these on your order, you will not receive them.
The four items being discontinued are: Golden Pound Cake, Chocolate Cake, Fudge Brownie, and Chicken Fajita Melt.
I enjoyed them all, so I'll be disappointed to see them go, but I hope this means that Nutrisystem will announce some new menu items soon.
If you do not change your order, Nutrisystem has announced that you will receive the following substitutions if they are unable to fill your order:
Golden Pound Cake -> Snickerdoodle Cookie
Chocolate Cake -> Chocolate Chunk Cookie
Fudge Brownie -> Chocolate Brownie Bar
Chicken Fajita Melt -> BBQ Chicken Melt
Will you be sad to see these items go? Are there discontinued items from the past that you miss?
The four items being discontinued are: Golden Pound Cake, Chocolate Cake, Fudge Brownie, and Chicken Fajita Melt.
I enjoyed them all, so I'll be disappointed to see them go, but I hope this means that Nutrisystem will announce some new menu items soon.
If you do not change your order, Nutrisystem has announced that you will receive the following substitutions if they are unable to fill your order:
Golden Pound Cake -> Snickerdoodle Cookie
Chocolate Cake -> Chocolate Chunk Cookie
Fudge Brownie -> Chocolate Brownie Bar
Chicken Fajita Melt -> BBQ Chicken Melt
Will you be sad to see these items go? Are there discontinued items from the past that you miss?
Saturday, July 27, 2019
Splurge, But Splurge Smart!
One thing I tell people over and over is that a lifestyle change isn't about deprivation; it's about finding new ways of making things work for you. It's just not realistic to say that you'll never eat your favourite foods ever again! And while of course sometimes it's good to have the real thing, for all those other random cravings, we need a good substitute.
That's one of the reasons I write Stomach Rumblings; to help people find alternatives to their favourite foods that we can make fit into the program! If you have a recipe that you'd like to see featured here, please feel free to email me so we can discuss either a guest post or else I can try and tweak your recipe to make it NS friendly!
I think you might be surprised by how closely some of my recipes can hit a craving- you might even find you like some better than the originals!
When I was a little girl growing up, one of my favourite comfort dishes was French onion soup. I remember my mother pulling the hot dishes out of the oven with cheese cascading down the sides. I thought about what is really in the soup, though, and realized with a few tweaks it could be a great flex lunch on Nutrisystem. It's not quite the same as the way my mother made it, but the flavour is still wonderful and I enjoyed every bite. It's well worth enjoying throughout the year... and having a bowl of my mother's at the holidays :)
I looked up several "diet" recipes for French onion soup and noticed that some of them were caramelizing the onions in water. Call me a purist, but calories or no calories, I think that's a terrible way to bring out flavour! We don't need a whole lot of butter, but we do need at least a little bit. Fortunately, the rest of the soup is so low calorie that it fits in just fine.
The other thing to note is what you use for your stock. Since here the flavour of the stock will have a huge impact on the flavour of your soup, you need something that is good quality. You can use whatever works best for you, but make sure you like the taste of what you choose. I prefer to make mine the old fashioned way with beef bones, herbs, and veggie scraps, and then just chill and skim it several times until all the fat is removed, but you can use a carton of stock if you have a brand you like.
French Onion Soup (Flex Meals):
8 cups good quality beef stock (20 calories or fewer per cup)
2lb bag of Vidalia onions, peeled and chopped into rings
1 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. butter
4 slices of sourdough bread or other low glycemic bread (between 80-120 calories and 1g+ of fiber)
4oz low fat Gruyere cheese
thyme, black pepper to taste
Simmer your stock over low heat while you chop the onions. In a deep frying pan, melt the butter. When it's ready, add the onions and cook over medium heat until they start to turn translucent. Turn the heat down to medium low, and stir frequently so the onions don't stick to the pan, for about 30 minutes. Caramelizing onions really brings out the flavour in this dish so it's worth investing the time! If you start to see brown spots, splash just a little of the beef broth into the pan and use it to deglaze the brown bits. Add your thyme and black pepper.
When the onions are nicely browned and reduced in size, add them to your stock pot and turn up the heat to medium. Finely grate the Gruyere cheese. Place the 4 slices of bread onto a baking tray and sprinkle with the cheese. Bake until the cheese is nicely melted.
Portion the soup into four bowls, and place a slice of the toasted bread into each bowl. Serve warm and enjoy!
I like to eat this soup with a bowl of "Caesar" salad so it feels like lunch at a restaurant. I just shred romaine lettuce and use Kraft Light Caesar dressing at 30 calories per tablespoon. I don't really care for croutons anyway, but if you miss them, then just use lighter bread like the Sara Lee Delights for your French Onion soup and toast the second slice to make up your SmartCarb with seasoning and make your own croutons for your salad! It's an easy swap.
The onion soup itself counts as free veggies plus an extra for the butter, the bread is your SmartCarb, and the cheese is your Powerfuel. This makes a deliciously decadent light lunch! It's definitely worth the time investment.
That's one of the reasons I write Stomach Rumblings; to help people find alternatives to their favourite foods that we can make fit into the program! If you have a recipe that you'd like to see featured here, please feel free to email me so we can discuss either a guest post or else I can try and tweak your recipe to make it NS friendly!
I think you might be surprised by how closely some of my recipes can hit a craving- you might even find you like some better than the originals!
When I was a little girl growing up, one of my favourite comfort dishes was French onion soup. I remember my mother pulling the hot dishes out of the oven with cheese cascading down the sides. I thought about what is really in the soup, though, and realized with a few tweaks it could be a great flex lunch on Nutrisystem. It's not quite the same as the way my mother made it, but the flavour is still wonderful and I enjoyed every bite. It's well worth enjoying throughout the year... and having a bowl of my mother's at the holidays :)
I looked up several "diet" recipes for French onion soup and noticed that some of them were caramelizing the onions in water. Call me a purist, but calories or no calories, I think that's a terrible way to bring out flavour! We don't need a whole lot of butter, but we do need at least a little bit. Fortunately, the rest of the soup is so low calorie that it fits in just fine.
The other thing to note is what you use for your stock. Since here the flavour of the stock will have a huge impact on the flavour of your soup, you need something that is good quality. You can use whatever works best for you, but make sure you like the taste of what you choose. I prefer to make mine the old fashioned way with beef bones, herbs, and veggie scraps, and then just chill and skim it several times until all the fat is removed, but you can use a carton of stock if you have a brand you like.
French Onion Soup (Flex Meals):
8 cups good quality beef stock (20 calories or fewer per cup)
2lb bag of Vidalia onions, peeled and chopped into rings
1 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. butter
4 slices of sourdough bread or other low glycemic bread (between 80-120 calories and 1g+ of fiber)
4oz low fat Gruyere cheese
thyme, black pepper to taste
Simmer your stock over low heat while you chop the onions. In a deep frying pan, melt the butter. When it's ready, add the onions and cook over medium heat until they start to turn translucent. Turn the heat down to medium low, and stir frequently so the onions don't stick to the pan, for about 30 minutes. Caramelizing onions really brings out the flavour in this dish so it's worth investing the time! If you start to see brown spots, splash just a little of the beef broth into the pan and use it to deglaze the brown bits. Add your thyme and black pepper.
When the onions are nicely browned and reduced in size, add them to your stock pot and turn up the heat to medium. Finely grate the Gruyere cheese. Place the 4 slices of bread onto a baking tray and sprinkle with the cheese. Bake until the cheese is nicely melted.
Portion the soup into four bowls, and place a slice of the toasted bread into each bowl. Serve warm and enjoy!
I like to eat this soup with a bowl of "Caesar" salad so it feels like lunch at a restaurant. I just shred romaine lettuce and use Kraft Light Caesar dressing at 30 calories per tablespoon. I don't really care for croutons anyway, but if you miss them, then just use lighter bread like the Sara Lee Delights for your French Onion soup and toast the second slice to make up your SmartCarb with seasoning and make your own croutons for your salad! It's an easy swap.
The onion soup itself counts as free veggies plus an extra for the butter, the bread is your SmartCarb, and the cheese is your Powerfuel. This makes a deliciously decadent light lunch! It's definitely worth the time investment.
Friday, July 26, 2019
The Most Important Step
If someone asked you what the most important step is when achieving a goal, what would you say? I think that most people's default answer would be the first one. That's when you gear up and decide to make a change, right? Or maybe a few would answer the last one, since that's when you actually achieve your goal. Hold that thought for a few minutes and consider your own response.
So as at least some of you know, I have a chronic illness and some physical health conditions that make it very difficult for me to exercise regularly. Nutrisystem recommends that we all get 30 minutes of activity daily, and that's built into our calorie allotment already (but you do not remove food if you don't exercise- make sure you know that!).
I try to go for a walk at least three times a week if I can, but over the last few weeks it's been difficult to do even that. Today, I woke up and had a little more energy, but it's nearly 30 degrees outside plus humidity- not exactly the best weather for a walk. Then I couldn't find my running shoes. But, I was determined to go out today.
And I did! It wasn't easy and I was exhausted when I made it back home, but every step felt like a tiny victory.
Making that first step to lose weight isn't easy. All of us can let a few pounds creep on over time, but if you've gotten seriously overweight there is nearly always some kind of emotional complication that is making it harder for us to get started at getting healthier. So if you've made that decision to start your weight loss journey, be proud of yourself; don't wait for that last step to decide you should be happy with your accomplishments.
Am I in that camp of thinking the first step is the most important? No. It doesn't matter if you are walking up a gentle slope or if you're starting to climb Mount Everest, if you only take one step and then stop, you will never get anywhere. The first step is a great start- but the most important step? It's always the next one.
Weight loss isn't a finite journey, where we make the decision once and then it's over. If that was true, people would never regain the weight. And with the five year statistics for weight loss at a dismal 5% of dieters actually keeping the weight off, it's important to remember that this choice to get our bodies healthy is a choice we are going to have to make every single day, every single meal. Not that we still can't mindfully enjoy ourselves, but always keeping that ultimate goal in mind so getting right back on the plan after our deviations.
Don't expect yourself to suddenly hate all your old favourite fattening foods, or to jump off that couch and immediately run a marathon. The pounds won't melt off that quickly either, if you're losing weight in a healthy way. But be proud of yourself for every little accomplishment along the way. My walk today is nothing compared to some people's exercise routines; I couldn't jog or run, and I was only out for half an hour. But that's 30 minutes of exercise I wouldn't have had otherwise.
So far today I have walked 5,183 steps, and I'm proud of every single one of them. But the most important step? Always the next one. Keep going- you got this!
So as at least some of you know, I have a chronic illness and some physical health conditions that make it very difficult for me to exercise regularly. Nutrisystem recommends that we all get 30 minutes of activity daily, and that's built into our calorie allotment already (but you do not remove food if you don't exercise- make sure you know that!).
I try to go for a walk at least three times a week if I can, but over the last few weeks it's been difficult to do even that. Today, I woke up and had a little more energy, but it's nearly 30 degrees outside plus humidity- not exactly the best weather for a walk. Then I couldn't find my running shoes. But, I was determined to go out today.
And I did! It wasn't easy and I was exhausted when I made it back home, but every step felt like a tiny victory.
Making that first step to lose weight isn't easy. All of us can let a few pounds creep on over time, but if you've gotten seriously overweight there is nearly always some kind of emotional complication that is making it harder for us to get started at getting healthier. So if you've made that decision to start your weight loss journey, be proud of yourself; don't wait for that last step to decide you should be happy with your accomplishments.
Am I in that camp of thinking the first step is the most important? No. It doesn't matter if you are walking up a gentle slope or if you're starting to climb Mount Everest, if you only take one step and then stop, you will never get anywhere. The first step is a great start- but the most important step? It's always the next one.
Weight loss isn't a finite journey, where we make the decision once and then it's over. If that was true, people would never regain the weight. And with the five year statistics for weight loss at a dismal 5% of dieters actually keeping the weight off, it's important to remember that this choice to get our bodies healthy is a choice we are going to have to make every single day, every single meal. Not that we still can't mindfully enjoy ourselves, but always keeping that ultimate goal in mind so getting right back on the plan after our deviations.
Don't expect yourself to suddenly hate all your old favourite fattening foods, or to jump off that couch and immediately run a marathon. The pounds won't melt off that quickly either, if you're losing weight in a healthy way. But be proud of yourself for every little accomplishment along the way. My walk today is nothing compared to some people's exercise routines; I couldn't jog or run, and I was only out for half an hour. But that's 30 minutes of exercise I wouldn't have had otherwise.
So far today I have walked 5,183 steps, and I'm proud of every single one of them. But the most important step? Always the next one. Keep going- you got this!
Thursday, July 25, 2019
Freebie Alert!
Hey everyone, don't forget to add the promo code SURPRISE to your auto delivery to get a free cutting board from Nutrisystem! It is valid as long as you have any item added in your a la carte section of your auto delivery- even a free bonus item from Numi! You do not need to add the cutting board to your order, just type in the promo code and it will automatically be added free!
If you are new and trying to decide which plan to purchase and from where, it can be confusing. Nutrisystem has many different plans offering different meals, more or fewer days, with and without shakes. They also offer Advantage, a plan for buying a la carte. You can also buy plans from QVC or Groupon. So how do you know which is the best choice for you?
First of all, I don't recommend the Nutrisystem Advantage plan in most circumstances. First of all, you spend $49.99 up front for six months, and all you get in return is free shipping on anything as well as a minimum 25% discount (unless the promotion they are currently offering is better). While that works if you're planning to have no plan at all and simply order a la carte, you'd have to be spending at least $49.99 on shipping to make it worthwhile, and you always get free shipping on frozen anyway if you order $75 or more. To me, it doesn't seem like a good value. Remember that you can add a la carte items to your auto delivery and always receive free shipping on both shelf stable and frozen foods, as well as a 20% discount off the items. This is the reason why I think the Advantage plan isn't the best purchase.Remember, you don't even need a plan to order a la carte if you don't want to, and you will still be able to use Numi, take advantage of any sales, and get free shipping on $75 or more of frozen food.
I think the best of both worlds is to have an auto delivery order and mostly put your shelf stable items and the items that tend not to be discounted (like the buttermilk waffles, ice cream sandwich, hamburger, and chicken sandwich), and then stock up on frozen when the a la carte sale gets to 50% off. And then of course, use your gift certificates from Costco and save even more! Remember you can delay your auto delivery up to three months every single order, so just because you're flexing and don't need a monthly delivery doesn't mean you necessarily should cancel; you'll have to break down the numbers on what you want to buy and see what works best.
Don't forget that if you are currently paying more than these prices for your program, that you can absolutely cancel with Nutrisystem and sign up again with a different email address as a new customer, and get all the new customer discounts and freebies! Don't pay more than you have to! This program looks expensive up front, but with all the tips and tricks available, you can really get your costs down so that you can put your health first.
The best price currently is:
Basic Women's $199 (shelf stable only, Chef's Choice- they choose your meals)
Basic Men's $239
Core Women's $239 (shelf stable only, you choose your own meals)
Core Men's $269
Uniquely Yours Women's $239 (access to the full menu, both frozen and shelf stable, you choose your own meals)
Uniquely Yours Men's $279
Uniquely Yours Plus Women's $299 (same as the Uniquely Yours program plus 28 servings of shakes, which are regular price $79.99 a la carte)
Uniquely Yours Plus Men's $329
If you are paying more than this price, call Nutrisystem and cancel! Don't let them fob you off with a one time $50 credit because you can save a lot more than that. Why pay more than you have to? Then sign up again using the hidden sales link here to save $60 off the lowest price your first month plus another $54 in free items plus the free 7 days of shakes, then save $50 off your second month, and continue on locked into the lowest price as long as you stay on program.
The only difference in what you are shipped from Nutrisystem between the Men's and the Women's plans, is that men get one additional Nutrisystem snack daily. Women can choose to order this plan if they want the extra NS snacks because it's cost effective, just remember to follow your correct plan on Numi! Men can also choose to order the women's program if they prefer to flex that extra snack daily instead of eating two NS snacks- it's entirely your choice as long as you follow the plan that is correct for you on Numi, since the written materials they send will be for the plan you order. All Nutrisystem snacks count as 1 Powerfuel + 1 SmartCarb (except the sweet and tangy meat stick which is only a Powerfuel), so it's okay to use extra Nutrisystem snacks any time you have to flex those portions, or conversely to flex 1 Powerfuel + 1 SmartCarb when you are told to eat a NS snack.
If you change your plan at any point, then you are no longer price protected. So if you start with Plus and decide you hate the shakes, you may not be eligible for the discounted price for the standard Uniquely Yours Program. I would always recommend starting with the regular plan since they offer you a month of shakes for half price, $39.99 on your first order anyway. Try them and see if you like them- there are often sales where you can purchase them for less a la carte anyway.
So if you stock up on Costco gift cards when they are on sale for $55.99, your first month of Uniquely Yours directly from Nutrisystem will only cost you $103.40! Even when they're not on sale you can still save 20% off. Either way, it's less than ordering through either QVC or Groupon, and you get to choose your food as well as have frozen food, which you can't do unless you order from Nutrisystem.
Feel free to share your money saving tips in the comments!
If you are new and trying to decide which plan to purchase and from where, it can be confusing. Nutrisystem has many different plans offering different meals, more or fewer days, with and without shakes. They also offer Advantage, a plan for buying a la carte. You can also buy plans from QVC or Groupon. So how do you know which is the best choice for you?
First of all, I don't recommend the Nutrisystem Advantage plan in most circumstances. First of all, you spend $49.99 up front for six months, and all you get in return is free shipping on anything as well as a minimum 25% discount (unless the promotion they are currently offering is better). While that works if you're planning to have no plan at all and simply order a la carte, you'd have to be spending at least $49.99 on shipping to make it worthwhile, and you always get free shipping on frozen anyway if you order $75 or more. To me, it doesn't seem like a good value. Remember that you can add a la carte items to your auto delivery and always receive free shipping on both shelf stable and frozen foods, as well as a 20% discount off the items. This is the reason why I think the Advantage plan isn't the best purchase.Remember, you don't even need a plan to order a la carte if you don't want to, and you will still be able to use Numi, take advantage of any sales, and get free shipping on $75 or more of frozen food.
I think the best of both worlds is to have an auto delivery order and mostly put your shelf stable items and the items that tend not to be discounted (like the buttermilk waffles, ice cream sandwich, hamburger, and chicken sandwich), and then stock up on frozen when the a la carte sale gets to 50% off. And then of course, use your gift certificates from Costco and save even more! Remember you can delay your auto delivery up to three months every single order, so just because you're flexing and don't need a monthly delivery doesn't mean you necessarily should cancel; you'll have to break down the numbers on what you want to buy and see what works best.
Don't forget that if you are currently paying more than these prices for your program, that you can absolutely cancel with Nutrisystem and sign up again with a different email address as a new customer, and get all the new customer discounts and freebies! Don't pay more than you have to! This program looks expensive up front, but with all the tips and tricks available, you can really get your costs down so that you can put your health first.
The best price currently is:
Basic Women's $199 (shelf stable only, Chef's Choice- they choose your meals)
Basic Men's $239
Core Women's $239 (shelf stable only, you choose your own meals)
Core Men's $269
Uniquely Yours Women's $239 (access to the full menu, both frozen and shelf stable, you choose your own meals)
Uniquely Yours Men's $279
Uniquely Yours Plus Women's $299 (same as the Uniquely Yours program plus 28 servings of shakes, which are regular price $79.99 a la carte)
Uniquely Yours Plus Men's $329
If you are paying more than this price, call Nutrisystem and cancel! Don't let them fob you off with a one time $50 credit because you can save a lot more than that. Why pay more than you have to? Then sign up again using the hidden sales link here to save $60 off the lowest price your first month plus another $54 in free items plus the free 7 days of shakes, then save $50 off your second month, and continue on locked into the lowest price as long as you stay on program.
The only difference in what you are shipped from Nutrisystem between the Men's and the Women's plans, is that men get one additional Nutrisystem snack daily. Women can choose to order this plan if they want the extra NS snacks because it's cost effective, just remember to follow your correct plan on Numi! Men can also choose to order the women's program if they prefer to flex that extra snack daily instead of eating two NS snacks- it's entirely your choice as long as you follow the plan that is correct for you on Numi, since the written materials they send will be for the plan you order. All Nutrisystem snacks count as 1 Powerfuel + 1 SmartCarb (except the sweet and tangy meat stick which is only a Powerfuel), so it's okay to use extra Nutrisystem snacks any time you have to flex those portions, or conversely to flex 1 Powerfuel + 1 SmartCarb when you are told to eat a NS snack.
If you change your plan at any point, then you are no longer price protected. So if you start with Plus and decide you hate the shakes, you may not be eligible for the discounted price for the standard Uniquely Yours Program. I would always recommend starting with the regular plan since they offer you a month of shakes for half price, $39.99 on your first order anyway. Try them and see if you like them- there are often sales where you can purchase them for less a la carte anyway.
So if you stock up on Costco gift cards when they are on sale for $55.99, your first month of Uniquely Yours directly from Nutrisystem will only cost you $103.40! Even when they're not on sale you can still save 20% off. Either way, it's less than ordering through either QVC or Groupon, and you get to choose your food as well as have frozen food, which you can't do unless you order from Nutrisystem.
Feel free to share your money saving tips in the comments!
Wednesday, July 3, 2019
Eggs: Not Just For Breakfast
While eggs are delicious, I think it's easy to stay locked into the idea that they make a great breakfast without remembering how yummy they can be for lunch or afternoon snack as well! I made this recipe for my afternoon snack today, and had to make a second batch since little fingers made them disappear. These will be popular with the whole family and definitely don't taste like diet food.
Mexican food is so tasty and delicious, but unless you're careful with your choices the calorie and fat count can really get ratcheted up. Using your air fryer will still make these taquitos crispy and delicious as well as guilt free!
Egg Taquitos (Flex Meal):
2 hard boiled eggs, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup shredded cooked chicken
1 tbsp fat free mayonnaise
1 tsp taco seasoning
1/4 cup low fat shredded Cheddar cheese
4 small Carb Balance Mission Tortillas (or any substitute at 50 calories' each and at least 1g fiber)
salsa for dipping
Preheat your air fryer to 425 degrees. In a bowl, combine the eggs, chicken, mayonnaise, and seasoning. Mix in the cheese. Lay the tortillas out on a work surface. Fill each tortilla (approximately 2 tbsp of filling in each tortilla) and roll them tightly into a cylinder. Place each roll seam side down in the air fryer tray, not touching the others. Spray the taquitos with butter spray.
Bake for approximately 5-6 minutes or until edges start to brown and tortillas are crispy. Cut in half and serve immediately with salsa. Makes 2 servings.
This recipe has 240 calories, 8g of fat, 24g of carbohydrates, 18g fiber, and 17g of protein. This makes it a perfect and decadent flex lunch or afternoon snack, since it counts as 1 Powerfuel & 1 SmartCarb. The salsa is a free food, so enjoy!
Mexican food is so tasty and delicious, but unless you're careful with your choices the calorie and fat count can really get ratcheted up. Using your air fryer will still make these taquitos crispy and delicious as well as guilt free!
Egg Taquitos (Flex Meal):
2 hard boiled eggs, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup shredded cooked chicken
1 tbsp fat free mayonnaise
1 tsp taco seasoning
1/4 cup low fat shredded Cheddar cheese
4 small Carb Balance Mission Tortillas (or any substitute at 50 calories' each and at least 1g fiber)
salsa for dipping
Preheat your air fryer to 425 degrees. In a bowl, combine the eggs, chicken, mayonnaise, and seasoning. Mix in the cheese. Lay the tortillas out on a work surface. Fill each tortilla (approximately 2 tbsp of filling in each tortilla) and roll them tightly into a cylinder. Place each roll seam side down in the air fryer tray, not touching the others. Spray the taquitos with butter spray.
Bake for approximately 5-6 minutes or until edges start to brown and tortillas are crispy. Cut in half and serve immediately with salsa. Makes 2 servings.
This recipe has 240 calories, 8g of fat, 24g of carbohydrates, 18g fiber, and 17g of protein. This makes it a perfect and decadent flex lunch or afternoon snack, since it counts as 1 Powerfuel & 1 SmartCarb. The salsa is a free food, so enjoy!
Tuesday, July 2, 2019
New Take on Quiche
Breakfast is one of the easiest meals to flex, because lots of our favourite breakfast foods fall into the Nutrisystem requirements. And one of the easiest ways to get in that required protein is by eating eggs. While I enjoy the quick and easy standby of scrambling them, sometimes it's nice to have something that feels a little more special.
If you're looking for a unique recipe for a fancy brunch, I think you'll find that this meal is not only loaded with nutrients, but also tastes wonderful. And it's a great way to get those veggies in, too!
Russian Breakfast Squares (Flex Meals):
1 red onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp. olive oil
1/2 lb kale, trimmed of tough ends and ribs, coarsely chopped (approximately 4 cups)
8 eggs
1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped
1/2 tsp ground mustard
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 cup grated light Swiss or Gouda cheese
5 oz smoked salmon, chopped into 1 inch pieces
1/4 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 11x17 pan lightly with cooking spray. In a deep pan, saute the onion for about 3 minutes or until softened. Add garlic and saute for 1 minute. Stir in kale and cover the pan, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes, until the kale is wilted.
While the kale is cooking, beat the eggs well in a mixing bowl, and stir in the dill, mustard, salt, pepper, and cheese. Stir the egg mixture into the vegetables, and add the salmon and breadcrumbs. Mix well.
Pour into prepared baking dish, and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until eggs are set and the edges are browning. Cut into 6 squares and serve warm. If desired, top with 1 tbsp. FF sour cream and sprinkle with a little more dill.
This recipe makes 6 servings. Each serving has 220 calories, 11g of fat, 10g carbohydrates, 2g fiber, and 20g of protein. That means it fits perfectly into the stats for either a flex breakfast (entrée only) or else as a light lunch or even your afternoon snack. Count this as 1 Powerfuel + 1 SmartCarb (+ 1 extra if you add the sour cream). Remember if you use it for breakfast, that you'd still have to have any add ins on your plan!
If you're looking for a unique recipe for a fancy brunch, I think you'll find that this meal is not only loaded with nutrients, but also tastes wonderful. And it's a great way to get those veggies in, too!
Russian Breakfast Squares (Flex Meals):
1 red onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp. olive oil
1/2 lb kale, trimmed of tough ends and ribs, coarsely chopped (approximately 4 cups)
8 eggs
1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped
1/2 tsp ground mustard
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 cup grated light Swiss or Gouda cheese
5 oz smoked salmon, chopped into 1 inch pieces
1/4 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 11x17 pan lightly with cooking spray. In a deep pan, saute the onion for about 3 minutes or until softened. Add garlic and saute for 1 minute. Stir in kale and cover the pan, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes, until the kale is wilted.
While the kale is cooking, beat the eggs well in a mixing bowl, and stir in the dill, mustard, salt, pepper, and cheese. Stir the egg mixture into the vegetables, and add the salmon and breadcrumbs. Mix well.
Pour into prepared baking dish, and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until eggs are set and the edges are browning. Cut into 6 squares and serve warm. If desired, top with 1 tbsp. FF sour cream and sprinkle with a little more dill.
This recipe makes 6 servings. Each serving has 220 calories, 11g of fat, 10g carbohydrates, 2g fiber, and 20g of protein. That means it fits perfectly into the stats for either a flex breakfast (entrée only) or else as a light lunch or even your afternoon snack. Count this as 1 Powerfuel + 1 SmartCarb (+ 1 extra if you add the sour cream). Remember if you use it for breakfast, that you'd still have to have any add ins on your plan!
Monday, July 1, 2019
Egg Week!
I really love foods that are not only low glycemic, but also versatile. Part of staying on track is keeping your meals interesting so that you don't get bored, so when you have great choices that can be made so many different ways, you have many more options!
I've already written recently about mushrooms, and there are lots of vegetables that work in that way, but today's post is devoted to the humble egg. Eggs are a nutritional powerhouse, with only 70 calories and 5g of protein in one large egg. If you buy medium eggs, you can have two and count them as one Powerfuel! I always keep eggs in my fridge staples because they're so useful.
So this week at Stomach Rumblings, we're going to focus on easy and delicious recipes involving eggs. What are some of your favourites?
Today's recipe is perfect for your morning snack. It's light and cool in this hot summer weather, and has plenty of protein to kick those hunger pangs!
Layered Egg Salad (Powerfuel, Flex Meals):
1 cup shredded lettuce mix
1/3 cup sweet bell pepper, diced
1/3 cup mushrooms, thinly sliced
1/3 cup celery, thinly sliced
1/3 cup red onion, diced
2 tbsp. fat free mayonnaise (up to 35 calories' total)
1 large hard boiled egg, peeled and chopped, sprinkled with black pepper
1/4 cup fat free shredded cheese
1 tbsp. bacon bits (optional)
1 tsp Ranch seasoning (optional)
If you like the look of layered salads, grab yourself a clean mason jar. Otherwise, a glass bowl will work just fine. Place half the lettuce in the bottom of the jar or bowl, and add a layer each of half of the bell pepper, mushrooms, onion, and celery. Spread 1 tbsp. mayonnaise over the vegetables. If desired, sprinkle 1/2 tsp Ranch seasoning over the mayonnaise. Add half of the egg, cheese, and bacon bits if you're using them, then repeat the vegetables, mayonnaise, and the rest of the egg and cheese. For best results, chill for 24 hours.
A traditionalist will choose iceberg lettuce for this recipe, but I admit to being partial to spring mix myself. I also prefer cremini mushrooms, but you can use just about any kind you like. While it's still cold vegetables, I find this to be a more interesting take on the basic salad and of course we've got lots of protein.
Count this as 1 Powerfuel (70 calorie egg, 45 calories shredded cheese), 2 servings of vegetables, and 1 Extra (the mayonnaise). If you use bacon bits, that's an additional extra. The Ranch dry seasoning is a free food.
I've already written recently about mushrooms, and there are lots of vegetables that work in that way, but today's post is devoted to the humble egg. Eggs are a nutritional powerhouse, with only 70 calories and 5g of protein in one large egg. If you buy medium eggs, you can have two and count them as one Powerfuel! I always keep eggs in my fridge staples because they're so useful.
So this week at Stomach Rumblings, we're going to focus on easy and delicious recipes involving eggs. What are some of your favourites?
Today's recipe is perfect for your morning snack. It's light and cool in this hot summer weather, and has plenty of protein to kick those hunger pangs!
Layered Egg Salad (Powerfuel, Flex Meals):
1 cup shredded lettuce mix
1/3 cup sweet bell pepper, diced
1/3 cup mushrooms, thinly sliced
1/3 cup celery, thinly sliced
1/3 cup red onion, diced
2 tbsp. fat free mayonnaise (up to 35 calories' total)
1 large hard boiled egg, peeled and chopped, sprinkled with black pepper
1/4 cup fat free shredded cheese
1 tbsp. bacon bits (optional)
1 tsp Ranch seasoning (optional)
If you like the look of layered salads, grab yourself a clean mason jar. Otherwise, a glass bowl will work just fine. Place half the lettuce in the bottom of the jar or bowl, and add a layer each of half of the bell pepper, mushrooms, onion, and celery. Spread 1 tbsp. mayonnaise over the vegetables. If desired, sprinkle 1/2 tsp Ranch seasoning over the mayonnaise. Add half of the egg, cheese, and bacon bits if you're using them, then repeat the vegetables, mayonnaise, and the rest of the egg and cheese. For best results, chill for 24 hours.
A traditionalist will choose iceberg lettuce for this recipe, but I admit to being partial to spring mix myself. I also prefer cremini mushrooms, but you can use just about any kind you like. While it's still cold vegetables, I find this to be a more interesting take on the basic salad and of course we've got lots of protein.
Count this as 1 Powerfuel (70 calorie egg, 45 calories shredded cheese), 2 servings of vegetables, and 1 Extra (the mayonnaise). If you use bacon bits, that's an additional extra. The Ranch dry seasoning is a free food.
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