Monday, December 30, 2013
2014 New Year, New You Challenge: Week 1
Welcome to 2014! Here's to a new year and a fresh resolve to set yourself up for long-term success. Hint: It's easier than you think.
Article By: Elly Trickett McNerney
Its a New Day Challenge Week 1
With its cold weather and post-holiday anticlimax (not to mention uncomfortably snug pants), January is not the kindest month. Why, then, do so many of us also spend the first few weeks beating ourselves up about what we ate and drank in December? Right here and now, we are officially declaring the holidays Behind Us, and are ready to help you focus on your goals for 2014. Whether you’re new to Weight Watchers, or simply looking for help you recommitting or sticking to the Plan, we’ll help you succeed.
Your goal might be a sizeable one, or it might be just a few pounds away. Whichever camp you fall into, contemplating a whole year stretched ahead of you can feel overwhelming. Instead of worrying about the next 12 months, take our Challenge to get a far more manageable set of activities, ideas and motivation. Read the articles over the next four weeks, and head to the Community to participate in the Challenge with others looking to start the year off right.
Week 1
You have two tasks this week: Something you can do right away, and something that will help you in the long term. For both of these, we encourage you to embrace the opportunity to believe in yourself and feel confident that you can change the way you think about yourself and your goals.
To that end, the long-term task is to think outside the scale. Set a goal for yourself that will see you through the 4 weeks of this Challenge and beyond, that has nothing to do with the numbers on the scale or on your clothing labels. Write it down and put it somewhere you’ll see each morning. What is it that you want to feel at the end of the 4 weeks? And how do you want to build on this momentum as we go into spring and beyond?
Only you can answer these questions, but here are some prompts for you. Think about what your decision to be healthier will do for you: Being a great role model for your kids? Wearing clothes with confidence? Accepting social invitations you might have turned down before, knowing you’ll show up feeling great?
Chew something new
As for the simple task you can do right away: Try a brand-new food this week, one you’ve never tried before. Try to choose a whole food rather than a packaged one — a fruit, vegetable, protein or grain. To get ideas, check out our list of pantry staples that are a cut above the usual. For more shopping tips, subscribers can check out our shopping Spaces tool.
That's it for week 1. Come back next week to get your next task in the 2014 New Year, New You Challenge. Good luck!
Welcome to 2014! Here's to a new year and a fresh resolve to set yourself up for long-term success. Hint: It's easier than you think.
Article By: Elly Trickett McNerney
Its a New Day Challenge Week 1
With its cold weather and post-holiday anticlimax (not to mention uncomfortably snug pants), January is not the kindest month. Why, then, do so many of us also spend the first few weeks beating ourselves up about what we ate and drank in December? Right here and now, we are officially declaring the holidays Behind Us, and are ready to help you focus on your goals for 2014. Whether you’re new to Weight Watchers, or simply looking for help you recommitting or sticking to the Plan, we’ll help you succeed.
Your goal might be a sizeable one, or it might be just a few pounds away. Whichever camp you fall into, contemplating a whole year stretched ahead of you can feel overwhelming. Instead of worrying about the next 12 months, take our Challenge to get a far more manageable set of activities, ideas and motivation. Read the articles over the next four weeks, and head to the Community to participate in the Challenge with others looking to start the year off right.
Week 1
You have two tasks this week: Something you can do right away, and something that will help you in the long term. For both of these, we encourage you to embrace the opportunity to believe in yourself and feel confident that you can change the way you think about yourself and your goals.
To that end, the long-term task is to think outside the scale. Set a goal for yourself that will see you through the 4 weeks of this Challenge and beyond, that has nothing to do with the numbers on the scale or on your clothing labels. Write it down and put it somewhere you’ll see each morning. What is it that you want to feel at the end of the 4 weeks? And how do you want to build on this momentum as we go into spring and beyond?
Only you can answer these questions, but here are some prompts for you. Think about what your decision to be healthier will do for you: Being a great role model for your kids? Wearing clothes with confidence? Accepting social invitations you might have turned down before, knowing you’ll show up feeling great?
Chew something new
As for the simple task you can do right away: Try a brand-new food this week, one you’ve never tried before. Try to choose a whole food rather than a packaged one — a fruit, vegetable, protein or grain. To get ideas, check out our list of pantry staples that are a cut above the usual. For more shopping tips, subscribers can check out our shopping Spaces tool.
That's it for week 1. Come back next week to get your next task in the 2014 New Year, New You Challenge. Good luck!
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Friday, December 27, 2013
Roll up your sleeves and dig into some of the best recipes of the season. Inspired by top-notch ingredients and practical techniques, we've put together menus and serving ideas for the food you want to cook right now.
Cocktail parties are an excellent way to invite plenty of guests into your home to celebrate and socialize, without worrying about having enough chairs. With the right recipes and a good game plan (read: don't leave prep to the last minute!) you can toast the holidays and ring in the new year in style. We've broken down our favorite eats into three categories, to make your planning easier. Now it's your turn to roll up your sleeves and dig in.
Hot Bites
You don't have to eat these hot, cut they do need to take a spin in the oven.
Shrimp and Avocado Appetizers
Image of Shrimp & Avocado Appetizers
Larger Image
Weight Watchers Recipe
4.5 Stars
1PointsPlus Value
Prep time: 20 min
Serves: 12
These are amazing! So easy, so elegant. The wasabi mayo gives a bit of heat and the avocado lends delicious, buttery texture.
Recipe
Ingredients
1/4 cup(s) reduced-calorie mayonnaise
1 tsp prepared wasabi paste
1/2 tsp soy sauce
1/2 large cucumber(s), seedless, cut into twenty-four 1/4-inch-thick slices
1/2 item(s) (medium) avocado, quartered and then cut into 24 slices
8 oz cooked shrimp, about 24 small, peeled and deveined
2 large fresh radish(es), finely chopped
1/4 cup(s) mint leaves, left whole (for garnish)
Instructions
To make wasabi mayonnaise, in a small bowl, stir together mayonnaise, wasabi paste and soy sauce until smooth.
To assemble appetizers, place cucumber slices on a serving platter and spread each with 1/2 teaspoon of wasabi mayonnaise. Place a slice of avocado on top and then top each with a shrimp; sprinkle with radish and top with a mint leaf. Yields 2 appetizers per serving.
Notes
We prefer the flavor of the wasabi mayo when made with wasabi paste, but if you can't find it, wasabi powder works, too.
Cocktail parties are an excellent way to invite plenty of guests into your home to celebrate and socialize, without worrying about having enough chairs. With the right recipes and a good game plan (read: don't leave prep to the last minute!) you can toast the holidays and ring in the new year in style. We've broken down our favorite eats into three categories, to make your planning easier. Now it's your turn to roll up your sleeves and dig in.
Hot Bites
You don't have to eat these hot, cut they do need to take a spin in the oven.
Shrimp and Avocado Appetizers
Image of Shrimp & Avocado Appetizers
Larger Image
Weight Watchers Recipe
4.5 Stars
1PointsPlus Value
Prep time: 20 min
Serves: 12
These are amazing! So easy, so elegant. The wasabi mayo gives a bit of heat and the avocado lends delicious, buttery texture.
Recipe
Ingredients
1/4 cup(s) reduced-calorie mayonnaise
1 tsp prepared wasabi paste
1/2 tsp soy sauce
1/2 large cucumber(s), seedless, cut into twenty-four 1/4-inch-thick slices
1/2 item(s) (medium) avocado, quartered and then cut into 24 slices
8 oz cooked shrimp, about 24 small, peeled and deveined
2 large fresh radish(es), finely chopped
1/4 cup(s) mint leaves, left whole (for garnish)
Instructions
To make wasabi mayonnaise, in a small bowl, stir together mayonnaise, wasabi paste and soy sauce until smooth.
To assemble appetizers, place cucumber slices on a serving platter and spread each with 1/2 teaspoon of wasabi mayonnaise. Place a slice of avocado on top and then top each with a shrimp; sprinkle with radish and top with a mint leaf. Yields 2 appetizers per serving.
Notes
We prefer the flavor of the wasabi mayo when made with wasabi paste, but if you can't find it, wasabi powder works, too.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Weather-Proof Your Walking Routine
Weather-Proof Your Walking Routine
Too cold to take to the streets? Bring your walk indoors and stay fit all season long.
Article By: Maggie Spilner
Treadmill Walking
It's the easiest excuse in the "can't exercise" handbook: It's too cold to go for an outdoor workout. If you're a walker who normally enjoys some gym-free laps around town, winter can really wreck your motivation. But it doesn't have to! Try one of these indoor alternatives this season, and you won't even have to break stride in your fitness efforts.
1. Head to the mall
Many shopping malls open their doors early to walkers. You'll keep company with people from all, umm, walks of life — from new moms with strollers to the senior set. "Mall walking is for anyone committed to walking despite the weather," says Sara Donovan, creator of the Mall of America walking program. But for guaranteed camaraderie, why not bring a friend?
Aside from the obvious weather protection, an indoor shopping mall offers the following perks:
It's a safe environment. Malls are impervious to daylight savings time changes, plus you can wear headphones without worrying about thugs, dogs, cars or tripping over sidewalks or curbs.
You have access to ammenities. Think bathrooms, water fountains and parking. You can even use the building's architecture to enhance your workout, says Donovan. "Run up the stairs or escalator to bump up your heart rate, and race walk on the smoothest surface you'll ever find."
There's built-in motivation. There are other walkers, and some malls even have incentive programs, notes Donovan.
You can window shop. Mall window displays provide interest and distraction. (Some might even consider this a form of multi-tasking!)
2. Find an Indoor Track
Think like a student: During inclement weather, gym class moved indoors, right? Check to see if your local YMCA, high school or college gym has an indoor track you can use. There are a number of reasons this option might work for you:
You'll give your body a break. If the track is rubberized or has a more forgiving surface than the mall or your typical sidewalk route, it may be easier on your feet and back.
Exercising with others will motivate you. Sometimes the tracks are balconies that encircle exercise areas, squash or basketball courts, so you have a bird's-eye view of people working out. Plus, you'll be close to other fitness opportunities.
You can take advantage of fitness-club style perks. You may be able to store belongings in a locker and shower afterwards.
3. Go Public
If you don't live near a local mall or indoor track, get creative! Find out if you can get access to a large public building, like a high school, where you can walk the halls and stairwells after hours. You might have to go to a school board meeting with a group of interested friends and neighbors to see if the school will allow this activity. While it may be the most complicated venue to secure, this option comes with its own unique benefit: If you have access to a building with several stories, try going up one flight of stairs, walking around that floor, then the next flight of stairs, etc. Alternating stair climbing with walking will be a great interval workout.
Too cold to take to the streets? Bring your walk indoors and stay fit all season long.
Article By: Maggie Spilner
Treadmill Walking
It's the easiest excuse in the "can't exercise" handbook: It's too cold to go for an outdoor workout. If you're a walker who normally enjoys some gym-free laps around town, winter can really wreck your motivation. But it doesn't have to! Try one of these indoor alternatives this season, and you won't even have to break stride in your fitness efforts.
1. Head to the mall
Many shopping malls open their doors early to walkers. You'll keep company with people from all, umm, walks of life — from new moms with strollers to the senior set. "Mall walking is for anyone committed to walking despite the weather," says Sara Donovan, creator of the Mall of America walking program. But for guaranteed camaraderie, why not bring a friend?
Aside from the obvious weather protection, an indoor shopping mall offers the following perks:
It's a safe environment. Malls are impervious to daylight savings time changes, plus you can wear headphones without worrying about thugs, dogs, cars or tripping over sidewalks or curbs.
You have access to ammenities. Think bathrooms, water fountains and parking. You can even use the building's architecture to enhance your workout, says Donovan. "Run up the stairs or escalator to bump up your heart rate, and race walk on the smoothest surface you'll ever find."
There's built-in motivation. There are other walkers, and some malls even have incentive programs, notes Donovan.
You can window shop. Mall window displays provide interest and distraction. (Some might even consider this a form of multi-tasking!)
2. Find an Indoor Track
Think like a student: During inclement weather, gym class moved indoors, right? Check to see if your local YMCA, high school or college gym has an indoor track you can use. There are a number of reasons this option might work for you:
You'll give your body a break. If the track is rubberized or has a more forgiving surface than the mall or your typical sidewalk route, it may be easier on your feet and back.
Exercising with others will motivate you. Sometimes the tracks are balconies that encircle exercise areas, squash or basketball courts, so you have a bird's-eye view of people working out. Plus, you'll be close to other fitness opportunities.
You can take advantage of fitness-club style perks. You may be able to store belongings in a locker and shower afterwards.
3. Go Public
If you don't live near a local mall or indoor track, get creative! Find out if you can get access to a large public building, like a high school, where you can walk the halls and stairwells after hours. You might have to go to a school board meeting with a group of interested friends and neighbors to see if the school will allow this activity. While it may be the most complicated venue to secure, this option comes with its own unique benefit: If you have access to a building with several stories, try going up one flight of stairs, walking around that floor, then the next flight of stairs, etc. Alternating stair climbing with walking will be a great interval workout.
Monday, December 23, 2013
Simple Start Webcasts
Go to weightwatchers.com to register
Simple Start Webcasts
New Simple Start Webcasts give you more support to help you get the most out of the Simple Start 2-week starter plan.
Mobile phone with Simple Start app
Episode #1
Getting Started on Simple Start
This 2-week plan is so easy to follow, all you need to do is pick from our long list of foods and start eating!
January 7th, 1:00pm EST Register Today
January 9th, 1:00pm EST Register Today
January 14th, 1:00pm EST Register Today
January 21st, 1:00pm EST Register Today
Episode #2
What You'll Eat on Simple Start
Our Weight Watchers Power Foods are good for you – and they taste great, too. Get the skinny on our easy-to-prepare meals, snacks – and the most popular indulgences you can enjoy every day.
January 8th, 1:00pm EST Register Today
Episode #3
Eating out on Simple Start
Life goes on, even when you're losing weight. Here's how to keep eating smart even when you're not the cook.
January 15th, 1:00pm EST Register Today
Episode #4
What's Next: The Freedom of the PointsPlus Program
The Simple Start plan gives you a taste of the PointsPlus Program – literally – by giving you 7 PointsPlus values to spend on daily indulgences. In this webcast we'll deliver the inside scoop on Tracking tips and tools.
January 16th, 1:00pm EST Register Today
Episode #5
Weight Watchers Mobile Apps and Gadgets
Get the insider's tour of all the apps, gadgets and online tools we offer that will help set you up for weight-loss success.
January 22nd: 1:00pm EST Register Today
Episode #6
Cooking for the Family
The Simple Start meals are made for one, but with these tasty tweaks and easy additions, the whole household can enjoy the same easy meal.
Simple Start Webcasts
New Simple Start Webcasts give you more support to help you get the most out of the Simple Start 2-week starter plan.
Mobile phone with Simple Start app
Episode #1
Getting Started on Simple Start
This 2-week plan is so easy to follow, all you need to do is pick from our long list of foods and start eating!
January 7th, 1:00pm EST Register Today
January 9th, 1:00pm EST Register Today
January 14th, 1:00pm EST Register Today
January 21st, 1:00pm EST Register Today
Episode #2
What You'll Eat on Simple Start
Our Weight Watchers Power Foods are good for you – and they taste great, too. Get the skinny on our easy-to-prepare meals, snacks – and the most popular indulgences you can enjoy every day.
January 8th, 1:00pm EST Register Today
Episode #3
Eating out on Simple Start
Life goes on, even when you're losing weight. Here's how to keep eating smart even when you're not the cook.
January 15th, 1:00pm EST Register Today
Episode #4
What's Next: The Freedom of the PointsPlus Program
The Simple Start plan gives you a taste of the PointsPlus Program – literally – by giving you 7 PointsPlus values to spend on daily indulgences. In this webcast we'll deliver the inside scoop on Tracking tips and tools.
January 16th, 1:00pm EST Register Today
Episode #5
Weight Watchers Mobile Apps and Gadgets
Get the insider's tour of all the apps, gadgets and online tools we offer that will help set you up for weight-loss success.
January 22nd: 1:00pm EST Register Today
Episode #6
Cooking for the Family
The Simple Start meals are made for one, but with these tasty tweaks and easy additions, the whole household can enjoy the same easy meal.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Friday, December 20, 2013
Smart Tips to Try
Get a head start. A brunch date isn’t an excuse to skip breakfast. Eat some fresh fruit when you wake up in the morning, so that you aren’t famished (and primed to overeat) by the time you get to the restaurant.
Think beyond brunch. Before you leave the house, think about what you're likely to have for dinner that night. This way, you can have an idea of how many PointsPlus values you'd like to stick to at this midday meal.
Survey the scene. The buffet's not going anywhere, so there's no need to rush to fill your plate. Take a stroll down the length of the entire buffet to see all of the items that are available. If you start filling your plate with home fries only to see that grits (your favorite!) are available down the line, you're likely to eat a serving of both.
Drink smart. Drinking cocktails is a quick way for your PointsPlus values to pile up. Steer clear of "unlimited brunch cocktail" situations, where you might not be able to keep up with the refills. Have a glass of water or seltzer between each beverage.
Brush up on portion sizes. Know what a half cup looks like before you leave the house. What you think is a 1/2 cup of yogurt might actually be closer to a cup.
Don't discount condiments. Maple syrup, powdered sugar, ketchup, hollandaise sauce, and gravy can all add up. Make sure to factor these into your meal.
Veg out. If the buffet happens to have a salad bar, load your plate with 0 PointsPlus value veggies and low-fat dressing. You can fill up and save your Allowance for the items you really love.
Beware of grease! Because most buffet items are made in advance, there's little opportunity to ask for modifications like "light oil" or "no butter." Avoid these fatty pools when serving yourself home fries, grits, bacon, or sausage out of a chafing dish. Don't be scared to ask your server how something was prepared.
Plan a workout. If you plan on drinking a cocktail or two at brunch, go for an early morning walk or jog around the neighborhood. Otherwise, schedule an afternoon trip to the gym to gain some Activity PointsPlus values.
If all else fails... Don't forget you can always dip into your Weekly PointsPlus Allowance – that's what it's there for.
Get a head start. A brunch date isn’t an excuse to skip breakfast. Eat some fresh fruit when you wake up in the morning, so that you aren’t famished (and primed to overeat) by the time you get to the restaurant.
Think beyond brunch. Before you leave the house, think about what you're likely to have for dinner that night. This way, you can have an idea of how many PointsPlus values you'd like to stick to at this midday meal.
Survey the scene. The buffet's not going anywhere, so there's no need to rush to fill your plate. Take a stroll down the length of the entire buffet to see all of the items that are available. If you start filling your plate with home fries only to see that grits (your favorite!) are available down the line, you're likely to eat a serving of both.
Drink smart. Drinking cocktails is a quick way for your PointsPlus values to pile up. Steer clear of "unlimited brunch cocktail" situations, where you might not be able to keep up with the refills. Have a glass of water or seltzer between each beverage.
Brush up on portion sizes. Know what a half cup looks like before you leave the house. What you think is a 1/2 cup of yogurt might actually be closer to a cup.
Don't discount condiments. Maple syrup, powdered sugar, ketchup, hollandaise sauce, and gravy can all add up. Make sure to factor these into your meal.
Veg out. If the buffet happens to have a salad bar, load your plate with 0 PointsPlus value veggies and low-fat dressing. You can fill up and save your Allowance for the items you really love.
Beware of grease! Because most buffet items are made in advance, there's little opportunity to ask for modifications like "light oil" or "no butter." Avoid these fatty pools when serving yourself home fries, grits, bacon, or sausage out of a chafing dish. Don't be scared to ask your server how something was prepared.
Plan a workout. If you plan on drinking a cocktail or two at brunch, go for an early morning walk or jog around the neighborhood. Otherwise, schedule an afternoon trip to the gym to gain some Activity PointsPlus values.
If all else fails... Don't forget you can always dip into your Weekly PointsPlus Allowance – that's what it's there for.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
3 NEW Reasons to Take an ActiveLink Assessment
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Hey, ActiveLink users — did you know that you can take an Assessment to start a new Challenge at any time? Maybe you did, but the thought of not seeing your earned activity PointsPlus® values while it was going on put you off?
Well, we’ve made a few changes so you’ll be able to see more information on the ActiveLink website while in Assessment mode!
Here’s the new stuff you’ll see during your Assessment:
1. Earned activity PointsPlus values: You’ll see how many activity PointsPlus values you’ve earned so far today and the day before. These earned activity PointsPlus values will also show in your Weight Watchers Activity Tracker.
2. Activity Base Line: Your Base Line is the level of activity needed to go about your regular daily schedule. You’ll be able to see when you’ve reached it, and then any activity PointsPlus values you earn afterward!
3. A sneak preview of your daily activity: This is our favorite! We’ll show you daily sneak previews of your tracked activity, so you can start getting an insight into your activity pattern.
Why do an Assessment?
With ActiveLink, you first need to do an Assessment to determine the activity goal of your first Challenge. But if you want to, you can do a new Assessment any time you want to start a new Challenge. A new Assessment allows you to measure your typical activity during a week, and ensures that you get an activity goal and Challenge that is truly tailored to you. The most important thing for a good Assessment is to maintain your typical routine; don’t be tempted to be more active yet! The more this week reflects your usual activity, the more relevant your ActiveLink Challenge will be, making it easier for you to succeed.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Hey, ActiveLink users — did you know that you can take an Assessment to start a new Challenge at any time? Maybe you did, but the thought of not seeing your earned activity PointsPlus® values while it was going on put you off?
Well, we’ve made a few changes so you’ll be able to see more information on the ActiveLink website while in Assessment mode!
Here’s the new stuff you’ll see during your Assessment:
1. Earned activity PointsPlus values: You’ll see how many activity PointsPlus values you’ve earned so far today and the day before. These earned activity PointsPlus values will also show in your Weight Watchers Activity Tracker.
2. Activity Base Line: Your Base Line is the level of activity needed to go about your regular daily schedule. You’ll be able to see when you’ve reached it, and then any activity PointsPlus values you earn afterward!
3. A sneak preview of your daily activity: This is our favorite! We’ll show you daily sneak previews of your tracked activity, so you can start getting an insight into your activity pattern.
Why do an Assessment?
With ActiveLink, you first need to do an Assessment to determine the activity goal of your first Challenge. But if you want to, you can do a new Assessment any time you want to start a new Challenge. A new Assessment allows you to measure your typical activity during a week, and ensures that you get an activity goal and Challenge that is truly tailored to you. The most important thing for a good Assessment is to maintain your typical routine; don’t be tempted to be more active yet! The more this week reflects your usual activity, the more relevant your ActiveLink Challenge will be, making it easier for you to succeed.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Get Out of the Kitchen Faster!
Try this smart kitchen timesaver: Prep one ingredient to make two different meals.
Article By: Leslie Fink, MS, RD
Tag Team Cooking
What? More cooking, especially at this time of year? Are we nuts?
Nope! These recipe ideas will help keep you on Plan and contain short ingredient lists. Best of all, most contain pantry staples and some easy-to-find, healthy convenience foods. The goal: To help you prepare home-cooked meals in less time.
We asked Food Network star Sandra Lee what we could make with some popular Thankgiving Day ingredients. She gave us six fabulous ideas based on recipes from Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade The Complete Cookbook.
While you’re prepping: Potatoes
Whip up: An entrée potato salad
Sandra Lee says: Use extra potatoes to toss together a quick, creamy salad like my Creamy Red Potato Salad with Green Olives and Capers. Dice up potatoes, and combine with chopped up hard-boiled eggs, celery, parsley and red onion. For extra flavor, you can add in sliced green olives and capers. Add a dash of lemon and herb seasoning, plus a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar for dressing.
While you’re prepping: Winter squash
Whip up: Veggie chili
Sandra Lee says: Mediterranean Chili is a hot, delicious meal that always hits the spot. For a simplified version, combine chopped squash, zucchini, onions and tomatoes. Stir in vegetable broth, and a little bit of red wine vinegar, taco seasoning and hot pepper sauce to taste.
While you’re prepping: Sweet potatoes
Whip up: Baked sweet potato fries
Sandra Lee says: Sweet Potato Fries are a not-so-guilty pleasure of mine. They're easy and make a tasty snack or side dish. Use my recipe: cut sweet potatoes into half-inch-thick fries, and toss with pumpkin pie spice, low-sodium chili seasoning and oil. Bake them for about half an hour and turn once to ensure even cooking. Munch on them alone or serve with dipping sauces like fat-free sour cream or reduced-sodium ketchup.
While you’re prepping: Sausage (for stuffing)
Whip up: Sausage pizza
Sandra Lee says: For a quick and nutritious lunch, use premade pizza crust to make your own pizza. Here's a healthier take on my Canadian Bacon, Sweet Onion and Apple Pizza: chop up turkey sausage, a sweet onion, and an apple. Top the pizza crust with light blue cheese salad dressing, shredded fat-free mozzarella cheeses, sausage, onion and apple. Bake until crust is golden brown.
While you’re prepping: Pumpkin pie
Whip up: Pumpkin oatmeal
Sandra Lee says: I love waking up to a hot, hearty breakfast like my Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal. Start by boiling pumpkin pie filling and evaporated milk. Add quick-cooking oats and stir in some chopped pecans. Pumpkins are a great source of beta-carotene, and oatmeal might help lower cholesterol and is high in fiber.
While you’re prepping: Homemade cranberry sauce
Whip up: Fresh chutney
Sandra Lee says: Use fresh cranberries to make a flavorful chutney that turns a dull dish brilliant. Cranberry-Pine Nut Chutney is a great complement to a pork roast. Make homemade cranberry sauce and combine with pine nuts, lemon juice, herbes de Provence, and crushed garlic. Serve over pork roast or turkey cutlets.
Try this smart kitchen timesaver: Prep one ingredient to make two different meals.
Article By: Leslie Fink, MS, RD
Tag Team Cooking
What? More cooking, especially at this time of year? Are we nuts?
Nope! These recipe ideas will help keep you on Plan and contain short ingredient lists. Best of all, most contain pantry staples and some easy-to-find, healthy convenience foods. The goal: To help you prepare home-cooked meals in less time.
We asked Food Network star Sandra Lee what we could make with some popular Thankgiving Day ingredients. She gave us six fabulous ideas based on recipes from Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade The Complete Cookbook.
While you’re prepping: Potatoes
Whip up: An entrée potato salad
Sandra Lee says: Use extra potatoes to toss together a quick, creamy salad like my Creamy Red Potato Salad with Green Olives and Capers. Dice up potatoes, and combine with chopped up hard-boiled eggs, celery, parsley and red onion. For extra flavor, you can add in sliced green olives and capers. Add a dash of lemon and herb seasoning, plus a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar for dressing.
While you’re prepping: Winter squash
Whip up: Veggie chili
Sandra Lee says: Mediterranean Chili is a hot, delicious meal that always hits the spot. For a simplified version, combine chopped squash, zucchini, onions and tomatoes. Stir in vegetable broth, and a little bit of red wine vinegar, taco seasoning and hot pepper sauce to taste.
While you’re prepping: Sweet potatoes
Whip up: Baked sweet potato fries
Sandra Lee says: Sweet Potato Fries are a not-so-guilty pleasure of mine. They're easy and make a tasty snack or side dish. Use my recipe: cut sweet potatoes into half-inch-thick fries, and toss with pumpkin pie spice, low-sodium chili seasoning and oil. Bake them for about half an hour and turn once to ensure even cooking. Munch on them alone or serve with dipping sauces like fat-free sour cream or reduced-sodium ketchup.
While you’re prepping: Sausage (for stuffing)
Whip up: Sausage pizza
Sandra Lee says: For a quick and nutritious lunch, use premade pizza crust to make your own pizza. Here's a healthier take on my Canadian Bacon, Sweet Onion and Apple Pizza: chop up turkey sausage, a sweet onion, and an apple. Top the pizza crust with light blue cheese salad dressing, shredded fat-free mozzarella cheeses, sausage, onion and apple. Bake until crust is golden brown.
While you’re prepping: Pumpkin pie
Whip up: Pumpkin oatmeal
Sandra Lee says: I love waking up to a hot, hearty breakfast like my Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal. Start by boiling pumpkin pie filling and evaporated milk. Add quick-cooking oats and stir in some chopped pecans. Pumpkins are a great source of beta-carotene, and oatmeal might help lower cholesterol and is high in fiber.
While you’re prepping: Homemade cranberry sauce
Whip up: Fresh chutney
Sandra Lee says: Use fresh cranberries to make a flavorful chutney that turns a dull dish brilliant. Cranberry-Pine Nut Chutney is a great complement to a pork roast. Make homemade cranberry sauce and combine with pine nuts, lemon juice, herbes de Provence, and crushed garlic. Serve over pork roast or turkey cutlets.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Sunday in the Kitchen with Mark & Bruce: Brown Rice Paella
This hearty one-pot dish has enough style for entertaining, or for a week’s worth of fantastic meals.
Article By: Mark Scarbrough & Bruce Weinstein
Weekend CookingWeekday Eating
brown riceSunday in the Kitchen
Paella is not a fish dish. It’s a grain dish. It’s all about the rice that slowly softens in the heat, giving the dish its ballast and also thickening it, the starches slowly abraded into the sauce with all that stirring.
Valencia rice is the usual star. It’s highly prized in Spain — and difficult to come by in North America. So since we need to make a few adaptations, we’ve morphed the classic a bit further by using medium-grain brown rice, thereby turning this meal a bit healthier, with a better texture and some delicious nuttiness to complement the shrimp and sausage. Brown Arborio is a great option — and easy to find in larger supermarkets (or at almost any health-food store).
Paella should be made in a very wide, shallow, nearly flat pan over an open flame. Most of us don’t have wide, open flames — or such shallow pans! So we’ve adapted the recipe for North American kitchens: It's prepared stovetop in a large Dutch oven, then covered and finished in the oven. If you’ve got a cast-iron French casserole, even better. The point is to retain as much heat as possible.
But just because the pot’s going in the oven, you don’t get out of stirring. After all, Sunday is the day when you’ve got a little more time to cook. In our technique, you’ll stir the paella a bit on top of the stove, then let the oven’s ambient heat do much of the work in softening the rice and blending the flavors. The result is something like a cross between a risotto and a pilaf, a tad wetter than the standard paella, but savory and tasty, the perfect thing for a hearty Sunday-night meal.
We’ve got three recipes for the glorious leftovers, easy dishes to make during the week: paella cakes, crunchy and irresistible; paella stew, substantial and filling; and paella-stuffed peppers, a bit of elegance for a weeknight supper. All told, you’ll be in paella heaven this week. You might even want to invite some friends over — except then you won’t have leftovers for the other great meals later on.
About Brown Rice Paella
Before you start stirring the paella over the heat, pay special attention to the prep work: chopping the vegetables into similarly sized bits and browning the meat well to get the most flavor in every spoonful.
Ready to start cooking?
Sunday-night dinner
Paella
Serve it right out of the pot. As a side dish, make a simple salad with drained, canned mandarin-orange sections, drained and rinsed canned chickpeas, thinly sliced red onion, shaved radicchio and/or endive, and a sprinkling of sherry vinegar. Don’t forget a glass of red Rioja!
Tips, hints and suggestions
The pot needs to be pretty big — at least 6 quarts, maybe more. Wider pots are better than tall, thin ones because wider pots allow for more evaporation.
Saffron and smoked paprika are key flavoring ingredients. Don’t be tempted to substitute regular, mild paprika.
The broth with saffron should never boil — it will reduce by too much. However, it does need to be steamy when you add the rice.
The paella may still be a little soupy when it comes out of the oven. Rice grains absorb varying amounts of moisture, depending on how long they’ve sat on the store’s shelf, as well as the day’s humidity. Some extra liquid will be incorporated as the paella sits, covered, off the heat. But if there’s too much, set the pot over medium heat and stir for about 5 minutes to get more liquid into the rice.
A 14-ounce can of diced tomatoes is exactly 1 3/4 cups. A large fennel bulb, after trimming, will yield about 3 cups chopped; a large bell pepper, after coring and seeding, will yield about 2 cups.
Store leftover paella in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
This hearty one-pot dish has enough style for entertaining, or for a week’s worth of fantastic meals.
Article By: Mark Scarbrough & Bruce Weinstein
Weekend CookingWeekday Eating
brown riceSunday in the Kitchen
Paella is not a fish dish. It’s a grain dish. It’s all about the rice that slowly softens in the heat, giving the dish its ballast and also thickening it, the starches slowly abraded into the sauce with all that stirring.
Valencia rice is the usual star. It’s highly prized in Spain — and difficult to come by in North America. So since we need to make a few adaptations, we’ve morphed the classic a bit further by using medium-grain brown rice, thereby turning this meal a bit healthier, with a better texture and some delicious nuttiness to complement the shrimp and sausage. Brown Arborio is a great option — and easy to find in larger supermarkets (or at almost any health-food store).
Paella should be made in a very wide, shallow, nearly flat pan over an open flame. Most of us don’t have wide, open flames — or such shallow pans! So we’ve adapted the recipe for North American kitchens: It's prepared stovetop in a large Dutch oven, then covered and finished in the oven. If you’ve got a cast-iron French casserole, even better. The point is to retain as much heat as possible.
But just because the pot’s going in the oven, you don’t get out of stirring. After all, Sunday is the day when you’ve got a little more time to cook. In our technique, you’ll stir the paella a bit on top of the stove, then let the oven’s ambient heat do much of the work in softening the rice and blending the flavors. The result is something like a cross between a risotto and a pilaf, a tad wetter than the standard paella, but savory and tasty, the perfect thing for a hearty Sunday-night meal.
We’ve got three recipes for the glorious leftovers, easy dishes to make during the week: paella cakes, crunchy and irresistible; paella stew, substantial and filling; and paella-stuffed peppers, a bit of elegance for a weeknight supper. All told, you’ll be in paella heaven this week. You might even want to invite some friends over — except then you won’t have leftovers for the other great meals later on.
About Brown Rice Paella
Before you start stirring the paella over the heat, pay special attention to the prep work: chopping the vegetables into similarly sized bits and browning the meat well to get the most flavor in every spoonful.
Ready to start cooking?
Sunday-night dinner
Paella
Serve it right out of the pot. As a side dish, make a simple salad with drained, canned mandarin-orange sections, drained and rinsed canned chickpeas, thinly sliced red onion, shaved radicchio and/or endive, and a sprinkling of sherry vinegar. Don’t forget a glass of red Rioja!
Tips, hints and suggestions
The pot needs to be pretty big — at least 6 quarts, maybe more. Wider pots are better than tall, thin ones because wider pots allow for more evaporation.
Saffron and smoked paprika are key flavoring ingredients. Don’t be tempted to substitute regular, mild paprika.
The broth with saffron should never boil — it will reduce by too much. However, it does need to be steamy when you add the rice.
The paella may still be a little soupy when it comes out of the oven. Rice grains absorb varying amounts of moisture, depending on how long they’ve sat on the store’s shelf, as well as the day’s humidity. Some extra liquid will be incorporated as the paella sits, covered, off the heat. But if there’s too much, set the pot over medium heat and stir for about 5 minutes to get more liquid into the rice.
A 14-ounce can of diced tomatoes is exactly 1 3/4 cups. A large fennel bulb, after trimming, will yield about 3 cups chopped; a large bell pepper, after coring and seeding, will yield about 2 cups.
Store leftover paella in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Monday, December 16, 2013
Friday, December 13, 2013
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Surviving the Cookie Swap
Surviving the Cookie Swap
Follow these smart strategies and you'll put more cookies in the tin than your tummy at the next cookie swap party.
Article By: Anita Sado
Every winter holiday season, folks pull out their favorite family cookie recipes, commandeer the kitchen for a day or two, and get baking. Dusted with a light coating of flour, they peer proudly at the trays of cookies and wonder just what to do with such a large quantity. Apart from the obvious.
Years ago some very savvy cookie connoisseurs came up with a great solution: Host cookie swap parties. Guests bring their homemade family favorites, decorated on platters or already in individual gift bags. When all the guests have arrived let the fun begin! Swapping and tasting, tasting and swapping. At the end of the event, each person goes home with a package of goodies.
It’s fun, frugal and delicious — but also a potential pitfall to someone who is trying to lose weight or maintain a loss. Yet not participating and feeling deprived can have the same result. So what to do?
The answer is simple and fun: Create your own personal cookie tin. Not just any old tin; one that you have designated and decorated for you, and you alone. Don’t just slap a sticky note on a recycled cracker box; decorate an empty tin for yourself just as you would if you were making it a gift for a loved one. Then fill it with the cookies you're most looking forward to eating this season.
Before the swap
Decide whom you'll give cookies to as a gift. Bring a stash of gift bags and/or boxes with pre-written labels and ribbon or tape to seal them.
Think: How many PointsPlus® values worth of cookes will you eat this season?Keep in mind, there will be other goodies that you'll want to use your PointsPlus values on over the next month or so. Got your number? Write it down.
At the swap
Put the "gift" cookies straight into their bags. All packaged up and pretty? Great, now seal them.
Select the cookies you plan to eat yourself.Be choosy! Add cookies to your own tin until you have reached the PointsPlus budget you set yourself. (You might need to pull out your Tracker to help calculate as you go.)
Grab a pen!List the cookies and their PointsPlus values, either on the bottom of your tin or a separate piece of paper. If necessary, run your fellow swappers’ recipes through the Recipe Builder.
During the month, enjoy the treats that are in your tin. Your cookie supply will dwindle over the weeks, but your motivation will thrive and you will not feel deprived. Now grab a Power Foods-approved glass of fat-free milk and enjoy your cookie swap booty!
Follow these smart strategies and you'll put more cookies in the tin than your tummy at the next cookie swap party.
Article By: Anita Sado
Every winter holiday season, folks pull out their favorite family cookie recipes, commandeer the kitchen for a day or two, and get baking. Dusted with a light coating of flour, they peer proudly at the trays of cookies and wonder just what to do with such a large quantity. Apart from the obvious.
Years ago some very savvy cookie connoisseurs came up with a great solution: Host cookie swap parties. Guests bring their homemade family favorites, decorated on platters or already in individual gift bags. When all the guests have arrived let the fun begin! Swapping and tasting, tasting and swapping. At the end of the event, each person goes home with a package of goodies.
It’s fun, frugal and delicious — but also a potential pitfall to someone who is trying to lose weight or maintain a loss. Yet not participating and feeling deprived can have the same result. So what to do?
The answer is simple and fun: Create your own personal cookie tin. Not just any old tin; one that you have designated and decorated for you, and you alone. Don’t just slap a sticky note on a recycled cracker box; decorate an empty tin for yourself just as you would if you were making it a gift for a loved one. Then fill it with the cookies you're most looking forward to eating this season.
Before the swap
Decide whom you'll give cookies to as a gift. Bring a stash of gift bags and/or boxes with pre-written labels and ribbon or tape to seal them.
Think: How many PointsPlus® values worth of cookes will you eat this season?Keep in mind, there will be other goodies that you'll want to use your PointsPlus values on over the next month or so. Got your number? Write it down.
At the swap
Put the "gift" cookies straight into their bags. All packaged up and pretty? Great, now seal them.
Select the cookies you plan to eat yourself.Be choosy! Add cookies to your own tin until you have reached the PointsPlus budget you set yourself. (You might need to pull out your Tracker to help calculate as you go.)
Grab a pen!List the cookies and their PointsPlus values, either on the bottom of your tin or a separate piece of paper. If necessary, run your fellow swappers’ recipes through the Recipe Builder.
During the month, enjoy the treats that are in your tin. Your cookie supply will dwindle over the weeks, but your motivation will thrive and you will not feel deprived. Now grab a Power Foods-approved glass of fat-free milk and enjoy your cookie swap booty!
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Product Sales Your Success Kit Sale – Regularly $39.95, Sale: $34.95—Save $5 Kit includes: Master Your Meals and Snacks cookbook Find Your Fingerprint guide Portable Collapsible Steamer Bowl Plan and Track Mix & Flip Exercise Cards o PointsPlus Stickers Multipurpose Expandable Tote $45 in Coupons – including free PointsPlus Calculator and skin
The Lukewarm Truth About Hot Yoga
A recent study on the (literally) hot fitness craze reveals surprising findings.
Article By: Mary Elizabeth Hurn
Lady sweating
Hot yoga is a polarizing topic in the fitness world; people either love it, hate it or are scared to try it. But a recent study by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) shows that it’s not as physically taxing or dangerous as you might think. Which begs the question: Is all that sweating really worth it?
Hot yoga is typically done for 60 minutes in a room with a temperature ranging from 90° to 105°F. (This is not to be confused with Bikram yoga, which is always 90 minutes at 105°F.) The ACE study compared participants’ core temperature, heart rate and self-perceived exertion rate after a 60-minute yoga class in a 70°F room to those same rates after a class in a 92°F room. Here’s what they found:
Rumors of dangerous overheating have been greatly exaggerated. “For those that are presumably healthy, hydrated and listening to their bodies, hot yoga shouldn’t pose undue risk or harm,” says Dr. Cedric X. Bryant, Chief Science Officer for ACE. Average core temperature didn’t increase more in hot yoga than in “regular” yoga. The highest recorded core temperature of any participant was 102.4° — well below the critical zone of 104° in which fatigue and heat-related problems set in. Bryant does urge practitioners to be aware of the symptoms of heat-related illness: headache, cramps, nausea, dizziness or fatigue. “If you experience any of those, remove yourself, get some fluids and cool down,” he suggests.
Doing yoga in a hot room doesn’t necessarily result in a higher heart rate. Heart rate remained the same in both classes. “Looking at heart rate, participants weren't working any harder in the hot yoga class than in the regular yoga class,” says Dr. John P. Porcari, an author of the study and head of the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. “Normally if you go out and walk three miles per hour and then you do it again on a day that’s really hot, your heart rate will be higher. Because the heart rate was identical in this study, this tells me that somehow people must have down-regulated how hard they were pushing themselves in the heated environment.”
But all that sweating makes you think you’re working harder. “There’s a misconception that sweat rate directly correlates with how hard you’re working and how many calories you’re burning,” Bryant explains. “From their point of view, participants were working harder because hot yoga is perceived as more difficult. But the heart rate data made it clear that they weren’t working harder.”
Keep in mind this study did not address calories burned, although Bryant has a strong suspicion that there would be no significant difference in the caloric outputs between the two types of yoga.
Bottom line: If you enjoy hot yoga, keep doing it! But if you’re suffering through an overheated session under the delusion that you’re getting a better workout, consider this your permission to seek a cooler class. Overall, Bryant stresses that all types of exercise serve a purpose. “Don’t get hung up on how many calories you’ve burned. All types of yoga have benefits: increased balance, flexibility and muscular endurance, stress management and, yes, you’ll also burn some calories.”
A recent study on the (literally) hot fitness craze reveals surprising findings.
Article By: Mary Elizabeth Hurn
Lady sweating
Hot yoga is a polarizing topic in the fitness world; people either love it, hate it or are scared to try it. But a recent study by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) shows that it’s not as physically taxing or dangerous as you might think. Which begs the question: Is all that sweating really worth it?
Hot yoga is typically done for 60 minutes in a room with a temperature ranging from 90° to 105°F. (This is not to be confused with Bikram yoga, which is always 90 minutes at 105°F.) The ACE study compared participants’ core temperature, heart rate and self-perceived exertion rate after a 60-minute yoga class in a 70°F room to those same rates after a class in a 92°F room. Here’s what they found:
Rumors of dangerous overheating have been greatly exaggerated. “For those that are presumably healthy, hydrated and listening to their bodies, hot yoga shouldn’t pose undue risk or harm,” says Dr. Cedric X. Bryant, Chief Science Officer for ACE. Average core temperature didn’t increase more in hot yoga than in “regular” yoga. The highest recorded core temperature of any participant was 102.4° — well below the critical zone of 104° in which fatigue and heat-related problems set in. Bryant does urge practitioners to be aware of the symptoms of heat-related illness: headache, cramps, nausea, dizziness or fatigue. “If you experience any of those, remove yourself, get some fluids and cool down,” he suggests.
Doing yoga in a hot room doesn’t necessarily result in a higher heart rate. Heart rate remained the same in both classes. “Looking at heart rate, participants weren't working any harder in the hot yoga class than in the regular yoga class,” says Dr. John P. Porcari, an author of the study and head of the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. “Normally if you go out and walk three miles per hour and then you do it again on a day that’s really hot, your heart rate will be higher. Because the heart rate was identical in this study, this tells me that somehow people must have down-regulated how hard they were pushing themselves in the heated environment.”
But all that sweating makes you think you’re working harder. “There’s a misconception that sweat rate directly correlates with how hard you’re working and how many calories you’re burning,” Bryant explains. “From their point of view, participants were working harder because hot yoga is perceived as more difficult. But the heart rate data made it clear that they weren’t working harder.”
Keep in mind this study did not address calories burned, although Bryant has a strong suspicion that there would be no significant difference in the caloric outputs between the two types of yoga.
Bottom line: If you enjoy hot yoga, keep doing it! But if you’re suffering through an overheated session under the delusion that you’re getting a better workout, consider this your permission to seek a cooler class. Overall, Bryant stresses that all types of exercise serve a purpose. “Don’t get hung up on how many calories you’ve burned. All types of yoga have benefits: increased balance, flexibility and muscular endurance, stress management and, yes, you’ll also burn some calories.”
Monday, December 9, 2013
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Simple start app
Simple Start
What is Weight Watchers Simple Start?
It’s a 2-week starter plan for people who are new to Weight Watchers (or current members who want to re-spark their motivation!).
Simple Start is based on our Simply Filling technique, which nudges you toward nutritious, satisfying food. (At Weight Watchers, we call these Power Foods.) True to the name, we’ve made Simple Start easy to follow — just pick from the list, enjoy the food and start losing weight.
Our Simple Start app makes choosing meals a breeze. Don’t have a smartphone? Not to worry — you can also get the meals here.
How it works
You’ll enjoy 2 weeks of delicious, no-brainer meals built from good-for-you foods, plus snacks and indulgences. Every day you can visit the app and tell us how you’re doing — you’ll be rewarded with special badges and messages.
How do I get it?
For iPhone:
Go to the App Store by clicking on the icon from your device.
Search for the Weight Watchers Simple Start app.
Click the box that says FREE.
For Android:
Click on the Google Play icon on your device. Search for the Weight Watchers Simple Start app.
When you’ve got it, click the box that says Install. If you decide to continue, click Accept & download.
What is Weight Watchers Simple Start?
It’s a 2-week starter plan for people who are new to Weight Watchers (or current members who want to re-spark their motivation!).
Simple Start is based on our Simply Filling technique, which nudges you toward nutritious, satisfying food. (At Weight Watchers, we call these Power Foods.) True to the name, we’ve made Simple Start easy to follow — just pick from the list, enjoy the food and start losing weight.
Our Simple Start app makes choosing meals a breeze. Don’t have a smartphone? Not to worry — you can also get the meals here.
How it works
You’ll enjoy 2 weeks of delicious, no-brainer meals built from good-for-you foods, plus snacks and indulgences. Every day you can visit the app and tell us how you’re doing — you’ll be rewarded with special badges and messages.
How do I get it?
For iPhone:
Go to the App Store by clicking on the icon from your device.
Search for the Weight Watchers Simple Start app.
Click the box that says FREE.
For Android:
Click on the Google Play icon on your device. Search for the Weight Watchers Simple Start app.
When you’ve got it, click the box that says Install. If you decide to continue, click Accept & download.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Skinny Whole Wheat Snickerdoodles
Whole wheat skickerdoodle cookies coated with cinnamon, spice and everything nice! If you have plans to do some baking this weekend, these cookies are a must!Skinny Whole Wheat Snickerdoodles
Skinnytaste.com
Servings: 42 • Size: 1 cookie • Old Points: 1 pts • Points+: 1 pts (3 pts+ for 2)
Calories: 50.9 • Fat: 1.3 g • Carb: 9.5 g • Fiber: 0.7 g • Protein: 0.8 g • Sugar: 5.9 g
Sodium: 20.2 mgIngredients:
- 1 3/4 cups King Arthur white whole wheat flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 1 tbsp agave
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 large egg
- 3 tbsp sugar*
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon*
- cooking spray
Directions:Preheat oven to 375°F. Line two baking sheets with Silpat mats and spray with cooking spray.
Combine flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk.
Combine 1 cup of sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add the agave, vanilla and egg; beat well. Gradually add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture, beating just until combined. Cover and chill for 10 minutes.
In a medium bowl, combine 3 tbsp sugar with cinnamon, stirring with a whisk to combine. With moist hands, shape dough into 42 (1-inch) balls. Roll balls in sugar/cinnamon mixture. Place balls 2 inches apart onto baking sheets (I slightly flattened them). Bake 375°F for 5-7 minutes (cookies will be slightly soft). Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire racks. Enjoy!
Adapted from Cooking Light.I discarded 2 tbsp of the sugar cinnamon mixture so I deducted 1 tbsp sugar from n.i. to play it safe.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe – 1 Point Value
Weight Watchers Sugar Cookie Recipe
Ingredients:- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 cups butter
- 1/4 cups Neufchatel cheese
- 1 cups sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cups fat-free skim milk
- 1 tsp all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cups sugar
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350ºF.
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and nutmeg; set aside.
Place butter and cheese in a large bowl; cream using an electric mixer. Add sugar and beat until batter is pale yellow; beat in vanilla extract and egg.
Add about 1/3 of flour mixture and 1/3 of milk to cheese mixture; mix batter on low speed until just combined. Repeat 2 more times with remaining flour mixture and milk, until thoroughly combined into cheese mixture.
Shape dough into a ball and loosely cover with plastic wrap. Using your palms, press down on plastic wrap to flatten dough into a hamburger shape; refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 days.
Sprinkle a teaspoon of flour on a flat work surface. Pull off about 1/3 of dough and, using a rolling pin, roll out dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Using a 3-inch circular cookie cutter, cut cookies out of dough and place on ungreased baking sheets. Make these Weight Watchers Christmas sugar cookies any shape you want! Roll up dough scraps and add back to dough ball. Pull off another 1/3 of dough and repeat process until all dough is used — recipe will make approximately 45 cookies.
Sprinkle your Christmas Sugar cookies with colored sugar and bake until edges just start to turn golden, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove cookies to wire racks and cool completely. Total recipe makes 45 cookies.
Serving Size = 1 Cookie
Each Serving = 1 Weight Watchers Point
Simple Start Meals
Scratching your head about what to eat? With Simple Start, you can enjoy smart, delicious meals all day long.
Article By: Weight Watchers
Delicious Starter Meals
Learning what to eat is an important first step in losing weight. That's why we created Weight Watchers Simple Start – so you'll know the right foods to eat to be satisfied. You can follow Simple Start by downloading the app to your smartphone, picking up a booklet in your meeting room or following it online.
The meals below – breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks – are the foundation of Simple Start and are built from our Weight Watchers Power Foods. These nutritional powerhouses are satisfying and a PointsPlus® bargain. To start losing weight, all you have to do is eat!
These meals and snacks each have a PointsPlus value, but if you're following the Simple Start plan, you don't have to worry about numbers right now. Once you're finished with the starter plan, you can do one of two things:
If you’re following the Tracking technique, just add these meals to your Tracker and you’re good to go.
If you love Simple Start and want to continue to eat from a food list without tracking, then switch your technique to Simply Filling. As with Simple Start, on the Simply Filling plan you can eat Power Foods until you feel satisfied, no tracking required.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Simple start App for iphone
Download the app today for the iPhone. Android will be available Friday... if not sooner!
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Monday, December 2, 2013
How to Handle Late-Night Cravings
Sometimes you can eat right all day, but when evening hits the snacks beckon. Try these tips for outsmarting after-dark temptations.
Article By: Karen Ansel, R.D., for Weight Watchers Magazine
The TV Trap
When researchers at Georgia State University in Atlanta tracked the habits of nearly 100 men and women, they found that the more TV they watched, the more often they ate (regardless of hunger). Can’t miss Scandal? Instead of hitting the kitchen during commercial breaks, try:
1. Shooting an e-mail to a friend
2. Grabbing a jump rope
3. Doing 25 sit-ups
4. Watch shows on DVR and fast-forward through commercials (no time for snack breaks)!
Late Night Eater
You start the day with good intentions: oatmeal and fruit for breakfast, a perfectly-seasoned grilled chicken salad for lunch and plenty of fresh veggie sticks for snacks. You even eat a healthy dinner. Then darkness falls, and all good intentions fade. One trip to the freezer for a scoop of ice cream becomes two, followed by a few handfuls of chips and then some sugary cereal straight from the box.
What’s going on here? While sticking to any healthy eating plan takes work, many people report that they most often get tripped up in the evening hours, when they finish work or other daytime duties and loosen their belt.
The good news is that eating at night doesn’t necessarily lead to weight gain: Despite the die-hard myth that calories consumed at night are metabolized more slowly than those consumed by day, the truth is that it’s how many calories you consume — not when you consume them — that matters. The real danger of nighttime eating is that it often results from unhealthy meal patterns, not hunger. Here we take a look at some of the reasons why you may head for the kitchen after the sun goes down — and offer simple solutions to keep you on track until morning.
The rationale: I had a really stressful day at work and I deserve some junk food.”
In the middle of a crazy day at the office, you’re too busy to think about how stressed you are. Then at night the stress catches up with you. “At night many women unwind by indulging in the foods they crave,” says Kelly C. Allison, Ph.D., an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. The best plan of attack? Develop a food-free strategy for de-stressing.
Find alternative tension tamers. Post on your refrigerator a list of 10 non-food stress relievers (like curling up with a good book and taking a hot bath). Before you give in to an urge to splurge, check the list and choose one thing to do.
Connect with someone. Try calling a friend or relative instead of hitting the fridge. You may find out that you were really hungry not for food but for a chance to rehash your day. Or scroll through the WeightWatchers.com Community until you find a post or blog entry that inspires you, and type a response. You may even find a regular blog buddy you can chat with when p.m. cravings strike.
The rationale: “I have to have something sweet before bed.”
If you’ve had a sweet treat every night before bed since you were a kid, the habit is hard to break. A good first step, though, is to brush your teeth right after dinner — it’s your mouth (and your brain’s) cue that you’re done eating for the day. Then, replace your evening sweet ritual with one of these:
Take a walk. Go for a stroll around the neighborhood with your spouse, or make a regular walking date with a pal. Not only will you burn calories instead of consuming them, but you’ll also get farther away from the fridge.
Have some hands-on fun. Bust out the Scrabble board and challenge your kids to a game. Or find a project that inspires you: Knit a sweater or start a photo album. Making sure your hands are occupied will make you less likely to pick up that fork or spoon, says Tara Gidus, M.S., R.D., a dietitian in private practice in Orlando, Florida.
Think ahead to a healthy tomorrow. Instead of hitting the kitchen for a late-night snack, hit the kitchen to prep tomorrow’s healthy breakfast and lunch.
The rationale: “I’m so careful about what I eat all day that by nighttime I’m starving!”
Maybe you’re too good during the daylight hours. If you don’t take in enough calories during the day, your body will remind you at night that it’s still hungry. Incorporate these daily habits, and you’ll be able to resist the after-dinner munchies:
Make breakfast a Routine. Even if you’re not hungry, ditching breakfast will backfire. “Skipping daytime meals is directly linked to overeating at night,” says Gidus. Not a morning person? Start small. On day 1, have just a piece of fruit; then gradually add lean protein (like fat-free yogurt or cheese) and whole grains (granola bars, cereal, or oatmeal) until you’re eating a balanced meal every morning.
Schedule snacks. Eating at regular intervals ensures that you won’t be famished by nightfall. Aim to have a snack between each meal so you’re never starving when you sit down to eat. Just make sure your snacks pack protein, healthful fats, and carbs for extra staying power (think apples with peanut butter or nuts with yogurt). Limit each snack to 2 or 3 PointsPlus® values.
Treat yourself. Work a small splurge into your day, and you’ll be less likely to overdo it at night. Try 1 ounce of dark chocolate or 1⁄2 cup of frozen yogurt in the afternoon.
The rationale: “I pour myself a glass of wine before bed to relax.”
Sure, that Chardonnay might help you unwind, but the problems with this strategy are twofold: “Alcohol has a significant amount of calories and no nutritional value — plus, it may inhibit your ability to regulate your food intake,” says Marisa Moore, R.D., an Atlanta-based spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. In other words, wine packs empty calories and may make the pint of cookie dough in the freezer seem more appealing. Try to imbibe wisely:
Switch glasses. Today’s wine glasses are supersize, meaning you might be pouring yourself more calories than you realize. Although a serving is considered 5 ounces, glasses can hold anywhere from 8 to 14 ounces. Use a champagne glass instead; it holds only 6 to 7 ounces. Plus, since it’s taller, it tricks you into thinking you’re drinking more than you are.
Stop at one glass. The easiest way to do this is to switch from white to red. A full-bodied Shiraz is much harder to drink quickly than a light Pinot Grigio.
Sometimes you can eat right all day, but when evening hits the snacks beckon. Try these tips for outsmarting after-dark temptations.
Article By: Karen Ansel, R.D., for Weight Watchers Magazine
The TV Trap
When researchers at Georgia State University in Atlanta tracked the habits of nearly 100 men and women, they found that the more TV they watched, the more often they ate (regardless of hunger). Can’t miss Scandal? Instead of hitting the kitchen during commercial breaks, try:
1. Shooting an e-mail to a friend
2. Grabbing a jump rope
3. Doing 25 sit-ups
4. Watch shows on DVR and fast-forward through commercials (no time for snack breaks)!
Late Night Eater
You start the day with good intentions: oatmeal and fruit for breakfast, a perfectly-seasoned grilled chicken salad for lunch and plenty of fresh veggie sticks for snacks. You even eat a healthy dinner. Then darkness falls, and all good intentions fade. One trip to the freezer for a scoop of ice cream becomes two, followed by a few handfuls of chips and then some sugary cereal straight from the box.
What’s going on here? While sticking to any healthy eating plan takes work, many people report that they most often get tripped up in the evening hours, when they finish work or other daytime duties and loosen their belt.
The good news is that eating at night doesn’t necessarily lead to weight gain: Despite the die-hard myth that calories consumed at night are metabolized more slowly than those consumed by day, the truth is that it’s how many calories you consume — not when you consume them — that matters. The real danger of nighttime eating is that it often results from unhealthy meal patterns, not hunger. Here we take a look at some of the reasons why you may head for the kitchen after the sun goes down — and offer simple solutions to keep you on track until morning.
The rationale: I had a really stressful day at work and I deserve some junk food.”
In the middle of a crazy day at the office, you’re too busy to think about how stressed you are. Then at night the stress catches up with you. “At night many women unwind by indulging in the foods they crave,” says Kelly C. Allison, Ph.D., an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. The best plan of attack? Develop a food-free strategy for de-stressing.
Find alternative tension tamers. Post on your refrigerator a list of 10 non-food stress relievers (like curling up with a good book and taking a hot bath). Before you give in to an urge to splurge, check the list and choose one thing to do.
Connect with someone. Try calling a friend or relative instead of hitting the fridge. You may find out that you were really hungry not for food but for a chance to rehash your day. Or scroll through the WeightWatchers.com Community until you find a post or blog entry that inspires you, and type a response. You may even find a regular blog buddy you can chat with when p.m. cravings strike.
The rationale: “I have to have something sweet before bed.”
If you’ve had a sweet treat every night before bed since you were a kid, the habit is hard to break. A good first step, though, is to brush your teeth right after dinner — it’s your mouth (and your brain’s) cue that you’re done eating for the day. Then, replace your evening sweet ritual with one of these:
Take a walk. Go for a stroll around the neighborhood with your spouse, or make a regular walking date with a pal. Not only will you burn calories instead of consuming them, but you’ll also get farther away from the fridge.
Have some hands-on fun. Bust out the Scrabble board and challenge your kids to a game. Or find a project that inspires you: Knit a sweater or start a photo album. Making sure your hands are occupied will make you less likely to pick up that fork or spoon, says Tara Gidus, M.S., R.D., a dietitian in private practice in Orlando, Florida.
Think ahead to a healthy tomorrow. Instead of hitting the kitchen for a late-night snack, hit the kitchen to prep tomorrow’s healthy breakfast and lunch.
The rationale: “I’m so careful about what I eat all day that by nighttime I’m starving!”
Maybe you’re too good during the daylight hours. If you don’t take in enough calories during the day, your body will remind you at night that it’s still hungry. Incorporate these daily habits, and you’ll be able to resist the after-dinner munchies:
Make breakfast a Routine. Even if you’re not hungry, ditching breakfast will backfire. “Skipping daytime meals is directly linked to overeating at night,” says Gidus. Not a morning person? Start small. On day 1, have just a piece of fruit; then gradually add lean protein (like fat-free yogurt or cheese) and whole grains (granola bars, cereal, or oatmeal) until you’re eating a balanced meal every morning.
Schedule snacks. Eating at regular intervals ensures that you won’t be famished by nightfall. Aim to have a snack between each meal so you’re never starving when you sit down to eat. Just make sure your snacks pack protein, healthful fats, and carbs for extra staying power (think apples with peanut butter or nuts with yogurt). Limit each snack to 2 or 3 PointsPlus® values.
Treat yourself. Work a small splurge into your day, and you’ll be less likely to overdo it at night. Try 1 ounce of dark chocolate or 1⁄2 cup of frozen yogurt in the afternoon.
The rationale: “I pour myself a glass of wine before bed to relax.”
Sure, that Chardonnay might help you unwind, but the problems with this strategy are twofold: “Alcohol has a significant amount of calories and no nutritional value — plus, it may inhibit your ability to regulate your food intake,” says Marisa Moore, R.D., an Atlanta-based spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. In other words, wine packs empty calories and may make the pint of cookie dough in the freezer seem more appealing. Try to imbibe wisely:
Switch glasses. Today’s wine glasses are supersize, meaning you might be pouring yourself more calories than you realize. Although a serving is considered 5 ounces, glasses can hold anywhere from 8 to 14 ounces. Use a champagne glass instead; it holds only 6 to 7 ounces. Plus, since it’s taller, it tricks you into thinking you’re drinking more than you are.
Stop at one glass. The easiest way to do this is to switch from white to red. A full-bodied Shiraz is much harder to drink quickly than a light Pinot Grigio.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Saturday, November 30, 2013
We’ve updated our iOS app!
Written by ww.comproductteam on 11/27/2013 9:00 AM
barcode scanner in WW Mobile app Thanks for your patience – we’re pleased to announce that we’ve released an update to our WW Mobile app. Not only has the Weight Tracker bug on iPad been fixed (we know: phew!), but we’ve also added some great new functionality we think you’ll love. You can now scan a barcode without using a separate app (it’s built in!). And for a nice change of scenery, we redesigned our Home and Tracker screens. Search also got much easier with Favorites, Recently Added, and Items I Created built right into the search suggestions. Want to see more of the changes? Download the update to check them out – then come right back here and tell us what you think in the Comments field below. We love hearing from you!
-Weight Watchers Mobile Team
Written by ww.comproductteam on 11/27/2013 9:00 AM
barcode scanner in WW Mobile app Thanks for your patience – we’re pleased to announce that we’ve released an update to our WW Mobile app. Not only has the Weight Tracker bug on iPad been fixed (we know: phew!), but we’ve also added some great new functionality we think you’ll love. You can now scan a barcode without using a separate app (it’s built in!). And for a nice change of scenery, we redesigned our Home and Tracker screens. Search also got much easier with Favorites, Recently Added, and Items I Created built right into the search suggestions. Want to see more of the changes? Download the update to check them out – then come right back here and tell us what you think in the Comments field below. We love hearing from you!
-Weight Watchers Mobile Team
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Last-Minute Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Last Minute Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Larger Image
Weight Watchers Recipe
4PointsPlus Value
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 40 min
Other time: 15 min
Serves: 8
Baking the potatoes helps concentrate their sweetness. Couple that with naturally sweet pineapple and you've got a delicious, two-ingredient Thanksgiving side dish.
Recipe
Read All Reviews (154)
Ingredients
4 large uncooked sweet potato(es), washed and dried
15 1/4 oz canned pineapple packed in juice, crushed, drained
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400ºF.
Place potatoes directly on middle rack of oven. Bake, checking for doneness by either gently squeezing potatoes or pricking them with a fork to see if they’re really soft, about 40 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Slice potatoes in half lengthwise and cool for 5 minutes more.
Scrape potato flesh from skin into a large bowl. Add drained pineapple chunks and mash with a potato masher or spoon until pineapple has broken down slightly, about 2 to 3 minutes. Yields about 3/4 cup per serving.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
What's New Blog
Weight Watchers are 8x More Likely to Lose Weight!
Monday, November 04, 2013
We’re pretty excited by the news published in The American Journal of Medicine, which found that a community-based weight loss intervention – specifically Weight Watchers – is more effective than a self-help approach (think apps or other DIY options).
But of course, if you’re reading this we bet you knew that already.
A study by Baylor College of Medicine has found that people who opt for community-driven group-slimming are eight-times more successful than those who attempt going it alone. The study notes that this is particularly true of those who’ve selected Weight Watchers.
In fact, study participants who combined With Weight Watchers meetings and eTools, which includes access to the mobile Apps lost the most weight of anyone in the study—19 pounds on average! Here’s how the study worked: Researchers observed groups of obese / overweight adults over a period of six months. In that period, participants who went the DYI-route lost 1.3 pounds on average, while those taking the Weight Watchers approach averaged 10.1. People in the Weight Watchers group were given the option of following the plan in meetings, online or exclusively via mobile app – or any combination thereof. They all yielded superior results.
The takeaway: People who followed the Weight Watchers plan were eight (8!) times more likely to lose at least 5% of their initial body weight, the percentage loss that is associated with improved health markers such as cardiovascular risk factors and blood sugar levels.
As if this weren’t exciting enough, the Affordable Care Act of 2012 states that primary care physicians should recommend multi-component behavioral intervention to patients suffering from obesity. This is exactly the kind of method that Weight Watchers offers, and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) specifically highlights this as the most cost-effective course.
To get the full scoop, check out this article.
Report this post 'Weight Watchers are 8x More Likely to Lose Weight!' by WW.COMPRODUCTTEAM
Weight Watchers are 8x More Likely to Lose Weight!
Monday, November 04, 2013
We’re pretty excited by the news published in The American Journal of Medicine, which found that a community-based weight loss intervention – specifically Weight Watchers – is more effective than a self-help approach (think apps or other DIY options).
But of course, if you’re reading this we bet you knew that already.
A study by Baylor College of Medicine has found that people who opt for community-driven group-slimming are eight-times more successful than those who attempt going it alone. The study notes that this is particularly true of those who’ve selected Weight Watchers.
In fact, study participants who combined With Weight Watchers meetings and eTools, which includes access to the mobile Apps lost the most weight of anyone in the study—19 pounds on average! Here’s how the study worked: Researchers observed groups of obese / overweight adults over a period of six months. In that period, participants who went the DYI-route lost 1.3 pounds on average, while those taking the Weight Watchers approach averaged 10.1. People in the Weight Watchers group were given the option of following the plan in meetings, online or exclusively via mobile app – or any combination thereof. They all yielded superior results.
The takeaway: People who followed the Weight Watchers plan were eight (8!) times more likely to lose at least 5% of their initial body weight, the percentage loss that is associated with improved health markers such as cardiovascular risk factors and blood sugar levels.
As if this weren’t exciting enough, the Affordable Care Act of 2012 states that primary care physicians should recommend multi-component behavioral intervention to patients suffering from obesity. This is exactly the kind of method that Weight Watchers offers, and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) specifically highlights this as the most cost-effective course.
To get the full scoop, check out this article.
Report this post 'Weight Watchers are 8x More Likely to Lose Weight!' by WW.COMPRODUCTTEAM
Monday, November 25, 2013
Fending off Family Pressure at the Holidays
Connecting with family cen be the best part of the holiday season – and also the worst. Arrive prepared with these clever comebacks for whatever weight-loss roadblocks they throw at you.
Article By: Cari Wira Dineen
muffins
No one said dieting was easy – especially at the holidays. Extra giblet gravy. Sweet-potato-marshmallow casserole. Pecan pie a la mode. It’s hard to resist. Add to the calorie-fest a well-meaning friend or family member who likes to push food on you and you’ve got a total diet derailment.
“Even though your family has good intentions and wants you to be happy, they may let their own insecurities – about their weight, their cooking, the way they raised you, whatever – get in the way of your weight-loss success," says Deborah Beck Busis, LSW, the diet program coordinator for the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy.
Lurking next to the bread pudding and that tray of cookies is a person ready to inadvertently destroy your diet with one "harmless" statement. Fend off family pressure with a witty retort that keeps the peace and keeps you on Plan:
Diet-busting Comment: "I made my coconut custard pie just for you. I know how much you love it," says Aunt Sally.
Diet-saving Comeback: “Thank you so much! I do love it, but this year, I’ll have to pass.”
Turn down the sweets in the sweetest way you can. And stay strong! In awkward situations where your refusal can crush someone, it’s easy to whither and just eat the stupid pie (or stuffing or cheese ball). Before you cave, ask yourself who will be more upset in the end. “Your aunt will most likely get over your refusal pretty quickly,” says Busis. “But if you blow your plans for that meal, you’ll be mad at yourself for days.”
You best bet: Tell your aunt (and anyone else you’ll be celebrating with) ahead of time that you’ve joined Weight Watchers. That way, you won’t have to worry about hurting anyone's feelings on the holiday.
Diet-busting Comment: "Of course you have to make all 10 types of cookies for the cookie swap,” says your mother. “It's tradition!"
Diet-saving Comeback: “Let’s try a new tradition.”
“Holiday rituals are tough to break,” says Busis. “People look forward to them, even if they’re unhealthy.” Opting out of a long-standing tradition is bound to rub some people the wrong way. To lessen the blow, suggest a new tradition that isn’t food related, such as going ice-skating as a family or making homemade ornaments.
Still getting push-back? Busis suggests it might be worth it to take one for the team: Bake and swap some healthier versions that won’t send you into a temptation tailspin). Instead of eating them, give ’em away as gifts to your friends, neighbors, and postman. Better yet, here’s an idea for a new holiday tradition your whole family can get in on: Deliver them to a senior home or soup kitchen.
Diet-busting Comment: "Did you try this 10 cheese dip? It's amazing,” says your sister.” Go 'head, you gotta try it!"
Diet-saving Comeback: “Nope. Not gonna try it. No, thank you. Thanks, but no thanks.”
You said no already. But the food pusher won't quit. Feel yourself close to surrender? Think about your weight loss goals as completely inflexible, the way a vegetarian or diabetic might, suggests Busis. Would a vegetarian eat a steak just because her aunt got pushy with her? No way.
The point is to stick to your guns and say no as many times as you need to send your food-pushing sister (and her cheese dip) packing. “Food pushers think that if they push hard enough, they’ll eventually get you to do what they want,” says Busis. But if you never give in, she will eventually give up.
Diet-busting Comment: “Why do you even bother dieting at the holidays?" asks your father.
Diet-saving Comeback: “Because I’ve lost 10 pounds so far – and I want to lose more.”
Don’t let your downer Dad – or anyone – derail you. “There are negative people in all of our lives who feel bad about themselves and don’t want to see us succeed,” says Busis. Cement your resolve by reminding naysayers (and yourself!) why you're watching what you eat: Because losing weight makes you feel good, both physically and mentally. Fitting into your skinny jeans is the holiday gift that keeps on giving.
Diet-busting Comment: After hosting the holidays, your sister-in-law says, "I don't want to bring home any leftovers. You can have them all."
Diet-saving Comeback: “If I take them, I’m just gonna toss ’em.”
And don’t just say it, do it! Yes, it’s awful to waste food. But you’ve got to weigh (ahem) your feelings. What’s going to make you feel worse: Throwing out leftovers or stepping on the scale come January 2 and discovering that you’re up 10 pounds? Yup, that’s what we thought. Now go throw out that food (or on second thought, make up a plate of holiday cookies for your hard-working trash collectors).
Diet-busting Comment: Your best friend offers you spiked egg nog. ”One drink can’t hurt, right?”
Diet-saving Comeback: “OK.”
Most of us want to indulge a little bit at the holidays. And that is totally reasonable and okay. “It’s not all or nothing, there is a middle ground,” says Busis. Enjoy small indulgences so that you're not coming from a place of total deprivation when you’re faced with more overwhelming situations. One cup of cocoa isn’t going to kill you. This is what your weekly PointsPlus® Allowance is for, after all! The key is to plan ahead. Decide in advance when and what you’re going to indulge in so you don’t overdo it. And then enjoy!
Connecting with family cen be the best part of the holiday season – and also the worst. Arrive prepared with these clever comebacks for whatever weight-loss roadblocks they throw at you.
Article By: Cari Wira Dineen
muffins
No one said dieting was easy – especially at the holidays. Extra giblet gravy. Sweet-potato-marshmallow casserole. Pecan pie a la mode. It’s hard to resist. Add to the calorie-fest a well-meaning friend or family member who likes to push food on you and you’ve got a total diet derailment.
“Even though your family has good intentions and wants you to be happy, they may let their own insecurities – about their weight, their cooking, the way they raised you, whatever – get in the way of your weight-loss success," says Deborah Beck Busis, LSW, the diet program coordinator for the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy.
Lurking next to the bread pudding and that tray of cookies is a person ready to inadvertently destroy your diet with one "harmless" statement. Fend off family pressure with a witty retort that keeps the peace and keeps you on Plan:
Diet-busting Comment: "I made my coconut custard pie just for you. I know how much you love it," says Aunt Sally.
Diet-saving Comeback: “Thank you so much! I do love it, but this year, I’ll have to pass.”
Turn down the sweets in the sweetest way you can. And stay strong! In awkward situations where your refusal can crush someone, it’s easy to whither and just eat the stupid pie (or stuffing or cheese ball). Before you cave, ask yourself who will be more upset in the end. “Your aunt will most likely get over your refusal pretty quickly,” says Busis. “But if you blow your plans for that meal, you’ll be mad at yourself for days.”
You best bet: Tell your aunt (and anyone else you’ll be celebrating with) ahead of time that you’ve joined Weight Watchers. That way, you won’t have to worry about hurting anyone's feelings on the holiday.
Diet-busting Comment: "Of course you have to make all 10 types of cookies for the cookie swap,” says your mother. “It's tradition!"
Diet-saving Comeback: “Let’s try a new tradition.”
“Holiday rituals are tough to break,” says Busis. “People look forward to them, even if they’re unhealthy.” Opting out of a long-standing tradition is bound to rub some people the wrong way. To lessen the blow, suggest a new tradition that isn’t food related, such as going ice-skating as a family or making homemade ornaments.
Still getting push-back? Busis suggests it might be worth it to take one for the team: Bake and swap some healthier versions that won’t send you into a temptation tailspin). Instead of eating them, give ’em away as gifts to your friends, neighbors, and postman. Better yet, here’s an idea for a new holiday tradition your whole family can get in on: Deliver them to a senior home or soup kitchen.
Diet-busting Comment: "Did you try this 10 cheese dip? It's amazing,” says your sister.” Go 'head, you gotta try it!"
Diet-saving Comeback: “Nope. Not gonna try it. No, thank you. Thanks, but no thanks.”
You said no already. But the food pusher won't quit. Feel yourself close to surrender? Think about your weight loss goals as completely inflexible, the way a vegetarian or diabetic might, suggests Busis. Would a vegetarian eat a steak just because her aunt got pushy with her? No way.
The point is to stick to your guns and say no as many times as you need to send your food-pushing sister (and her cheese dip) packing. “Food pushers think that if they push hard enough, they’ll eventually get you to do what they want,” says Busis. But if you never give in, she will eventually give up.
Diet-busting Comment: “Why do you even bother dieting at the holidays?" asks your father.
Diet-saving Comeback: “Because I’ve lost 10 pounds so far – and I want to lose more.”
Don’t let your downer Dad – or anyone – derail you. “There are negative people in all of our lives who feel bad about themselves and don’t want to see us succeed,” says Busis. Cement your resolve by reminding naysayers (and yourself!) why you're watching what you eat: Because losing weight makes you feel good, both physically and mentally. Fitting into your skinny jeans is the holiday gift that keeps on giving.
Diet-busting Comment: After hosting the holidays, your sister-in-law says, "I don't want to bring home any leftovers. You can have them all."
Diet-saving Comeback: “If I take them, I’m just gonna toss ’em.”
And don’t just say it, do it! Yes, it’s awful to waste food. But you’ve got to weigh (ahem) your feelings. What’s going to make you feel worse: Throwing out leftovers or stepping on the scale come January 2 and discovering that you’re up 10 pounds? Yup, that’s what we thought. Now go throw out that food (or on second thought, make up a plate of holiday cookies for your hard-working trash collectors).
Diet-busting Comment: Your best friend offers you spiked egg nog. ”One drink can’t hurt, right?”
Diet-saving Comeback: “OK.”
Most of us want to indulge a little bit at the holidays. And that is totally reasonable and okay. “It’s not all or nothing, there is a middle ground,” says Busis. Enjoy small indulgences so that you're not coming from a place of total deprivation when you’re faced with more overwhelming situations. One cup of cocoa isn’t going to kill you. This is what your weekly PointsPlus® Allowance is for, after all! The key is to plan ahead. Decide in advance when and what you’re going to indulge in so you don’t overdo it. And then enjoy!
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Friday, November 22, 2013
have you ever tried Kimchi?
I recently thought I would give this stuff a try. I was able to find it at my local Vons grocery store. I think now days you can find it almost anywhere, in the refrigerated section. Its a little on the spicy side but it was very good.
World's Healthiest Foods: Kimchi (Korea)
Why to try it: Kimchi (or kimchee) is loaded with vitamins A, B, and C, but its biggest benefit may be in its “healthy bacteria” called lactobacilli, found in fermented foods like kimchi and yogurt. This good bacteria helps with digestion, plus it seems to help stop and even prevent yeast infections, according to a recent study. And more good news: Some studies show fermented cabbage has compounds that may prevent the growth of cancer.
What to do with it: Theres no need to make your own; just pick it up in the refrigerated section of your grocery store or an Asian market for around $4 per 32-ounce jar (Sunjas is one popular brand). You can wake up your morning by scrambling eggs with kimchi, diced tomatoes, and mushrooms. Use it as a wrap filling or to top a baked potato, or with eggs or egg whites.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
These sound really good!
Toasty Marshmallow Sweet Potato Skins
1/10th of recipe (1 skin): 74 calories, <0.5g fat, 94mg sodium, 17.5g carbs, 1.5g fiber, 7.5g sugars, 1g protein -- PointsPlus® value 2*
Ingredients:
Five 8-oz. orange sweet potatoes, uniform in shape
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. brown sugar (not packed)
1 1/4 cups mini marshmallows
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray.
Pierce potatoes several times with a fork. On a microwave-safe plate, microwave for 15 minutes, until potatoes are soft.
Once cool enough to handle, slice each potato in half lengthwise. Carefully scoop out the insides, leaving about 1/4 inch inside the skin. Discard the potato pulp (or reserve for another use).
Place hollow shells on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
Bake until the edges begin to crisp, about 10 minutes.
Top with brown sugar and marshmallows. Bake until marshmallows puff up and lightly brown, 3 - 4 minutes. Enjoy!
MAKES 10 SERVINGS
Toasty Marshmallow Sweet Potato Skins
1/10th of recipe (1 skin): 74 calories, <0.5g fat, 94mg sodium, 17.5g carbs, 1.5g fiber, 7.5g sugars, 1g protein -- PointsPlus® value 2*
Ingredients:
Five 8-oz. orange sweet potatoes, uniform in shape
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. brown sugar (not packed)
1 1/4 cups mini marshmallows
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray.
Pierce potatoes several times with a fork. On a microwave-safe plate, microwave for 15 minutes, until potatoes are soft.
Once cool enough to handle, slice each potato in half lengthwise. Carefully scoop out the insides, leaving about 1/4 inch inside the skin. Discard the potato pulp (or reserve for another use).
Place hollow shells on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
Bake until the edges begin to crisp, about 10 minutes.
Top with brown sugar and marshmallows. Bake until marshmallows puff up and lightly brown, 3 - 4 minutes. Enjoy!
MAKES 10 SERVINGS
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Pizza Casserole
6 servings at 9 pt+s each
Green Salad
6 servings at 1 pt each
Prep Cook Total
15m 20m 35m
1 can refrigerated pizza crust dough
1 lb lean ground beef, browned and drained
½ teaspoon Italian seasonings
14 oz jar pizza sauce
1 cup shredded part skim mozzarella cheese
---------------------------------------------------------------
1 bag chopped salad mix
½ pint grape tomatoes, sliced
12 tablespoons Kraft® fat-free Catalina
dressing
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13
baking dish and press pizza dough into bottom
of dish and half way up the sides. Combine
browned beef, seasonings and sauce together;
spread evenly onto dough. Top with cheese;
bake 20 to 25 minutes.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Toss all salad items together and divide into 6
salads.
6 servings at 9 pt+s each
Green Salad
6 servings at 1 pt each
Prep Cook Total
15m 20m 35m
1 can refrigerated pizza crust dough
1 lb lean ground beef, browned and drained
½ teaspoon Italian seasonings
14 oz jar pizza sauce
1 cup shredded part skim mozzarella cheese
---------------------------------------------------------------
1 bag chopped salad mix
½ pint grape tomatoes, sliced
12 tablespoons Kraft® fat-free Catalina
dressing
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13
baking dish and press pizza dough into bottom
of dish and half way up the sides. Combine
browned beef, seasonings and sauce together;
spread evenly onto dough. Top with cheese;
bake 20 to 25 minutes.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Toss all salad items together and divide into 6
salads.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
5 Tricks for Fitness Success
Setting small goals is the secret to achieving them and feeling great.
Article By: Kimberly Dawn Neumann
5 Ways to Get to Your Fitness Goals
What's your fitness goal? Power-walking around the block without feeling winded? Lifting more weight than you did last week? Running a marathon? Whether your athletic aspirations are lofty or not, finding the energy to get up and go can be a challenge.
Chris Carmichael knows a thing or two about motivation. An author as well as founder and chairman of Carmichael Training Systems, Carmichael has built a career on helping people reach amazing fitness goals. Here are some of his tips to ensure success on your fitness path.
1. Name a dream goal that you're passionate about. Dream goals define the ultimate achievement. The key to setting a goal is to find something you're passionate about. The passion you feel for your ultimate goal is the foundation that will give you the drive and commitment to stay on your journey.
2. Set realistic and challenging confidence-builder goals. Once you have a dream goal, it's time to work backwards to determine the steps necessary to reach that goal. These steps determine the roadmap that ensures you stay on the right route. Confidence-builder goals provide the opportunity to see and recognize steady progress.
3. Focus on the process. Instead of concentrating only on results, try setting process-oriented goals. With weight loss, you can focus on outcome (losing five pounds, for instance) or process (such as making better decisions about food). Achieving process-oriented goals increases the likelihood of reaching your outcome goals because they focus on the steps needed to get you there.
4. Know the difference between a setback and derailment. A setback is a temporary detour from your planned route, such as a week when you don't stick to your regular exercise regimen. A derailment occurs when you abandon your goals completely because you think you've gone too far off track. Setbacks happen. The trick is to recognize a setback before it escalates into a full-scale derailment.
5. Recognize and celebrate your accomplishments. When you reach a goal, take credit for the work you've done. Congratulations, it's a big deal! Don't just shrug it off for the sake of being humble, be proud. Then turn your attention to the next goal, aiming for the day when you can again celebrate for completing another step toward your dream goal.
Setting small goals is the secret to achieving them and feeling great.
Article By: Kimberly Dawn Neumann
5 Ways to Get to Your Fitness Goals
What's your fitness goal? Power-walking around the block without feeling winded? Lifting more weight than you did last week? Running a marathon? Whether your athletic aspirations are lofty or not, finding the energy to get up and go can be a challenge.
Chris Carmichael knows a thing or two about motivation. An author as well as founder and chairman of Carmichael Training Systems, Carmichael has built a career on helping people reach amazing fitness goals. Here are some of his tips to ensure success on your fitness path.
1. Name a dream goal that you're passionate about. Dream goals define the ultimate achievement. The key to setting a goal is to find something you're passionate about. The passion you feel for your ultimate goal is the foundation that will give you the drive and commitment to stay on your journey.
2. Set realistic and challenging confidence-builder goals. Once you have a dream goal, it's time to work backwards to determine the steps necessary to reach that goal. These steps determine the roadmap that ensures you stay on the right route. Confidence-builder goals provide the opportunity to see and recognize steady progress.
3. Focus on the process. Instead of concentrating only on results, try setting process-oriented goals. With weight loss, you can focus on outcome (losing five pounds, for instance) or process (such as making better decisions about food). Achieving process-oriented goals increases the likelihood of reaching your outcome goals because they focus on the steps needed to get you there.
4. Know the difference between a setback and derailment. A setback is a temporary detour from your planned route, such as a week when you don't stick to your regular exercise regimen. A derailment occurs when you abandon your goals completely because you think you've gone too far off track. Setbacks happen. The trick is to recognize a setback before it escalates into a full-scale derailment.
5. Recognize and celebrate your accomplishments. When you reach a goal, take credit for the work you've done. Congratulations, it's a big deal! Don't just shrug it off for the sake of being humble, be proud. Then turn your attention to the next goal, aiming for the day when you can again celebrate for completing another step toward your dream goal.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Pumpkin Pie with Graham Cracker Crust
Pumpkin Pie with Graham Cracker Crust
Weight Watchers Recipe
5PointsPlus Value
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 65 min
Other time: 30 min
Serves: 8
Our take on this Thanksgiving classic features a light graham cracker crust. The filling's custardy and rich, with just a hint of spice.
Recipe
Read All Reviews (561)
Ingredients
3 oz reduced-fat cinnamon graham crackers, about 5 1/2 sheets
1 Tbsp packed light brown sugar
2 Tbsp regular butter, melted
2 large egg white(s)
1 large egg(s)
1/2 cup(s) dark brown sugar
1/4 tsp table salt
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice, or less to taste
1 cup(s) canned pumpkin
1/2 cup(s) fat free evaporated milk
1/4 cup(s) lite whipped topping
Instructions
Position rack in middle of oven. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
Place graham crackers and light brown sugar in a food processor; process into crumbs (or smash into crumbs in a sealed plastic food bag with a rolling pin). Spoon crumbs into a small bowl; add melted butter and combine with fingers into a coarse meal. Distribute crumbs evenly on bottom and up sides of an ungreased 9-inch pie plate. Chill for 30 minutes before baking. Bake until crust starts to turn golden, about 8 to 10 minutes; remove from oven and let cool.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, using an electric mixer, whip egg whites until frothy; fold in egg, dark brown sugar, salt, pumpkin pie spice, canned pumpkin and evaporated milk. Beat pumpkin custard until smooth and pour into pie shell. Bake until a knife inserted in center comes out clean, about 45 to 55 minutes. Slice into 8 pieces, top each piece with 1/2 tablespoon of whipped topping and serve warm or at room temperature. Yields 1 slice per serving.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Friday, November 15, 2013
Sweet Potato Stacks with Crispy Sage Leaves
Sweet Potato Stacks with Crispy Sage Leaves
Weight Watchers Recipe
2PointsPlus Value
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Serves: 12
A restaurant-worthy side dish from the comfort of your own home. Stacking the ingredients in a muffin pan helps simplify the preparation process.
Recipe
Read All Reviews (82)
Ingredients
4 spray(s) cooking spray
1/4 cup(s) canned chicken broth
2 Tbsp heavy whipping cream
3/4 tsp kosher salt
2 large uncooked sweet potato(es), peeled, thinly sliced
2 tsp unsalted butter
1/2 cup(s) fresh sage, use 12 whole leaves
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a 12-hole muffin pan with cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, whisk together broth, heavy cream and salt; add potatoes and toss until well-coated.
Layer 4 to 5 sweet potato slices in each prepared muffin hole; drizzle remaining liquid from mixing bowl over potatoes. Cover pan with foil and bake for 20 minutes; uncover pan and bake until tops are browned, about 20 minutes more.
While potatoes bake, to prepare sage leaves, melt butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add sage leaves and cook, flipping once, until crispy, about 1 to 2 minutes; remove from heat. Top each potato stack with a sage leave when ready to serve. Yields one potato stack per serving.
Notes
Use long sweet potatoes that are not too fat in the middle so the potato slices in your stacks are somewhat even.
If your stacks don’t brown, put them under the broiler for a minute.
Weight Watchers Recipe
2PointsPlus Value
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Serves: 12
A restaurant-worthy side dish from the comfort of your own home. Stacking the ingredients in a muffin pan helps simplify the preparation process.
Recipe
Read All Reviews (82)
Ingredients
4 spray(s) cooking spray
1/4 cup(s) canned chicken broth
2 Tbsp heavy whipping cream
3/4 tsp kosher salt
2 large uncooked sweet potato(es), peeled, thinly sliced
2 tsp unsalted butter
1/2 cup(s) fresh sage, use 12 whole leaves
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a 12-hole muffin pan with cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, whisk together broth, heavy cream and salt; add potatoes and toss until well-coated.
Layer 4 to 5 sweet potato slices in each prepared muffin hole; drizzle remaining liquid from mixing bowl over potatoes. Cover pan with foil and bake for 20 minutes; uncover pan and bake until tops are browned, about 20 minutes more.
While potatoes bake, to prepare sage leaves, melt butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add sage leaves and cook, flipping once, until crispy, about 1 to 2 minutes; remove from heat. Top each potato stack with a sage leave when ready to serve. Yields one potato stack per serving.
Notes
Use long sweet potatoes that are not too fat in the middle so the potato slices in your stacks are somewhat even.
If your stacks don’t brown, put them under the broiler for a minute.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Green Beans with Mushrooms and Crisp Onion Crumbs
Green Beans with Mushrooms and Crisp Onion Crumbs
Larger Image
Weight Watchers Recipe
3PointsPlus Value
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Serves: 8
A fresh-tasting, flavorful replacement for fattening green bean casserole. Our version's just as tasty and of course, healthier, too.
Recipe
Read All Reviews (323)
Ingredients
2 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided
3/4 cup(s) panko breadcrumbs
2 Tbsp dehydrated onion flakes, minced variety
3/4 tsp table salt, divided
2 spray(s) cooking spray
1 1/2 pound(s) uncooked string beans, fresh, trimmed, cut in half
1 pound(s) button mushrooms, thinly sliced
Instructions
To make crumb topping, in a large, deep nonstick skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium-low heat; add panko, onion flakes and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Increase heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until crumbs are lightly toasted, about 3 minutes. Remove from skillet and set aside; carefully wipe skillet clean.
Coat skillet with cooking spray; place over high heat. Add string beans and mushrooms; sauté until vegetables are lightly browned and tender, about 6 minutes.
Add remaining tablespoon butter and 1/2 teaspoon salt to skillet; toss over low heat until butter is melted and mixture is heated through. Transfer vegetables to a serving platter; sprinkle with crumb mixture. Yields about 1 cup vegetables and 2 tablespoons crumbs per serving.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Spice-Roasted Butternut Squash and Onions
Spice-Roasted Butternut Squash and Onions
Weight Watchers Recipe
4.5 Stars
2PointsPlus Value
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Other time: 0 min
Serves: 6
The aroma of roasted, spice-coated squash is the essence of fall. A wonderful addition to any autumn menu.
Recipe
Read All Reviews (576)
Ingredients
1 spray(s) cooking spray
2 1/4 pound(s) uncooked butternut squash, fresh, peeled, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 medium uncooked red onion(s), halved and thinly sliced
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/8 tsp black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
3 Tbsp cilantro, fresh, chopped
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400ºF. Coat a large nonstick baking sheet with cooking spray.
Place squash and onion on prepared baking sheet; drizzle with oil and toss to coat. Sprinkle with garam masala, salt and pepper; toss to coat.
Roast, tossing about halfway through cooking, until squash and onions are tender and slightly browned, about 25 minutes.
Transfer vegetables to a serving platter or bowl and sprinkle with cilantro; toss to coat. Yields about 3/4 cup per serving.
Notes
Buy already peeled, precut squash at your super market to cut prep time.
Weight Watchers Recipe
4.5 Stars
2PointsPlus Value
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Other time: 0 min
Serves: 6
The aroma of roasted, spice-coated squash is the essence of fall. A wonderful addition to any autumn menu.
Recipe
Read All Reviews (576)
Ingredients
1 spray(s) cooking spray
2 1/4 pound(s) uncooked butternut squash, fresh, peeled, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 medium uncooked red onion(s), halved and thinly sliced
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/8 tsp black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
3 Tbsp cilantro, fresh, chopped
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400ºF. Coat a large nonstick baking sheet with cooking spray.
Place squash and onion on prepared baking sheet; drizzle with oil and toss to coat. Sprinkle with garam masala, salt and pepper; toss to coat.
Roast, tossing about halfway through cooking, until squash and onions are tender and slightly browned, about 25 minutes.
Transfer vegetables to a serving platter or bowl and sprinkle with cilantro; toss to coat. Yields about 3/4 cup per serving.
Notes
Buy already peeled, precut squash at your super market to cut prep time.
Monday, November 11, 2013
Chocolate and Vanilla Meringue Cookies
Weight Watchers Recipe
Ratings
(334)
1PointsPlus Value
Prep time: 8 min
Cook time: 180 min
Other time: 0 min
Serves: 22
Meringues are egg white-sugar cookies that are baked for
a long time at a low temperature. Make yours swirled by combining the
two batters.
Ingredients
| 4 large egg white(s) | |
| 1/2 tsp distilled white vinegar, or cider vinegar | |
| 1 cup(s) sugar | |
| 2 tsp vanilla extract | |
| 2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, powder |
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200ºF. Line 2 baking sheets with foil.
- In a large bowl, beat egg whites with an electric mixer until
frothy. Add vinegar; beat until soft peaks form. Increase speed to high
and gradually add sugar; beat until glossy stiff peaks form. Beat in
vanilla.
- Remove half of meringue to another bowl; stir in cocoa until blended.
- Spoon tablespoons of both meringues onto prepared baking sheets
about 1 inch apart each, making about 44 cookies – half vanilla-flavored
and half cocoa-flavored. Or you can make marbleized cookies by spooning
1/2 tablespoon of each type of meringue into a mound and then swirling
the 2 together with your fingers.
- Bake until meringues feel dry and crisp all the way through, about 3 hours. Turn off oven; leave meringues in oven for 1 hour. Transfer baking sheets to wire racks to cool completely. Peel meringues off foil and store in an airtight container. Yields about 2 cookies per serving.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Thursday, November 7, 2013
spotted at Target
Found these at Target today. They are both 0 points plus per serving... The rumor has it they are sold year around... not just at this time of the year.
Kale!
Market Fresh: Kale
If you haven't already tried this incredibly nutritious, versatile leafy green, you're in for a delicious surprise.
Article By: Rich Rubin
KaleMarket Fresh Series Cap
Kale is the "it" vegetable of the moment, enjoying a celebrity status usually reserved for the likes of George Clooney and Jennifer Aniston. This leafy green can be found on restaurant menus across the country, from the salad course to the main meal, and chances are your supermarket carries at least one variety of this newly popular produce.
A member of the large brassica family (with such diverse cousins as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, bok choy, and turnips), kale is a top source of vitamin A and is loaded with beta-carotene. This nutritional powerhouse is also a significant vitamin C provider and is rich in fiber. It also contains huge amounts of the antioxidant lutein, thought to be helpful in avoiding such optical problems as macular degeneration and cataracts.
Selecting and storing
Look for deep color in the leaves. Kale is best kept in a plastic bag pierced for aeration, and it lasts in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days. While baby kale can be eaten raw, the bigger winter variety should be cooked. Rinse it well under cold water; if center stems are large, strip the leaves from the stem with a sharp knife. Steam about eight minutes and it will be nicely crunchy; steam 30 to 40 minutes to give it a soft texture similar to cooked spinach. Sliced or shredded kale will require less cooking time.
What to do with kale
Kale adds a distinctively sharp and nutty taste to salads as well as cooked dishes. Its strong, peppery flavor helps it stand up to strong meats and adds another layer of zip to salads and stir-fry. Try it on its own or in combination with other, equally robust foods.
1. Add it to soups. Coarsely chopped and sautéed, kale is a welcome ingredient in hearty winter soups such as minestrone or bean or lentil soup. Or try the rich, densely flavored caldo verde (greens soup) from Portugal: Sauté l medium onion, 2 cloves garlic, and 6 peeled, thinly sliced potatoes in olive oil; add 8 cups water or chicken broth and simmer until potatoes are soft, about 20 minutes. Mash potatoes in the pot. Stir in half a pound cooked, thinly sliced linguica sausage (or low-fat turkey sausage). Add 1 pound thinly shredded kale leaves (inner stem removed); simmer 5 more minutes.
2. Toss it in stir-fries. Add chopped kale to your favorite stir-fry about 5 minutes before it's finished cooking. For a quick side dish, simply stir-fry 2 cups of chopped kale with a clove of minced garlic for 5 minutes; top with toasted sesame seeds and a drizzle of sesame oil.
3. Juice it. Juicer devotees will appreciate the pick-me-up kale adds to vegetable juices; combine it with carrots and beets in your juicer and add a little fresh gingerroot for a healthy and delicious juice.
4. Bulk up baked goods. For a spicy twist, add 1/2 cup finely chopped kale and 1 minced jalapeño pepper to your favorite cornbread recipe.
5. Perk up your starches. Chopped very fine and sautéed or steamed, kale can be added to mashed potatoes (one bunch per dozen potatoes) for a boost in flavor, nutrition and color. Alternatively, toss some chopped kale into the pot when you're making rice (use 1/2 cup chopped kale per cup of rice and add at the beginning).
If you haven't already tried this incredibly nutritious, versatile leafy green, you're in for a delicious surprise.
Article By: Rich Rubin
KaleMarket Fresh Series Cap
Kale is the "it" vegetable of the moment, enjoying a celebrity status usually reserved for the likes of George Clooney and Jennifer Aniston. This leafy green can be found on restaurant menus across the country, from the salad course to the main meal, and chances are your supermarket carries at least one variety of this newly popular produce.
A member of the large brassica family (with such diverse cousins as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, bok choy, and turnips), kale is a top source of vitamin A and is loaded with beta-carotene. This nutritional powerhouse is also a significant vitamin C provider and is rich in fiber. It also contains huge amounts of the antioxidant lutein, thought to be helpful in avoiding such optical problems as macular degeneration and cataracts.
Selecting and storing
Look for deep color in the leaves. Kale is best kept in a plastic bag pierced for aeration, and it lasts in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days. While baby kale can be eaten raw, the bigger winter variety should be cooked. Rinse it well under cold water; if center stems are large, strip the leaves from the stem with a sharp knife. Steam about eight minutes and it will be nicely crunchy; steam 30 to 40 minutes to give it a soft texture similar to cooked spinach. Sliced or shredded kale will require less cooking time.
What to do with kale
Kale adds a distinctively sharp and nutty taste to salads as well as cooked dishes. Its strong, peppery flavor helps it stand up to strong meats and adds another layer of zip to salads and stir-fry. Try it on its own or in combination with other, equally robust foods.
1. Add it to soups. Coarsely chopped and sautéed, kale is a welcome ingredient in hearty winter soups such as minestrone or bean or lentil soup. Or try the rich, densely flavored caldo verde (greens soup) from Portugal: Sauté l medium onion, 2 cloves garlic, and 6 peeled, thinly sliced potatoes in olive oil; add 8 cups water or chicken broth and simmer until potatoes are soft, about 20 minutes. Mash potatoes in the pot. Stir in half a pound cooked, thinly sliced linguica sausage (or low-fat turkey sausage). Add 1 pound thinly shredded kale leaves (inner stem removed); simmer 5 more minutes.
2. Toss it in stir-fries. Add chopped kale to your favorite stir-fry about 5 minutes before it's finished cooking. For a quick side dish, simply stir-fry 2 cups of chopped kale with a clove of minced garlic for 5 minutes; top with toasted sesame seeds and a drizzle of sesame oil.
3. Juice it. Juicer devotees will appreciate the pick-me-up kale adds to vegetable juices; combine it with carrots and beets in your juicer and add a little fresh gingerroot for a healthy and delicious juice.
4. Bulk up baked goods. For a spicy twist, add 1/2 cup finely chopped kale and 1 minced jalapeño pepper to your favorite cornbread recipe.
5. Perk up your starches. Chopped very fine and sautéed or steamed, kale can be added to mashed potatoes (one bunch per dozen potatoes) for a boost in flavor, nutrition and color. Alternatively, toss some chopped kale into the pot when you're making rice (use 1/2 cup chopped kale per cup of rice and add at the beginning).
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Sausage and Cabbage
Soup
6 servings at 5 pts each
Pear and Walnut Salad
6 servings at 3 pts each
Prep Cook Total
10m 20m 30m
14 oz smoked turkey sausage, diced into ½
inch cubes
2 cups shredded coleslaw mix with carrots
4 green onions, sliced
6 cups fat-free chicken broth
½ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon celery salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup uncooked small macaroni
Hot sauce to taste
---------------------------------------------------------------
1 bag chopped salad mix
2 pears, peeled and sliced
¼ cup chopped walnuts
12 tablespoons Kraft®light raspberry vinaigrette
In a large sprayed stockpot, sauté sausage,
coleslaw and green onions on medium heat for
4 to 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
Add broth and seasonings; bring to boil. Stir in
macaroni; cook and stir often, 7 to 8 minutes or
until macaroni is tender. Add hot sauce to taste.
Serving: 1½ cups.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Toss all salad items together and divide into 6
Soup
6 servings at 5 pts each
Pear and Walnut Salad
6 servings at 3 pts each
Prep Cook Total
10m 20m 30m
14 oz smoked turkey sausage, diced into ½
inch cubes
2 cups shredded coleslaw mix with carrots
4 green onions, sliced
6 cups fat-free chicken broth
½ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon celery salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup uncooked small macaroni
Hot sauce to taste
---------------------------------------------------------------
1 bag chopped salad mix
2 pears, peeled and sliced
¼ cup chopped walnuts
12 tablespoons Kraft®light raspberry vinaigrette
In a large sprayed stockpot, sauté sausage,
coleslaw and green onions on medium heat for
4 to 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
Add broth and seasonings; bring to boil. Stir in
macaroni; cook and stir often, 7 to 8 minutes or
until macaroni is tender. Add hot sauce to taste.
Serving: 1½ cups.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Toss all salad items together and divide into 6
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
The curious foodie
http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=223881
Click on the above link!
Click on the above link!
Monday, November 4, 2013
Slow Down
Eating at a more leisurely pace can help your weight-loss efforts.
Article By: Amanda Genge and Lisa Thomas COMMENTS (38)
Mindful EatingTopic Of the Week
The holiday season is hectic — there’s just no getting around it. To get through the day, many of us have become expert multi-taskers — juggling personal, family and work responsibilities. Unfortunately, this means that we're often performing double duty at mealtimes, too. We grab (and devour) breakfast while commuting to the office; squeeze in a quick lunch while working at our desks; and wolf down dinner while watching TV with the family. This pattern of speed eating can cause us to overeat. However, with a little planning and time practicing this month’s Routine: Put your fork down and sip water between bites, you'll learn that there are many good reasons to take a little longer to eat, especially with holidays around the corner.
Making food the focus
Think about your last couple of meals. Were you doing anything else while eating? Activities, like texting or checking in with social networks, for example, might have become such a regular part of your daily routine that you may not notice they’re actually imposing on your eating habits. But they are! Putting on the brakes and focusing only on your food can actually help you enjoy your meals more and eat less as a result. There's even research to back it up: One study found that people ate 10 percent fewer calories when they dialed down their pace than when they scarfed down their food.
In your meeting this week, your Leader and fellow members will share simple strategies you can use to slow down and eat more mindfully. We’ve also gathered ideas you can try right now. Pick one or two that seem doable and consider sharing your results with the group.
Tips to help you decelerate when dining
Pay attention to food choices. When we’re in a hurry, we might just grab whatever is convenient. Planning meals ahead of time eliminates some of this last-minute temptation. But even if you have to wing it, stopping first to ask yourself whether the options are truly what you want to eat (and worth the PointsPlus® values) will help guide good selections.
Eat frequently. Don't let more than four hours go by between meals, so you aren't famished when you sit down to eat.
Take a quiet moment. Before you dig in, stop to reflect on your mood. A little mini-meditation before a meal can help keep emotional eating in check.
Take it all in. Engage all your senses. How does the food look and smell? Anticipate that first taste and really savor each mouthful as you go.
Downsize your bites and bulk up your food. The meal shouldn’t be a race to the finish line. Take smaller bites, put your fork down in between, chew each one thoroughly (fiber-rich foods like apples, popcorn and broccoli take longer to chew) and take a sip of water before raising your fork again.
Avoid social sidetracks. Dining out with family and friends (especially during the holidays) is one of life’s pleasures. Distracting conversations however, can cause you to lose track of what and how much you’re eating so keep checking in with your plate (and your appetite). Also try to limit time you spend around food pushers.
Do a quick check-in. Don't forget to track your meal. Mobile, online or your 3-Month Tracker — use whichever tool works best for you. You might also try jotting down how you're feeling at the time (satisfied, hungry, anxious, preoccupied).
Reflect on what you would do differently next time. How could you better prepare? Check out your Spaces tool for more quick and simple tips.
Eating at a more leisurely pace can help your weight-loss efforts.
Article By: Amanda Genge and Lisa Thomas COMMENTS (38)
Mindful EatingTopic Of the Week
The holiday season is hectic — there’s just no getting around it. To get through the day, many of us have become expert multi-taskers — juggling personal, family and work responsibilities. Unfortunately, this means that we're often performing double duty at mealtimes, too. We grab (and devour) breakfast while commuting to the office; squeeze in a quick lunch while working at our desks; and wolf down dinner while watching TV with the family. This pattern of speed eating can cause us to overeat. However, with a little planning and time practicing this month’s Routine: Put your fork down and sip water between bites, you'll learn that there are many good reasons to take a little longer to eat, especially with holidays around the corner.
Making food the focus
Think about your last couple of meals. Were you doing anything else while eating? Activities, like texting or checking in with social networks, for example, might have become such a regular part of your daily routine that you may not notice they’re actually imposing on your eating habits. But they are! Putting on the brakes and focusing only on your food can actually help you enjoy your meals more and eat less as a result. There's even research to back it up: One study found that people ate 10 percent fewer calories when they dialed down their pace than when they scarfed down their food.
In your meeting this week, your Leader and fellow members will share simple strategies you can use to slow down and eat more mindfully. We’ve also gathered ideas you can try right now. Pick one or two that seem doable and consider sharing your results with the group.
Tips to help you decelerate when dining
Pay attention to food choices. When we’re in a hurry, we might just grab whatever is convenient. Planning meals ahead of time eliminates some of this last-minute temptation. But even if you have to wing it, stopping first to ask yourself whether the options are truly what you want to eat (and worth the PointsPlus® values) will help guide good selections.
Eat frequently. Don't let more than four hours go by between meals, so you aren't famished when you sit down to eat.
Take a quiet moment. Before you dig in, stop to reflect on your mood. A little mini-meditation before a meal can help keep emotional eating in check.
Take it all in. Engage all your senses. How does the food look and smell? Anticipate that first taste and really savor each mouthful as you go.
Downsize your bites and bulk up your food. The meal shouldn’t be a race to the finish line. Take smaller bites, put your fork down in between, chew each one thoroughly (fiber-rich foods like apples, popcorn and broccoli take longer to chew) and take a sip of water before raising your fork again.
Avoid social sidetracks. Dining out with family and friends (especially during the holidays) is one of life’s pleasures. Distracting conversations however, can cause you to lose track of what and how much you’re eating so keep checking in with your plate (and your appetite). Also try to limit time you spend around food pushers.
Do a quick check-in. Don't forget to track your meal. Mobile, online or your 3-Month Tracker — use whichever tool works best for you. You might also try jotting down how you're feeling at the time (satisfied, hungry, anxious, preoccupied).
Reflect on what you would do differently next time. How could you better prepare? Check out your Spaces tool for more quick and simple tips.
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