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.
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