Monday, December 6, 2010

Dec. 6: Snowy Monday

Isn't it a nice feeling when you think you have pigged out but then realize it wasn't really that bad?  When I was adding up my food today I had that pleasant surprise......

Until I remembered the TARTS.

Dang.

Despite the tarts, the FOUR tarts, my intake was still within diet numbers.

Calories:  1822
Carbs: 208 (eek)
Fat: 64
Protein: 100

Not great but not nearly as bad as before I got at least one leg up on the wagon. (although the other leg is dangling and dragging in the dirt behind the wagon.)  Geez, I don't know what's wrong with me.  Is there a confused smilie?

On to the weekly meal plan.

On Sunday I cooked a batch of chicken breasts.  I found a really great seasoning that contains no MSG.  It is a brand called Cool Runnings and I found it in the ethnic food aisle.  It's just their multi-purpose seasoning.  I sprinkled it liberally on the chicken breasts and baked them in the oven.  Spicy and delish.  Then I made my lunches for the week.


I packed 4 pieces of Tupperware with the above concoction:  6-6.5 oz chicken breast sliced over 1 cup of frozen veggies.  The veggies are either broccoli or green beans.  I heat this in the microwave at lunch time for about 2.5 minutes and the veggies are perfectly steamed.  YUM.

Today I made a crock pot full of soup.  I'm working really hard to increase my veggies.

Crock Pot Beef and Veggie Soup

1 can of diced tomatoes with olive oil and garlic
1 can f diced potatoes
1 can of mixed veggies
1 pound of extra lean ground beef
Seasoning to taste
(I used Italian seasoning, my Cool Runnings seasoning,
black pepper, onion powder and garlic powder)
1 cup of water

Cook the concoction all day (8-9 hours) on low.  Yummy smelling tasty soup will await you when you get home.  Ballpark calories for this lusciousness on a cold and snowy Monday?  80 calories per cup!

Yep, I relied heavily on the canned goods for convenience today. The goods I chose were not loaded with salt and I was careful to select brands without additives or preservatives. Sure, fresh would be better but I'm a single working mom and sometimes corners are just going to be cut. Period.  As long as I use careful judgement about what corners I'm choosing to cut, convenience can still be part of a healthy lifestyle.

Weekly Menu:

Monday:  Beef and veggie soup
Tuesday: Beef and veggie soup
Wednesday:  Turkey Burgers, sweet potato fries
Thursday: more soup (my daughter will be at dad's tonight or she would rebel against having soup 3X!)
Friday: dinner out with the kids - pizza?

I didn't go nuts on variety this week.  Sometimes when I am trying to get into the swing of dieting I do better when I don't have as much variety.  This seems like one of those weeks.

I got up early today and used hot rollers and the entire array of warpaint on my face.  Sadly, my long-awaited, much-dreaded, work uniform shirts arrived today, so tomorrow and every workday thereafter, I shall be clad in a hideous, unflattering blue shirt.  However, from the chin up, I'll do my best!
Keep warm!  If you are living in a wintery climate, enjoy the beauty of the first snow!

2 comments:

  1. Honestly, you are my meal planning inspiration. Yesterday, I went through my fridge and cupboards and made myself a meal plan and the only thing I had to go buy was milk. I"m shooting to save money too. Made a big batch of your rice recipe too. Thank you!!

    Damn tarts.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love snow. (because we rarely get it!)

    Your meals look so very yummy! I made a beef and veggie soup AND a sheppards pie last night out of one roast.

    There is something about soup when its really cold that just makes you smile dont you think?

    ReplyDelete