Happy Biggest Loser Day all! Thanks for sharing all your reasons with me on why you attend the Weight Watcher Meetings and Days you do on my last post. I think it’s awesome hearing how cool all your meetings are…I wish we could all just rotate and go visit each others. How fun would that be?!
Power up Pre-Workout snack ~ 2 Slices Trader Joe’s Peppered Turkey Bacon (2 points+) and a banana.
I actually debated working out my entire train ride because I actually hurt my back this weekend. I have NEVER had a back injury before so I really feel for those of you who struggle with it all the time ~ it’s awful.
I thought I’d start off with walking and go from there. Walking was slow, running wasn’t going to happen after 3 steps. After 10 minutes I decided to give the bike a try but that was a DEFINITE NO. The elliptical was actually the BEST option because it didn’t bother my back or so I thought. It’s be aching all day so maybe I still need to rest 
Post workout snack ~ I had the last of our watermelon and a lite string cheese (1 points+)
My mouth still wanted something else and I remembered I had these Pepperidge Farms Baked Cracker Chips in my desk. I actually forgot they were in my desk (good, bad? LOL).
I didn’t check the stats before I left the store because if I knew they were 4 points+ a serving I probably would’ve put them back. My cracker points+ limit is usually 2-3 points+ max since they never really “fill” me up.
I had had a serving for 2 points+ and decided I couldn’t keep them in my desk. They are totally salty, crunchy addictive ~ pretty much like Sun Chips.
Lunch was more Chicken & Bean Soup Deliciousness! (8 points+) I LOVE that this soup is super hearty and keeps you full for about 5 hours.
I didn’t “actually” need an afternoon snack but as we were randomly discussing our days, I snacked on a few of the tortilla chips that The Husband had out. (4 points+ for 12).
Dinner tonight was absolutely FANTASTIC and I can honestly say I probably would’ve never tried this recipe if it wasn’t for my Craving Ellie in my Belly Cooking Club. Leslie of Lethally Delicious picked Ellie’s Wheat Berry Salad.
I am not sure why I’ve NEVER made a Wheat Berry Salad before ~ I like Wheat Berries and have used them to top oatmeal or act as croutons in salad. I LOVE their chew factor. Making them into a crunchy, chewy, nutty pasta salad is a new thing for me but definitely something that I will be repeating again and again!
Click HERE to get Ellie Krieger’s Wheat Berry Salad Recipe. Trust me, you want to make it!
Wheat Berries are basically the ENTIRE kernel of wheat minus the hull. I bought my Wheat Berries out of the Bulk Bins ~ they are super cheap ~ Around $1.39/lb.
To cook them, you boil them in LOTS of water (think your soup pan filled) for about an hour until they are tender. You will want to watch the water and add more as needed.
I boiled my wheat berries up on Sunday so all I’d have to do during my busy workdays is toss everything together to make this fantastic salad.
I think there are two things that take this salad to the next level in flavor. One is the Dry Roasted Walnuts!
The other is the dried fruit. I didn’t have Dried Cherries so I used this Triple Fruit Treat I picked up awhile back at Trader Joe’s.
4 Points+ per 1/3 cup.
I also think next time in addition to the celery, green onion an parsley, that chopped apples or pears would be give a delicious sweet crunch.
This recipe really is just that simple ~ put everything in a bowl and toss!
I was actually SHOCKED when I saw The Husband scoop big bites of this salad when I wasn’t looking (this coming from the person who never even used to like Wheat Bread, Whole Wheat Pasta or Brown Rice!) I LOVE that I have influenced his taste buds so much he couldn’t wait to dig into the WHEAT BERRY SALAD….SO PROUD!
I served 3/4 cup over Organic Mixed Greens with Carrots and Cherry Tomatoes for 10 points+. I think next time I’d squeeze some lemon juice on my greens before topping them as well since it isn’t really “saucy” like.
It’s chewy, nutty, sweet, tangy from the Meyer Lemon Juice and just plain delicious.
I cannot wait to have it for lunch tomorrow as I bet all the flavors just melt together. Great pick Leslie ~ we both LOVED it!
NEW AT FRIENDS FOR WEIGHT LOSS
* Looking for holiday sides ~ Check out these 1 points+ Green Beans with Bacon!
GIVEAWAYS!!
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Q’s
Have you ever used Wheat Berries? If so, how do you eat them? Straight up, as a salad, in soups or ???
I NEED ideas as I still have more to use up 
Go PURPLE Girls!!! Night all!
Looks like wheat berries may have to be a bulk bin buy for me on my next trip to WF! The salad looks wonderful…wonder if I can get my meat-loving Aussie to try it? Your hubbie looks adorable with wheat-berry-puffed cheeks 😉
I love wheatberry salads – they’re so good and versatile. You really can do anything with them!
I have just recently started cooking wheat berries and I LOVE them! I just posted this soup using them yesterday!
http://mykitchenadventures1.blogspot.com/2011/04/crockpot-wheat-berry-and-turkey-sausage.html
I read Triple Fruit Treat as Triple Fruit Threat and it made me laugh pretty hard! 😉
I have yet to try cooking with wheatberries, but I really want to! I think that I’d love the texture. As for what to do with them… I’m thinking in a STIR FRY! 😀 Maybe mushrooms, onions, chicken, spinach & wheatberries topped with green onions and cilantro mixed in at the end. …and for the sauce… soy sauce, sriracha & a little sesame oil.
Never ever heard of wheat berries, going to check into them and see if I can find some locally. Question: your turkey bacon always looks so crisp, do you fry? microwave? Going to try turkey bacon this weekend and want to know best way to cook it. Thank you!
I have a ton of wheatberries, but honestly had no idea what to do with them. Thank you for this!!!
I’ve been hearing more and more about wheat berries but I have yet to use them. But your dinner looked amazing so I may just have to bite the bullet and give it a try.
My father owned and operated a grain elevator in Montana when I was growing up. We ate cooked wheat berries every morning with milk, sugar sometimes raisins. We ate the wheat raw, by the handful, all day long…we made our own flour and bread from the same grains. I don’t believe we ever got anything fancy though…like beautiful salad.
Hi Kelly,
I actually microwave my turkey bacon. I place the strips on two paper towels and top them with 1 additional paper towel. Microwave for about 1 minute per slice give/take depending on the power of your microwave.
Danica
I’m glad you posted this early so I could see what you did with yours. You will laugh at mine. I had no idea what a wheat berry was. But now that I see yours I might try to find some! Great job and beautiful photos.
Beautiful salad! I’ve always wanted to try wheat berries but have been too intimidated!
I guess I did miss out not using the wheat berries. I made mine with brown rice because there just wasn’t time to get the berrries. Oh well.
It looks great. I’m posting my version NEXT thurs. I’ll have to double CEIMB it. 🙂
Good job.
I love wheat berry salads so I will be giving this recipe a go! Thanks for sharing! 🙂 I’m proud of you for knowing that you needed to not keep those chips at your desk! It’s good to know what we can and can not behave with. You go girl! 🙂 PS I would probably eat the entire bag. :-/
I love when Sean eats something that he thought was nasty before…so go Jay! lol 🙂
I have used wheat berries in w/my brown rice when I cook it. They are so good, but have to try that salad!
Haha, HI JAY!
I am so glad you liked this one! Mine needed extra seasoning but I agree, there are a lot of ways to mix this one up. I also made my wheat berries ahead of time which made putting this together a snap. Thanks for cooking along with me this week!
I hope your back gets better soon…I have problems with mine and I know how painful it is. Ice! Ice! Ice! That will help a lot.