Happy Monday all! I started my morning off by earning my “butt time watching The Scandalous Bachelor tonight. 35 minutes on the treadmill followed up with crunches and pushups. I surprisingly didn’t get hungry for breakfast for a few hours.
Believe it or not, my Starbuck’s STILL has the Christmas cups….Grande Dirty Latte with a banana (4 points+)
I spent the morning shopping with my birthday coupons and stocking up on goodies at Trader Joe’s. To help me stay on track this week, I whipped up lunches for the entire week.
I made a 5 minute Stir-Fry using this Healthy 8 Chopped Veggie Mix from Trader Joe’s.
I totally bought it for the color, but, had I read RADISHES, I would’ve put it back LOL.
To my pan that had 2 tsp Canola oil and the Healthy 8 Veggie Mix, I added my FAVORITE Teriyaki Sauce around ~ Trader Joe’s Island Soyaki (the entire bottle is only $2.99).
5 minutes later a huge batch of 0 points+ veggies.
I have found that if I add a bunch of veggies to lunch, then, I can have 1 cup of this Weight Watchers Chicken Fried Rice and be satisfied.
Healthy Chicken Fried Rice – 1 cup is only 4 points+!
You know I totally dumped Srirachi all over my veggies and rice.
Isn’t it cool that this entire dish of “healthy Chinese food” is only 4 points+ and it only took 20 minutes to make?! LOVE!
The BEST part is I now have FOUR, delicious low point lunches that I can have with fruit or Spicy Peanut Coleslaw and still enjoy my birthday treats without breaking my points+ budget!
I couldn’t help busting into a NEW Trader Joe’s Item I found….I mean ~ chocolate, toffee, popcorn…..
Sweet, salty, crunchy, creamy…..
4 points+ per serving….
Which actually is quite a bit if you savor it. I LIKE it, but, I don’t LOVE it….it’s more sweet than salty and you don’t really taste the toffee over all the chocolate.
Snacks ~ TJ’s Social Crackers and Sharp Cheddar (4 points+)
I was still hungry so I had an apple…..I LOVE that you can grab fruit whenever you need just a little something more and have it not count against your points+.
Dinner tonight was another one of Vicky, Cook of Death’s amazing recipes ~ Creamy Crockpot Chicken
I have to admit that I have never cooked with cream cheese or Italian dressing mix like this and I am usually not a fan of crockpot recipes I can’t leave all day.
But, THIS RECIPE sounded delicious and seemed easy enough to make.
Simply coat your chicken with one package of Good Seasons Italian Dressing Mix and cook in your crockpot for 2 hours.
Remove and chop your chicken, then return it to your crockpot.
Saute 1 onion, 1 garlic clove and 1 Tbsp butter until soft.
I decided to go with Whipped Cream Cheese because I LOVE this cream cheese, but, any brand or type would do.
Mix in cream cheese, cream of chicken soup with 1 can of water (my addition since I was using fresh veggies).
I also had a bunch of mushrooms I needed to use and thought they would go with this dish nicely.
Stir in the cream mixture with the chicken, frozen peas and 1 bag of California Blend Veggies (I used fresh but you could use frozen). Cook for 2-3 additional hours until your veggies are soft and cooked through.
I couldn’t wait to dig in because this crockpot meal will have your house smelling amazing.
OMG – total bowl of comfort! I LOVED how this dish tastes super creamy and rich, yet, the Italian Dressing gives it this great zesty flavor. We both LOVED this dish and cannot wait for leftover. Thanks Vicky!
~ 3/4 cup served over 1/2 cup brown rice (7 points+).
I ended my day with some super huge blueberries for dessert.
Q’s
Do you make your lunches up for the week or do you make something new each day?
It just depends for me. I used to always make up my lunches for the entire week, but, since I don’t want to bore you all with the same thing each day, I mix it up some. Afterall variety is the spice of life 🙂
If you watch the Scandalous Bachelor ~ do you have a favorite yet?
Night all!
ooo i think i have another crock pot recipe for the list! thanks!
EMILY!
That is all.
🙂
I love the stir fry idea! I’m definitely picking up those veggies and soyaki!
Vicky’s chicken dish looks great, too!!!
I usually make up my lunches for the week…during the winter it’s soup but usually by Thursday or Friday I’m SO tired of eating it!!!
I’m going to have to save up some $$ and make a trip to Trader Joe’s in the spring!
I love radishes, but hate onions! 😀 I tend to make new lunches every day, only because my husband doesn’t ever eat leftovers, so I usually make dinner into my lunch somehow – like I made a pork tenderloin over the weekend – I plan on having a pork bbq sandwich with some of the leftovers, and then pork fried rice with lots of veggies.
I do make A LOT of soup though – and I end up portioning those out – its great on mornings that somehow get away from me and all of a sudden I have 5 minutes to put my food together for the day. 😀
I love the stir fry idea for a healthy lunch!
Love chicken and will be trying that one for sure sounds toooo gooood! Thanks again for you and your Blog you are a life savor!
Both recipes look so yummy!! I chinese food and the pictures of your lunch you made looks awesome! One question though, what is Srirachi?? Also, can’t wait to see your list of foods you get from Trader Joes….
I’m SO glad you bought that popcorn because I didn’t dare. Way too dangerous. Now I don’t have to!
Your recipes look wonderful. (and again, has me longing to get to the border and drive to Trader Joe’s in Washington state). As for lunches? I’m a make one each day kind of girl. Have a good day!!
I make up my lunches/snacks for work the night before. I’m not good enough to preplan for the week (that’s how you amaze me) AND to stick to that. lol Rather, I plan ahead the nite before and pack some 0 pts+ veggies & fruits in and some good filling foods. If I don’t do that I’ll eat garbage!!
I usually make a batch of something, soup, or hummus or I roast a few chicken breasts to go on salad or sandwich. I also cut up veggies for 2 days at a time to go with my hummus. . Then I just mix & match depending on what I’m in the mood for!
I go back and forth… I will pre-make stuff for a while and then get sick of having to pre-plan things that I’m not sure I’ll feel like. Then I will not plan stuff and wing it and will then get sick of not having some things ready to go and end up not wanting to chop up (example) salad stuff.
Lately I have been making a big salad (think HUGE) Sunday afternoon along with one big pan of casserole or pasta bake for B. Then I have a few meals ready to go for when I don’t feel like cooking.
I love all your TJ products that you show. I have bought more than a few based on your recs. Tonight I’m having a pasta fagioli soup with the TJ’s social crackers and cheese. I dont love that cream cheese though, its very tangy. I like philly whipped, Its the same points, but it doesnt have the tang. Have you tried the frozen TJs stir fry veggies? I just bought them to serve with some potstickers I got at the farmer’s market. Oh and congrats on your weight loss. How long have you been doing WW?
I meant to ask, have you tried the Torani sugar free syrups? I get 3 bottles on Amazon for 11 and change( subscribe and save). They do haev a chocolate you might like.( I get vanilla and caramel) I drink an iced coffee everyday that I make myself with real half and half. I use 2 points worth( 4tbls) and the sugar free syrup. I can’t wait to wake up each morning and have it. I make a pitcher of the coffee that lasts for 4 days. Oh and Hershey’s also makes a sugar free choc. syrup too. Not sure about the points for that.
i just watched the bachelor for the FIRST TIME EVER last night, so i don’t know anyone’s names. i don’t like the girl who got the first rose at the rose ceremony last night. i thought she seemed super pushy and a little crazy.
Your recipes are so awesome. You should put out your own cookbook.
I knew you’d do the recipe justice!!! Looks so good when you do it. I love this recipe. 🙂
Doesn’t the Soyaki and 2 tsp Canola oil add points to the veggies? Just curious as I’m new to WW and wasn’t sure.
It looks delicious and I’m dying to go to a TJ now. I have an Earth Fare store that is on my way home from work, so I stop there frequently.
Have you ever tried Bragg Liquid Aminos? I saw it at the store and thought it might be good on the WW fried rice.
How much of the cream cheese did you use in the chicken recipe? I am assuming the whole container? It looks scrumptious!
HI Nichole,
I used the entire tub which is 8 ounces.
Danica
HI Lisa,
Yes, the Soyaki and oil add points+ to the recipe, but, when you divide it over the number of servings it still equals 0 points+/serving.
I have had the Bragg Liquid Aminos, it is pretty tasty and just like soy sauce.
Danica
Hi Randi,
You know, I pretty much rarely buy cream cheese to eat straight up, I LOVE laughing cow. I have a feeling I’d agree with you on this one if I was eating it ~ I’ve only cooked with it 🙂 I like that it is whipped over not really that is the only thing.
I have had their frozen stir fry veggies – added them to udon noodles once and they were delicious. I like your idea of serving them with potstickers. I would be all over potstickers if my farmer’s market sold them.
I have pretty much done Weight Watchers off and on my entire life – this past go round, 7 years without quitting once.
Danica
Hi Tonya,
Srirachi is a spicy chili sauce that I LOVE. A little goes a long way, but, the flavor is awesome.
You can find it in the asian food section at most grocery stores.
http://www.huyfong.com/no_frames/sriracha.htm
Danica
Hi Randi,
I used to use those syrups all the time before I gave up all sugar free stuff 5 years ago. I was way too addicted – they are delicious. I have since learned to drink my coffee au natural, sometimes with a little mocha, sometimes a little caramel but most days, just straight up. It took a LONG time to get there though and I almost gave up coffee for the fact that I couldn’t hang without anything in it. Now I LOVE it…guess I’ve trained my taste buds 🙂 Your drinks sound fantastic. I LOVE iced coffee.
Danica
I made this creamy chicken with veggies last week, I like quick and easy since I am studying for the bar exam! I made this and loved it, and my parents, who are not dieting but eat what I cook, loved it too and said it didn’t taste diet at all! Thanks so much for all your recipes and ideas!!