Happy Monday all! I am SO EXCITED that the sun is finally out and shining all week long. I think Spring has finally sprung and today’s 70 degree weather proved it 
I started my day off with a Brown Sugar Banana Nut Muffin (5 points+)
Plus banana and strawberry “chips” ~ it’s what I think as I eat them 
Mid morning my stomach let me know I NEEDED protein so I had a hard boiled egg and a nectarine (2 points).
I had actually planned on making TJ’s Chinese Fake Out for lunch but The Husband called and asked me to meet him for lunch.
You know, he totally had to twist my arm to go to Monsoon Burger! I ventured out today and tried something new.
California Chicken Burger
* Whole Wheat Bun – dry (4 points+)
* 6 ounce Grilled Chicken Breast (6 points+)
* 1 slice melted pepperjack cheese (3 points+)
* 1/2 an AVOCADO!!! (5 points+)
* 2 slices crispy, curly bacon ~ the REAL DEAL! (2 points+)
* All the fixin’s: ketchup, mustard, lettuce, tomato, pickled onions & jalapenos
I didn’t even come close to eating half LOL….but, it was sure tasty and I am super proud I didn’t order the fries (you can’t eat what you don’t order!!). I got potato salad that I gave to The Husband (easy to resist because I am not a fan of it ) (10 points+ for my half)
My “burger” kept me full all afternoon, but, I started to get a little hungry before I hopped on the treadmill for a 30 minute C25K session.
Pre-workout snack ~ 2 Low-Fat Banana Bread Cookies (4 points+)
After working out, I did a little bit of prep for the week. I am really trying to focus on getting in more protein especially at the start of my day since I get up so early now.
I saw this recipe in last month’s Clean Eating Magazine for making Homemade Ginger, Pear & Turkey Sausage Patties and knew I had to try it. I’ve only made Sun Dried Tomato Basil Turkey Sausage Before and I LOVED that.
This is one of the easiest recipes to whip up especially because I used my food processor to chop it all.
Chop or dice ~ 1 mini pear, 4 green onions and 1/4 cup cilantro
Finely mince 1 seeded jalapeno.
Then, finely chop 1 Tbsp ginger.
Combine with 1 lb lean turkey breast, 1/2 tsp sea salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, pinch of crushed red pepper flakes and 1 1/2 tsp canola oil (or Pure Maple Syrup if you want sweetness)
Make into 8 patties and “fry” in 1 1/2 tsp canola oil over medium heat until browned on each side and cooked through, about 4-5 minutes per side.
Makes 8 “burger sized” patties, 2 points+ each (don’t mind the missing one, that would be The Husband trying them out – lol).
The Husband made us some “mean” salads for dinner similar to the Bacon, Feta and Walnut Salad I made awhile back.
* Organic Mixed Greens
* Organic Cherry tomatoes, English Cucumber, Mini Peppers, shredded carrots
* 2 Tbsp LF – Mozzarella, 1 points+
* 1 slice Trader Joe’s Peppered Turkey Bacon, 0 points+
* 1 Tbsp dried cranberries, 1 points+
* 1 tsp sliced almonds, 0 Points+
* 2 Tbsp Wishbone Super Fruit Dressing, 2 points+
One huge @$$ delicious 4 points+ salad
I ALWAYS feel like salads need more ~ like bread or protein. So, I took the BEST of BOTH worlds and toasted up a 1/2 of a Lentil Bolani Bread (3 points+ for half, 7 Points+ for a whole!)
I took TJ’s advice and toasted it in the toaster oven and topped it with Sweet Jalapeno Sauce. OMG ~ it was AMAZING! Crispy with hints of lentil, cilantro and spice ~ sort of like a bean burrito. It might actually be my new all time fav Bolani Bread.
NEW AT FRIENDS FOR WEIGHT LOSS
*Shannon is back with an awesome cookie recipe ~ 2 Points+ Chocolate Chip Cookies ~ Need I say more?!
GIVEAWAY
WIN 1 of 4 signed copies of Rocco Dispirito’s NEW Cook This, Not That Cookbook!
Q’s
Do you eat your salads as a meal or do you add bread, soup, sandwiches or other sides?
I only eat my salad alone if it is topped with protein (chicken, beans or something similar) and it’s BIG. Otherwise, I treat my salads as a side dish.
Night all!
Hi! I’ve been following your blog for a long time and am so inspired by your positive attitude and your awesome, versatile and exciting recipes! My motivation is not necessarily to lose weight, but to begin a healthy relationship with food. I have struggled with an eating disorder for over a year and am finally trying to find peace with my body! This book will help me learn to cook recipes that are healthy and delicious as well as teaching me to properly nourish my body! You rock Danica 🙂
Mostly, salads are my main meal.
We eat lots of salads as meals! LOVE the one your hubby put together…I’m gonna show it to my Aussie so he get’s the hint, lol. I just got the Clean Eating Cookbook…it looks great, PLUS of course I had to order Rocco’s new book…can you tell I have a cookbook obsession???
Both burgers look great! I agree, the best salads are the ones with a little of everything!!!
Must make the turkey sausage!!! Must get some bolani bread at TJ!!! MUST not read your blog before going grocery shopping(sort of like going to the grocery store hungry 🙂 !!! You always find the best recipes!!!
Way to rock the workouts, Danica!
I always need something with my salads – usually bread or crackers!
That burger looks AH-MAZING!
Hey Danica –
I just wanted to say that I am a new reader and for the past few days, I have gone back and read every blog post you made on Points+! I find you to be such an inspiration, with your meal plans, photos and point breakdowns, and amazingly yummy looking creations!!! I don’t have a significant amount of weight to lose but before doing WW I was eating horribly unhealthy, rarely getting in fruits & veggies every day. It’s amazing to see just how unhealthy you were eating before when you look at point values! I have never been a HUGE fan of vegetables but I am slowly learning and I swear, all your dishes look so delicious to me! As I’m writing this I’m eating one of your famous Eggwiches! Thanks so much for posting every day, I don’t think I will ever get tired of it!!
Ashley
I have salads as both. If I want to use a dressing higher in PointsPlus, I’ll load the salad up with lots and lots of whatever veggies we have in the house. But then there are times I’m just having something small for dinner than won’t fill me up, and I have a smaller salad with a lighter dressing. Either way, salads are completely underrated!
I’ve got to get a food processor!!! What a good meal.
Hey Danica, your burger AND salad look amazing. I always like a slice of some kind of toast with my salad, maybe an english muffin. Idea for your morning protein: Last Sunday, I “nuked” a whole package of TJ Pepper Turkey Bacon that I LOVE! (thank you for that tip). Anyway, each day after my 3:30 am gym, I get to work at 5:30 or so and eat 2 hard boiled egg whites and 2 strips of turkey bacon. Lasts for a long time, then I have fruit and my oatmeal around 8:30 or 9. Stretches 5 points for the morning!
I would love to win this cookbook because first of all I don’t have any healthy cookbooks. Secondly it would just be awesome to have – all the great information in it.
Your burger looks super good. I just might have to make it. It would be a nice change from salmon patty’s.
Thanks for your great blog.
You have me craving a muffin and a burger. Thanks a lot.
Yay you for getting those workouts it. I REALLY REALLY want to find some of that bolani!!! I know I’d love it. Have a great day Danica!!!!
I love Rocco! My motivation for losing weight is to get back into shape after gaining 15lbs last year when my husband retired from the Air Force and we spent the entire summer traveling and eating!
Well my motivation to lose weight use to be to look good, fit in a certain size jean or for an upcoming event.
Something happened when I turned 50. I started to realize that I needed to eat well and treat my body well and do everything I can to stay as healthy as I can.
I can’t control everything about my health but I can control how I eat and how I treat myself. I am choosing to treat myself with the same kindness and respect I give to my family or a friend.
It has taken me all of my adult life to figure this out. Better late than never!
Let’s see I was always the fat kid growing up, you know the kind oh you have such a beautiful face! Yes, that one! I need change, my family has diabetic history and I don’t want to become one of my family’s statistic. My whole family is of larger size and I am motivating them all and we all joined weight watchers together even though I live in CA and they live in Las Vegas. It makes visits a lot easier since we are all on the same page. I love to cook and love Rocco’s recipes, he’s a genius! That’s my two cents! Fingers crossed!
I actually like full-meal salads with al the fixings, flavors and textures….I also love simple olive oil/vinegar dressing!! YUM!!
My motivation? First, my kids. They deserve a mom who is healthy and takes care of herself and who will be around to play with their children someday. Second, myself. I always put others first. It’s finally time to make myself a priority.
Danica – what is a mini pear? I made the turkey patty last night and the family LOVED it! I had another at lunch today crumbled on my salad. Can’t wait to make it again. I just used a regular pear but curious as to what a mini pear is.
HI Vicki,
Yeah, I am so glad everyone LOVED the sausage – they are so easy to make and tasty too. I am not sure if it is really called a mini pear or not, but, they are small pears that I bought at Trader Joe’s in a 3 lb bag. I called it a mini pear because it was like 1/3 the size of a normal pear.
Danica