I want this lunch again!

Happy Friday Eve all!!!  I cannot wait for the weekend and my long run with my sis!  I am working on focusing on more FILLING FOODS (CORE FOODS) which basically means, clean foods, that are not processed and will help fill you up ~ like lean proteins, veggies, fruits, low fat dairy,whole grains, etc to see if this will help me eat less.  I think if I put a bunch of the good stuff in, then, I won’t have as much room for the not so good stuff.

I read somewhere in an article that each person eats the same amount of volume every day regardless of what you eat.  So, if you fill your tummy with volumous veggies and such, then, you will be filling up that space with less calories.

Anyway…that’s my ramble and my goal for this week.  Feel free to share your FAVORITE ideas as I am always open to looking for new ways to fill up 🙂

A perfectly hard boiled egg ~ 2 points of Protein

Then, I moved onto dessert!  I completely LOVED this bowl of oats!

1/3 c Quaker Old Fashioned Oatmeal

1/2 Tbsp ground Organic Flax Seeds

BIG dashes of ground cinnamon

2/3 c water

1 NECTARINE, chopped

All cooked in the microwave for 2 minutes.  Then, I added the BEST TOPPERS

1 1/2 tsp whipped butter, crumbled

1 tsp brown sugar

Sprinkle of unsweetened organic coconut

I let everything get all melty ~ The brown sugar created a FANTASTIC caramel sauce that was contrasted with the salty butter.

I made sure to get everything in each bite.  Can you believe this entire bowl is only 3.5 points?!

I had REALLY DIRTY thoughts this morning when I pondered my mid morning snack!  Awww, common, not like that ~ get your mind out of the gutter ~ I had a 3 point DIRTY LATTE (grqande, nf, decaf, 2 pumps mocha).

I LOVE getting out at lunch time for my runs because it can really make any grumpy day better.  I went a total of 3.83 miles, walking the last portion ~ 1/2 mile.  I am glad I pushed through it because I really wanted to stop after 2 miles….but, I wasn’t going to let my brain win.

When I got back, I whipped up one of the TASTIEST QUIKC LUNCHES I’ve had in a long time.  It started off with this Trader Jose’s (LOVE TJ’s creativity LOL) Vegetarian Chili.

4 points for 1/2 a can.

REAL ingredients ~ win, win!

I started off with a layer of leftover SMASHED SWEET POTATOES ~ 2/3 cup for 2 pts.

 

Then, I added in the layers of goodness.

1/2 can TJ’s Vegetarian Chili (although homemade would’ve rocked!!)

1 Tbsp diced red onion

2 Tbsp low fat finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1/2 roma tomato, chopped

1/4 AVOCADO, chopped

BIG SHAKES OF SRIRACHA HOT SAUCE!!!

OMG ~ Words cannot even describe how good this was.  The entire dish was 9 points and worth everyone!!!  The BEST part if you are doing the Simply Filling Method/CORE ~ it’s CORE (if you use FF cheese of course).

I had 1 cup of grapes for dessert (1 pt).

YUM, YUM, YUM ~ I totally want to do it all over again ~ I WISH I had more sweet potato now!

I gave myself TWO GOLD STARS today for passing up on the birthday cake celebration.  Instead, I opted for 2 points worth of cashews because you know it’s totally the same thing as cake :).

On my way home, I stopped at Target and picked up some of these Kashi TLC Mediterranean Bruschetta Crackers that one of my readers recommended.

2 crackers are 1 point or you get 4 for 2 points.

Not too bad considering how HUGE they are, huh?  I had two to test them out.  I like them – they are sorta sweet, salty and you can totally taste the sesame seeds with the sun dried tomato basil.  I bet they would be FANTASTIC with tuna and or as mini sandwiches using laughing cow, ham and pickles.

One of my FAVORITE ways to get in my 2 teaspoons of healthy oil on the WW program is by making HASHBROWNS.  Have you all ever tried this?  I cheat by taking the frozen Ore Ida Potatoes (LOVE the ones with peppers & onions already).

2/3 c = 1 point!!!

I added 2 tsp of oil per serving (I was making 4 servings so 1 1/2 Tbsps) plus 1 small chopped onion and 1 small chopped bell pepper.

Top with your potatoes and “fry” them until they are browned over medium heat, about 10 minutes flipping a few times through.  Be sure to use a nonstick pan or they get “stuck” and mushy.  I LOVE topping them with garlic salt and freshly ground black pepper as they cook.

I had a 1 cup serving for 3 points.

Crispy and totally like the kind you would get in a restaurant, but, healthier since you controlled how much oil was used. AWESOME!

While the taters cooked, I grilled up some LEAN pork chops with Annie’s Sweet & Spicy BBQ Sauce (honestly the only flavor I like).  2.5 ounces ~ 2.5 points!

Plus a cup of Swiss Chard that was topped with garlic salt and pepper.

My 30 minute delicious meal that had The Husband Mmmm and oohhhh the whole time :D!

BAY AREA BLOGGERS OR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO MEET!!!

TJ and I were thinking of hosting a Blogger Meet up ~ What do you all think?  Email me at danicasdaily at gmail dot com if you wanna be in on the action ~ FUN!!!

Stay tuned tomorrow for a FUN FRIDAY GIVEAWAY ~ INVOLVING TARGET!!!

I am off to read my Amazing Adventures of Diet Girl Book ~ Nite all!