Please Help this Salsa Addict...

kmumansky

Hi. I'm new to MFP. I'm having a problem...I'm addicted to salsa which isn't bad, since it's just vegetables and I make my own from my garden...very low cal. The problem is the vehichle in which I eat the salsa....Hint of Lime Tostitos! I haven't had any in a week but now my Tomatillo's are starting to be picked from the garden and I'm about to make my all time favorite salsa I dunno what to do??? I'm really not a big junk food eater but CHIPS AND SALSA are my most guilty pleasure...and honestly it's the salsa I'm really after I just can't think of anything else to eat it in.

Any ideas?

infamousmk

Eat it on celery or carrot slices! On chicken breasts, salads... all kinds of things!

sandyfeet10

Can you switch to the whole grain tostitos or the baked ones?? Buy the big bag, then set portions in smaller baggies. You'll never make it if you don't allow yourself to eat your favorite.

smeyerdirk

Eat them in moderation, only allow yourself one serving. I am a potato chip nut and haven't cut them out of my diet because they are so yummy :bigsmile: and I still lose weight so why not. Good luck!

Janelle31

Make your own pita chips. I cut whole wheat pitas into the chip size that I want, put them on a cookie sheet and bake them until they're crispy. About 15 minutes at 350 degrees. You can also split the pitas in half before you bake them.

ShellyMacchi

i actually love salsa on poached eggs.
Also as a topping while baking chicken...
also delicious on baked sweet potato (or regular potatoes too)

baked pita chips (easy to find recipes to make your own healthy versions abound online) are awesome as well *s*

SueInAz

Salsa on eggs is fabulous! Poached or scrambled or however you like them. Eat it with celery sticks. Pour it on chicken and bake, although not too spicy because salsa gets spicier when you cook it....

dmpizza

Toast Pita or tortillas. Overall healthier, still high on salt if that is a concern.

2Bgoddess

Make your own pita chips. I cut whole wheat pitas into the chip size that I want, put them on a cookie sheet and bake them until they're crispy. About 15 minutes at 350 degrees. You can also split the pitas in half before you bake them.

I love this idea! thanks for sharing!

JamieSK

Do you have a Trader Joe's near you? TJ's has baked blue corn tortilla chips that aren't too bad...maybe a little internet research to see who sells lower cal/fat chips. Would it be too odd to eat it on slices of red/orange/yellow bell peppers? You can eat the salsa on egg beaters or whatever really...I bet it would be good on eggs...

melissabee31

on fish tacos, any kind of taco?

Like others have said, let yourself eat it or you will go crazy. I still eat ice cream. I just eat 1/2 cup instead of half the gallon Having 9 chips with salsa is better than 0!

ak_in_ak

portion out a serving of chips and eat the salsa off the chips so you can reuse the chips for a couple dunks.

I am totally with you on the salsa love, only on chips though . . .

carrie1128

Oooh, I love those hint of lime ones too. I love me some salsa. I buy the fresh kind and use it on everything. I make homemade quesadillas for lunch a lot and dump it on top. I also put it on burgers and things I used to use Ketchup with.

kmumansky

i like the idea of trying to make my own chips. I do eat salsa on eggs already. I put it on turkey burgers, tacos etc. I'm looking for more snacking ideas because sometimes I want the salsa to be my main flavor and not really just have it as a condiment. I've never tried it as a dip for veggies, will try that also. I'm literally afriad to open the bag of chips, because while I have a lot of control (my husband works for M&M Mars and our house is FULL of candy because they give it out like crazy at work and I control myself with that), I honestly don't think I could stop at 1 serving of chips. I could maybe do two servings. I take huge heaping scoops of the salsa to try and cut down on chips LOL. In the winter when i buy the pre-made salsa (the fresh kind in the tubs) it's not abnormal for me to eat half a tub of salsa in one day. Dividing the bag into smaller bags right away is a good idea, I might be able to control it if I do that.

I'm not too concerned with salt, my doctor tells me to add salt to stuff because of some abnormalities that usually come up in my bloodwork. Although he reccomends I get it from foods like pickles and not chips

greensnow

Iceberg lettuce leaves?

janetb21

Salsa is good on slices of cucumber.

kmumansky

Iceberg lettuce leaves?

OMG! GREAT idea...I can't even remember the last time I ate iceberg lettuce because its so tasteless and has no nutritional value...but it's crunchy and mostly water...so potentially perfect for this!

Cucumber is also a great idea as I'm picking 10 a week from my garden!

Seriously you guys are great! I couldn't think beyond the chip...

Stumbleine

I am the exact same way when it comes to chips and salsa, I can't get enough! The chips that I've switched to is a brand called Garden of Eatin'. They have whole grain blue corn tortilla chips that are low in sodium and have nice things added like flax seed.

kmumansky

I am the exact same way when it comes to chips and salsa, I can't get enough! The chips that I've switched to is a brand called Garden of Eatin'. They have whole grain blue corn tortilla chips that are low in sodium and have nice things added like flax seed.

Those are good I've had them before!

PanteraGirl

A few people mentioned Kale chips on MFP and say that it is sooo good.....I have yet to try it! I will try and find you the recipe....do you mind sharing a homemade salsa recipe....I usually buy it store bought...but would love to try making it!

marycmeadows

I LOVE using slices of cucumber instead of chips! It's sooo delicious!

Also, I put salsa on everything - fish, eggs, meat, and I've heard peach salsa is great on cottage cheese. I also love it mixed in with beans (kidney beans, chickpeas, etc).... Also on salads!

dandur

Make your own wonton chips. http://www.dashingdish.com/2011/07/wonton-crisps/

A wonton wrapper (not the eggroll type, without toppings, etc) is only about 5 calories each.

PanteraGirl

A few people mentioned Kale chips on MFP and say that it is sooo good.....I have yet to try it! I will try and find you the recipe....do you mind sharing a homemade salsa recipe....I usually buy it store bought...but would love to try making it!

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/baked-kale-chips/detail.aspx

Thats the recipe for kale chips

kmumansky

A few people mentioned Kale chips on MFP and say that it is sooo good.....I have yet to try it! I will try and find you the recipe....do you mind sharing a homemade salsa recipe....I usually buy it store bought...but would love to try making it!

I usually just make it up as I go..but normally something like this:

Tomatoes, seeded & Diced (not sure how many...just whatever looks right)
1 or 2 Jalapenos Diced
1/4 - 1/2 an onion diced
1 clove minced garlic
Big handful of cilantro, chopped
Juice of 1 or 2 limes
salt and pepper to taste

You can also just throw it all into a food processor instead of doing all that chopping and dicing

Tomatillo Salsa (Salsa Verde)

10-12 Tomatillos removed from husk and rinsed
2 cloves of garlic
1 onion, quartered
1-2 jalapenos
Big handful of cilantro
juice of 2 limes
salt and pepper to taste

Boil the tomatillos, garlic, onion & jalapenos in water for a few minutes until slightly softened. Drain and put into a food processor with the cilantro and lime juice. Process until desired consistancy. Put in a container and refrigerate to cool.

jjbraid

I know how you feel. I do put salsa on everything. If it is spicy I feel like I am eating more. My weakness...cheesefries. Oh man. I salivate just thinking about them. For me, I could not have just a few so I avoid it like the plague. But as far as chips go-take 9 out of the bag and go to another room to eat. Out of sight, out of mind.

PanteraGirl

Thanks so much for the recipe...I posted the one for Kale chips....I hope the Kale chips taste good and goes with the salsa!!

milehighcritic

I love chips n salsa and guacamole . I have to be careful to only consume the treat on a heavy workout day, I have sometime substituted Trisquit crackers instead of chips. Instead of a whole bag chips I can eat six crackers which is about 150 calories.

corapie

I love to make salsa from the garden & tomatoes are perfectly ripe just now. I like it on salads instead of dressing or on eggs or in an omelet. Also you can put it on fish before you bake it or toss it in with some whole wheat pasta like a fresh tomato sauce. Cucumbers sounds like a good snacking idea too.

Cornpuff32

when I was in college I used to make my own chips by toasting the fajita size flour or corn tortillas....in a regular toaster. Start on the lowest setting, and push down again if you need to.

There are some chips that are popcorn like, but still tortilla based. I can't remember the brand name, but they weren't bad. I've been eating a lot of Aunt Gussies Cracker Flats lately, lots of whole grain and one BIG cracker is 60 cals. I one with a 1/3c of salsa the other night.