Starting my new lifestyle....help!

I eat a lot of cottage cheese, I mix it in oatmeal and make fruit parfaits with it. I also eat a lot of stir fry's just need to limit the sauce and oils when you make them. But they are loaded with veggies and lean protein.

Check out skinnytastes.com for some good recipes.

Fried rice:

rice
scrambled egg
corn (or other frozen veggies)
onion
soya sauce

cook the rice and egg separately, combine them with other ingredients in a pan to fry.


you can make a ton at once and then reheat it for subsequent meals, and it's fairly healthy!

I recently found johnsonville chicken sausage with cheddar cheese in them, delicious! Also, Freschetta makes a couple of "healthy" pizzas... thin crust with pepperoni, peppers and mushrooms and I know there is one with spinach on it too, they're kinda expensive though. I've recently started making a lot of chicken breast or lean pork chops with either shake n bake or my own bread crumb & seasoning combination. Fresh veggies and fruits are a must! Salad with fat free shredded cheese and fat free or light dressing is always a good side. If you want, add me as a friend... I make lots of easy dinners cause I'm not a huge fan of cooking. My food diary is open so if we're friends, you'll be able to see what I'm eating.

For breakfast or even lunch I make my own egg and cheese english muffin sandwich. Just one large egg, fat free cheese slice, and 100 calorie english muffin with a side of carrots or strawberries. Pretty simple and easy dinner that I like to make is tilapia. I buy the bag of frozen tilapia, thaw what I want, and sprinkle a small amount of italian bread crumbs and parmesan cheese for flavor and bake for about 12 minutes at 425. I usually have steamed vegetables to go with. Snacks I usually try to have fruit around or caramel rice cakes (satisfies my sweet tooth a bit). Oatmeal with a little bit of brown sugar and bananas is a pretty regular breakfast item for myself as well.

My husband currently works the night shift so I'm on my own for dinner a lot. I love to cook, but don't want to go to all the trouble for just me. These are just some of the simple things I like to throw together. I'm also home with a 4 month old, so quick and easy is my favorite

Baja Fresh Bowl at Home:

Take meat (preferably shrimp and beef. Tilapia works nicely, too) and stirfry with corn, onions and green peppers. Pour some smoked hot sauce into it for chipotle flavor. Brown it.

Chop some romaine lettuce and tomatoes and put it into a bowl. Add a touch of cilantro.

Combine everything and give it a good shake. Serve with a squirt of lime and slice some avacados on top.

Everyone will think you know how to cook.

everything in moderation + exercise. Don't limit your self to "healthy" foods. Do this and you'll be good to go.

For snacks, we like baby carrots, mini peppers, wasa crackers w/ natural peanut butter, grapes, pistachios, & sunflower seeds. I've replaced regular bread with wraps & fold-it flatbread.

Breakfast:

Mission Carb Balance Whole Wheat Tortilla (small)
Over-easy egg
sprinkle a little feta
1 Tbsp picante sauce
diced avocado

Fresh, delicious and 2 of these babies is only about 470 calories.

Chicken and other lean meats are a good start
lots and lots of fresh veggies
chickpeas- there are several recipes online for roasting them. My 3 year old asks for these
quinoa-plain is yummy but mixing it with some egg and low fat cheese and baking in muffin cups is even better
get a tub of greek yogurt and mix a ranch packet with it.. High protein veggie dip
I could go on forever but i won't.. Join pinterest if you aren't already a member. YOu will find a ton of healthy fun ideas

Try things like light string cheese and mixed cheese sticks. They don't have that nasty after taste we all think of when we hear the word light. Also try substituting Almond Milk for milk in your cereal. It makes the cereal sweeter and allows you to skip adding sugar to it. Special K chips are a great substitute for regular chips, and you can eat a boat load for minimal calories. For tasty treats try skinny cow items, like their ice cream bars and candy clusters. They are really good and only about 100 calories a treat.

Here is my meal plan for this week. I was actually going to do a new post sharing it, but since you asked for meals...

Monday
Breakfast Apple & 1 string cheese
Snack pack of almonds
Lunch salad w/eggs & feta cheese
Snack trail mix
Dinner Chili Salmon w/Vege steamer w/parm cheese & asparagus & sweet potatoes

Tuesday
Breakfast Veggie/Fruit Smoothie w/flax
Snack 2 String cheese
Lunch quinoa pre-made salad
Snack apple
Dinner chicken pieces in tomato sauce & avocado

Wednesday
B Hard boiled egg, Veggie/Fruit Smoothie w/flax
S apple
L tuna w/egg & balsamic vinaigrette
S almonds
D couscous salad w/sun-dried tomato, cucumber & artichoke hearts

Thursday
Breakfast Veggie frittata
Snack almonds
Lunch Lentil, beet, cucumber, goat cheese salad w/balsamic vinegar & olive oil
Snack pb celery
Dinner Parmesan Quinoa

Friday
Breakfast greek yogurt w/granola
Snack fruit leather
Lunch Cucumber salad
Snack Med Mix
Dinner Quinoa-Edamame Salad w/Sesame-Ginger Dressing

Saturday
Breakfast pb & coconut Apple halves
Snack hb egg
Lunch Chicken & Quinoa Tossed Salad
Snack trail mix
Dinner Turkey Black Bean Soup w/Salsa Fresca, avocado & plain greek yogurt

Sunday
Breakfast Grapefruit & hb egg
Snack 2 String cheese
Lunch Couscous Margherita
Snack string cheese/dried fruit
Dinner seasoned turkey patty lettuce wrap

Recipes:
Lentil, Beet and Goat Cheese Salad
In a bowl, top 2 cups salad greens with 2/3 cup boiled lentils, 1/2 cup chopped steamed beets, 1/2 cup sliced cucumber, 1 oz crumbled goat cheese. In another bowl, combine 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar, 2 tsp olive oil; season with sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder; toss with salad. Serve with 8 strawberries.

Cucumber Salad
In a bowl, combine 1/2 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt, 1/2 cup diced cucumber, 1/2 cup diced tomato, 1/4 chopped avocado, 1/8 tsp sea salt, a pinch of black pepper.

Parmesan Quinoa
Top 1/2 cup cooked quinoa with 2 tbsp marinara, 2 tsp grated Parmesan.

PB and Coconut Apple Halves
Halve 1 apple. Top each half with 1/2 tsp peanut butter, 1/2 tsp unsweetened shredded toasted coconut.

Chicken and Quinoa Tossed Salad
In a bowl, toss 2/3 cup cooked quinoa with 1/4 cup baby spinach, 1/4 cup shredded carrots. Top with 3 oz chopped grilled chicken breast, 2 tbsp crumbled blue cheese, 1 tbsp dried cranberries, 1 tbsp chopped walnuts. Drizzle with 1 tsp balsamic vinegar, 1/2 tsp olive oil.

Mediterranean Mix
In a bowl, toss 1 cup halved grape tomatoes with 3 tbsp crumbled feta, 1 tsp olive oil, 1 tsp balsamic vinegar.

Quinoa-Edamame Salad With Sesame-Ginger Dressing
In a bowl, combine 1 cup cooked quinoa, 2/3 cup shelled cooked edamame, 1/4 cup shredded carrots, 1/4 cup chopped cucumber. In another bowl, combine 2 tsp toasted sesame oil, 1 tsp rice wine vinegar, 1 tsp low-sodium soy sauce, 1/2 tsp grated ginger, 1/4 tsp garlic powder; toss with quinoa mixture.

Couscous Margherita
In a medium pan, sauté 1/3 cup chopped onion, 1 chopped garlic clove in 2 tsp olive oil, 2 minutes. Add 1 cup halved grape tomatoes, 1 tbsp water; cook, stirring, 1 minute. Simmer until tomatoes are soft, 5 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup cooked shelled edamame, 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil, 1/8 tsp salt, a pinch of black pepper; cook 2 minutes. Serve over 1/2 cup cooked couscous; top with 1 tbsp shredded Parmesan.

Chili Salmon With Veggies
In a microwave-safe bowl, nuke 6 asparagus stalks in 1 tbsp water for 1 minute. Heat broiler. Spray a 5-oz wild salmon fillet with olive oil cooking spray; place in a baking pan skin side down. In a bowl, combine 1/2 tsp chili powder, 1/4 tsp dried oregano, 1/8 tsp salt; rub on flesh side of fillet. Brush asparagus with 1/2 tsp olive oil; place on pan beside salmon; broil until fish flakes easily, 3 to 4 minutes. Serve with 1 large baked sweet potato topped with 1 tbsp nonfat plain Greek yogurt.

Hope this helps;)