This week: cabbage, bananas, pumpkin, and sweets

It's that particular time when I'm craving sweets like a mad woman.  I've been all over the internet looking for Weight Watchers recipes that won't get me kicked out of the healthy eating community, and I'm making them today to save myself from myself!

I should've gone into a little more detail last week about the whole food routine.  One thing about being healthier and eating healthier is that you've got to dedicate some time to it.  At first this was really bothersome to me, because I already feel like there's not enough time in the day. (I mean, who doesn't?)  But it's turned out to be kinda awesome.  I spend Sunday planning my food, going grocery shopping, and then cooking or prepping for the rest of the week. 

Here's this week's challenge: 

quinoa

left over bananas

left over bell peppers

cabbage

major sweet tooth

Mexican food withdrawal

and the need for comfort food.

So here's what I've came up with:

Stuffed cabbage casserole (but I used chicken instead of beef, and quinoa instead of brown rice)

Tabbouleh with quinoa (I added chicken to this one, also)

Corn, bacon and potato chowder

Pumpkin Muffins

Homemade protein balls (teehee)

and Crock pot Santa Fe Chicken 

Super Mega New Year and New Me

Long story short, last year about this time I signed up with Ron Lyon's Ultimate Body boot camp.  It was a great experience, and besides getting a whole new look on fitness, I learned a lot about nutrition.  And what I think I learned most about nutrition is that if you don't want to always be craving restaurant food, you better learn to cook.
Fast forward to this year, I have signed up for Weight Watchers, and I'm learning to cook (again).  haha
I've also signed up as a shareholder in a local CSA (you should do the same if you get the chance).
Last week's locally grown organic fruit and veggie haul was:

apples, oranges and pears
bananas
spinach
cabbage
rainbow chard
leeks
bok choy
butternut squash
and red potatoes

and at the grocery store I got:
zucchini
mushrooms
feta
tomatoes
and lemons.

Out of that (plus some random pantry items) I made:

homemade apple sauce with cranberries (really good with vanilla greek yogurt)
oven fried zucchini and squash
pasta with butternut squash
chard and ham stuffed potatoes
stuffed mushrooms (soooooooo good!)
plus I bagged up the leftovers for random veggie additions later in the week.


Week one--- total success!  Yum! Plus I lost 2 pounds!

-MM