Monday, October 12, 2009
I'd like an energy bar sandwich please
love energy bars? love sandwiches? Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches can be transformed by adding a fun ingredient in the middle. I personally love putting in a few broken up pretzels but getting creative can only add to the fun you can have with this old fashioned favorite. chocolate chips, raisins, granola, honey nut cheerios are just a few ideas. Happy pbandj-ing!!!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
100 calorie pack- The Great Debate
Love 100 cal packs or hate them? I'm always a fine line with them, I think because some are good and some are not. I haven't bought any in a while but I used to enjoy pairing the chips ahoy 100 cal pack with a light N fit yogurt back when they were only 60 calories for a 160 calorie "fake sundae". I think the key is to avoid eating them when you are very hungry because that will just end up making 4 out of the 6 packs in your kitchen disappear. There have been studies shown though that the 100 calorie packs help you to better measure portion size when eating out a large bag. I am not good with large portions, the 100 calorie packs help me stop because I can eat the whole bag and then toss it, but I'm pretty sure if you put a large bag of chips in front of me I'd eat at least half actually I'm completely sure of this :)
One snack I've been eating a lot of (I've officially started writing down calories the last 3 days and getting back on track with food) 1/2 cup fat free cottage cheese (80 calories) 1/4 cup fiber one original cereal (30 calories) and a tablespoon of sugar free strawberry jam (10 calories) for 120 calories I'm eating healthier and getting a lot more substance than I would from a 100 calorie pack.
I'd love to hear some of the great snacks you come up with in the kitchen!
One snack I've been eating a lot of (I've officially started writing down calories the last 3 days and getting back on track with food) 1/2 cup fat free cottage cheese (80 calories) 1/4 cup fiber one original cereal (30 calories) and a tablespoon of sugar free strawberry jam (10 calories) for 120 calories I'm eating healthier and getting a lot more substance than I would from a 100 calorie pack.
I'd love to hear some of the great snacks you come up with in the kitchen!
Monday, October 5, 2009
winner winner chicken dinner
so I found an awesome new product that I love, love, love! Hormel White chicken chili! I just love chili and this is a great, quick dinner idea. its 240 cal/ 8g fat/5 g fiber per cup. I added a half cup of corn (60 cal) to bulk it up a little more. It has 2.5 servings in it which I hate the half serving like am I going to be half as hungry? No I'm going to eat 1.5 times more but other than that go out and test this out you wont be disapointed!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
dinner and a leftover lunch!
okay so yesterday being the sweeet amazing daughter I am I offered to make dinner!
STUFFED CHEESE AND PEPPER CHICKEN
I had three chicken breasts and cut them almost in half but not quite so filling could be put inside. I put a light laughing cow cheese wedge with chopped red pepper in each of the chicken breasts and closed them. I then melted some butter and mixed it with salt, pepper, crushed garlic and dried basil and just dipped my hands in it and rubbed it on the chicken breasts and put them in the oven for 30 mins at 400 degrees.
PARM OVEN ROASTED BROCCOLI
melt some butter or use olive oil. mix in cup with crushed garlic, parmesan cheese and pepper. Put broccoli in large bowl and pour mixture over and mix with your hands until broccoli is covered. when chicken only has 15 minutes left put the broccoli in with it.
I also made a batch of I believe it is East Side rice pilaf, it was really good and tasted nice mixed up with the leftover broccoli when I ate it for lunch today.
My mom doesnt like cheese that much so I ended up cutting up half of her left over stuffed chicken and eating it on wheat bread with come garlic hummus for lunch today.
STUFFED CHEESE AND PEPPER CHICKEN
I had three chicken breasts and cut them almost in half but not quite so filling could be put inside. I put a light laughing cow cheese wedge with chopped red pepper in each of the chicken breasts and closed them. I then melted some butter and mixed it with salt, pepper, crushed garlic and dried basil and just dipped my hands in it and rubbed it on the chicken breasts and put them in the oven for 30 mins at 400 degrees.
PARM OVEN ROASTED BROCCOLI
melt some butter or use olive oil. mix in cup with crushed garlic, parmesan cheese and pepper. Put broccoli in large bowl and pour mixture over and mix with your hands until broccoli is covered. when chicken only has 15 minutes left put the broccoli in with it.
I also made a batch of I believe it is East Side rice pilaf, it was really good and tasted nice mixed up with the leftover broccoli when I ate it for lunch today.
My mom doesnt like cheese that much so I ended up cutting up half of her left over stuffed chicken and eating it on wheat bread with come garlic hummus for lunch today.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Cash for clunkers! except with make-up
I got an email and I was just soo excited to tell everyone (sorry male readers)! Sephora make-up has a cash for clunkers program with old make up! I'm sure everyone has that lipstick that looked so good in the store and when you got home you decided you like a clown. Well anyways bring any five unwanted pieces of make up and get $10 off $50 purchase...Heres the even better news. It doesnt have to be sephora make up it can be drugstore make up they just want to recycle the cases!
Recessionista's Unite!
Do you find yourself going out less and less with friends to save cash? Sometimes I find it a little sad that food and drinks are the first things I think of when meeting up with the gals, but lets face it: food and drinks are awesome! I have some great ideas that will make saving money fun!
Potluck dinner- have a group of people that you go out with? Staying in can be cheap and delicious! How else are you going to eat and drink for under $10. You can take turns "hosting" so one person isnt always stuck with clean up! Give everyone a $10 or less spending limit and a type of food in mind. Fun ideas:
FOOD
*tortilla chips with different kinds of salsa
*veggies and dip
*homemade pita chips and hummus
*baked ziti or mac and cheese
*2 subs from the subway $5 menu cut up into smaller sections
*sushi ( unless everyone is a seasoned sushi eater stick with cali and veggie rolls which are enjoyed by all and cheap!)
MISC
*napkins plates cups-if no one wants to wash and buying them all once will last for several parties ( buy recycled :))
*drink mixers
The host can be in charge of alcohol (yes this may be a little more expensive but that why you take turns) and making an awesome playlist for her guests. If you want to make it a weekly event find a TV show and everyone likes and center your nights around it!
Happy Hours-the best idea EVER! Happy hours are a great way to try new restaurants, food, drinks and save money! Happy hours are usually Monday-Friday from 5 to 9 so there can't be hours and hours of getting ready if you have a job ( which I don't but if I did...okay don't know where Im going with this) I usually call ahead and ask the hostess because waitresses can be pretty secretive about happy hour specials reasoning: just because you get a 1/2 priced appetizer you still have to leave a full priced tip! You would think this would be common sense but sadly it is not. Recessionistas still need to tip well for good service!
Great Deals going on
I'm going to write about national chains that have great deals so this is useful to everyone but it's usually the non-chains that have great daily specials and deals so check out your neighborhood and help local businesses
TGIFridays
lunch- $6.99 unlimited salad, soup, breadsticks and coffee, tea or soda. Tested and approved
Football season(gameday)-$7.99 ribs, $3.99 6 , boneless wings, $3.99 2 jack daniels sliders
CHILIS
2 people- 3 courses-$20, after further investigation- you share an appetizer, both get an entree (theres a few salads to pick from), and you share a dessert.
APPLEBESS
lunch-pick n'pair starting at $5.99 choose from soup, salad, sandwich, pasta
2-for-$20 an app and two entrees
RED LOBSTER/OLIVE GARDEN
*soup salad bread sticks lunch
*have smaller portions for cheap
*endless shrimp...omg such a bad and great idea all rolled into one.
CHEESECAKE FACTORY
*smaller portions (if you've seen their portions you know a small portion here is a normal portion anywhere else) for cheap, you can also split meals here.
OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE
15 meals under $15
Hope this has helped you out some and since this is a saturday night you might want to take one of these ideas and run with it!
Potluck dinner- have a group of people that you go out with? Staying in can be cheap and delicious! How else are you going to eat and drink for under $10. You can take turns "hosting" so one person isnt always stuck with clean up! Give everyone a $10 or less spending limit and a type of food in mind. Fun ideas:
FOOD
*tortilla chips with different kinds of salsa
*veggies and dip
*homemade pita chips and hummus
*baked ziti or mac and cheese
*2 subs from the subway $5 menu cut up into smaller sections
*sushi ( unless everyone is a seasoned sushi eater stick with cali and veggie rolls which are enjoyed by all and cheap!)
MISC
*napkins plates cups-if no one wants to wash and buying them all once will last for several parties ( buy recycled :))
*drink mixers
The host can be in charge of alcohol (yes this may be a little more expensive but that why you take turns) and making an awesome playlist for her guests. If you want to make it a weekly event find a TV show and everyone likes and center your nights around it!
Happy Hours-the best idea EVER! Happy hours are a great way to try new restaurants, food, drinks and save money! Happy hours are usually Monday-Friday from 5 to 9 so there can't be hours and hours of getting ready if you have a job ( which I don't but if I did...okay don't know where Im going with this) I usually call ahead and ask the hostess because waitresses can be pretty secretive about happy hour specials reasoning: just because you get a 1/2 priced appetizer you still have to leave a full priced tip! You would think this would be common sense but sadly it is not. Recessionistas still need to tip well for good service!
Great Deals going on
I'm going to write about national chains that have great deals so this is useful to everyone but it's usually the non-chains that have great daily specials and deals so check out your neighborhood and help local businesses
TGIFridays
lunch- $6.99 unlimited salad, soup, breadsticks and coffee, tea or soda. Tested and approved
Football season(gameday)-$7.99 ribs, $3.99 6 , boneless wings, $3.99 2 jack daniels sliders
CHILIS
2 people- 3 courses-$20, after further investigation- you share an appetizer, both get an entree (theres a few salads to pick from), and you share a dessert.
APPLEBESS
lunch-pick n'pair starting at $5.99 choose from soup, salad, sandwich, pasta
2-for-$20 an app and two entrees
RED LOBSTER/OLIVE GARDEN
*soup salad bread sticks lunch
*have smaller portions for cheap
*endless shrimp...omg such a bad and great idea all rolled into one.
CHEESECAKE FACTORY
*smaller portions (if you've seen their portions you know a small portion here is a normal portion anywhere else) for cheap, you can also split meals here.
OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE
15 meals under $15
Hope this has helped you out some and since this is a saturday night you might want to take one of these ideas and run with it!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Money-wise meals
Going along with the hunger challenge I'm going to do a semi-recap of my recent meals/money-wise meals.
1. spaghetti and meatballs ( its a classic and delicious)
2. broccoli and rice with shredded cheese (QUICK and can be used with anything to get rid of leftovers) ( grains tip-if you have a whole foods nearby, look in the bulk food bins for your grains, they have super cheap basmati rice I know for a fact)
3. Salads- again a great way to get rid of odds and ends in the fridge and is especially cheap if you buy heads of lettuce instead of bags.
4. frozen meals- I know a lot of health bloggers would rather die than eat a frozen meal but deliciousness so quickly with enough sauce to put in an extra cup of veggies I say DO IT! Kashi makes some great FILLING meals that are totally worth thr $4 price tag.
5. My favorite EGGs , egg sandwich, boiled, scrambled, omeletted pretty much anyway you do it you cant mess up.
6. Feelin fast? I say Wendy's - you can't beat it chili and side salad on the dollar menu!
I failed the hunger challenge today I'm ashamed to say, I chauffered my mom around this morning because she had foot surgery and needed to go to an appoinment and a store and I did not say no when she offered to buy me breakfast at dunkin donuts. I went on a date which I thought would just be coffee but turned into lunch; I had MORE coffee and an amazingg chicken santa fe wrap (chicken, cheddar cheese, roasted red peppers) soo good, and then for dinner my dad broughtphilly cheesesteak subs home. So even though I spent zero cash I thought I would admit these to you b/c it is freakin hard not to spend money on food when you are outside of your house and HUNGRY!
I'm very excited about my next post! stay tuned...
1. spaghetti and meatballs ( its a classic and delicious)
2. broccoli and rice with shredded cheese (QUICK and can be used with anything to get rid of leftovers) ( grains tip-if you have a whole foods nearby, look in the bulk food bins for your grains, they have super cheap basmati rice I know for a fact)
3. Salads- again a great way to get rid of odds and ends in the fridge and is especially cheap if you buy heads of lettuce instead of bags.
4. frozen meals- I know a lot of health bloggers would rather die than eat a frozen meal but deliciousness so quickly with enough sauce to put in an extra cup of veggies I say DO IT! Kashi makes some great FILLING meals that are totally worth thr $4 price tag.
5. My favorite EGGs , egg sandwich, boiled, scrambled, omeletted pretty much anyway you do it you cant mess up.
6. Feelin fast? I say Wendy's - you can't beat it chili and side salad on the dollar menu!
I failed the hunger challenge today I'm ashamed to say, I chauffered my mom around this morning because she had foot surgery and needed to go to an appoinment and a store and I did not say no when she offered to buy me breakfast at dunkin donuts. I went on a date which I thought would just be coffee but turned into lunch; I had MORE coffee and an amazingg chicken santa fe wrap (chicken, cheddar cheese, roasted red peppers) soo good, and then for dinner my dad broughtphilly cheesesteak subs home. So even though I spent zero cash I thought I would admit these to you b/c it is freakin hard not to spend money on food when you are outside of your house and HUNGRY!
I'm very excited about my next post! stay tuned...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)