A Fresh New Start

Yep. Monday means starting off the week with a healthy new set of meals for the next few days.

One way to make sure you eat healthy and stick to it is to do some planning. Yesterday, I hit up the old Whole Foods Market and got my supplies. Fresh strawberries (I still have to find that little vacuum seal machine that Model Reicha had mentioned), and also got my flavored seltzer waters, some produce, and a good french feta, as well as other things. Also, some pre cooked asparagus and grilled mixed veggies, since I can be lazy.

I'm also going to have some penne pasta on my menu for the next couple days, because I LOVE penne pasta! I take a little teeny bit of virgin olive oil, sautee some fresh garlic, pour in some marinara and seasonings, and when it really gets cooking, I shave some Romano cheese into it. On the side, I brown a mixture of ground beef and sweet Italian sausage. Cook the meat, drain off most of the fat, and then pour it into the marinara, mix well, and let it cook another 15 minutes or so. The sauce that results is BANGIN'!

Now, here's where I make it easy; I go ahead and mix the sauce and pasta together into little plastic containers, one serving each. I make about 4 servings. I always eat the first one, and then pop the other 3 in the fridge. When I'm ready for lunch or dinner, just pop one into the microwave, make a salad on the side, and maybe even an extra veggie (I got some yellow squash and zucchini this week, because I so love those), and, BAM lunch/dinner is served! I will also pre cook and pre package the veggies too, so I'm not slaving over a hot stove at meal time. Works pretty well for me, this system.
The great thing is, you can also make your own frozen dinners that way. Precook, pack it up, drop it in the freezer for whenever. And the great thing is you know exactly what's in it, and how it's going to taste (unlike some of those mystery frozen dinners you buy at the store).

So, I've got my pasta, my veggies, my salads, some green apples this week (love Granny Smith's!), my strawberries, and my Finn Crisps with feta to get me started on my good, healthy eating week. I also have nuts and almonds laying around for when I just want a mouthful. My Crystal Light raspberry iced tea stands ready and cooliing in the fridge, in a big gallon water bottle. That should keep me honest for at least a few days, no? Yep! I think so!

For those of you that work outside the home, I think that's a great idea too. You can take your own little, premade tupperware meals, and avoid the calorie heavy selections that tend to be available in most restaurants and eateries at lunch time.
You save a WHOLE lotta money, too! Good luck with your healthy eating this week, guys! ;)

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Low Calories, 101

Low Calories 101


Here are some calorie lists I've been compiling to help you get a better idea of the calorie content of what you're eating and can eat to cut those caloric numbers down a bit. Check back every so often, because I will add on from time to time.


Lowest cal Veggies:


"Yes, DO eat your veggies!"


- 1 cup of romaine lettuce, 9 calories


- 1 cup of mushrooms cooked in no calorie cooking spray, or canned 40 calories


- 1 cup of radishes, 20 calories


- 1 medium tomato, 25 calories


- 1 cup of zucchini squash, 28 calories


- 1/2 large cucumber, 20 calories (about 5 ounces)


- 1 cup of celery, 20 calories


- 1 cup of cabbage, 32 calories


- 1 large carrot, 30 calories


- 1 cup of spinach, 40 calories


Low cal desserts:


"When you've just gotta have it!"


Chocolate Dipped Strawberries (8 large = 143 calories)


Sugar free Fudgicles - 40 calories per bar


Sugar free Jello - 0 cals


Frozen grapes or berries - roughly 3 cals per grape/berry


Lollipops (yes, lollipops!) 10-15 cals per pop


sugar free chocolate or vanilla pudding 30 cals a cup


Frozen balls or squares of melon (watermelon/cantaloupe/honeydew) 40 cals a cup


Meringue cookies - mini ones are 9 calories each


Sliced Apples with Cinnamon, a whole apple - about 90 cals


Canned peaches (in extra light syrup) with low fat Cool Whip (2 tbsp) 120 cals one cup


And F.Y.I.:


Calories in Alcohol


"For the partiers in the house"


*This is for the average sized drink you'd order at a bar. Not Texas size or the ones you'd find at on some cruise or at Spring Break!


Red or dry white wine - 90 - 120 calories a glass (sweeter wines are more, of course)


Margarita - 182 calories


Mojito - 150 calories


Sangria - 115 calories


Bloody Mary - 110 calories


Frozen Daiquiri - 200 - 400 calories


Rum and Coke - 182 calories


Screwdriver - 180 calories


Kamikaze - 180 calories


Whiskey Sour - 125 calories


Pina Colada - 312 calories


Mai Tai - 306 calories


Mudslide - 820 calories


By the Shot:


Brandy - 64 cals


Rum - 66 cals


Scotch - 64 cals


Tequila - 65 cals


Triple Sec - 103 cals


Vodka - 65 cals


Whiskey - 64 cals


With the mixers(excluding water or seltzer), you're looking at 100 extra calories average, and if it's soda or juice, even MORE sugar. And don't think that because the shots are less than 100 cals on their own that you can just go hog wild. You're basically drinking down SUGAR, which is where alot of that unexplained extra weight comes from.


The Martini List:


Vodka or Gin Martini - 135 cals


Apple Martini - 188 cals


Godiva Chocolate Martini - 438 cals (!)


Cosmopolitan - 200 cals


Manhattan - 130 cals


The good news!


Lemon drop (shot) - 35 cals


Purple Haze - 103 cals


Virgin Mary (shot) - 22 cals


Rum & Diet Coke - 115 cals


Tequila Rose (liquer) - 69 cals 1.5 oz


White Zinfandel - 80 cals 4 oz


Sidecar - 117 cals


Light beer - 110 cals


Non alcoholic beer - 70 cals


white Wine Spritzer - 40 cals


Okay, guys. On a later post, I'll do meals and munchie type snacks that you can buy or make that are lower calorie.


Bon appetit!

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