50 Snacks under 50 Cals

Satisfy your sweet tooth

1. 1⁄2 medium apple, baked, topped with 1 Tbsp lowfat yogurt sprinkled with cinnamon (45 calories)
2. 1⁄2 small banana, frozen (45 calories)
3. 4 oz unsweetened applesauce sprinkled with cinnamon (49 calories)
4. 1 miniature box of raisins (45 calories)
5. 2 sugar-free ice pops (30 calories)
6. 1 sugar-free fudge ice pop (35 calories)
7. 12 cherries (48 calories)
8. 1 individual serving sugar-free gelatin with 3 Tbsp light whipped topping (40 calories)
9. 1⁄2 cup strawberries with 21⁄2 Tbsp nonfat yogurt (47 calories)
10. 14 seedless red grapes, frozen (48 calories)

Indulge a salt craving

11. 11⁄2 cups salted air-popped popcorn (46 calories)
12. 1⁄4 cup shelled edamame with sea salt (37 calories)
13. 8 oz miso soup (36 calories)
14. 1 pretzel rod (37 calories)
15. 1⁄4 small bag of Glenny's lightly salted soy crisps (35 calories)
16. 1 medium sliced cucumber mixed with 1⁄4 cup sliced onion, 1⁄2 cup chopped celery, 4 Tbsp vinegar and salt to taste (45 calories)
17. 6 oz eight-vegetable juice (39 calories)
18. 1 kosher dill pickle (10 calories)

Crunch and munch

19. 1⁄2 cup jicama with 4 oz salsa (49.5 calories)
20. 11⁄2 cups sugar snap peas (40 calories)
21. Small celery stalk smeared with 1⁄2 Tbsp natural peanut butter (49 calories)
22. 1⁄2 small apple with 1 tsp soy butter (46 calories)
23. 1 brown rice cake with 1 Tbsp sugar-free jam (44 calories)

Smooth and creamy

24. 1 Laughing Cow Light Garlic & Herb wedge spread on cucumber slices (35 calories)
25. 1 tsp almond butter (34 calories)
26. 1⁄2 cup fat-free Greek yogurt with 1 tsp sugar-free strawberry jam (43 calories)
27. 1 oz avocado (about 1⁄8 of an avocado) squirted with lime (45 calories)
28. 8 grape tomatoes dipped in 1 Tbsp light cream cheese (46 calories)

Cheesy whizzes

29. 6 pieces of endive filled with 1⁄2 oz reduced-fat feta cheese (49 calories)
30. 1 slice fat-free American cheese (30 calories)
31. 1 large tomato, sliced, topped with 1 Tbsp Parmesan, broiled (44 calories)
32. 1 oz fat-free cottage cheese on 1 slice caraway Finn Crisp Crispbread (38 calories)
33. 1 oz fat-free mozzarella dipped in 1 tsp marinara sauce (46 calories)

Power up on protein

34. Turkey rollups: 2 slices white meat turkey rolled in 2 lettuce leaves (46 calories)
35. 1 oz smoked salmon (about 1 slice) on 2 Wheat Thins crackers (Multi-Grain) (48 calories)
36. 1 tofu dog with 1 Tbsp sauerkraut (48 calories)
37. 1⁄2 cup plain fat-free yogurt sprinkled with 1 tsp sunflower seeds (49.6 calories)
38. 1.3 oz water-packed tuna with 1 tsp Dijon mustard (48 calories)
39. 2 large hard-cooked egg whites with 1 cup sliced cucumber (48 calories)
40. 1 slice Wasa Fibre Crispbread with 2 tsp hummus (45 calories)
41. 1 medium water-packed sardine with slice of red onion (35 calories)

Solid standbys

42. 1⁄2 cup melon with 2 Tbsp 1% cottage cheese (47 calories)
43. 1⁄2 small grapefruit (32 calories)
44. 1⁄3 cup blueberries with 1 Tbsp light sour cream (47 calories)
45. 1⁄2 cup carrots with 1 Tbsp light ranch dressing (45 calories)

Thirst quenchers

46. 1⁄2 cup nonfat milk with 1 Tbsp Walden Farms calorie-free chocolate syrup (40 calories)
47. 1 packet of sugar-free hot chocolate made with 1⁄4 cup skim milk and 3⁄4 cup hot water (47 cals)
48. 3⁄4 cup almond milk (45 calories)
49. 3⁄4 cup seltzer with 1⁄4 cup cranberry juice and a lime wedge (33 calories)
50. Homemade iced green tea (with artificial sweetener if desired) (0 calories)

New Year? New Me!

I have to, have to, have to... blog again, and be accountable for my actions. 

It's a new year and a lot of things are different. One being, I have gone back to school- taking Liberal Arts until I decide on going for my nursing degree or getting into something educational wise. My current classes; English Comp. I, Algebra I, and Intro to Computers (not that I needed it, but to brush up on my excel and power point skills.)

Two, I definately need to lose weight. Being "fat" is no fun, to be honest. Even though most days (probably 5 out of 7) I feel super duper about myself, I would like nothing more than to fit into some skinny, sexy, stuff, and most importantly - some heels instead of wedges :)

Three, I now have a sewing machine. Given to me by an amazing customer at the pharmacy. So all I need are some needles, threads, and fabrics.  I'm looking forward to revamping my entire house with D-I-Y projects like: refurnishing our kitchen table & chairs, this old living room lamp I have, and sewing up some new curtains and pillows, and eventually redoing our entire bedroom. Don't know when or how, but I'll find the time and figure it out! In the midst of all that... I also want to revamp some old clothes. Starting with a pair of jeans which I will post pictures of when I am finished.

Seeing how tomorrow is Monday - I will start counting calories again and weigh-ins on Mondays. And I have to just remember that COMMITMENT & DEDICATION is whats going to give me the results I want. I just have to take it one day at a time. If I screw up, shut up, and move on. Every day is a new chance <3

So now that I've shared my plan for now with the world... I am going to share some pictures. Today I successfully cooked my first home made chicken pot pie. 

Healthy Choices

For the first time in a long time I felt proud of myself for having some self control ( finally ) and being able to make some healthy food choices. Although it seems like an easy thing to do, for someone over weight, and probably addicted to food, it is not.

The hubby and I had to stop at Walmart on Friday to pick up a couple things for the house. We both had just gotten out of work and were starving. So we decided to grab a bite to eat for lunch. He suggested Subway and it was delicious. My first choice was turkey and cheese on the honey oat but it was still cooking ( bummer ) so I went with the cheesy italian bread. I added lettuce, spinach, avocado, olives, cucumbers, green peppers, and onions. Dry with some pepper. Im not a big fan of sauces, so usually everything is dry for me. And for the first time in my life, I opted out on having chips and a soda. I grabbed a little package of apples and a water instead. I felt proud of myself. The feeling carried on...

That night I went out with my best friend James, and came home around 1 am. PJ was still awake and had complained about being hungry again since he didn't have dinner. We hadnt gone grocery shopping yet so I swang through McDonalds and ordered him a fish sandwich. It was sooooooo hard for me not to order something for myself. And it's not even that I was hungry, cause I wasn't. I just felt the need to get something. I convinced myself not to. I would think things like, "remember how gross the hamburger looks whenever you think its not cooked......... the burgers sit out under the lamp for hours........... its just one day, you can do this, dont do it!" And it worked. Although I stole a couple french fries out of the bag while driving, which gave me the worst hickups ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Which was awesome cuz that was just another reason not to eat anymore and to tell myself this is what unhealthy food does to my body haha!

Then yesterday we went grocery shopping. I decided to get a few healthier things - I got a 1/2 gallon of the soy Silk chocolate milk which is only 90 calories per 8 oz glass. I got so much fresh produce and fruit that I am stacked on snacks for the week. I didnt get one single freezer item, all wheat, rye, and flaxseed bread, and low calorie tortilla chips with salsa, also picked up some Stoneyfield organic smoothies for my breakfast on the go this week at work.

I am really looking forward to making healthy choices day by day. And thats exactly the trick for me! If I do it DAY BY DAY it doesnt seem so hard :) I also made myself some fresh chicken salad to pack for the week.... a recipe given to me by my health freak pharmacist Alison!

Fresh rotisserie chicken, chopped hot peppers,

spring onions, and green grapes.



What's For Dinner Tonight?

Grilled chicken (not shown), zuchini, summer squash, baby carrots, diced potato, and fresh cilantro. Delicious.

I tend to eat alot of sandwiches and the same ol' same all the time. It's always chicken. But usually a roll-up with lettuce and cheese, maybe some veggies, and always chicken for dinner with some other sort of side mixture. I really dont know what else to make? I do not like italian foods, so pasta and anything with sausage or tomato is out. I dont often eat alot of steak or porkchop,  though I do love it, I just don't know what to cook with it as a delicious combination? Besides a baked potatoe & rice! And while dieting that is a dish I am trying to stay away from as much as possible. Also - Im having a problem with breakfasts. Because I work early most of the time I normally have just a yogurt and some fruit or a cereal bar. When Im home for a couple hours before work I might toast a bagel thin and on the weekends, PJ and I might enjoy a big breakfast together. But when we do that - its usually a big cheese omelette, sausage, bacon, homefries, and toast. Which... in the last 7 weeks I haven't had cause I am trying to be good.

Anyways, posted some updated pics of my meals. Which you can click on the links at the top of my page. I am getting bored with facebook and have been more sucked into blogspot, but thinking about tweeter... we'll see.

What are your favorite, easy, dishes for breakfast, lunch, or dinner?