Taste Test Challenge: Special K Blueberry Fruit Crisp

This week's Taste Test Challenge features a fantastic new product from Special K...Blueberry Fruit Crisps. These crisps are basically a sweet, crispy cracker that's filled with a smear of fruit filling and drizzled with some icing. I've heard them described as similar to a pop tart, which they are...sort of. This is a great little snack or after-dinner treat that's perfect for satisfying that craving for "a little something sweet" without costing you a ton of excess fat or calories.

Each box contains five individually wrapped two-crisp servings, which helps make portion control a snap. Each two-crisp serving contains 100 calories, 2 grams fat, and a trace of fiber (2 WW points). Yes...it would be nice if they had a bit more fiber, but I don't sweat that so much since I get my daily fiber intake from plenty of other sources.

Some of my friends who have tried these crisps find them to be a bit on the sweet side, but I don't personally think they're too sweet. These fruit crisps pair great with a small container of light yogurt. They also go well with a small bowl of sliced strawberries. These fruit crisps are also available in strawberry, but I prefer the flavor of the blueberry variety. If you go to the Special K website, you can download and print a $1.00 off coupon on your first purchase:

http://www.specialk.com/products/coupons

Now...a quick word about my Alexia healthy dipping sauce contest. I've received a few recipe entries, but I want to see MORE!! Tomorrow evening is the deadline. You still have time to submit your recipe to me at wwofford1@satx.rr.com.

If your recipe is chosen, I'll prepare it and serve it with yummy Alexia oven fries at my Alexia House Party on Sunday evening. In addition, your recipe will be featured in this blog next week for all to see and try. In addition to these kudos, you'll also win a coupon for a FREE Alexia product of your choice + a wooden serving spoon with the Alexia logo imprinted on it.  So...what are you waiting for?!?!? Get those dipping sauce recipes to me ASAP!!!!

Tuesday Food Find Corner: Alexia Oven Fries

This week's spotlight food is Alexia Oven Fries. As I mentioned yesterday, it's important to keep eating the foods that you enjoy in a healthy way while you're losing weight. French fries are one of those comfort foods that I refuse to give up. But...a medium serving of McDonald's french fries contains a whopping 380 calories and 19 grams of fat...yikes! That's where Alexia products come in. All Alexia products are 100% natural, with no preservatives and zero trans fats. Best of all? They taste FAB! I serve Alexia products at least once a week, and I highly recommend them!

They introduced their yummy oven fries first, and I've been cooking and eating them for several years. They have since expanded their product line to include even more flavors of oven fries, mashed potatoes, lower-fat appetizers, garlic bread and artisan rolls, and -- most recently -- potato and veggie side dishes. Their other products are just as tasty as their oven fries!!

Alexia's Oven Fries average 2-3 WW points per generous serving. They cook up crisp in a hot oven in 20 - 25 minutes. My favorite flavor is the new Spicy Sweet Potato variety. They are spicy from a sprinkling of chipotle pepper on the outside, but then the sweetness of the sweet potato kicks in and cools the spice. Delish! They go especially great with turkey burgers and pulled pork sandwiches.

Most grocery stores carry at least a few varieties of Alexia products, but in my experience Whole Foods carries the widest range of the entire Alexia product line. To make it easier for you to try these fantastic products, I'm going to give away a coupon for one FREE Alexia food item to one of my blog readers!!!!

Here's the scoop...

I was selected to host an Alexia house party this weekend. I'm serving turkey burgers and several varieties of Alexia Oven Fries, along with a trio of dipping sauces. One dipping sauce will be my lowfat salsa-ranch, and another will be a spicy chipotle ketchup. But...I need one more dipping sauce to round out my trio. That's where YOU come in!! My readers have until Friday to send me their best recipe for a healthy dipping sauce. I'll pick the winner on Saturday. The winning dipping sauce will be featured at my party...and the winner will receive a coupon for one free Alexia product. Two other entrants will win an Honorable Mention coupon for $1.00 off any Alexia product.

Please e-mail your dipping sauce recipes to me at wwofford1@satx.rr.com. One last thing: make sure to put your full name and Alexia Dipping Sauce Contest in the header so I don't delete your e-mail by mistake. Good luck...I can't WAIT to see what creative ideas y'all come up with!!

Tricks of the Trade: Enjoy Your Favorite Foods...Wisely!

I'm back in San Antonio after a weekend away from the computer visiting our families back home in Houston. I certainly had ample opportunity to practice what I preach when it comes to moderation! I'm heading into the final week of March and looking forward to a successful monthly weigh-in this Saturday! I actually had a Lean Cuisine from Mom and Dad's freezer for dinner on Saturday to make up for the small serving of cake and ice cream that I had eaten earlier in the afternoon. Balance and moderation, my friends...balance and moderation ;)!

This week's tip is to enjoy your favorite foods like fried chicken, french fries, and hamburgers. Yes indeed...but it's important to do it in a healthy, responsible way. Instead of eating greasy fried chicken nuggets, coat chicken tenders in bread crumbs or crushed crackers and bake in a hot oven until crispy. Make your hamburgers using wheat buns, lowfat cheese, and ground turkey or extra-lean beef. You'll still enjoy the flavors of the foods you love, but for just a fraction of the fat and calories.

It's important to not give in to the diet mentality that says you have to eat celery sticks and plain broiled meat in order to lose weight! That sort of deprivation leads to binges, which ultimately lead to falling off the wagon. To be successful at losing and keeping weight off long term, it's VITAL that you incorporate your favorite flavors and textures. Like chips and dip? Then eat baked tortilla chips and fat-free salsa. Or is something sweet more your thing? Then have some, but in portion-controlled servings. I love 100-calorie packs for sweet treats...allowing myself a small portion of something that I'm craving is key. It's the flavor I'm looking for, not necessarily a huge serving!

Here's a recipe for some very yummy turkey burgers that I made last week. The original recipe came from Cooking Light magazine, but I modified it quite a bit using ingredients that I had on hand that night. Enjoy...

Turkey Feta Burgers

Ingredients:

• 1 pound 93% lean turkey breast
• 4 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese 
• 1 tablespoon Chef Paul Prudhomme Meat Magic seasoning (can sub any Cajun/Creole seasoning)
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
• 1/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1 egg white
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• Four Nature's Own sugar-free wheat hamburger buns
• Lettuce, tomato, and red onion
• 2 tablespoons light ranch dressing
• 4 tablespoons salsa (I used Frontera Grill medium roasted tomato)

Step 1: Combine ground turkey, feta, spices, breadcrumbs, egg white, and green onion in a large bowl.

Step 2: Shape mixture into four patties. Cook the burgers in a large non-stick skillet sprayed with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Cook for approximately 7-8 minutes per side.

Step 3: While the burgers cook, make a sauce by combining the salsa and light ranch dressing in a small bowl.

Step 4: For each burger, spread 1 tablespoon of salsa-ranch sauce on the bottom half of each bun. Add lettuce, tomato, and red onion slices. Top with a burger patty and the top half of the bun.

Each burger = 7 Weight Watchers points...or approximately 350 calories, 8 grams fat, and 6 grams fiber.

Make SURE to come by here tomorrow evening...I have a very special announcement to make concerning a giveaway in connection with an Alexia foods house party that I'm hosting this weekend!!!

Taste Test Challenge: Kashi Mayan Harvest Bake

Time for the Wednesday Thursday Taste Test Challenge...I took the day off yesterday to have dinner with my cousin, who's in town for her Spring Break. I decided to give my "tool box" a rest this week and tell you about a fantastic Kashi frozen meal that I had for lunch today instead: Mayan Harvest Bake.


I REALLY stepped outside of my comfort zone with this one, but decided to give it a try after reading about it on Hungry Girl's website recently. Mayan Harvest Bake is a vegan meal that has plantains, sweet pototoes, black beans, kale, seven-grain polenta with amaranth, ancho chili sauce, and pepitas. It may sound like a strange combination...but the flavors actually work really well together. I'm so glad I gave this meal a try, because I totally LOVED it!!


If you've never had plantains, they're related to bananas...but they're a bit more starchy and less sweet than a banana. The plantains paired very well with the sweet potatoes and the creamy polenta. I had to look up amaranth because I wasn't exactly sure what it was. Turns out that it's a seed that is high in protein (approximately 15-18%). It's also high in fiber and contains calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, and Vitamins A and C.  


I didn't see a ton of black beans or kale in my meal today, but the overall flavor of the dish was wonderful. The meal was topped with a spicy ancho chili sauce that reminded me a bit of enchilada sauce. It had just enough kick to please my palate without overwhelming the plantain and sweet potato. I especially enjoyed the sprinkle of crunchy pepitas (pumpkin seeds) on top. This was a very filling meal as well...it contains 340 calories, 9 grams of fat, and 8 grams of fiber (or 7 Weight Watchers points). I found it very satisfying, and it kept me feeling energetic all afternoon at work. 


Next time you feel like trying something a little exotic, I seriously urge you to step outside of YOUR comfort zone and give this tasty frozen meal a try. I rank this one right up there with Amy's Organic's amazing Mexican Tamale Pie. It's rather ironic that two of my favorite frozen meals also happen to be vegetarian. Bottom line: I'm a foodie who loves eating amazing food. When it's good for me and furthers my weight loss goals? Well, that's even better!!

Tuesday Food Find Corner: Clementines

"Oh my darlin'..."


One of my all-time favorite fruits is the oh-so-yummy clementine. A clementine is a variety of mandarin orange. Unlike its cousin the tangerine, a clementine is totally seedless. Clementines are a portable, easy-to-peel snack that pack a ton of nutrition into a small package! The thing I love best about clementines is that they are so juicy, and the flavor is a nice balance of sweet and tart. Clementine season begins in November and generally runs through spring, so now's the time to run out and try this juicy little treat before they disappear from the produce department until fall.


Clementines are often sold in the produce department of your local grocery store in 5-pound boxes. However, I'm usually able to buy them individually at Central Market and Whole Foods. I prefer to buy clementines this way so I can pick the best fruit. I like to buy the ones that feel heavy for their size, which means they'll be extra juicy. Buying 10 or so at a time also guarantees they'll stay fresh until I have a chance to eat them all.


The nutrition stats for clementines are VERY impressive. An average-size clementine has about 35 calories, zero fat, and 1 gram of fiber (that = 0.5 WW points). Even more impressive, one little clementine contains 60% of your RDA of Vitamin C!!! All of that nutrition crammed inside a tiny package that tastes so fantastic makes me a very happy indeed.

I love clementines so much that I never think to do anything other than peel and eat them for a quick snack...I actually ate the last one in my kitchen just before I sat down to type this post. However, I recently saw a website that says clementine segments are excellent in salads and pair especially well with blue cheese. Hmmm...I think I need to go buy some more clementines this weekend and and experiment with using them in a healthy salad!!

We've established that one of the most important things to do when you're trying to eat healthier and lose weight is to make sure the food you're eating still tastes good! I don't care how healthy something is for me, I won't eat it if I don't like how it tastes. Two words: wheatgrass juice...enough said! Keeping the taste while reducing fat and calories CAN be a challenge. C'mon...butter tastes great...admit it! Fat also carries flavors in foods; that's why reduced-fat recipes can taste bland and boring if you're not careful. Thankfully, there are plenty of things that can you do to keep the flavor in your recipes while reducing the fat and calories.

I've started using more herbs and spices to boost the flavor of my recipes...and I've been incorporating bold tastes with flavored vinegars and gourmet salsas. All of these ingredients have little to no fat and are full of big flavors. In plain speak, they give you a lot of bang for your buck, calorie-wise! I love to use fresh herbs like basil, thyme, and rosemary in my recipes...but I love to browse the bulk spice section at Central Market (a Texas-based gourmet grocery store) to find new dried seasoning blends to try as well.

I haven't posted many recipes in here yet, which is ironic considering how much I love to cook!! I'm going to rectify that situation starting now, though. The following recipe is a perfect example of packing a TON of flavor into a recipe while using only a small amount of healthy fat (olive oil in this case). This is my personal spin on a salad recipe that I found on the Cooking Light website this weekend.

Panzanella Salad With Mozzarella and Basil

• 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 2 cups chopped tomatoes (I used baby heirloom tomatoes, but roma would work)
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
• 5-6 leaves basil, chopped
• 1 cup chopped romaine
• 2 ounces ciabatta bread
• 2 ounces FRESH mozzarella

Step 1: Combine the first five ingredients in a bowl, stirring well. I find chopping garlic to be tedious, so I grate it directly into the bowl with my microplane. 

Step 2: Add the red onion, basil, and cubed mozzarella. Stir well to combine. At this point, your salad will look something like this:

Step 3: Place the salad in the fridge until you're ready to serve so the flavors can combine. You can do this for as little as 1 hour or as much as overnight. I chilled my salad for 2-3 hours. 

Step 4: When you're ready to serve the salad, cut the ciabatta in half horizontally so you have two pieces. Cut into 1-inch cubes and toast in a 350 oven for about 10 minutes. Just before you're ready to serve, add the chopped romaine and the toasted bread cubes. Stir to combine so the bread can soak up the dressing and the tomato juices.

The flavors in this salad really pop: the tangy balsamic, the brightness of the fresh basil, a bit of acidity from the fresh tomatoes, the slightly pungent red onion, the chewy bread, and the creamy fresh mozarella! This salad was a symphony of tastes and textures...DEFINITELY not boring or bland!

This recipe makes two generous servings. I served it as the side dish with a marinated London broil on Saturday night. Each serving is 5 Weight Watchers points (253 calories, 8 grams fat, and 5 grams fiber). 

These Things In My Head: Lose the Diet Mentality!!

What's on my mind today is related to my post earlier this week about the importance of moderation when it comes to eating/losing weight. Unfortunately, when many people think about losing weight, they equate that with being "on a diet." In my experience, restrictive diets usually bring some short-term success. However, they often lead to boredom, deprivation, and eventual resentment in the long term. That's why most diets are ultimately not successful.

What if I told you that this week for dinner I had shrimp scampi, roasted pork tenderloin with fingerling potatoes, homemade meat loaf and mashed potatoes, and grilled fish tacos with cilantro-lime crema? You might think that I went totally off the rails after my weekend food splurges in Austin and ditched my healthy eating plan. I didn't...I promise!!! These foods are all a part of my healthy eating plan thanks to moderate portions and swapping high-fat ingredients and cooking techniques for healthier options. The food tasted great, so there was no boredom, deprivation, or resentment on my end. Bottom line: as long as this foodie likes what she's eating, she's happy! The fact that my pants are getting loose is pretty awesome too!!!!!

One of my goals with this blog is to help people lose the diet mentality, the notion that some foods are "good" while others are "bad." In a healthy lifestyle, there's room for a few treats and splurges now and then. We should look at eating healthier and moving more as a lifestyle change that is permanent rather than a short-term quick fix. Sure, the weight may come off a bit slower this way...but I GUARANTEE that you're much more likely to keep the weight off long-term if you take this approach.

In case you're wondering, tonight's dinner is grilled marinated London broil and panzanella salad with tomato, basil, and fresh mozzarella. The salad is a new recipe for me, so I promise to take pics and post it in here tomorrow if it's as yummy as I'm hoping it will be. Until then...