Friday's Feeding

Friday I felt like being adventurous. I tried new foods and kinda steered away from my menu plan for that day, and that's OK. Why? Because it's life, and sometimes we need to break free...within reason!

I needed to use some leftovers.

I grew up with a dad who HATED leftovers...unless he cooked the meal that had leftovers and then he could recreate them into something else. My dad LOVES to cook with FRESH ingredients, and I love him for that. But you know, I'm not ashamed to use leftovers. If anything, I can be creative and make a meal in minutes!

Breakfast was using my leftover Berry Puree. I wasn't feeling PB&J rice cakes for breakfast, but M&M suggested I use the Berry Puree in some greek yogurt! BING! So I had the remains of my berry puree with 3/4 c Fage Total 0% Nonfat Greek Strained Yogurt (2sp) with 1/2 c All-Bran Original Wheat Bran Cereal (3sp) and a couple dashes of zero-calorie sweetener. Made a great use of leftovers and got me my protein and carbohydrate for the morning for 5sp.

Second meal of the day: I had to use the remains of my Fruit Dip that I made PB&J sandwiches with for my family (you know, the yogurt, pb2, and protein powder yumminess?). I had only a little bit left, so I counted it as just 1 sp, spread that baby on a piece of Ezekiel 4:9 100% Sprouted Whole Grain Bread for 2sp and a quick protein shake (2sp).

Desserty Fruit Dip (3sp)
3 T Fage Total 0% Nonfat Greek Strained Yogurt
1/2 scoop GNC Total Lean 25 Vanilla Protein Powder
2 T PB2 with Rich Chocolate
Dash of Cinnamon
Squeeze of Liquid Stevia for taste

2 Smartpoint Protein Shake
1 scoop GNC Total Lean 25 Protein in Rich Chocolate
1 c ice cubes
1 cup Blue Diamond Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
Blend and Enjoy!

For my third meal of the day, I had some veggies that needed to be eaten...Enter my delicious creation of a stir fry. It was only 6 smartpoints...for the WHOLE PAN!! And you know what??
I ATE THE WHOLE PAN...with 2 mandarin oranges on the side. I'll be posting the recipe in a future blog post, so stay tuned! But here's a picture as a teaser...

That's right...6 smartpoints...

FOR

THE

WHOLE

PAN

After my stirfry, I was SO FULL, even 3 hours later! But, I've gotta keep my metabolism going, and so for my 4th meal, I just enjoyed 3/4 c of Kashi Go Lean Crisp! Cereal in Toasted Berry Crumble and 1/4 c of Blue Diamond Unsweetened Vanilla Almond milk (yeah, I don't like a lot of liquid in my cereal..stems from my childhood where my parents worked 5 jobs to make ends meet and food was NOT wasted. Whatever milk you poured into your cereal bowl, if there was any left after the cereal was gone, you drank it. And I HATED IT! How to trick the system? Pour less milk. And I've been that way for 20 years).

Fifth and final meal, after resisting the Restaurant call... I settled on cooking spaghetti with meatballs. There weren't enough meatballs for me, so I had a Superfood Veggie Patty with my spaghetti!
1/2 c spaghetti noodles (3sp), 1/4 c Prego Traditional Smart Light Sauce (1sp), romaine lettuce, 1 T FLAVOR FAVE: Marzetti Simply Dressed Light Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing, and 1 Don Lee Farms Veggie Patty (5sp). A dinner leaving me full and satisfied for 11 sp.

The Veggie Patties were an unplanned Costco purchase, but Little Man LOVES them...and so I had to buy them. ANYWAY I can get veggies into him, I do it. Here's a pic to guide you if you're interested next time you hit Costco:

They've got almonds, kale, carrots, and a whole bunch of other stuff. My HUSBAND even likes them...if they are still there, I'm getting them again. Now, these aren't to replace beef or turkey burgers. These are certainly their own entity. If you are wanting to eat a veggie burger, then these are delicious. If you are wanting a REAL burger, SATISFY THAT DESIRE and eat a real burger. Don't try to trick your tastebuds with one of these babies because you won't be satisfied if you are seeking that beefy, juicy flavor.

Dressings? Marzetti Simply Dressed dressings are pretty much my go-to right now. They are in the refrigerated section and really low in smartpoints. Here's a pic to guide you next time you're shopping:

I've got Light Balsamic in the middle, Veggie Ranch on the right, and Red Wine Italian on the left. SO YUMMY! Sometimes I get snippy and have to keep my husband away from them!

So all in all...
Yes, that's a day that I ate 32 smartpoints...I had calculated it throughout the day to total 30 smartpoints. When I was entering my stirfry recipe, I forgot that I had added an egg...which, after all was said and eaten, I HAD to add that 1 egg to be accountable to myself...and it put me 2 smartpoints over.
Yes, I was bummed...but it was an honest mistake. I'm glad it was 2 smartpoints with an egg and not 6 smartpoints with a meager ice cream cone.

Flexibility.
Do your best, trust the plan, and you're body will catch up.
Remember, your body is an AMAZING thing...It does what you tell it to. If it's not, then maybe you're mind needs to catch up and have a good talk with itself.

Just being honest...there has been many a time where I've had to be honest with myself...and my tracker.

Keep Eating Well!
Camille