Family Favorite - Chicken Alfredo Pasta

It's Friday.

Time for a post about
Family Food Favorites!

I know a basic chicken alfredo pasta isn't too hard to make from scratch. I have done that ... but pulling a bag from the freezer is SO quick and easy (and honestly, the boys said they liked it better than the homemade version). While not everyone in the family loves this meal (Hubs and #4 aren't interested) it really is a favorite for everyone else. In fact, the kids don't even know this by the "Skillet Sensations Chicken Alfredo" because we simply call it "Favorite Noodles".  Just dump the contents into a large skillet, stir every few minutes, and about 15minutes later. Dinner is ready. Sometimes the boys don't even bother to transfer it to plates, they just pick out the pieces straight from the pan (hey, less dishes that way!) I'm not normally a fan of broccoli, but in this dish, it's my favorite part (drenched with alfredo sauce true, but still, green veggies! It's something I really struggle with).

Many years ago, it started out as a Stouffer's Lean Cuisine meal. I don't know that it was really that different. I think the calorie count was simply divided into three servings, rather than the two in the regular Skillet Sensations package. 

Then, they discontinued the Lean Cuisine version.

It was fine, because we just moved to the regular Skillet Sensation. I really don't know that it was any different, other than orange packaging rather than the white "Lean Cuisine" and the stated two servings rather than three. This was a standby for several years. Then it disappeared, but was  replaced by a larger "family size" bag with servings for four. This actually worked out well, because as the boys were getting older, they were eating more. The smaller package didn't really work that well anyway (unless only two were eating).

I always grabbed the bags at Walmart. They were quite a bit less expensive there. $6.98 vs $7.99 at Smiths or $10.99 at Maceys. I'd always try to keep a few in the freezer. The other day, we were out. I stopped by a Walmart Neighborhood Grocery store (sometimes I prefer the smaller, less crazy experience) but they didn't have any. I just assumed it was because it was the smaller store. They don't have room for the same inventory.  My son made a trip into the Walmart Supercenter and I told him to grab a few bags ... but he couldn't find them. I first I figured it was just his inexperience, not knowing where to look, but then I started to have a sinking feeling. What if it was being discontinued altogether now?

The next time I was at the bigger Walmart myself, I looked ... I couldn't find any. Couldn't even find a spot on the shelf where they should be. There are similar products (Birdseye, etc) but we've tried them and the boys were not impressed. We've lost several favorite foods over the years as companies change and discontinue items. Why is it always OUR favorites? 

During my shopping trip at Smiths however, I was able to locate the bags in the frozen section. So it's just Walmart not carrying the product, not the company not making it. Phew ... even if it does mean I'll have to pay higher prices. It's a family favorite!The other day though, I DID find it on sale. I stocked up. How many bags can I fit in my freezer?

Have any of your family favorites been discontinued over the years?

Easter Eats ~ Egg Treats

When I think of Easter Treats ... I do think of all the "egg" editions. A personal favorite are the peanut butter m&m eggs. Although PBm&ms are available year round, I adore the Easter Egg issue. It's just a different ratio of chocolate to peanut butter. A few weeks ago, I had purchased a bag (they are a little hard to find sometimes) and ... ate the entire thing. Not in one sitting, but in one day. Just grabbing a few here and there and suddenly the bag was empty. Seven servings or so. Ouch. I was uber over calories that day. 

Other Easter favorites are also "eggs" ...

Again ... with Reeses. The ratio of the eggs (or the pumpkins or the trees) is different than the standard cups available year round. I adore the eggs. But only the size pictured above ... not the bigger single-serving size, or the HUGE ones. The chocolate/peanut butter ratio is off on those. My three oldest boys love Reeses too, so they each got their own bag. I must admit, I found some on sale the day after Easter and grabbed a few. I'll try to portion and parcel them out in the next little bit. I had three today (90 calories each).

I know the Cadbury Mini Eggs are essential to Easter for so many. I hear about it every year, but honestly ... they don't appeal to me at all. I mean, I'll don't find them disgusting, but they just aren't worth the calories. They are just plain chocolate. I like a little something more with my indulgences. Sons #2 and #3 are fans though, so I do grab a couple bags each year.

Now the Robin Eggs ... malted milk ... basically "Whoppers" but with a harder candy shell. I LOVE these. I prefer the mini ones. I like to eat them one at a time. I'll savor it slowly, sucking on the outer shell until it dissolves and the malted center hits. I only found a couple at the one store I hit after Easter, but previous years I've stocked up and they have lasted me all year long, as I would indulge here and there.

Jelly beans are pretty classic Easter fare ... but honestly, I only like the red ones. Okay ... I'll eat the purple ones too, but I won't touch green or yellow. Sometimes I'll eat an orange one. But RED is the favorite. A few years ago, Starburst came out with the FaveREDs package. Yea! My boys prefer the red ones too. They get mad at me as I STILL pick out the darker red ones over the lighter red ones ;)

For the boy's baskets ... we've often thrown in the traditional chocolate bunny. The two littles don't like peanut butter, so they got Kit Kats instead (there are Easter editions ... but they are still just the basic bars, although there is a bunny shape on the chocolate. Makes them harder to break into four individual sticks). I usually pick up a couple packages of Peeps, although it's more just because they feel like Easter than anyone actually requesting them ... although they do get gobbled up. 

We didn't get around to actual egg dyeing and decorating ... but I made sugar cookies.

That kindof counts, right?

I'm a little surprised I made it through Spring Break and the Easter holiday and managed to keep calories in check. I'm SO bad when it comes to caving to cravings ... especially as everything IS around and available. I really don't think I'm one who will ever be able to eliminate treats completely, so I've just got to learn to keep control.

What are YOUR favorite Easter eats?

Girl Scout Cookies

Time for another edition of ... "What We're Eating" Wednesday 

It's THAT time of year. 

Girl Scout cookie time! 

We never had anyone come knock on our door this year, but a couple friends/neighbors posted on Facebook that their daughters were selling. Tagalongs are a favorite for me and the three oldest boys. I also love the Samoas and like the Thin Mints, but I've found acceptable substitutions (Keebler and Great Value brand) so they aren't quite as "once a year" as the Tagalongs. I ordered FIVE boxes of those, and one each of the other two. Perhaps I should have tried the Smores ones ... I've heard good things.

Of the five boxes of Tagalongs, two were gone almost instantly (thus the picture up top). I gave one box each to each of the three older boys to keep or eat on their own. I'm fairly certain they are gone too (I may have glanced in their rooms in a moment of craving ...). 

Mmmm ... Tagalongs!

My two littles don't like peanut butter (#5 is allergic). They are also unimpressed with the Samoas and Thin Mints ... but they like the plain, shortbread Trefoils. I bought one box of Smores ... I don't know that anyone has tried them yet. I've heard no feedback.

There are copycat cookies out there too. The other day, I picked up the Keebler Coconut Dreams and the generic Great Value (Walmart) ones and we had a taste test, comparing them to the official GS Samoas. Truthfully ... couldn't tell/taste much of a difference. Samoas had the edge aesthetically.

There is a cookie close to the Tagalongs ... Great Value Peanut Butter Filled Fudge cookies. But the cookie is chocolate, whereas the true Tagalong cookie is white. There is something about the Tagalongs that just keep me coming back. Dangerous. I ended up ordering three more boxes. I hit them ... or thought I did. I didn't end up getting any, but I DID have this conversation with #2 ...

Me: I can't believe you ate all my Tagalongs! Three boxes! I had them hidden!
#2: Not very well (evil laugh) ... and I think you can believe it!

Do you buy and eat Girl Scout Cookies?

Which ones are your favorites?

... and here's a funny I found on Facebook.

Cuties vs Halos

Time for another "What We're Eating Wednesday" Post ...

Clementine Clash!

 vs

In a friendly fruity competition ... Clementines beat regular oranges hands down. Okay ... not for juice. I know there IS clementine juice, but we have simply stuck with OJ for now. When it comes to easy peeling, serving size and yummy taste? Clementines win. At least in my opinion, and my family agrees.

But what about the different BRANDS of clementines? There are Cuties, and Halos, and other no-name or lesser known ones out there. I know brand names are important to some people. I'm a generic (cheap) gal myself, but Hubs, and thus the boys, tend to like certain brands. I'm thinking it will be a repeating blog post on the future. Blackham Brand Battles. In our family? Cuties win!

I remember first discovering Cuties several years ago. We simply had never purchased them before. That first bag was devoured! Through the years I tended to think the early (end of year, November/December) fruits were the best. Maybe it was just having them after the summer hiatus. 

When Cuties weren't carried, I have picked up the other brands. #3 son is very picky. He ONLY wants Cuties. He says he can tell the difference ... and often I think I can to! Unfortunately, it's not quite important enough for me to drive to a different store if the one I'm at doesn't carry Cuties.

These little guys for lunches are perfect for lunches on the go. Such an easy, portable treat. Even though they are so easy to peel, I usually prep them at home when packing lunches. They make my fingers smell all citrus-y.  I don't think the peels in the disposal create quite the same smell as oranges or lemons though. 

For one of my boys, I can throw the clementine pieces in with other assorted fruit. #3 son, Mr. Picky, has to have them separate in their own bag (being picky myself ... I think I actually agree with this, we really don't want our fruits and juices touching do we? Mixing flavors? Oh no!)

Mmmmm ... I just ate one while writing this post. It was a Halo though.

Toasted Cheese and Tomato Soup

Time for another edition of ... "What We're Eating Wednesday" 

Toasted cheese sandwiches have been a favorite in our home for a while ... it's one of the few sandwiches I will eat. Maybe it's the only one (I don't eat meat sandwiches. I ate a peanut butter and honey sandwich every day at elementary school and then I was done and have never had one since. )  I don't like tomato soup (nothing tomato for me) but my boys do. They dip their sandwich in the soup. Great warm meal on a cold day. 

I was always lazy, and just broke out a can of Cambells when it came to tomato soup. Then, #3 came home raving about some tomato soup he'd had when visiting family. I called Aunt Courtney for the recipe. She said it actually came from Aunt Jami, who had pulled it off Pinterest. You can find it on the ElephantsDeli blog ...

Saute onion in butter. A couple cans of crushed tomatoes. Some heavy cream ... and ORANGE JUICE. Well that's just weird, isn't it? I mean ... I'm not going to eat it anyway, but the combo is curious.  #3 was quite pleased, and I've made it a few times.

#1 son just returned from his mission to Mexico recently. He had not yet experienced the Elephants Deli version of tomato soup. I made some on Sunday (okay, I must admit my label of "What We're Eating Wednesday" is a bit of a misnomer this edition ... "What We're Eating This Week" works and is still alliterative *Ü*). 

But back to the Tomato Soup.

No go for #1.

Hubs had even recommended I cut back on the OJ, so I just used 3/4 cup rather than a full one.  It's apparently quite acidic. With the cream, it's also quite heavy. I may still be pulling out a can of Campbells in the future for #1 (#5 said he preferred the simple soup too). 

One last note on toasted cheese (or do you call them "grilled cheese"?) ... they MUST be cut into triangles. This is non-negotiable to all the boys. Seriously, cut them sideways into rectangles and no one will eat them. And people say I'm picky ...

Tasty Tuesday - Chocolate Mint Brownies

Time for a Tasty Tuesday Edition 

Chocolate Mint Brownies 

 

Mmmmm ... chocolate mint brownies. Yummy! There are oodles of recipes floating around the web. After trying a few, I just reverted to an old family favorite for the brownie portion, and then played around with the mint and chocolate layers. I must admit ... I still struggle with the ganache.  Half the time, it doesn't turn out. Tips anyone? I still need to research, and practice I guess! I mean, if I HAVE to make more brownies to learn ... a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, right? A couple of my older boys like these mint brownies, but Hubs and the littles don't care for them ... more for me! The do freeze great. In fact, they really need to be kept refrigerated at least, to keep the mint layer somewhat solid.

For the brownies ... this makes enough for one of those big jelly roll pans with sides. When I'm making these, I make the BIG batch, and then freeze big pieces. You can eat them straight from the freezer, or pull them out and let them soften slightly in the fridge.

3 1/4 cups butter

1 cup cocoa powder

8 eggs

4 cups sugar 

1/4 tsp salt

2 tsp vanilla

3 cups flour

Melt the butter over low heat. Add cocoa and sugar. Allow to cool slightly and add beaten eggs and additional ingredients. Bake in 11x17x1 pan, 350° for 25 minutes. Cool.

For the mint layer ...

1 cup (2 sticks) butter (room temperature)

4 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup heavy cream (more if needed)

2 tsp mint extract

Green food coloring (a few drops)

Use a hand mixer to combine the butter and powdered sugar, adding the cream a little at a time until combined and fluffy. Add more powdered sugar/cream to desired consistency. Add mint/food coloring and mix. Spread over cooled brownies. Refrigerate or freeze the pan to set.

For the ganache ...

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cups heavy cream

Melt chocolate chips, add heated cream and stir until combined and creamy. Spread immediately over mint layer. This step ... ganache can get clumpy and hard. It's tricky! All about getting the perfect temp. Still practicing!

This recipe by Betty Crocker, uses cream cheese in the mint layer (cream cheese and mint? Does that go together?) and uses butter in addition to cream for the chocolate topping. Maybe I'll have to try that and see if I have more consistent success. This recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction only uses butter for the ganache (which can be handy, as I always have butter on hand, but don't always have cream).

Tasty Tuesday - Brazilian Cheese Rolls

I know many of the health/fitness blogs out there have a  food focus ... featuring recipes of good-for-you food. Me? I have not excelled at the eating side of this journey at all. But I figured I could still share a recipe or feature a food here and there. Don't expect anything too healthy though!

I made Brazilian Cheese Rolls this past Sunday. Also known as Pao de Queijo (my brother spent a couple years living in Brazil, so they call them by their real name). Bread of cheese ... yum! They have become a family favorite, and a go-to dinner bread, especially when we need something last minute. They are so quick and easy. They are also gluten-free, always requested at family parties (as my dad, brother and sister all suffer with Celiacs).

I first discovered them at one of the Brazilian restaurants. Then my son needed to make a South-American recipe for his Spanish class. I picked up (and pinned) the recipe from Our Best Bites. There are many others out there, but we LOVE this one, so I haven't gone on to try any of the others.

The Tapioca Flour is the only tricky ingredient to find. I've found it in the bulk section at Winco, but Hubs recently brought me home a 25 pound bag he found at a local kitchen supply store ... much easier than attempting the bulk buy in plastic bags, when I know I want a lot. 

You need a blender and a mini-muffin pan ... I once tried making them in a regular size muffin tin, and they were okay (a little more eggy in the middle).  I love the smaller bite-size. I only have one mini-muffin tin, but I've found I can empty it, and immediately refill the batter for a second batch. It doesn't even require a second coat of cooking spray, and often the second batch comes out better than the first, and people are happy to have an opportunity to have them hot out of the oven again.

I love how puffy they are ... often almost popping right out of the tin. Unfortunately, they do collapse quickly most of the time. They still taste good, but they don't look nearly as pretty. I've searched for solutions to this problem, but so far is seem to just be par for the coarse, similar to a souffle.

Unfortunately, with the oil, egg and cheese ... they aren't "healthy" or low calorie. I always top them with Parmesan cheese and some kosher salt too. At least I don't add butter as I do with traditional bread/rolls.

There were several entries already in the MFP food bank ... I don't know how accurate this is, but looking at it I'd assume it's fairly on target. I have a hard time limiting myself to three though. They are so easy to eat!

That's it for this first edition of Tasty Tuesday! 

Have you tried Brazilian Cheese Rolls?

Motivated Monday - Family Style

 

Well ... coming off a not great week, and a not great weekend, it's time to get MOTIVATED this Monday. I was a little worried it might be hard to get up this morning. It was Daylight Savings this weekend too. Yesterday, we "lost" an hour. A 6:30 wake up would feel like 5:30....

But, this morning was great! Hubs got up and off around 5:30, and I got up then too! I usually stay in bed, although I rarely fall back asleep. Much better to get up and at it, right? What really nudged me out of bed, was prepping breakfast and lunch for the 17-year old. He has early morning seminary at 6:00, and he's generally pretty self-sufficient. But this past week, he told me he was trying to work on HIS food/fitness. He joined a gym (which is a little pricey, but I have to admit it was a little hard having him and his friends in MY gym last summer "Boys in my Gym") and said he was going to start bringing lunch from home to school (translated "please Mommy can you make me lunches"). He also mentioned I should hold off on buying him treats. I had just bought him a package of mini red-velvet cupcakes. We actually ended up throwing several away.

Anyway - I hadn't committed to to waking up early, so I made his lunch last night. But then this morning I packaged it all up, and made him a protein smoothie (Daddy and Brother recommended) and he was off. I stopped at the store on the way home from Zumba this morning and bought additional fixings for lunches. I'll need to jump back on Pinterest for some healthy ideas (he's not trying to lose weight or anything, just cut back on sugar and processed stuff, eating healthier). 

Speaking of Pinterest ... Hubs has joined! I've mentioned it a bit in my day to day doings ... he's also jumped back on the exercise/eating wagon. It's been a few weeks now. He IS trying to lose weight, and also be healthier (cholesterol and blood pressure and such). He's tried several smoothie recipes he's found, and shared some with the munchkins (I don't do smoothies myself). He's done his shopping and meal prep for all his lunches. It's pretty impressive!

I try to have some healthy dinner ideas/options (although evenings are still often crazy around here, and family dinner doesn't always happen).  It's also hard, being SUCH a picky eater myself! This past weekend, when I was a lazy slug, Hubs exercised every day. This morning, he popped up by me on my Fitbit friend list~

 That's usually NOT the case.

Having been on Fitbit for several years, I have a ton of "friends" ... most of whom I don't really know at all. It's always fun when I see someone I actually have a relationship list in the seven featured friends (those three above, three below). I've often been at the topish of my list (3,4,5), and generally no lower than 7,8,9. This weekend's non activity dropped me down to the twenties!

Here's a little later in the morning ... back on top, of Hubs anyway.

Working my way back up into the top10.

My family pretty much ONLY has family on their Fitbit friend list. I love to see how everyone stacks up week to week. I even have my missionary in Mexico send me his steps! He can't connect/sync, so I sent him with just an inexpensive pedometer, and I manually enter his steps into Fitbit every Monday (because that's the day he gets to email me). He's been gone for over a year now, and I've been impressed with him recording and sending me his steps each week. He does it for his Mommy!

The Family Top 10 this week ...

That's my 12-year old at the top of the list. He must have slowed down a little, because for several weeks in a row his average was over 30k! Mr. Missionary is in the #2 position, and my 10-year old is there in third. Fourth position is my 17-year old , then me and Hubs, and #3. Even with his broken wrist, #3 has been participating in gym, and even jogging on the treadmill downstairs. Extended family have Fitbits too. There in the family Top10 are my two brothers and my sister. My dad is very often competitive with everyone. My oldest brother has a Fitbit too (a Surge) ... but he won't be "friends" with any of us ;)

 

Back to this morning ... all the kids got up and at 'em easily. They are SUCH great kids!

I'm a little over on my eating today, 

and I have 10minutes left to get my hour of elliptical.

I did weights though! 

Hubs is down on the treadmill right now ... is he trying to get back on top?

 

Kids, Kitchens and Cooking Shows

 Oh, Alton!

For today's TV Tuesday, I thought I'd do a quick post on what the kids have been watching. They have been fascinated with food, Food Network shows that is.  I remember watching "Good Eats" with the hubs quite  a while back. It was one we enjoyed (along with "Unwrapped"). But I was never really big on watching anything else on the Food Channel. I'm just too picky of an eater for anything to really apply to me. Cooking shows the last several years have seemed to morph into reality competitions and this past year ... my kids have discovered them.

It started with Cupcake Wars and I did a TV Tuesday about that about a year ago. They tried out the "Cake Wars" but didn't like them as much. My SIL recommended  "Cutthroat Kitchen" ... now that show is just mean! It isn't the best cook who wins, but the one who can outlast the sabotage! After the  boys finished up that (catching up with however many are offered on Netflix), they have been trying out some of the more traditional ones like "Chopped" and "Iron Chef". My munchkins discovered "Worst Cooks in America" and they loved that.

As I've mentioned, I rarely sit down and watch TV. I'll use it for motivation when I work out ... and cooking shows do NOT fit that bill for me (I like dramatic, action packed series that get the adrenaline pumping).  I'll catch bits and pieces of these productions as the boys are watching while I'm working in the kitchen.

I could NEVER be on a show like these. Not as a contestant, not as a guest judge. I'm just to "plain and simple" when it comes to cooking. I'm very limited even to "normal" standards without going gourmet or attempting to incorporate the things that come up in these weird challenges (an anchovy cupcake? Um ... no!)

My 12-year old has been enjoying eggs most mornings. I just went through the simple steps of making an omelet, and now he can do it all on his own (which saves me major minutes in the mornings). It's good for my boys to see that the kitchen is a great place for guys. My sweet hubby does quite a bit ... he makes the best steak, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, waffles and popcorn.

Hubs and #1 son making breakfast ...

Do YOU watch the cooking shows out there?

Family, Fun and FOOD

 

Fairly often, Hub grabs the boys, and then grabs some cousins, and they go grab something yummy. Family fun and food, they just seem to go together, don't they? Can you have one without the other? It's a little hard! And as I struggle to control calories, often it's easier for me just to skip these outings. I know I can go and not partake, but I don't know that I have the motivation if I'm there (and, I admit it, I'm a homebody). But I have missed out on some family fun. 

Family, Fun and Food.

They just go together, like movies and popcorn.  

I haven't been in a movie mood this summer. The thought of just sitting, combined with the consumption of calories. As Daddy has taken the boys to Age of Ultron, Pitch Perfect 2, Inside Out, Minions and Pixals ... I didn't go.

When Daddy drove the boys up to Utah County

 to catch Krispy Creme with the Hot Light on

  ... I didn't go. 

(They still brought me home donuts)

We had a family outing to Pretzel Maker.
I went, and I did partake.

I actually could have gone on this "Hot Dog on a Stick" outing ...

I don't do corndogs. I wouldn't have been tempted.

But then, it doesn't really make sense for me to make the trip.

When we get together for birthdays, there is cake and ice cream. There are big family dinners. As we met up with my brothers this weekend to finalize some legal documents, we turned it into a pizza party. Almost every time a group gets together, food is a major factor.

Even just at home, I find food is how I show love to my family. 

They love it when I bake.

 Nutritious dinners just don't get the same response.

It's hard. This association we have with food and fun and showing love.  Valentines and other holidays are all associated with candy gifts. Dates are so often dinners out, or movies with popcorn and treats.  A few years ago, Hubs and I really tried to get away from the traditional dates with some healthy alternatives. We went hiking a lot, or went for a walk, or  (my favorite) played racquetball. But we've slipped back into less healthful activities. There have been times these past few months when Hubs has suggested going out for a quick mini-date to grab a treat ... and I've said no, because I didn't have the calories in the budget. A true definition of "controlling calories" ... they control me at times.

Just Thinking Out Loud ...
Can you have family fun without food?
What do you do?

WIAW - Girl Scout Cookies

The "What I Ate Wednesday" posts are big all over the Internet. I don't participate often ... because what I'm eating isn't share worthy or anything anyone would want to emulate. In fact, IF I were to participate, I'd have to admit that GIRL SCOUT COOKIES appeared way too much in my MFP food log these past couple of days. 

I didn't order any girl scout cookies. 

Hubby did. 

He ordered several boxes of Samoas. With #1 son gone, I am the only one who eats the Samoas. At least I had help with the Thin Mints (although I still easily managed to eat one sleeve, yikes!). The little boys liked the Trefoils. So did I. The older boys LOVE the Tagalongs and fought viciously over them ... but I still got a few.

What is it about Girl Scout cookies? They are ridiculously overpriced ... often that can actually impact my enjoyment when eating things (I'm just a little too frugally minded). Is it that they are so temporary? Only offered once a year? Keebler does make a some knockoffs that are quite good ... but they aren't quite the same.

So ... now the boxes are empty. The cookies are gone. I can't really say it's time to get "back" to healthy eating, as I haven't mastered that at all yet ... but perhaps I can improve on eating with such reckless abandon. I HAVE recorded everything, in my private MFP diary so no one can actually witness my shame. 

Anyone else struggling with Girl Scout cookie issues this time of year?

It's Wednesday ...

I like alliteration. If you look back on my blog posts, watch the wording of my terrific titles, you will probably see that. So many of the link-ups out there also adopt alliteration, Wednesday being one. There is Workout Wednesday, Weigh-In Wednesday, and What I Ate Wednesday, just to name a few. I wasn't sure which one to work on this Wednesday, so I figured I'd hit all three *Ü* Wonderful!

The scale said 154.9 this morning. Not wonderful.

I weigh-in every day, but my official day is Friday. I do usually join the Weigh-In Wednesday link-up late, only linking up on an actual Wednesday if I'm discussing something else weight related. I thought I would share my updated weight graph today. 2014 has come to a close, so I thought it would be good to post it in comparison to my previous years (last year's line is in gray). It was a pretty steady year, right there in my "comfort zone happy place" of 150-155 pounds for most of it. I did have a little dip Octoberish, but the packed on some holiday pounds to end the year. It's always interesting to take a really broad view of my weight, looking at it over years, not just the weekly check in.

 We had pancakes for breakfast ...

It's the eating! I actually enjoy exercise, but I have NOT mastered my eating. Thus the constant struggle. I to track on MFP at least, and try to control my calories. Because I don't have much good or inspirational eating advice, I don't participate in the What I Ate Wednesday link-up very often. But I have really been thinking about what I've been eating lately, as it's been SO hard keeping calories in check. I think one of the reasons is our big breakfasts. Normally, I'm not much of a breakfast gal. Yes, I know ... "most important meal of the day" and all, but I'm usually just not that hungry. If I eat, those are 200-500 calories that I wouldn't have consumed otherwise. Over the holiday break, I made quite a few breakfasts for the boys. Pancakes, waffles, french toast, muffins, cocoa and toast, cinnamon rolls (yes, we like the breads) ... sometimes scrambled eggs, bacon and hashbrowns too. Even with the boys going back to school, they are still expecting me to make them breakfast (go figure!) Before, it seems like they would just grab a banana or some cereal, things I didn't have to take time to make and then be tempted to eat myself. I'd think I'd do better off going back to eating my "breakfast" around noon ... 

Lastly, there is Workout Wednesday ( #wowlinkup)

 I do participate in the Workout Wednesday link up quite often. Working out ... that is something I seem to have endless ideas to talk about, things worth sharing. I like the exercise and activity part of this attempted healthy lifestyle! One of my main workouts is Zumba. I go Mon-Fri, to five different classes. While I love all my instructors, their different styles and steps, I don't know that I could go to the same class everyday without getting a little burned out. So I switch it up! Today, my Wednesday class was having a theme. "Black and White" ... ok, that is pretty much my usual attire (Lacking in Color Confidence).  These theme days can be fun though! It's their Wacky Wednesday ... look, more alliteration!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

WWI#72 and Salted Caramels

Blah, blah ... another weekly weigh-in. Another week up again! I must admit, I really had high hopes for this week. I thought for SURE I was going to be able to reverse the rising trend of the past few weeks. But no. I'm a little bummed. I'm just barely under my "150" limit, and I bopped over it twice. Not good.

NUMBERS: Up 1.4 from last week. Average was up too ... 1.38. My intake was a little high, at 2107 but I was extra active! My average burn for the week was 3132 per day. I had several 30K days, getting in my hour of elliptical spread throughout each day, my hour of Zumba Mon-Fri, several sessions on the bike and treadmill and a weights workout. There were several basketball games (Sat/Tues/Wed/Thurs/Fri) too, where I walked around while I watched, usually getting in 6000+ steps during the hour. Crunching the numbers, I had a deficit of 5041! That should be a loss, not a gain. Of course ... the numbers are all estimates, I do realize that. It's hard to know for sure on calories in and calories out even when you are keeping a food diary and monitoring activity.

I was trying to think back on what could have changed these past few weeks. Why, after losing steadily for several weeks, have I started to gain some back? Oct and the first couple weeks of November were great ... then? There were birthdays, and Thanksgiving, but the other addition ...

Salted Caramels

Last Christmas Hubs gave me a box of salted caramels from Willam's Sonoma. They were wonderful! I never succumbed to the whole "pumpkin spice" temptation that others did during the fall (I like the smell of the candle, but the taste? I'll pass). Salted caramels seem to be a winter holiday trend, and they ARE a major temptation. Hubs bought me another box from William's Sonoma. It's gone. There were some for sale at Sam'sClub ... half the price, and I figured I needed to at least give them a try. They were really good too. Then hubs found some at Costco for an even better price. I joked that I probably should try all the  brands out there to compare. I really have trouble stopping at a single serving ... I wonder if the shift in the scale is reflecting my current salted caramel addiction?

I should try a WHOLE WEEK without eating any ... can I commit to that? I'm not sure ... not as long as there is an open container in the house (which there is). It's a good thing these things are seasonal!

Meal Planning

I don't talk much about food on this blog. My eating habits are nothing to brag about. I see many of you planning weekly menus, focusing on quality food. I'll let YOU all lead the way!

I'm just such a picky eater (Eating Issues) for plans made for "normal" people just won't work for me. While I don't have the quality, I at least try to keep the quantity under control. My exercise and activity allows me a few more calories than I'd be stuck with otherwise. With my exercise ... I participate in a number of reward programs. With Everymove, I earned a few "rewards" ... free meal planning from gatheredtable.com (a $120 value).

I glanced at the web site ... it looked like it could have some good feedback for those focused on food, with a more expanded palette than I posses. As far as I could tell, this is a FREE offering. I earned three of these awards (the code was the same for all three so ... I'm thinking it's not limited to a single use). I'm not going to use them myself, I figured about it here in case anyone wanted to try it out.

I know family dinners ARE important ... I'm just not sure how to make them happen right now! Yesterday, Hubs and #1 son didn't get home until after 7:00. I dropped off #3 at basketball practice at 5:30 and then picked him up at 7:00, dropping him at a second practice that didn't end until 9:30. #2 stayed after school and I didn't bring him home until 8:00.   Unfortunately that's pretty normal for our house. Rarely is everyone home (and hungry) at the same time. But hopefully this meal planning promotion can help someone out there who has it a little more together! Let me know if you use it and how it works out for you!

The code expires December 31, 2014 and only new members are eligible.

Crazy for Candy Corn

Everyone has temptations, right?

Especially when it comes to food!

As Fall rolls around, candy corn hits the store shelves. I suppose it is there somewhere year round,  but not quite as prevalent as in the weeks preceding Halloween. I have this cute glass pumpkin that we like to fill with candy corn as part of our holiday decor. But it's SUCH a temptation for me!

I LOVE candy corn. I'll ONLY eat the original though ... don't try to switch up the colors, or add flavors. Only the original will do. And while I can't seem to keep from grabbing handfuls of the stuff, if it was the mallow pumpkins? I won't touch them. I'm weird, I know!

Our local Sam's Club has had a big 4.5 pound bag of Brachs (I do prefer Brachs) candy corn for just over $7. I'm ashamed to admit to having gone through a couple of these bags already ... the kids have helped! It's not JUST me eating it all ...

Often candy corn disappears after Halloween, but I want to make sure I still have plenty on hand through Thanksgiving, as I make "Turkey Cookies" ...

I also have to start setting aside the malformed candy corns without the white tip. I use those for the beaks. Aren't they cute? And SO yummy too. Not low calorie at all. As much as I love candy corn alone, after they have been sitting on a sugar cookie overnight, they are even better! Not much protein in these turkeys! Here's a link to some of the other temping Tricky Treats I make this time of year. 

Do you like candy corn?

My MFP Birthday

One  year ago (on Saturday, May 17) I joined My Fitness Pal. There on MFP, it keeps track of your "streak" ... how many days you have checked in and logged.

Since I started ... 

I haven't missed a day.

When I originally lost weight (eight years ago) I tried to track food. For a short time, I wrote down what I was eating in a notebook. Then I tried on online program (My Calorie Counter) and did that for a little bit. It didn't really stick. I wasn't sure if it was food logging in general, or just the program that was the problem. I'd spent quite a bit of time adding manual entries, and learning how it worked, so I wasn't sure I wanted to change and try something else. For several years, I just keep exercising, trying not to eat everything, and I did okay. But as I've mentioned, the weight slowly crept back on. A year ago, I decided I needed to try food tracking again. Looking at the various options, I decided to give MFP a chance.

I'm so glad I did!  MFP is SO easy... Let me clarify. MFP makes recording and tracking food easy. The actual EATING choices, keeping calories in check ... THAT is hard. SO hard! I really don't know if I'll ever master the eating. But the food logging? I've got that down. That is second nature to me now. NOT logging ... that would be hard for me.

 Many people keep their food diary public for friends to see. I don't. I keep mine private. Sometimes I don't really WANT to put everything down in black and white, but I do like having the record. I can look back on any day in the past year and know what I ate. It's a food journal, but the food tells a bit of a story too. Just looking at the entries can often trigger memories of the day as a whole.

Food logging isn't for everyone, I know.  People who are eating healthy and clean are probably keeping calories in check, and counting every calorie isn't required. For some I'm sure it would be a negative experience, a chore. I'm not sure if I plan on doing this every day for the rest of my life ... but you know, maybe I will. I AM the kind of person who revels in records, who likes numbers and graphs, who looks at my food journal as more than just a journal for food, but for memories as well.

It motivates me. As I started MFP, I lost 15 pounds pretty quick. Over the next several months, I lost another 15. I'm no longer in the overweight category. I'd like to lose a little more, but I'm not unhappy with where I'm at or how far I've come. And I give MFP most of the credit for that.

So Happy MFP Birthday to me!

No - I didn't celebrate it with cake.

**Weekend Recap**
Linking up with MIMM.

• Friday ... had a decent day workout wise. I did get my jog and weights in. A little less elliptical, a little more bike as I wanted to finish my book (I have a new one I'm excited to read waiting for me). Food wise ... not great.
• Saturday ... I went to the last basketball game of the season (for #3). I didn't bother video taping it, as we thought it was going to be a blow-out (our boys ended up with the win!) and I still have clips from two previous games I haven't done anything with. That left me free to "walk" during the game. Then I had a soccer game for #5 later in the day (I did man the video camera for that one, but still got a bit of walking in). Hubby got my burb brakes looked at (they had been sounding awful) and got the car registered ... so glad to have that done (still have issues with #1's truck hanging over us). 
• Sunday ... there was some housecleaning, ping pong and walking to/from church twice. It's not far, but enough to get a little blip on my daily Fitbit. Only got in 40minutes on the elliptical for "official" exercise both Saturday and Sunday, but these other activities added up. I was pleasantly surprised by my numbers.  You can see my stats in my Day to Day Doings.  Still need to work on the eating though, especially on the weekends!

Have you tried food logging? MFP or otherwise?

What motivates you?
Join the Motivation Monday Link Up!

Committing to Fruits/Veggies

My little eight year old came home from boy scouts the other day. For one of the requirements, they needed to draw some foods that are good for you. This was his picture *Ü*

I've mentioned it before ... I'm a picky eater (Eating Issues). I have actually eaten and liked all the foods drawn above (well, I didn't care for the pomegranate, but I did try it!). I'll eat pineapple, pears and clementines too. But most of the other fruits? Peaches, honeydew/cantaloupe, all the berries ... I don't eat them. The fruits I do eat, I only eat plain, not in smoothies, or cooked/combined or processed in any way (well, I'll eat banana bread and blueberry muffins ... but not any fruit pie). 

Vegetables? I'm even worse!
I've never had a salad of any kind.

Last month I talked a little about the PACT program. Formally "GymPact" ... you could sign up, commit to working out during the week and get rewarded if you completed your pact, and pay up if you didn't. Pact then expanded past just workouts, to motivate people to log their meals (via MFP) and to eat their fruits and vegetables.  I went ahead and signed up for the "gym" and the "food logging" pacts, committing to six days a week. I haven't had to pay out anything yet, and I've earned over $50.

I have not tried the Veggie Pact.  I'm just not sure I can keep that commitment. I KNOW, that's the point of the pact. To motivate you, to encourage you. But still, I'm just not sure I'm ready to commit to that. You can commit to five fruits/veggies a day.  I've been thinking about it ... perhaps I would try six per week. The OCD in me would like the match up with my gym & food logging pacts and wouldn't be a huge commitment. That should be doable, right?

The gym and food logging pacts get logged automatically for me. Once I hit 10,000 steps on my Fitbit, that counts as a workout (there are other ways to log a workout if you don't have a Fitbit). Once you log at least three meals and 1200 calories on My Fitness Pal, your food logging pact is complete for the day (some days I haven't eaten too much in the morning and I think "I may not hit 1200 calories today." Ha ha ha ha ha ... I always end up hitting 1200 and more. Luckily we are not penalized for going over, just having the minimum and logging).

The veggie pact works differently. It's not automatic. You have to take a picture of your fruit/veggie using the Pact app. The picture is then uploaded to the Pact Community for voting. Other people will vote on whether or not your picture qualifies. You must receive six up votes to get verified. Three down votes will disqualify the entry and it won't count.

Besides not being great at remembering to take a picture and hoping there are no network issues while it uploads, there are some issues with the voting process. Two main reasons for downvoting an entry are "not a full serving" (which can be a little arbitrary) and "can't tell it's being eaten" ... which has resulted in some disgusting openmouth chewing selfies ...

Then there is the the questions, what SHOULD count as a fruit/veggie? Do corn and potatoes count? Some people vote yes, others downvote them saying "they are a starch, not a vegetable". What about juice? What about beans? Iceberg lettuce? Dried fruit? What about a fruit or veggie with so much other unhealthy stuff included with it ... does that negate the entry?  One person said he didn't think ANYTHING other than fresh (not canned/frozen/processed) should count. I think that is taking it a bit far! There are no hard and fast rules which makes it hard ... Pact actually put forth a blog post about it (here). 

How do you think YOU would vote?

Then ... there are the CHEATERS. As I haven't joined the VeggiePact yet, and my stuff syncs automatically, I don't really check out the community feed. I've never voted on a picture myself. I've joined a Facebook group for Pact users though, and I've seen many a post come across pointing out cheating (especially on Sunday nights, as the Pact comes to a close). Pictures of pictures ... often from cookbooks. The same fruit/veggie presented in different views. Obviously uneaten (sometimes even unpurchased ... still at the supermarket in the background). Then there are the silly entries ... a bowl of "Fruit" Loops, fruit snacks, beer/wine, etc. 

I'm still debating trying it ... it does seem like quite a bit of bother to earn about $1 (which might be my return on a commitment of six per week, it does vary week to week). But if it did get me to eat more fruits/veggies ... to be more conscious of it (I wouldn't want to pay $5 for a missed commitment, the "punishment" would be more motivation than the payment). 

A while back (last November) ... I posted that Hubby was on board. That he was wanting to get back to the eating and exercise. Well, for the first time in his many ups and downs ... it didn't happen. Every other time the Hubs has decided to get on track, he has had immediate success. Not this time. It just didn't click. We'll, he's recommitting again now. I've tried to fill the fridge with healthy choices. I need to get back to prepping him a lunch to take to work. To make healthy dinners. To allow him time to exercise. To be supportive without being pushy. Already (it's just been a couple of days) I can see my mental attitude change a bit in what I'm doing myself ... thus my thoughts about joining veggie pact.

So ... even though I'm NOT getting any official credit for it. Guess what I ate this Wednesday? A banana.  Yea me!   Linking up with What I Ate Wednesday ... maybe in a future WIAW post I'll have a week's worth of fruit/veggies to share, and an update on my Pact experience. Also linking up with the Wednesday Hump Day blog hop at FitnessBlondie and the Wednesday Linkup At Fit FoodieRuns.