Here we are the day before Thanksgiving!!! Statistics say that the average person will gain 12 pounds from Thanksgiving through New Years Day! I for one am hoping to be BELOW average this year!!!!
One thing I would suggest is to look ahead at your recipes that you intend to make for all of the parties and events that happen during this time of year. See what ingredients you can change to make it more healthy. I do this a lot and never tell anyone! Well OK...if you are reading this post and I have cooked something for an event..you now know! :o)
I will substitute fat free, low sodium chicken broth for regular chicken broth. Low fat or fat free cream cheese for regular cream cheese. Fat free Cool Whip for regular Cool Whip. Low fat Cream of chicken, mushroom or celery soups for regular Cream soups.
I try to only eat homemade foods for the holidays (or any other event) because I know that store bought I can get just about any time. But homemade things...sometimes only at Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Find ways to get in a little extra movement. Sign up for a Turkey Trot for Thanksgiving morning, or take a walk after your meal instead of taking a nap. Take a nap later in the day.
Just remember the food is not the most important part of the holidays! It is the people that you get to spend time with that are the most important! Make your holidays more about making memories with the people you get to spend it with than about the food! You will always remember the memories you have made with people...but not always remember the food.
I hope each of you have a most wonderful Thanksgiving holiday tomorrow! We have a lot to be thankful for!!
Keep on Keeping on!!!
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Cran-Orange Relish
One of my friends has made this already and LOVED it!!!
2 cups whole fresh cranberries
1 orange, washed
2 cups Splenda
Wash cranberries and orange. Cut orange into quarters and remove any seeds, leaving skin on. Put all ingredients into a food processor and blend thoroughly. Relish should sit at least 6-8 hours before serving. May be frozen and used at a later date.
serving size: 1/2 cup this makes 6 servings
Calories per serving: 18 Total Fat: 0 Cholesterol: 0 Sodium: 0 Carbohydrates: 14g Fiber 1g, Sugar: 2g. Protein: 0g Points plus: 1
2 cups whole fresh cranberries
1 orange, washed
2 cups Splenda
Wash cranberries and orange. Cut orange into quarters and remove any seeds, leaving skin on. Put all ingredients into a food processor and blend thoroughly. Relish should sit at least 6-8 hours before serving. May be frozen and used at a later date.
serving size: 1/2 cup this makes 6 servings
Calories per serving: 18 Total Fat: 0 Cholesterol: 0 Sodium: 0 Carbohydrates: 14g Fiber 1g, Sugar: 2g. Protein: 0g Points plus: 1
Green Bean Casserole
OK...so the holiday recipes continue!
I know that the green bean casserole is a big deal come the holidays!! It shows up a lot at pot luck gatherings and holiday dinners!
If you change just a few things, it can so help make a recipe more healthy!
2- 14.5 oz. cans green beans, drained
1 can 98% fat free cream of mushroom soup
1/2 c. skim milk
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 1/3 c. French fried onions
Mix green beans, soup, milk, pepper, soy sauce and 1/2 c. fried onions. Pour into 8x8 baking dish sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until hot. Stir casserole, top with remaining fried onions. Bake an additional 5 minutes.
3 points plus per serving This makes 6 servings
Enjoy!!
Keep on keeping on!
I know that the green bean casserole is a big deal come the holidays!! It shows up a lot at pot luck gatherings and holiday dinners!
If you change just a few things, it can so help make a recipe more healthy!
2- 14.5 oz. cans green beans, drained
1 can 98% fat free cream of mushroom soup
1/2 c. skim milk
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 1/3 c. French fried onions
Mix green beans, soup, milk, pepper, soy sauce and 1/2 c. fried onions. Pour into 8x8 baking dish sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until hot. Stir casserole, top with remaining fried onions. Bake an additional 5 minutes.
3 points plus per serving This makes 6 servings
Enjoy!!
Keep on keeping on!
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Crustless Pumpkin Pie
This has to be one of my all time favorite Thanksgiving recipes!
Crustless Pumpkin Pie
Makes 4 servings!
15 ounces canned pumpkin
1/2 c. egg beaters
1 1/2 cup skim milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 c. splenda
Mix all the ingredients together. Pour into pie pan sprayed with non stick spray. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, then 375 for 35-45 minutes.
1/4 of the pie is a serving. If you do Weight Watchers, it is 3 points for 1/4 of the PIE!!!!!! WHOOT!!!!!
Enjoy!!!
Crustless Pumpkin Pie
Makes 4 servings!
15 ounces canned pumpkin
1/2 c. egg beaters
1 1/2 cup skim milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 c. splenda
Mix all the ingredients together. Pour into pie pan sprayed with non stick spray. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, then 375 for 35-45 minutes.
1/4 of the pie is a serving. If you do Weight Watchers, it is 3 points for 1/4 of the PIE!!!!!! WHOOT!!!!!
Enjoy!!!
How to Survive the Holiday Traffic!
Thanksgiving is just around the corner!
I have learned over the last few years that the holidays are not permission to eat all that you want and then some! The most important thing about the holidays is the company that you surround yourself with! The most important things are the faces around your table and what they mean to you and making the most of your time with them! You never know if that will be the last chance you get to see them!
I come from a BIG family! I love being around people! I enjoy the times I get to be with my family. I hate not being with them EVERY holiday, but treasure Christmas time when I get to be with them every year! I have some to realize that not everyone is that lucky to always be able to be with family! It is not too late to see if your co-workers, people that you attend church with or your neighbors have somewhere to go for Thanksgiving or Christmas. We are so excited this year to be having 2 families from our church join us for Thanksgiving! We are looking forward to a house full of laughter and yummy food!
If you can't think of neighbors, church people or co-workers, contact a local college and see if they have students that need somewhere to go for Thanksgiving dinner! I know (with having a college student) they would enjoy having a home cooked meal!
We need to get back to reaching out to the people around us and including them in our plans! You may never know what that will mean to people!
I am hoping over the next few days to post some of our favorite, healthy recipes for the holiday dinners coming up! I hope you will give them a try! You don't have to tell people they are healthy!!! I just make them and not tell my kids!! LOL!!
I hope that everyone has a most joyful holiday season and remember it's not about the stuff you get...but making the most of what you get to GIVE!!!
Keep on keeping on!!!!
I have learned over the last few years that the holidays are not permission to eat all that you want and then some! The most important thing about the holidays is the company that you surround yourself with! The most important things are the faces around your table and what they mean to you and making the most of your time with them! You never know if that will be the last chance you get to see them!
I come from a BIG family! I love being around people! I enjoy the times I get to be with my family. I hate not being with them EVERY holiday, but treasure Christmas time when I get to be with them every year! I have some to realize that not everyone is that lucky to always be able to be with family! It is not too late to see if your co-workers, people that you attend church with or your neighbors have somewhere to go for Thanksgiving or Christmas. We are so excited this year to be having 2 families from our church join us for Thanksgiving! We are looking forward to a house full of laughter and yummy food!
If you can't think of neighbors, church people or co-workers, contact a local college and see if they have students that need somewhere to go for Thanksgiving dinner! I know (with having a college student) they would enjoy having a home cooked meal!
We need to get back to reaching out to the people around us and including them in our plans! You may never know what that will mean to people!
I am hoping over the next few days to post some of our favorite, healthy recipes for the holiday dinners coming up! I hope you will give them a try! You don't have to tell people they are healthy!!! I just make them and not tell my kids!! LOL!!
I hope that everyone has a most joyful holiday season and remember it's not about the stuff you get...but making the most of what you get to GIVE!!!
Keep on keeping on!!!!
Friday, November 9, 2012
The results of my 1/2 marathon adventures!!
So on Sunday, I totally stepped out of my comfort zone and did a 1/2 marathon! 13.1 MILES!!!! I was really very proud of myself! That was the most I had ever done in one day!
I had made a personal goal for myself of 4 hours. I really wasn't sure...but I knew that it had taken me 3 hours to do the 10 mile walk during my training. But really wasn't sure what to expect with so many people and a different route around the city!
I have to say that I had the best time!!! I had one of my very dear friends with me the entire 13.1 miles! We would check on each other every so often to make sure we were doing ok. We laughed and talked just about the entire way! We jogged and walked at different intervals. We NEVER QUIT!!!!
We enjoyed the people all around town holding signs, ringing pots and pans, cheering for everyone! Our favorite was an older couple standing out in their yard with a sign that said "Lamest parade ever!" But then they cheered for everyone going by! We met a lady who was standing at the edge of her driveway with a box of tissues and gave anyone that needed a tissue one to blow their nose. Then she had a bucket to toss them in. This brave lady was a cancer survivor and said that she hoped to be doing something like this once day! Touched my heart and caused me to toughen up and do a mile for her!
We also enjoyed different sightings of our families along the routes cheering and ringing cow bells and giving quick hugs to strengthen our spirits!
One thing that I saw that really hit home for me was that I was so very thankful for my running buddy Angela! We came up on a lady near the finish and she was crying a bit. We told her that she had it! That she was going go finish! She was alone and no one to encourage her along the race route! When you do something like this, it is very mentally taxing if you don't have someone cheering you every step of the way! You begin to fight the rough thoughts in your mind, you hear the "Oh you can't do this! and the What were you thinking? Make sure you have someone with you that will encourage you and cheer for you and you do the same for them! Yes, the lady did finish but I am sure that it was a huge struggle to do that alone!
We set out to do something together and we did it! We never left each other! We cheered for each other and was so blessed to have marathon runners coming up behind us cheering us on and telling us "You got this ladies!" "You are going to make it!" Guess what we did!!! We did 13.1 miles in 3:37:18 seconds! Was it the fastest time in the race....oh no, not by any means! But when you look at the obstacles and health issues that we have overcome to get to this point....it was like a Gold Medal performance for us! And it was!!!
God is so very good and blessed me beyond all measure to be able to do that race!!! I'm looking forward to doing other races...and yes I have a 5K here in a few hours. I am looking forward to a fun 3 miles!!! Seems like a piece of cake after 13!!!
Don't ever be afraid to try something new! You just never know...YOU MIGHT LIKE IT!!!
Keep on Keeping on!!!!!
I had made a personal goal for myself of 4 hours. I really wasn't sure...but I knew that it had taken me 3 hours to do the 10 mile walk during my training. But really wasn't sure what to expect with so many people and a different route around the city!
I have to say that I had the best time!!! I had one of my very dear friends with me the entire 13.1 miles! We would check on each other every so often to make sure we were doing ok. We laughed and talked just about the entire way! We jogged and walked at different intervals. We NEVER QUIT!!!!
We enjoyed the people all around town holding signs, ringing pots and pans, cheering for everyone! Our favorite was an older couple standing out in their yard with a sign that said "Lamest parade ever!" But then they cheered for everyone going by! We met a lady who was standing at the edge of her driveway with a box of tissues and gave anyone that needed a tissue one to blow their nose. Then she had a bucket to toss them in. This brave lady was a cancer survivor and said that she hoped to be doing something like this once day! Touched my heart and caused me to toughen up and do a mile for her!
We also enjoyed different sightings of our families along the routes cheering and ringing cow bells and giving quick hugs to strengthen our spirits!
One thing that I saw that really hit home for me was that I was so very thankful for my running buddy Angela! We came up on a lady near the finish and she was crying a bit. We told her that she had it! That she was going go finish! She was alone and no one to encourage her along the race route! When you do something like this, it is very mentally taxing if you don't have someone cheering you every step of the way! You begin to fight the rough thoughts in your mind, you hear the "Oh you can't do this! and the What were you thinking? Make sure you have someone with you that will encourage you and cheer for you and you do the same for them! Yes, the lady did finish but I am sure that it was a huge struggle to do that alone!
We set out to do something together and we did it! We never left each other! We cheered for each other and was so blessed to have marathon runners coming up behind us cheering us on and telling us "You got this ladies!" "You are going to make it!" Guess what we did!!! We did 13.1 miles in 3:37:18 seconds! Was it the fastest time in the race....oh no, not by any means! But when you look at the obstacles and health issues that we have overcome to get to this point....it was like a Gold Medal performance for us! And it was!!!
God is so very good and blessed me beyond all measure to be able to do that race!!! I'm looking forward to doing other races...and yes I have a 5K here in a few hours. I am looking forward to a fun 3 miles!!! Seems like a piece of cake after 13!!!
Don't ever be afraid to try something new! You just never know...YOU MIGHT LIKE IT!!!
Keep on Keeping on!!!!!
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