5 Super Low Calorie Hunger Buster Snacks you really Must Try - Part II

Looking for a 3 o'clock fix? How about a post-workout energy boost? These healthy, low-calorie snacks can get you through any diet craving.

5 super low calorie snacks that I am digging right now.  My kids love them too!

Don't forget to check out our Part 1 - Healthy Snacks to Try!

Lite Nachos - love me some nachos!  Use baked torilla chips (I use about 8-10), add a small about of shredded low fat cheese.  Pop in microwave for about 10-20 seconds than I go crazy with the veggie toppings! Unlimited tomatoes, cucumber, green onions, red peppers, easy on avocado, a few olives, a little sour cream and salsa.  I try to keep this snack under 200 calories.

Pizza Toast - toast a high fiber/low carb bread or English muffin.  Once toasted add a bit of ketchup top with some cheese and add your favorite topping.  Put oven on broil and place toast until cheese has melted.  Watch for it!  This goes quickly and easily burns!!

Tuna in lettuce wraps - I use Greek yogurt or, if you dont like the tart taste swap out blended cottage cheese or even lite mayo.  I add some curry powder and sometimes grapes and/ or apples, tomatoes chopped up.  Also another time saver is the pouch tuna that you don't have to drain....so easy!

Deli Turkey or Chicken Slices wrapped up in a dill pickle or skim milk cheese stick with a bit of mustard for dip. (If desired)

Healthy Artichoke Dip

Ingredients

1 garlic clove, peeled
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 cup light mayo or vegan mayonnaise
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup great northern beans
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon powdered mustard
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1 4-ounce can chopped green chiles
2 13.5-ounce cans of artichoke hearts, drained

Preparation

1. With food processor running, drop in the garlic clove and shallot; process until minced. Turn off processor, scrape down sides of bowl.
2. Add remaining ingredients except artichokes and process until well combined. Add artichokes and pulse briefly so that small chunks remain.
3. Serve with rice crackers or your favorite raw veggies.    

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Strange but Delicous Toast Toppers for Anytime of the Day

I love me some toast!  As a kid, I have fond memories of having white toast with melted butter, sugar and a dash of Cinnamon.  Yum!  I still love that but I now I need to eat healthy bread and minus the butter and sugar. 

I have experimenting with unique toast toppers that I really have to share with you.  It might like ugk to you, but don't knock it until you have tried it.  Right?

Always start with healthy bread such as Ezekiel bread or Manna Bread....

Source: FitSugar

Top with protein- and calcium-packed nonfat cottage cheese and then top with black pepper and hot sauce.

Start with raspberry jam, Swiss cheese and top with scrambled or poached egg.  Start your bread like the picture and than just add your egg.  Sounds not too appealing but it is so good.  Its like a party in your mouth!

For a sweet, protein-fueled snack in the morning, cover your toast in low fat cream cheese.  If you want to add a little fruit flavor, skip the jam and opt for fresh fruit.  I like mine with both!

Lately, my favorite toast topper is avocado with a little salt, pepper, and hot sauce. It's creamy and tasty, full of healthy monounsaturated fats, and also contains a high amount of antioxidants like beta-carotene and lycopene.







What about you?  Any strange toast toppers out there?
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One Point Weight Watchers Breakfast Ideas

When I am following Weight Watchers and going to the meetings, I regularly just like to switch my breakfast with only a few options.  I also like to make sure that the points are super low (never know what the day might throw at you!) and there is plenty of protein in the meal to keep me full until lunch (or at least close to lunch).

Here are my tested, tried and true breakfast options that will not disappoint you and your appetite!

Egg white scramble with any vegetable of choice.  (One point weight watchers recipe)

My favorite is baby greens (kale and spinach) and lots of mushrooms.

It doesn't look that great but look how large that plate is for just one point weight watcher meal.  Use 1/2 cup egg whites and as many vegetables as you choose.  I do add ketchup so I add another point on to this meal.  Use hot sauce to keep the point value at one.

Berry Protein Smoothie (one point weight watchers recipe)

Of course another really good stand-by is a berry smoothie.
I use a banana, berries on hand, baby greens and one cup of almond milk (40 calories per cup)

Greek Yogurt and Berries or any fruit you have one hand (one point weight watchers recipe)

I use the 50 calories cups to keep it down to one point.  So good and really filling.

What do you eat for breakfast when trying to shed some pounds?

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Protein Banana Chocolate Chip Bread

These bars are yummy!  Great for a post workout snack or a grab and go lite mini meal.

1.5 Cups Instant Oatmeal

3 Medium Bananas, Mashed

5 Scoops Vanilla Protein Powder

4 Egg Whites

1/2 Cup Walnuts, Ground

1 TBP Vanilla Extract

1 TBP Cinnamon

handful of chocolate chips

Cooking Instructions

In a large bowl, add all dry ingredients (oats, protein, walnuts, cinnamon) and stir. In a separate bowl, mash bananas and add egg whites and vanilla and stir. Pour wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients and combine until evenly mixed.
Scoop mixture into a 9x9 Pyrex dish and bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes.

Optional topping: prior to baking, combine a calorie free sweetener such as Stevia, Splenda, Truvia, etc. with some cinnamon. Pour the cinnamon sweetener on top of the mixture, then bake. You may also top with melted dark chocolate after cooling. Makes 9 bars.

Nutritional Info

• Calories: 199
• Protein: 16g
• Carbs: 22g
• Fat: 7g

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Chili Black Bean Burgers by Jillian Micheal

I just made last night another winner from Jillian Micheal's 30 Day Shred eating plan.  This recipe is exactly the same as the one on her site.  To change it up for next time, I would add some corn, carrots, peas any or all and maybe add a bit of feta or blue cheese for additional flavor.  I also don't think the agar powder is a necessity but I added it anyway.  I will keep you posted  once I make this dish again. 

You can top this burger with so many toppings:  cheese slice, tzakiki,hummus, mushrooms, onions, avocado...you get the idea as they are endless!

Well, Jillian has done a whole Ripped in 30 day eating plan but she didn't include any pictures so I wanted to help entice you to make some of her recipes your self to help you get that mean body like Jillian's.

 

Serve on whole grain buns, lettuce wrap, pita, high fibre wrap.

 

1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 cup minced red onions
1/2 cup chopped and seeded organic Roma tomatoes
1 - 3 teaspoon minced jalapeno peppers (more if you like it hot)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ground chili powder
1 - 15 ounce can low sodium black beans, rinsed and drained*
1/2 cup dry whole wheat breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons low sodium barbecue sauce
1 tbsp plain agar powder (available from health food stores/Chinese stores etc) with 1 tbsp water

 

Heat oil in nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add to the pan the onion, tomato, jalapeno, garlic and chili powder and sauté 5 minutes.

 

Cool slightly. Using fork, coarsely mash beans in bowl. Combine with onion mixture, breadcrumbs, 2 table- spoons of the barbecue sauce and agar powder and water.

Shape mixture into four 1/2-inch-thick patties.

 

If grilling, oil the rack or spray grill rack with nonstick spray, then heat up coals to medium heat. If cooking on stove top, heat a 1 teaspoon olive oil over medium heat. Place patties on grill or in skillet and cook until golden brown and heated through, about three minutes per side.

Weight Watchers Point +4

 

Per Serving: 175 Calories; 3g Fat (12.8% calories from fat); trace Saturated Fat; 9g Protein; 30g Carbohydrate; 5g Dietary Fiber; 0mg Cholesterol; 572mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1 1/2 Grain(Starch); 1/2 Lean Meat; 1/2 Vegetable; 1/2 Fat; 0 Other Carbohydrates. 

What about you?  Any good vegetarian burgers on your grill lately?

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Sweet Mini Turkey Muffins with Caramelized Onions

Yum!  My kids adore these little bite size meat muffins.  I make a whole batch (12 muffins) and they are gone before we all go to bed.  They just call out, when you open the fridge.  These gems are 3 points + weight watchers each so if you are following weight watchers than best not open the fridge after dinner.

If you don't have the time to caramelize the onion, than just chop it up and add it raw.  Caramelizing it, just brings out a real yummy sweet flavor but both methods are good.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. ground turkey
• 3 egg whites
• 1 cup or so shredded zucchini
• 1 cup salsa
• 1 cup quick cooking oats
• ½ tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp dry yellow mustard
• 2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp chipotle pepper spice
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 diced celery stalks
• 1 sweet onion, caramelized with a little bit of EVOO or oil spray

Directions:

Pre heat oven to 375 and spray muffin pay with some cooking spray (or coat with a little olive oil) 

Mix all the ingredients in one large bowl until well combined.  Use your hands.   Roll the mixture into balls and place each one in the muffin pan.

Bake for 40 minutes or until cooked through.

Makes 12 muffins.

Nutrients per muffin: Calories: 121; Total Fat: 1.5g; Saturated Fat: 0.4g; Cholesterol: 37mg; Carbohydrate: 6.4g; Dietary Fiber: 1.2g; Sugars: 0.9g; Protein: 19.6g

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Not Your Grannys Meatloaf Recipe-Under 200 Calories

One of my favorite stick to your ribs recipes is good ol' fashion meatloaf. I loved this dish with buttery mashed potatoes and peas. So good. I have come up with a variation to make my Granny's meatloaf much more healthy but equally as good.

Sweet and Tangy Turkey Meatloaf Recipe:(Makes 6-8 servings)

 

Ingredients:
1 pound extra lean ground turkey
1 cup plain bread crumbs
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup ketchup
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup diced onion (optional)

Glaze:
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup brown sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, and milk (onion if using).  Place in a greased 9x5 inch loaf pan. Cook for 40-50 minutes. In a separate bowl combine ketchup and brown sugar. Remove meatloaf from oven after it has cooked, spread on glaze and cook for an additional 20 minutes.  Cook until 165 or until no pink and juices run clear.

Based on 8 servings
Calories 200

Points + ww 5


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Layered Greek Salad with my secret Ingredient

This is my family's favorite salad out there.  It is also my personal favorite salad as well.  If you can get all of the ingredients local it is just that much better,  So fresh and crisp, I love this salad.  I even found locally made feta cheese as well.  And, this isn't just your typical Greek salad there is my own secret ingredient I just don't tell anyone........

I've made this salad so many times, now I am able just to eye ball it.

Layered Greek Salad

4 tomatoes
4 assorted colors peppers
1 English cucumber or field cucumber, peeled
1 sweet onion
bunch flat leaf parsley
2 tbsp. virgin olive oil
2 tbsp. of Greek seasoning or oregano and basil ( even better fresh herbs)
1 cup  feta cheese

now for THE secret....2 tbsp. red wine vinegar

Chop up all of the vegetables in layers, add the seasonings and liquids, top with the cheese and parsley.

Mix all together just before serving.....lasts for 2-3 days in the fridge.

YUM!

Serves 6 good sized portions.

Calories 148 Fat 10 grams Carbs 10 grams Fibre 5

ww points 4

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