I have been eating fattening foods for soooooo long that I need some fresh ideas of what to eat for supper. What do you guys eat?
Have you cut out red meat all together? I wish I liked fish!!!
I've found a good strategy for me has been to learn to incorporate the foods I loved (aka the "fattening" ones) when I felt that I really wanted them. What it boils down to is plain and simple portion control, in conjunction with lots of no-point vegetables. Say, for instance, at dinner I've got 11 points budgeted and I'm having a tremendous craving for macaroni and cheese (the really good kind). I'll have a cup of it for 10 points, and round out my meal with a really big tossed salad w/ light dressing and a generous serving of no-points vegetables. I'm filled up, I've had my fattening mac & cheese, and I'm on program. This technique works great when you've just got to have that fattening stuff.
At other times, you want a lighter dinner that will fill you up and have staying power. If you're looking to try new foods for dinner that are lower in calories, I'd recommend trying some of the great recipes in some of the WW cookbooks. Also, www.cookinglight.com has lots of great recipes.
I don't think you need to cut out red meat. If you choose leaner cuts and watch the portion size you'll be fine. I'll often buy those bottom round roasts on sale at the market and stick it in the crockpot. It's very lean, and in the crockpot becomes very tender. I also use ground sirloin when I'm making something that calls for ground beef. One thing you can do to stretch points in a hamburger dish (like sloppy joes) is to use 1/2 ground sirloin and 1/2 veggie crumbles (like Morningstar Farms brand). The dish will taste virtually the same, but you've cut many points.
If you are not trying to restrict carbohydrates, ignore the suggestions on how to replace the starchy side dishes. Instead, consider ADDING the following ideas as fairly low-point, high-fiber side dishes:
lentil pilaf (Near East brand)
Lipton rice & sauce blends, omit fat
Zatarain's rice and beans
Rupertsmom is right about using veggie crumbles (or other types of soy meat replacements--I prefer the texture of the refrigerated Yves Veggie Ground Round to the Morningstar Farms frozen crumbles). You can use these to make high-fiber, low-fat veggie chili and serve it with a baked potato, over FF hot dogs, or by itself.
Boca burgers are another excellent dinner option, as are many soups. You can do a soup-and-sandwich menu using low point bread, low point sandwich fillings (Buddig Lean Slices turkey, Oscar Meyer FF bologna, FF or 2% cheese slices, etc.) paired with your own veggie soup or Progresso Tomato Vegetable Italiano (2 points/can).
I have to agree about having to have some of the higher fat options...
I love macaroni and cheese. And I can have it, provided I plan for it. Kraft now has the individual servings, where all you add is water and it takes about 3 mins to cook. One of those packages (about 1/2 cup) is 6 pts. Last night I had one of those with 2 Yves Hot Dogs (made from soy, not meat) for another 2 pts each, and 2 slices of WW Smart Ones bread, for another 2 pts. My dinner ended up being 12 pts, but it was filling, quick and tasty. And, if you have a family, it's something you could sit down and have when they're having mac and cheese and 'real' hotdogs without feeling guilty.
There are so many ways to fix boneless, skinless chicken breasts, you could probably cook it every night of the year different. It doesn't have to be dry with out a sauce either. Ground turkey is another staple at my house. I have found many great turkey loaf recipes and even turkey burgers that both DH and I think are great. W W has great cook books that have the nutrition and the points already figured for you. I like the New Complete cookbook that is a three ring binder and the Simply the Best. My leader put up a casserole from the new W W Country Cooking cookbook that looked real good. Add a baked potato or even grilled yam slices and/or a salad with vegetables on the side. We especially like different cabbage slaw recipes. At least once a week we go meat less and without poultry. Lasagne, speghetti etc. The soy crumbies are great in speghetti and tacos and sloppy joe etc.
There is a site where a wonderful lady named Dina posts recipes for a week at a time and they are wonderful. You might want to check it out - www.***************.net - One of my favorites is a small roasted chicken leg (4 points), a cup of Uncle Ben's Rice (3 points) sprayed with I Can't Believe Its Not butter, and one or two green veggies - broccoli, green beans, cabbage. Very filling meal for only 7 points. You can also substitute an 8 oz baked potato for the rice. Good luck with your food choices.
Location: Mesa, AZ, USA :) Originally From Oregon/Washington
Posts: 104
With summer here, my family will bar-b-que quite a bit. I really enjoy the skinless chicken or lean steaks on the grill - even Boca burgers. Add a salad and some fruit & your done. Have some sherbert for dessert - yum
Tonite were having stir-fry w/0 point vegies. The shrimp is low in points so I'm able to enjoy a large serving.
I usually have used all my points by the end of the day as I work a really bad schedul - 9:30-6 so I have usually pack a lot of low point snacks and stuff and so by the time I get home I only have about 5pts left for the day (I am in the 18-23 range). So, I usually fix myself some steamed vegetables ( I do this the lazy way- I just put the veggies in a plastic baggie, seal it, then poke some holes in it and steam it for like 5minutes) and I always make up a big bowl of brown rice on Sundays, so I can just heat up one cup of that for 3pts and then I top the whole thing with some reduced sodium soy sauce or some of that Lawrys Stir Fry Sauce ( my favorite is the sesame ginger and it only has 15calores a serving)- so, with a big plate of veggies and rice, I have a meal for 3pts.
I also love those Yves veggie dogs- particulary the chili dogs- they are delicious!
Also, for dinner sometimes I make a "taco salad" by taking some baked totilla chips ( 2pts) and topping it with a cup of refried beans (2pts) lettuce, tomato, a bit of onion, and salsa all for only 4pts. You could also add some veggie crumbles to it with some tacoseasoning to replace any meat in the recipe for an extra 2pts ( I think that is what it comes out to).
I agree with everone here though that the most important way to stay on track and to feel "full" is to plan your meal around vegetables and then fill in the gaps with the protein source and starches.
