[WINDWOOD]

I have received many wonderful ideas on this board from all of you and have helped me lose 27 lbs by all of the wonderful ideas. I have a question if you would be so kind to help me with. Is polenta something that would be used on WW??? And if so, how would you use it, and would it be a protein or considered starch. I have had it on vacation and was delicious served sliced and then topped with a marinara sauce and parmesan cheese. Any help would be appreciated.

[LindaBC]

Polenta is corn meal so it would be a grain. You can make it the old fashioned way by adding cornmeal to boiling salted water and cooking it slowly until it thickens, then cool it and slice it. But, in my super market you can buy it already made in the fresh pasta section. There is a nutritional content label on the side from which you can figure out how many points it has. Good luck.

[New-Me]

Windwood
I particularly like polenta topped with chili beans and salsa for a Mexican dish. When doing this, I add some finely diced onions (and sometimes chili powder) to the liquid when making the cornmeal mush then serve as the base for the beans as soon as it is done instead of letting it chill and then slicing. The cornmeal can also be made using milk in place of water. The points would be slightly higher but more nutritious. A little sharp cheddar is good also. Served with beans gives you a grain and protein.

Annette

[patch30]

I love Polenta too, and bought the corn grits / polenta package, thinking - hey it's healthy. Yes it is, but CAREFUL !

A 1/4 cup of Polenta is 4 points!

I don't know about you but I that's not enough to usually satisfy me. A large Yam (8 oz cooked) is only 3 points.

[New-Me]

Patch

I make my own polenta. I use Bob's Red Mill coarse ground cornmeal. It is 2 pts for 1/4c "dry" mix. After cooking in 3/4c liquid, I have a nice size serving, about 1 c.

Annette

[Ginaki]

When I was a kid, my father used to make polenta, pour it into a bowl to cool - then invert the cooled polenta (which then looked like a bundt cake). He would then slice it, add some hot tomato sauce and grated parmesan cheese over it. Your message brought back a 50 year old memory.

[lalala]

I sometimes like hot polenta with apples and milk for breakfast. Very filling and very soothing.

I also a big fan of cookies and brownies (really) with polenta in them, but they are a bit high in points....

lala

[WINDWOOD]

Thanks to all of you who so kindly answered my question. Thanks. Anxious to try them.

[Water Rat]

I've found non-fat polenta in my grocery (in the "health food" section). It comes in a non-refrigerated roll. It has 5 servings of 1 pt apiece. You need 2 at least for a dinner IMO. It's pretty good and beats making your own if you're in a hurry. Don't know the brand, sorry.