HG's Better Bruschetta Chicken Salad

The most irritating thing about eating out at restaurants is when you decide to order a salad to be healthy; come to find out that the salad has more calories in it than the juciest burger with the most delicious fries. First of all, is it even fair to call those meals "salads"? Sneaky calorie traps is more like it. Check out Hungry Girl's take on Applebee's Brucshetta Chicken Salad...less calories and even more delicious, this is how restaurant salads should be made.

HG's Better Bruschetta Chicken Salad

Serving Size: 1 salad with dressing (entire recipe)
Calories: 360
Fat: 11g
Sodium: 988mg
Carbs: 26g
Fiber: 6.5g
Sugars: 12g
Protein: 37.5g

PointsPlus® value 9*

HG FYI: The recipe method of calculating PointsPlus® values counts the carbs, protein, etc., from vegetables -- even those with a value of 0*. If calculated without 0-value vegetables, this recipe has a PointsPlus® value of 6*.

We love the idea of a salad topped with chicken and a delicious tomato mixture, but the one at Applebee's is straight-up SILLY. Feast your eyes on our beauteous bowl of greens...

Ingredients:
Bruschetta Topping
1 cup chopped plum tomatoes (about 2 tomatoes)
1/4 cup chopped red onion (about 1/4th of an onion)
2 tbsp. drained and chopped roasted red peppers (packed in water)
2 tbsp. sliced black olives, finely chopped
1 tbsp. chopped fresh basil
1/2 tsp. chopped garlic

Salad
One 4-oz. raw boneless skinless lean chicken breast cutlet
Dash each salt and black pepper
4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
2 tsp. reduced-fat Parmesan-style grated topping
1 stick light string cheese, cut into coins
2 tbsp. fat-free or low-fat balsamic vinaigrette

Directions:
In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients for bruschetta topping and mix well. Cover and refrigerate.

Spray a grill pan (or skillet) with nonstick spray, and bring to medium heat on the stove. Season chicken with salt and pepper, and place in the pan. Cook for 4 - 5 minutes per side, until cooked through. Once cool enough to handle, slice chicken into strips and set aside.

Place lettuce on a large plate or in a large bowl. Add bruschetta topping and chicken. Sprinkle with Parm-style topping, and top with string cheese coins.

Top or serve salad with dressing. EAT!

MAKES 1 SERVING

Banana Split Milkshake-Lynn's Kitchen Adventures

Here is a simple and easy to make healthy milkshake recipe from Lynn's Kitchen Adventures. My mom used to make a version of this for my sister and I when we were younger and it was so good! Here's the recipe, have fun!

Freezy Movie Night Concession Stand-wiches-Hungry Girl

I saw these snacks on Hungry Girl and they look so good! It's kind of like a mish mosh shmorgasbord of movie theater snacks in one delicious snackwich. Check out this recipe for Freezy Movie Night Concession Stand-wiches.

Freezy Movie Night Concession Stand-wiches


PER SERVING (1/7th of recipe, 1 sandwich): 158 calories, 2g fat, 128mg sodium, 32g carbs, <0.5g fiber, 7g sugars, 2.5g protein -- PointsPlus® value 4*

These treats are packed with the flavors of your favorite movie-theater snacks, so you can enjoy said flavors without the high calorie count and kicks to the back of your seat. Lights, camera, SNACKTION!!!!


Ingredients:
One 8-oz. container Cool Whip Free, thawed
3 pieces Twizzlers Strawberry Twists, finely chopped
1 tbsp. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tbsp. chopped peanuts
14 Quaker Butter Popped Corn Rice Cakes (1 package)

Directions:
To make the filling, transfer Cool Whip to a medium-large bowl. Add chopped Twizzlers, chocolate chips, and chopped peanuts. Gently stir.

Set out 7 rice cakes, and evenly spoon filling over them, about a heaping 1/4 cup each.

Lightly place another rice cake over each filling-topped cake to form a sandwich, for a total of seven sandwiches.

Place in the freezer until filling is firm, at least 1 1/2 hours. (Use a few plates or a baking sheet, so the sandwiches are not stacked.) Eat up!

MAKES 7 SERVINGS

Blueberry Cobbler-Lynn's Kitchen Adventures

Check out a delicious and easy recipe for Blueberry and Strawberry cobble from Lynn at Lynn's Kitchen Adventures...found here

HG's Smokin' Hot B-fast Bacon-rito

Breakfast burritos are a really fun way to get a complete breakfast all wrapped together. Fast food breakfast burritos can get fattening really quickly; why not try making your own? Check out Hungry Girl's recipe for a bacon breakfast burrito.

HG's Smokin' Hot B-fast Bacon-rito

Serving Size: 1 burrito (entire recipe)
Calories: 250
Fat: 5g
Sodium: 1,047mg
Carbs: 33g
Fiber: 6.5g
Sugars: 5g
Protein: 24.5g

PointsPlus® value 7*

Don't get sucked in by fast-food breakfast items. With a little effort, you can make a morning meal that tastes just as good yet has way less fat and calories. Plus, you don't have to eat it in your car.

Ingredients:
2 tsp. fat-free sour cream
1 slice fat-free cheddar cheese
Dash cayenne pepper
1 slice center-cut bacon or turkey bacon
1/4 cup sliced onion (about 1/4th of an onion)
1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters Original)
1 medium-large high-fiber flour tortilla with 110 calories or less (like the kinds by La Tortilla Factory)
3 jarred jalapeño slices, chopped

Directions:
In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine sour cream, cheese, and cayenne pepper, breaking cheese into small pieces as you add it. Stir well and set aside.

Prepare bacon in a skillet sprayed with nonstick spray or on a microwave-safe plate in the microwave. (Refer to package instructions for exact cook time and temperature.) Once cool enough to handle, roughly chop and set aside.

Bring a skillet sprayed with nonstick spray to medium heat on the stove. Add onion and, stirring occasionally, cook until slightly softened, about 3 minutes.

Add egg substitute to the skillet with the onion and scramble until fully cooked, about 3 minutes. Set aside.

Place tortilla on a microwave-safe plate and warm in the microwave, about 10 seconds. Scoop egg scramble into the center of the tortilla and set aside.

Microwave the cheese mixture for 15 seconds, or until hot. Mix well, until mostly smooth, and immediately spoon over the egg scramble.

Top with bacon and jalapeño. Wrap tortilla up like a burrito, folding the sides in first, and then rolling it up from the bottom. Place burrito seam-side down on the microwave-safe plate, and microwave for 30 seconds, or until hot.

Slice it in half or bite right in. Enjoy!

MAKES 1 SERVING

Fiesta-Time Chicken Flautas

I absolutely love Mexican food, but it's so difficult to be disciplined enough to choose the healthy options when tacos, chips, and salsa are always calling my name. Check out Hungry Girl's Flauta recipe; it takes the guilt out of this normally fried meal.

Fiesta-Time Chicken Flautas


PER SERVING (1/2 of recipe, 2 flautas): 188 calories, 2g fat, 556mg sodium, 24.5g carbs, 3g fiber, 4g sugars, 17g protein -- PointsPlus® value 4*

With flavor like this, who needs a fryer? These zesty chicken rollups RULE!





Ingredients:
1/4 cup picante sauce (like the kind by Pace)
1/4 cup shredded fat-free cheddar cheese
3 oz. cooked and finely chopped skinless lean chicken breast
3 tbsp. diced onion
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. ground cumin
1/8 tsp. salt
Four 6-inch yellow corn tortillas
2 tsp. chopped cilantro

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet by spraying it with nonstick spray. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine picante sauce with cheese and mix well. In another bowl, combine chicken, diced onion, and seasonings; mix well. Set both bowls aside.

Dampen two paper towels, and place tortillas between them. Microwave for about 1 minute, until tortillas are warm and pliable. Set aside.

Place one tortilla flat on a clean dry surface (keep the rest between the paper towels), and spread 1/4th of the saucy cheese mixture (about 1 tbsp.) onto the bottom third of the tortilla. Top with 1/4th of the chicken mixture (about 3 tbsp.). Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. cilantro. Tightly roll tortilla up from the bottom around the filling. Repeat with remaining tortillas, cheese mixture, chicken mixture, and cilantro, for a total of 4 flautas.

Carefully transfer flautas to the baking sheet, seam side down. Spray the tops with nonstick spray. Bake in the oven until tortilla edges are lightly browned and crispy, 15 - 20 minutes.

Serve and enjoy!

MAKES 2 SERVINGS

Spicy Thai-Style No-Cook Stir-Fry

I absolutely love to make stir fries...They're a great way to get a complete meal and so easy to load up with veggies and make super healthy. Here is a Thai Style Stir Fry recipe from Hungry Girl for yall to try.

Spicy Thai-Style No-Cook Stir-Fry

PER SERVING (1/4th of recipe, about 1 1/2 cups): 165 calories, 3g fat, 440mg sodium, 14g carbs, 4g fiber, 7g sugars, 22g protein -- PointsPlus® value 4*

This dish is all stir and no fry! Just grab some precooked chicken from the market (or make use of those leftovers!), and you're on your way to delicious-ville...




Ingredients:
1/4 cup low-fat Thai peanut salad dressing or sauce (like the kind by Litehouse)
2 tbsp. seasoned rice vinegar
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
One 12-oz. bag (about 4 cups) broccoli cole slaw
10 oz. cooked and chopped skinless lean chicken breast
2 cups sugar snap peas, halved
1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Directions:
In a small bowl, combine salad dressing/sauce, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes. Mix thoroughly and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine all remaining ingredients and mix well. Add dressing/sauce mixture and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, at least 15 minutes. If you just can't wait, go ahead and dig in!

MAKES 4 SERVINGS

HG's Chilly Chocolate Mudslide

If you're craving a sinfully delicious chocolate treat after a long day at work, how about trying Hungry Girl's version of a Mississippi Mudslide. Less fat, less calories, but all of the deliciousness that you would expect from this dessert.

HG's Chilly Chocolate Mudslide

Serving Size: 1 mudslide (entire recipe)
Calories: 156
Fat: 0.5g
Sodium: 177mg
Carbs: 10g
Fiber: 1.25g
Sugars: 6g
Protein: 3g

PointsPlus® value 5*

HG Alternative: For a non-alcoholic version, just omit the vodka and add another 1 1/2 oz. (3 tbsp.) soymilk. TADA! Your virgin sipper will have just 66 calories and a PointsPlus® value of 2*. YAY!

Straight from the pages of Hungry Girl Happy Hour, a chocolate cocktail with a serious KICK... YEE-HAAA! Get ready for sippable bliss...

Ingredients:
One 25-calorie packet hot cocoa mix (like Swiss Miss Diet or Nestlé Fat Free)
2 no-calorie sweetener packets (like Splenda or Truvia)
2 oz. (1/4 cup) light vanilla soymilk
1 1/2 oz. (3 tbsp.) vodka
1/2 oz. (1 tbsp.) sugar-free calorie-free vanilla-flavored syrup (like the kind by Torani)
1 tsp. light chocolate syrup
1 cup crushed ice or 5 to 8 ice cubes
Optional topping: Fat Free Reddi-wip

Directions:
Combine cocoa mix with sweetener in a glass. Add 2 oz. (1/4 cup) hot water and stir to dissolve. Add soymilk and 1 oz. (2 tbsp.) cold water. Stir and transfer to a blender.

Add all other ingredients except optional topping to the blender, and blend at high speed until thoroughly mixed.

Pour and, if you like, top with a squirt of Fat Free Reddi-wip. Enjoy!

MAKES 1 SERVING

Creamy Cold Tomato Soup

I am sure you all can tell; I'm a huge fan of Lynn's Kitchen Adventures...here is yet another great soup recipe from her collection. Try this healthy and refreshing Creamy Cold Tomato Soup.