Stretch your snacks part 1

I got this from Weight Watchers Weekly Magazine from February 28-March 6, 2010.

For about the same fat, calories, and fiber, you can have:

2 pretzel rods

or

1 serving of 94% fat free microwave popcorn and a handful of grapes

or

1 bowl of 0 points vegetable soup (anything tomato based but not creamy, and with a lot of veggies counts), 2 slices of whole wheat bread, and 2 tablespoons of store bought hummus

Each of these snack options are about equal in fat, calories, and fiber, and are relatively healthy for you, so when you feel like you need a snack, feel it out for how hungry you are before making a decision, and keep these options in mind.

Is this really hunger?

I got this in an email from my previous Weight Watchers leader back in Syracuse.

To Eat or Not to Eat?

Article By: Michelle Fowler

"Am I hungry?" Trying to come up with the answer to this question can really be tough. You think you're hungry, but maybe that's just because the clock says it's lunchtime, or because you're bored or anxious about a work project.

It's important to be able to discern when you are actually in need of some re-fueling, and when you're about to eat "just because." You are the only one who can decide. But making the call as to whether or not you're actually hungry doesn't have to be agonizing or tedious. It just takes a little vigilance.

Listen to your hunger signals
By asking yourself how hungry you feel on a scale of zero to five — zero being famished and five being stuffed — you can really gauge your level of hunger. Aim for feeling satisfied, meaning you shouldn't ever let yourself get too hungry or too full (which normally comes from overeating because you were too hungry when you sat down to a meal).

Whether you're couting POINTS® values or using the Simply Filling technique, the benefits of the Momentum™ plan are maximized by listening to your hunger signals. Still unsure about whether or not you are truly hungry? Try these tips:

1. Wait 30 minutes. If you're still hungry, then you should probably eat. But if going for a walk or reading a magazine helped get rid of your hunger signals, you probably aren't ready for more food just yet.
   
   
2. Identify environmental cues. Is it the smell of the fast food fries in the mall that made you hungry? If so, that's probably not true hunger.
   
   
3. Measure your emotions. Is that hunger — or boredom, stress, anxiety, etc...?
   
   
4. Ask: When did I eat last? If it was more than three hours ago, you're probably ready for something to eat again.
   
   
5. Take it slow. It takes a while for fullness to register, so don't overdo it before your stomach has a chance to tell your brain it's full.

Let's Get Organized: Kitchen

Here is the next part of Southern Living's Easy Ways to Get Organized . If you missed the previous parts, check them out here


Conquering Kitchen Clutter

Need Better Kitchen Storage?

Sometimes getting rid of a mess-prone zone in your kitchen is easy: Just hide it. These homeowners thought their pantry's open shelving (shown at right) looked disorganized, so they covered it with a pair of antique doors. On shelves above, salvaged apothecary drawers hold kitchen utensils and knickknacks. Next time you're scouring a flea market, look for fun ways to store stuff. Vintage wicker bicycle baskets can be hung on a wall and filled with fruits and vegetables. An antique pitcher works perfectly for keeping spoons and spatulas at the ready.

Keys to a Well-Organized Kitchen

• Pare down your plate collection and free up cupboard space. Pack away special-occasion-only dishes inside hatboxes with paper plates between each one for safe cushioning.
• Line the insides of cabinet doors with cork tiles, and tack up recipes, grocery lists, and coupons. This will put an end to annoying paper trails on your countertops; plus, the front of your fridge won't look like the bottom of a trash can.
• A helpful trick for de-cluttering your countertops: Mount your microwave and other small appliances, such as radios and can openers, underneath the cabinets. Home-organizing stores can help you with equipment and how-tos.

Stop Clutter at the Door

• Keep a small wastebasket near your entryway so you can immediately toss junk mail.
• Tired of sending out search-and-rescue parties for your keys? Designate a decorative bowl near your front or back door as the drop zone for all car and house keys.
• Assign each family member a basket for bags, purses, organizers, etc. Place them on a shelf or table by the most high-traffic entrance.
• Pegs can be your new best friends when it comes to keeping kids' gear in order. In a mudroom, hang pegs about 3 feet high so little ones can hang up coats and backpacks as soon as they step inside.
• Keep all sports gear in a deep plastic bin in the garage or near your family entrance to keep mud, dirt, and grass out of the house.

Take Control of Your Closets

• In your coat closet, hang a shoe organizer on the back of the door. The pockets are perfect for storing hats, scarves, and gloves.
• Linen closet overloaded? Use pant hangers to hang tablecloths from a rod instead of folding them. Bonus: They'll stay practically wrinkle-free, so you won't have to iron like crazy when company comes.
• Listen up, ladies: If you haven't worn something in your wardrobe for two years, you probably never will again. Toss items in a bag, and drive directly to a local charity.

Streamline the Small Stuff

• Constantly unraveling ribbon can irk you to no end. Try threading ribbon rolls on paper towel holders.
• Make a habit of inspecting your bathroom cabinets every six months to weed out expired medication and old makeup.
• De-jumble your junk drawer by placing ice cube trays or a muffin tin inside the drawer. Fill each compartment with a different item, such as stamps, batteries, paper clips, and pushpins.

Sara Anderson, Rebecca G. Warren

"dont let what you cannot do take away from what you can do"

"dont let what you cannot do take away from what you can do"

So often, we focus on what we don't have, or can't do, but focusing on our shortcomings does not help us in the long run. There is always a solution or something that can help us fill in the gaps of the skills or knowledge that we are missing, giving us a chance to collaborate, learn, and excel. In truth, what we cannot do can actually end up enhancing what we can do when we decide to do something about what we lack.

PEACHY CHICKEN

...and one more....

PEACHY CHICKEN


1 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1/3 cup sugar free peach preserves
1/3 cup barbecue sauce
3 Tbls soy sauce

Place chicken in 2 quart slow cooker. Combine other ingredients and pour over chicken. Cook 3-4 hours on high, 6-8 hours on low.

Yield: 4 servings.
Per serving= 219 Calories; 10g Fat (34.6% calories from fat); 30g Protein; 10g Carbohydrate; trace Dietary Fiber; 122mg Cholesterol; 1185mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1/2 Vegetable; 0 Other Carbohydrates.

ORANGE GLAZED CHICKEN

Just thought I'd share a couple of diet / Weight Watchers friendly recipes I found. Enjoy! :)




ORANGE GLAZED CHICKEN

6 oz orange juice, frozen concentrate--thawed
1 ½ lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 dash ground nutmeg
1 dash garlic powder
Dash white pepper
½ tsp onion powder


Place frozen chicken in 2 quart slow cooker. Combine orange juice, nutmeg, garlic powder, pepper and onion powder—pour over chicken. Cook on high 2-4 hours or on low 5-7 hours.

Yield: 4 servings.
Per serving= 203 Calories; 9g Fat (37.9% calories from fat); 29g Protein; 5g Carbohydrate; trace Dietary Fiber; 122mg Cholesterol; 244mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 1/2 Fruit; 0 Fat.

WTF Wednesday

Allison @becomingTHEyou having to work the job of 3 people because my fellow employees are slack and can't do shit on their own #wtfwednesday

Ashley @becomingtheyou #wtfwednesday the traffic on the way home and WHY do people forget how to drive when it rains