Yep... That's right. Healthy, creamy, cheesy, gooey, yummy, and good for you! I've adapted the classic calorie-laden, fat-packing recipe and transformed it into something lovely. I love it with baby carrots, celery stick, jicama, and some homemade high-fiber wrap chips.
Sarah's Spinach Artichoke Dip
Ingredients
4 cloves garlic
1 (10 oz) package light alfredo sauce
1 oz package fat-free cream cheese
3/4 cup 2% mozzarella cheese
1/3 cup shredded parmesan/asiago cheese mix (just parmesan is fine)
10 oz frozen spinach, thawed and drained
14 oz (1 can) artichoke hearts, chopped
1 pound silken tofu
Directions
1. Preheat over to 350 degrees. Place garlic cloves (in skins) in medium baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes or until soft.
2. Remove cloves, cool, then squeeze out of skins. Chop finely, and return to baking dish.
3. Mix alfredo sauce, mozzarella cheese, parmesan/asiago cheee, spinach, tofu, and artichoke hearts. Combine well.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes, until melted and golden brown on top.
5. Serve with lots of veggies, and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
12 servings (as snack): 107 calories, 4g fat, 8g carbs, 1g fiber, 8.5g protein
4 servings (as meal): 321 calories, 12.5g fat, 23g carbs, 2.5g fiber, 25g protein
Mmmmm :)
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Motivation Fail... and Return!
This week, I've really had a tough time getting myself to exercise. Another poster on The Knot mentioned how it takes the human mind 4-6 weeks to adopt a new habit, so I know that it will become easier over time. But those first few weeks are killer!
When in doubt, I tend to turn to fitness blogs for inspiration and advice. One of my favorites is a blog entry that Jillian Michaels (yes, that Jillian, of Biggest Loser and Shred fame) wrote for Glamour. I'll paste it below.
"We all have at least a few fleeting moments of inspiration where we want to improve our lives and during which we feel capable of positive change. Motivation is easy at the beginning of any new job, task, or fitness program like Body by Glamour. (In this case it's about health, but wanting a leaner body and better health through diet and exercise is really a metaphor for wanting a better life.) But sustaining it is another matter. Here's the trick.
When in doubt, I tend to turn to fitness blogs for inspiration and advice. One of my favorites is a blog entry that Jillian Michaels (yes, that Jillian, of Biggest Loser and Shred fame) wrote for Glamour. I'll paste it below.
"We all have at least a few fleeting moments of inspiration where we want to improve our lives and during which we feel capable of positive change. Motivation is easy at the beginning of any new job, task, or fitness program like Body by Glamour. (In this case it's about health, but wanting a leaner body and better health through diet and exercise is really a metaphor for wanting a better life.) But sustaining it is another matter. Here's the trick.
I truly believe that the only true and lasting source of motivation must come from within you. Outside stimulus can't provide you with reason enough to continue healthy habits for a lifetime. I mean, sure, you might see a picture of Madonna's rock-hard 50-year-old body and feel inspired to hit the gym that day--which is great. But what about the day after that, and the year after that? To begin finding your true inner, lasting motivation to get healthy, grab some paper or a journal and a pen and answer these questions:
1. What do I want to change? Be specific.
2. Why do I want to change it?
3. What will the benefits of making this change be to my body and to my life?
4. What am I willing to sacrifice to make this change happen?
Your answers might be as profound as living long enough to see your grandchildren graduate from college, or as frivolous as rocking a bikini on your summer vacation. It doesn't matter how deep or how seemingly shallow your answers might be--they're yours and as long as it's important to you that's all that matters!
Now, the next time you are about to throw in the towel, I want you to go back and look at this journal entry of yours. Remind yourself of what it is you are fighting for and put things in perspective. I don't love working out and I hate broccoli, but I tolerate them because I know the ultimate goal is worth it. What's worth it to you?"
Full link to article here!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Recipe of the Day: My Mac-and-Cheese Substitute!
Disclaimer: this recipe doesn't taste exactly like macaroni and cheese. I call it a substitute because it gives me the same warm, cheesy, gooey, carb-y feeling that I seek out from my favorite comfort food.
This recipe, unlike my Kraft goodness, bursts with protein and fiber in ridiculous proportions. It takes, quite literally, two minutes of prep time, followed by 30-40 minutes of cook time. Give it a try... You might fall in love, too!
Delia's Lentils
2 14 oz cans or 1 32 oz. package of vegetable broth (I use Imagine Food's vegan No Chicken Broth)
1/2 cup brown rice
3/4 cup brown lentils (you can use other colors, but brown gives a nice consistency)
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
1 teaspoon-ish of oregano
1 teaspoon-ish of basil
1 teaspoon garlic
1/4 teaspoon salt
Mix together into medium pot. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to medium. Stir occasionally. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove lid and simmer for an additional 15 to 30 minutes, adding more liquid if necessary. Top with shredded cheese or plain yogurt. Enjoy :)
Makes two GIANT servings or three regular servings.
Nutrition Information (for 1/2 of recipe, aka giant serving, with 1/8 cup 2% shredded cheese):
425 calories, 5g fat, 40g carbohydrates, 8g fiber, 14g protein
This recipe, unlike my Kraft goodness, bursts with protein and fiber in ridiculous proportions. It takes, quite literally, two minutes of prep time, followed by 30-40 minutes of cook time. Give it a try... You might fall in love, too!
Delia's Lentils
2 14 oz cans or 1 32 oz. package of vegetable broth (I use Imagine Food's vegan No Chicken Broth)
1/2 cup brown rice
3/4 cup brown lentils (you can use other colors, but brown gives a nice consistency)
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
1 teaspoon-ish of oregano
1 teaspoon-ish of basil
1 teaspoon garlic
1/4 teaspoon salt
Mix together into medium pot. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to medium. Stir occasionally. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove lid and simmer for an additional 15 to 30 minutes, adding more liquid if necessary. Top with shredded cheese or plain yogurt. Enjoy :)
Makes two GIANT servings or three regular servings.
Nutrition Information (for 1/2 of recipe, aka giant serving, with 1/8 cup 2% shredded cheese):
425 calories, 5g fat, 40g carbohydrates, 8g fiber, 14g protein
Monday, February 1, 2010
Spicy Healthy Crunchy... Yay!
I have to say, I'm in love with the Vitamin G fitness blog on Glamour.com. I'm using Glamour's Body By Glamour program to get diet ideas and to track my daily calorie consumption. Their fitness blog is a little something extra that's given me a bunch of great ideas.
Most recently, they had a quick post about an afternoon snack that the blogger claims has helped her drop three pounds. When I read what it was, I got all excited and ran out to buy some! As many college students can attest, chips and salsa are a staple at just about any party. Once I started grocery shopping for myself (beyond the campus mini-mart, that stocked burritos, pizza, and chips), I started buying chips and salsa for a nice afternoon snack. Sounds pretty healthy, right?
Except that one serving of chips can pack over 200 calories, and who actually eats one serving? The blogger at Vitamin G has the solution.... Veggies and salsa! Sounds obvious, but I somehow hadn't thought about it. Depending on what kind of salsa you buy, it can give you the satisfying feeling of having eaten something exotic and complex. I bought some yummy salsa and jicama to dip. Can't wait to get started!
Most recently, they had a quick post about an afternoon snack that the blogger claims has helped her drop three pounds. When I read what it was, I got all excited and ran out to buy some! As many college students can attest, chips and salsa are a staple at just about any party. Once I started grocery shopping for myself (beyond the campus mini-mart, that stocked burritos, pizza, and chips), I started buying chips and salsa for a nice afternoon snack. Sounds pretty healthy, right?
Except that one serving of chips can pack over 200 calories, and who actually eats one serving? The blogger at Vitamin G has the solution.... Veggies and salsa! Sounds obvious, but I somehow hadn't thought about it. Depending on what kind of salsa you buy, it can give you the satisfying feeling of having eaten something exotic and complex. I bought some yummy salsa and jicama to dip. Can't wait to get started!
Overview - Week One!
I started my new plan last Monday. So, let's see how I did this week!
Monday: 1646 calories. Exercise- 30 Day Shred, Level 1, 25 minutes.
Tuesday: 1246 calories. Exercise- 20 minute moderate walk.
Wednesday: 1318 calories. Exercise- 20 minute moderate walk.
Thursday: 1971 calories. Exercise- 30 Day Shred, Level 1, 25 minutes.
Friday: 1767 calories. Exercise- 30 Day Shred, Level 1, 25 minutes.
Saturday: 2276 calories. Exercise- 30 Day Shred, Level 1, 25 minutes.
Sunday: 1181 calories. Exercise- none.
Overall, I felt pretty good about my calorie intake. I'm trying to make sure I never go below 1200, including the amount that I burn when exercising. My target is 1300-1600. Saturday, I was doing great until I went out with my fiance and a bunch of his coworkers. I can tell that reducing alcohol is going to be harder than I thought! I'm not a big drinker, and I don't drink often, but most of my social activities involve drinking. Several of my friends binge drink quite frequently, so I really need to be aware of exactly how many calories I'm drinking!
When I think about how much I drank in college, and how many calories that added up to.... Ew. Seriously. Saturday's damage was about as much as I ever do. Over the course of 7 hours, I had:
1 screwdriver- 180 calories
1 lemon drop martini (my favorite!)- 125 calories
1 beer- 140 calories
1 rum and coke- 150 calories.
I can't forget to mention the bean and cheese quesadilla I made when I got home. I always try to eat something when drinking to prevent a hangover, but it was really a double-whammy. All in all, my nice of fun and debauchery packed on a whopping 950 CALORIES onto my daily total. That was after dinner, when I would've otherwise had a light, 150-calorie snack before bed. On top of that, I was exhausted on Sunday (we got back home at 5 AM), so I slugged around all day and didn't work out at all. Talk about lasting consequences!
So, the moral of this story: when thou must go out and merry make, restrain thyself to two, and no more than two, low-calorie beverages. Now goest out into the world and be wise.
Love,
Poli
Monday: 1646 calories. Exercise- 30 Day Shred, Level 1, 25 minutes.
Tuesday: 1246 calories. Exercise- 20 minute moderate walk.
Wednesday: 1318 calories. Exercise- 20 minute moderate walk.
Thursday: 1971 calories. Exercise- 30 Day Shred, Level 1, 25 minutes.
Friday: 1767 calories. Exercise- 30 Day Shred, Level 1, 25 minutes.
Saturday: 2276 calories. Exercise- 30 Day Shred, Level 1, 25 minutes.
Sunday: 1181 calories. Exercise- none.
Overall, I felt pretty good about my calorie intake. I'm trying to make sure I never go below 1200, including the amount that I burn when exercising. My target is 1300-1600. Saturday, I was doing great until I went out with my fiance and a bunch of his coworkers. I can tell that reducing alcohol is going to be harder than I thought! I'm not a big drinker, and I don't drink often, but most of my social activities involve drinking. Several of my friends binge drink quite frequently, so I really need to be aware of exactly how many calories I'm drinking!
When I think about how much I drank in college, and how many calories that added up to.... Ew. Seriously. Saturday's damage was about as much as I ever do. Over the course of 7 hours, I had:
1 screwdriver- 180 calories
1 lemon drop martini (my favorite!)- 125 calories
1 beer- 140 calories
1 rum and coke- 150 calories.
I can't forget to mention the bean and cheese quesadilla I made when I got home. I always try to eat something when drinking to prevent a hangover, but it was really a double-whammy. All in all, my nice of fun and debauchery packed on a whopping 950 CALORIES onto my daily total. That was after dinner, when I would've otherwise had a light, 150-calorie snack before bed. On top of that, I was exhausted on Sunday (we got back home at 5 AM), so I slugged around all day and didn't work out at all. Talk about lasting consequences!
So, the moral of this story: when thou must go out and merry make, restrain thyself to two, and no more than two, low-calorie beverages. Now goest out into the world and be wise.
Love,
Poli
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