Saturday 21st (Simply Filling + 22 WPA) vs (26 Points Plus + 19 WPA)

Well today was somewhat of a disaster!

Started out good with a thinwich and an “unfried” egg topped with a little sweet chili sauce.  My fave 100% simply filling breakfast at the moment followed by a banana.

I had a few errands and popped into McDonald’s and got a crispy chicken sweet chili wrap.  When I got home I worked out the points – oh my gosh 19 points plus for this.  If I had chose the grilled chicken it would still have been 16 points plus!!  Guess I am not getting one of those again.  That is ridiculous.  I think a small burger would have been less, and I thought the wrap sounded like a healthier option!!!!

I actually cooked today – don’t normally on a Saturday.  We had some braised pork chops, baby potatoes and tried these cauliflower breadsticks I had seen on Facebook.  I cooked it up in a 9 x 13 pan.  1/4 of the pan is 100% Simply Filling or 3 Points Plus.  I thought they were really yummy, I don’t think my hubby was as impressed with them!!! I have a piece left over for lunch today.

Cauliflower Breadsticks!

•1 large head of cauliflower
•2 cloves garlic, grated or minced…
•2 large eggs, lightly beaten
•4 oz low fat mozzarella cheese
•1/2 teaspoon onion powder
•salt
•pepper

•Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
•Chop the cauliflower into chunks and place into microwave for about 5 minutes or until soft
•Place the cauliflower into a food processor and blend until it’s a mashed potato texture
•In a medium bowl, stir together cauliflower, eggs, cheese, and seasonings
•Lightly spray a baking pan with spray oil and coat with the mixture (about 1/2 inch thick)
•Bake at 450 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until the top starts to brown
•Add additional cheese to the top and enjoy!
Found at Fitness Forever

SATURDAY	Simply Filling	Points Plus
Thin Bread	0	2
Unfried Egg	0	3
Banana	0	0
Sweet Chili   Wrap	19	19
Braised Pork   Chops	0	8
Baby Potatoes	0	4
Cauliflower   breadsticks	0	3
Fat Free   Dressing	0	1
Spinach Salad	0	2
1/2 cup Frozen   Yoghurt	3	3
Daily Total	22	45 (26 PP + 19 WPA)

I don’t think there has been one day this week that I have actually done a Simply Filling day.  Everyday the points plus has been a better option for me.  This is the first day though when following the Points Plus that I have used any of my Weekly Points Allowance.  I get 49 for the week, so I still have 30 left.

Well tomorrow is Day 7.  As long as I can stay under on those 30 WPA that I have left over.  I will have accomplished a successful week.  We shall see ….

Thursday 19th (Simply Filling + 7WPA) vs (24 Points Plus)

Well I am pretty pleased with this week so far.  Today I made most mostly Simply Filling food choices using just an additional 6 WPA.

For breakfast I had an “unfried” egg on some flatbread together with a slice of cheddar and a banana.

At lunchtime today I had some flatbread with hummus, 2 Babybel cheese and some grapes.

I had a pretty busy evening, made dinner and then I had to go out.  So I didn’t actually get to eat mine until around 9pm.

I made some Italian Style cod and served up with baby potatoes and spinach salad (spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, grated low fat cheddar and fat free dressing).  Followed this up with some frozen yoghurt.

THURSDAY	Simply Filling	Points Plus
Thin Bread	0	2
Unfried Egg	0	3
Slice of   Cheddar	0	2
Banana	0	0
Grapes	0	0
Hummus	1	1
Flatbread	0	1
Babybel Cheese	2	2
Italian Style Cod	0	3
Baby Potatoes	0	4
Low Fat Spread	1	1
Spinach Salad	0	2
1/2 cup Frozen   Yoghurt	3	3
Daily Total	7	24

Slow Cooked Apricot Chicken Thighs – Simply Filling plus 2 WPA – 6 Points Plus

Slow Cooked Apricot Chicken Thighs

Simply Filling plus 2 WPA

6 Points Plus

Serves 3

•  12 oz boneless skinless chicken thighs
• ⅔ cup low sugar apricot preserves
• ½ cup fat-free chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons cold water

Place chicken thighs  in a slow cooker.

Combine preserves and broth; pour over chicken.  Cover and cook on low 6 to 7 hours, or until internal temp is 160 degrees.

Remove meat, keep warm.  Skim fat from cooking juices.  Bring juices to a boil. Combine cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into juices and cook until thickened.

Divide meat and sauce into 3 servings.  Serve each over ½ cup cooked brown rice.

Tuesday (22 Points Plus) vs (Simply Filling + 10 WPA)

I have no idea what happened today I took lunch to work with me and then got busy and forgot to eat it!!!

The smell of fall is in the air, so I started my day with some Oat Bran.

Mid morning I had some grapes, then my son who works in our family business had a bag of chocolate macaroons, I couldn’t resist so I had a few!

I went straight from work to my Zumba class and then home to get dinner ready.  I made some Lemon Parsley Chicken tonight and it was delicious, served up with some baby potatoes, broccoli and glazed carrots.

While watching TV later in the evening I had some frozen yoghurt.

So today was a Points Plus day.  I know that I didn’t really eat enough today because of skipping lunch.  But in the evening I wasn’t hungry and so don’t see the point of eating for the sake of it!  My goal for each day is to try and get as many Simply Filling choices as I can.

TUESDAY	Simply Filling	Points Plus
Oat Bran	0	3
Chocolate   Macaroons	3	3
Grapes	0	0
Lemon Parsley   Chicken	1	5
Glazed Carrots	2	3
Broccoli	0	0
Baby Potatoes	0	4
1 tsp Light   Butter	1	1
1/2 cup Frozen Yoghurt	3	3
Daily Total	10	22

Lemon Parsley Chicken – Simply Filling plus 1 WPA – 5 Points Plus

Lemon Parsley Chicken

5 Points Plus

Simply Filling plus 1 WPA

Serves 2

• 3 tablespoons flour
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• 1/16 teaspoon pepper
• ½ lb boneless skinless chicken breasts pounded thin
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• ½ teaspoon minced fresh garlic
• ½ cup fat-free chicken broth
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley

Combine flour, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish; dredge chicken in flour mixture.

Heat olive oil in a medium pan over medium heat.  Add chicken and cook 2-3 minutes on each side or until browned. Remove chicken from pan.

Add garlic to the pan drippings; add broth and cook until reduced to ¼ cup. Stir in lemon juice and parsley.

Return chicken to pan and cook 2 minutes longer.

Monday (24 Points Plus) vs (Simply Filling + 10WPA)

I had my menu planned for this week and here it is Monday and already I have had to make a change.

My husband and I work together and yesterday we stayed at the store until around 8:30pm and by the time we got home, I really wasn’t wanting to start creating in the kitchen.  So the Lemon Parsley Chicken is going to have to wait until tomorrow.

My day started with an “unfried” egg sandwich.

At lunchtime I just fixed a quick Protein Fruit Smoothie (I keep a blender at work for such days!!!!).

I had some grapes in the middle of the afternoon.

Then when we got in from work I quickly cooked up a piece of salmon and had it as a sandwich, together with some Frozen Yoghurt.

Still feeling a little peckish so had a granola bar while relaxing in front of the TV.

The Granola Bar was not a good choice for Simply Filling.  When you look at my tracker for today it is Simply Filling plus 10 WPA or 24 Points Plus.  Interesting how it was not a successful Simply Filling day but was a successful Points Plus Day.  Weightwatchers allows you to go back and forth between the two plans.

So today was a Points Plus day for me.

MONDAY	Simply Filling	Points Plus
Thin Bread	0	2
Unfried Egg	0	3
Grapes	0	0
Protein Powder	2	2
1 cup skimmed   milk	0	2
Frozen Strawberries	0	0
Thin Bread	0	2
Salmon	0	4
1 Tbsp Miracle Whip Calorie Wise	0	1
Sliced Tomato	0	0
1/2 cup Yoghurt Ice Cream	3	3
Granola Bar	5	5
Daily Total	10	24

 

 

SIMPLY FILLING MENU PLAN SEPTEMBER 14TH

Wow, I just realized that I didn’t blog at all last week.  I shared my menu plan and that was it!  I did make most of the things that I had planned, but forgot to share!

I will do better this week.  I need to after the meal I prepared and shared with friends yesterday evening.  It was definitely filling but not “simply filling”.

On Friday I figured out my menu and went shopping for all the fixings!  I have plenty of leftovers from yesterday for when my family comes over today, but I will just be keeping it light.  So ….

Monday – Lemon Parsley Chicken, Glazed Carrots

Tuesday – Chicken Chipotle Bake, Green Salad

Wednesday – Braised Pork Chops, Brown Rice, Green Salad

Thursday – Italian Style Cod, Glazed Carrots

Friday – Slow Cooked Apricot Chicken Thighs, Brown Rice

SIMPLY FILLING OR POINTS PLUS?

I normally try and stick to the Simply Filling style of eating on Weightwatchers.  Today was a day where I chose not to!!

On the Weightwatchers website it states –

 You can use the Simply Filling technique for a day, a couple of days, or all the time, depending on what works for you.  Eat portions that feel right for you. Not so much that you feel too full, and not too little that you still feel hungry.
You’ll still enjoy a weekly PointsPlus Allowance with the Simply Filling technique, and have room to treat yourself with food that is not on the Power Foods list. Just remember to track those items, and stay within your weekly allowance. You can also continue to earn, swap and track your activity PointsPlus values.

 

The reason I have decided to do a Points Plus day is because most of what I ate today fell outside of the Simply Filling style of eating …  It was not a good day

 

	Simply Filling	Points Plus
2 Silver Hills   Bread	0	2
1 Tbsp Peanut   Butter	2	2
Grapes	0	0
6 Pumpkin   Kisses	4	4
Pumpkin Cream   Cheese Bar	3	3
1 cup Rice	0	5
1/2 Cup Black   Beans	0	2
Lettuce	0	0
Pico de Gallo	0	0
2 Tbsp   Dressing	5	5
2 Tbsp Grated   Cheese	3	3
Pumpkin Cream   Cheese Bar	3	3
Movie Popcorn	6	6
	26 WPA	26 + 9 WPA

 

I need to have lots of Zeros in the Simply Filling column.  I did a little chart like this so you could see what I mean.

 

If I chose today as a Simply Filling day I would have used up 26 of my 49 WPA (Weekly Points Allowance) leaving only 23 for the rest of the week.

 

By choosing today as a Points Plus day, I have used up my daily Points Plus Allowance and then 9 of my WPA, leaving 40 for the remainder of the week.

 

I did some baking today and made some Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bars from the latest Taste of Home magazine.  We are going to my son’s for dinner tomorrow and I am taking dessert.  I LOVE all things pumpkin!!!

Happy Egg Toss Day!!

Seriously today is Egg Toss Day. Am I the only one in the world who did not know that!!!! I want to know who comes up with these special days???

So my week has gone pretty good and it is going to be even better next week.  I am back into the habit of preparing dinner every evening.  I just need to be a little more aware of everything I am eating.  So starting tomorrow I am back to tracking!

I went straight from work this evening armed with my shopping list and stocked up my fridge ready for the coming week.

On Thursday I needed to put something quick and light prior to my Zumba class so I made Cobb Salad Pitas served up with some Tropical Slaw.

The Cobb Salad Pitas were Simply Filling + 3 WPA (or 9 Points Plus) and the Tropical Coleslaw was 100% Simply Filling.

The pita breads pretty much fell apart – they always do!!!

Today when I was out shopping after work a little voice inside my head kept telling me to stop and get something to eat (fast food!!).  But do you know I resisted and came home and fixed dinner.  That is even more impressive because my husband wasn’t home for dinner tonight!!

Anyway I made an Apple & Onion Chicken Bake ( Simply Filling + 5 WPA ( 7 Points Plus).  It was really good.  I think if I do it again I will replace the light butter with a spray, this would save on 2 Points Plus!!!  I didn’t bother with a salad or veggies.  I just had some fresh pineapple spears!  It was GOOD.

 

Apple & Onion Chicken Bake

Apple & Onion Chicken Bake

Simply Filling + 5 WPA (7 Points Plus)

Serves 2

• 1 cup green apple slices
• 1 medium sweet onion, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons light butter, divided
• ½ lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• Dash of pepper
• ¼ cup plain breadcrumbs
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Sauté apples and onions in 1 tablespoon light butter for 6 minutes or until tender. Transfer to a sprayed baking dish.

Saute apple and onion

Top with chicken; sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Combine breadcrumbs and thyme with Parmesan; sprinkle over chicken. Drizzle 1 tablespoon light butter evenly over chicken.

Top chicken with breadcrumbs, thyme and parmesan

Bake uncovered 25 to 30 minutes or until chicken is done.