Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Lunchtime in the Healthiest Work Place on Earth

We get a weekly email sent to us that lists out the daily lunch choices at the lovely hospital cafeteria. With this week's menu came a letter about how they are going to provide more healthy choices such as high fiber cereals, brown rice, and more fruit on the salad bar. Okay, I guess I shouldn't say more fruit, how about some fruit. So I read this and then click on the menu. Specials today? Fried pork chops and Fettuccine Alfredo. Yummy and oh so healthy. Guess I am eating the high fiber cereal today.

And knowing a fair number of fellow bloggers that are on diets, I will share my tips that have helped me drop 40 pounds. In return, I need serious help dropping this last fifteen. I have stayed steady over the last three weeks. I know, I know, the holidays, but seriously, I am soooo close...


  • One point popcorn - I probably eat this in the evening at least three times a week. Jolly Time makes this great popcorn that is high in fiber and only one Weight Watchers point. Spray some "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" spray on it and a dash of salt, it's almost like movie theater popcorn. Almost (just remember I haven't been to the movies in a really long time).

  • Weight Watchers ice cream - I am so not an ice cream person, but when I am, these bars are only two points. Totally satisfying.

  • Lean Cuisine Meals - On the weekends, Ray and I used to pick up fast food for lunch both days out of convenience and laziness. Now we make sure we are home for lunch and eat Lean Cuisines.

  • Soda Cake - I actually made this last night. You take a box of cake mix, two egg whites and 10 ounces of a diet soda. I did a yellow cake with diet Sprite. It makes 12 servings of 4 points each, and it was delicious. I often crave baked goods, so this will definitely help. And Ray, who is a cake connoisseur, even said it tasted good.

  • Vegetables - Often with dinner, I will have broccoli or green beans or any type of veggie that is zero or one point for a serving. It fills me up and is healthy as well.

9 comments:

SJINCO said...

I did Weight Watchers a few years back, and was turned on to this website - http://www.dwlz.com/. Ever seen it? Or heard of it? It's got a ton of helpful things on it - check it out.

The only thing I can suggest that has helped me out a lot (although I'm on South Beach so I don't know how much points these things would be) are almonds & pistaciho's, low fat cheese (like poly-o string cheese) and lowfat /fat free lunch meats. They are quick and easy to grab when you just want a snack.

Congrats on the 40lb weight loss! I wish I only had 15 more to go! Keep it up!!!

Happy Working Mom said...

Wow, those are some great tips! I'm trying really hard to make sure that my family is eating healthy...I go nuts if we have a dinner that doesn't have vegetables (luckily for me my kids love them). Now I have to start cutting back on the junk food, which is definitely my weakness. But your ideas sound great...having my "cake" and eating it too! Thanks!

Scribbit said...

My favorite dieting snack is to buy one of those bags of frozen shrimp at Costco and a bottle of cocktail sauce. I take out a cup of those, thaw them quickly in cold water and in ten minutes I'm in heaven. It's a little expensive, but as long as I keep the kids out of my stash they last a while.

Lost A Sock said...

I am right there with you on the popcorn and the WW ice cream bars. I have never heard of the soda cake, but I will definitely try that!

The other thing that usually saves me is two packs of Quaker fruit & cream oatmeal in the morning (4 points) and then I hold off from eating anything until lunch. Every night I have a bag of popcorn and a chocolate hershey's stick.

Thank God for light foods. I once looked at my mom's WW books from 25 years ago, and the recipes and suggestions were horrendus!

That Chick Over There said...

I love the diet soda cake. I've made several different flavors and it goes over really well.

Bethany said...

I love snack tips! God knows, if I'm not always eating- I get crabby!

What The Hell Is This? said...

I have never heard of soda cake.. interesting... I am gonna have to try that.

Brown Eyed Girl said...

Ok so glad I took the time to wander over here....

Never heard of the soda cake...but 2 years ago at WW we did the "Angel Food Pineapple cake"

1 box of Angel Food Cake Mix
1 14.5 can of CRUSHED pineapple

Stir them together and let the mixture BUBBLE together for 20 mins.

Put in a 13 x9 at 350 for 25-30 minutes until top is medium brown.

I think....and don't quote me..if someone has this recipe correct me....

12 slices equals 3 pts each?

I'm an ice cream person so WW ice cream or skinny cows are my godsend.

Good luck with those last 15lbs.

Susan said...

I have some pounds to lose myself, but I've done it before successfully, so I can offer a tip or two. For those last stubborn pounds, exercise (particularly with weights) is most effective. Building muscle helps you burn more calories all the time, so you don't have to cut your intake too much.

Frozen veggies from Trader Joe's are excellent. I really love that place. Of course, it's filled with high-calorie landmines, too.