"Drop a Jeans Size" Meal Plan: Day 3

Up early for today's 5-mile run, I used a banana and string cheese as my rocket fuel this morning.

Breakfast

Potato Hash & Cheddar Omelet (6 PPV): Mist small frying pan with cooking spray and heat pan over medium high heat. Add 1/2 c frozen shredded potatoes and cook for 5 mins, turning once. Whisk together 1 egg and 2 egg whites and pour over potatoes in pan. Add 1 c baby spinach, S&P. Cook for an additional 4 mins, or until egg is done and spinach is wilted. Top with 4 T shredded 2% cheddar cheese.

This was really good and really substantial. Of course DH and I both added hot sauce. The potato really helped bulk up the omelet and give it a little more staying power. I could see adding a few thin tomato slices under the spinach next time. This is definitely a Keeper!

Interestingly, this is the first time in almost two weeks that I ran in the morning and was not super hungry in the afternoon. I think this breakfast just might be the key.

Lunch:

Cuban Sandwich (6 PPV): Grill 2 oz. low-fat sliced deli ham in a small frying pan for 4 mins, turning once. Spread 2 tsp. yellow mustard on  whole-grain hamburger bun and top with ham and 1 slice reduced fat Swiss cheese. Slice 2 dill pickles lengthwise and stack pickle slices on top of cheese. Top with other half of bun. Serve with apple.

This was a really nice surprise. I originally thought, "Oh. It's a dressed-up ham and cheese sandwich. Boring!" But it's amazing what a difference "grilling" the ham makes! This was a great sandwich, although TWO pickles is, well, A LOT of pickle! I stacked a few slices on my sandwich and ate the rest of the slices on the side. Incidentally, slicing the pickles made them more fun to eat. Sandwich, pickles and apple made  nice combination and very filling lunch.

Some late afternoon fruit and a mini ice cream cone (because I had the PPVs) got me through to dinner.

Dinner

Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks & Classic Ranch Salad (12 PPV): Bake, broil or grill 3 skinless chicken drumsticks until they reach 165* internal temperature. Mix 3 T hot sauce and 2 T trans fat-free margarine (melted). Coat drumsticks in hot sauce mixture. In separate bowl, toss 1 c chopped romaine lettuce, 1/2 c chopped celery, 1/2 c shredded carrot, 1/2 c grape tomatoes and 1 1/2 T light ranch dressing.

To quote Food Network Star, Guy Fieri: Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Okay, please listen to me. Do I have your attention? If you like Buffalo wings at all, this dinner will be your new best friend. Seriously! This is a genius idea that will satisfy any wing craving without all that nasty fat. The thing about wings (well, one of the things about wings) is that they're generally small and go down way too easily. But with this recipe, you get lots of good, meaty, satisfying spicy goodness. I just might make this dinner once a week for the rest of my life.

First of all: THREE drumsticks! When was the last time you got THREE pieces of chicken in a serving? If you're like me, quantity is just as important as quality. Second: GRILL the drumsticks. It gives them a nice, rich flavor and even makes them a little crispy like good Buffalo wings would be. Third: Do you NEED a third? It's wing sauce, my friends!

DH, who is a bit of a Buffalo wing connoisseur and has eaten wings at 233 different establishments in his life (yes, he keeps track!), thoroughly enjoyed this dinner. Now, that's an endorsement! I will now keep a pack of chicken legs in the freezer for this exact recipe. And I will make it again and again. It's just that good.

Was it filling? I probably would have liked a bigger salad. Because, after all, I am Seinfeld's Elaine who thoroughly enjoys salads "as big as my head." It's 9 p.m. and I am a bit hungry. I'll be diving into a cup of raspberries shortly.