"Drop a Jeans Size" Menu Plan: Day 1

I'm ba-ack!

Bowing to overwhelming demand ("overwhelming" is in the eye of the beholder), I have resumed blogging about what I'm eating. This week, it's Fitness Magazine's "Drop a Jeans Size" meal plan. Same deal: After losing 139 lbs through Weight Watchers and working out, I'm ThisClose to hitting my weight goal and need a little push to make it across the finish line. Instead of the magazine's suggested "workout on p. 108" or whatever, I'm continuing with my current routine: running every other day and 30-min circuit training on the alternate days, with one day "off" a week.

I'm continuing to follow the WW PointsPlus plan as well to ensure that I get the appropriate nourishment. Here we go! Wheeeeee!

This was my "long run" day as I continue to train for my first 10-Mile race in two weeks. Today was my first-ever 9-mile run, which was pretty cool! Wanting to avoid a repeat of last week's 18-PPV-afternoon debacle, I decided to fuel up a little before-hand. I had 1 hard boiled egg and a banana and then hit the pavement at 8 a.m.

When I got back, it was time for a shower and breakfast.

Breakfast

Power Breakfast Plate (4 PPVs): Assemble 1 hard-boiled egg, 1/2 oz. cheddar cheese, 6 whole-grain crackers, 1/2 c grapes on a plate. Serve.

Hmmm....not the most culinarily challenging "recipe," but that's okay. I deliberately chose this recipe for today because I knew I'd need the protein boost. I used Cabot 75% fat free cheese because that's what I buy. And I had a whole cup of grapes because that's an actual serving of fruit which is 0 PPVs. This was a nice breakfast and I could definitely see it becoming a standard - quick, easy and filling. I have to admit though, after last week's shift to higher PPV meals, I was a bit skeptical that this would sustain me through lunch. It did a decent job...until I hit 11 a.m, at which point, it felt like the wheels were about to come off the bus. I quickly called one of last week's discoveries: the 2 PPV toasted whole wheat English muffin half with 2 tsp Better 'n' Peanut Butter and 1/4 thinly sliced pear on top. I enjoyed the snack and looked ahead to lunch.

Lunch

Chicken Chimichurri Wraps (10 PPV): Mix 1/2 c fresh chopped parsley, 1 minced garlic clove, 2 tsp EVOO, 1 T red wine vinegar, 1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes and a dash of salt. Spread 1 1/2 oz. cooked chicken and 1/4 c sliced red bell pepper on each of 2 small whole-grain tortillas. Drizzle half of parsley mixture on each and roll up.

I was really skeptical about this meal. Yes, it's a hearty 10 PPV, but it just seemed like it didn't have enough bulk - needed more veggies or something. However, DH and I both agreed that this, along with a serving of fruit, was surprisingly filling and got both of us through most of the afternoon with just a small snack. (I had some late-afternoon fruit and a 3 PPV mini ice cream cone which is my current indulgence.) It was tastier than I expected as well. An overall nice surprise.

Dinner

Moroccan Vegetable Stew with Cilantro-Yogurt Sauce (10 PPV): Saute 1/2 c diced onion, 1 minced garlic clove, 1/8 tsp each of cumin, cinnamon and curry powder in 1 T oil for 1-2 mins. Add 1/2 c cauliflower florets, 1/2 c chopped carrot and 2 c vegetable broth. Bring to a boil and simmer 10 mins. Add 1/2 canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed and 2 T raisins and simmer for 5 more mins. Ladle stew into a bowl; mix 1/4 c plain low-fat yogurt and 1 T chopped cilantro and place a dollop on top of stew.

Here's what each of us said after our first tastes:
Me: Well, it's not awful... (now there's a ringing endorsement!)
DH: It's edible...with hot sauce.
Squiddy: "Can I please just have cantaloupe for dinner?"

I did make a few substitutions, but nothing that would have really changed the flavor.
1) I realized mid-prep that we're out of raisins. I substituted Craisins. 2) I used homemade f/f chicken stock instead of vegetable stock. 3) I did not realize until writing this that I missed sauteing the onions, etc. in oil. I accidentally omitted the oil altogether, which I now realize brings the PPV value down to a mere SIX! Okay, that could explain why I got agonizingly hungry during Squiddy's band concert tonight. I sat through the last hour mightily distracted by the fact that I had one serving of fruit left for the day and had to decide which variety I was going to make a beeline for when I got home.

Using the oil may have made the stew more flavorful, and it definitely would have made it more filling. So now I have to attribute this recipe's epic FAIL to regrettable cook's error. Maybe I'll re-try it another day...but it's doubtful. If you decide to try it, leave a comment and let us all know how it turns out.

BTW, Squiddy is just about at the end of her rope with these crazy dinners she's had to endure (a few haven't even had meat!), and I can feel DH's patience is waning too. I get the feeling that the only way there will be a Week 3 is if I go it alone...so Week 2 had better work!