"Eat Up, Slim Down" Experiment: Day 6

This is the one day's menu that combined for a ppv total (31) that exceeds my daily target (29). So, if I want to avoid dipping further into the Weekly Points Allowance, that means there are no additional food options other than up to 5 servings of fruit. On the positive side, that eliminates all choices. There can be no mental dialogue with the mini ice cream cones in the freezer (or the bread on the counter) because they are simply not an option. On the negative side... it eliminates all choices. This is a perfectly acceptable place to be for maybe a day, but after that it would take a turn for that really nasty place where everything becomes appetizing because deprivation starts to set in. This is not a place I will allow myself to be for long.

Fortunately, I'll have 7 extra ppv's to play with tomorrow.

Breakfast

Mushroom and Asparagus Quiche (8 ppv): Preheat oven to 350*. Whisk together 3 eggs and 2 egg whites; mix in 1/2 c chopped asparagus, 1/2 c chopped mushrooms and 1/4 c shredded Swiss cheese. Pour mixture into 6 muffin cups coated with nonstick spray. Bake 20-25 mins, until eggs are set. Eat 3 mini quiches with 1 slice toasted whole grain bread and an orange. (Save remaining 3 quiches for another breakfast.)

This is a great breakfast! I made the quiches last night, so it was quick assembly in the morning: peel an orange, toast the bread (toast the bread!), zap the quiches for 20 seconds in the microwave and Viola: Breakfast! It was a yummy combination, filling and quick.

This is now the third breakfast in a week that's included real bread, and it continues to be a culinary highlight. It's hard to believe that real bread can be a regular part of a healthy diet. That alone could be life-changing for me.

Lunch

Panzanella White Bean Salad (13 ppv): Toast 2 slices whole grain bread and cut into 1" cubes. Combine with 1/2 c canned white beans, rinsed and drained; 1/2 c halved grape tomatoes; 1/2 c chopped cucumber; 2 T minced basil; 2 T diced red onion; 1 T lemon juice; and 1 T olive oil. Mix all ingredients; add S&P to taste.

With each fork full, I was increasingly convinced that this is a Keeper! It was really good, and really filling and I could only hope that DH was having the same experience as he ate the same lunch at work. And then I got his text: "Bean salad good. Pleasantly surprised." Are we simpatico, or what?!

Last night, as I was making today's lunches (I prepped everything but packed the "croutons" separate from the salad so they could be combined just before eating), DH told me that he was "dreading" today's first two meals. He is not a fan of quiche and even less of a fan of bean salads. So his "I could eat this again" at breakfast, and the lunch text combine for an overwhelming endorsement of these two meals.

Did I mention the bean salad was filling? No problem getting to dinner with just some late-afternoon fruit.

Dinner

Salmon Cakes with Spicy Dressing (10 ppv): Mix together 3 oz. water packed salmon, drained; 1/4 c whole grain bread crumbs; 1 egg, beaten; 2 green onions, finely chopped; and S&P to taste. Form into 3 patties. In a medium skillet coated with 2 tsp. olive oil over medium heat, brown patties 3-4 mins each side. Combine 3 T reduced fat mayonnaise, 1 tsp. lemon juice, 1 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning and a pinch cayenne. Place 3 c mixed salad greens on a plate and top with salmon cakes; drizzle with dressing.

We're 3-for-3 today with 3 meals that were well-liked and filling. Squiddy even ate her entire salad tonight, the first time all week she's finished her dinner. The salmon cakes were tasty, generous and (gasp!) fried! What's not to love?! The "Spicy Dressing" was rather salty, thanks to the Old Bay. In the future, I might just jazz up some reduced fat Ranch with a little salsa or something. Either way, another Keeper!

Tomorrow's the 7th and final day of this little adventure, and also "Weigh In" day. Stay tuned!