This one looks SIMPLE and sounds yummy!
Recipe: Spinach Artichoke Dip
Ingredients
1 box frozen spinach, thawed, rinsed and drained
1 package cream cheese
1 can (14 oz) artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1/2 cup mayo
1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp garlic salt
season with salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Mix cream cheese, mayo, parmesan and garlic salt until creamy. Blend well with spinach and artichoke hearts. Serve with tortilla chips, pita strips or bagel crisps (OR DIPPING ITEM OF YOUR CHOICE--whatever is on your program!). Refrigerate any leftovers promptly.
Showing posts with label snack. Show all posts
Showing posts with label snack. Show all posts
Friday, September 11, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Free Chocolate Anyone??
I posted a couple days ago about Maine Cottage Foods and their totally low-carb chocolate goodies... I contacted them and they told me the following:
We have a "Just a Taste" sampler which is a single Teenie of every flavor we make. We don't advertise that for sale but frequently include it as a freebie for new customers so that they can sample everything. If you could get your members to write in the comments section on the order form "Obesity Help Mini-Challenge" we could make sure that they get a free one of those on their first order.
There MAY be a discount coming soon! Stay tuned and I'll pass on info as I get it!
We have a "Just a Taste" sampler which is a single Teenie of every flavor we make. We don't advertise that for sale but frequently include it as a freebie for new customers so that they can sample everything. If you could get your members to write in the comments section on the order form "Obesity Help Mini-Challenge" we could make sure that they get a free one of those on their first order.
There MAY be a discount coming soon! Stay tuned and I'll pass on info as I get it!
Friday, January 23, 2009
2 more days for Kay's $10 special!!
New Kay's Products--$10 only through Sunday!
Just a reminder that the 4 new Kay's Naturals products are only on sale thru this coming Sunday!!
Get a case of these 4 new items for just $10 each. Normally, $15 (with a suggested retail price of $19) for a case of 12 bags. That is a wonderful savings and a great time to try these new items!
The new items include:
hazelnut sweet protein chips
almond delight protein crisps
original flavor protein pretzels
sweet BBQ snack mix
And, don't forget that 20% discount code! You can save 20% off of your Kay's Naturals orders by using the discount code minichallenge when you go to checkout!
Mine will hopefully arrive today while I'm at work... I hope to let you know what I think of them this weekend!!
Just a reminder that the 4 new Kay's Naturals products are only on sale thru this coming Sunday!!
Get a case of these 4 new items for just $10 each. Normally, $15 (with a suggested retail price of $19) for a case of 12 bags. That is a wonderful savings and a great time to try these new items!
The new items include:
hazelnut sweet protein chips
almond delight protein crisps
original flavor protein pretzels
sweet BBQ snack mix
And, don't forget that 20% discount code! You can save 20% off of your Kay's Naturals orders by using the discount code minichallenge when you go to checkout!
Mine will hopefully arrive today while I'm at work... I hope to let you know what I think of them this weekend!!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
New Kay's Products--$10 only through Sunday!
Just a reminder that the 4 new Kay's Naturals products are only on sale thru this coming Sunday!! Get a case of these 4 new items for just $10 each. Normally, $15 (with a suggested retail price of $19) for a case of 12 bags. That is a wonderful savings and a great time to try these new items!
The new items include:
hazelnut sweet protein chips
almond delight protein crisps
original flavor protein pretzels
sweet BBQ snack mix
And, don't forget that 20% discount code! You can save 20% off of your Kay's Naturals orders by using the discount code minichallenge when you go to checkout!
The new items include:
hazelnut sweet protein chips
almond delight protein crisps
original flavor protein pretzels
sweet BBQ snack mix
And, don't forget that 20% discount code! You can save 20% off of your Kay's Naturals orders by using the discount code minichallenge when you go to checkout!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Recipe: Butter Pecan Cookies with Protein
This recipe is a revision of my oatmeal/choco chip/pecan cookies with protein. (click that to see that recipe!) Both recipes are a revised version of Quaker's Vanishing Oatmeal Cookies recipe that is found on the inside of the lid of a tub of Quaker oats! These butter pecan cookies are yummo and NO one can tell they are not a sugary cookie! Granted, they are not sugar free, but they are lower sugar and totally yummy!
Butter Pecan Cookies with Protein
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) margarine (I use light Blue Bonnet)
3/4 cup brown sugar (not Splenda brown sugar, just brown sugar--I've already changed it!)
1 1/2 cups granulated Splenda
3 eggs OR 3/4 cup egg substitute
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup almond flour
2 scoops Unjury unflavored protein powder
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 to 1 tsp salt
4 cups oats
11 oz bag butterscotch baking chips OR 1 cup butterscotch chips and 1 cup chocolate chips
6 oz bag chopped pecans (about 1 1/2 cups)
Blend the margarine, brown sugar and the Splenda. Then add the eggs and vanilla and mix again. In a separate bowl, combine the flours, protein powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Mix those really well and then add to the wet mixture. Mix well. Then stir in the baking chips and nuts. Once those are well distributed, add the oats but add like 3 cups and then add more till you get a nice thick mix that isn't terribly wet. It usually takes 4 cups, but I've used as little as 3 1/2.
These bake at 350 for 10 to 12 minutes. Store in cookie jar, tin, or just a rubbermaid or tupperware bowl with lid. This recipe makes about 40-48 large cookies (2 1/2 to 3" in diameter). Each cookie is about 150 calories, 18 carbs (2 fiber) and about 4 grams of protein when computed using pecans as the nuts.
NOTE: If you choose to make these cookies withOUT the protein powder, you must add in 1/2 cup of flour (of your choice) to make this recipe work! If you don't have the almond flour, you can use another flour (spelt, whole wheat, etc) or use another scoop of protein powder and 1/4 cup more all purpose flour.
Butter Pecan Cookies with Protein
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) margarine (I use light Blue Bonnet)
3/4 cup brown sugar (not Splenda brown sugar, just brown sugar--I've already changed it!)
1 1/2 cups granulated Splenda
3 eggs OR 3/4 cup egg substitute
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup almond flour
2 scoops Unjury unflavored protein powder
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 to 1 tsp salt
4 cups oats
11 oz bag butterscotch baking chips OR 1 cup butterscotch chips and 1 cup chocolate chips
6 oz bag chopped pecans (about 1 1/2 cups)
Blend the margarine, brown sugar and the Splenda. Then add the eggs and vanilla and mix again. In a separate bowl, combine the flours, protein powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Mix those really well and then add to the wet mixture. Mix well. Then stir in the baking chips and nuts. Once those are well distributed, add the oats but add like 3 cups and then add more till you get a nice thick mix that isn't terribly wet. It usually takes 4 cups, but I've used as little as 3 1/2.
These bake at 350 for 10 to 12 minutes. Store in cookie jar, tin, or just a rubbermaid or tupperware bowl with lid. This recipe makes about 40-48 large cookies (2 1/2 to 3" in diameter). Each cookie is about 150 calories, 18 carbs (2 fiber) and about 4 grams of protein when computed using pecans as the nuts.
NOTE: If you choose to make these cookies withOUT the protein powder, you must add in 1/2 cup of flour (of your choice) to make this recipe work! If you don't have the almond flour, you can use another flour (spelt, whole wheat, etc) or use another scoop of protein powder and 1/4 cup more all purpose flour.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Tips for Limiting Desserts/Sweets/Treats
Tips for Limiting Desserts
· When you have a sweet craving, try either chewing a piece of fruit flavored sugar free gum or drinking a 20 oz bottle of water.
· I was scared to give up sweets because I was QUITTING something. But I turned the negative of quitting into a positive. I am ADDING the habit of having one dessert per week.
· When you crave a dessert or sweet treat, try brushing your teeth. Something about the act of brushing and the minty flavor of toothpaste is supposed to tell you that it's not time to eat – plus candy or chocolate or whatever it is you want to snack on won't taste half as good with that minty flavor in your mouth!
· Besides not buying treats (they are too tempting and my family gets enough other places without needing them at home), when I am winding my day down I will make myself a large cup of herbal tea. It takes me a while to drink it (because it is hot), I am getting flavor in my mouth (I now have a huge stash of tea varieties), and it counts toward my water consumption. I have found that I really look forward to sipping my tea, and I can watch some TV or read a book and not feel guilty that I am consuming mindless calories.
· I have a piece of paper on my refrigerator and every time I have a craving, I write it down. The deal is that on Sunday I can pick one thing from the list to eat in moderation IF I STILL WANT IT. I usually find that after a few hours the thrill is gone, and I can make a reasonable decision for a treat on Sunday. It's funny, but most of the time once I write the craving on the paper I can usually forget about it.
· What helped me is that I planned which days I would have a dessert. I am trying to focus on asking myself which dessert do I want to have on Saturday instead of focusing on what I am saying no to at the moment.
· Remember the Three Ds: DRINK (preferably water); DIVERT (take your mind off food); and DELAY (wait 15 minutes).
Compiled by member of the YahooGroup NoExcuseWorkOutSupport
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Kay's Naturals--4 brand new products--$10/case!
Kay's Naturals just introduced 4 brand NEW products! All 4 are gluten-free too! They include the following:
BBQ flavor snack mix
original protein pretzels
almond protein chips
hazelnut protein chips
AND, to kick off the addition of these yummy new products, they are offering them all for $10 per case of 12 bags! No coupons or codes are necessary! Just click over and order those babies!
Don't forget that you can get 20% off of Kay's products using the discount code minichallenge during checkout!
BBQ flavor snack mix
original protein pretzels
almond protein chips
hazelnut protein chips
AND, to kick off the addition of these yummy new products, they are offering them all for $10 per case of 12 bags! No coupons or codes are necessary! Just click over and order those babies!
Don't forget that you can get 20% off of Kay's products using the discount code minichallenge during checkout!
Snacking, carbs, and more...
I actually had this post written and was in the process of posting it when my connection hiccuped and it was lost entirely! SO, we'll start again! LOL Well, not really laughing if you know what I mean... Grrrrr!
Over on the OH mini-challenge group, we've been chatting about some things we'd like to do better at... One of those things is snacking. But, we must remember that all "snacks" are not true "snacking" as when it is a part of a daily eating plan, it isn't a bad thing! If you plan your day so that you are eating 3 "meals" and 2 or 3 "snacks," then your snack is not what we are talking about. What we are struggling with is that dreaded snacking/munching/grazing that so many of us (postop or not!) fall into in those inactive hours before bedtime each evening. You crash on the couch to watch your favorite TV show or you snuggle up in a cozy chair to read a few pages of that book you're reading and as you sit there, you suddenly find that you are hungry. Now you are not usually truly "hungry" in the my-body-needs-nourishment sense of the word. It is more a struggle with head hunger and old habits... Many people (overweight, skinny, old, young, ANYONE) get in the habit of having something to munch on while doing these relaxed activities... We get out a box of cookies and pour a nice cold glass of milk while watching a movie. We munch on nuts or crackers (or both!) while reading that suspense story. It is easy to make a habit of these things. Then, when we are trying to lose weight, we have to deal with those habits and whether we are eating because we truly need food OR because we just want to... For some, it IS true hunger. Perhaps they need to build a healthy, solid snack into their eating plan to compensate for a long period of time between dinner and bedtime. For others, it is just that powerful head hunger that screams at you to GO get those crackers! GO get that glass of milk and cookies. It is what we do when we do this activity! You work so hard to change those habits and replace them with something healthy. And, for some folks that will be harder than others and they'll need to replace or change the activity itself and not just address the hunger issues. Maybe instead of sitting and watching TV, they plug a few minutes of cardio into their evening. Watch TV from the treadmill or the ab lounger instead of the couch! Go for a walk around the neighborhood instead of reading... You get the point here! GO and DO something instead of sitting there letting your brain tell you to eat! Otherwise, make sure you have some solid snack foods in the house to grab when these cravings hit! Carrot sticks and yogurt dip... Chopped up pieces of a protein bar (instead of those cookies!)... Soy crisps and bean dip instead of potato chips and ranch dip... Beef jerky, nuts, etc. There are healthy choices out there. You just have to plan to keep those items and make them readily available!
Carbs... That is another topic lately. We asked the group what carbs they eat. We did not mean to ask how many carbs they eat as in 50 grams per day or whatever. We meant what foods, specifically, do they allow themself where carbohydrates are concerned. In general, folks tell you things like veggies, fruits and beans. BUT, there are far too many of us who've let the OTHER carbs sneak back into our diet and, for some of us, it is even on a daily basis... What did you eat too much of before you began your journey to a healthy weight? Was it pasta? Were you a big bread eater? Did you have a deadly sweet tooth? Have these items found their way back into your postop life to the point of what you think of as "excess" of what they should be?
The biggest problem with carbs is that carbs beget carbs. The more carbs you eat, the more you crave them. And, don't forget that when the body processes the carbs into glycogen, it stores the glycogen in water. This means that for every 300 or so grams of carbs you eat and your body stores, you also gain 3 to 5 pounds of water weight... This is why you can see a very rapid weight loss of 3 to 5 pounds in just a day or two of carb-purging! Your body burns those glycogen stores and the water goes with it!
So, what is a "healthy" carb? The only good carb is a complex carb. For breads, tortillas, crackers and such, be sure to seek out the best whole-grain version you can find and look for low-carb options. Look for breads and tortillas with added fiber--the fiber carbs don't count! Same goes for pasta--find a good whole-wheat product such as the Barilla Plus pastas or Dreamfields... Both are available locally at Krogers stores and many other grocery chains.
If you must eat chips, go for things like soy crisps and protein enriched chips such as the protein chips from Kay's Naturals. And don't forget that 20% discount either! Kay's will give you 20% off all items ordered if you use the code minichallenge during checkout!
Veggies--there are better choices there too... Broccoli, squash, brussel sprouts, artichokes, asparagus, leeks, etc., are better choices than things like peas, corn and carrots. If you just can't live without your potatoes, consider sweet potatoes.
Fruits--The thing you've got to remember with fruits is that they are full of sugar. Yes, it is NATURAL sugar, but it is sugar just the same. Be very careful! Eat small portions till you know you can handle the particular fruit. I know that the first time I tried pineapple after my WLS, I dumped and I dumped HARD! But, now--2+ years later, I can eat them with no issues... Orange juice (even fresh squeezed) will send me over the dumping edge in a heartbeat, but I can eat a nice, large Navel orange or other piece of citrus fruit with no issues. Trial and error...
Beans, legumes, and nuts are other complex carb foods. They are healthy and usually full of fiber. They can be fatty foods too though, so some folks will dump from the fat content. This makes them another food to start carefully and watch for reactions.
The best advice I can give you on diet is to write it down. If you can't put your finger on where the problem may lie, the best tactic to take is to journal everything you put in your mouth for at least a week. You can be shocked to find out that you are eating a lot more (or less) than you thought. And don't forget that too little food can stall your weight loss just as quick and easy as too much food or the wrong kinds of food! If you are active and burning calories while not eating enough, your body will rebel and hold on to every little morsel you give it sometimes!
Over on the OH mini-challenge group, we've been chatting about some things we'd like to do better at... One of those things is snacking. But, we must remember that all "snacks" are not true "snacking" as when it is a part of a daily eating plan, it isn't a bad thing! If you plan your day so that you are eating 3 "meals" and 2 or 3 "snacks," then your snack is not what we are talking about. What we are struggling with is that dreaded snacking/munching/grazing that so many of us (postop or not!) fall into in those inactive hours before bedtime each evening. You crash on the couch to watch your favorite TV show or you snuggle up in a cozy chair to read a few pages of that book you're reading and as you sit there, you suddenly find that you are hungry. Now you are not usually truly "hungry" in the my-body-needs-nourishment sense of the word. It is more a struggle with head hunger and old habits... Many people (overweight, skinny, old, young, ANYONE) get in the habit of having something to munch on while doing these relaxed activities... We get out a box of cookies and pour a nice cold glass of milk while watching a movie. We munch on nuts or crackers (or both!) while reading that suspense story. It is easy to make a habit of these things. Then, when we are trying to lose weight, we have to deal with those habits and whether we are eating because we truly need food OR because we just want to... For some, it IS true hunger. Perhaps they need to build a healthy, solid snack into their eating plan to compensate for a long period of time between dinner and bedtime. For others, it is just that powerful head hunger that screams at you to GO get those crackers! GO get that glass of milk and cookies. It is what we do when we do this activity! You work so hard to change those habits and replace them with something healthy. And, for some folks that will be harder than others and they'll need to replace or change the activity itself and not just address the hunger issues. Maybe instead of sitting and watching TV, they plug a few minutes of cardio into their evening. Watch TV from the treadmill or the ab lounger instead of the couch! Go for a walk around the neighborhood instead of reading... You get the point here! GO and DO something instead of sitting there letting your brain tell you to eat! Otherwise, make sure you have some solid snack foods in the house to grab when these cravings hit! Carrot sticks and yogurt dip... Chopped up pieces of a protein bar (instead of those cookies!)... Soy crisps and bean dip instead of potato chips and ranch dip... Beef jerky, nuts, etc. There are healthy choices out there. You just have to plan to keep those items and make them readily available!
Carbs... That is another topic lately. We asked the group what carbs they eat. We did not mean to ask how many carbs they eat as in 50 grams per day or whatever. We meant what foods, specifically, do they allow themself where carbohydrates are concerned. In general, folks tell you things like veggies, fruits and beans. BUT, there are far too many of us who've let the OTHER carbs sneak back into our diet and, for some of us, it is even on a daily basis... What did you eat too much of before you began your journey to a healthy weight? Was it pasta? Were you a big bread eater? Did you have a deadly sweet tooth? Have these items found their way back into your postop life to the point of what you think of as "excess" of what they should be?
The biggest problem with carbs is that carbs beget carbs. The more carbs you eat, the more you crave them. And, don't forget that when the body processes the carbs into glycogen, it stores the glycogen in water. This means that for every 300 or so grams of carbs you eat and your body stores, you also gain 3 to 5 pounds of water weight... This is why you can see a very rapid weight loss of 3 to 5 pounds in just a day or two of carb-purging! Your body burns those glycogen stores and the water goes with it!
So, what is a "healthy" carb? The only good carb is a complex carb. For breads, tortillas, crackers and such, be sure to seek out the best whole-grain version you can find and look for low-carb options. Look for breads and tortillas with added fiber--the fiber carbs don't count! Same goes for pasta--find a good whole-wheat product such as the Barilla Plus pastas or Dreamfields... Both are available locally at Krogers stores and many other grocery chains.
If you must eat chips, go for things like soy crisps and protein enriched chips such as the protein chips from Kay's Naturals. And don't forget that 20% discount either! Kay's will give you 20% off all items ordered if you use the code minichallenge during checkout!
Veggies--there are better choices there too... Broccoli, squash, brussel sprouts, artichokes, asparagus, leeks, etc., are better choices than things like peas, corn and carrots. If you just can't live without your potatoes, consider sweet potatoes.
Fruits--The thing you've got to remember with fruits is that they are full of sugar. Yes, it is NATURAL sugar, but it is sugar just the same. Be very careful! Eat small portions till you know you can handle the particular fruit. I know that the first time I tried pineapple after my WLS, I dumped and I dumped HARD! But, now--2+ years later, I can eat them with no issues... Orange juice (even fresh squeezed) will send me over the dumping edge in a heartbeat, but I can eat a nice, large Navel orange or other piece of citrus fruit with no issues. Trial and error...
Beans, legumes, and nuts are other complex carb foods. They are healthy and usually full of fiber. They can be fatty foods too though, so some folks will dump from the fat content. This makes them another food to start carefully and watch for reactions.
The best advice I can give you on diet is to write it down. If you can't put your finger on where the problem may lie, the best tactic to take is to journal everything you put in your mouth for at least a week. You can be shocked to find out that you are eating a lot more (or less) than you thought. And don't forget that too little food can stall your weight loss just as quick and easy as too much food or the wrong kinds of food! If you are active and burning calories while not eating enough, your body will rebel and hold on to every little morsel you give it sometimes!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Starting to catch up...
With going back to working away from home most days, I didn't think it would ever happen, but I am finally starting to get back on track... I'm getting somewhat of a routine worked out as far as cooking meals, buying groceries, washing dishes, washing clothes, etc is concerned so that all of these chores are not building up in wait for a day off...
My dishes may only get washed every other day, but there is just me and Mandy eating here most of the time and we're only eating dinner and warming up something for breakfast, so there are not a lot of dishes to wash.
Laundry--well, that is a different story! It took some doing to keep up with the laundry! What with clothes, towels, bedding and all, it piles up when you are not looking! LOL
Buying groceries is probably the easiest. When I wasn't working, I had to plan a couple of trips to town each week just to pick up necessary stuff both from the grocery and the feed store (livestock feed for our animals). Now that I am in town most days from Monday to Friday, it is easy to just run by the grocery store and grab whatever we need without the worry about getting every single thing we need in order to avoid needing an extra trip to town... I still have to plan my trips to Walmart and Sam's Club as those are both about an hour from home and are harder to just "get by..."
And, now that I've been having to get up and get out to work so many days, my body's internal clock is finally starting to come around to this new schedule and I'm staying up less at night and getting up easier in the morning. Now, don't let that fool you! I am still NOT a morning person! I never said I was liking it more...just that it was easier to get up and get going now that my inner clock is shifting gears a bit. I also didn't sleep away the day on Saturday this weekend and didn't even take a nap today (Sunday)! That alone is progress... Last weekend, I swear I could have slept soundly all day on Saturday!
Now, I need to start putting some creative thinking into planning lunch box lunches and packable snacks. I welcome comments about how or what you guys do in that sense. In many classroom situations, there is a fridge and a microwave available nearby, so that helps. But, I generally pack a lunch that would be okay if not able to warm something up. And, as I am finding that I really do need to be eating more calories per day (I lose a bit when I do eat more lately), I am really thinking hard on snack items. I've got a bag of nuts and a couple of protein bars in my bag at all times. I even have a spare bottle of water in my tote in addition to whatever I have packed in my cooler bag and the big cup I tote with me. I need to generate a list of healthy snacks and focus some on those that would be higher protein sources as I've noticed a bit more hair loss again lately and am not sure whether it is my thyroid or just me not getting enough protein...
My dishes may only get washed every other day, but there is just me and Mandy eating here most of the time and we're only eating dinner and warming up something for breakfast, so there are not a lot of dishes to wash.
Laundry--well, that is a different story! It took some doing to keep up with the laundry! What with clothes, towels, bedding and all, it piles up when you are not looking! LOL
Buying groceries is probably the easiest. When I wasn't working, I had to plan a couple of trips to town each week just to pick up necessary stuff both from the grocery and the feed store (livestock feed for our animals). Now that I am in town most days from Monday to Friday, it is easy to just run by the grocery store and grab whatever we need without the worry about getting every single thing we need in order to avoid needing an extra trip to town... I still have to plan my trips to Walmart and Sam's Club as those are both about an hour from home and are harder to just "get by..."
And, now that I've been having to get up and get out to work so many days, my body's internal clock is finally starting to come around to this new schedule and I'm staying up less at night and getting up easier in the morning. Now, don't let that fool you! I am still NOT a morning person! I never said I was liking it more...just that it was easier to get up and get going now that my inner clock is shifting gears a bit. I also didn't sleep away the day on Saturday this weekend and didn't even take a nap today (Sunday)! That alone is progress... Last weekend, I swear I could have slept soundly all day on Saturday!
Now, I need to start putting some creative thinking into planning lunch box lunches and packable snacks. I welcome comments about how or what you guys do in that sense. In many classroom situations, there is a fridge and a microwave available nearby, so that helps. But, I generally pack a lunch that would be okay if not able to warm something up. And, as I am finding that I really do need to be eating more calories per day (I lose a bit when I do eat more lately), I am really thinking hard on snack items. I've got a bag of nuts and a couple of protein bars in my bag at all times. I even have a spare bottle of water in my tote in addition to whatever I have packed in my cooler bag and the big cup I tote with me. I need to generate a list of healthy snacks and focus some on those that would be higher protein sources as I've noticed a bit more hair loss again lately and am not sure whether it is my thyroid or just me not getting enough protein...
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Review: Dr. Kracker, take 3! Pumpkin Cheddar Snack Chips
One more flavor tried...two to go! I'm not sure I have the other two though! LOLThe Pumpkin Cheddar snack chips were about the same as the other two flavors in crunchy crispness and taste. The seeds, what there were of them, were bigger, so there was more flavor to them. I've never tried pumpkin seeds before, so I was a bit unsure of what to expect. Not too bad... These crackers had plenty of cheese on them, just not so much on the seeds.
If there were more seeds, this one would be the best so far. But, as it stands, I think I'm still calling the Klassic 3 Seed from yesterday my favorite!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Review: Dr. Kracker, take 2! Klassic 3 Seed variety
Last night, I reviewed the Sunflower Cheddar variety of the Dr. Kracker snack chips. I decided to try another one of the Dr. Kracker snack chips today. Today's choice was the Klassic 3 Seed snack chips.
I think I liked these even more than I did the other one I tried yesterday--the sunflower cheddar variety. These had a lot more seeds in them. Check 'em out!
The sunflower cheddar ones had much fewer seeds on each cracker.
The package says "The Klassic 3 Seed is a compelling blend of nutty flax seeds, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds. Crunch!" The certainly do CRUNCH! As a matter of fact, I caught myself thinking that chewing these things to the proper mush point before swallowing was going to be more work than with stuff like Cheeze-Its! So, when you are done, you really feel like you ate something instead of something that just sort of dissolves in your mouth. These DO have a nutty flavor to them. And, they were, as you can see in the pic above, very well seeded.
I think that this one is my flavor of choice so far!
Nutrition Facts for this variety:
Like the sunflower cheddar, no trans fats, no cholesterol and a fair amount of fiber...
I think I liked these even more than I did the other one I tried yesterday--the sunflower cheddar variety. These had a lot more seeds in them. Check 'em out!
The sunflower cheddar ones had much fewer seeds on each cracker. The package says "The Klassic 3 Seed is a compelling blend of nutty flax seeds, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds. Crunch!" The certainly do CRUNCH! As a matter of fact, I caught myself thinking that chewing these things to the proper mush point before swallowing was going to be more work than with stuff like Cheeze-Its! So, when you are done, you really feel like you ate something instead of something that just sort of dissolves in your mouth. These DO have a nutty flavor to them. And, they were, as you can see in the pic above, very well seeded.
I think that this one is my flavor of choice so far!
Nutrition Facts for this variety:
| Klassic 3 Seed snack chips | % DV | |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 120 | |
| Fat Calories | 40 | |
| Total Fat | 5 g | 8% |
| Saturated Fat | 1 g | 5% |
| Trans Fat | 0 g | |
| Cholesterol | 0 g | 0% |
| Sodium | 220 mg | 9% |
| Total Carbohydrates | 13 g | 4% |
| Dietary Fiber | 4 g | 16% |
| Sugars | 0 g | |
| Protein | 6 g | |
| Vitamin A | 0 % | |
| Vitamin C | 0 % | |
| Calcium | 3 % | |
| Iron | 6 % |
Like the sunflower cheddar, no trans fats, no cholesterol and a fair amount of fiber...
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Product Review: Dr. Kracker snack chips
Been a while since I did a product review! Let's see if I remember how! LOL
At our support group meeting, I got a sample of a new product... Well, they are new to me and I have no idea how long they've been available! But, anyway, they are a line of snack chips or crackers called Dr. Kracker and they claim to be 100% whole grain with an "uber crunch!" Actually, here's what their site says about these snack chips/crackers:
Inspired by the delicious traditional flatbreads of Germany, our Dr. Kracker crackers are made with a blend of nature's best organic whole grains and seeds, then yeast-raised and artisan-baked to perfect crispness.
At our support group meeting, I got a sample of a new product... Well, they are new to me and I have no idea how long they've been available! But, anyway, they are a line of snack chips or crackers called Dr. Kracker and they claim to be 100% whole grain with an "uber crunch!" Actually, here's what their site says about these snack chips/crackers:
Inspired by the delicious traditional flatbreads of Germany, our Dr. Kracker crackers are made with a blend of nature's best organic whole grains and seeds, then yeast-raised and artisan-baked to perfect crispness.Available in five stupendous flavors, we make sure that every bite of every Dr. Kracker cracker bursts with texture, character, and gusto.
No-nonsense. Not for the faint of heart. And, everything you always wanted in a cracker.
I've only tried the Sunflower Cheddar variety of these crackers.
I found them to be VERY crisp and crunchy.They have nice big pieces of seeds or whole seeds on the crackers. These definitely have texture! They are thicker and crisper than your average chip/cracker though and definitely resemble the flatbreads that they say they are imitating...
Nutrition Facts for this variety:
No trans fats, practically no cholesterol and a fair amount of fiber... Add that to the taste and texture desirability of these crackers and you've got a winning choice!
They have a page of customer testimonials if you'd like to hear what others have written about them. I'll try to post when I try the other flavors as well. They also have a page with recipes using the crackers. I hope to see them continue to add recipes!
The flatbread pieces of these crackers (another item from same company) are large crackers that would be awesome with cheese spreads and/or meats on top! But, these snack chips are great just by themself.
Go to http://www.drkracker.com/sales/retaillocations/ to find the nearest retailer to purchase these products or go to http://www.drkracker.com/sales/onlineshop/ for online retailers such as Amazon.com.
Where Can I Get/Find It? online, Costco's, Publix, some Super Targets, Whole Foods, other health/natural foods markets
Cost: Amazon.com sells for $23 for 24 of the 1 oz bags, so less than a buck per bag, not sure about local outlets and single packages...
Pros: organic and all natural whole grain snack, good taste and texture, great to replace those crunchy snack crackers
Cons: for me, these are not readily available from affordable, local sources/needs to be ordered from online sources, but that may not be the case for everyone--search the retail locations link as some states have a long page of local retail locations!
Overall Rating: Yeah Baby! Good solution for those who crave crunch but want only whole grain choices...
I found them to be VERY crisp and crunchy.They have nice big pieces of seeds or whole seeds on the crackers. These definitely have texture! They are thicker and crisper than your average chip/cracker though and definitely resemble the flatbreads that they say they are imitating...Nutrition Facts for this variety:
| Sunflower Cheddar snack chips | % DV | |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 120 | |
| Fat Calories | 50 | |
| Total Fat | 6 g | 9% |
| Saturated Fat | 1.5 g | 8% |
| Trans Fat | 0 g | |
| Cholesterol | <> | 1% |
| Sodium | 220 mg | 9% |
| Total Carbohydrates | 12 g | 4% |
| Dietary Fiber | 4 g | 16% |
| Sugars | 0 g | |
| Protein | 5 g | |
| Vitamin A | 0 % | |
| Vitamin C | 0 % | |
| Calcium | 5 % | |
| Iron | 6 % |
No trans fats, practically no cholesterol and a fair amount of fiber... Add that to the taste and texture desirability of these crackers and you've got a winning choice!
They have a page of customer testimonials if you'd like to hear what others have written about them. I'll try to post when I try the other flavors as well. They also have a page with recipes using the crackers. I hope to see them continue to add recipes!
The flatbread pieces of these crackers (another item from same company) are large crackers that would be awesome with cheese spreads and/or meats on top! But, these snack chips are great just by themself.
Go to http://www.drkracker.com/sales/retaillocations/ to find the nearest retailer to purchase these products or go to http://www.drkracker.com/sales/onlineshop/ for online retailers such as Amazon.com.
Product Name: Dr. Kracker sunflower cheddar snack chips
Where Can I Get/Find It? online, Costco's, Publix, some Super Targets, Whole Foods, other health/natural foods markets
Cost: Amazon.com sells for $23 for 24 of the 1 oz bags, so less than a buck per bag, not sure about local outlets and single packages...
Pros: organic and all natural whole grain snack, good taste and texture, great to replace those crunchy snack crackers
Cons: for me, these are not readily available from affordable, local sources/needs to be ordered from online sources, but that may not be the case for everyone--search the retail locations link as some states have a long page of local retail locations!
Overall Rating: Yeah Baby! Good solution for those who crave crunch but want only whole grain choices...
Monday, July 14, 2008
Kay's Naturals at 20% off!
As you may or may not remember, Kay's Naturals was offering us 20% off their wonderful crunch-craving-solution products. Then, their site became overwhelmed and they had to stop offering the discount for a while. Well, I am happy to report that they have a NEW site up and are offering us the 20% off once again! The new site is at http://www.kaysbariatric.com/ and the discount code is newsite. How simple is that?? The more people who use the discount, the longer they'll be able to offer it to us, so PASS IT ON!! They also still have the $7.50 flat rate shipping--whether you order one item or 101 items! This can really save you some $$!
I'd love it if those of you already familiar with their products would take a minute to comment on what your favorite is and how you eat it if you use it other than just as a crunchy snack. For example, I crumble up some of the White Cheddar Kruncheeze and pour chili on it and then top with some shredded 4-cheese Mexican blend cheese... Sort of a "frito pie" if you will!
I'd love it if those of you already familiar with their products would take a minute to comment on what your favorite is and how you eat it if you use it other than just as a crunchy snack. For example, I crumble up some of the White Cheddar Kruncheeze and pour chili on it and then top with some shredded 4-cheese Mexican blend cheese... Sort of a "frito pie" if you will!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Recipe: Ricotta Fluff--MY way
A while back, I posted a Ricotta Fluff recipe that was from Val, an OH member. Val uses whole milk ricotta cheese and the big tub of it (32 oz). I did not care for the taste with the whole milk ricotta. I might add that I don't like the taste of cottage cheese either, so maybe it was just me! BUT, I made ricotta fluff for myself again this weekend and changed the ingredients to make something that I thought I'd like the taste of... Here's what I used:
Ingredients:
15 oz tub of part-skim ricotta cheese
8 oz tub of sugar free Cool Whip
1 box sugar free cheesecake flavor Jello pudding mix (just the powder)
Directions:
With a hand mixer, whip the ricotta cheese and Cool Whip together till smooth. Pour in the pudding powder and continue to mix till blended. Serve with a fruit topping for added flavor.
I've been eating mine with strawberries on top. Krogers has a frozen strawberry slice that is sweetened with Splenda and is yummy! I put a spoon or two of that on top of the ricotta fluff and man-oh-man is that good! I've also used fresh strawberries and thawed, frozen strawberries. I just love strawberries!
Ingredients:
15 oz tub of part-skim ricotta cheese
8 oz tub of sugar free Cool Whip
1 box sugar free cheesecake flavor Jello pudding mix (just the powder)
Directions:
With a hand mixer, whip the ricotta cheese and Cool Whip together till smooth. Pour in the pudding powder and continue to mix till blended. Serve with a fruit topping for added flavor.
I've been eating mine with strawberries on top. Krogers has a frozen strawberry slice that is sweetened with Splenda and is yummy! I put a spoon or two of that on top of the ricotta fluff and man-oh-man is that good! I've also used fresh strawberries and thawed, frozen strawberries. I just love strawberries!
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Product Review: Green Giant Healthy Weight Vegetables
I found these in the frozen food section at Krogers... I had a coupon for $2 off of $10 in frozen food (one of those discount card generated coupons from the store's Kroger Plus system). So, I'm walking along the rows of frozen food cases looking for something new to try and I spot these. Green Giant Healthy Weight Vegetable Mix. It is a mixture of black beans, shelled edamame, carrots, and sugar snap peas in a very light butter sauce. It is delish! The box says, "Healthy Weight--diets rich in foods naturally containing fiber can help you maintain a healthier body weight."Apparently, they are part of a new line from the Giant... From their site:
NEW! Healthy Weight, Immunity Boost, and Healthy Vision
Now Green Giant offers you a delicious way to meet your health goals - Healthy Weight, Immunity Boost, and Healthy Vision. Each is a variety of premium all natural vegetables uniquely blended and lightly tossed with a great tasting sauce to provide you with specific nutrients to help you feel your best:
Varieties:
Healthy Weight - Diets rich in foods naturally containing fiber can help you maintain a healthier body weight.
- Sliced carrots, sugar snap peas, black beans and edamame lightly tossed with butter sauce.
- Broccoli florets, julienne carrots and red and yellow sweet pepper strips in a garlic-herb infused extra virgin olive oil seasoning.
- Sliced carrots, zucchini quarters, and sliced green beans lightly tossed with rosemary butter sauce.
The Nutrition Facts:These measure up pretty well! A 2/3 cup (cooked) serving is only 90 calories and has 5 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein! Only 14 total carbs and lots of taste... These make a tasty side dish for dinner or even a great snack option. Ease of preparation is nice. I set the frozen packet in a bowl and microwaved it for 4 minutes. Then, you just split the packet open and dump it into a dish. Bing, bang, boom! How easy was that? LOL 90 calories, 9 net carbs, and 5 grams of protein... Can't ask for a more WLS friendly side dish!
Ingredients: Carrots, sugar snap peas, cooked black beans (water, black beans) and shelled edamama (soybeans) in a sauce containing water, enzyme modified butter, salt, modified corn starch.
How's it look to you?
Product Name: Green Giant Healthy Weight Veggies
Product Type (meal replacement, protein bar, snack, etc): snack, side dish
Where Can I Get/Find It? most grocers in the frozen food section
Cost: $2.00
Pros: tasty, good fiber content, low calorie, low fat, fair amount of protein with reasonable total carbs
Cons: I can't really think of any!
Overall Rating: Yeah Baby! This veggie mix makes a very tasty addition to a meal and would make an awesome snack too. It has a very light butter flavor but not an actual "sauce" to it. I'll definitely buy more of this one!
Link to a thread at OH about this item/review
Recipe: Crunchy/Cheesy Chick Peas
We're going to start out with a recipe from my website... If you click that link, there are lots of protein snack recipes on that page! There are like 14 different protein ball recipes too!
Then, we're going to think about what ELSE we can do with it! In my email files, I saved another crunchy chip pea recipe that was passed along on a YahooGroup I am on. That one was submitted by Bush's Beans to a recipe collection site. It looks like this:
Bush's Crunchy Garbanzo Beans
Crunchy Chick Peas
| Ingredients: 1 can chick peas 2 tbsp olive oil 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp oregano | Directions: Drain chick peas, rinse, and shake excess water out. In a bowl, mix chick peas, olive oil, oregano, and salt. Spread on a baking pan/cookie sheet and bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour. |
Then, we're going to think about what ELSE we can do with it! In my email files, I saved another crunchy chip pea recipe that was passed along on a YahooGroup I am on. That one was submitted by Bush's Beans to a recipe collection site. It looks like this:
Bush's Crunchy Garbanzo Beans
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 (15 ounce) cans BUSH'S Garbanzo Beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
2 (15 ounce) cans BUSH'S Garbanzo Beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Directions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- Rinse the beans in a colander, drain and dry well with a paper towel.
- Add the oil, salt and pepper to the beans and toss evenly to coat.
- Spread beans in an even layer on the baking sheet, and place in preheated oven. Bake for 30 minutes, until crunchy, stirring and shaking the pan midway through baking.
- Sprinkle the rosemary evenly over the beans, and continue to cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until beans are crunchy. Some will be slightly soft in the center. Remove the pan from the oven and transfer the beans to a serving bowl. Sprinkle the cheese over the beans, and stir to evenly distribute the cheese.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Product Review: Pop Secret Cheddar Popcorn
So, as a WLS postop, we still crave some of the same carby things others do... We may tell our self that we are stronger now and can avoid these items, but every once in a while, we CAVE! I will admit that I love popcorn. And not the air-popped variety either--the greasy microwave sort is my thing. So, I do it very rarely and most often go for the kettle corn variety made with Splenda instead of sugar (not greasy). But, in a moment of "ummm, that looks good" ignorance at a Super Target store lately, I purchased Pop Secret's 1-Step Cheddar Premium Popcorn. It looks all cheesy on the box! And, cheese is protein, right?? Well, a quick glance at the label info would have told me better in this case:
See much in the way of protein in there? Nope, me neither! LOL It IS orange... But, it is also greasy. The orange sort of wipes away onto your hands and leaves you a mess. Not a powdery, cheesy mess like oh, say Cheetos might, but a greasy, slick and orange mess... Yuck! The box says "Pops Up Cheesy!" What a bunch of crap!
Ingredients: Whole Grain Popcorn, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and Cottonseed Oil, Salt, Corn Oil, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Colored with Yellows 5 and 6 Lake, Soy Lecithin, Nonfat Milk, Freshness Preserved with Propyl Gallate.
And, had I not been in a carboholic haze that day, I would never have bought an item with that much TRANS fat in it! Yep, I know better! And, for some reason I never noticed it--not then in the store OR today in front of the microwave... In an average week, I get maybe 1 or 2 grams of trans fat. I am home most days (work from home) and eat out on very rare occasions, so it is very easy to control this part of my diet.
Product Name: Pop Secret 1-Step Cheddar Premium PopcornProduct Type (meal replacement, protein bar, snack, etc): snack
Where Can I Get/Find It? most grocers, Walmart, Target, etc...
Cost: box of 3 packets is about $3.00
Pros: popcorn is a whole grain
Cons: This stuff was greasy, full of trans fats, and not cheesy at all. It was messy and has no real redeeming qualities.
Overall Rating: No Way Baby! This stuff will never see my shopping cart again and I'll be more careful when considering other popcorn products due to the trans fats...
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Product Review: Kay's Naturals Golden Butter Pretzels
Darn you Melting Mama! LOL I clicked over to your You Tube video review of this product and left it to download after I went to bed last night. (dialup SUCKS!) This morning when I woke up, I clicked the replay button and watched it. You make good points about how pretzels can be the downfall of a WLS postop. You also make those pretzels sound darned good! Then, low and behold, my Kay's Naturals order is delivered today--SATURDAY! WTH! Saturday delivery by FedEx Ground out here in the boonies where they normally only deliver every OTHER day during the week! Is someone trying to tell me something??? LOL Oh, and did I mention that I just placed the Kay's Naturals order on Thursday, 2/28, and it is here on Saturday 3/1??? WOW, that was FAST!!
SO, after 3 days of working to get my eating back on track, I throw caution to the wind and crack open my case of butter pretzels.... Oh My Gosh! Those are delicious! As you said, they are not truly a "pretzel" sort of taste, but rather a combo between a pretzel and a cracker and yummy! And, every couple of bites, you get the most wonderful zest of yummy buttery deliciousness! Wow, those are good!
Kay's Naturals Golden Butter Pretzels
Nutrition Facts:
Serving Size: 1 oz
Servings per container: 1.5
Per serving:
calories--110
calories from fat--30
total fat--5 grams (1.5 saturated fat, 0 trans fat)
cholesterol--0
sodium--220 mg
total carbs--12 grams (2 fiber, 1 sugar)
protein--10 grams
From the Bag:
Better Balance snacks help you maintain balance without giving up satisfying treats. Get energized with Better Balance Non-Gluten Pretzels.
* all natural ingredients
* balance of protein and carbs
* 10 g lean soy protein per 1 oz serving
* 2 g fiber per 1 oz serving
* no trans fats
* manage your weight without giving up taste
All in all, a wonderful snack choice and a super tasting, low-carb/high protein treat for a WLS postop or just anyone! And, they would be awesome dipped in some peanut butter! And don't forget the 20% discount! Use the code "newsite" in the additional info box during checkout and they'll apply a 20% discount off your order (won't show in cart but will be applied before card is charged).
Lea
Monday, January 7, 2008
Recipe: Mix your own nuts!
Hi gang!
My biggest quick-snack-grab is mixed nuts. I hate paying the price that stores charge for mixed nuts though, so I mix my own. I go to Dollar General and buy the following items:
2 cans cashew pieces ($2.25 each)
2 cans roasted almonds ($2.75 each)
2 bags (6 ozs ea) pecan halves ($2.50 each)
1 can peanuts ($1)
1 bag of peanut, sunflower seed and raisins mixed ($2)
1 box raisins ($1 to $2)
Then, I get out my great big Tupperware mixing bowl (or a big roasting pan would work) and I dump ALL of these into it. I don't use quite all the raisins, but I use better than half to 2/3 a box. Make sure you rub them between your hands to seperate them a bit. Once it is all in there, tumble it around with your hands to mix it all up and then pour it into the nut cans or some other container for storage till eaten. As there are a couple items in there that don't come in cans, you'll have to use some sort of container OR save cans from the previous batch... I have a big plastic container from mixed nuts that I rewash and use for the overflow once the cans are all full. For about $20, I have no less than 6 to 7 regular nut can sized cans of mixed nuts. You can use ANY nuts you like. You could even add walnuts, macadamias, pine nuts, soy nuts, etc. You could add other types of dried fruit if you prefer those--berries, apples, etc. I just like raisins and they are cheap so keep the cost down. You can bag an ounce of this mix up in snack sized ziplocs or just get a handful out of the can when you want some. BUT, don't sit down with the open can as it is SO easy to eat half the can!
Nuts are a great source of healthy fats! But, fats are higher in calories, so the total can add up quick if you overdo it!
Lea
My biggest quick-snack-grab is mixed nuts. I hate paying the price that stores charge for mixed nuts though, so I mix my own. I go to Dollar General and buy the following items:
2 cans cashew pieces ($2.25 each)
2 cans roasted almonds ($2.75 each)
2 bags (6 ozs ea) pecan halves ($2.50 each)
1 can peanuts ($1)
1 bag of peanut, sunflower seed and raisins mixed ($2)
1 box raisins ($1 to $2)
Then, I get out my great big Tupperware mixing bowl (or a big roasting pan would work) and I dump ALL of these into it. I don't use quite all the raisins, but I use better than half to 2/3 a box. Make sure you rub them between your hands to seperate them a bit. Once it is all in there, tumble it around with your hands to mix it all up and then pour it into the nut cans or some other container for storage till eaten. As there are a couple items in there that don't come in cans, you'll have to use some sort of container OR save cans from the previous batch... I have a big plastic container from mixed nuts that I rewash and use for the overflow once the cans are all full. For about $20, I have no less than 6 to 7 regular nut can sized cans of mixed nuts. You can use ANY nuts you like. You could even add walnuts, macadamias, pine nuts, soy nuts, etc. You could add other types of dried fruit if you prefer those--berries, apples, etc. I just like raisins and they are cheap so keep the cost down. You can bag an ounce of this mix up in snack sized ziplocs or just get a handful out of the can when you want some. BUT, don't sit down with the open can as it is SO easy to eat half the can!
Nuts are a great source of healthy fats! But, fats are higher in calories, so the total can add up quick if you overdo it!
Lea
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