Last week I joined a group of six other women in a quest to loose 20 pounds. After deciding to participate I quickly realized that I really don’t have any “healthy” recipes in my cooking arsenal. When I do cook (insert husbands laughter here) my meals are more likely to fall into the “comfort” category.
Cooking this week has been a challenge- one night I literally stared into the cupboard for 20 minutes before giving up. So I need your help. When I do cook I want to cook things that are better for my family and that will help me in my quest to loose weight.
What are your favorite recipes? What books would you recommend I pick up (Someone told me to pick up Skinny Bitch??)? What web sites do you use to find healthy meals for your family?
Here is a recipe from Weight Watchers that my friend Amy from AmyinOhio gave me that I can’t wait to try.
8 oz uncooked fusilli, or other spiral pasta
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar, or more to taste
2 tsp olive oil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 cup cherry tomato(es), or grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup basil, fresh, chopped
1/2 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese, smoked, diced
1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and transfer to a large bowl. Add vinegar, oil and oregano; toss to coat.
Fold in tomatoes, basil and mozzarella; season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve warm or chilled. Yields about 1 cup per serving.
Notes: For added flavor, add sun-dried tomatoes to this recipe. Place 1/4 cup of dried sun-dried tomatoes in a bowl and cover them with boiling water; set aside for 10 minutes to allow the tomatoes to plump up. Drain well and substitute them for half the cherry tomatoes in the recipe.
I am a big fan of the Sonoma Diet.
That’s one of my favorite meals to serve at playgroup! I like the Weight Watchers recipes. However, one of my friends told me about a site called Spark (or maybe it’s Spark People) that is completely free and has hundreds of free healthy recipes. It’s also an on-line support group.
We eat a lot of grilled meat — chicken and turkey cooked on the george foreman.
Clean Eating is a great magazine. Full of really good recipes and healthy lifestyle options.
I like the South Beach recipes and the Weight Watchers recipes — from the magazine, I don’t belong to the website.
Really, there is a lot you can do to add flavor without adding fat. Herbs and spices are our friends!
Skinny Bitch is horrible. I read it. It’s for the person who wants to eat vegan and food with NO TASTE.
Horrible.
It’s dieting to the EXTREME.
I will send you some recipes.
Cooking Light has some great cookbooks, and the recipes are really good.
Has nutrition content at bottom of recipes.
I’m sorry I sooo can’t help I am such a comfort food person….. I use a lot of cheese and sauces and butter and all the things you aren’t suppose to……….
Thank you all. This has been super helpful!!!
We do a lot of salads in the summer. (It’s still hot here in Nashville so it might has well still be summer!) One of my favorites is grilled chicken with a little corn and black beah relish. You could do a light ranch dressing. We also grill a lot of fish.
Cooking Light magazine/website has great ideas, too!