Day 3: One Delicious Meal!

Okay so we all know that with weight loss comes the extra effort of changing old eating habits. Some of these habits may have developed recently over the distant Holidays or could be a result of added stress or an increase in negative emotions from the chaos of everyday life. These eating habits could also be from a continuous consumption of a certain food that was given to you as a kid or teenager. Whether you're a habitual soda drinker or the infamous fried food consumer, losing weight first begins with changing eating habits. Bad eating habits to be exact. Though most label dieting as the ultimate appetite crusher, Weight Watchers does the exact opposite. The Weight Watchers program guarantees and offers you delicious, but well-balanced recipes with essential fruits, veggies and everything in between. So forget the bland frozen Lean Cuisines and other prepackaged weight loss meals. Time to spice it up a little not only in the kitchen, but on your plate.

Not a member of Weight Watchers, but are following your own diet plan and would like to here about more exciting, delicious recipes? No worries, you're diet food guru is here!

Each Wednesday, I plan to post various recipes, some Weight Watchers and some simply alternative, low-fat. Occasionally, I will post a complete meal of recipes while other times, I'll stick to a certain type of food such as cooking with potatoes, chocolate sweet fixes or healthy snack choices. Tonight's recipes with be a yummy Italian feast.

Bon appetit!

Penne with Spinach & Tomato
(Courtesy of WeightWatchers.com)
Prep time: 14 min
Cook time: 15 min
Serves: 4
Weight Watchers Points: 7 per serving  

Ingredients:

• 8 oz uncooked penne
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 cup of chicken broth; use vegetarian broth to make vegetarian
• 1 tsp of garlic, minced
• 8 oz bag of fresh spinach
• 1/4 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp of sea salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1 cup of grape tomatoes, halved
• 6 Tbsp crumbled feta cheese

Directions:

1. Cook penne in boiling salted water according to package directions. Reserve 1/4 cup cooking liquid before draining pasta.
2. Meanwhile, heat broth in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until aromatic, about 2 minutes. Add spinach, oregano, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until spinach is tender, about 3 to 5 minutes.
3. Add cooked penne, reserved cooking liquid and tomatoes to skillet. Increase heat to medium-high and cook until tomatoes are slightly pulpy, stirring occasionally, about 2 to 3 minutes; add cheese and heat through. Yields about 1 1/4 cups per serving.

Garlic-Cheese Breadsticks
(Courtesy of Weight Watchers 5 Ingredient 15 Minute Cookbook)
Weight Watcher Points: 3 per serving

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1 (11 oz) can of refrigerated soft breadstick dough

Directions:

1. Combine cheese and garlic powder.
2. Prepare breadsticks according to package directions, pressing each stick into cheese mixture before baking. Yields 8 breadsticks.

Neapolitan Sundaes
(Courtesy of Weight Watchers 5 Ingredient 15 Minute Cookbook)
Serves: 4
Weight Watcher Points: 4 per serving

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of sliced strawberries
• 1/4 cup of chocolate chips
• 4 (1 oz) slices of angel food cake
• 11/3 cups of vanilla low-fat frozen yogurt

Directions:

1. Places strawberries in a blender. Process until smooth.
2. Place chocolate chips in a small zip-top plastic bag. Crush with a meat mallet or rolling pin.
3. Drizzle strawberry puree evenly on 4 plates. Places cakes slices on top of puree.
4. Top each cake with 1/3 cup of frozen yogurt, then sprinkle 1 tablespoon of crushed chocolate chips on top.

~DJH