Welcome 2014! Here is to trying again!

It is 2014 and time to TRY again! I will not give up. Over the past year, I have researched and studied portions, attended seminars, all the usual stuff to educate myself (without actually paying for anything!)

So what are the results of all that time I spent researching (and not actually doing)?

There are many different methods and manners of saying the same thing. Some say seven portions of this, three portions of that and then define the portions differently.

They all boiled down to the same thing, when you totaled the ounces and the different ways portions were calculated.

I am going to (try and) apply the following guide:
Milk: 2
Fruits: 2
Veggies: 2
Protein/Beans: 2
Grains: 4

2-2-2-2-4 is the name of the game.

A portion is one cup of raw, 1/2 cup cooked. 2-3 oz of meat. Easy peasy.

More on this tomorrow!

Day One

Happy New Year! I am starting today! Last night my daughter had a GREAT party!  We slept in and I didn't get my day started until 10. Usually it is 7:30 am.

Let's begin.

For breakfast I followed the breakfast card. I selected cottage cheese for the protein, applesauce in the fruit compartment (I added cinnamon sugar since it was unsweetened and I wasn't using the jelly allotment), English Muffin with light cream cheese, 1/2 tablespoon on each slice, and coffee.

For lunch, and since it was football and a Bigfoot marathon on tv, and the husband wanted something light, I made baked caprese salad. Watch Giada make it here:
Video: Incredible Baked Caprese Salad

I make it slightly differently. I chop the tomatoes and shred the mozzarella. It makes this dish easier to eat. I only had two. The ones I made for the mister, I added chopped ham. I also use dried basil.

For dinner - leftovers. I filled the meat section with grilled pork, the starch is mac and cheese, the veggie is broccoli and the fruit is Waldorf Salad. I added a lettuce and tomato salad with a light vinagrette and to drink, some milk.

I think Waldorf Salad is FANTASTIC!!! My mom would make it occasionally and I thought it was such a treat. I have a very light hand on the mayo - it was much less than the fats I could use with this card. I have found this salad to create quite the little controversy. You either love it or hate it. I fall in the love camp. I really cannot understand what's not to love!

And so the journey begins!

Welcome!

I was inspired by the 365crockpot blog a year of slow cooking. In 2008 she committed to using her Crockpot each day.

Well, I am committing to using my perfect portions plate for each meal each day for 2012. I will track my process here.

What is this plate of which I speak? I am glad you asked!

The plate has compartments for meat,  veggies, fruits, starches, fats. Each meal is on the cards and you fill the compartments accordingly. 

There used to be a website that corresponded to this plate and gave instructions. (I cannot find my instruction book!) The website where you can buy this says it is dishwasher and microwave safe. HA! Not true. Mine is all cracked. I am using it as a measuring device so there's that.

Welcome to my journey!