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!

Light Casserole

I like to make my lunch for the week on Sunday. I am so blue that my Crockpot suddenly passed away! So I have turned my attention to casserole making. Light casserole making. This casserole should last the week.

I wanted it heavy on the veggies and light on salt and sauce. I think I have succeeded. First, blanch the two carrots and one potato.  The Casserole Queens say blanch for three minutes. I needed six. Shock the veggies. Drain. Drain and rinse the can of green beans. Then, saute the celery, onion, and then add the garlic. Add the chicken dusted with thyme and pepper . I used a boneless, skinless breast. Cooked that for two minutes on each side. Cut into cubes.  Now assemble!

I dumped all the stuff in my casserole. The carrots, potato, minute rice (had a little leftover), green beans, cut chicken, onions, celery, garlic, bay leaf,  1/2 can cheddar cheese soup, some chicken stock, milk. Mix. Add panko crumbs and grated Parmesan on top. Bake for 1/2 hour on 350 with the lid. Remove lid for 15 minutes. (Total 45 minutes). Let the casserole rest 1/2 hour after taking it out of the oven.

The only salt came from the soup and the salted water I blanched the carrots and potato in.

Soooo one chicken breast, one potato, lots of veggies, 1/2 can of soup over 5 days.

Not too bad.

Days 6,7,8,9,10!

Wow! I have not posted in a few days. The reasons for that are many and storied.

The fridge is still on the fritz.

The dryer is still blowing cold.

The kids had their social studies fair projects due on the 9th.

Noooooooooooooooooooooo! /Darth Vader voice off

I was up until 3 am on the 8th.

I am still tired! !

More to follow.

By the way, I have lost 6 pounds!

Day Six

No breakfast again. Brought the kids to school. Again.

Since lunch was brought in yesterday, I had yesterday's lunch today. Still very good!

Chicken soup, salad,  milk, fruit.

The chicken soup has ALL the food I need.

(Insert Lucy whine here)

I.want.more.junk.

Dinner was grilled chicken YUMMY! Leftover cheesy potatoes.

I am WAY behind on fruit.

Day Five

The on going saga of the fridge.

We are trying to finish stuff before it turns. The "new" used fridge doesn't seem to be cooling like it should.

So our meals are designed around that.

For breakfast, grapefruit. Only.

I had a nice lunch planned, but the boss had lunch sent in from Panera. I had a sandwich half and salad.

For dinner, country rib, cheesy potato, broccoli, fruit, salad, and diet ginger ale.

We need our fridge back!!!

Day Four

Sigh. I didn't sleep well and it is cold here. We get an early call to take the kids to school. Sigh.

At least this morning I had an English Muffin!

Lunch was the chicken soup, but for the starch I split potato and croutons. I had my milk.

Dinner was sloppy joe, potato, broccoli.

Notice I still need my have my fruit!!!

If I get hungry, get the fruit!!!!

I am hungry and I am about to make lunch for tomorrow. I already know I need to take the kids to school. Brrrrrr!

Maybe tomorrow I will reveal my (terrible) start weight.  If I lose 8-10 pounds this month,  success!

No photos today!

Day Three

Well, this is the first day back to work after Christmas vacation.

Needless to say, I was running just a bit behind.

Needless to say, I missed breakfast!

One if my goals using this plate is to eat normally. I eat right, just TOO MUCH. And, I don't want to be on a "diet". This is my food my way.

So for lunch, I measured the chicken in the meat compartment, red,  yellow, and orange peppers and Bermuda onions (thawed from the veggies I saved fresh) in the veggie compartment, the last of the rice in carb compartment, and Waldorf salad for the fruit.

I dumped everything but the fruit in my vintage Tupperware Pak-n-Carry lunch containers, added homemade stock to the meat, veggies, and rice, added a salad and milk.

I packed it all in my Marvin the Martian lunch box and off I went!

The plan tonight was to take the kids to the library to work on their projects. I got home too late.

Just a light dinner!

To be honest, I am hungry!!!!!

Shortly, I will share my start weight to track my progress.