Bikini Week – Day One: Pack A Lunch
1 Comment | Written on June 21, 2010 at 5:00 am , by Kristina Vanni
It’s officially the first day of summer! There are so many wonderful things to look forward to this time of year and yet there is one aspect that can fill us with dread – swimsuit shopping! In honor of swimsuit season, I have decided to dedicate this first week of summer to serving up figure friendly recipes and healthy living tips. Get ready for “Bikini Week!”
Today I wanted to feature the amazing story of a Better Recipes reader, NorwegianShawn, who has recently dropped 18 pounds! Shawn made one simple change in his daily routine – he started packing a lunch rather than eating out each day at work. Whether it is a fast food joint, neighborhood deli or sit-down restaurant, the minute we eat out, calorie counts, fat grams and sodium levels go through the roof. With this one easy adjustment, not only will your waistline soon be smaller, but your wallet will be fatter! In addition to Shawn’s 18 pound weight loss, he estimates that he has saved about $50 per week by not eating out during the week. That’s a total of around $800 since he made the switch to homemade lunches 4 months ago!
Shawn says, “I am not an experienced cook, but I wanted to start eating healthier. I began by looking for ideas here on Better Recipes as well as in the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook ‘Eat Well, Lose Weight.’ The Lunch Box Sub Sandwiches were easy, and I am a bit of a cookie monster so I gave the recipe for low-fat Snickerdoodles a try. Along with some fresh fruit or vegetables and a big bottle of water, I am all set for lunch. It came in under 600 calories and I never felt deprived!”
Can you imagine, losing 18 pounds and gaining $800! Fabulous! Swimsuit season, here I come…
Lunch Box Sub Sandwiches
1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise dressing
1 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard
1/4 cup finely snipped raisins or tart dried cherries
4 low-fat hamburger buns, split
4 slices mozzarella cheese (3/4-ounce per slice)
6 ounces thinly sliced cooked turkey breast
1 medium tomato, thinly sliced
In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise dressing, mustard, and raisins. Spread the bottoms of the buns with the dressing mixture. Top with cheese, turkey, and tomato. Add bun tops. Makes 4 sandwiches.
Nutrition information per sandwich: 301 cal.; 8 g fat (3 g sat.fat); 45 mg chol.; 22 g protein; 34 g carbo.; 2 g fiber; 515 mg sod.; Exchanges: 2 starch, 2.5 medium-fat meat
Snickerdoodles
1/3 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup fat-free dairy sour cream
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
Nonstick cooking spray or parchment paper
2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1. In a large bowl of electric mixer, beat butter for 30 seconds. Add 1 cup granulated sugar, baking powder, nutmeg, and baking soda; beat until combined. Beat in sour cream, egg, and vanilla until combined. Add flour and beat to combine. Cover and chill dough for 1 to 2 hours or until dough is easy to handle.
2. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly coat a baking sheet with nonstick spray or line with parchment paper.
3. In a small bowl, combine the 2 Tablespoons sugar and cinnamon. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll balls in sugar-cinnamon mixture to coat, then place 2-inches apart on prepared baking sheet.
4. Bake cookies for 10-11 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool. Makes 48 cookies.
Nutrition information per cookie: 53 cal.; 1 g fat (1 g sat.fat); 8 mg chol.; 0 g protein; 9 g carbo.; 0 g fiber; 25 mg sod.; Exchanges: 0.5 other carbohydrate
Categories:
Better Recipes, Fast and Fabulous, Fresh and Healthy, On A Budget, Sweet Tooth, Tips and Tricks | Tags: Cookie Recipes, Cookies for Grown-Ups, Cookies for Kids, Dessert Recipes, Easy Recipes, Easy Sandwich Recipes, Healthy Dessert Recipes, Healthy Poultry Recipes, Healthy Recipes, Low-Fat Cookies, Low-Fat Desserts, Low-Fat Recipes, Low-Fat Recipes for Kids
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One Response to “Bikini Week – Day One: Pack A Lunch”
Thank you for the recognition! Weight loss isn’t always an easy journey, but it is the small steps that get you to your goals. Let’s face it, there is nothing better than travelling lighter with more money in the bank.