Chicken Marsala Recipe: Featuring Campbell's Skillet Sauces

Super Simple Chicken Marsala Dinner Recipe:

Ingredients

• 1.5lbs Boneless Skinless Chicken
• 1 pack of Campbell's Marsala Skillet Sauces (see more after recipe)
• 10 oz Fresh Mushrooms
• 1 bag of Uncle Ben's Ready Rice- Whole Grain Brown 
• 3oz Fresh Green Beans

 

Directions:

1. In a large skillet brown chicken with Pam. (I like Pam with Olive Oil.)
2. Add mushrooms and let steam with skillet lid for about 5 minuets, until mushrooms soften.
3. Add bag of skillet sauce. Let simmer.
4. Heat Green Beans to your liking. I steam mine in the microwave.
5. Heat rice as directed on package.
6. Serve and enjoy!

 

Serves 4 

440 calories for full meal 

Yum!

 

The full line of Campbell's Skillet Sauces are a must try. They are super easy ways to make tasty meals any day of the week! They latterly take 20 minuets. Just add your choice of meat or fish, and serving with brown rice for wholegrain pasta and veggies. Get a Coupon Here.  Choose from the following choices:

• Marsala with Mushroom and Garlic (60 calories per serving)
• Creamy Chipotle with Roasted Corn and Black Beans (70 calories per serving)
• Fire Roasted Tomato with Red Bell Peppers and Chiles (35 calories per serving)
• Scampi with White Wine and Garlic (70 calories per serving)
• Thai Green Curry with Lemongrass and Garlic (70 calories per serving)
• Toasted Sesame with Garlic and Ginger (40 calories per serving) 

Global Peace- A Frisco Coffee Hidden Gem

Global Peace Coffee Factory is an awesome hidden gem among my co-workers, so I needed to check it out. Their Legacy and 121 location is somewhat off the beaten path from our usual Plano/North Dallas eateries, but worth the easy drive up Legacy any day of the week. Besides, who doesn't love great coffee- near or far, hot or cold! 

Here are some of the highlights:

- I absolutely love Guilt-Free Coffee choices! Get your latte, drip coffee or frappe made with one of their sugar free syrups for zero added calories. Choose from SF Vanilla, SF Hazelnut, or SF Carmel. Awesome! All too often, non chain coffee shops have no SF syrups, or only vanilla, so I found this impressive. I had an iced coffee with SF Hazelnut, skim milk and Splenda- delicious! Estimated calorie count: 20 calories for the milk. 

- The Orange Decor is super fun and cheerful. I also loved the 'hidden' seating upstairs. What an adorable atmosphere! Plus, each booth has an electric outlet, so charge your device over a guilt-free coffee! + free wi-fi!

- Build your own guilt-free breakfast sandwich for only $3.99! This is great. First choose your bread: English muffin, bagel thin or tortilla (all great options estimated at 120 calories each to be safe. Stay away from the croissant, who needs it! Plus it costs extra!) Second, choose your meat: go with the turkey or turkey bacon. Yum! Or choose both for extra protein and only 75 cents more! (Estimated 40 calories each to be safe.) Third, choose your cheese: Swiss, Cheddar, or Provolone. At most places, I would skip the cheese, but this time- I figured I could splurge since the sandwich and coffee is already a great choice, plus-I just finished Zumba :). (Estimated 70 calories each.) Side Note: I also asked for egg whites. No problem and no up charge- Way to go Global Peace! So... Bagel Thin Sandwich with egg whites, turkey and provolone: estimated 260 calories! And yummy, of course! My husband went with the Tortilla, turkey slices, turkey bacon, egg and cheddar: estimated 330 calories. Mix and match to create a sandwich you will love! 

Now, I believe there use to be a Plano location on Park and Preston- but it's gone. Lame! So, instead- make your way to Frisco one day soon for this great, guilt-free find!

Smart Menu at OTB!

Of course every Texas girl loves good tex-mex, margaritas and chips and salsa... And I must say, I am LOVING the new On The Border "Border Smart" menu, featuring great choices at 590 calories or less- leaving you extra calories for chips and a skinny margarita!

I think the best bet is to create your own combo! 

First, pick two main dishes:

- Ground Beef Tostada: 180 calories

- Chicken Tinga Tostada: 140 calories

- Guacamole Tostada: 200 calories

-  Chicken Tomatillo Enchilada: 140 calories

- Spinach & Mushroom Tomatillo Enchilada: 120 calories

- Grilled Chicken Fajita Taco: 150 calories 

Second, choose a side:

- Black beans: 170 calories

- Cilantro lime rice: 190 calories

- Grilled vegetables: 50 calories 

*I had one spinach enchilada and one with chicken plus grilled veggies. Only 310 calories! It was a bit spicy, but filling and really tasty. BONUS: One basket of chips with salsa is 440 calories, so have a few before your meal with a Skinny Margarita, and you're only taking in roughly 600 calories for a yummy Mexican dinner! You really can't beat that! Impressive OTB! I love how you can mix-and-match these combos and try something different every time! You really can't go wrong with the great choices. 

Other choices on the "Border Choice" menu include:

- Grilled Chicken Fajita Tacos: 

two grilled chicken tacos, pico de gallo, lime-cilantro chimichurri, soft corn tortillas — served with choice of black beans (480 calorie meal), cilantro lime rice (500 calorie meal) or grilled vegetables (360 calorie meal).

- Mango Chicken Salad: (400 calories) romaine, grilled chicken, corn, black beans, mango, jícama, pico de gallo, queso fresco and fat-free mango citrus vinaigrette. Honestly, not my favorite dish, but worth a try! 

- Grilled Chicken Fajitas: (550 calories) grilled chicken, sautéed onions, red & green bell peppers — served with black beans, shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole, white corn tortillas

- Mexican Grilled Chicken: (450 calories) chicken breast, pico de gallo and choice of sauce — cilantro lime rice, grilled vegetables

tomatillo sauce spicy salsa fresca

Way to Go OTB! Loving this menu! 

New Restaurant Finds!

Eating out guilt free can be rough, so I'm always on the lookout for new choices. Wether it's breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner...I get excited about new places that post nutrition facts publicly and/or feature light menu options. Here are two new finds with healthy choices:

Breakfast/Brunch: Dream Cafe

http://www.thedreamcafe.com

Location: Addison and Downtown

The dream cafe is technically open all day, but since I LOVED their brunch, I'm featuring it. What's awesome about their menu is that you can order from the heathly choice options, or create your own meal with lots of guilt free swaps. 

Their Weekend Bunch healthy menu options include an Oatmeal Bowl with bananas, currants, pecans and brown sugar, a Granola Bowl with strawberries, bananas and vanilla yogurt, and their "Way to Condition" 

meal which includes a cup of oatmeal with bananas, pecans and currants, scrambled egg whites, sliced tomatoes, and vegetarian sausage... Yum! 

While these choice are great... I feel oatmeal can be a waste of calories sometimes. Instead, I ordered the delicious "Strap Hanger" with Two eggs, sub for egg whites, a fruit cup substituted as the side, whole wheat toast (with strawberry butter- worth the splurge!) and vegetarian sausage. Estimated calorie count: 430 calories! 

*see pictured

Heading to the cafe for a different meal? The lunch and dinner menu features a "smart choices" section with grilled chicken options featuring fresh veggies and black beans in a salad and a stir fry with brown rice- yum! See the full menu on their website. 

Lunch/Dinner: Pollo Tropical

http://pollotropical.com

Location: Addison and coming soon to Frisco

I was super intrigued by the fun-looking building and outdoor patio in Addison, so I was stoked to find out they also had a light menu with five meals under 510 calories.

The Pollo Tropical Tropical Lite Menu lineup includes:

-Tropical Citrus Chicken Salad: citrus-marinated grilled chicken with a mango poppyseed dressing and fresh lettuce. Only 360 calories.  

-Grilled Chicken Breast with Yellow Rice, Vegetables & Balsamic Tomatoes. I order this (see pictured) and loved it! Only 430 calories!

- Chicken Caesar Wrap & Caribbean Soup for only 480 calories!

-Quarter Citrus-Marinated Grilled Chicken paired with a Tropical Citrus Salad topped with a Mango Poppy Seed dressing for only 510 calories.

-The Tropichop with half brown rice, half romaine lettuce, chicken, onions, peppers, diced tomatoes and only 340 calories!

In my meal, the chicken was juicy and flavorful, the tomatoes were yummy and the yellow rice with veggies was filling and tasty. Love it!

I highly recommend this meal. I can't wait for the Frisco location to open near my work! 

Keep reading my blog for new food finds and recipes to keep to guilt free! 

Summer BBQ Tips

To celebrate 4th of July weekend, I thought I'd share 4 awesome ideas for fun summer BBQs that are healthy, delicious and festive!

1. Start off with guilt-free grilling! Skip the fatty burgers and high calorie hot dogs, instead- choose these great options: fat free all-beef hot dogs or turkey dogs (I always choose Hebrew National with only 45 calories per dog), Boca Burgers or Turkey Burgers (100-160 calories per patty. I like the Ballpark turkey burgers and the original variety Boca Burger. Both have 120 calories), chicken breast, lean steaks (like the 4oz Nolan Ryan Filet for 120 calories), and pre-seasoned chicken or beef fajita meat is a great choice! I usually go with the Kroger brand (the chicken has 120 calories per 3oz serving and the beef has 160 per 3oz serving).

Another tip here, skip the bun if you can! Who needs extra carbs when you're saving up calories for desserts and cocktails. If you do have bread, choose 100 calorie sandwich thins or hot dog buns with about 100 calories. Kroger hot dog buns have 110 calories each.

2. Offer up healthy choice sides for the outdoor fiesta. Make them fun and festive! The cuter-the healthier-the better. That's my philosophy!

-Fruit kebabs for a colorful party

-Strawberries, blueberries, watermelon and banana slices for the 4th of July. Make them into a flag if you'd like!

-Grilled up veggies for any summer night! Zucchini, squash, corn, carrots, mushrooms... Choose colorful veggies for a beautiful presentation 

-Baked Tortilla Chips and Salsa for a Mexican Fiesta (see #4 below for a margarita tip!)

- Baked Potatoes with low fat cheese, fat free sour cream and spray butter for an evening dinner with steaks. Date Night at home!

3. Something Sweet! 

The healthy dessert options are endless, but here are my 2 favorite choices...

--Ice Cream Sundaes: The perfect way to cool off and guests have fun making their own! Start off with a scoop of low fat or sugar free vanilla ice cream and top with a little of everything. Fresh Fruit, low fat chocolate syrup, a dash of sprinkles, a few crushed nuts, fat free whipped cream and a cherry on top! Stay clear of candies or crushed cookies.... The toppings above will fill you up just fine! 

--Popsicles: Fun, colorful and sugar free Popsicles are usually cheep and yummy, plus- it's one less thing to make! Look for fruity flavored pops with 10-20 calories each. Awesome! Here is a fun Pinterest tip (that can also add to any party theme): add a cupcake liner to the bottom of your pops to prevent a spill or sticky fingers! Love it!

4. Cocktails- crystal light style!

I absolutely love all three mock-tail flavors in the summer! Stir up a fresh pitcher of margarita crystal light with tequila, appletini with vodka, or mojito with vodka! Each mix has 5 calories per 8oz. + the liquor of course. A 3oz tequila or vodka shot is roughly 70 calories. I also highly suggest enjoying them in a super fun and colorful summer glass! 

Happy Summer!

New Food Finds!

Three new food finds you must try!

1. Joseph's Mini Flax, Oat Bran & Whole Wheat Pita Bread: I found these adorable 50 calories mini pita pockets at Walmart. They are perfect for a sandwich of course, but I also used them to make mini pizzas in the toaster oven! While they are small, they are perfect for a snack-size turkey sandwich when you need a pick me up! When you add a little lettuce and tomato, you're looking at a great snack for about 100 calories! 

2. Ballpark Turkey Burgers: Perfect for grilling season, these 120 calorie, protein packed burgers come frozen and pre-cooked, making them so easy to make! I found them at Costco. Since they are pre-cooked, you can zap one in the microwave when your come home from work late, bake in the oven or heat up on the grill! I enjoyed mine on a 100 calorie sandwich thin with lettuce and tomato and a side of Alexia Fat Free French Fries (100 calories for 12 fries) -available at Target.

3. Earth's Best Baked Chicken Nuggets: While they are great for kids, adults can love them too! Enjoy 6 yummy nuggets for 180 calories- not bad! I found these at Sprouts. The whole grain breaded bites are also packed with protein making them a great lunch or dinner choice. Like the turkey burger, I matched these up with Alexia Fat Free French Fries. Move over greasy fat food!

Stay turned for more great food finds!

Dallas Sporting Events: Guilt-Free Survival Guide!

Summertime in Dallas is all about great Ranger's Baseball at the Global Life Ballpark and awesome concerts and events at the American Airlines Center. (Not to mention the NBA Mav's Playoffs... On a good year!)

Here are some great tips for guilt-free snacking at the American Airlines Center and the Global Life Ballpark.

The American Airlines Center: Perfect eats and drinks for cheering on the Mavs, rooting for the Stars or rocking out to a great concert.

- The So-So Choice: Taco Bueno located outside of section 105 and 117. Not everything is healthy, but in comparison to the other arena options, it's not the worst choice and you know exactly how many calories you're taking in. Go for a Crunchy Beef Taco (or 2). They have 210 calories each. Not bad!

-The Best Choice: Look for the Market-to-go Cart located outside of section 105. They offer Deli Sandwiches, a Grilled Chicken Salad Sandwich, and a Grilled Vegetable Wrap (pictured- I had it it. It was pretty good. A little messy. I'd estimate it at 400 calories max. The wrap was $6.00 - not bad. The flour tortilla was filled with grilled zucchini, squash, onions,  peppers, and cabbage with a smoked tomato dressing.) The grab-and-go cart also had veggie and fruit cups- awesome!                                                                                                                

- My Best Advice: Skip the nachos, burgers and fries. Instead, look for packaged items with calories counts. Good choices are located all over the arena and include Lemon Chills (220 calories per serving), Sun Chips (210-230 calories per bag), fruit candies (like twizlers or skittles), and frozen ice cream pops like the Rainbow Pop for 110 calories - yum!

The Global Life Ballpark: Don't strike out with calories while cheering on the Rangers! Instead, enjoy a low-cal Michelobe Ultra on a hot day, and some great snacks!

- The So-So Choice: A hot pretzel or cotton candy. They are easy to find, and not awful! Either snack will run you an estimated 200-250 calories.

- The Best Choice: Look for the Centerfield Market located behind centerfield. Inside that "convenient store" concessions building I found fruit and veggie cups, gluten free hot dogs, Cracker Jacks (only 240 calories for this traditional baseball snack!), 70-calorie beef jerky packs and more! Lots of great options. I really enjoyed the fruit cup with strawberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, and pineapple- yummy and refreshing! 

- My best advice: Skip the giant hot dog and sugary frozen margaritas. Instead (like the AAC), find the packaged snacks with nutrition labels. The pistachios were an awesome find! The big bag had three 160 calorie servings, so share with friends! I also spotted baked lays at a lot of different concession stands in the ballpark, so be on the lookout for those too! 

All-in-all, it's not hard to enjoy a great game and great eats without feeling guilty. You just need to scope out these great finds! Happy Hunting!

Go Mavs!

Go Stars!

Go Rangers! 

Red Lobster's "Mix and Match" Lighthouse Menu

Red Lobster's Lighthouse Menu features awesome mix and match options to create a guilt-free and healthy dining out experience that's tasty, filling, and high in omega 3-sounds good to me!

First- choose a main dish (all options include steamed broccoli in the calorie count).

1. Wood-Grilled Fresh Salmon

290 cal, 10g fat

2. Wood-Grilled Fresh Tilapia 

190 cal, 5.5g fat

3. Wood-Grilled Fresh Rainbow Trout 

200 cal, 9g fat

4. Rock Lobster Tail

210 cal, 2g fat

Then, pick a side:

(Or sub broccoli for a different side combo, and subtract 40 calories from the above count)

1. Roasted Vegetable Medley

40cal, 1g fat

2. Green Beans

50 cal, 1.5g fat

3. Fresh Asparagus 

60 cal, 3g fat

4. Fresh Broccoli

40cal, 0g fat

Plus, your meal includes a side salad (100 calories) to start. Ask for it with vinaigrette dressing (50 calories).

And, why not enjoy a cheddar biscuit too? They are crazy good! Each biscuit has 150 calories, so enjoy every bite!

Looking for an appetizer to share? Indulge in the Chilled jumbo Shrimp Cocktail- Only 120 calories, so share a few with the table! 

My meal pick (featured below):

Side salad with vinaigrette dressing, Grilled Tilapia, broccoli, vegetable medley, and a cheddar biscuit- total calorie count for the meal: 530 calories- Not too bad at all!   

Get Smart with DD Smart

Add Dunkin' Donuts breakfast to your to do list! Not only do they offer great coffee, but their coffee comes in lots of great sugarfree flavors, and they have a fantastic DD Smart menu!

My morning go to coffee choice is a medium hot or iced coffee with hazelnut, skim milk and Splenda for only 40 calories. There is a laundry list of non-sweetened flavors you can add to your coffee for no additional calories including blueberry, caramel, cinnamon, coconut, French vanilla, hazelnut, raspberry, and toasted almond.

By the way, Dunkin is offering free coffee every Monday through May 12th, so stop by soon!

The DD smart menu has lots of great options as well. My personal favorite is an egg white and turkey sausage flatbread sandwich with cheese. This delicious and filling breakfast is only 280 calories. The egg white and turkey sausage wake-up wrap is only 150 calories. It tastes delicious, but it is not that filling, so you may want to pair it with a fruit for a healthy and protein heavy breakfast. If you are a big fan of the McDonald's Egg McMuffin, instead try the DD smart egg white and turkey sausage sandwich on an English muffin with cheese for 390 calories. 

Other DD smart options:

- Egg and cheese on an English muffin (240 calories)

- Ham egg and cheese on an English muffin (280 calories)

- Sliced turkey breakfast sandwich (310 calories) 

- Egg white veggie flatbread (280 calories) 

- Whole wheat bagel (320 calories)

Americans who love guilt-free breakfast choices run on Dunkin! 

Sub in a Tub!

I absolutely love the idea of Jersey Mike's "Sub in a Tub!" What a fun way to enjoy their delicious deli meats and cheeses with little to no carbs! When you order your Sub in a Tub, you get the freshly sliced deli meat and/or cheese of your choice over a bed of shredded lettuce and topped with the veggies and sauces of your choice! Most options are under 300 calories! Plus, there's no extra charge. I hate when restaurants charge you extra for the healthiest choice on the menu!

I went with the turkey and provolone sub option (235 calories- I estimated mine at 250 calories with the honey mustard and extra veggies.) Choose from lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, and jalapeños. I love how the meat and cheese is fresh and thinly sliced right in front of you. That really sets Jersey Mike's apart from its competition! Pair your Sub in a Tub with a bag of Baked Lays and a Diet Coke for an added 130 calories. 

Other then the turkey and provolone option, there are more great options on the menu for under 300 calories.

-BLT Sub in a Tub: 280 calories

-Jersey Shore Favorite Sub in a Tub : 270 calories  

(Ham, Provolone, and Cappauolo)

-American Classic Sub in a Tub: 270 calories 

(Ham and Provolone)

-Super Sub in a Tub: 290 calories

(Ham, Provolone, Prosciuttini and Cappacuolo)

BJ's Enlightened Picks

Become enlightened by the new items (and classics) available on the Enlightened Entrées menu at BJ's Brewhouse. While my ordering tips below also include low-cal options off the fun, guilt-free menu, everything on lighter menu contains 795 calories or less. Honestly, I find that calorie count really high, so I'd stick to the options under 600. 

Cocktails:

Three Enlightened Cocktail choices under 130 calories- all served in a pretty big glass! 

- Skinny Rita: Tequila, Agave, Lime, and Orange. The orange makes it really good!

-Mojito Lite: Bacardi Rum, Sugar Free Triple Sec, Fresh Lime and Mint, and Club Soda. I loved the taste! Highly Recommend.

-Guilt-Free Cosmo: (not my thing, so I didn't try it) Vodka, Sugar Free Triple Sec, Cranberry Juice, Lemon and Lime.

- or, you can always go with a classic vodka and club soda with lemon and lime!

Shareable Appetizers/Small Bites:

There aren't any listed on the menu, but here my top, guilt free picks.

-Ahi Poke: 420 calories for the full order. Delicious ahi tuna with onions, diced avocados and wonton chips.

-Flatbread Pizzas: 90-110 Calories per slice. Choose from 4 options- California Club, Margarita, Roasted Veggie, Extreme Pepperoni

-Stuffed Spinach Mushrooms: 230 for the full order (includes 6). These are really good! - My top pick!

Giant Mushrooms filled with Spinach and Artichoke Dip, feta cheese, red onions, bread crumbs and parmesan cheese, then topped with a drizzle of lemon pesto sauce.

Enlightened Entrees:

(My picks, not the full menu. I omitted  the items that didn't interest me, and ones over 610 calories. View the full menu here: http://www.bjsrestaurants.com/menus/enlightened-entrees)

-Cherry Chipotle Glazed Salmon 

(My top pick! Great taste and filling portion size for the calorie count)

490 Calories

Oven roasted Atlantic salmon topped with a cherry chipotle glaze, roasted asparagus and tomato spinach couscous. 

-Seared Ahi Salad 

(My friend ordered this, and really enjoyed it! The size was filling and the Ahi tuna was well-done... In a good way!)

490 Calories

Baby field greens, cabbage, romaine and red bell peppers tossed with rice wine vinaigrette. With tomatoes, avocado, pickled cucumber, cilantro, wasabi, crisp wonton strips and green onions. 

-Hawaiian Mahi-Mahi 

(Love it! My go-to choice... Until I tried the cherry salmon above- but still yummy!)

420 Calories

Oven roasted mahi-mahi served over stir-fried vegetables and roasted pineapple fried rice mixed with a spicy soy ginger sauce then topped with snow peas, red bell peppers and sesame seeds.

-Honey Lime Seared Scallops 

(Very tasty, but a small portion. A good choice if you share a few appetizers first, or want an extra cocktail!)

350 Calories

Seared scallops topped with tomato, basil and honey lime vinaigrette. Served with oven roasted asparagus and garlic seasoned brown rice.

-Lemon Thyme Chicken 

(Just over 600 calories, so I kept it on my list. I hope to try it soon.)

610 Calories

Herb-roasted chicken breast served over brown rice, topped with sautéed onions, tomatoes and Brussels sprouts in lemon thyme sauce. 

-Moroccan Spiced Salmon 

(Next on my to-try list!)

500 Calories

Oven roasted salmon with a savory blend of spices, served over roasted vegetable couscous. Topped with pickled cucumbers, red onions, toasted almonds and green onions and drizzled with red pepper sauce.

Desserts:

BJ's is famous for their Pizzookie... If the table orders one to share, have a small bite to taste... The whole thing is around 1,100 calories- depending on the flavor. Eek!!! 

Instead, have a scoop of ice cream, a second cocktail, or suggest going out for fro-yo! 

All in all, a great guilt-free eating out option for date night, family night, or out with friends! They have lots of options, which I love, and their site lists all the nutrition facts- awesome! 

All the Taste. Half the Fat.

Don't say no to ice cream, say hello to the many DELICIOUS flavors of Dreyer's Slow Churned. All the Taste. Half the Fat. 1/3 the calories of regular ice cream. Here's to dessert!!

My Top 5 Favorite Flavors:

1. Cookie Dough: creamy vanilla light ice cream loaded with cookie dough pieces and chocolate chips.

130 calories per 1/2 cup serving

2. Mint Cookie Crunch: mint light ice cream with chunks of chocolate cookies.

120 calories per 1/2 cup serving

3. Nestlé Drumstick Sundae Cone: vanilla light ice cream swirled with fudge, chocolate coated peanuts and cone pieces.

120 calories per 1/2 cup serving

4. Peanut Butter Cup: vanilla light ice cream with chocolate peanut butter cups and peanut butter swirls.

130 calories per 1/2 cup serving 

5. No Sugar Added Fudge Tracks with Splenda: fudge swirled vanilla light ice cream with mini peanut butter cups

110 calories per 1/2 cup serving

  

BOUNS: Limited Time Only-  Cinnamon Bun: vanilla light ice cream with cinnamon bun swirls. Only in stores until the end of April- so get it soon! I found it at Target!

110 calories per 1/2 cup serving

  

  

  

  

NEW (and free!) Diet Cherry Coke Slurpee

Delicious, low calorie, and free...! You can't go wrong with that! Stop by your closest 7-11 today and try the new Diet Cherry Coke Slurpee! It was delicious, and only 25 calories per 20oz serving - awesome! 

Plus, download the 7-11 app or text DIETCOKE to 711711 for a free small Diet Cherry Coke Slurpee!

I know it's cold again here in crazy Texas, but a low-cal Slurpee is still a great afternoon pick me up!

Crock Pot Chili Recipe

Heat up on a cold night with this lean beef, crock pot chili recipe!

Yeilds 5 servings at 350 calories

- 16oz package Laura's 96% Fat Free Lean Beef 

- 1 Packet Crockpot Chili Mix

- 2 cans low sodium kidney beans 

- 2 cans diced tomatoes

- 1 can tomato sauce 

Super Simple Instructions: First brown meat until fully cooked, then mix all ingredients in the crock pot and cook on low for about 8 hrs. Serve with baked tortilla chips! 

Enjoy!

Fun Mini-Taco Salads

Fun Mini-Taco Salads

Make these fun mexi-treats for dinner, snacks, or even appetizers for the upcoming Super Bowl! 

Recipe yield 18 Mini Taco Salads

75 calories each

(Depending on toppings you like)

Ingredients:

-18 Wonton Wrappers 

-1 can Fat Free Refried Beans

-1 package Morning Star Crumbles

-Taco Seasoning 

-Shredded Lettuce 

-Pico 

-Fat Free Sour Cream (optional)

-Fat Free Shredded Cheese (optional) 

Directions:

-Preheat oven to 375

-Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray and insert a wonton wrapper into each muffin hole.

-Place pan in oven while it preheats

-Meanwhile, brown Morning Star Crumbles with Taco Seasoning. Set aside. 

-Remove pan from oven.

-Fill each wrapper with one spoonful of beans and one spoonful of crumbles 

-Bake for 15 mins. 

-Remove from oven. Top with cheese, sour cream, pico, and lettuce. 

Enjoy your Fiesta Taco Salads! 

New "Light" Menus!

Looking for some new eating out options? 2014 seems to be the year of the new "light menu" at all kinds of restaurants. No argument from me! Here are some new finds I recently tried... (In additional to the restaurants below, stay turned for details on the new Maggianos light menu!)

Denny's:

Perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner- I am totally digging the "Build your own Gram Slam" menu at Denny's. The menu features 300 ways to mix and match breakfast options to enjoy a meal under 500 calories. So many possibilities! I went with a high protein meal featuring egg whites, turkey bacon, chicken sausage and fruit parfait (served in a fancy parfait glass!) for under 300 calories. Next time I may splurge for the whole wheat pancakes or oatmeal. The menu is awesome because it lists all of the options with calorie counts! Not in the mood for breakfast food? No problem! Try something off the "Fit Fare" menu! These are my favorite pics:

- Cranberry Apple Chicken Salad: 450 calories 

- Chicken Avocado Sandwich with Fresh Veggies: 490 calories

- Alaska Salmon with Whole-Grain Rice and Steamed Broccoli: 500 calories 

California Pizza Kitchen:

CPK just launched their "Light Adventures" Menu- which is great since most items on their menu are not very healthy. I tried the Shrimp Scampi Zucchini Fettuccine, and it was absolutely delicious!! For only 470 calories, the meal featured fettuccine-shaped pasta mixed in with zucchini cut into thin slices to look like fettuccine- how clever- covered in an Alfredo-like sauce with fresh shrimp. I really enjoyed it! See the photo below! Other items on the menu include:

- Quinoa and Arugula Salad: 590 calories 

- Fire Roasted Chili Relleno: 420 calories 

- Grilled Chicken Chimichurri: 460 calories 

- Cedar Plank Salmon: 650 calories 

Enstein's Bagels:

The new "Thintastic Bagels" menu from Einstein's is just awesome. Enjoy at lunch or dinner! Try the Southwest Turkey-Sausage and Egg White Sandwich for only 350 calories, or the Asparagus, Mushroom, and Swiss Cheese with Egg Whites Sandwich for only 270 calories. Both are great! For more of a lunch choice, try the Tuscan Chicken Pesto Sandwich for 340 calories, or the Bagel Thin Club Sandwich for 360 calories (less if you ditch the bacon!). When paired up with a fruit cup or a bag of baked Lays, any of these sandwiches make a great meal option! 

Olive Garden:

While the Olive Garden "Garden Fare" menu isn't new, it's a great go to, and it includes new items! I love the Baked Tilapia and Shrimp dish- only 340 calories and high in protein! Since it's so low in calories, it's a great way to also enjoy a 140 calorie breadstick before dinner and salad (ask for the light dressing) or minestrone soup- both are 100 calories. I usually go with the soup! Other yummy choices:

- Garlic Rosemary Chicken served with Mashed Potatoes and Spinach: 560 calories 

- Venetian Apricot Chicken with Asparagus: 420 calories

- Lasagna Primavera with Grilled Chicken: 560 calories  

- Herb-Grilled Salmon with Broccoli: 520 calories 

... And more! 

Where will you be dining?

Outback Steakhouse Picks

Let me start off by saying that usually, I'm not a steak eater. In fact, I often stay away from red meat in general... However, when I can order a juicy 6oz sirloin with steamed veggies, and a crisp salad with tangy vinigarette dressing for under 550 calories and only $10.99... I'm in! Hello Outback Steakhouse!

Outback's menu features a great "Under 600 Calories" menu. Choose from Meals like Grilled Chicken on the Barbie, the 6oz Sirloin, Perfectly Grilled Salmon, Shrimp on the Barbie, and Grilled Mahi-Mahi. Pair your main dish with mixed veggies, steamed broccoli, or grilled asparagus PLUS a side salad (without cheese if you want to save 30-40 calories) and their Tangy Tomato Dressing.

You can mix and match main dishes and sides easily on their website with a handy dandy nutrition calculator to create the perfect meal for you! My DELICIOUS 6oz sirloin with mixed veggies, a house salad with tangy dressing clocked in at 523 calories! It was really tasty and filling! Highly recommend! 

Now- some additional Outback Steakhouse callouts: First, their menu has 2 under 150 calorie cocktails- a skinny margarita and a cosmo made with Skinny Girl Vodka (fun!). They are on my "to try" list! Second, if you need something sweet after dinner, their menu offers cake pops that aren't too high in calories. Personally, I'd rather save those 200 calories for something bigger at home from the grocery store, but not a bad option for a restaurant dessert. Finally, I'll point out that Outback's bread is pretty good, and it hard not to eat it! One loaf has an estimated 200-250 calories- without butter, so feel free to cut yourself a skinny slice or two! 

The Egg and I: Restaurant Picks

The Egg and I is our go-to brunch choice- mainly because there's one in walking distance from our house, and they offer healthy breakfast options. Not to mention the staff is very friendly!

My usual breakfast pick is the Eggs Plus (with scrambled egg beaters, sub potatoes for a fruit cup and an English Muffin- dry: 255 calories or 6 WW points + the 35 calories of jelly and 20-ish calories of skim milk for my coffee.... Kind of boring, but still filling and tasty!

However, this trip to The Egg and I had a special "limited time only" menu option that was delicious! So delicious in fact, that I'm already looking forward to going back. The Catalina Omelette features an open face egg white omelette topped with sliced turkey, diced tomatoes, diced avocado, mozzarella cheese, and pesto served with a side of fresh fruit and an English Muffin (make sure you ask for it dry)- all for only 463 calories- awesome!! Note- I do not have the full nutrition facts for this new item to correctly calculate, but I'd estimate it at 9 WW points. (Add 35 calories if you use a jelly pack on your muffin.)

It was delicious and very filling. The pesto and avocado really help the flavor pop! Plus, my fruit cup had juicy strawberries, plump blueberries and grapes, tart apple slices, and fresh pineapple- yum!  Even our waitress commented on how much she liked the meal. But, it's only available for a limited time, so don't miss out on this New Year's guilt-free breakfast (or brunch) choice!

The Egg and I also has a Smarter Choices Menu with other omelettes, yogurt, oatmeal and more. You can customize and calculate your meal online with their handy dandy nutrition calculator- awesome! More restaurants should have that!    

http://www.theeggandirestaurants.com/nutrition/nutracalc2.html