Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

Recipe Alert!

Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo 

This recipe is my own take on Hungry Girl's Fettuccine Hungry Girlfredo recipe. She makes it with House Foods Tofu Shirataki Fettuccine Shaped Noodle Substitute... I tried them once. I thought they were gross. If you like them, use them- they have practically no calories. Here is a link to her original recipe: http://www.hungry-girl.com/show/pasta-la-vista-fettuccine-hungry-girlfredo-recipe

Instead, I used Fiber Gourmet Pasta (4WW points, 130 calories per serving). You can buy it online or at Sugarless Delight in Richardson.

http://www.fibergourmet.com/

http://www.sugarlessdelite.com/

Or, feel free to use any whole wheat or high fiber pasta. Points or calories for your meal will vary based on the pasta you use.

Additional ingredients based on 1 box of pasta:

3 wedges The Laughing Cow Light Creamy Swiss cheese

6 tsp. reduced-fat Parmesan-style grated topping

3-5 tsp. fat-free sour cream 

If desired, Grilled Chicken (or shrimp)

(Note- measurements may vary. I honestly don't measure the Parmesan cheese and sour cream  too closely. Both ingredients are so low in calories and only 1 WW point each for more then you will need in this recipe.)

Easy Directions:

Boil Pasta

When pasta is really hot, transfer to a big bowl immediately. Mix in all other ingredients. (You may need to microwave if the cheese wedge doesn't melt easily.)

That's it! A simple and delicious alternative to a high in calories and points meal. (Macaroni Grill's Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken is 39 points, or 1130 calories -eek!)

Enjoy this guilt-free dish instead! 

Date Night: PF Chang's Picks

Planning a date night out or dinner with friends? Hit up PF Chang's for a guilt-free dinner that's healthy, fresh and fun! Plus, until August 31st, check out PF Chang's Facebook page for a $10 off $40 coupon. Eric and I used it tonight! https://www.facebook.com/pfchangs

Start your meal off with delicious spring rolls! Surprisingly, these are huge spring rings with awesome stats! 1.5 WW points each (57 calories) yum!! The crispy rolls are filled with lots of veggies and come with a sweet and sour dipping sauce. Skip the sauce- it's not that great. Save those calories for your meal.

In the mood for soup? Enjoy a cup of egg drop or hot and sour before the meal too. Both choices have 2 WW points (60-70 calories) -awesome! Soup is filling too, so make it a great addition to your night out.

On to the main course... I ordered the Buddha's Feast: A huge portion of soy sauce tossed with baked tofu, asparagus, shiitake mushrooms, broccoli and carrots, served steamed or stir-fried. I had it stir-fried (pictured). Half of the meal is 420 calories, 5 WW points without the rice. (Note: You can save about 160 calories by ordering it steamed, but that meal is a bit boring!) If you want, add some brown rice into the mix. 1/2 a cup of brown rice adds 150 (4WW points) to your meal. However, I will say that after a spring roll or 2 and soup, you'll likely be full already and have leftovers to take home. 

Not into tofu? 

(Don't knock it till you try it!)

Here are more good choices:

Moo Goo Gai Pan: 610 calories for the dish before rice, 9WW points. Sliced chicken breast and shrimp served with mushrooms and sliced vegetables in a white sauce

Shanghai Shrimp with Garlic Sauce: 480 calories for the dish before rice- only 6WW points. Shrimp, broccoli and snow peas stir-fried in a light garlic, white wine sauce. 

I'm trying this next time! 

Jason's Deli Wraps

Headed to Jason's Deli for lunch? Skip the salad bar- with the cheeses, fatty dressings, nuts, pasta salads, and mini muffins, you can accidentally create a very unhealthy salad with hundreds of empty calories... Eek! (If you're going to splurge with calories, save them for Happy Hour. Don't waste them on a salad!)

Instead, enjoy one of three delicious wraps with fresh fruit or baked lays! (60 calories, 0 WW points for fruit and 130 calories, 3 WW points for chips.)

Mediterranean Wrap: 320 calories, or 9 WW points (without sides) Organic wheat wrap with turkey breast, roasted red pepper hummus, cucumbers, red onions, kalamata olives, roma tomatoes, organic field greens.

*Pictured* 

Turkey Wrap: 410 calories, or 11 WW points (without sides) Organic wheat wrap with turkey breast, roma tomatoes, organic field greens, guacamole, ranch dressing.

Note- by asking for no ranch dressing you can bring the stats down!

Savvy Chicken Salad Wrap:

350 calories, or 10 WW points (without sides)

Organic wheat wrap with chicken salad made with almonds and pineapple, roma tomatoes, red onions, leafy lettuce.

(I haven't tried this yet, but it sounds yummy! Next time...)

If you love Fro-Yo (like me!) and you have a few spare calories or points for the day, indulge in the free vanilla, chocolate or swirl soft serve ice cream. 160-170 calories or 4 WW points (add 20 calories or 1 WW point if you have a cone) for a 4oz serving. 

Happy Lunching! 

Top "Ate" Cheesecake Day Picks!

Happy National Cheesecake Day!

To celebrate, I thought I'd share my top "ate" guilt-free cheesecake finds. Enjoy them year round! 

1. Smart Ones Raspberry Cheesecake Sundae (130 calories, 4WW points)

2. Skinny Cow Strawberry Cheesecake Ice cream (150 calories, 

4WW points)

3. Hungry Girl's "Yo! Oreo Cheesecake for One" Recipe (174 calories, 4WW Points) http://www.hungry-girl.com/newsletters/raw/1498

4. Hungry Girl's "Cherry-Good Cheesecake" Recipe (1 Slice- 195 calories, 5WW points) http://www.hungry-girl.com/chew/show/2603

5. Jello Temptations Raspberry Cheesecake (130 Calories, 4WW points)  

6. Special K Raspberry Cheesecake Bar (90 calories, 2WW points)

7. Honey Maid Cheesecake Delight Bar (100 calories, 3WW Points

8. Turkey Hill Strawberry Cheesecake  Ice Cream Sandwich (130 calories, 5WW points)

Frisco Breakfast Find - 5th Street Patio Cafe

In the mood for something new? Enjoy breakfast (or brunch) at 5th Street Patio Cafe in Frisco! http://www.5thstreetcafe.com/

After reading the great reviews on Yelp, Eric and I decided to check it out on Saturday morning. Sometimes I hesitate to try new restaurants incase there is not a guilt-free choice, but (as usual...) I was pleasantly surprised with the healthy options at 5th Street Patio Cafe, I highly recommend checking it out!

The catch? There are a lot of temptations on the menu... Captain Crunch French Toast for example. The solution? Have your significant other or friend order that so you can have a bite! 

Start your meal off with a delicious cup of cinnamon coffee! (Freshly brewed and so delicious!) The coffee is already light and sweet, so one creamer and a little Splenda is all you'll need. While you are making your coffee, don't forget to grab a little tub of sugar free Smucker's jelly...which you never find at restaurants, so kuddos to 5th Street Cafe! (That will save you an easy 40-50 calories with your toast!)

I ordered the Mr. Thomas' Breakfast- great meal! High in protein, low in fat, yummy in taste. Enjoy scrambled egg whites, two turkey sausage patties, sliced tomatoes, sliced avocados, and wheat toast. Wow- filling, colorful, and tasty! 

I'll also mention that the cafe is super cute and quirky, so enjoy the ambiance while you eat! 

I don't have exact calculations for the   Mr. Thomas' Breakfast, but I'd estimate it at 8 WW points, or 350-400 calories. 

Happy Brunching!

Review: New Taco Bueno "Bueno Choice" Menu

After reading about the new "Bueno Choice" menu at Taco Bueno, I was excited to check it out. As usual,  I was pleasently surprised by the new, guilt-free options... Especially the Chicken Tortilla Soup. I love finding new guilt free menus!

To start, the Bueno Choice Skinny Bowl is a clever addition to a fast food restaurant's menu. The bowl is very similar to a Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl, but smaller and less expensive. The bowl includes lettuce, black beans, grilled onions and peppers, corn salsa, grilled chicken, and a chipotle citrus dressing (I opted to use salsa instead of the dressing.) For 371 calories,  (who knows how they figured that exact amount out!) the bowl makes a wonderful meal option. Very filling and a super alternative to greasy nachos or a fat-filled not so healthy taco salad. (The Bueno chicken salad has 835 calories- eek!) 

The Bueno Choice tacos are nothing special. Chicken (or beef), lettuce, and pico in a crispy shell or flour tortilla- meh. I'd save the 150 calories (5WW points) for something more exciting in your day. Note- I can't speak for the beef tacos, but if you choose to order the chicken, there are two options: regular and fajita chicken. They are practically the same, so save yourself the 60 cents and opt for the regular.

Finally, the Bueno Choice Chicken Tortilla Soup was the highlight of the menu. It's spicy-beware- but very good. The flavorful base is met by a pretty good amount of juicy chicken. I was pleasantly surprised by this menu item. It's worth going back for.

My advice: For a filling and yummy meal- order the Bueno Choice Skinny Bowl and Bueno Choice Chicken Tortilla Soup. (Roughly 430 calories or 11 WW points for the full meal.  Please note, I can't find the exact nutritional facts for the Skinny Bowl online, so my calculations are an estimate based on Chipolte's stats. If I come across the full nutrition facts, I'll be sure to share.)

It's more Bueno with Bueno Choice! 

Happy National Hot Dog Day!

Happy National Hot Dog Day!

To celebrate, I'm celebrating Hebrew National 97% Fat Free all beef Hot Dogs. These BBQ-friendly franks only have 40 calories each (1WW point) - awesome! 

Fire them up on the grill and enjoy them with:

- Sarah Lee 80 calorie buns (this was a great find at Walmart- who doesn't love guilt free buns?)

-  Sauerkraut... Practically no calories

- Pilsbury Reduced Fat Croissants (rolled up "pigs" in a blanket- a family favorite in my house!)

- Bush's Best Fat Free Vegetarian Baked Beans (130 calories for 1/2 a cup, or 3 WW points)

- Sliced Zucchini fired up on the grill

- Watermelon for dessert on a hot day? Yes please!

Hope you enjoyed a yummy Hot Dog today, and more all summer long.