Power Foods....Are you familiar with them?

Did you know that.......

.......a light multi grain English Muffin counts as a Weight Watchers power food?
Yip, It do.

and............it has.....
5 grams of protein and........
8 grams of fiber, and.......

It is 3 PPV.





Just a reminder. WW power foods are fruits and veggies, nonfat dairy, lean proteins and whole grains. These foods help you to feel fuller longer.

"Power foods are determined by both their ability to be filling (provide eating satisfaction, which keeps you fuller longer) and their impact on health (how their sugar, sodium, saturated fat, total fat, and/or fiber content stack up against that of similar foods)." Weight Watchers

If you fill your daily menu with Power Foods, you are certain to have success!

Protein is key for me in feeling fuller longer. I have been asked why I always eat egg whites.

One Egg has 6 grams of Protein and is 2 WW PPV.

Four Egg Whites have 16 grams of Protein and is only 1 WW PPV.

So.......because I eat eggs often, and I would like to keep my cholesterol at a healthy number, I choose egg whites most often.

I do, on occasion, enjoy a whole egg, and I do love the taste of the yolk.

Here is breakfast......

4 scrambled egg whites
1 slice Kraft 2% Reduced Fat Sharp Cheddar Cheese (torn into pieces)




Cover for just a sec.........




The best creamy and cheesy eggs ever!
And only 2 PPV!




I ate late.....around 9:30, and I knew I wouldn't be able to eat again until about 3:00, so I loaded up!

Toasted English Muffin with Pumpkin Butter (4 PPV)
Eggs and Cheese (2 PPV)
Pineapple and Banana (0 PPV)




Tons of food for 6 PPV!




I am working at the Food Truck, Beauty of the Bistro, on Wednesdays, and The Boom Boom Tacos are one of my favorites!

I brought them home today for lunch, then I disected them to see just how many PPV I thought they might be?

They are pulled pork, with slaw, salsa and a buttermilk yummy goodness on top. I may be over guessing a bit, but I am calling each taco 8 PPV.



I decided to not eat the tortillas, and dumped the best part into a bowl!
10 PPV




No regrets!





I don't know what happened for dinner, but I wasn't hungry. It was weird.

I shared some Green Giant veggies with Mike.
2 PPV





Then I thought I would try some Pineapple and cottage cheese........never had it together......won't have it again. I didn't hate it, I think I just prefer my cottage cheese with tomatoes and cucumber mixed in, rather than fruit.

2PPV





I made the Pumpkin Poppers again. This time I tried really hard to take them from 3 PPV to 2 PPV.

I got them to 1 PPV!

This is the original recipe with my modifications in parentheses.


1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. allspice
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
1/3 cup vegetable oil. (I used 1/3 C lite applesauce)
1/2 cup brown sugar (I used 1/4 C Splenda Brown Sugar)
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 cup pumpkin
1/2 cup milk

For Coating
1 stick unsalted butter, melted (I used 2 Tablespoons)
2/3 cup sugar (I used 1/4 Cup of sugar)
2 tbsp. cinnamon (I reduced this to taste since I used less sugar)

Preheat oven to 350 F and spray mini muffin tins with non-stick cooking spray.

Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and spices in a bowl and whisk until combine.

In another bowl, mix oil, brown sugar, egg, vanilla, pumpkin, and milk. Pour in flour mixture and mix until just combined. Fill mini muffin tins until almost full and bake 10-12 minutes.

(I do not follow the instructions below. I barely dipped the top in melted butter, then lightly dip it in the cinnamon/sugar.)

Melt butter in small bowl. Mix sugar and cinnamon in a separate small bowl. After popper cool for a few minutes, dip them in the butter and roll them in the sugar mixture. Enjoy. :)

1 Pumpkin Popper = 1 PPV!

Combine Dry Ingredients....




Combine wet ingredients.....




Mix together!




The original recipe....I think.....calls for 24 mini muffins, but I stretched it into 30 mini muffins.





Let them cool and dip away........but just a tiny dip!




Aren't they cute?




I actually melted 3 Tablespoons of butter, but poured out what was left over into a Tablespoon, and there was extra!




I think they taste great!




Perfect Fall Treat!




I had to freeze some so I don't eat them all............





Refresh...I can eat 26 points a day.
I can earn Activity Points by doing exercise.
I have an allowance of 49 points that I can dip into if I chose.
I should drink a minimum of 6 (8 oz) glasses of water each day.

The food I ate today and it's PPV.

Breakfast = 6
Lunch = 10
Snack....(poppers) = 4
Dinner = 4

Total = 24

Activity Points Earned Today = 0
Remaining points from my 49 Points Allowance = 26
How many glasses of water I drank today = 12





"love the life you live, live the life you love"

Apple Sandwiches

This is a great way to get your "Apple A Day" in with a little fun!

Slice your apple so you have four good slices.





Core the apple and fill a Tablespoon with your favorite Spread! Peanut Butter, Almond Butter, Laughing Cow Cheese Wedges, or this ridiculously delicious new Trader Joe's find, Cookie Butter! You can also add raisins, any other dried fruit, granola, nuts or drizzle honey on top!






I think they're super cute!

Why would a kid say NO to this??






YOU determine the points by YOUR toppings!



Apple Sandwiches


"love the life you live, live the life you love"

Weight Watchers Mini Ice Cream Sandwich

This one is cherry Cheesecake.
2 PPV

It's tiny, but it's yummy.






I do however, have MAN hands!




"love the life you live, live the life you love"

Trader Joe's Shopping Day!

I have several items listed in the post. Everything from 1 PPV to 5 PPV. I hope you find something new that you LOVE!


Cookie Butter
Dangerous and Delicious!
1 T. = 2 PPV
Eat on toast, waffles, pancakes, apples, pears, or tortilla!
Eating right out of the jar, NOT RECOMMENDED!






Sprouted Wheat Bread
1 slice = 1 PPV
This bread is super dense and full of flavor. Love it! Makes the best toast and egg white sandwiches!






Chicken Meatballs
4 Meatballs = 4 PPV
Sure, you can eat these with pasta and sauce, but how about chopped up in you salad? Or on a low calorie wheat bun and make your own Grinder?








Banana.....Flattened
Ingredients: Bananas
0 PPV
I think you just eat them out of the bag? They have a chewy texture much like a raisin. I love bananas and was super curious when I saw them on the shelf.








GoLean Crunch
1 C = 5 PPV
This is not a Trader Joes only product, but I did buy it there, and I buy it all the time. I don't buy cold cereal anymore. It's one of those foods I had to give up. But I use this in an way I would use Granola. It's high in fiber and high in protein! I like to eat it dry in a baggies for a snack, on top of smoothies for a little crunch, or on apple slices with peanut butter.







Cliff Kid Z Bar
Honey Graham = 3 PPV
Chocolate Brownie = 4 PPV
Iced Oatmeal = 4 PPV
You just EAT em!








Luna Bar
1 bar = 5 PPV
Eat em up!








White Corn Tortillas
1 tortilla = 1 PPV
I prefer these over flour tortillas when eating tacos.








Lite Mozzarella Cheese
1 oz = 1 PPV
It was awesome on the pizza and I only had to use 4 oz. for the entire pizza.







Unsweetened Vanilla Milk
1 C = 1 PPV
It is a great milk alternative.
I like to cook my oatmeal in it for a little extra flavor and creaminess.







Honey
1 T = 2 PPV
Honey is great on a lot more things than just a biscuit!
Waffles, toast, PB sandwich, in your tea or oatmeal!







Better n Peanut Butter
1 T. = 1 PPV
I love this stuff and it has come my complete Peanut Butter replacement.
This is the Low Sodium, and I love that I have that option!








Steel Cut Oats
1 C = 4 PPV
Not Trader Joe's brand, but it's where I buy this.
Check out this recipe for Crockpot Oatmeal.







Those are just a few of my favorites! I would love to know some of your favorite Trader Joe's finds!

"love the life you live, live the life you love"

Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer

Ok, really probably just lazy. But for some reason that song got stuck in my head and it wouldn't go away. It was an awesome Sunday doing a whole lotta nothin.

Crockpot Oatmeal DOES heat up just fine! I was glad I had it for my Sunday morning breakfast.......







I made a trip to Trader Joes on Saturday and picked up a few items I hadn't tried. I had heard of Cookie Butter, but really didn't know what it was. I'm still not sure I know what it is, but I do know it could be dangerous, and a little goes a long way! In WW world, 1 T. is 2 PPV. I really wanted to try it on my oatmeal, so I only added 1/2 T. and some strawberries. It was like Strawberry Shortcake Oatmeal! I loved it!







Creamy and Sweet!







I am loving my new frother too! My mom came over for coffee, so I had to show it off. I thought it tasted AWESOME! She said it was fine.







I'm going for low point options throughout the day. Pizza is on the menu for dinner and I know I want more than one piece, so planning is key.

After church we came home, put on cozy clothes, and literally vegged out all afternoon.

Lunch.......low fat cottage cheese topped with tomatoes....cantaloupe and strawberries.







I overheard two ladies at Trader Joes talking about the art of picking out a good, ripe cantaloupe. So I jumped right in and asked one of them to PLEASE pick one out for me. They totally hit the jackpot!






I couldn't stop thinking about my Cookie Butter. (I'm going to have to put that on the top shelf, in the back.) I decided to make Apple Sandwiches.


I originally saw this on Pinterset a while back, then I found it again recently on
Peanut Butter Fingers.

So I sliced up an apple. Don't you love the star in the middle? I didn't want to waste any, so I nibbled on the top....







Then I wasn't sure of the easiest way to get the core out, since I don't have the proper tools. I tried a beer cap. My slices were too thick! But you know you thought it was a clever idea! Then I found my tiny saw for Pumpkin carving. Perfect!







I filled up the Tablespoon, as FULL as I could get it!







I didn't see any reason to add anything else....So I licked the spoon, which was really difficult due to the shape of the spoon, but I was certain to get every single little taste of this 2 PPV of Cookie Butter!







See the cute little knife in the above picture? Yeah, that died in the garbage disposal later. Ooops.

It made a perfect 2 PPV Sunday afternoon snack! Probably would taste good any day of the week, any time of the day. :)







Dinner was a favorite Pizza. I call it my Thai Chicken Pizza. I am guessing most people would call it that?

Wheat Crust
Peanut Sauce
Rotisserie Chicken
Green Onions
Shredded Carrots
Lite Mozzarella Cheese







I really like this Lite Mozzarella I bought at Trader Joes. 1 oz is 1 PPV.
I used 4 oz on the whole pizza, and it was plenty!







Ten minutes later.......







I served up two and half slices for myself along with an awesome spinach salad. It included the main ingredient.....Spinach, along with a few Walnuts, a bit of Reduced Fat Feta, Olive Oil, Cinnamon Pear Balsamic Vinegar and a Dash of Cracked Black Pepper.

1/6 of this pizza was 7 PPV.








Refresh...I can eat 26 points a day.
I can earn Activity Points by doing exercise.
I have an allowance of 49 points that I can dip into if I chose.
I should drink a minimum of 6 (8 oz) glasses of water each day.

The food I ate today and it's PPV.

Breakfast = 5
Lunch = 3
Snack = 2
Dinner = 20

Total = 30

Activity Points Earned Today = 0
Remaining points from my 49 Points Allowance = 45
How many glasses of water I drank today = 9








"love the life you live, live the life you love"