Healthier Ways to Satisfy Cravings

I've been craving chili cheese fries. Real healthy, huh LOL So here was my attempt at a healthier way to satisfy the craving...

Cooked bag of frozen steak fries using oven directions (put OO no stick spray on the cookie sheet and misted the top of them with it as well). I always add 3-5 minutes under the broiler to help them crisp up (why I mist the tops with OO spray).

While fries were baking, browned 93/7 ground beef. Seasoned with onion powder and chili powder. Mixed in some reduced-fat cheddar until melted.

Topped individual servings of fries with a good bit of the ground beef mixture. Sour cream on the side for dipping.

The verdict?

Satisfied my craving :D
Ethan tasted it and said, "You've never made this for me before!" in an accusing tone. Like I had been holding out on him LOL
Jesse thought it was yummy.
Gabriel ate mostly fries but some of the meat/cheese mixture as well.

I think it was a success!!!

Checking In...

Things have been so crazy... Between the holidays, Gabriel's birthday, then one or more of us being sick for the past 3-4 weeks, plus all the usual...

I haven't gotten to work out lately :( Hoping to get back on track soon!

Eating hasn't been great but not bad. This next week I have 4 days of wheat-free meals planned. I want to see the difference in how we all feel. We'll be eating potatoes and rice instead, in addition to the rice pasta I had already switched to. I may end up doing it for longer, depending. I'm not looking for every possible wheat-containing ingredient in our food, just cutting out the obvious. We're still eating a lot less carbs than the SAD (Standard American Diet) and plan to keep it that way! Well, except for this week... Kingcake isn't exactly a lowish carb treat ;)

I haven't been thirsty much and haven't been drinking enough so I'm back to drinking (decaf) green tea instead of water. So far it's helping :)

So... That's the short update. I want to get back to blogging more often again!

Meal Plan Dec 8-14

Last week was kinda crazy and I didn't stick to the meal plan. So there are some repeats from last week.

Let me know if you want any of the recipes!

Breakfast:
Breakfast pizza
Cottage cheese w/peaches x 2
Eggs, Grands biscuits
Apple sausage, Eggo's
BLT's
Sausage, leftover biscuits

Lunch:
Loaded potatoes (chicken, cheese, veggies, sour cream, butter)
Sweet beef & rice
Chinese chicken w/rice, carrots x 2
Heat & eats (before Gabriel's party)
Sketti (pureed roasted red bell peppers, jarred sauce, Italian sausage) w/pasta, parmesan

Supper:
Grilled cheese
(Church Christmas party)
Sandwiches
?
Cajun tuna pasta, veggies
(Mom's night out)

Meal Plan

December 3 to December 8
There's a lot going on this week that I needed to plan around!

Breakfast:
Eggs, biscuits/leftovers
Chicken, rice, butter, parsley
Sausage, Eggo's
Cottage cheese, peaches
Eggs, toast
Breakfast pizza

Lunch:
Leftover gumbo
OUT
Chinese chicken, rice, carrots x 2
Burgers
Spaghetti (jarred sauce, pureed roasted red bell peppers, ground beef), pasta, cheese

Supper:
Cajun tuna pasta, veggies
Sandwiches
Grilled cheese, veggies
Grilled chicken salad or sandwich

Sweet BBQ Beef and Rice

This is one of those thrown together meals. Everyone loved it!

SWEET BBQ BEEF AND RICE

1 lb lean ground beef
2 onions, chopped
1/2 jar roasted red bell peppers, chopped or pureed
~3/4 c. BBQ sauce
3-4 c. cooked rice

Brown ground beef and onions. Stir in peppers and BBQ sauce. Add rice. Mix all together.

Meal Plan

Breakfast:
Eggs x 2
Cottage cheese & peaches x 2
Sausage
Bacon
Carbs - still have 1 can of biscuits in the fridge, Eggo's and homemade blueberry muffins in the freezer, picking up Bisquick and bread at the store

Lunch:
Rotisserie chicken, salad, premade sides
Chicken lo mein
Sesame chicken strips, mashed potatoes, veggies x 2
(Out after church)
? (will pick something up after Ethan's appointments)

Supper:
Sandwiches
Tuna salad - salad or sandwiches
Greek ground beef salad
Leftovers
Baked fish, veggies
?

Wednesday

1/2 cup coffee w/usual

Brunch - turkey sausage and cheddar wrapped in Grands

Supper - pizza - chicken, beef, lots of veggies (tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, red and green bell peppers); Ghirardelli square