Phase 3

Well I went for my weigh in yesterday and I lost 4 more pounds. I am 2 pounds away from goal!!!! YAY!! So that means that I have to get out of my comfort zone for breakfast. As you know I am a HUGE fan of my coffee with Premade Vanilla drink. Well today I had to force myself to finish all the food! This is going to be a huge learning process. I did find that after I ate I was really full but I was not thinking about what I just ate I was thinking about what my day was going to do. I am not really a morning person so this is going to be a challenge for me to get up early and start with a big breakfast.

I want to hear some input from people that are on Phase3. How are things going for you? I have a recipe that I want to try for breakfast tomorrow. Over night Oats! I have seen it all over but I have not be able to try it! I will let you know how this goes! Have a great day!

Eating Healthy on a Budget Series Part 2

Plan, Plan, Plan

The first part of this series is about planning. You should not go to the grocery store with out a list. When you go out with out a list you tend to put things into your basket because you might use it in something. Another thing you should do is never go to the grocery store hungry. This is definitely a part of planning before you go to the grocery store.

One of the first things you need to do is figure out your budget for food. One of the sites that I use for figuring these things out is http://www.extension.iastate.edu/foodsavings/. This site is really great. If you go to the planning section of it you can enter your information for your family and they will tell you how much you could spend a week and still have a healthy family. Here is what a screen shot of my budget said.

• Plan your meals and snacks for the week according to the predetermined budget you set
• Find recipes online
• Make a list
• Check you Sunday paper for coupons and sales
• Find out if your store has a loyalty card
• Find recipes that will stretch expensive foods into more then one meal

These are just some simple ways of planning. What ways do use to plan you menu for the week? Comment and let me know!

New Progress Pictures

Here is my latest before and current picture. The picture on the left was taken on 4/1/12 (No it's not an April fools joke). I only have 6 pounds left to loose!

There is your short blub for the morning. I will be back later today with some information that I find useful, hopefully you do as well. 

Eating Healthy on a Budget Series Part 1

Part 1 of Eating Healthy on a Budget Series is 10 Tips for Eating Healthy on a Budget. One of my favorite websites to visit is www.choosemyplate.gov most of these tips are things that you will use in Phase4 but I thought that it is not just dieters on Phase1 that are hanging out here. So here is something for others that are on Phase4 and Maintenance.

10 Tips for Eating Healthy on a Budget

1. Plan Plan Plan
2. Get the Best Price
3. Compare and Contrast
4. Buy in Bulk
5. Buy in season
6. Convenience costs...go back to the basic
7. Easy on your wallet
8. Cook once eat all week
9. Get your creative juices flowing
10. Eating out

All of these tips are fairly simple to follow but you need to dedicate the time for these things. If you want to save $$ but stay healthy you need to take time and plan these things. I know you are thinking you are a planner but I am not. Even if you just sit down for 10 minutes a night and plan things out for a few days are are better off then if you do not plan at all and just wing it. You are more likely to keep the weight off if you are planning what you are going to eat and stick to your plan!

I have decided that I am going to take these 10 tips and make them my series. This is just a brief overview of what fun is to come with the second part of the series!

I hope these things help you to start Eating Healthy on a Budget. Stay tuned for Part 2 in our series.

Yummy Thrusday

I was surfing the web and I found this recipe that looks oh so YUMMY!! I don't have any IP Potato packets at home so when I go in on Tuesday I will for sure be getting one to try this new recipe. If anyone has tried this one let me know how they turned out for you.

POTATO GNOCCHI
Ingredients

• 1/4 tsp. Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp. crushed garlic
• 1 egg
• Salt & Pepper to taste
• 1 IP Potato Packet
• 1/8 tsp. water

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. This should make a paste consistency. Make you Gnocchi "balls" and pan fry in evoo.

So simple. I will put up some pictures of these once I make next week. Would be a great addition to a soup broth with some veggies for lunch! Let me know what you think about this recipe. It will also be posted in the recipes page. Enjoy!

What's your favorite?

I just wanted to pop in here real fast and get your brains going for the day. I was wondering what your favorite IP food? Comment and let me know. I have plans for your comments in the near future!

Menu Monday

Well I had an epic FAIL on Menu Monday. I can't get it to load into blogger. I am researching how to upload it on here! I promise I am trying to get it up. As soon as I get this problem solved I will get it posted. Sorry about the delay.