Sunshine and Food Finds

Happy Monday friends!

We’ve had three beautiful sunny days here in KC, which meant beautiful outside walks, time spent outside enjoying a good book and evenings spent on the deck. I hope you’ve all had some sunshine as well along with an opportunity to get out and enjoy it!

Today I’m sharing lots of food pics and a few new useful kitchen tools!

I’d love to know in the comments what your favorite kitchen tool is!!

When Tess came recently for my surgery, she was pleased to see that we had decided to up our knife game. We’ve had really really bad knives like for……well for always and it was just never something I put a lot of time into thinking about spending the money on. And as much time as I spend chopping, you’d think I would have. Anyhow, we have new knives and I can’t believe what a difference it makes even if we’re just slicing an apple!

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A recent Walmart find after a friend delivered a treat in one of these small jars. I love that these little guys are glass with a twist on lid. Great for dressing! I also found two Freezer (plastic) containers with lids. These will be great for leftovers as I was using Freezer Bags and I think these will be more convenient.

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I’m sending Tess regular text messages and food pictures saying “Thank You!” for coming and making so much food for us to have on hand! Having a freezer full of prepped food has been so incredibly helpful!

We used to do “Food Finds” regularly in the WW Workshops and it was nice to have suggestions of new snacks people had found or meal ideas others were trying. So I thought I’d bring you a few of my favorite Food Finds along with a few of the meals we’ve been having.

Hash for breakfast. Hash for dinner. Thanks to Tess and her meal prep and introduction to the Walmart Sweet Potatoes!

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Chicken Salad so convenient to make with all of the cooked chicken in our freezer!

Trader Joe’s Dinner. Simple Dinner using pre-chopped broccoli and Brussels sprouts and packaged Salmon all found at Trader Joe’s. Roasted veggies using the Burnt Broccoli recipe.

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I added a Mahi-Mahi-fillet from Costco as Mike is not a huge salmon fan. Divided the garlic butter between the three fillets and baked these.

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This Friday night dinner came together so easily and was so full of flavor.

My favorite meal always……Breakfast.

These are so easy because there is no chopping involved and I’ve mastered the one handed egg cracking!

My base…

• 1/3 Gluten Free Oatmeal (these do NOT need to be quick cooking oats or gluten free)
• 1 egg
• 1/2 C unsweetened applesauce (sub 1 smashed banana or canned pumpkin)
• 1 tsp Cinnamon (sub pumpkin pie spice)
• 10 drop of liquid flavored Stevia. I like Vanilla, Cinnamon and Pumpkin (or sweetener of your choice)

Mix all ingredients and microwave for 3 minutes. Top as desired.

You can also add any favorite fruit before cooking!

I added 1/2 C fresh blueberries and topped with Almond Butter and 1 tsp Pure Maple Syrup.

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Topped with Blueberries, Banana, Almond Butter and 1 tsp Pure Maple Syrup.

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The Pumpkin version. The most dense version and you can actually pick this up and eat it like pumpkin bread!

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So happy to find these frozen Birch Benders Paleo Waffles. Great for a breakfast sandwich with some of the Bacon Tess cooked up and put in the freezer.

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Avocado Toast, waffle style. Or….berries and nut butter.

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Many of the food finds I’ll share fit my current needs (mostly Paleo foods) as far as ingredients go, but some are high in calories or fat, increasing the Smartpoints. Most paleo foods are sweetened with coconut sugar or pure maple syrup or may be high in unsaturated fat.

We all have to do what works for us, and right now finding the right ingredients is what is helping me to feel my best and paying attention to portion control (which admittedly is not easy, but I’m working on it)

I’ve found these Chomps sticks at Whole Foods, Walmart and Sprouts. I’ve tried the beef and the turkey. These are handy snacks to keep in the pantry or your work desk or maybe even the car for those days you find yourself out and about longer than you’d planned and you need a snack. Bonus, its a protein snack to help you feel full until your next meal! This Original Turkey is 1 WW SP.

Costco find! 8 SP per bar, so keep that in mind, but incredibly dense and hearty and filling for a great breakfast on the go, or when you just don’t feel like cooking up a breakfast.

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A Walmart find. Sweetened with Agave Syrup and Coconut Sugar. Very tasty!

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I have found a few of the Siete products (chips, tortillas, taco seasoning, dairy free queso dip) at my local grocery store but a much larger selection at Whole Foods. This is a family business started due to health issues and the desire to create a grain free tortilla. You can check out their product locater to see where you can find their products in your area. I’ve liked all of the products and was excited to find these recently! Delish after Friday Fish Tacos! Sweetened with Coconut Sugar.

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Another great sweet treat? I’ve found these at Walmart in the gluten free section and have seen them in three flavors. Vanilla, Chocolate and these Peanut Butter. The Vanilla are my fav! These are 4 WW SP for one little cookie, so not for everyone but these are incredibly dense and full of flavor, and they satisfy my sweet tooth for certain!

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Okay, you might be hungry now. I know I am! Clearly, I have a sweet tooth.

Back at Yoga with Adrienne and thankful for her 15 minute Wrist-Free, Hands-Free class! This class along with a 2-3 mile walk outside or on the treadmil is making me feel a little more like me.

One more week and I’ll get these 15 stitches out and see what moving forward looks like. My hand is still so swollen. I haven’t had my wedding ring on since October!!

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One down, one to go!

I hope you are all doing well and doing your best to make your own health a priority!

Have an awesome Monday and until next time!

“love the life you live, live the life you love”