Pew, Pew! Mind. Blown.

Part 1

I just ordered a product that could potentially change my life. Maybe I’m a little overdramatic, but I really like peanut butter. And I can’t ever eat it! For nearly 200 calories in two measly tablespoons, it’s just. Not. Worth it.

I’ve seen a lot of reviews on powdered peanut butter recently. Not familiar? Check this out. It’s only 45 calories per severing because they squished out the oil. And it comes in chocolate flavor, too. Hooray, light “Nutella”! Details and review to come.

Part 2

So it’s no secret I’m a Hungry Girl fan and I found what looked like the most delectable chicken recipe here. It’s found in her “We’re Loyal to Foil!” edition of her daily newsletter (if you’re not subscribed, you’re missing out!). But I amped up my game and put my own twist on the recipe to lower the cal count and size up my portions—so check out Hungry Girl’s recipe below, and you’ll see my changes highlighted in red.

Cha-Cha-Cherry BBQ Chicken Pack PER SERVING (1/2 of recipe, about 1 cup): 294 calories, 2g fat, 874mg sodium, 33.5g carbs, 1.5g fiber, 24.5g sugars, 34g protein — PointsPlus® value 7* My recipe, after alterations added up to 245 calories for the 4 oz of chicken, PLUS a box of frozen veggies with sauce (mentioned below). Ingredients: 10 oz. raw boneless skinless lean chicken breast, cut into strips (I only used 4 oz, since I just made it for myself, so go for 8 oz of chicken if you’re making this for two people. I did NOT cut it into strips. Instead I left them whole but beat them so they became thin) 1/8 tsp. salt, or more to taste 1/8 tsp. black pepper, or more to taste 1 cup sliced onion (about half an onion) (I just used some dried minced onion from my spice cabinet and didn’t use NEARLY as much as this recipe calls for) 1/2 cup unsweetened dark sweet cherries (about 16 cherries), thawed from frozen (Since I was only making it for myself, I used 1/4 c cherries but I didn’t even need that many. I also added 3 tablespoons of sugar free cherry preserves like this one from Smuckers, but again I didn’t end up using it all) 1/2 cup BBQ sauce with about 45 calories per 2-tbsp. serving (Instead of a BBQ sauce with 45 calories, I opted for Walden Farm’s Calorie Free BBQ sauce. It’s surprisingly good in moderation.) Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lay a large piece of heavy-duty foil on a large baking sheet and spray with nonstick spray. Lay chicken strips (breast or tenderloins, in this case) in an even layer in the center of the foil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and evenly top with onion. Set aside. Roughly chop cherries, and then transfer to a bowl. Add BBQ sauce and mix well. Evenly pour cherry-BBQ mixture over the onion and chicken. Place another large piece of foil evenly over the baking sheet. Fold together and seal all four edges of the two foil pieces, forming a well-sealed packet. Bake in the oven for 25 minutes, or until chicken is fully cooked. Allow packet to cool for a few minutes, and then cut to release steam before opening it entirely. (Careful — steam will be hot.) If you like, season to taste with additional salt and pepper. Time to chew! MAKES 2 SERVINGS (My recipe only made one serving, but like I said above, the ingredients for the cherry bbq sauce made almost twice as much as I needed to cover my chicken tenderloins)

I then paired it with the whole box of the Green Giant Antioxidant Blend of veggies that come tossed in an olive oil sauce. The most important part of all? This recipe was INCREDIBLE! I’m talking’… banging! The chicken was fork tender, the sauce was perfectly sweet. Couldn’t have asked for more. You did it again, Hungry Girl! P.S. I got my first “You look smaller!” comment since I’ve been working out and watching what I eat, yesterday. Cheers to getting skinny!

My Favorite Things: Fat Free Hummus

I’ve always loved hummus. I also enjoy hearty portions of the things I like to eat—so thanks to the hefty use of fattening ingredients, I’ve had a quasi-distant relationship with it. Until now!

Between the olive oil and tahini, the calories in this stuff can add up fast. On average, two tablespoons can pack 60-90 calories. And who stops at two tablespoons? Not this girl.

Cedar’s fat free hummus is only 25 per serving, so devouring it doesn’t cast a dark cloud over my dieting soul.

I tested the roasted red pepper variety and the first thing I noticed was a slight vinegary taste—which is awesome. I’ve been known to open up my cupboards just to get a sweet, sweet whiff of the apple cider vinegar inside.

So if you’re a vinegar fan, go for it! If you’re not, maybe I’m just a little too enthusiastic about that part so it sticks out in my memory, but you might not even notice it.

Besides the slightly sour undertone, it’s right on par with your average hummus. Creamy, flavorful and carrot’s favorite friend.

Either way, for just 25 cals, I say give it a shot! But be warned, it’s a tough product to come by. I found this at Whole Foods, but haven’t seen it elsewhere.

If you try it, I’d love to hear your own take on it.

Happy snacking!

One Sweet Day

If you don’t start the day off right, you’re asking for trouble. Put a little sweetness in your life with this coffee drink. It’s more like a dessert than anything else:

• Southern pecan flavored coffee (I use H.T. Trader’s from Harris Teeter, but any yummy flavor will do!)
• Torani sugar free caramel syrup (to taste)
• 1/2 c unsweetened chocolate almond milk
• Zero calorie brown sugar substitute (to taste)
• Dash of cinnamon

Mix it all up and enjoy every delicious sip. Basically, the only thing with any calories is the almond milk (45 calories in a cup). So drink up!

Here’s The Skinny

Here I Am

I’m 25, female and itching to shed some weight. I have a desk job that keeps me idle most of my day so staying active is tough.

This is My Momentum

This blog is for myself, and if it helps anyone get or stay on track, that’s a sweet bonus (and I love my sweets). Expect to see recipes, workout reviews, light/alternative food reviews and my physical progress (if I’m feeling share-y).

Get Fit

I’ve taken up membership at the Y and discovered they’ve got some pretty awesome programs. I’ve fallen in love (or hate, depending on my mood or sore muscles) with these classes:

• Zumba
• Cycling
• Ready 2 Dance
• Toning
• Body Power

Let’s Dish

I made a butt-kicking dinner tonight. Slow-Cookin’ Pulled Chicken from Hungry Girl. If you haven’t heard of this book series, daily newsletters and website yet, you’re missing out. Go look. Immediately. Now. Do it!  The whole premise revolves around the author and recipe creator who loves to eat. These recipes aren’t just light because they’re lame, or have tiny portions. The serving sizes are huge and the dishes are tasty—like super tasty. Here’s the pulled chicken au jour. For the full recipe, check it out here.

*This image and the ingredients are directly pulled from the Hungry Girl Newsletter linked above*

PER SERVING (1/2 cup): 149 calories

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lb. raw boneless skinless lean chicken breasts, halved
1 cup canned tomato sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tbsp. plus 2 tsp. brown sugar (not packed)
2 tbsp. plus 2 tsp. cider vinegar
2 tsp. garlic powder
Optional: red pepper flakes, to taste

I skinni-fied this even more by substituting ketchup with this handy reduced sugar ketchup (saves 15 calories per tablespoon, and replaced brown sugar with Kroger’s brown baking sweetener so the calorie value is a bit less. Then I tossed the meaty deliciousness between two slices of Nature’s Own Light Honey Wheat toasted bread. And zomg, it was delish.

Here’s to getting skinny.