This Week’s Salad Combo:  Buffalo Chicken with Goat Cheese

In the mix:  

–  Chicken Tenders (—->Paul made enough for the whole week by sautéing frozen ones on medium for 20-30 minutes doused in Franks Red Hot.  He makes it while he plays video games on Sunday.)

–  1/2 slice peppered turkey bacon

–  2 cups romaine lettuce

– 1/4 cup shredded purple cabbage

– sprinkle of goat cheese

(Paul also got shredded carrots which I skipped because I had whole ones on the side and a half an avocado which I also skipped, keep reading.)

Dressing:

Walden Farms Bacon Ranch mixed with 1 tsp Franks Red Hot

Other awesome work week salads:

Asian Chopped Chicken Salad ——> click here for the recipe.

BBQ Chicken and Peppered Turkey Bacon Salad —-> click here for the recipe.

Tips for Valentine’s Day Dining

Since I’ve been injured I’ve had to come up with new strategies for eating out on special occasions without relying on banking a ton of calories with an intense sweat session.  To my surprise I’ve been able to enjoy occasions like Friday night date night and Super Bowl with little change in my weight.  Most recently was Saturday nights Red Lobster date night with Paul’s parents.

Paul and I didn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day together last year since I was still in grad school in California and the timing didn’t work out. It’s also extra special because it’s our first Valentines Day as a married couple!  We bought tickets to go see the Wildcats beat the Sun Devils (rival Colleges in Arizona) and I am super excited!  

Source

We will also probably go out for dinner either Saturday or Sunday, we haven’t made set plans on that one yet.  However, I see a lot of game food and restaurant food in my future.  Whether going out with the girls, family, or your significant other Valentine’s Day dining can be tricky when you want to indulge without a bulge.  Here are some tips for enjoying your dining out experience without packing on the pounds.

1.  Focus on healthy food throughout the week.  The first thing I did was create a meal plan for this week that emphasizes whole foods and lots of veggies.  I haven’t exactly stuck to it do to a hectic work schedule for both Paul and I, but overall I ate pretty healthy.  (Don’t worry if you didn’t do this, you can always start today!  Make healthy choices that emphasize whole foods and vegetables all day today and tomorrow during the work day.)

2. Skip the minor extras.  I don’t “diet” but to bank extra calories I’ll be holding or limiting extras like nuts, cheese, dried fruit, high calorie dressings, etc this week.  I just skip things I won’t really miss, for example, skipping adding sliced almonds in my pancake overnight oats.   (I also try to limit desserts buts thats a tough one since this week has been stressful for me!)

3. Go light day of, but don’t skip meals.  Again no dieting, but I do chose lighter high protein options for light meals/snacks.  I’ll be slightly hungry but I never go ravenously hungry anywhere including the grocery stores, parties, or restaurants.

4. Be selective.  Whenever I eat out I generally want to order stuff that I couldn’t or wouldn’t make at home.  Sometimes it’s high calorie and sometimes it’s healthy.  For example I get this vegetable egg white omelet from a local café which is super healthy, but I would never take the time to chop up zucchini, butternut squash, onions, mushrooms, herbs, and all the other stuff they throw in there at one time. For an unhealthy example, lobster artichoke dip from Red Lobster.  Whatever it is I make sure that it’s special and I really want it, I enjoy it slowly and remind myself I can take some home.  

5. Fill up on low calorie stuff.  The appetizer salad is the skinny person’s best friend, I always eat it (removing the croutons, again saving calories for something better) because it fills me up so I end up eating less high calorie stuff. Soup goes straight through me so I avoid it (TMI? Sorry bout that), but broth based soups do the same thing.  (Skip the cream based ones unless that’s what you were really looking forward too.)

6. Decide what I really want.  What am I looking forward to the most?  The appetizer, the dinner, the drink or the dessert?  I splurge on what I am most excited about and go healthier for the other stuff. 

7. Wait for the good stuff.  I usually pass on the tortilla chips or bread bowls unless it is something famous or amazing. I can get bread and chips anywhere, including my pantry.

8. Pick 2 out of 3.  I’ve heard the pick two out of three rule before.  Pick two out of the following three: chip/bread bowl, drink menu, dessert.  Sometimes I keep that one in mind when I’m trying to wait for the good stuff but the chip bowl is staring me down and I’m hungry.  I tell myself I can order a drink or think of maybe a dessert.

Other Tips for Dining Out:

Favorite Dessert Recipes on the blogosphere: