Did you try a meatless meal option this week? Even if you are a confirmed carnivore or burgeoning herbivore the health and weight-loss benefits are many. Share your favorites at a meeting this week.

My favorite meatless meal this week was whole-wheat pasta spirals with tomato sauce and diced olive oil sauteed yellow squash with onion, garlic and white wine vinegar and fresh parmesan on top. Thanks for the gift of your home-grown produce Lorayne! Lorayne attends in Batesville, Indiana.

Here is the link for the Meatless Monday website I mentioned too! They have some tasty sounding recipes but you'll need to calculate the PointsPlus values yourself. You can also read about the eco-benefits too.

Next week we are all about Getting Unstuck!

Link: http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/

Four weeks to Five Servings - The July Fruits and Vegetables Challenge is ending but keep building the habit! You are all awesome! The power of filling foods for satisfaction and weight loss is unmatched, including fruits and vegetables.

Week 1: Work toward 5 serving a day, while getting at least 3 different colors.
Week 2: Fill half your plate with vegetables and fruits.

Week 3: Try Something new at least 1 time. Need help? Check out this calendar I found at the CDC.
http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/month/index.html
August is Celery and Fennel and Cactus. Nopales (cactus pads) are good. Here are prep and cooking instructions.

First, I didn't know there was a Whole Foods Market in Mason.


Second, I really hate the "What do you want to eat?" conversation as it usually ends in settling for something and almost never "good".


Third, Jesy's friends said she was a twitter head, but it's not that bad.

Jesy has a great review of some of the prepared foods available. I have in fact had some of them (yes, the burrito is a twofer). I will pretend I didn't read about the dessert bar. Remember to "think first" and keep in mind you are paying a premium to avoid the dreaded conversation. Figure your points value and watch your portion. You may be saving time as well as avoiding mindless grazing while trying to decide on something at home. Solutions are a choice, make yours. Soooooo....anyway, while I was writing this I thought of Weird Al Yankovic singing "Eat It"
I know it's inappropriate, but he does suggest eating bananas!

Link: http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/CollegeAndFamily/RaiseKids/wallet-vs-waist-fast-food-cost-per-calorie.aspx?slide-number=1

You might want to re-think that choice. Having joined the recently furloughed. [When did we start using that to mean laid-off or having your hours cut?] I have considered the lure of the combo meal to help alleviate financial concerns. Who hasn't?
I'll bottom line it for you -- FAT is CHEAP!
In the slide show "Wallet vs. waist: Fast food cost per calorie" by Smart Money they demonstrate this by calculating the cost per 100 calorie price of some common and popular fast food items. Remember, you have to purchase the whole menu item. If you are anything like me, once it's in our hands it's hard to stop eating when we should. By should I mean when we are satisfied or we have eaten the number of Points we have allocated or are available for any given occasion. Want to lose the bargain appeal? How many more weekly meetings are you willing to pay for and attend to enjoy your combo meal? Two? Ok. That will be $27.99 please. [In case you didn't know that's 2 meeting fees plus the cost of the combo!] Oh, you've changed your mind.

McDonald's Premium Southwest salad with grilled chicken
Cost per 100 calories: $1.47
Calories: 360
Calories from fat: 29%
McDonald's answered the call of health-conscious consumers by adding salads to its menu in 2003. No one can deny that this salad is a more healthful option than, say, a Quarter Pounder, but it will cost you. Once we added some Newman's Own low-fat balsamic vinaigrette dressing (an additional 40 calories and 3 grams of fat) for a little extra taste, this salad became the costliest dish per calorie on our menu.

That's about 7 Points, 1-2 meals, for $5.29

Burger King Double Whopper with cheese
Cost per 100 calories: 49 cents
Calories: 1,010
Calories from fat: 59%
The average person spends around $247 on beef a year, up from $48 in 2001. That amount of cash could buy you 49 Double Whoppers with cheese. And if you chose the Double Whopper over a Big Mac, you'd get a relatively good return on your investment. The Burger King creation’s cost per 100 calories is about two-thirds that of its McDonald’s rival.

This one is about 20 Points, 2-3 meals, for $4.90. I think I'm going to have oatmeal for lunch.....

These are so good! And with 5 grams of fiber per bar too! Four bars for $4.50.
• Real chocolate chips,walnuts, and rolled oats
combined to create a decadent brownie treat.
• Each bar is also an excellent source of fiber
and a POINTS® value of just 2!
• 4 bars per box.
NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 1 Bar (36g)
Servings Per Container: 4
Calories: 130
Calories from Fat: 40
Total Fat: 4.5g
Saturated Fat: 1.5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 110mg
Total Carbohydrate: 24g
Dietary Fiber: 5g
Sugars: 11g
Protein: 2g