Ahhh, Mac N Cheese......
Yes, I said it! Mac N Cheese! About the most unhealthy thing you can put in your mouth right?? 


Kids love it for sure! I tried to make a more healthy version of it without sacrificing the taste. I think I did it, you be the judge! My kids LOVED it! Mind you...this is NOT good for you in ANY way, it is Macaroni and Cheese for goodness sake. It is just better for you than the loaded macaroni and cheese we all know and love!

 Better Macaroni and Cheese

4 cups (16oz) uncooked whole wheat elbow noodles

I use dreamfields brand pasta, it doesn't look like whole wheat

4 cups skim milk

6 T white whole wheat flour

2 t dijon mustard

1/2 t salt

4 cups reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese

3 oz neufchetal low fat cream cheese

Heat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 13x9 inch glass dish with cooking spray. Cook pasta according to directions and put aside. In 3 quart or larger saucepan add flour and one cup of cold milk. Whisk until paste forms and then gradually add the rest of the milk whisking until smooth. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils and thickens. Add mustard, salt and cheeses. Stir until melted. Remove from heat and add pasta, mix well. Spoon into baking dish and bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes until bubbly and browned.

Serves 12 (1 cup each)

320 calories

8 grams fat

4 grams fiber

Grilled Sweet Pepper Poppers......oh my!!!


These little cuties will pop in your mouth! You can use jalapeno peppers, but i prefer sweet peppers. A great friend brought a version of these to a party one time and it was love at first bite. I have changed the recipe a bit  and made it my own. 

Grilled Sweet Pepper Poppers

60 calories for 2 halves! 

Makes 16 servings adjust if you need to!

16 sweet peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded

4 ounces fat free cream cheese, softened

1 cup reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese such as weight watchers brand

1/2 cup finely chopped tomato

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

2 T fresh, chopped parsley

Prepare grill to medium high heat.  Prepare the peppers and set aside, pat dry. Place all other ingredients into a bowl. Mix well. Fill each pepper half with cheese mixture.  Place on grill for 5 minutes until charred and bubbly.  Enjoy! You are gonna love these! When you clean the peppers, keep the stems on so you can use it to pick up the popper. 

Happy Monday! Stay Healthy.....join me on my adventure.

TGIF....please let me get through the weekend and stay on track! I have had a really great week and feel good about myself! I think i can...i think i can! 


Tried to come up with a healthy blueberry muffin recipe....didn't do too bad! Shhhh....the kids and hubby won't know the difference!

Good for You Blueberry Muffins

2 cups White Whole Wheat flour (King Arthur brand has one)

3/4 cup sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup applesauce, unsweetened

2 T melted butter

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup egg substitute

1 pint washed blueberries

Heat oven to 325 degrees. Spray 12 muffin tins with nonstick spray. 

In a mixer bowl, combine all wet ingredients and mix well. Add all dry ingredients to wet mixture and mix well. Gently fold in the blueberries. I know what you are thinking...this is not going to make 12 muffins! Trust me, it does! 12 beauties! Divide batter evenly and bake at 325 degrees for about 25 minutes. 

150 calories~~~2 grams of fat~~~3.5 grams fiber

If you are really good, you can substitute Truvia for sugar, let me know if you do!

Put $1 in a jar every time you complete a workout. When you reach a certain goal, say $100, treat yourself to a massage or a new pair of jeans. Great motivation!

An oldie but goodie! WW Key Lime Pie.....

While trying to quench a sweet tooth, i looked in my old book of weight watchers recipes that i have stashed away! Guess what i found! Key Lime Pie!

1 box (.3 oz) sugar free lime flavor gelatin
1/4 cup boiling water
1/4 cup lime juice (could add zest too if you wanted)
2 containers (8 oz each) key lime pie flavored light yogurt
1 container (8 oz) frozen fat-free whipped topping, thawed
1 prepared 9" reduced-fat graham cracker crust
1 T egg white

Brush pie crust with egg whites and bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees until browned and crisp. In a large heat-resistant bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water, add lime juice. With wire whisk, stir in yogurt, with wooden spoon, fold in whipped topping. Transfer mixture to prepared crust, refrigerate overnight, or at least 2 hours.

Number of Servings: 8  180 calories each but well worth it

Then i got to thinking, why stop at lime?  Why not go for orange creme, using orange jello, orange juice and creamsicle flavored yogurt.  How about pineapple coconut, lemon, strawberry?  Endless! Let me know what you have tried and loved!  


Remember....nothing TASTES as good as healthy FEELS!




catch ya tomorow!

Well, here goes! My adventures into a healthier lifestyle! NOT a New Year's Resolution, but a New Year's lifestyle! If I call it a resolution, i am bound to fail.  I know this, because i have done it a million times!


I consider myself an average person.  A daughter, a sister, a wife and a busy mother of 2.  Nothing special, just a good person trying to live an honest, good life.  I LOVE to be in the kitchen.  I LOVE to share good food with family and friends.  I LOVE to be creative.  On this adventure, I will share my ideas of healthy eating, healthy tips and inspiring words.


I HOPE, by doing this, it will inspire me to be healthier.....to...ugh....dare I say it.......exercise. There, I said it......exercise. Exercise. I do know that it is not enough in life to eat healthy, i need to exercise.  Problem is, where do i fit it in?  After a full day of playing mommy, cleaning lady, personal shopper, emergency room RN, business owner, personal short order cook, expert Lego builder, homework helper and chauffeur.  REALLY??? EXERCISE. OK. I WILL fit it in.  Promise!


Here i will post everything i am doing to try and be healthier in a busy world! PLEASE post back with what you are doing, I love to gather tips, tricks and shortcuts! My goal is to make this easy and fun for me.  Reading blogs is fun right?  I thought i might see how much fun it is to write one!!!


Happy Reading!


Today's post will be quite long, i have to catch you up on the past 3 days!


Monday Jan 9th.....
Started the day making Egg Beater patties! I thought breakfast should be a no brainer! I made 12 egg patties using my round metal egg form. (12 you say?? I am not the only one in this house in need of a healthier lifestyle!)
I made each one with 1/4 cup of egg beaters (50 calories each).  I layered them on parchment paper in an airtight container. In the morning, I heat one up for a quick breakfast that keeps hunger at bay until lunch.  I top it with 2 tablespoons of Weight Watcher brand shredded cheese (40 calories) and I put it on a toasted english muffin (the kind that says "light" and has at least 9 grams of fiber and 90 calories).  How is that for a 180 calorie breakfast!


I also want to share, for the chip lover, a super snack i found! Special K Cracker Chips, Sea Salt Flavor .......you can have 30 of those little crunchers for only 110 calories.


Tuesday Jan 10th.....
Yummy! Egg Sammy for breakfast!
Decided to create my own version of my mom's amazing vegetable beef soup, without the beef! It is loaded with non starchy veggies and a few kidney beans! My guess is 100 calories per 2 cup serving. WOW! Paired with Wasa Rosemary Thin and Crispy Flatbread (2 pieces for only 70 calories), that's a hearty lunch! Here's the Recipe.....It makes ALOT, so half it or freeze it if you need to, or give some to a friend!

Vegetarian Veggie Soup

In a 10 Quart Pot, add all ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook at least an hour! I prefer all organic ingredients.

64 ounces Fat Free Low Salt Chicken Broth

4 Cups Water

1/2 Head Cabbage Shredded or Diced

12 ounce can Tomato Paste

14 ounce can Petite Diced Tomatoes

10 ounces Frozen Chopped Spinach (no need to defrost)

16 ounces Crinkle Cut Coin Carrots (fresh or frozen)

1 cup diced onions (fresh or frozen)

2 zucchini, diced

1 yellow zucchini, diced

16 ounce bag frozen broccoli/cauliflower mix

16 ounce bag frozen cut green beans

1 T minced garlic

2 T italian seasoning

2 16 ounce cans drained dark red kidney beans

Yummy!!!!!

Wed Jan 11......

I have been making Dr Oz's Tangerine Mint Green Tea, he calls it Tangerine Weight-Orade.  It contains: green tea, which he states has been shown to boost metabolism 12% by drinking just one cup; tangerine, with a chemical composition that increases sensitivity to insulin and stimulates genes that help to burn fat; and mint, a calorie-free flavor enhancer.  I read on New Nostalgia that Green Tea is rich in catechins, which reduce growth of blood vessels needed for tumor growth.  

A study published in 1998, Japanese researchers investigated the effects of drinking green tea on the progression of breast cancer. The study involved 472 patients with stage I, II, and III breast cancer. The results showed that increased consumption of green tea was linked to a decrease in the spread of breast cancer in premenopausal women. In a follow-up study, the researchers found that increased consumption of green tea was correlated with decreased recurrence of stage I and II breast cancer.   
-The New Encyclopedia of Vitamins, Minerals, Supplements and Herbs by Nicola Reavley

Dr Oz's Tangerine Mint Green Tea

In a large pitcher, combine:

8 cups of brewed green tea

1 tangerine, sliced

A handful of mint leaves I got the photo from Ziplist!

Stir this delicious concoction up at night so all the flavors fuse together. Drink 1 pitcher daily for maximum metabolism-boosting results.

One Last recipe.....This is my go to for something sweet...



Graham Cracker and Cool Whip Sandwich Cookies

You will need:
1 box graham crackers, reduced fat
1 (8 oz) carton cool whip, fat free
cookie sheet pan

Now break graham crackers in half and put about a tablespoon of cool whip on half of the graham crackers (you might want to put on a little more cool whip to make thick). Place halves without cool whip on top of the covered halves to make "sandwiches". You can do this to all the graham crackers or just a few, or until you run out of cool whip.

Place on cookie sheet and freeze for about 1 hour or until they are frozen. Yummeeeeee!!!!

Remember...you are what you eat! More Tomorrow!