Thanks to Deb Nockerts for this entry!
When the temperature drops, food cravings swing from cool and light to hot, heavy and filling. Salads just don't hit the spot in quite the same way as a pan of baked ziti. But eating wisely doesn't mean that you have to forego all your favorite cold-weather foods. Here's how to fit comfort foods into your healthy-eating plan.
Satisfy Your Cold-Weather Cravings
You've probably heard your Leader or other meetings members mention that brainstorming is a great way to come up with simple solutions; like how you can enjoy mac and cheese on a blustery day and still lose weight. So take a few minutes to brainstorm all your favorite comfort foods—no matter how many POINTS® values you think they contain. Think: meat loaf, pasta bakes, stews, apple pie. Then think of ways that you can make them fit into your plan.
Here are a few suggestions:
- Bake or buy whole-grain breads for a filling and fiber-rich addition to dip in your soup.
- Browse through lightened-up recipes in the new Find & Explore feature of your Plan Manager. Choosing "Winter" under the "Occasion" tab brings up nearly 400 season-appropriate dishes.
- Use the Recipe Builder to figure out how many POINTS values your favorite cold-weather recipes have. Then see how you can reduce them by substituting lighter ingredients such as low-fat or fat-free milk and cheese.
- Check your Meal Ideas for inspiration to whip up something new today.
- Enjoy your favorite high-calorie casseroles, chowders and desserts. Just keep an eye on portion size, and be sure to track the POINTS values in your Food Tracker.
Winter food urges are inevitable. By giving in to them in a low-fat way, you're actually bettering your chances of reaching your weight-loss goals. After all, figuring out a way to eat healthfully for the long haul is vital to achieving lasting weight loss. Satisfaction is a big part of that.
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