"The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing."

BREAKFAST

1/3 cup Danon Light and Fit vanilla yogurt

1/8 cup walnuts

1 medium banana 

Cinnamon to taste 

Estimated calories: 227

LUNCH

1/2 medium sweet potato roasted with chili powder

Wrap:

1 "8 whole wheat tortilla 

1 tsp brown mustard

Healthy Choice turkey breast

Ground black pepper to taste  

Lettuce, onions

Estimated calories: 227

DINNER

Taco salad:

Lettuce, onion, brocoli, tomato, a smidge of parmesam cheese 

(This was already made up by my Mom when I came home, so I used it.) 

1 Southwest Morning Star veggie burger

5 jalopeno pepper slices

1 tbsp salsa

2 tsp brown mustard for dressing 

Estimated calories: 163

DESSERT

(Not pictured)

1/2 Skinny cow chocolate and peanut butter ice cream sandwich

1/2 medium banana

Estimated calories: 128

OVER-ALL CALORIC INTAKE: 744

I have a few things I need to get rid of soon so my meals seem a little repetitious. Yesterday I bought the Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches and they tasted a bit better today than yesterday for some reason...the taste isn't what you would expect. I prefer my ice cream smooth and creamy, but this was more "icy" to me and didn't have much of an ice cream flavor. The cookie sandwich part is pretty good, but over-all the flavors aren't very strong. Tonight I pared half of the sandwich with half of a banana and I liked it much better and cut down calories. I don't know how I'm going to get rid of all of the sandwiched these next couple of days. I've tried to cut back on my sweets and desert intake, especially before Christmas, but I've come to the conclusion I can't cut it out of my life. Instead, I am eating sweets and such in moderation. Christmas is just about 8 days away, but all of the heavy goodies come to me on Christmas Eve and I have confidence that I will do much better this time around than Thanksgiving. Pierogi is a big part of Christmas Eve and also my favorite food, I'm really looking forward to them considering this is the only time this year I believe I will have eaten them. Also, I am looking forward to tomorrow. A Christmas Carol is showing at The Benedum Theatre in Pittsburgh and I will be going with my boyfriend and his musical theater class at CalU. I hear we're going to some kind of dinner event after, hopefully I will find something yummy.

"Reflect on your present blessings, of which every man has many; not on your past misfortunes of which all men have some."

BREAKFAST

1/2 cup Special K Protein Plus cereal

1/4 cup Danon Light and Fit vanilla yogurt

1 small apple

Cinnamon to taste
Mixed together and yum! 
Estimated calories: 204

Got this idea from: http://graduatemeghann.com 

MORNING SNACK 
(Not pictured)  

1 whole-wheat original triscuit  

Estimated calories: 20 

I visited my old high school this morning with my friend Pixie and was really glad I did. I got to talk  to two of my favorite teachers during their lunch break. Mr. Hartz was eating a salad and triscuits for lunch and I had to steal one, just to taste it...I don't think that I've had triscuits before. I saw a few people that were sophomore's when I was a senior and chatted a bit, also nice. Hopefully I will be back to visit soon enough, probably around spring break. The high school is putting on Singing in the Rain as the musical this year and as always I am excited to see the outcome in spring.

LUNCH 
(Not pictured)

I went to Apple Bee's with some friends and ordered my favorite thing there, the oriental chicken salad with grilled chicken, no noodles, and dressing on the side. I was still really full from breakfast so I only ate about half and took the rest with me. 

Estimated calories: 201

AFTER LUNCH DESSERT/SNACK
 (Not pictured)

1 Skinny Cow chocolate and peanut butter ice cream sandwich

Estimated calories: 150 

DINNER 
(Not pictured) 

1/2 of my Apple Bee's salad

1 cup tea purchased at a Dollar General

Estimated calories: 291

SNACKS 
(Not pictured) 

We had a movie night and of course that included lots of goodies, but I chose to stick with chips and chili for dip.

About 6 Tostitos Restaurant Style chips

About 1/8-1/4 cup Cambell's Road House chili 

Estimated calories: 93

At the end of the day I feel stuffed! I think I had a little too much snacking and not enough real food, but I did better than I expected...I'm usually one to pig out with friends. Until I get a new jump rope I think I will be sticking with some yoga for the night.  

OVER-ALL CALORIC INTAKE: 966

"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going."

BREAKFAST 
(Not pictured)

1/2 cup Quacker's oatmeal made with water

1/2 small apple

1 packet of Splenda 

Cinnamon to taste 

Estimated calories: 202  

This was the first time I remember making oatmeal with water instead of milk and personally it wasn't my favorite. Oatmeal made with milk has much more flavor too me, plus it is sweeter. Using water to save calories is a good idea, but I won't use the method as often. 

"LUNCH" (More like dinner)

Burger:

2 slices Sara Lee whole wheat bread

1 Southwest Morning Star veggie burger

4 jalapeno slices

Mustard

Salad:

Lettuce, onion, and tomato

1.5 Tbsp. Kraft fat-free caesar italian dressing

Estimated calories: 288

I haven't had the south west veggie burger until today and I must say that I love it even more than the garden burger! It has a nice taco-like flavor to it. The back of the box suggests adding it to a salad to make a taco salad, which I will have to try. After making the burger I realized that I didn't need to ass anything to it because it already tastes fantastic. 

DINNER/SNACK? 

(Not pictured)  

3/4 cup Danon Light and Fit vanilla yogurt

1 small apple 

Estimated calories: 157 

Originally I was hoping to make a banana smoothie, but the banana's still aren't ripe enough. In a day or two they should be ripened to my liking. 

DESSERT

2 pieces Hershey's special dark miniatures
Estimated calories: 84   

SNACK

(Not pictured) 

I ate this snack a little close to my "lunch", but I was pretty hungry after work and didn't want to wait.

1 celery stalk cut in pieces

2/3 Tbsp. Philidelphia fat-free cream cheese

Estimated calories: 17

I bought a jump rope today in hopes of cardio exercise, but I failed at choosing a good jump rope. I bought the cheapest one I could find without thinking that it looked to light. I got a little bit of a work out with it, but over-all it was too frustrating. I will most likely purchase a beaded rope the next time I'm out.   

OVER-ALL CALORIC INTAKE:749

This is shocking to me considering I'm so full!

"Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are.."

BREAKFAST

French toast:

2 slice Sara Lee whole wheat bread

1/4 cup Egg Beaters

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 packet Splenda

Cinnamon and nutmeg to taste

1/2 medium apple

1 cup 2% milk

Estimated calories: 346

With shopping all day I didn't exactly have time to eat lunch, but I guess it's a good thing considering what I had for dinner tonight!

DINNER

If you know what a Primanti Brother's sandiwich is you know that it is ridiculously good, yet ridiculously bad all at once! Let me explain....

Primanti's sandwich:

2 slices Italian bread

Turkey lunch meat I presume

Provolone cheese

A hand full of fresh cut fries

A nice heap of Amish style cole slaw

1 tall glass of water 

Yes all on one giant sandwich! Normally I wouldn't eat something like this, but it isn't often I go to Primanti's. I ate the entire sandwich! I could have well stopped at half, but the sandwich doesn't travel or re-heat well. Even though I feel like I gained a few punds from one sandwich it was completely worth it. Best sandwich in the world, hands down.

Estimated calories: 775 

Later this evening I had a cup of coffee which may run around 30 calories.

OVER-ALL CALORIC INTAKE: 1,160 

"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."

BRUNCH

Roasted sweet potatoes:

1/2 medium sweet potato cut in wedges, seasoned with no-salt season and ground black pepper

Wrap:

1 "8 whole wheat tortilla

1/2 slice yellow american cheese

Healthy Choice turkey breast lunch meat

1 lettuce leaf

1/2 tbsp. light miracle whip

1 tall glass cranberry flavored water  

Estimated calories: 236

Originally I was going to make sweet potato fries, but this was a shorter process so I went for it instead. Before I go into work this evening I'll probably have a little bit of yogurt and the other half of my banana from yesterday.

"LUNCH"

1 medium apple

3/4 cup Danon Light and Fit vanilla yogurt with 1/8 cup walnuts

Estimated calories: 266

DINNER 

 

Sandwich:

2 slices Sara Lee whole wheat bread 

Healthy choice turkey lunch meat

Mustard

Horse radish sauce

1 cup steamed broccoli and carrots with seasoning

1 tall glass water 

Estimated calories: 257

"DESSERT"

2 Hershey's special dark mini bars

1 Danish cookie

Estimated calories: 128

OVER-ALL CALORIC INTAKE: 887

Tomorrow I finally get to go Christmas shopping for myself. I plan to buy clothes and only clothes because I actually need them. Since June or July I've lost around 23 pounds and went down 4 pants sizes. I have a few things I can wear, but not very much so it will be nice to finally get some things. I'm not looking forward to the holiday crowds though! After shopping I will be going to Matt's house (my boyfriend) to help decorate their tree, which is especially nice because I didn't get to decorate mine this year. I think I'm getting into the holiday spirit. Oh and tomorrow I'm thinking of possibly having french toast for breakfast, it's been too long! If the bananas are ripe enough I may add those on top. I really have a craving for sweets and comfort food this time of the year.

"Mistakes are a fact of life. It is the response to error that counts."

BREAKFAST

Whole wheat low-carb tortilla

1 tbsp. Skippy Natural peanut butter

1/2 large banana sprinkled with cinnamon 

3/4 cup 2% milk (We didn't have much milk left unfortunately) 
Estimated calories: 314

Luckily we should be going grocery shopping tonight. I am in the mood for a veggie burger! I most certainly will be picking those up. Lately I've been eating walnuts, but I think I may switch to almonds this time around. Hopefully I'll find some yummy recipes this afternoon so that I can pick up what I need tonight.  

LUNCH

While out shopping my parents decided to stop at Burger King, so I tried to find some healthier options while there.

(Not pictured) 1 Morning Star veggie burger with lettuce, onions, and mustard

1 Salad (removed cheese as much as possible) with about 2 tbsp. light italian dressing 

1 bottled water  
Estimated calories: 440 

 DINNER 

Chicken salad made with chicken from last nights dinner and fat-free Kraft caesar italian dressing

1 tall glass of cranberry water 

Estimated calories: 200

SNACKS 

6 Reduced fat Wheat Thins

1 tbsp. fat-free Philadelphia cream cheese

Estimated calories: 64 

OVER-ALL CALORIC INTAKE: 1,018

While shopping today I came across sweet potatoes, which I have never had aside from Thanksgiving so tomorrow I will be trying one! Eatingwell.com has some pretty good recipes for them. (and in general)  Most likely I will be trying sweet potato fries. 1/2 of the sweet potato I bought cut up, drizzles with olive oil, and seasoned with some no salt seasoning I have. There are a ton of whole wheat tortillas left that I need to eat soon so I will be making a turkey lunch meat wrap to go with the fries. 

"Do-so" is more important than "say-so."

I'm starting this blog in hopes to inspire and get ideas from others on healthy living. I also think that a visual food journal will be more helpful in my journey. While searching on Self.com I came across a food blog written by their nutritionist and will be using similar ideas in my own blog. Each day I will track my food intake along with pictures if possible. Not only is this blog about food intake, it's about over-all health--fitness and emotional well being included.

BRUNCH

 

Scrambled eggs: 

1/2 cup Egg Beaters, chopped broccoli, onion, tomato, and ground black pepper

1 slice Sara Lee Whole Wheat toasted bread

1/2 macintosh apple sliced

1 tall glass water flavored with sugar free Great Value cranberry drink mix 

Estimate calories: 194

DINNER

Not a very good picture, sorry.

1/2 oven roasted chicken breast with seasoning (Half of portion shown)

About 1 cup roasted vegetables with seasoning

1 tall glass of cranberry flavored water 

Estimated calories: 302

DESSERT

(Not pictured) 1 large home made chocolate chip cookie

Estimated calories: 196

SNACKS 

(Not pictured) I had a little slip while seeing A Christmas Carol tonight and had half of a snickers bar. 

Estimated calories: 140 

1/2 apple from brunch sprinkled with cinnamon

Estimated calories: 54

OVER-ALL CALORIC INTAKE: 879

Tomorrow I plan on taking the half of portion of chicken I didn't finish from dinner and make a chicken salad. Yum, yum. I will try to stray away from the sweets tomorrow, but they really are my down fall!