Lighter Sloppy Joes

There are some foods you think you can't have when you're eating healthy. Burgers, pizza, anything fried or whatever. This is not happening for me I can tell you that much. If I deprive myself, 99% of the time I'll end up cheating and bingeing on crazy unhealthy foods. So, I try to make awesome favourites into healthy options. Take the sloppy joe! Not usually associated with healthy foods, but hey, we all deserve a second chance. So here I present, the lighter sloppy joe, with a nice Southern twist!

1 Tbsp Canola Oil
1 Onion, Chopped
1 Garlic Clove, Minced
1 Tsp Chili Powder
½ Tsp Oregano
¾ lb Ground Turkey (Lean)
1 (7oz) Can of Mexican-style Corn
1 ½ Cups Mild Salsa
1 Tbsp Brown Sugar
4 Hamburger Rolls (Low-Cal Whole Wheat Preferrably)
Dash of Hot Sauce

Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Swirl in the oil, and then add the onion and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the chili powder and oregano and cook for 1 more minute. Add the ground turkey and corn; cook until mixture is nearly dry, about 4 minutes. Stir in the salsa and sugar and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened and the turkey is cooked through, 4-5 minutes longer.

Spoon over opened rolls and serve!


Approx. 385 Calories (3/4 Cup Mixture Over 1 Roll)

Skinny Pizza Pockets

This is one of my own creations. I love pizza. I would pick pizza over a hundred dollar dish from a Michelin star restaurant. 'Cause I'm classy like that. There's just something about the sauce, and the cheese, and the sauce...and the CHEESE.

So, I came up with the skinny pizza pocket when I was in the midst of one serious craving for high-cal pizza pie. This rings in at under 400 calories for the entire thing as opposed to 250 calories for a small piece of a medium pizza. Let's face it, there's no way your getting away without taking another slice. I've tried. And failed miserably.

2 6” Tortilla Shells (100 Calories Each)
1 Tbsp Pizza Sauce
¼ Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Veggies/Meat of Choice
Cooking Spray

Lay one tortilla on a plate. Spread pizza sauce over tortilla like a pizza. Sprinkle cheese and filling. Cover with other tortilla. Place quesadilla type pocket onto a pan, lightly coated with cooking spray, over medium heat. Flip pocket when the bottom is golden. Continue cooking until the other side is also golden. Serve slice in half and hot!

Approx. 359 Calories (Per Cheese Only Pocket)

Oven "Fried" Cajun Cod Fillets

Today's Tip: Don't give up if you have a sudden binge! I do it all the time (I know, I know). BUT, you only fail if you quit! So stay on the wagon, aim for progress, not perfection!

I posted a few desserts, so lets get back to entrees and find you somethin' to eat for dinner tomorrow! One of my favourite light meals is fish, almost any kind. This recipe is golden, there's nothing like a crispy crust around your food...thank goodness this one only tastes deep fried!

6 Large Cod Fillets (About 5oz Each)
2/3 Cup Buttermilk
Grated Lemon Zest (1 Lemon)
3 Cups Special K or Corn Flake Crumbs (Ground Into Fine Crumbs)
¼ Cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 Tbsp Fresh Chopped Parsley
1 ½ Tbsp Cajun Seasoning
Cooking Spray

Preheat oven to 450F. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside.

Pat cod fillets dry with a paper towel. Whisk together buttermilk and lemon zest in a shallow bowl or casserole dish. Add cod fillets and turn to coat both sides with buttermilk mixture. Let stand for 10 minutes.

In another bowl, combine cereal crumbs, parmesan cheese, parsley and Cajun seasoning.

Working one piece at a time, remove cod from buttermilk mixture and shake off excess liquid. Press one side of the fish into crumb mixture until completely coated. Place fish, crumbed side up, onto prepared pan. Repeat with remaining cod pieces. Lightly spray finished fillets with cooking spray.

Bake for 10-15 minutes, until fish flakes easily with a fork.

Approx. 206 Calories (Per Fillet)

Skinny Girl's Cheesecake

I know. You can't say no to cheesecake.

Me neither.

So, here is an excellent and super easy recipe to make cheesecake that won't leave you feeling like you cheated!

8 Oz Cool Whip Fat-Free
1 Package Fat-Free or Light Cream Cheese
9 Inch Reduced Fat Graham Cracker Crust
6 Splenda Packets 
2 Tsp. Vanilla
Favourite Fruit For Topping

In a large bowl, whip together light cream cheese, vanilla & Splenda until your mixture has a fluffy texture.  Fold in the Cool Whip and whip until smooth.  Spoon the creamy mixture into the pie crust and chill in the fridge until firm (a few hours should do it).  Arrange your fruit on top of the cheesecake and serve!

Approx. 200 Calories (Per 1 of 8 Slices)

Guilt-Free Black Bean Brownies

If you're like me, you have an insatiable craving for CHOCOLATE. Every kind. Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, nutella, truffles, cake...yeah, I know I'm not helping. BUT this recipe will definitely help! I came across the idea online to use vegetables in chocolate cake recipes including black beans and zucchini. This is a fantastic recipe for black bean brownies! Honestly, all you taste is chocolatey goodness, no veggies!

1 (15.5 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
3 eggs
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 pinch salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon instant coffee (optional)
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease an 8x8 square baking dish.

Combine the black beans, eggs, oil, cocoa powder, salt, vanilla extract, sugar, and instant coffee in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top of the mixture.

Bake in the pre-heated oven until the top is dry and the edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan, which takes about 30 minutes.

Approx. 126 Calories (Per Brownie)

Easy Meal Ideas

Sometimes, we don't have the time to research recipes and find one that is healthy, with few ingredients or that doesn't take long to make. So I'd like to offer a bunch of simple ideas for your meals that will keep you on track with your healthy eating and offer simple convenience.

Breakfast

Eggs - 2 Soft-Boiled Eggs & Half a Whole-Wheat English Muffin (Approx. 205 Calories)
Parfait - 1 Serving Vanilla Flavoured Greek Yogurt & 1/4 Cup Granola (Approx. 213 Calories)
Strawberry French Toast - 1 Slice Whole-Wheat Bread Dipped in 1 Beaten Egg & Cooked in 1 tsp Butter + 1 Cup Sliced Strawberries (Approx. 300 Calories)
Fruit & Nut Bagel - 1/2 Whole-Wheat Bagel, 1/2 Banana & 1 tbsp Natural Peanut Butter (Approx. 250 Calories)

Or 1 Serving (follow the portion guidelines!) of your favourite cereal with skim milk.

Lunch/Dinner

Cheese Quesadilla - 2 8" Whole-Wheat Tortillas, 1/4 Cup Reduced-Fat Shredded Cheddar, Cooked in Nonfat Cooking Spray with 1/4 Cup Salsa & 2 tbsp Nonfat Plain Greek Yogurt (Approx. > 400 Calories)
BBQ Chicken Flatbread - 1 High Fiber Flatbread, Pita or Wrap (Around 100 Calories Per Bread), 1/4 Cup BBQ Sauce (Any Low Sugar Variety), 1/2 Cup Chicken, Fully Cooked And Chopped Into Cubes, 1/4 Cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (Or Feta Cheese), 1/8 Cup Thinly Sliced Red Onion & Optional Veggies Of Choice For Additional Toppings (Approx. 300 Calories)
Grilled Cheese Sandwich - Use Whole Wheat Bread, Margarine & 1 Pre-Sliced Cheese, Skim or Reduced Fat (Approx. >300 Calories)
Any Lean-Cuisine! 


Snacks


Any 100 Calorie Serving of Your Favourite Snack Food!

Any food can make a healthy meal if you eat the proper servings and measure! Try to keep each meal around 400-500 calories MAX, but do not go over 1,600 or under 1,200 if you are planning on weight loss. I personally stick to around 1,200 but I am 5', 4" and 125lbs. It depends on YOU and your lifestyle! I recommend using a calorie calculator and finding your recommended daily intake for maintenance or weight-loss.

Whole Wheat Donut Muffins

I've seen a bunch of these donut-muffin hybrid recipes floating around the internet (and on Pinterest!), anyways, I decided to make it a little healthier. I subbed in whole wheat flour for white flour and margarine for butter - and they tasted JUST as delicious! 


Easy Whole Wheat Donut Muffins 

Dough
1/2 Cup White Sugar (or Splenda)
1/4 Cup Margarine, Melted
1/4 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
1/2 Cup Milk
1/2 Teaspoon Of Vanilla Extract
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1 Cup All-Purpose Flour (Whole Wheat)

Topping
1/4 Cup Margarine, Melted
1/2 Cup White Sugar
1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

Or you can make a glazed donut version with a glaze mixture of icing sugar, water & vanilla!

Preheat oven to 375F. In a large bowl mix – 1/2 cup of sugar, 1/4 cup of margarine and nutmeg. Add in milk, vanilla, baking powder and flour and mix till smooth. Place batter into a greased muffin tin – makes about 6. Cook for 15 minutes (top will be golden brown). In a small bowl mix sugar and cinnamon.  Take each muffin and dip into melted margarine and rolling in the sugar. Enjoy!

Approx. 160 Calories (Per Muffin)