Healthy Choices #FrozenFacts #Spon

This whole no dairy/no soy diet, or the jailbird diet as our pediatrician referred to it, is tricky but not totally impossible.  And, thankfully, it is forcing me to eat healthy which is really a pretty great side effect. 

The only thing is, that it cuts out the majority of “convenience” foods (blue box mac & cheese, for one!) but it doesn’t TOTALLY limit my options. ConAgra Foods, makers of Healthy Choice and Marie Callender’s foods, provide GREAT options, as I have come to find out.  I didn’t realize that these brands, specifically, use fresh vegetables and meat in their preparations – I was always under the impression that all frozen foods were highly processed.  Since most of what I eat right now is “clean” it’s great to know that there are still “convenience” options available!

 

(yay top chef!)

In fact, my lunch was ready today in 4 minutes.  How’s that for convenience?

I have also never been a huge fan of prepared/packaged frozen meals because I just assumed they were going to taste terrible.  Not true!  The Healthy Choice meal I had for lunch today was seriously SO GOOD.  I could really taste the freshness and I can’t tell you how happy I was about this.

Also, it was really easy to prepare – the directions were simple – and the packaging was sturdy that I wasn’t worried that my food was going to fall on the floor the minute I took the thing out of the microwave!

I mentioned that eating healthier is something that has happened by default with my “forced” diet change – but something that is really nice about the Healthy Choice meal is that it is one serving.  No worries about portion size or wasting food – and I was truly full when I was finished.  We all know portion control is a huge key to weight loss and healthy eating, so it’s nice that not only are the ingredients fresh, the food is tasty but the portion sizes are perfect.  Healthy Choice and Marie Callender’s have more than 80 meal options under 400 calories!

A little background on the video below from ConAngra:

Healthy Choice and Marie Callender’s created a video that follows two women on the adventures of their daily lives, imagining how new technologies will impact their routines, especially in the grocery store. From apps that store your grocery list to recipe research on Pinterest, the landscape of shopping is quickly changing. With various resources available to consumers, they are now, more than ever, interested in learning where their food is coming from.

And just in time for National Frozen Food Month (March), these brands are helping shoppers to predict the future of shopping for frozen food!

 

I am absolutely going to add Healthy Choice meals in to my work lunch and quick-dinner rotation!

ConAgra Foods frozen meals give families access to real ingredients like crunchy, freshly cut vegetables, homemade pasta and ripe fruit year-round. Just like most people blanch veggies before freezing them – ConAgra Foods does too – to help preserve color, texture and keep them fresh!

Give it a try sometime! Marie Callender’s hearty pot pies are filled with tender meat, freshly cut vegetables and Marie’s authentic golden, flaky crust. And Healthy Choice recipes use chef-inspired ingredients like, apples instead of sugar for tart sweetness and a splash of red wine for a punch of flavor instead of added salt.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of ConAgra Foods.

I weeerk out

If you follow me on twitter (I know you do…..) then you have noticed a trend recently.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday I work out. On the elliptical (that used to be more of a clothes holder). For at least 20 minutes.

Because I was tired of complaining (usually to Mike) about the flabby-ness that’s been going on up in here. And getting increasingly more flabby over the past few months.  Of rather, fluffy, as I usually refer to it as.  If I didn’t just START DOING IT – I was going to keep whining and the fluff wouldn’t be going anywhere.

So I did what anyone would do. I scheduled it. So at 8:30 (if I haven’t started it yet) I am reminded to get to working out. If it’s not on my calendar, it’s not going to happen and you can guarantee yourself that I already forgot about it.  So this seemed like a pretty logical step.

I’ve also been using myfitnesspal to track calories.  It’s good and bad.  Good because it keeps me accountable.  Bad because it keeps me accountable.

I’m not really trying to lose weight (inches, yes!) but to make myself feel good (and extra energy!) about how I look.

And, it’s something I can control right now.  there are plenty of things about my life that I have ZERO control over, but this, is all mine.  It’s all on me and I think I really needed something to take the edge off of the stress.

Tonight I am going to try zumba (they have it at the studio G dances at) with my mom and sisters. I have a feeling we will laugh a lot more than we will zumba, but I kind of hope that I like it! And that I don’t die.

so, I’m back to working out. or weeerkin’ out. or whatever.

Friday Night Leftovers

• I got my very first new car this past weekend. It.is.awesome.  The one thing I will miss about my old car? The gas mileage, for someone who drives 60 miles a day, that was kind of a big deal.  I still get good mileage, just not AS good.
• It has been a busy, but productive week. I am so thankful it’s friday – tomorrow I am getting my hair cut, eye brows waxed, a pedicure and a shellac manicure.  GIRL TIME!!
• The Big Bang Theory is seriously such a damn funny show.  I laugh so hard every time I watch it.
• The iPhone is a fun new toy.  I need to get a case for it though, any suggestions of something not too bulky?
• The preschool hunt has begun – I can’t even believe that I just typed that. 
• things have been BUSY on this old blog – lots of giveaways and reviews and fun things going on.  don’t forget to check out the UPrinting giveaway – it ends on the 18th!
• Had my SIS this week, as expected, all looks okay – small amount of scar tissue but nothing of concern.  I feel better knowing and ready to get on with the process!
• Tried a salted caramel mocha from Sbux this week – omg it was way better than expected!
• I wish we could effectively meal plan – with all 3 of us being home for dinner maybe 1 night a week, it doesn’t usually work too well.  Our grocery budget needs some serious work.
• Once we get back from vacation, Dave Ramsey method is going into full force – I think (know) it will cut out a lot of the unnecessary spending.
• My face is broken out like a teenage girl. It is freaking insane. And annoying.
• the midsection fluffy-ness is getting out of control, must work on that as well.
• Go check out Danifred and the other leftover-ers!

LeanGreenYOU Bootcamp–Week 1

Also titled: holy shit I am in a bikini on the internet.

(you have been warned)

I am SO excited to work with Jennifer McCay and the other bootcamp participants over the next 6 weeks as we learn how to live a more healthy life as busy moms and lose some weight in the process.

Normally, I am not a internet-video watcher, but this? THIS is amazing! Jennifer has prepared videos of the week’s lessons for participants to watch each week. And to boot, there are documents that I can print out & use all the time for reference and to keep me in check.

The big goal of this week is goal setting (or benchmarks) and focused on eating – especially what to eat & the importance of adding one healthy meal (breakfast) to each day. This.Is.So.Hard.For.Me since I drink coffee for breakfast usually. But you know what? I feel so much better, more awake and more energized when I eat oatmeal (with my coffee, am not totally crazy). It’s not like I didn’t know breakfast was a big deal, but I guess I didn’t realize how big of a deal it was.

I am going to weigh in every week, but really it’s the size of my clothes/how they fit that matter to me.

So. here it is. Thunderthighs & muffintop in all their glory. (please ignore the messy bedroom)

Day 1/Week1 June 12, 2011

Hold me accountable because I am going to need it!

If you are a part of the leangreenYOU bootcamp, I’d LOVE to hear how it’s going for you! the more accountability I can have – the better! I’d love to hear from you regardless, though!