Newsletter, week of February 4th

Last Week

Whether it's a comfort food for the season, or a food that reminds you of your youth, you CAN incorporate it into your new eating plan. Remember the ideas we talked about last week, and you'll be able to eat the foods you love and still lose weight.

This Week

Chocolate is good for your heart! Wine is a fruit! Hey, you don't have to make up an excuse to indulge in a treat, but don't let it get out of hand. This week we'll talk about why treats are good and how to control them so we don't go overboard.

WW Product of the Week

One Point Mini Bars - Got a taste for a Milky Way but don't want to spend the Points? Our chocolate caramel mini bar is the perfect alternative. Craving s'mores but you know bringing chocolate bars, marshmallows and graham crackers into the house is a fool's errand? Our s'mores mini bar is a safer way to go. Do you miss grandma's oatmeal raisin cookies? Try our oatmeal raisin mini bar. $7.50 per box

Non-WW Product of the Week

My food needs flavor. Hey, I don't get to eat a lot of it, so I'm not going to waste my time eating things that taste bland. So I like to use lots of herbs and spices when I cook. Spice blends are great, because you don't need to have twenty million bottles in your cabinet, and they are pretty versatile. I recommend products like Mrs. Dash Seasoning Blends, Cavender's Greek Spice Blend or Spike.

Recipe of the Week

Tex-Mex Meatloaf
Serves 6
4 Points and Core

1-1/2 pounds ground lean beef (5% fat or less)
1/2 cup prepared chunky fat-free salsa
1 egg white, lightly beaten
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp dried oregano
3/4 tsp ground cumin
3/4 tsp salt
1 cup shredded fat-free cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350, and spray a loaf pan with nonstick spray.

Combine meat, half the salsa, the egg white and all the seasonings in a large bowl, mixing until blended. Transfer half of the mixture to the pan. Top with the cheese, leaving a border along the edge. Put the rest of the meat mixture on top, and spread the remaining salsa over it.

Bake until the temperature in the center of the loaf reads 160,about 60-70 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before slicing.

Tip of the Week

If you regularly journal your food intake, hang on to that information. Had a great weight loss? You can look back and see all the things you did to make it happen. Feel like you're hitting a plateau? Time to analyze what you're eating and see if changes are needed. (And if you need help with that one, I will be happy to review your journal and give you some suggestions.)

Quote of the Week

"The greatest tragedies were written by the Greeks and by Shakespeare. Neither knew chocolate. The Swiss are known for nonviolence. They are also known for superb chocolate." - Sandra Boynton