First off is this super yummy "Green Monster Spinach Smoothie". You can find the recipe by following this link. The nutrition information on the blog says 350 calories. I can validate this with MyFitnessPal. Mine comes ups at 348 calories and makes for a pretty good breakfast that sticks with you about four hours. However, the grams of sugar aren't listed anywhere on the site I linked and I was a bit shocked to see 24 grams of sugar total when I checked it on on MyFitnessPal. Most of it comes from the banana. Obviously. But then again I'm sometimes naive. But do not fear. I'm pretty sure almost any kind of fruit you want can be blended in to drop the sugar and calorie content. For example, a cup of strawberries (halved) is 49 calories and only 7.1 grams of sugar. Compared to a medium banana which weighs in at 110 calories and 18 grams of sugar. Jeebus! Granted, I'm am pretty sure the banana is what makes this tasty. I mean, banana and peanut butter? Yes, please! I'd suggest an apple but though they are about 75 calories with the skin on they also contain 20 grams of sugar. Not exactly a good trade off. So, take a look at some fruits you might like and see what works for you. But be sure to look at that sugar content. Though it is a natural sugar you'll still want to watch how much you consume. You certainly don't want your breakfast putting you at your daily limit.
This skillet lasagna recipe hails from this little blog here. It's an adaptation from a Weight Watchers cookbook recipe. Calories per serving added up to 275 for one cup. If you plan your eating right you could easily consume two guilt free cups for only 550 calories. Win! Not only was this extremely tasty but it was easy as well. Warning, it's a non-meat dish so if you are looking for animal protein here you're only getting it from cheese. But don't let that deter you. I love a meaty lasagna just like the next girl but trust me, you won't miss it. It calls for ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen (with the exception of ricotta cheese) and is done in about 30 minutes. You literally only use two pans. One to cook your noddles and one to cook your other stuff. I also chose to go with a whole wheat noodle instead of your typical white flour noodle. I actually like whole wheat better. Plus, it's less processed and loaded with fiber. You should always choose 100% whole wheat over something that says whole grain if presented with a choice. Including bread. Whole grain is a gimmick word and boils down to your whole wheat being mixed with processed grains which A) defeats the purpose of eating whole grains and B) cheats you on essential nutrients while tricking you into thinking you are doing good. I also broke the noddles into about one inch long pieces before cooking so they would be easier to handle when eating. And since I didn't have two cans of Italian diced tomatoes I just used one can of those and a can of tomato sauce. So, you do have some wiggle room here and that's something I do like in a recipe. Another plus to this meal? It's kid friendly. My 11 month old gobbled it up. I may or may not have added extra fresh grated mozzarella. Who doesn't like extra cheesy goodness on their pasta? It doesn't look pretty like the picture but it sure is tasty. I will definitely make this again.
If you have any links to recipes that fit the profile I'm looking for I'd love to try them. Just leave it in comment. :)
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