PB&J not just for Kids anymore!

Some of my favorite childhood memories are Saturday mornings.  They were great, stretched out on the floor watching Scooby-do and Johnny Quest!  The perfect end to the lazy morning was a mom-made peanut-butter and jelly sandwich; life was good!

Where am I going with this little trip down memory lane?  Lunch.  I was trolling my favorite sites for new lunch ideas tonight and I kept coming up with an old friend, or variations on an old friend.  As with everything else, my childhood favorite seems to have grown up and thinned down. 

Here are some examples:

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

1. Take 2 regular slices of white bread (138)
2. Top one slice with 2 Tbsp peanut butter — chunky, creamy, reduced-fat, and natural all have about the same calories, so choose what you like (188)
3. Spread the other slice with 2 Tbsp of your favorite jelly (100)
4. Press the halves together

Total calories: 426

Grilled Almond Butter and Berry Sandwich

1. Take two slices of whole grain bread (160)
2. Make your own jam! Mash 1/4 pint fresh raspberries and spread it on one slice of whole grain bread (29)
3. Spread the other slice with 2 Tbsp almond butter (203)
4. Lightly coat outsides of bread with cooking spray. Place sandwich on large nonstick griddle or skillet over medium-low heat. Cook 5 to 7 minutes, turning halfway through, to brown both sides. Cut in half and serve.
Total calories: 392

0 waistline-friendly combos that satisfy midday hunger

PB&B Sandwich
1. Take a toasted whole wheat English muffin (136)
2. Spread each half with 1 Tbsp peanut butter (188 per 2 Tbsp)
3. Top each half with 1/4 cup sliced banana (66)
4. Eat as an open-faced sandwich with a side of 20 blueberries (16)
Total calories: 406

 

Peanut Butter and Jelly Spirals

	Source: dLife Peanut butter and jelly combined in a whole-wheat tortilla.   Rating:  Time: 2 minutes Cook Time: 1 minutes Difficulty: EASY   Ingredients 1 low carb tortilla (10-inch) , 7 1/2-inch diameter   1 1/2 tbsp reduced fat peanut butter   1 tbsp Fruit Spread, strawberry, 100% fruit         (or your favorite flavor) Directions 1 Place a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat for about 1 minute, or until warm. 2 Throw the tortilla in the skillet, cooking for 20 to 30 seconds per side or until just warm. 3 Place the tortilla on a cutting board. Spread the surface evenly with peanut butter followed by the fruit spread. Roll into a tube. 4 Slice into 8 equal pieces, placing onto a serving plate spiral side up. Serve immediately. Additional Information A different take on a childhood favorite, these peanut butter and jelly spirals can be made in practically no time at all.   Okay, so those recipes are from the wonderful folks at Prevention and Dlife!  Which tells us what?  That if I can find a television station running Scooby and Johnny Quest, I am set for Saturday!!  And it will even be on plan!!! Ya gotta love that!

Step Out with Team Freedom!

Two more donations came in today for Team Freedom for the Step Out Walk!  Yea!!  That makes me so happy and excited!

I am really looking forward to this whole experience!  Not only because it's another 5K, but because it is taking an active role in the fight against Diabetes on a more global level.  Yes, I struggle with it every day.  And yes, sometimes when I write about it here I may sound flippant and off hand about it.  But please do understand, I am anything but that!

 Team Freedom is walking and raising money to further Diabetes research.  We have come so far in the last few years, new monitors, new insulin and medications; but there is still so very much further to go.


Okay, I know this isn't my normal entry; but really, isn't this what my entire journey is all about?  The fight against Diabetes and Obesity?  I suited up a few months ago and this is just one more battle in my ongoing war against . . .myself?


This research is important:

Diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death listed on U.S. death certificates in 2006.

Every 20 seconds someone is diagnosed with diabetes? 
That's 4,320 people in a 24-hour time period! 

I'm sorry to get 'up on my soapbox' and go on a bit of a rant, but this is important stuff.  Just as important, if not more important than anything else I have ever undertaken.

If you come out that day, sign up with Team Freedom and join us!  If you can't be there on October 16th, then go to our team page and become a virtual walker for the team by making a donation!  Everyone can do something!

 

Step Out with Team Freedom

My Apologies

With everything going on yesterday I totally forgot to give you the weigh in report.

It is my sad duty to report to you that we once more have a broken scale. It appears to be stuck in the same spot it was last week.

Now, I have heard of shoddy workmanship before, but this is ridiculous!  Who is inspecting these things before they leave the plant of manufacturing?  Someone was obviously asleep the day that this scale passed right under their nose with an obvious problem!

That is my story, and I am sticking to it!!

THINK TRANSFORM THRIVE

Today was sort of a weird day for me.  The Boy and I attended a College informational session for a University that he wants to go to.  It shouldn't have been as much of a shock to me as it was, he's been hearing from Colleges for almost a year and he and his uncle visited this same University during Spring Break.  Nevertheless, as I was sitting there listening to this woman extol the wonders of the University all I could think of was that soon my 'baby' will be out of the nest.

Yeah, I know, I'm a sap.  I want him to go, I'm excited for him to explore all the opportunities that are going to open to him.  I want him to thrive.

Thrive, now there's a good word.  A strong word.  It is also part of the brochure that we were given at our meeting today. 

THINK       TRANSFORM           THRIVE

While those words apply to my Oh So Charming Son, and his quest for the perfect College.  I believe that they are perhaps the hallmark of our new lifestyle.

Think.  Thinking is much more a part of even the simplest of tasks now.  We have to think about what we are going to be eating.  I have to think about my blood sugar levels throughout the day.  We have to think and be so much more involved with ourselves and each other than we were before.

Transform.  That would be the process that we are currently involved in.  Transforming our lifestyle and our beings.  This is the more obvious change that the world at large is seeing.

Thrive.  Now here is the pay off!  This is the princess at the end of the quest (or prince, whichever floats your boat!).  To not only embrace your new lifestyle, but to revel in it to the point that you can thrive!

It's come down to this.  Part of my job as a parent, is to show my son, that he can achieve what he sets out to do.  What better way to do that than to achieve my goals here; as impossible as they may be sometimes.

Think  Transform  Thrive.  I'm thinking I've found a new mantra! 

The loss of Zen

Part of the new lifestyle makeover is Zenness.  (Is that a word?)  If not, I've just made it one.

I tend to be a little high-strung (hard to believe, right), and I have noticed, that when I get really upset, my blood sugars go totally wonky (another Katie word, I'm racking them up tonight).  So, I have been attempting to be calm, or Zen.

When I stay calm and relaxed, by numbers stay where they should.  Sounds simple right?  Yeah, in a perfect world.  Does anyone know where to find a perfect world?  I seem to have misplaced mine.

Today started so well, I was bopping down the road in my little yellow bug, with the rain coming down.)  I love rainy days!  Shortly after arriving at work, the day went down the drain with all the pretty little rain drops. 

After a horrible, terrible, rotten, no good, very bad day, I got into my little yellow volksy to head home.  You know what?  It is impossible to be upset and unhappy in a joyful little yellow bug!

By the time I got home, my Zen was back, and my blood sugar numbers were all back in line!  Happy, happy, joy, joy!!!

Happiness IS a little yellow bug!!

Cranberry Disaster!

Cruising down the road this morning, I happened to notice that one of the gas stations had an announcement on their marquee that said "Pumpkin Spice Cappuccino is back!"  I pointed this out to my mom, who was in the car with me.  She loves the pumpkin spiced coffees.

Of course the mention of "Pumpkin Coffee" made me think of fall and coffee, and that brought my mind to Starbucks.  AAhhh Starbucks. . . I do miss Starbucks.  In the fall when the Pumpkin coffees come out so does one of my all time favorite treats.  THE CRANBERRY BLISS BAR!

I love those bars!  Personally, I think they are better than chocolate!  As I was anticipating the annual introduction of my favorite treat, a horrible thought struck me.  I can not have them any more!  Hold the phone!  No more Cranberry Bliss Bars!  We may have to rethink this new eating regime!

I think this is one of those crossroads moments.  You know, a moment when you are forced to decide how committed you are to the road you are on.  Do you go the distance or do you step off and take the easy way out? 


I actually gave this some thought today.  Think about it, the easy way means, Starbucks, coffee, chocolate, french fries and burgers, and best of all, CRANBERRY BLISS BARS!  the current path mean no bliss bars.  Is there life with no bliss bars?

I did a little checking to see what the nutritional information is for the little bites of bliss to see if they were perhaps acceptable:  18 grams of fat and 38 grams of carbs!  No wonder I love them so much; they are really, really, REALLY not good for me!!

But then I thought to myself:  "Self, you have worked way too hard to get to where you are.  Are you really going to let a stupid little bit of sugar and fat screw you over now?"

Sometimes I hate it when I'm logical!!

Menu Planning

One of the most wonderful things (I think)) about the Dtour plan is the ease of meal planning and grocery shopping.  You can plan your meals online, switching out meals as you'd like, and when you are done, you hit a button and wa-la ~ Shopping list!  No muss, no fuss!  Ya gotta love that!

While we still follow the Dtour plan, every now and then, we 'dtour' ourselves and switch recipes out for new ones.  That was the plan for the evening.

Normally it is not that difficult; actually, it's a task I rather enjoy.  Tonight was a bit of a different story.  I could not figure out what to put together for some meals.  I know how to do it; Ive actually become quite adept at it.  But for some reason, my mind went blank.

Of course, it didn't help that The Boy was advocating for Subway.  I swear, he would eat Subway for every meal if he could.  I don't think he would ever get sick of it.  The child is a bit deranged!

When I was finally finished I was going back over the list and I noticed something really rather funny; I had almost 2/3rd of a page of vegetables on the list!  When I started counting there were 8 - no lie - 8 packages of salad greens on there!!  I may be in danger of becoming a rabbit!!

There were only 4 entries for meat on the entire list and I guess it goes without saying that there were no cakes, cookies, or snack treats.

There was about a 1/2 of fruits, and actually quite a few nuts and seeds.  I'm telling you, there is a real possibility that I may soon sprout fur and begin to hop about wiggling my cute little nose!!