Mostly A Good Day

I almost made it through the day where I didn't put extra food in my mouth at non-meal times. (Just typing that out makes me feel ridiculous...) I ended up eating some pretzels with lentil dip before dinner, and some cinnamon flavored baking chips after dinner because I had a major sweet tooth. Tomorrow, my plans are to drink more water during the day and eat every 3-4 hours. Although I am having dinner at my in-laws, so I will do the best I can.


BREAKFAST (8:30 am)

Strawberry Muesli:

1 cup strawberries, sliced
1/2 cup Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal
6 oz. Chobani brand honey vanilla Greek yogurt
2 TBSP chopped peanuts
Dash cloves


LUNCH (1:30 pm)

Zesty Bean and Summer Slaw Bread Salad:

1 cup shredded cabbage, 3/4 cup shredded carrot, and 2 TBSP chopped red onion
1 slice rye bread, chopped
½ cup great northern beans
¼ of an avocado, chopped
1 TBSP orange juice, 2 TBSP rice vinegar, ½ tsp celery seed, sprinkle of pepper

This was a modified version of the Zesty Bean and Summer Slaw Pita recipe in the Cinch book. I am becoming bored with the recipes, and I am also on a rye bread kick lately, so I jazzed this one up. It was really good.

I had my daily dark chocolate right after lunch.


SNACK (4:45 pm)

Plum with Yogurt and Cinnamon:

1 plum, peeled and sliced
No whole grain
6 oz. Chobani brand very berry Greek yogurt
1 TBSP slivered almonds and 1 TBSP PB & Co Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter
Dash Vietnamese cinnamon

YUM!


DINNER (7:30 pm)

Tuscan Panzenella Salad:

½ cup cup chopped cucumber, 1 vine-ripened chopped tomato, ¼ cup chopped red onion, and 1 chopped beet
2 TBSP whole grain croutons
½ cup great northern beans
¼ of an avocado, chopped
Dash balsamic vinegar and dash dried basil


I was inspired yet again by California Pizza Kitchen's salad menu, so I modified this one to meet the Cinch plan. I thought it was OK. Hubby didn't like it... said it was "too beany".

A quick follow-up on my "becoming bored with the recipes" comment above. Although the recipes in the book really are quite delicious, I wish a Cinch cookbook would come out. I have been an avid meal planner for years, and I find a lot of satisfaction in keeping up the variety of foods for myself and my family. Lately, I have been spending a lot of time searching for new recipes to try. I even made a list of Spring foods to incorporate into my next grocery list and meal planning, including:

Apricots
Cherries
Radishes
Cherry Tomatoes
Asparagus
Zucchini
Fennel
Scallops
New Potatoes
Okra
Sugar Snap Peas
Kumquats

I love Spring!

Day 1 - Starting Over Again

Wow... Other than the burger I had last Thursday, I've actually done quite well over the past few days that I have been missing again. My son was sick all last week with a double ear infection. It was the most awful thing to see his poor little eyes crying out in pain. I was off of work most of last week taking care of him since he could not go to daycare with a fever. What a relief that he is feeling better today.

I've absolutely had no time to post my Cinch meals over the past few days, but I'm attempting to start again. In exactly 30 days is my son's 2nd birthday and also the date that I set for myself back in January to reach my weight loss goal. I am 6 lbs away from that goal. Here goes the next 30 days! (And then, I'd like to start toning for summer...)

BREAKFAST (8:30 am)

Maple Almond Plum Toast with Milk:

1 plum, peeled and sliced
1 slice whole grain bread, toasted
8 oz. skim milk
1 TBSP Justin’s maple almond butter
Dash nutmeg

LUNCH (1:00 pm)

Asian Sesame Chicken Wrap:

1/2 cup sliced red bell pepper, 1 cup sugar snap peas, 1/2 cup shredded carrots
1 whole grain tortilla wrap
3 oz. cooked chicken breast
1/2 TBSP sesame oil plus 1 TBSP slivered almonds
Dash pepper


I had my daily dark chocolate right after lunch.


SNACK (4:30 pm)

Kimi Nutmeg Almond Crunch:

1 kiwi, peeled and sliced
No whole grain
1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese
2 TBSP slivered almonds
Dash nutmeg


WORKOUT (6:15 pm)

30 minute workout on the elliptical trainer


DINNER (7:00 pm)

Chicken Fajitas:

1/2 cup sauteed onion, 1/2 cup all-natural salsa, and 1 cup sauteed red, green, and yellow bell pepper strips
1 whole grain tortilla wrap
3 oz. cooked chicken breast
1/4 cup Wholly guacamole
Dash cumin

And I had about 8-10 tortilla chips while I was cooking. I was starving!

Day 14 - I Love Plums!

I tried a plum today for the very first time, and I'm in love. It might be my new favorite fruit. Before the Cinch diet, I was never a huge fruit person. I would usually eat my traditional favorites (bananas, strawberries, apples, pineapple, grapes), but I wouldn't venture out and try new fruits.

Today was pretty good on my diet for the most part. (I had too many chips with dinner.)

BREAKFAST (8:30 am):

Almond Butter Plum Toast with Yogurt:

1 plum, peeled and sliced
1 slice whole grain bread
6 oz. honey vanilla Greek yogurt
1 TBSP Justin’s honey almond butter
Dash nutmeg

This might be my new favorite breakfast. I’ve never tried a plum before, and wow, was it delicious!




LUNCH (1:00 pm)

Spinach Walnut Bleu Cheese Pita:

1 cup fresh spinach and 1 large chopped plum tomato
1/2 whole grain pita
1/4 cup bleu cheese
2 TBSP chopped walnuts
Dash balsamic vinegar

I finally found a portable bottle of balsamic vinegar. It is an aged 10-year vinegar from Trader Joe's. I cannot believe how much of a flavor difference I notice with this vinegar VS a vinegar that isn't aged. It has traveled in my work lunch bag 3 times this week, and twice my co-workers have asked me what it is. :-)




SNACK (4:30 pm)

Almond Butter and Gouda Cheese with Apple Slices:

(I skip the whole grain puzzle piece at each snack.)

1 apple, sliced
1 Babybel Gouda cheese
1 TBSP Justin’s honey almond butter
Dash nutmeg


DINNER (7:00 pm)

Chipotle:

Peppers and onions, lettuce, tomato salsa
Whole grain tortilla chips (had at home) and a little corn salsa
Black beans
Guacamole
Lots of spices in the salsa