Changing Things Up: Drinking More Water + Food Finds

Joel calls me a camel.  I almost always have a drink of some sort in my hand, but usually it's water.  Back in college I had a faux Nalgene that I bought at Target.  Not only did it last a long time, it subtly encouraged me to drink the full 8 glasses of water a day.  It was so easy, I only had to fill it up twice.  Eventually the faux Nalgene broke and I just recently got around to replacing it with the real deal.<br /><br />Enter the new, purple Nalgene (purchased on eBay for $11.99 - free shipping from <a href="http://stores.ebay.com/robbysalloutdoorandmore" target="_blank">Robby's All Outdoor and More</a>): <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9XC_CSqMe65IIAKPJ5XVvAbNqj9a3iQO3FVPjskA4AP8hZvWc__511eT15ZbvIgURmCzW5JjW1MhXyxLWidrxFloWmrWevBz1xlON8ppqhhAZhDqdWeGP5FczXqiy0EVUttE3y_tkXQ/s1600/nalgene+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9XC_CSqMe65IIAKPJ5XVvAbNqj9a3iQO3FVPjskA4AP8hZvWc__511eT15ZbvIgURmCzW5JjW1MhXyxLWidrxFloWmrWevBz1xlON8ppqhhAZhDqdWeGP5FczXqiy0EVUttE3y_tkXQ/s400/nalgene+2.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I especially love that they are made in the USA!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I only have to fill up this puppy twice each day and I've achieved the daily recommended 8 glasses.<br /><br />Additionally, if you're not familiar with these bottles, they have a wide mouth opening that makes it very easy to drop in ice cubes.  With the faux Nalgene, it was a little more difficult to exercise and simultaneously take a drink from it because of this wide mouth - the water would go everywhere.  However, Nalgene makes a handy little "splash guard" insert that prevents this from happening.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2qN3qFzbq7uOdTGKJnjTGzZcSdWaTBGdKGpYy-wuJ_ZntxVEmnGvpGqzs6XmcfUE9eb95IpyJ7IGHAG4HiNxKTYGhSTv2SG-smWg1tQ-OUjxfmEV8nwwVB3PkFhT2ZpJE7VTJ-LNHYk/s1600/nalgene+lid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2qN3qFzbq7uOdTGKJnjTGzZcSdWaTBGdKGpYy-wuJ_ZntxVEmnGvpGqzs6XmcfUE9eb95IpyJ7IGHAG4HiNxKTYGhSTv2SG-smWg1tQ-OUjxfmEV8nwwVB3PkFhT2ZpJE7VTJ-LNHYk/s320/nalgene+lid.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this is true color of the bottle btw</td></tr></tbody></table>I <3 you Nalgene!<br /><br />Moving on....<br /><br />I'm changing Greek yogurt brands.  I've tried them all, and I used to be exclusively linked to Chobani.  I thought their yogurt was as good as the Greek stuff could get.  Though I still admit that I thought their 0% variety still offered quite a bit of a sour flavor for which I'm not very fond.  But alas, I tried the Dannon Oikos variety and I've since divorced Chobani.  <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXfHskKI9UpyH16WOu6dxwHc5TK3oCk3ViRNXILm9n1y3RAi5k7wgf0wvMTRhk92mx3PZntIrMsa1ryO7wS-6-MNKQuuRXhiUjG9EoE1UHQFMjmxeDuAyZnX0Nfx4tJ5mvP95NTQmHiM/s1600/dannon+oikos+blueberry+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXfHskKI9UpyH16WOu6dxwHc5TK3oCk3ViRNXILm9n1y3RAi5k7wgf0wvMTRhk92mx3PZntIrMsa1ryO7wS-6-MNKQuuRXhiUjG9EoE1UHQFMjmxeDuAyZnX0Nfx4tJ5mvP95NTQmHiM/s320/dannon+oikos+blueberry+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I've had both the blueberry and the strawberry fruit on the bottom flavors.  They taste great and the sour taste doesn't even exist (for me).  They are 3 PointsPlus (same as the 0% flavors of Chobani).  According to their website, they also come in black cherry and peach flavors (for fruit on the bottom), but they also offer other flavors in their "traditional style" (aka "with fat") Greek yogurt.  The other 0% flavors include honey, plain and vanilla.<br /><br />I've been enjoying a Dannon Oikos with a homemade blueberry scone (7 PointsPlus - from the WW Power Foods Cookbook) each morning for breakfast.  It's actually very filling together.  The scone is made with whole wheat pastry flour.<br /><br />They are VERY good!  Joel even eats them!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMc_R3wucghRlBUcsc1NuPMj4JJl6LMICALMP0zKluR9Rm06o9rEGlGQxZTo9N3vph3GosseVQ3ED8CH71bLpxjOwQ5wDAAAXjz66EGFL1kje_kFXo8HhAuZE1VYLf_RvQhCqAW-szYX8/s1600/blueberry+scone+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMc_R3wucghRlBUcsc1NuPMj4JJl6LMICALMP0zKluR9Rm06o9rEGlGQxZTo9N3vph3GosseVQ3ED8CH71bLpxjOwQ5wDAAAXjz66EGFL1kje_kFXo8HhAuZE1VYLf_RvQhCqAW-szYX8/s400/blueberry+scone+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="goog_1206734517"></span><span id="goog_1206734518"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxsH9qwr6RufAuxnLaBDUeIq_vva3VNUNLV54mvRbiMizBEAdIBzPptV1nq_ERII19kvSHugoPqCP01BB7Riy3m503Fh2wMVD1uW2YUOpXyD0eG7xNYWohV4SplXmdliOCRGAx8lhJXY/s1600/blueberry+scone+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxsH9qwr6RufAuxnLaBDUeIq_vva3VNUNLV54mvRbiMizBEAdIBzPptV1nq_ERII19kvSHugoPqCP01BB7Riy3m503Fh2wMVD1uW2YUOpXyD0eG7xNYWohV4SplXmdliOCRGAx8lhJXY/s400/blueberry+scone+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoijxS-id0w9eK6LcxYzCIuP47xP4Ef50r-1Rsjdhl2er06jhYrgvKls37GGbIiv0H6CZahpym6GZ8L_LdauHuGBF7OevEedv2PceIDLQdNDtRB6QqL7GDt6eKWcJWqvfTevuSvM7DekE/s1600/blueberry+scone+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoijxS-id0w9eK6LcxYzCIuP47xP4Ef50r-1Rsjdhl2er06jhYrgvKls37GGbIiv0H6CZahpym6GZ8L_LdauHuGBF7OevEedv2PceIDLQdNDtRB6QqL7GDt6eKWcJWqvfTevuSvM7DekE/s400/blueberry+scone+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bird watching > homemade blueberry scones</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I also recently tried the Chobani Passion Fruit flavor and thought it was gross and slightly bitter.  <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9eLAIa7h5JBdmkFL7tgbP3lRZOPexqcOa-vQ_OAvdC93rPMYI-LPaaa4tz6-MauZ-4eQC4QcnoBda0a38czmBay9AAC5uTcOZzfVL20BAm90NL9PSwhJlwOvKEvtRCKYgDExt_AonlW8/s1600/chobani+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9eLAIa7h5JBdmkFL7tgbP3lRZOPexqcOa-vQ_OAvdC93rPMYI-LPaaa4tz6-MauZ-4eQC4QcnoBda0a38czmBay9AAC5uTcOZzfVL20BAm90NL9PSwhJlwOvKEvtRCKYgDExt_AonlW8/s400/chobani+collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>  <br /><br /><b style="color: #351c75;">Do you have a favorite water bottle and yogurt brand?</b><br /><br />

Food Finds Nalgene Weight Watchers Changing Things Up: Drinking More Water + Food Finds

Joel calls me a camel.  I almost always have a drink of some sort in my hand, but usually it's water.  Back in college I had a faux Nalg...

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Fast Fix Lasagna

Those of us trying to lose weight know more than anyone how difficult it can be to enjoy pasta.  2 oz of spaghetti is such a joke!<br /><br />Hungry Girl certainly has her <a href="http://www.hungry-girl.com/newsletters/raw/666" target="_blank">substitutes</a>, but I still prefer the real deal.  My go to pasta is <a href="http://ronzonismarttaste.newworldpasta.com/" target="_blank">Ronzoni's Smart Taste</a> - loaded with fiber, but not grainy like traditional whole wheat pasta.<br /><br />I always say that my favorite "international" cuisine is Italian, and particularly lasagna.  I LOVE lasagna.  I'm worse than Garfield when it comes to this layered feast.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://theskinnyonmyjeans.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/its-that-kind-of-day.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://theskinnyonmyjeans.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/its-that-kind-of-day.gif" width="324" /></a></div><br /><br />I came upon <a href="http://www.marlenekoch.com/" target="_blank">Marlene Koch's</a> recipe for a lasagna-style dish called Fast Fix Lasagna.  Though this is not prepared with your traditional flat lasagna noodles.  She uses these cute little curvy numbers called Campanelle {i.e. "bell flowers"} noodles.  Have you heard of them?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3aZSckjoWsxrwaGPwRKlq7SkoY0Q7ZPBeMg96dhJTKd8EBjfWUoiHS8jh-77WSHkmes2m7_z-h_jlQe9m_nyagLRG18yJNZvPr6LAn8J5SjtEpOD4evvQbhGokz-ToE4mSQFS0BK0kE/s1600/campanelle+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3aZSckjoWsxrwaGPwRKlq7SkoY0Q7ZPBeMg96dhJTKd8EBjfWUoiHS8jh-77WSHkmes2m7_z-h_jlQe9m_nyagLRG18yJNZvPr6LAn8J5SjtEpOD4evvQbhGokz-ToE4mSQFS0BK0kE/s320/campanelle+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Man, I had a hard time finding these.  None of my grocery stores {Giant, Safeway or Shoppers Food Warehouse} carried them.  It wasn't until months later, after first attempting to make this dish, that I stumbled upon them at Target.  Thank you Tar-jay for stocking these awesome noodles in your stores!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjbVvSerD2iPhL0pyxeeyv9FEsSJ_aBH2jEXvpc-sbPVA5b5JUyPFupV9h2ZHepFWyTi8LL5TZUVIEfUSZNrNFXJz3l2ZyW9W33BROyG_grQwR-KUa0EoJ6E1n76JFWv-oaLfYdMYEi4/s1600/campanelle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjbVvSerD2iPhL0pyxeeyv9FEsSJ_aBH2jEXvpc-sbPVA5b5JUyPFupV9h2ZHepFWyTi8LL5TZUVIEfUSZNrNFXJz3l2ZyW9W33BROyG_grQwR-KUa0EoJ6E1n76JFWv-oaLfYdMYEi4/s400/campanelle.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><br />Essentially, the process of making Fast Fix Lasagna is the same as making regular lasagna - the only difference being the noodle shape.  Below is the original recipe.  Obviously because it's pasta, it's high in PointsPlus values, but I promise you it is a nice serving size (1.5 cups or 1/12 of the recipe) and is filling.  Served with a side salad, you'd be plenty satisfied!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2VyQb0mJWVVIMkZXXExyuJMqQrNyT_kEpFurP3X41-_NLFwsIEejAOEDJRdY3N2NNLNVLPoAeocqvQP0aaKWPa1Wk_FeFS8-W2mUne4P-x8r4wYgw4oLj43WvzIW5TyYyBawVtd2iHE/s1600/fast+fix+lasagna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2VyQb0mJWVVIMkZXXExyuJMqQrNyT_kEpFurP3X41-_NLFwsIEejAOEDJRdY3N2NNLNVLPoAeocqvQP0aaKWPa1Wk_FeFS8-W2mUne4P-x8r4wYgw4oLj43WvzIW5TyYyBawVtd2iHE/s400/fast+fix+lasagna.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looks just like lasagna to me!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Enjoy!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctzzzglrVr3L_BpnAGVQDABQHvINAoMH8kWL7JSlofL9RhYeMtmj_xYwNH4Y7qHATaf4GGREd-_qVhVTc0E7jSeh8g3Fg7BvL-zUBdGKvdnlQx4UjicyLpeD6rwrNJA6ZHXZzKx5tud8/s1600/eatwhatyoulove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctzzzglrVr3L_BpnAGVQDABQHvINAoMH8kWL7JSlofL9RhYeMtmj_xYwNH4Y7qHATaf4GGREd-_qVhVTc0E7jSeh8g3Fg7BvL-zUBdGKvdnlQx4UjicyLpeD6rwrNJA6ZHXZzKx5tud8/s320/eatwhatyoulove.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">her new book is coming out in March!<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eat-More-What-You-Love/dp/0762445890" target="_blank">Eat More of What You Love</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><u>Eat What You Love - Fast Fix Lasagna</u> - <i>8 PointsPlus</i></b><br /><b>Ingredients:</b><br /><ul><li>12 oz campanelle noodles</li><li>1 Tbsp olive oil</li><li>1 small white onion, chopped</li><li>3 garlic cloves, chopped</li><li>8 oz Italian turkey sausage, bulk or removed from casings (I used Shadybrook Farms)</li><li>1 (14 oz) can reduced-sodium beef broth</li><li>1/3 cup dry red wine</li><li>1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes</li><li>1 (6 oz) can tomato paste</li><li>2 tsp granulated sugar</li><li>1 1/2 tsp dried basil</li><li>1 1/2 tsp dried oregano</li><li>1/4 tsp black pepper</li><li>1 1/2 cups low-fat cottage cheese</li><li>1 (15 oz) pkg part skim ricotta cheese</li><li>2 Tbsp water</li><li>2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese</li><li>1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese</li></ul><br /><b>Directions:</b><br />1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 13 x 9 inch casserole dish with nonstick spray.<br /><br />2. Cook the pasta according to package directions while preparing the sauce and set aside.<br /><br />3. Marinara sauce: In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium-high heat.  Add the onion and saute for 2 minutes, or until tender.  Add the garlic and sausage and cook until meat is slightly browned.  Deglaze the pan by pouring in the beef broth and wine and scraping the browned bits from the bottom.  Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, herbs and pepper. Simmer for 15-20 minutes.<br /><br />4. In a medium bowl, mix together the cottage cheese and ricotta cheese.  Add the water and a dash of black pepper.  Set aside.<br /><br />5. Toss half of the red sauce with the cooked pasta.  Layer half of the pasta in the casserole dish.  Top evenly with the cheese mixture.  Pour 1/2 cup of sauce across cheese mixture and top with remaining pasta.  Cover with remaining sauce and sprinkle top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.<br /><br />6. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through.  Serve.<br /><br />

Archer Farms Eat What You Love Food Finds target Weight Watcher Recipes Fast Fix Lasagna

Those of us trying to lose weight know more than anyone how difficult it can be to enjoy pasta.  2 oz of spaghetti is such a joke! Hungry Gi...

Read more »