A Healthier Pregnancy

I know I've mentioned before how much I enjoy serving my family healthy, whole foods.  We made the commitment to "clean up" our eating at least to an extent in January, and we were really doing a pretty good job.  I was making most things from scratch, limiting sugars and artificial ingredients, etc.

Then I got pregnant . . . and tired . . . and sick.

So I retreated back to the easy stuff - anything that wouldn't make my stomach turn to fix.  We got lots of boxed macaroni and cheese, canned ravioli, etc.  And there were many days where my entire diet consisted of bagels, cream cheese, and cereal.  Yuck.

Where many people are so sick during the first trimester that they lose weight, I did just the opposite.  I was unable to allow my stomach to empty, so I just ate all those packaged foods constantly.  And getting up off the couch was a joke far too many days.  So I gained a whole lot of weight and lost a whole lot of energy right from the start. 

Now I'm over halfway through this pregnancy and though my sickness is gone, my energy is still low due to the unhealthy lifestyle I sunk into.  Yesterday I went to the doctor.  Though she is not concerned right now, she suggested that I "keep an eye" on my weight.  I have done quite a bit of thinking and praying about it, and have come up with some steps to get back on the "healthy wagon".  I've also gone over these steps with my husband and my mom to see if they agree that it is healthy and logical for me while I'm pregnant. 

First of all, my husband and I are more than ready to get back into using mostly whole foods.  Are we against the occasional brownie mix, macaroni and cheese, or crackers?  Nope.  But there is definitely a difference between those and the wonderful benefits (as well as taste, we think!!) of foods that are not so "tampered with".  We're to re-committing to eating things directly from the garden and the farm, which should be easier right now than ever since the farmers David helps are willing to share their produce and eggs with us.

Aside from this food adjustment for all of us, here is the list I have come up with to help maintain a healthy pregnancy and hopefully to keep my weight from continuing to skyrocket.

1. Begin each day, 5 days a week, with light to moderate exercise
2. Walk at least 20 minutes with kids 3 days a week
3. Eat protein at all three meals
4. Eat fewer servings of carbs throughout the day
5. Use sugar in my coffee only on weekends
6. Enjoy desserts only on weekends (though I feel I must allow for giving in to the occasional craving or else I might not make it nor would my family!)
7. Eat a piece of fruit at night when I am really hungry for sweets
8. Load up on veggies at meals rather than the carbs
9. Drink at least 8 glasses of water per day

I think this seems to be a realistic list to stick to throughout the rest of the pregnancy.  I am really hoping it results in not only my own continued health, but that of the baby's, as well.  So far today I exercised before the kids got up, we took a long walk, and I think I've done pretty well on the food side of things.  I've even had 5 glasses of water, which is already about 2 more than I drink many days.

What do you think?  I've gotten a lot of responses via facebook on how to maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy.  Any other suggestions?  I feel so much better today already, just having a new outlook on my health rather than saying, "I'm pregnant so I can do this (eat this, sit on the couch, etc.). I'll change after the baby comes."

I'll try to keep updating on how this new routine is working!!

What's for Lunch? Curried Rice!

One thing I always enjoy is a good stir-fry.  Sometimes I actually plan it as a supper and plan accordingly with groceries, but often, the best stir-fries come from a lunchtime question of, "What am I going to do with all these veggies we haven't eaten yet??" 

The only thing that has always lacked for me when it comes to this type of meal is that the rice just seems a bit bland.  I've tried lots of different techniques - making it a head of time, cooling it, and frying it; using chicken broth instead of water, etc.  In the end,  I usually end up dousing the whole dish in soy sauce, which adds a huge amount of salt that I don't really need. 

The other night, though, I found the recipe to end all my rice frustrations.  It's called Curried Rice with Pineapple, and I found it on the back of a "Minute Brown Rice" box.  My whole family loved it, and next time I make it for all of us, I will most definitely be doubling the recipe. Today I tried my hand at it again for lunch and it was just as good as the first time.

I changed a few things to suit my family's tastes and preferences - for instance, the original version calls for pineapple chunks.  I don't know about anyone else, but my family tends to freak out a bit when there's fruit that is completely visible in a dish that is not very "fruity".  So last week it was pineapple tidbits, and today, all I had was crushed pineapple.  It worked just as well.  Here is my adapted version of this recipe.

Curried Pineapple Rice
1 8 oz. can pineapple tidbits
water or chicken broth as needed (about 2/3 cup)
1 1/2 tsp. curry powder
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp. olive or canola oil
1 c. uncooked brown rice (instant)
1/2 c. toasted sliced almonds

Drain pineapple, reserving juice.  Add broth or wtaer to equal one cup liquid.  Set aside. 
Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat.  Saute curry powder and garlic for 2-3 minutes.
Add pineapple juice mix and tidbits and bring to a boil.  Stir in rice; cover and remove from heat.  Let stand 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.  Top with sliced almonds and, if desired, sliced green onion.

As I mentioned earlier, I make stir-fry quite often, and it's almost always a result of leftover veggies that need to be used.  On our trip to Costco, however, I found this bag of frozen veggies for a very reasonable price.  That's 5.5 pounds of stir-fryable greatness!!  Eat it the way it is or add some meat such as chicken or pork - it all works for me!

You could also add chicken directly to the rice to make it a meal, with some steamed veggies on the side.  But here is my favorite way to enjoy it - what we had for lunch today.  Fortunately we have about one serving left, and I just may eat it for a snack later this afternoon!

As far as my stir-fry sauce, I don't have a particular recipe to which I adhere every single time.  I think that there are some elements that are a necessity, though.

1. Something to slightly sweeten and counteract the saltiness of the soy sauce.  I've used brown sugar, pineapple juice, honey, mango juice, etc.
2. Soy sauce
3. Thickener - I prefer to use cornstarch as it works more quickly and you can use less than you would flour.

I've thought through what I use most often and here is what I've come up with for a recipe.

Stir-fry Sauce
1/4 to 1/3 c. pineapple juice
1/4 c. water
1 T. soy sauce
1/2 tsp. ginger
1 T. cornstarch (more or less can be used, depending on how thick you prefer it to be)

Whisk with a fork and add to stir fry once veggies are done to your liking.  Let sauce come to a boil and allow it to thicken for 1-2 minutes.  Stir to coat veggies and meat. 

Even if you have never been a fan of or haven't even tried curry, this is a good dish to start out with.  I hope you and your family enjoy it just as much as we do!

We Joined A Club!

Well, we did it.  We joined Costco.  With our family growing by number, and going over just how much food a two- and three-year-old can actually put away, we decided that it was finally time to start buying some things in bulk.

It was an interesting experience - from driving into the indoor parking lot, to waiting a half hour in line just to sign up, to spending two hours in a store and still not seeing everything they had.  My mom has been a long-time member of Sam's, and I've always really enjoyed visiting there with her. But going in to a big place like this and having to be a responsible adult in a store full of, well, everything?   That was an overwhelming feeling!  I wanted it all!

Our first choice was the type of membership we wanted to own.  We chose the more expensive one, with the promise of receiving 2% back on every purchase and a gift card to start our shopping.  David did the math, and we'll need to spend an average of $229 a month in order to earn back every dollar we spent on the "upgrade" membership.  I don't think that will be a problem.

Honestly, who could resist spending part of that "welcome" gift card on this?!?!

That being said, we certainly don't intend on regularly spending our money on such things unless we're celebrating a special occasion!  How quickly our budget could be blown . . .

The goal is for us to go to Costco once each month and stock up on things such as canned goods, dressings and sauces, etc.  I noticed how much junk food there is, which will probably be another temptation we'll avoid for the most part. 

Here is a shot of some of the things we bought on Saturday.

I don't really have any doubts about being able to finish off the pickles, celery, grapes, cheese, or cream cheese.  What I'm a bit concerned about is what we're going to do with all that lettuce!  Any ideas for using it before it goes bad?  So far I've thought of BLTs and lettuce salads, but that's about it.

I have a couple of other questions for anyone who may be willing to share thoughts regarding buying in bulk.

1. As I've written about previously, I am a menu planner.  I usually go shopping every two weeks and buy very specific items that will be eaten and not much more.  So, for those menu planners who also buy in bulk, do you have any hints on how to keep track of what we have stored and how to plan for each meal without wasting things?

2. We are thinking of investing in a vacuum sealer for our foods.  Has anyone used one, or does anyone have any different thoughts regarding preservation for things that won't be eaten quickly such as meats, cheeses, etc?

We didn't buy a whole lot on Saturday just because of these uncertainties.  The number one concern I have is buying food that goes to waste, which is a complete no-no in our house.  I can see this new venture of buying in bulk as being beneficial in the long run, and I'm excited about it, but I'd really like to get a plan in order before we do any major buying there!

A last thought about our new Costco membership: When pregnant and for the most part feeling great but still getting woozy from time to time, it is not the wisest idea to grab every single sample in the store without first thinking about food combinations.  This leads to an evening of tummy troubles. 

That being said . . . any sage wisdom will be much appreciated regarding my questions or any other thoughts, and I look forward to sharing future finds at Costco!

This Week's Menu

Have you ever heard of Money Saving Mom?  If not, I'd encourage everyone to stop over at her blog, http://www.moneysavingmom.com/.  Crystal has been a huge encouragement to me in so many areas - finances, family, loving God, and so much more. 

One of the things she always does is to make a meal plan for each week.  This is something I too have done for quite some time.  I have been pretty proud of myself for the small amount of money we've been able to spend every two weeks . . . and yet, I've been too proud to admit that we never have enough food.  "It's not possible," I'd argue with David everytime he mentioned it, "I plan every single week, every single ingredient." 

And then it dawned on me.  I make a bi-weekly supper plan.  I did finally get into the habit of buying a few things for David's lunches, but I completely neglected to plan for this pregnant lady and her two toddlers that are home all day eating a whole lot more than just suppers! 

So last week, I changed my habit.  I added to the list a daily plan for breakfast, lunch, and snacks.  I was surprised at how much more time it took - though I really enjoy menu planning and since the morning sickness is significantly less, I can actually look at most foods without gagging now.  I don't think it'll take as much time from here on out, now that I have a basis.  I'd like to start sharing the menus I've planned here on our blog as both a way for others to possibly find suggestions for their own meals, as well as for a way to keep track myself of what we have from week to week.

Last week's menu worked out pretty well . . . so here is the one we'll be following this week:

Breakfast: Cereal and toast x2
                Baked Oatmeal x2
                Banana muffins
                Cinnamon Rolls and sausage links

Lunch: Egg salad sandwiches
           BBQ pork, leftover veggies
           lettuce salads
           Leftovers x2

Supper: Pork roast, potatoes & carrots, Rhodes rolls
             Crispy SW Chicken Wraps
             Fried potatoes, eggs, pancakes or waffles
             Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
             Dinner w/my parents

Snacks: Banana muffins
             Fruit cups (more on these in a later post!)
             Pretzels         
             Popcorn
             Steel Cut Oat Cups

I'm pretty excited about what we have on the menu this week.  If you have any suggestions for meals you think we'd enjoy, please let me know.  I'm always searching for new things to try!

Cheese Manicotti in the Month of May!

Happy Friday to all on this glorious "summer" day!  I just love May . . . it's the beginning of the summer season but usually not unbearably hot.  I love going to graduations and weddings, and all the newness and excitement in the air because of both.  I love opening the windows each morning to a cool breeze, yet having it warm enough that the kids and I can get outside well before noon.  I love the new life of flowers, grass, and trees - a reminder that God's mercies are "new every morning". 

Since I have not been able to stomach the cooking of meat as of late, my poor family has been suffering a bit.  David was less than thrilled to have banana pancakes and yogurt for supper the other night!  I've been trying to come up with new "meatless" recipes that I can handle making and that the family won't mind eating! 

Last night I made cheese manicotti, and was fairly surprised that it was such a big hit.  When I saw the recipe said, "manicotti shells", I got the shells part in my brain.  So that's what I bought - giant shells.  When I actually started making it, I remembered that I had made this recipe once before, right after graduating high school.  And I remembered that manicotti is the big tube pasta.  Oh, well.  It worked well and the kids enjoyed the shape of the shells!

First I boiled the shells to al dente so they would hold up during filling.  I started to line the pan with them, but I think next time I'll pull them from the strainer as I fill them. There was just too much going on when they were already in the pan.

Next I mixed the cheeses and herbs.  It said to fill the shells with a long spoon, but I tried it using a ziploc bag with the tip cut off - so much easier than I remember when I used a spoon years ago!  Just don't fill the bag more than halfway, or the cheese will spill out the top while you're filling the shells!

Once all the shells were filled, I poured spaghetti sauce over the top.  I found Prego onion and garlic flavor on sale this week for $.99, so that's what this is.  Also, though the recipe doesn't call for this part, I sprinkled about 1/2 cup mozzarella, 1/4 cup Parmesan, and a little garlic salt on the top.

Here's the whole meal - cheese manicotti, broccoli slaw salad, and homemade bread and butter.  mmm!

Cheese Manicotti

1 pkg. manicotti shells
2 c. shredded mozzarella
1/3 c. parmesan cheese
1 T. Italian seasoning
1 T. parsley flakes
1 1/2 c. Ricotta cheese
2 beaten eggs
1 jar spaghetti sauce

Cook manicotti shells according to package directions, stirring often.  Drain and rinse with cold water.  Stir together eggs, cheeses, and spices.  Fill manicotti shells with this mixture using a long spoon.  Arrange filled shells in large baking dish.  Pour spaghetti on top.  Bake, covered at 350 for 35-40 minutes.

Hope you enjoy this dish as much as my family did, and have a splendid weekend!  I think ours is going to include several hours outdoors!

A Savory Pie and Other News

Obviously, I have not posted in a couple of weeks.  So here's the deal.  Shortly after my last post, the whole "morning sickness" thing really got a hold of me, and I haven't even climbed the steps to the office more than maybe twice since then.  I had all these awesome recipes I'd been working on, with pictures and directions and everything . . . and suddenly, even the mention of most of them makes me start to gag.  My apologies for being unable to share them at this time.

Here's one that I just can't get enough of, though.  I have no problem making it and thinking and writing about it!  Behold, the Tomato Cheese Pie.

My grandma used to make one similar to this when I was growing up.  I ran across a recipe in an old cookbook the other day and couldn't seem to get the memory of it out of my head, so I had to make it!

Here's the recipe:

1 pie crust
1 c. grated cheddar cheese
1 c. grated mozzarella cheese
1 c. ricotta cheese

2 T. chopped onion

1 tsp. crumbled basil (I like more than that)
Parmesan cheese
3-4 ripe tomatoes, peeled and sliced thin
salt and pepper

Line a pan with pie crust.  Prick with fork, bake 10 min. at 425.  Combine cheddar, mozzarella, ricotta, and onion.  Spoon into slightly cooled pie crust.  Topping: arrange tomatoes in a tightly overlapping circular pattern over the filling.  Sprinkle with basil, parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper.  Bake 350 for 20-30 minutes.  Cool slightly before serving.

This is utterly delicious.  I wasn't sure how David would react but I didn't mention the ricotta, and he said he loved the pie!  I'm usually big on making quiche, so the family assumed it was a fancy version of that.  This is so easy to make - but you might want to do two because it goes fast.

In other news, we had our first OB appointment today.  It is always a relief to have that done and know that everything is okay.  In my case, I need that confirmation that I am indeed pregnant and I don't have some weird disease that makes me nauseated and turns the test positive (yes, I am crazy.  I realize this). 

We even got a few pictures, which I may post at a later date.  I am waiting to make sure our family gets a first peek. 

Yesterday we had a fabulous day for Mother's Day!  We had been running nonstop all week leading up to Sunday. David worked overtime and the kids and I visited family, ran errands, and attended graduations which meant very little rest for any of us. 

When I woke up yesterday morning, this is what I found:

I was so excited I screamed.  And I don't scream.  So far the past three days I have been feeling much better, so hopefully I will be able to use them all in the next week and have some great new recipes I can share!

We let the kids sleep late, then went to church, ordered a pizza for lunch, and watched movies all afternoon.  aaahhhh, happy Mother's Day to me!!

Hopefully that catches me up for a bit and I will be able to blog much more frequently from here on out!

Meat Bundling

Here is the newest addition to my freezer: Meat Bundle #5 from Fareway. 

David and I have tossed around the idea of purchasing a 1/4 beef or 1/2 hog for quite some time, because when I go to the store, the bulk of my cost is in meats.  One of the best things I've been able to do is look at online ads for each store that I'm going to in order to find which one has sales on what.  This has been espcially helpful with the cost of produce, simply because though couponing is nice, there is a lot of junk to be bought just with coupons. 

I've been amazed to find cabbage for 17c./lb, celery at 88c/pkg., broccoli at 99c/lb, etc.  I am enjoying the preparation of meals using fresh produce that I've found at a great price!  But still, the meat is so hard to find without getting the cheap stuff - bologna and hot dogs.  Overall, I have found better deals on higher quality meats at Fareway than any other place I've found.

After checking pricing and availability with several places, we decided that this time we would go with Fareway for our large meat purchase.  I am really excited because by getting the "bundle" rather than just beef or pork, I can make a variety of things using all different meats.

Here is what it included:

5# boneless chuck roast

5# ground beef

5# chicken hind quarters

5# boneless pork roast

5# boneless pork steak

3# bacon

2# ham

Ideally, our goal is to one day be able to have a self-sustaining farm.  David loves cattle, and we'd like to have a couple of pigs and chickens.  I'd like to have a larger space for a garden (this year, though, it will be my biggest yet so stay tuned for how it turns out!)  But for now, we'll take what we can.  I think overall we saved money, provided I don't start planning super meaty meals just because we have the meat! 

How about anyone else?  Do you buy meat bundles, parts of cows or pigs, etc? 

My Body: God's Temple

I post quite a bit about healthy (or at least, healthier) recipes, but have never really given a reason for doing so.

 I am sure that many of you who actually read this blog already know that I used to be quite a bit heavier than I am today.  Right now, at the age of 27 and having had two children, I am about 40 lighter than I was in high school and my freshman year of college.  I know it's not all about weight - it's about balance - but for me, weight certainly has a lot to do with my life in so many ways.  It affects the way I view myself, the way others view me, the things that I can do or am willing to do, and so much more.

I have always been "overweight".  I can remember getting a report back from our school nurse when I entered junior high that said I was 200 lbs.  When I think about that, I can hardly believe I was that size at the age of 13!   I struggled with it when I was young - I didn't want to be overweight and unhealthy.  But I also didn't ever believe that I could do much about it.  I remember crying when I was alone, wanting to be a "normal" size like other people, but I don't think I ever let on how much I was hurting.  I just believed I was destined to be that way and nothing I did could change that, so why try?

It wasn't until after my freshman year of college that I saw such a huge need to lose weight and get into shape.  This afternoon as I was looking over some writing I did that first year of college, I reflected on the two experiences that changed my life.  The first was a one-mile hike up an incline in order to reach a castle in Germany.  I wrote about how dreadful that hike was, and how embarrassed I was that the really nice athletic boys that everyone liked had to coach me up that hill.  The second memory is similar; it was a few weeks later in Colorado when I was trying to hike up to Hanging Lake with my college singing team.  A couple of those same guys were nice enough to lag behind in order to help me get to the top.  I was mortified. 

That was the beginning of the end.  The end of the embarrassment, of having to shop in the Women's section, of having to look like an old lady when I was 19.  But it was also just a beginning.  I finally realized that it wasn't my genes that condemned me to this life of shame.  It was myself. 

And something that I didn't even know about then, but have been mulling over lately is that not only is it important to mine and my family's health to be careful about overindulgence and to keep up at least somewhat of an activity level; it is actually pleasing to God. 

Consider these passages:

1 Cor. 6:12 NIV Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial.  Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.  (And the love of food was definitely something that mastered me)

1 Cor. 6:19-20 ESV Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Or, as I was just reading last week in 1 Samuel, there is the example of Eli the priest.  I have always wondered how his sons turned out to be wicked when Eli was so godly.  Then I read it again; Eli was actually reprimanded by God for taking the "choicest meats" from the sacrifice and for overindulging.  He was the one who taught his sons to be so selfish in the first place by his example - his sin of gluttony!

As I am learning more and more of God's desire for us to glorify Him in everything that we do, I am convinced that part of that is in taking care of our physical bodies.  I remember hearing a man who was not a believer during his younger years tell of his disdain for his college president, who stood up front telling the students not to drink or smoke.  He told these students that they must have control over their bodies and what they put into them, yet the president clearly had no control over the food that he put into his own body as he was at least a hundred pounds overweight.  The students listening to him scoffed at his hypocrisy.

So am I opposed to eating some unhealthy foods?  Am I saying that I think we should exercise, exercise, all the time?  Absolutely not!  After all, the key to everything in life is balance.  Any one thing - whether that is food, alcohol, exercise, another person - can become an idol when its value is placed above God. 

My goal in this post is simply to explain my view of health and our bodies at this point in my life.  I adore a good creamy, cheesy dip as much as the next girl.  But I also love that God gave us so many delicious fruits, veggies, and grains to enjoy as well!  I want my testimony to be that of someone who loves God and who believes that her body is a temple - a vessel to be used for His honor and glory.  And from where I stand today, I believe that part of that honor and glory comes when I take care of the vessel that He has given to me.

Weeknight Apple Cake

I had made this recipe once before after finding it in a Taste of Home Cooking School edition magazine and decided to rename it from "Moist Apple Cake" to "Weeknight".  First reason: I'm not a huge fan of the word, "moist".  Second reason: since it's not terrible for you, you don't have to wait to the weekend to eat it! 

 

Samuel went on a walk with Daddy to pick up some ice cream - a reward for finishing his potty training - so Julia and I had some much-needed one-on-one time in the kitchen.  She helped by putting the diced apples into the bowl and helping me stir together all the ingredients.

You can put the cake batter into a regular 9x13 pan, or into a bundt pan, which is how I like to do it - the presentation is so much prettier!

When the boys got home we ate dinner, and then had an unexpected party.  We didn't really mean to have the whole shebang in celebration, but since David and Samuel were picking up ice cream and I already had the cake on the menu . . . we decided to have a party.



Happy Big Boy Underwear, Samuel! 

Weeknight Apple Cake

1 1/2 c. sugar (I only use about half that)

1/2 c. applesauce

4 c. (appx. 2 lbs) apples, diced

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 c. chopped walnuts, optional

2 c. flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350.  Combine sugar, applesauce, and apples in a large bowl.  Mix in eggs and nuts. 

In another bowl, stir together dry ingredients.  Add to apple mixture and stir until combined.  Pour into a greased baking dish.  Bake for 1 hour.  Sprinkle with additional sugar or powdered sugar if desired. 



Blackened Chicken and Beans

Here is one of our most favorite healthy recipes ever!  No allergens here, people!  Just chicken, spices, beans, corn, and some salsa.  And the best part: it can easily be recycled to make the leftovers into something totally different. 

I should have recorded the process . . . but it was such a nice day when I made these on Tuesday, here is what I was taking pictures of instead:

 

David brought the dump truck home so he could sleep a little later and not have to back track.  Samuel was one thrilled little boy, and I'm happy I got these and the chicken didn't burn!

Next time I make this dish, I think I'll double the bean and corn mixture.  My family really loved it so I only had one serving left, which I mixed in with taco meat today.  A little more would have been even better!  And the chicken - I made a little extra and saved half back immediately after cooking it, and I plan to use that for quick fajitas on Saturday.  I also cut the breast halves into strips so that it would cook a little faster and it would be easier for the kids to eat.

Blackened Chicken and Beans

2 tsp. chili powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 c. frozen corn

1 c. chunky salsa

Combine the chili powder, salt and pepper; rub over both sides of chicken.  In a large nonstick skillet, cook chicken in oil over medium heat for abouat 6 minutes on each side or until cooked through.  Remove and keep warm.

Add the beans, corn, and salsa to skillet; bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 2-3 minutes or until heated through.  Transfer to a serving dish and serve with chicken.

What a refreshingly simple and healthy dish.  Definitely a keeper - can't wait to make it again!

Skinny Enchiladas

I've been looking for at least somewhat healthy on Pinterest.  It's not that easy to find them sometimes!  After an enchilada experiment that had my whole family turning their noses (so the sauce was green, who cares?!), they were relieved when this one turned out quite well.  We had just enough left for lunch the next day!

I thought I turned this picture . . . oh well.  I started by grilling the chicken on our beloved indoor grill for great flavor!

While that cooked, I mixed up the sauce - just some salsa and some Greek yogurt.  So easy!

Shred the chicken with two forks.

Mix sauteed veggies with some Greek yogurt for the filling.

Fill tortillas, top with sauce and cheese, and bake!

So really, the only differences I made from the original recipe were in the cheese.  I used full-fat, because I'm not really a low-fat kinda girl.  And I also (obviously) used more than 1/4 cup on the top.  But all things considered, it was still a pretty healthy meal.  

Skinny Enchiladas

Filling:

1 1/2 c. shredded cooked chicken breast

1 c. chopped onion

1 c. chopped bell pepper

1/2 c. nonfat Greek yogurt

1/2 c. low-fat shredded Mexican or cheddar cheese

Sauce:

3/4 c. salsa

1/4 c. nonfat Greek yogurt

1/4 c. low-fat shredded cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 and lightly spray a 9x13 baking dish with Pam spray

2. Saute onions and peppers in olive oil until onions are brown

3. Mix veggies with nonfat yogurt, chicken, and cheese

4. Spread appx. 1/4 c. chicken mixture in each tortilla, roll up, and place seam down in dish

5. Mix salsa and Greek yogurt in a bowl and spread evenly onto tortillas.  Sprinkle with cheese.

6. Place foil over dish and bake for 15-20 minutes.