Getting Creative with Healthy Foods

This is a great, healthy way to satisfy the sweet craving with fresh strawberries topped with fat-free chocolate pudding. Yum!!

I told you yesterday how I have been changing my choices in my foods.  I have been steering away from processed carbohydrates and sweets but towards fruits, vegetables, lean dairy and lean proteins.

In doing this I have come to realize that I need more options for meals and snacks in my life.  I try pretty hard to keep my dinners fresh and different. I use my many Weight Watchers and Light and Tasty cookbooks to help me do this.  My challenging areas are snacks, breakfasts and lunches.

I need some more protein options in my day.  I become bored easily with eating the same foods day after day so it's time to start getting more creative.  I realized that one of the reasons that I was probably eating so many carbs and sweets is because I didn't have many good choices of the other foods to turn to in my house.  I know that is only one of the reasons but having more choices will help me make healthier choices going forward.

Here's a look at the things I regularly eat:
dairy-
greek yogurt (because of the extra protein it contains I kind of count it as a protein too)
light string cheese
low-fat cheese
fat-free pudding

protein-
chicken
ground turkey
ground 95% lean ground beef
pork
fish
Many of these proteins are eaten in my dinners.  I have found myself needing some more options for snacks. One idea I had recently is fat-free re-fried beans with celery.  I'm not a celery fan unless it's got something good to dip it in.  This is a great way to get in my veggies and protein for few pointsplus values.
turkey or chicken lunchmeat (for a snack I love to take 3 pieces and wrap them around 3 sections peeled off of a string cheese. It's low in points, healthy and filling)
almonds
canned tuna (this is one of those proteins that I love to eat but often forget that it's there in the cupboard.  I need to make sure that I always have it on hand and eat it for a snack or meal. Yesterday I had some of it on top of my bowl of hot, steamed, seasoned veggies.  It made a great lunch with no mayo or bread involved.
eggs
turkey breakfast sausage - these are a staple in my house. They microwave easy and taste better than any pork sausage.

Vegetables-
I will eat any vegetable.  I even choke down brussel sprouts if they are being served.;)
carrots - cooked or raw
tomatoes
asparagus
bell peppers
cucumber
lettuce
In the morning I like to saute some fresh veggies in olive oil and then pour my scrambled egg mixture over it to cook.  This is a very filling breakfast.  It takes some time but is worth it.
boxed frozen vegetables - I love to buy the Green Giant boxes of veggies. My favorite is green beans with almonds.

Fruit-
Again, I will eat any fruit.  I go shopping for fresh fruit at least 2 times per week.  My family eats so much of it that I can't fit it all in the fridge if I buy enough for the whole week.
bananas - I have 2 every morning
apples
strawberries - my absolute favorite fruit
blueberries - a close second place
pears
mangos - I slice these up and enjoy them slowly.  My kids peel off the skin and then eat them like an apple.
grapes
pineapple
melon

What I need now is some new ideas.  What proteins, fruits, vegetables and dairy do you eat?  What are your creative breakfast, lunches and snacks?

Share them in the comment section so we can all learn from each other. You don't have to leave your name if you don't want to.

Have a great day,
Corinna

"And he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze..." -Exodus 35:31-32