Sarah Montana’s Two Week No Cheat Challenge, Week One
I decided to take Sarah Montana’s Two Week No Cheat Challenge. It began on Monday the 8th of July (one day earlier than my normal menu plan.) I resolved to not only be take the challenge but also document my meals and report the successful recipes, since many of them were new.
BREAKFAST
Most of the breakfasts were basic favorites from the past.
Low Carb Peanut Butter Cup Shake THM S (I have had this shake in the past and it is delicious as well as filling. I drank most of it for breakfast and finished it later in the morning.
Yogurt Power Bowl THM S This is my go-to breakfast every week and it never seems to get old. My daughter shared that she uses Oikos Triple Zero Greek yogurt instead of plain fat free Greek Yogurt. She often uses the chocolate flavor and omits the chocolate chips. I might try it for a change.
Bust-a-Myth (BAM) Banana Cake THM E page 298 Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook with Chocolate Peanut Butter THM FP Where has this been all of my life???? I have had the original THM cookbook for a year and a half but never tried this recipe. This cake is delicious. I love the flavor and the texture! I tried it with the Chocolate Peanut Butter suggested by Sarah Montana…not needed. The cake is excellent on its’ own. I was brought up appreciating banana cake, and although this does not compare to my grandmother’s, it is still a delicious alternative when following this eating plan. I actually had this on two separate mornings and the whole family had it for dessert on the evening we had Cowboy Grub (an E dinner).
The chocolate peanut butter is fabulous as well…just not necessary with this cake. I will definitely find ways to incorporate it in other ways.
Zero Fat Cottage Cheese, Cantaloupe, and Blueberries THM E Basic, simple and delicious. Such an easy way to have breakfast.
Breakfast Cookies THM S I keep these in the freezer. They are always on standby when I want something quick, easy, savory and delicious. So easy to reheat.
Broccoli Cheddar Bacon Quiche THM S What can I say? This quiche is one of the best I have ever had…on or off a diet. We will have it often, for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
LUNCH
The lunches included three new recipes and several standbys. There were several delightful surprises!
Healthy Chicken Salad THM S (due to a mix of white and dark chicken) Next time I will use only white chicken. This was surprisingly good and I realized that I could use this recipe in tandem with one of our family favorites to create yet another THM compliant rendition of a recipe I felt I could no longer enjoy. I hope to post its’ success in the future.
Asiago Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Soup THM S (from the freezer). This was leftover and helped with lunch in a pinch.
Trim Zuppa Toscana THM S page 86 Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook (family favorite). We love this soup. It is hot and hardy, but even with these warm summer temperatures we found it to be just as delicious as ever. This time since I had fresh spinach at the end of its’ prime, I used half spinach and half kale. Just as enjoyable as always. This was enjoyed as a repeat lunch as well.
White Gazpacho THM S (this can be adjusted to be a FP). I made the S version and OMG this is the best gazpacho ever (and the ‘Ole Buckeye agrees!) Next time I will try the FP version. Regardless of version this will be on the meal rotation and added to our timeshare recipes. Love, love, love this cold soup!
Friday’s lunch was scheduled to be Quinoa Goes Cajun, but the ‘Ole Buckeye wanted to get out of the house. We decided to go to Fort Monroe since the weather was pristine. I packed a quick lunch…the leftover chicken salad and beverages. We had a picnic and enjoyed the breezy sunshine. A lovely drive and a walk on the pathway along the beach.
On Sunday we took our 12 year old granddaughter to Camp Chanco since her parents remained in Colorado with the 14 year old. It was a 2 hour drive there and back, so we decided to make it a road trip of sorts. We stopped for a late lunch (early happy hour) in Smithfield, at Smithfield Station Restaurant.
I had seared ahi (on plan) and watched the ‘Ole Buckeye enjoy Smithfield Ham Sliders on Sweet potato biscuits. Sigh.
DINNER
Crockpot Lasagna THM S (from the freezer) no image
Quinoa Fiesta Enchilada Bake THM E (without cheese) It has been a long time since I have made this meatless meal and we have enjoyed it in the past. I decided that by omitting the cheese it would be compliant with the THM eating plan. It is a great E alternative and perfect for lunch as well.
Alfredo Chicken Casserole THM S I gave this recipe a try after a recommendation from my niece. This was delicious and will definitely go into our rotation. There was discussion that we might like this even better than the bacon ranch chicken casserole. Maybe we will decide which one is better after we have that casserole next week.
Cowboy Grub THM E page 59 Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook I have made cowboy grub in the past and it was a hit. It is one of my favorite E dinners. For some reason it is difficult for me to find evening meals that fall into the E category that are filling and that we truly enjoy. I served it with the cornbread. I am not a fan of the consistency of this cornbread, but I do enjoy it crumbled on top of the grub.
Sour Cream Cornbread THM FP
Smarty Pants Stroganoff THM S page 44 Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook I tried this recipe for several reasons. First, it was a crock pot recipe and I had errands all day. Secondly, I am not certain that my own recipe is totally THM compliant and I haven’t taken the time to figure it out. Lastly, I used a cheaper cut of meat and I knew that slow cooking would render a tender dish. It was fine, but since my own recipe is so outstanding I will not repeat this one. If I have stroganoff, I want the best and this recipe isn’t it.
Sheet Pan Fajitas THM S The menu plan called for Slow Fajitas from the Trim Healthy Mama cookbook. (made in the crock pot). Well, I’ll be honest. After the disappointing stroganoff I decided to use my tried and true fajitas recipe. As usual, it was thoroughly enjoyed. Why try to fix it if it ain’t broke?
Gourmet Burgers Jalapeñoa and Jack THM S The final meal of the week was a family dinner we shared with my son welcoming him home.
One week of a no cheat challenge, 2 pounds lighter and several great new recipes to add to our collection of successful meals. Hopefully the second week of the challenge will be just as successful!
Here’s to another week of healthy eating. Bon Appetit!
