Disney's Junk Food Crackdown - So Pass Me the Pop Corners

Disney would like you to PUT THE HO HOs DOWN! Their standards for advertising has changed with their recent campaign to reduce the amount of crap we (and our children) are encouraged to eat.


The new campaign includes:

• Banning all food and beverage products advertised, sponsored or promoted on the Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, Radio Disney and Disney-owned online destinations intended for children 12 and under that do not fit certain nutritional standards by 2015 
• Reducing the amount of sodium by 25 percent in children's meals served at their theme parks
• Increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables sold in U.S. theme parks to 350 of 400 food venues by 2013 
• Creating public service announcements promoting exercise for kids and healthy eating habits 
• Using the Mickey Check logo on Disney-licensed food products that meet criteria for limited calories, saturated fat, sodium and sugar by 2012

Look, I'm all for it. I'm a girl on a never-ending diet and it stinks. And, overall, we (the collective universe of "we") eat way too much. But Karen and I were thinking it would be nice to share some snacking food you can feel (somewhat) good about. 

Monday snack of the week: POPCORNERS

I dig you, triangle popcorn

I discovered these at a playdate for my son. Like popcorn without the annoying kernels in your teeth. And it's a triangle which kind of feels like a Dorito. Twenty-three chips per serving is not so shabby-- you can at least have that "I stuffed a whole lot in my mouth" feeling. I've not yet tried all the flavors, so pick your poison, but they run from basic Butter to Cheesy Jalapeño 

Popcorners - I may just eat the whole bag-- or share with two invisible friends.

That's over double what you get in a Dorito serving (11 chips per serving-- seriously. Who can stick with just 11?)

I'm thinking this is a good bet for the next flight to Florida. I may even carry a bag around the park with me for between dining plan snacks. Just don't ask me to give up my DisneyWorld popcorn, cuz that ain't happening.

Happy snacking~

Davina

One point tip of the day- I should take my own advice

As I get ready to depart on my free trip that I won- yes I am a winner- to Disney World, I leave you with a one point tip of the week. I am positive that I will not be following my own advice as those delicious mickey ice cream bars are at least the points for 2 days. I will try to convince myself that all the walking I will be doing cancels it out, but seriously...who am I kidding.

My one point tip is a super yummy cocolate pretzel blast mini treat bar made by WW. I bought them at a meeting site for $5.00. That was the sale price. There was a good amount in the box and it did hit the chocolate spot nicely. They were like a mini watchamacalit - old school candy reference.

Enjoy!

~ Karen

One point tip of the week

Here's another one point tip of the week for everyone. If you are a breakfast lover then this one is for you.

Try Thomas' light , multi grain english muffins. Only 1 point which is less than a weight watchers bagel. Add some peanut butter or an egg white and there's your protein and your ready to roll.

Mama always said breakfast is the most important meal of the day!

One point tip of the week

Let me begin by saying I hate that I feel inclined to give out one "point" tips . Weight Watchers is my nemesis and we have a love/ hate relationship. I've been doing it for years off and on with success. Some years are better than others.

Love your body the way it is ladies, so take this tip to either help you lose weight or get healthy. I will say for only one point it is fabulous and delicious! Vitatops rock. They have a variety of flavors -chocolate being the only one I have tried so far- and are found in the freezer section. Chocolatey goodness can't go wrong.

~ Karen

One Point Tip of the Week

I have lived my life on weight watchers since 2006. Aside of some massive weight gains when pregnant, I have done pretty well with the program.

Since I now consider myself a weight watchers pro - I thought I would share a tip each week for those also at the mercy of the slide rule points counter.

One point snack tip.

For you Dunkin' fans - did you know you could have a tasty treat every now and again? One munchkin-- yes one-- is 1 point. I know what you are thinking, "what am I going to do with one munchkin?". Trust me, if you have been sweet deprived one munchkin can hit the spot.

The challenge: you have to buy 6 at a time. Let me know how that goes.

~Davina

Summer you are a fat, gin loving girl

Well I have just returned home from a week at the beach. My hair is a bit lighter, my skin a bit frecklier and my shorts a bit tighter. Does everyone gain 5 pounds over the course of a week? If your diet consists of ice cream, chips and gin and tonics then I can answer for you and say yes. What is it about a week with no commitments besides putting your feet in the sand and a drink in your hand that turns a semi healthy gal into an alcoholic slob ?

At least when I go places like Disney World I can justify a Mickey ice cream bar by saying that all the walking I'm doing will help. I can't afford to drink like a fish at Disney so therefore, liquor consumption does'nt really count. At the beach it flows in and out like the tides and when you run out, there's always a chore boy to send out to the liquor store. This is my downfall...well this plus almond joy ice cream.

So this morning I am back to reality doing laundry, eating egg whites and looking hesitantly at my gym clothes. I'm sure the second I walk in to Planet Fatass..I mean Fitness, they will all notice the extra around the middle that I have accumulated and be sure to whisper how I was only gone a week. To this I say a week at the beach with my family is like a month to the average person. I have the liquor store receipts to prove it.

~ Karen

Crabby Pattys that won't bust your gut

I am the first to admit that I am afraid to cook seafood. I actually think I am afraid to even purchase it. The grocery store selection frightens me, what if it's bad, what type of fish, how is it supposed to smell...blah blah blah.

I do however love to eat seafood and was craving crab cakes not too long ago. Most crab cakes can be pretty high in fat and calories or can sometimes taste greasy or heavy. I happened to be looking through the pages of Cooking Light when I stumbled upon a recipe makeover for lighter crab cakes. My craving intensified so I sucked up my seafood fear, went to the local fish market ( not grocery store ) and bought the supplies. My husband looked shocked when he saw me at work in the kitchen, but he quietly walked away and kept his thoughts to himself.

To both of our surprise they came out delicious and were indeed lighter, tasty, and fresh. Paired with a crisp salad it was the perfect Summer meal. According to Cooking Light the calories are more than cut in half- 292 versus 734, fat reduced from 8.6 grams of fat to 1.6 grams and the sodium went from 1,285 milligrams to 571 milligrams. Great for my husband who watches his sodium intake. Try the yourself and see.

Ingredients

Crab cakes:
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives
1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 1/2 tablespoons canola-based mayonnaise (such as Spectrum brand)
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 large egg
1/3 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
1 pound lump crabmeat, drained and shell pieces removed
1 tablespoon olive oil, divided

Rémoulade:
1/4 cup canola-based mayonnaise
1 tablespoon chopped shallots
1 1/2 tablespoons capers, drained and chopped * I did not have capers so made without*
2 teaspoons Creole mustard
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

Preparation
1. To prepare crab cakes, combine first 8 ingredients. Add panko and crab, tossing gently to combine. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.
2. Fill a 1/3-cup dry measuring cup with crab mixture. Invert onto work surface; gently pat into a 3/4-inch-thick patty. Repeat procedure with remaining crab mixture, forming 8 cakes.
3. Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 4 crab cakes to pan; cook 4 minutes or until bottoms are golden. Carefully turn cakes; cook 4 minutes or until bottoms are golden and crab cakes are thoroughly heated. Remove cakes from pan; keep warm. Wipe pan dry with paper towels. Heat remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in pan. Repeat procedure with remaining 4 crab cakes.
4. To prepare rémoulade, combine 1/4 cup mayonnaise and remaining ingredients in a small bowl; stir with a whisk. Serve with crab cakes.

~ Karen

Adventures in Shedding the Pregnancy Weight

It's been a long time since I've been to the gym, and boy did I feel it. Yesterday was my first day back to the gym after giving birth 7 weeks ago. Getting back into the groove is no easy task and I can see why women keep about 10 pounds of pregnancy weight after each child.

Forty-four pounds (yes... 44) of pregnancy weight and one baby later it's time. I can't help but think, "why did I have an entire bag of M&Ms each week" and "maybe if I just had a salad instead of pizza I wouldn't have gained that much weight." But I know that's not true.  I get pregnant, I gain weight. It's how my body manages the change.

The question is, where do I start. How do I get rid of the pounds that so easily settled on to the fatty parts of my body? Hello new hips.


If you type in "pregnancy weight loss" into Amazon book search you get over 70 results. No disrespect to these books, but I believe the process to be a simple one. Eat less, workout more. Don't get me wrong, simple does not mean easy-- I just think there are plenty of people looking for an easy fix. It does not exist. It's calories in... calories out. And hopefully the rest falls into place.

I swear by Weight Watchers, but I am sure there are plenty of other diets that can do the trick. I have been attending a Weight Watchers meeting for the past 4 weeks. Since starting the program I am down 8 pounds. I would like it to be more... but it's a start.

In the interest of total transparency I am currently 192. Even typing that number makes me want to give up and eat an entire pizza, but I have been looking longingly at my old clothes and my yoga pants have threatened to move out if I don't give them a day off. I stupidly tried to put on a larger pair of pre-preggers jeans today only to feel like a stuffed sausage.

I did not try to zip them.

So this needs to happen. The question is, will it?

Do our bodies just decide one day to hold onto the weight until we resolve to accept the new us? Pass me another cheese slice please.

The number on the scale certainly does not define me, but it definitely has a choke hold on me. However, it's easy to beat myself up. Everytime I look at a gossip rag I see another celeb who dropped the pounds in a few days. Damn you Heidi Klum and your super human fat cells.

But I'm me and not Heidi Klum, so I keep on my slow and steady path. *sigh* All I know is a cheese pizza would taste mighty good right now.


~Davina