Bust a rut with these fun, funky foods
It's easy (for me, anyways) to fall into the trap of eating the same foods over and over. Oatmeal with brown sugar and fruit for breakfast. Soup and salad for lunch. Yogurt for a snack. Cereal with a banana for dinner. The soon-to-be-famous brownie mix for dessert.
Can you tell I'm a sugar junkie who can't cook?
Anyways, I get excited when I stumble upon new foods that tickle my fickle fancy, like low-fat Tzatziki sauce (discovered on my infamous recent Costco adventure...the stuff is like crack with cucumbers); fake crab meat (I can mow it by the fistful); even a fruit that's in season like delicious, shiny cherries or huge, heavy watermelons.
So I was especially excited when I came across a story in Allure magazine, “Diet Saviors,” which dishes on the hottest cult-status foods among those watching what goes in their mouths and on their hips. Not because I'm on a diet, but because I try to eat healthy most of the time and I would like a substitute for the bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats that greets me every night post-workout.
Here are a selection of them - some of them I've already tried, others are on my grocery list and others I may steer clear of. Let me know if you're a fan of any...and feel free to grouse about the fact that the word "cow" is in two of the seven items.
Knight’s Gourmet Cholesterol-Free Lightly Salted Popcorn
I love salt. Love, love, love. Straight from the shaker. So I'd have to taste this to see exactly what "lightly salted" registers as on my deer-like tongue. But this stuff is a well-kept secret in the midwest (invesnted in Milwaukee in the 50s) so there must be something to it! Also - comes in 100 calorie bags to help with portion control.
At just 20 calories per serving, these noodles are plant-based and should be boiled for about three minutes after taking them from the fridge, where you keep 'em. After heating, they can be used just like pasta in sauces, soups, apparently whatever you want. I'm a bit leery of leading off with these because I've heard mixed reactions, but I'd give them a try.
Dr. Praeger’s Spinach Pancakes
I recently wrote about this company's sweet potato pancakes for Runners World - it was founded by two heart surgeons. Apparently, anyone who's anyone eats these puppies. Pure ingredients: Spinach, Potatoes, Onions, Egg Whites, Oat Bran, Expeller Pressed Canola Oil, Arrowroot, Salt, Garlic, Pepper, All Natural Vegetable Gum.
Calabro Fat-free Ricotta Cheese
Atkins and South Beach fans have known about this for a while - high in protein, creamy, and, topped with fresh berries, can make a nice treat for breakfast.
I drink this all winter long, especially if my throat's sore or I'm feeling a bit chilly. It's nice and chocolatey and has just 25 calories per packet. Some people I know sprinkle it on Cool Whip - slightly diet-crazy but whatever gets you through.
Skinny Cow Low Fat Ice Cream Sandwiches
Need I even say anything about these? Yummy ice cream, pressed between two sticky cookies that make you feel like a kid again. I can easily down two at 140 cals each and feel as if I did no wrong.
Laughing Cow Light Gourmet Cheese Wedge
Ohh, I remember eating these at my grandparents' house as a little girl - that triangular slice of creamy cheese with the smiling red cow was such a treat! I'd have Snickers Bars and matzoh ball soup and huge kosher pickles and freshly balled canteloupe and what did I go for? The cheese. The light version has two grams of fat per wedge and you can toss them in your purse in munch on as a mid-morning snack. I've got to get me some of these the next time I hit the store.
PS did anyone ever notice the red cow has pierced ears? Weird.
Comments
I love skinny cow, but I'm disappointed in how many foods have high fructose corn syrup in them (including the skinny cow lineup) - it's like they take out the fat and add more sugar and processed stuff. :(
I've eaten the Tofu Shirataki Noodles several times and while they are pretty good you cannot eat them plain. The best results I've gotten with them is to cook them or parboiled them, drain and rinse with some cold water, and lightly saute them in olive oil or Pam with some garlic, and other fresh veggies like spinach, onions or even tomatoes. If you don't like tofu then I wouldn't try them. Oh and they are like 30% (sometimes more) cheaper if you go to an Asian or Thai grocery store.
I haven't tried the others though my BF LOVES the sweet potato pancakes by Dr. Praeger so I'll have to keep an eye out for the spinach ones. Thanks for the list.
LOVE the LC cheese and the spinach (and sweet potato) pancakes. Tried the Shirataki, and it gave me severe stomach cramps, even after parboiling. Not a big fan,lol!
I love the Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches. They're a god-send when confronted by the Ben and Jerry's Wall O' Temptation. I'm partial to the stawberry and vanilla one with the graham gracker sides. The LC wedges with herbs are yummy on celery.
ı love the girls party and the skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches.
I LOVE the Laughing Cow. A GREAT snack, and they are so tasty! The Skinny Cow ice cream is amazing too... what is it with those cows?....
I like Shirataki noodles. I put them in soup to bulk up the new Progresso Light soups and have made a side dish of pasta with tomatoes, etc. and served to a friend who love it.
The spinach pancakes are great!! They were an impulse purchase and I enjoy them.
Nice site!
Myself, I, more and more sympathetic to the people want to
go and take them to Please, please link
http://beautiful70.blogspot.com/
I like Shirataki noodles. I put them in soup to bulk up the new Progresso Light soups and have made a side dish of pasta with tomatoes, etc. and served to a friend who love it.
