Sometimes, I get a craving for something that I haven’t had in a long time. Something rich, something that brings up warm memories of sitting in my mom’s kitchen, watching her cook. I’m usually pretty good about giving in to those cravings at times because if I don’t – then they’ll get worse. This isn’t a healthy recipe, though it does contain vegetables, but it’s a soul-soothing one. I fixed it two days ago for my boyfriend and I, along with crescent rolls and watermelon for dessert (nothing beats fruit that is perfectly in season). I’ve been munching on the leftovers for a few days now, which has saved me money at work (which I was spending around $8-11 a day for lunch).
Made with ground hamburger meat, gravy mix, canned vegetables, cheese, hash-browns and French’s fried onion, this is definitely one of those dishes perfect for cozying up on the couch. This is a secret family family (yeah… right), but I found this version that is almost identical!
Yesterday, I ended up going for a run, the first time in a long time. It felt wonderful (and I got to use my nifty running bag)! I was gone for about 40 minutes and ending up finding an apple tree just randomly on the side of the road (didn’t belong to anyone), so of course I grabbed an apple, even if they were a little buggy (tasted like Granny Smiths). I definitely plan on gathering some apples from there later on!
For me, it’s all about the little steps. Making substitutions in the foods I eat now. I don’t have a lot of money right now, so I can’t just throw out all of my unhealthy food. But what I can do is to try my hardest to balance the healthy and the unhealthy.
Breakfast:
2 Food Lion Brand Strawberry Poptarts (I just opened the box today, so you’ll see a few more poptarts in the feature. I’m trying to replace that crummy breakfast with fresh fruits and more oatmeal).
Lunch:
4 pieces of white toast w/ a small amount of butter and Food Lion Concord Grape Jelly (In the future, I hope to replace the bread (I have 4 hamburger buns and 6 slices left)with whole wheat, no butter, and use a more organic jelly that doesn’t contain as much processed sugars. Since the jelly is not mine, I can easily replace it.)
Dinner:
I gave the most thought to my dinner tonight. Originally, I was going to fix a potato/zucchini/squash torte to use up some leftover vegetables, but I decided to go with something a bit summery. Anyone who knows me knows that I hate the cold, and today, it even snowed for a few hours. So I wanted that taste of summer. My dinner was quick, which was great since I came home from work and was starving. I even managed to stop off to the grocery store to grab some essentials.
I ended up buying 3 bananas, 2 apples, one hothouse tomato, 1 packet ranch, 2 packets koolaid, .63 lb of hamburger, lettuce, a quart of whole milk, and chocolate ice cream. So the last two items weren’t exactly healthy, but every now and then, it helps to have a treat. I’ll be less likely to buy a soda or a Reese’s knowing that I have my favorite things at home. I spent about $14 on everything (no coupons).
So dinner!
I know that it doesn’t look like much, but believe me, it was exactly what I needed to beat away those winter blues. It was also the healthiest thing I had eaten all week. From preparing to table, it took 10 minutes. The chocolate milkshake was just a lovely bonus to reward me for a hard day’s work.
Quick and Easy Ranch Burgers
Since it’s not really a recipe, I’m going to write out what I did in steps.
- Preheat your George Foreman grill.
- Season your hamburger meat with dry Hidden Valley Ranch dressing and panko bread crumbs (to taste. The panko helps hold it together. Will replace with a whole wheat panko eventually).
- Cut until no longer pink in center. Toss a slice of cheese on top.
- Top with tomato, ketchup & lettuce (no bun to save those calories)
- Enjoy! I can definitely say I enjoyed this. Licked my plate clean. I still have enough hamburger left for another one tomorrow.
This is a fool-proof recipe, but if you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below
Let me tell you what I had for supper: a grande Hot Chocolate and Chocolate Chunk Cookie from Starbucks. No, I am not kidding. I wish I was.
After graduating from high school, I actually lost weight during my 4 years of college. I weighed anywhere from 125-135 during high school, and am now currently 118-120. But body wise, I was much happier with myself during high school. I played volleyball and soccer, plus marched in band. My body was constantly worked out and it showed. Now, as I have lost a great deal of muscle mass (and endurance), I’ve really started to miss the abs I once had and how taunt my legs used to look. I have hips, so it’s hard for others to really notice the lack of muscle definition, but I notice it.
I know that with a bit of effort, I can get back in the shape that I want to be in. So I’m making my pledge to myself public in hopes that you can follow along with me and hold me accountable. I want you to offer suggestions and encourage me when I may feel down (also, add me on twitter).
I pledge to:
- Stop wasting my hard earned money on fast food (which will require some forethought to plan out my meals for the day)
- Stop eating foods that don’t satisfy me (i.e. foods that aren’t what I am craving or foods that are just empty cravings)
- Listen to what my body is telling me and try to honor it
- Work out more (I want to do the Komen Race for the Cure 5k this summer)
- Do what makes me happy, not what I think others want me to do (including letting others know when something bothers me)
- Live a more positive, organized life
- Eat foods that are better for me (whole grains, salad, overall – a more balanced diet)
- Go back to cutting down on my caffeine intake (I did so well from about January 1st until January 23)
- Keep in touch with other members of my family (I talk to my mom on almost a daily basis)
- Become a positive role model for others
