An update on the HMR diet is about due by now. I had cake and ice cream for our 1 celebration of 4 events, Liz's birthday, mom's birthday, Becky's birthday and Connie and my anniversary. So, I only cheated once for all of those! Anyhow, I survived it and didn't gain any weight. Pheewww. But I seem to have plateaued a bit at 32 pounds lost. Not that I'm complaining. But I've been there a few days now. But, I usually have trouble passing the 30 lb. weight loss area. But I shall persevere. :-)
So, I'm trying to find ways to help this diet along. A few things make a big difference to me. One that I have read and heard about the most is the magic of Trader Joe's. They have the most incredible salsas around. I've bought a pineapple, peach, bean and the best - a CORN salsa that is out of this world. If you add these to plain beans, on top of a salad instead of dressing, you've got a great meal. I spice up my meals with the veggies for the most part instead of the en trees themselves. Though I'm going to start working on that.
The other nice surprise is making my own Hummus. Just take a can of chickpeas (Garbanzo beans) and drain them. Put them in a food processor and let 'er rip! When it's about the consistency of mashed potatoes, add some flavor you like. I used a Green Onion dip, but I've also tried Garlic powder. Probably some of those salsas would be great too. I use this as a dip or put it on my more bland foods. Sliced cucumbers have become my green "chips" for snacks. The hummus is very low calories. It's just beans, but smack full of protein. Give it a try even if you aren't on a diet.
The life and ramblings of Bob Rockhill.
About Me
- Bob Rockhill
- I moved to La Mirada, California in 1963 and attended school there. I pastor a church in Norwalk and I'm principal of Grace Christian School in Norwalk California.
4 comments:
Hi Bob,
Trader Joe's is my husband's stomping ground on diet and in MT. The PILES of food this man eats and still loses weight is astounding. Because he uses HMR Entrees with a ton of various frozen veggies. We love the Trader Joe's Frozen Cherries - so he nearly cleans out the store each visit - 13 bags. Cherries (frozen) a cup, no ice, and chocolate HMR 120. He adds a dash of Almond Extract. Tastes like a candy. I add bananas which I love.
We use frozen fruit and no ice with our smoothies - mucho better :)
Our teens love them and steal all our shake mix :)) Hey, they're getting lots of calcium and fruit so ok by me.
Here are some Entree Recipes I promised: Sorry if this is a LONG post. I don't think these are in the HMR Recipe Book yet. You may have seen them from your program depending on when you joined.
The first set of recipes is showing ways to combine Entrees and then add veggies. So I did not calculate calories/and servings. But depending on how much More is Better you do, this could be one meal or two (so you have something to reheat).
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HMR Entree Recipes
Super Filling Risotto Stew
1 HMR® Mushroom Risotto Entree
1 HMR® Turkey Chili Entree
1 packet HMR® 500 Chicken Soup
Directions
Dash of garlic and/or onion powder.
Combine entrees in slow cooker. Prepare soup with 6 oz. water and add to the entrees.
Season with garlic and/or onion powder and stir.
Cook on low setting for 4-5 hours, stirring occasionally.
(No slow cooker? No problem. Just combine entrees, season, and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.)
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Other HMR® Entree slow cooker/bake combos:
• HMR® Five-Bean Casserole and HMR® Vegetable Stew with Beef
• HMR®Chicken Creole and HMR® Five-Bean Casserole
• HMR®Turkey Chili and HMR® Chicken Pasta Parmesan
For more vegetable servings, just add your favorites. Try corn, carrots, lima beans, potatoes, turnip, squash, tomatoes, etc.
This is either for two meals or if you eat both Entrees at once or More is Better, any of these combos is great and loved by staff. Again, check out the HMR Recipe Book from your program!
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Stuffed Zucchini Boats
• 1 HMR® Mushroom Risotto Entree
• 2 medium zucchini
• 1 cup fresh mushrooms, finely chopped
• 1⁄2 medium onion, chopped
• salt to taste
Directions
Cut zucchini in half lengthwise. Scoop out some of the center and chop finely. Add to
mushrooms and onions. Spray pan with low-fat cooking spray and sauté mixture until
vegetables are tender. Cook out extra liquid from the mixture. Add sautéed mixture to
unheated entree and stir. Fill zucchini halves with the entree mixture and place on
baking dish coated with cooking spray. Cover lightly with foil and bake at 350° for
approximately 45 minutes.
Calories: 400 Vegetable Servings: 3 ½
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Luau Ginger Chicken
1 HMR® Savory Chicken Entree
2 cups frozen Japanese-style stir fry vegetables
½ cup pineapple chunks
½ tsp ground ginger
1 tbsp light soy sauce
Directions
Heat vegetables according to package directions.
Open entree and cut chicken into small pieces
Place in medium sized bowl. Add remaining ingredients. Combine with vegetables.
Heat thoroughly.
Calories: 330 Vegetable Servings: 2 ½
Thanks for the recipes, Barbara. I'll have to give them a try. I haven't done a lot of mixing and matching. I've mostly eaten my HMRs plain and put stuff on the side. I'm not sure about the crock pot thing. Seems like a small amount of stuff to put in a crock pot. Well, we've got a huge crock pot. But, I would like to make them a bit more hardy. Some potatoes sure would help.
I'd also like you to expound on the roasting of veggies. I've never done this. Just put them in the oven plain? For how long? And can you do all veggies this way? Anyway, I could use some help on that part.
Just saw this Bob,
Spray a bit of Pam on them - Olive Oil flavor or whatever you like. Season them with either garlic, or whatever those New Orleans seasonings are, etc. I used to shake them with dried soups (but found out that adds a lot of extra calories - which you can bypass by adding seasonings.) Best is on grill! Winter it's oven. I start with the slow veggies first like potatoes and carrots, then start adding as I go...a layer of portabello mushrooms, red peppers, summer squash. In other words it's like the stir fry method of cooking - you back or grill whatever takes longest and then add shorter cooking veggies later. Oh and VIDALIA onions :) Gotta give these pep!! You can make a ton.
Those crock pot recipes, which I have not tried, had a ton of veggies if you want and two HMR entrees. But if it's easier, bake. And no one says you have to do either. You can microwave the HMR entrees together (the combo recipes) and then add a bunch of microwaved veggies. Whatever works for you.
Having said that, I have tried the mixing of two HMR entrees to create new flavors and you may find this gives you new ways to offset the tomato. Very good combos.
I've been doing the HMR program since October. I too have plateaued at 35 pounds. I'd like to lose another 35, but I might have to settle for a lower number than my original goal at this rate!
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