All time favorite sandwich topper

It took a decade or two for me to even try avocado.  Probably because it is green, a little slimy and looks intimidating to prepare.   After about 600 cooking shows and a how to video on youtube I finally gave this green guy a shot.

The most common kind of avocado is a Hass avocado but there are almost 100 varieties.  Sometimes they're called the Alligator Pear because of the textured shell and shape... I've even heard some people call them guacamole.  (To be clear, you make guacamole with avocado).   

A whole avocado is about 300 calories, so I usually have half one day and save the other half for the next day after sprizting with some liemon juice to avoid browning.  If it browns it won't hurt you, it just doesn't look as pretty.  Avocados are nutrient rich of vitamins C & K, B6 and serves as a good source of the healthy monounsaturated fats.  

As for eating it, my husband & I have grown to love them straight from their shell.  But when it comes to accessorizing our sandwiches, I use this in place of mayo.  It's a little "slimy" as I mentioned earlier which helps keep a turkey, spinach & tomato sandwich from getting dry.  Sometimes I even skip the mustard when I have avocado!

Here is a video on how to cut & peel and avocado:

For a healthy snack you can mash up some avocado with some salsa, salt & optional lime juice for a delish quick guacamole!

Turkey Sausage

About 3 o'clock in the afternoon I begin to hit my wall.  I get so hungry! I blame it on my afterschool tendancies when I would eat a snack before volleyball or softball practice.  I mean, 3 hours after breakfast I'm not starving like I am at 3pm.

It is also back to school time!! Until Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution petition (read about it here) has had an effect, I will be packing my 1st grader's lunch.  I like to get things that we can both snack on and turkey sausage is something we fight over!  It is a good source of protien and paired with a small chunk of cheese puts it about 100 calories.  The sodium is a little high, yes, but have you tried the school's pizza?  Or spaghetti?  If we ate out more often I would worry, but because we don't use much salt at home so I am not concerned with that number. 

Kroger has a great price on these- you can find them in the little specialty cheese island they have usually near the bakery.

Negative & Free Foods FYI

You've heard me mention a "free food" in a few posts but without much explanation.

A free food means the food has no nutritional value like water or mustard.  These are a great addition to your shopping list. 

How about one better?  A food that has low nutritional value that causes your body to burn more calories to digest it than the calories within the food.  These are supermarket must haves!

Fruits are so easy but it usually takes a little more prep-work (or convincing) to eat the veggies.  Asparagus and zucchini are great to toss on the grill with some Mrs. Dash.   Spinach seems easier to eat in a salad or in an omelet or mini-quiche.  Carrots, broccoli, cucumbers, lettuce and tomatoes are often seen Broccoli and cauliflower taste great steamed!

Since fresh vegetables can be expensive and sometimes go to waste, we buy frozen vegetables and steam them at least 5 nights a week.  I just use my Tupperware Microsteamer, fill the bottom with a little water, put some frozen veggies in the other chamber, put a lid on it and pop it in the microwave for 5 or 6 minutes.  I've had this my black & red steamer since 2005, it is dishwasher safe and hasn't shown a lick of use =)  The newest one is red & white and can be found at Tupperware.com for $29.99.

Sometimes I even do a cauliflower mash...similar to mashed potatoes.  I started slow with half potatoes and half cauliflower to ease my taste buds into it. 

I highly suggest investing in some Parkay spray butter to try your veggies.  After all, we still live in the South where butter makes everything better! 

Grab & Go's

Every now and then I look at the ingredient list of a recipe and think Psht.  That cannot taste good.  No way.  It's too easy and there's only 5 ingredients.  And then this happens....

On the left you have what I call "Whey Too Goods" and on the right are my "No-Bake Naturals".

These are easy to whip up.  They're a healthy little snack.  It's hard to have only 2 but you will have to have some self discipline.  Here are the magical recipes:

As if this wasn't enough to share with you, below you'll find all the nutritional breakdown!!

Now- go make these and enjoy, I can't wait to try some of the "Whey Too Goods" with mocha protein! Or the graham cracker we have!  Oh wait- that cake batter would be good too! It's fun being the official recipe tester of Club Fit =)

 Moderation, not deprivation!!