So today I learned something new... WW says to identify your "red light" foods and avoid them like the plague. (So, for all you non-WW people, that's food that when you have just one bite of it, you can't stop until it's either all gone or you're so full you can't eat another bite.) I like to think I don't have very many of those types of food left, but alas, I found one tonight. Or rather two... Pillsbury refrigerator Chocolate Chip cookies straight out of the oven and then Doritos (not in conjunction with each other, of course).
So maybe once a month or so, my daughter and I will have video game night where we'll bake a batch of the Pillsbury cookies and sit down and eat them hot with a big glass of milk, and oh, yea, we'll play various video games.
Used to be, I'd sit down with her and before we're done playing games the entire plate (all 24 cookies) would be gone. And, yes, I was the one doing the majority of the eating (her limit is around 3 or 4).
Well, now, I have to put three cookies on a separate plate and ask her to put the rest of them out of my reach and sight. So I ate my three cookies (at 2.5 points each, mind you). And I was okay at first, but then those other cookies on the big plate kept calling my name... "Cara... we're over heeeeerrrre!" Taunting me! (Don't you hate it when cookies do that?!)
So then if that wasn't bad enough, she pulled out the big guns. She went into her room (which is where I told her she should keep the Doritos - out of my sight and reach) and brings out Cool Ranch Doritos. A whopping 3 points for ELEVEN chips. Not to mention the ingredients are hideous. Not to mention, I think there's some sort of addictive agent they put in those things. I swear, I CAN NOT each just ONE.
So there I sat with chocolate chip cookies just out of my reach and Doritos crunching in my ears. A girl can only take so much!
So I thought, why torture myself? Give in.
NO! I did not just say that!
So then I thought, What am I going to do??
I know, get something else to eat that's semi healthy for me and will fill the craving. So that's what I did.
We had taco salad last night (only 9 pts for the entire thing, woo hoo). And I remembered I still had some refried beans, etc. left over. So I went in the kitchen and plopped about a half cup of fat free refried beans in with about a 1/3 cup 2% shredded sharp cheddar cheese and stuck it in the microwave for about a minute then dolloped about a tablespoon of reduced fat sour cream on top of it and then lined the bowl with 13 of the bite-size round Tostitos that I absolutely love! The whole thing was only 5 points and it was truly amazing. It totally filled my cravings and satisfied me while I felt like I was cheating a little bit.
Oh, and the snack was healthy, to boot. I got extra fiber in the beans and dairy with the low fat cheese and sour cream (though, I don't think there was much healthy-ness in the Tostitos).
So lesson learned... when red light foods present themselves, find other totally yummy foods to take their place. Don't try to avoid them, that's all you'll ever think about.
By the way, I only went over my points today by a half a point. So all is under control.
So what kinds of foods do you substitute for your red light foods?
3 comments:
I have a problem with Dorito's too. Is it in the blood? I usually go ahead and indulge in 11 of them with a LOT of salsa. The really hot kind and that fills me up and will keep me from eating more than 11. I'll have to think about it and try to find something that I can substitute for them, although I do have 2 bags on top of the fridge right now. (don't wanna run out, you know) I don't have a great craving for sweet things. TRY the muffins. They are only 2 points and 1 is about the size of 2 cookies and I swear they are as good (well almost) as Chocolate Chip cookies. I've started eating them as an afternoon snack and they keep me going for another 3 hours. They freeze really great so you could bake them some evening and freeze them. When you take one out of the freezer, just pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds on defrost and they are just like they came straight from the oven. Now go ahead and stop at the store on your way home from work today and pick up the cereal you need.
Cookies and brownies are my nemesis. haha.
But what I do to combat it, is cook only about 1-2 cookies, then put them in a plastic bag and place them in the fridge. So if I want to have them again I know I have to turn the oven on and wait. and that usually just makes me stop.
I have a problem with everything sweet, salty, chip-like, etc. But you did the best thing. You found something good that fit into your program. I like to take refried beans and lowfat cheese, and dip celery in them. I believe each time we prevail in a situation like that, we get stronger and gain more trust and faith in ourselves and our ability to make choices. It works. It really does. I did WW points for a short time in the fall and learned many things.
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